Spinning Tales Read online

  She turned the page, wondering what stories had to do with building a house. Seventy-five? Does that mean Vietnam? But it said the cottage was built before New York came to be. She sighed and turned the page. Another piece of paper sat folded in the crease.

  She stared at it, willing it to go away. The messages in this book hadn’t been a whole lot of fun so far. Still, she pulled it out and opened it.

  Please make your way to the shepherd before reading farther. Without the knowledge she has to impart, the rest of this book will be unusable.

  Best,

  Shamus

  She assumed Shamus was the old man who had given her the job. What she wouldn’t give for his phone number now. He’d told her to contact him in an emergency but hadn’t told her how. Was she supposed to use the wanted ad email address she’d used in the first place? She considered sending a message and demanding answers. But when she picked up the stone and traced its smooth surface, she knew she didn’t want to risk losing the job altogether. This situation was weird, and creepy, and bizarre in just about every way. And yet, it was also interesting. It was way better than accounting and a shabby little apartment. It was a puzzle, one that might just make a picture of her own life, if she could figure out the pieces. Something about that appealed to her.

  She closed the book and put the stone on top of the new note. The note from her parents she took upstairs and locked away in her little private lockbox. It was the only thing she had from them, aside from the stone, and she wouldn’t take chances with it. If the shepherd woman could give her some answers about her parents, then she’d gladly go back. And the fact that she was absurdly hot didn’t make a bit of difference.

  She took a book of fairy tales off the shelf and read until she was too tired to keep her eyes open. After putting it away, she took a quick shower and dashed off an email to Casey asking to have a chat when she got back from her shoots, and sent one to her sister to say she’d received the package, thanks for sending it, and with her new address. Her sister, ever the snob, would take note of the new East Side address and wonder just what was going on. Not that Maggie was in competition with her, but it would be good to not be seen as less than for once.

  She crawled into bed, exhausted and baffled at how fast the days could slip by when she wasn’t even working. Tomorrow, she’d venture back to the shepherd’s place and get the answers she needed. Though, for what she needed them she wasn’t certain.

  * * *

  Maggie woke with tears streaming down her cheeks, breathless and scared. The remnants of the dream made her heart ache, but as before, they faded as soon as she tried to grasp them. All she knew was a sense of fear and loss, together with a sense of being watched. And once again, the shadowed woman had made an appearance in her dreams. Maggie wanted to touch her, take her pain away, but every time she got close, the woman faded and appeared farther away. She squinted against the morning sun and pushed the dreams away.

  Blech lay beside her pillow, his paw resting next to her face, his eyes unblinking as he stared at her.

  “You’re really unnerving, do you know that? You paid no attention to me at all in the apartment except when you wanted food. Now you’re all chummy and sweet. What’s the deal?” She reached out from under the covers and scratched his head. He gave a short purr before jumping off the bed. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

  She struggled out of bed and into the shower, mentally making plans to go back to the shepherd’s apartment. Thinking of her with that title felt ludicrous. Surely shepherds hadn’t looked like that in any country that had ever existed. Maggie wanted to touch that soft looking short blond hair. She wanted to trace some of those colorful tattoos and see just what each one was.

  But more than any of that, she wanted to understand their connection and what it all meant.

  She dressed more carefully this time, putting on a black sweater and black jeans that made her feel like she was wearing a uniform of soft armor. I can do this. Her parents’ words in the note came back to her. I’m stronger than I know.

  By the time she left it was midday, and Brenda wasn’t at the reception desk. Maybe she takes lunch breaks. The thought of her expression the day before, when she’d looked both sympathetic and a little afraid when it came to the shepherd, made Maggie wonder just what her role was in all this.

  She made her way on the 6 back to the Park Place apartment. Again, the doorman didn’t say anything, and when she gave her name at the reception desk, he waved her into the elevator. This time when she got to the shepherd’s apartment the door was open. She knocked anyway.

  “Hello?”

  “Come on in.”

  Maggie shivered at the husky tone and told herself to pull it together. She walked through the decadent looking apartment with a great view looking out over the city. A lacy zebra print bra was halfway under the couch, and the pillows were askew on the couch and floor. No need to wonder how she spent her night. Maggie felt her face flush at the image that crossed her mind. When she didn’t see anyone in the living room, she headed toward the kitchen.

  The woman sat at the table with her head in her hands. Today’s black T-shirt offset the dark circles under her eyes. She looked up when Maggie came in.

  “Help yourself to coffee.” She motioned toward the pot on the countertop.

  She didn’t want coffee. “Thanks.” She poured herself a cup and sat down opposite her host. “So.”

  The woman leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “So.”

  Maggie waited, hoping she’d begin, but she just sat there staring at Maggie like she was trying to figure something out. “I got a letter from my parents yesterday. My real parents, people I’ve never met. They said you have the answers. And the book, it keeps saying you have the answers. The receptionist in my building, Brenda, she says you have the answers. If, that is, you’re this ‘shepherd’ people are talking about.” Maggie looked down, mortified at the tears welling in her eyes. “The thing is, I didn’t have any questions until I took the job at the cottage. And now, all I have are questions.”

  “I’m Kody Wilk. Let’s start with that.”

  Maggie looked up at her and saw that she was smiling slightly, her gaze softened somewhat. “Thank you. I’m Maggie McShay. Why do they call you the shepherd?”

  Kody sighed deeply and ran her hand through her short hair. “That’s actually a deeper question to answer than you might think. Why don’t we go for a walk? It’s a beautiful day.”

  Maggie nodded, grateful for the suggestion. Being in Kody’s space felt too intimate and made it hard to focus. She waited until Kody got her shoes and jacket on, and they seemed to be in accordance about not beginning the conversation until they were outside.

  They headed across the street to City Park, and Maggie waited anxiously for Kody to begin.

  “It’s hard to know where to start.” Kody’s hands were jammed in her pockets, her gaze on the ground. “Tell me about your life, Maggie.”

  “It seems like you already know about my life, if the weird little clues are anything to go by.” Maggie hated talking about her life or about herself in general. Privacy made life safe.

  Kody shrugged. “I know things you should know. I know why you’ve come to me at this moment in time. But humor me, and tell me what you know about your life.”

  That was strange phrasing. As though what she knew wasn’t what was true. “Okay. I was adopted from an orphanage in Pennsylvania by two loving parents when I was thirteen, but I’d been passed around a lot before that. They already had my sister, who was their biological daughter. I think she always resented them adopting me, and we’ve never been close. She said they doted on me the way they never doted on her. I didn’t see it, but that’s how she felt.” It felt like a kind of betrayal of her sister, saying it out loud, but it was true. “I went to school. I went to college. My parents died in a car crash when I was twenty, and I moved to New York to get away from the memories. I became an accou
ntant, and now I’m the keeper of a cottage that seems like it could become something out of a Stephen King novel.”

  Kody laughed, a low, easy sound that made Maggie’s skin tingle like she’d had a black feather caress her.

  “That’s succinct. What did you want to be when you grew up? No one grows up wanting to be an accountant.”

  “A painter.”

  Kody nodded. “Makes sense.”

  “It does? Why?”

  Kody was silent for a long time, and Maggie waited. The moment felt tense, like an egg about to crack open to reveal life.

  “Maggie, I knew your biological parents.”

  Maggie stopped walking, stunned. “What?” Even with the weirdness, that possibility hadn’t occurred to her.

  Kody touched her arm to get her walking again. “They were amazing people, your parents. Kind, thoughtful, intelligent, creative.” She glanced at Maggie. “A lot like you, I think.”

  When Maggie went to ask something, Kody held up her hand. “Hold on. I’m going to start talking, and it’s going to sound…unbelievable. But stick with me to the end, okay?”

  Maggie bit her lip and nodded.

  “Okay.” Kody took a deep breath. “Your parents were special people. They were peacekeepers, of a sort, and they came from a long line of peacekeepers. But there were people who didn’t like having to live under the laws of peace and stability, and they methodically began killing off the people in charge of keeping order. A day came when you were the last of the line, and your parents knew they couldn’t protect you.”

  Maggie’s knees felt weak. How could this be her story?

  “So they took you as far away as they could and left you in an orphanage. They did it to save you.”

  Kody stopped talking, and Maggie’s thoughts were a whirlwind. She didn’t even know what to ask next. Fortunately, Kody continued.

  “I’m part of the world they came from. The world you came from. When they left you here, I was put in place to watch over you and be here if you needed me. We knew that if you were in true danger, you’d find me before you made your way to the cottage. Thankfully, that was never the case.”

  “Are you saying I was destined to end up at the cottage? That it was, what, foreordained or something?” She wasn’t about to touch the world thing. Clearly, it was just a turn of phrase.

  Kody stopped and smiled. “Yeah. That’s it. I guess time got away from me, though. I’ve become so used to living here I’d kind of forgotten how much time had passed. I didn’t realize you’d be showing up at my door. Hell, I didn’t recognize you at first.”

  Something in her tone suggested she wasn’t all that happy about it, and Maggie’s natural defenses rose. “It’s not like it has to change anything. You go on living your life and I’ll live mine.”

  Kody grunted and kept walking. They stopped at a kiosk, and she looked at Maggie to see if she wanted coffee. Maggie nodded, glad she didn’t need to answer. The idea of her parents in danger, hunted, made her feel ill.

  Kody handed her the cup of coffee, and they began walking again. “It doesn’t work that way. Now that you’ve come into your own, I need to be around to help. You asked why they call me the shepherd. There are a lot of reasons for that, but one of them is that I help the tale spinner keep order. That’s what the shepherd has always done.”

  Maggie had no idea what a tale spinner was, even though she felt like she was chasing hers. “And you can’t do that while continuing to live your own life?”

  Kody frowned, thinking. “We’ve never been in this situation, so I can’t say for certain. I think we’ll need to talk some things out. I take it you haven’t been able to read much of the book yet?”

  Maggie blew out a breath, glad to have that issue out in the open. “No. Little bits and pieces, but it said I couldn’t read any more until I found you.” She stopped walking and put her hand on Kody’s arm. When Kody looked at her, she said, “I don’t understand, and I really hate not understanding. Why do I feel like the book is talking to me? How is that possible? And what’s the deal with the back door? What’s a tale spinner and what do you do for that person? What do my real parents have to do with all of this?”

  Kody’s expression was searching as she looked back at Maggie. “Why don’t we go back to your place? I think you might want to be sitting down for the next part.”

  Fear crawled up Maggie’s spine. “Why?”

  Kody sighed. “I think you know why. You don’t want to admit it, but you know.”

  “What do I know?” Kody just stared at her, as though waiting for an admission. Maggie nearly stamped her foot in frustration. “Kody, what am I supposed to know?”

  Kody looked up at the sky like she was trying to be patient. “Magic, Maggie. The cottage, your parents, the world…It’s all about magic.” She looked at Maggie over her cup as she downed the last of her coffee. “And now you’re in charge of it.”

  Maggie laughed, feeling hysteria rise in her chest. “That’s absurd.”

  Kody nodded, looking resigned. “Yeah. It is. But it’s true.” She took a right out of the park. “And it’s time you took your place. Let’s go to the cottage.”

  Maggie followed her mutely to the subway. They didn’t speak on the journey there, and the questions that had been burning in Maggie’s mind were silent. She couldn’t think past the bizarre nature of what Kody had said. Most disturbing was the sense deep down that it was all true, and that there was so much more to come.

  I should have kept my job as an accountant.

  Chapter Five

  Wanted: Doorman or woman to make sure only certain clientele are let into the club. Must be intimidating and sexy. Also must be willing to serve the boss perfectly made sangria at any time of the day or night. Access to other worlds a plus. Contact sandman1

  “I knew you’d come.” Brenda put down her book and stared at Kody when she and Maggie entered the building.

  “Hey, Keeny. You’re looking well.” Kody smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

  “It’s Brenda now. And you know I am.” Brenda fluttered her eyelashes and winked, but her smile, too, looked forced.

  Maggie couldn’t take much more, but she had a feeling it was going to get worse. “You knew who I was looking for? Why didn’t you just say?”

  Brenda shook her head. “Maggie, dear, when one is looking for a shepherd, one must go alone. And I did tell you to find the shepherd, didn’t I?” She checked her watch. “I’m off. See you tomorrow.” She picked up her purse and came around the desk. She stopped beside Kody and put a hand on her thigh. “Unless you want to see me sooner, hot stuff. It’s been a long time.”

  Maggie could still hear her laughing after she’d left the building. She looked at Kody with raised eyebrows.

  “It was a long time ago. I was getting over a breakup, etcetera. It didn’t end well.” Her face was pink, and she blew out a breath. “Shall we?”

  Maggie led the way to the elevator and put in her key to take them upstairs, thinking of the animal print bra and mess in Kody’s apartment. Apparently, Brenda wasn’t a one-off, and Maggie figured not everyone got some kind of virtuous guide on their adventure. When she went to press the elevator button, she hesitated. “I’m not supposed to have guests in the cottage. Do you count as a guest?”

  Kody’s laugh was humorless. “I’m a servant. Definitely not a guest.”

  Maggie winced at the bitter undertone in Kody’s voice. “Okay then.”

  She led the way into the cottage and went straight to the kitchen. “I don’t have beer. Something else?”

  “Anything alcoholic is fine.” Kody stood in the middle of the living room, looking around, and looking a little lost.

  “Take a seat.” Maggie mixed herself a rum and cranberry and a vodka and Coke for Kody. She had no idea why she thought that was the right drink, but instinct was just about all she had to go on now. She handed it over and was pleased with Kody’s murmur of thanks.

  They sat silentl
y for a few minutes before Blech jumped onto the table. He stretched and then sat on the table staring at Kody.

  “Hey, Shamus. Long time.” Kody nodded at him like she was talking to a person and expected a response.

  Maggie choked on her drink. “Shamus?” Blech turned to look at her. “As in the person who keeps leaving notes for me in the book?” The room tilted as she started to hyperventilate. “My cat can not only write but leaves me messages?”

  Kody shook her head and looked at the cat disapprovingly. “Why would you sign them?” She tilted her drink at him. “You need to show her. That will make what I’m about to say go down a little easier.”

  Blech made his blech sound and jumped off the table. Maggie wasn’t sure she wanted to see whatever Kody had just told him to show her. Still, she couldn’t take her eyes off him, even when he began to blur, like he was vibrating too fast to see, like a hummingbird’s wings. The fire burst into flame behind him and Maggie had to look away. When she looked back, he was gone.

  In his place stood something else entirely. Something Maggie recognized as not human, but her mind refused to put a name to whatever it was. It stood about four feet tall and had arms and legs. But it also had cat ears and almond shaped eyes with vertical pupils, and it was covered in fur. She looked at Kody, trying hard not to make a sound that would show just how freaked out she really was.

  She didn’t need to make a sound. Kody was up and out of her seat at Maggie’s side in an instant.

  “Sorry. Maybe I should have started with the story and then shown you that after. Totally insensitive. My bad.”

  Maggie looked back at the cat-person. “I think I’m having a breakdown.”

  Blech, or Shamus, or whatever its name was, snorted. “If only it were that simple. Sorry, lovey. No such luck.” His Irish accent was heavy but clear.

  He walked to the kitchen, opened the fridge, took out the milk, and poured himself a glass before coming back to the fireplace and sitting cross-legged in front of the fire.