Mercy Thompson 01-05 - THE MERCY THOMPSON COLLECTION

the kitchen table as I ran down the stairs. “Mercy? Did you find out something.”
    â€œMaybe,” I told her as I kept going to the door. “I have to find someone though.” I looked at my watch. Eight twenty-seven. I had an hour and a half before dark—if the sorcerer had to wait for full dark to awaken.

Chapter 12
    For most of the time that I’d lived in the Tri-Cities, Mrs. Hanna had pushed her grocery cart along the same path from dawn to dusk. I’d never actually followed her, but I’d seen her any number of places so I had a pretty good idea about most of her route. I didn’t have any idea about how she’d changed it, so I had to look everywhere.
    When I passed the first church, I pulled over to the side of the road and pulled out a notebook I kept in the car and wrote down the name of the church and its address. After an hour I had a list of eleven churches, reasonably near the KPD, none of which had flaming signs that said SORCERER SLEEPING HERE . The sun was noticeably low in the sky and my stomach was tight with dread.
    If I was wrong that the reason Mrs. Hanna had to change her route was to avoid Littleton, then I’d wasted the last hour. If I was right, I was still running out of time.
    I was also running out of places to look. I pulled over by Kennewick High and tried to think. If Mrs. Hanna hadn’t changed her route it would be easier to find her. If she hadn’t been dead it would have been easier yet. I was counting on being able to see her, but ghosts quite often manifest only to some senses: disembodied voices, cold spots, or just a whiff of perfume.
    If I didn’t find her soon it would be dark and I’d have to face Littleton during the height of his power—both as a demon and a vampire.
    I stopped at the light on Garfield and Tenth. It was one of those lights that stayed red for a long time even when there was no oncoming traffic. “At least I wouldn’t have to face Littleton alone after dark because I can call Andre.” I pounded my hands on the steering wheel, impatient with the red light. “But if I don’t find Mrs. Hanna before night, I won’t find her at all.” Mrs. Hanna went home at night.
    I said it out loud because I couldn’t believe how stupid I’d been. “Mrs. Hanna goes home at night.”
    There was still no traffic coming so I put my foot down, and for the first time in my adult life I ran a red light. Mrs. Hanna had lived in a little trailer park along the river, just east of the Blue Bridge and it took me five minutes and three red lights to get down to that area. I ran those lights, too.
    I found her pushing her cart on the sidewalk next to the VW dealership. Parking my car on the wrong side of the street, I jumped out, biting back the urge to shout her name. Startled ghosts tend to disappear.
    With that in mind I didn’t say anything at all when I caught up to her. Instead I walked along beside her for a quarter of a block.
    â€œWhat a nice evening,” she said at last. “I do think we’re due for a break in the weather.”
    â€œI hope so.” I took two deep breaths. “Mrs. Hanna, pardon my rudeness, but I was wondering about that change in your usual walk.”
    â€œOf course, dear,” she said absently. “How is that young man of yours?”
    â€œThat’s the problem,” I told her. “I think that he’s run into some trouble. Could you tell me again why you came by my shop at a different time?”
    â€œOh, yes. Very sad. Joe told me the way I usually walk wasn’t safe. Our poor Kennewick is getting to be such a big city, isn’t it? Terrible when it’s not safe for a woman to walk in the daytime anymore.”
    â€œTerrible,” I agreed. “Who is Joe and where is it he doesn’t want you walking.”
    She stopped her cart and smiled at me gently. “Oh, you know Joe, dear. He’s been the janitor at the old Congregational church forever. He’s very upset at what’s happened to his building, but then who consults the janitor?”
    â€œWhere is it?” I asked.
    She looked over at me with a puzzled look on her face. “Do I know you, dear? You look familiar.” Before I could form a suitable reply she glanced up at the setting sun, “I’m afraid I must be going. It’s not safe after dark you know.”
    She left me standing alone in front of the