“What about the concentration,” I prompted.
“We couldn’t get a definite lock on the location, only a general area. So we did a concentration incantation to look for large amounts of Datura.”
“That’s very clever.”
“Thank you. It worked, but the scale of the crop—it’s big. You’ll need protection. Gloves, masks, boots.”
“I can sort that,” I told them.
“Okay, good luck,” Lenson said and then the call went silent. I glanced at the phone. He’d hung up.
“I need to rest,” Harry said and disappeared through the floor. Rest? Where did ghosts go to rest? They were meant to be eternally resting, but he’d given that up by ignoring the white light calling his name. Perhaps he was exhausted from being my spirit sidekick—I could hardly blame him. Maybe I could negotiate a deal with my father to allow Harry the chance to be welcomed into Heaven.
My phone dinged with a new text message. I opened it and clicked on the link sent by Lenson. It took us to a map. Hudson looked over my shoulder. “Chicot state park, I know the area, it’s about two hours’ drive from here. If we set off now we can be there before the sun sets.”
I guess that meant I’d swapped my ghost sidekick for my shifter one. “I’ll grab the safety equipment we might need.”
“Okay, what can I do?”
“I already have a bag packed, it’s in your car. Maybe grab a change of clothing for yourself?”
“I have a bag ready. Are we expecting to get dirty?” A wide grin spread across his face, causing me to roll my eyes. Ha-ha, very witty.
“Dirty? Me?” I said with mock innocence. “Oh, Principal, you haven’t seen my dirty side.”
He blinked and I saw that as a win as I exited my rooms and swanned down the stairs. He didn’t follow, I apparently stunned him into silence. Score one for me.
Cora Roberts—Tamer of prehistoric cats.
Chapter Thirteen
New life policy. Bad guys don’t always equal snacks.
It is amazing what you learn about someone on a road trip. For instance, I now know Hudson prefers classic rock, and that is something we have in common. But he also enjoys more recent bands, as well as the occasional 80’s pop song.
I also found out he is as picky as Dave when it comes to his burgers. Lucky for me, he knew a little local diner off the beaten track, and I can confirm it is the best damn burger I have ever eaten. Remind me to let him do the barbeques at the house.
The GPS informed us we would be taking the next right. I glanced at the screen. We were less than thirty minutes out from the coordinates Lenson had sent. The well-worn road gave way to dirt and the suspension began to be put to use, causing me to grab the handle and grit my teeth.
Hudson cast a glance my way. “What’s the plan when we get there?”
I twisted my lips to the side as I pondered it. “If it’s as large as Lenson thinks, then I would expect it to be guarded. Then again, if it’s away from populated areas, and it isn’t Order owned land, it may just be left. Growing the plant isn’t illegal, so there’s no recourse should it be found, and it could be attributed to wild and natural growth.”
“What you are saying is—you don’t have a plan?”
I nodded. “That’s about right, yes.”
We settled into silence again and I watched the GPS count down the minutes until we came to the end of the road. There were thick trees blocking us from proceeding any further, and Hudson brought the car to a stop. The sun was still peeking above the trees, but we were losing light rapidly.
“Guess we trek the rest of the way,” he muttered, cutting the engine and hopping out of the car. I followed and clicked the trunk open, pulling out some gloves, small for me, large for him, and a couple of masks which I shoved in the bag I had slung over my shoulder.
“Ready?” he asked as I slammed the trunk closed.
I nodded and we began following the voice from my phone which demanded we fight against the thick woodland. It took longer than it should have and it was a while before the trees opened, revealing a field. A field full of blooming Datura. It went on and on, as far as the eye could see. I glanced at Hudson. He looked as stunned as me.
“I can’t see any that have been harvested,” he muttered.
“Let’s make a loop around the edge, see what we are dealing with,” I suggested and began walking around the field in a clockwise direction. Hudson trudged after me as we kept a safe distance from the edge. We walked for ten minutes before the scene changed.
