Нора Робертс - Key of Knowledge

The shock, the anger iced over. The chill hit him from a foot away. “If you assume thats what Im doing, youre insulting all three of us.”

She felt twin jolts of guilt and embarrassment. As she started to speak, Simon flew into the room. “I rule! Beat your high score, sucker!” He danced around Brad, shaking his index fingers in the air in a victory dance.

With effort, Brad folded his emotions further inside, then hooked an arm around Simons neck. “A momentary event, I promise you. Gloat while you have the chance, you midget.”

“Next time Im beating your butt in the NBA play-offs.”

“Never happen. And when I humiliate you, you will crawl to me on your belly like the insignificant worm you are.”

As she watched the exchange, saw their obvious enjoyment of each other, her guilt only increased. “Simon, we have to go.”

“Okay. Thanks for letting me mop the floor withya .”

“Im just luring you in, so crushing you will be more gratifying.” With his arm still around the boy, he looked at the mother. “Ill get your coats.”

SINCE it became apparent, very quickly, that Dana wasnt handy with home improvement chores that involved tools, she was designated head painter. Which meant, she thought, a little sulkily, that she spent all day slapping paint on walls whileZoe went around doing stuff with a cool little electric screwdriver or drill and Maloryputzed around with the leak under the kitchen sink.

The fact that Malory was thegirliest girl of Danas acquaintance and that she got a wrench was lowering.

It wasnt that she minded painting so much—even though it was incredibly boring, despite the magic roller machine. She just couldve used a little variety on her job list.

Still, watching the walls take on color was satisfying. Malory andZoe had been on the money in the choice. Her bookstore section was going to look not only warm but stylish.

Zoeswore that once the floors were sanded and sealed, they would glow.

She knew how it could look. Kane had shown her. And if hed used her own fantasy to build the image, that was fine. This was one fantasy she was going to make sure came true.

As an idea struck, she stopped, turned off the machine, set the roller aside.

The truth in his lies. Her fantasy, and his manipulation of it.

What if the key was here, as Malorys had been? Why couldnt it be that simple? Hed shown her, hadnt he? Look what you can have, if you only cooperate with me: your dream bookstore, full of customers and stock. Not real, she thought now, not truth. But thered been truth in it. It was what she wanted, what she intended to work for. What she could have, with her own effort and on her own merits.

Maybe the key was right here, if she could only see it. If she could bring it out as Malory had.

She took some deep breaths, shaking her arms, rolling her shoulders, like a diver about to spring off the high platform. Then she closed her eyes, tried to let herself drift. She could hear the whirr ofZoes drill, and the cheerful music that Malory had playing on the radio.

What was that? ABBA? Jesus, couldnt she find a station that recognized music from this millennium?

Annoyed with herself, Dana struggled to erase the image of a teenage dancing queen from her mind.

The key. The pretty gold key. It was small, shiny, with that looping Celtic pattern at the hilt. Was it a hilt when it was a key? she wondered. It wasnt a damn sword, so there had to be another word for it. Shed have to look that up. Oh, stop it!

She huffed out another breath, and focused. The whirr of the drill, the tinkle of music, and beyond that, the muffled sound of cars passing on the street outside. The hum of the furnace as it kicked on.

And if you listened hard enough, she realized, the creaks and whispers of an old house settling into its own bones.

Her house. Hers. The first shed ever owned. A step out of the past toward the future. A single, definite move that changed the pattern of what had been toward what would be. She could smell fresh paint, a testament to a new start.

Those things were real, as real as her own flesh and blood. Those things were truth.

The key was real. She had only to see it, to touch it, to take it.

She saw it now, floating on a field of peacock green, shimmering against that deep color. But when she reached out, her hand passed through it as if it, or she, was insubstantial.

Im the key. Its meant for me.

She tried again, again, bearing down with the effort until sweat pearled on her forehead.

Its mine, she kept thinking. And this place is mine. Soon books will be lined along this wall, other walls. Knowledge.

“Dana!”

She snapped back, swayed even asZoes hands caught her arms. “What did he do to you? What did he do? Malory!”

“No, Im okay. Im fine.”

“You dont look fine. Hold on to me. Mal!” she shouted again.

Dana calculated she had a good thirty pounds onZoe , but her friend managed to hold her upright and steady.

“What is it? Whats wrong?” With a crescent wrench gripped like a weapon in her hand, Malory rushed in. For some reason, seeing the pretty, feminine blonde in her plumbers gear of sexy black leggings and slim green sweater—with matching hair tie—wielding a wrench had Dana giggling weakly.

“Kane. Kane had her. She was in some sort of trance.”

“No. It wasnt Kane. Im a little dizzy. Maybe I should just sit down.”

She slid to the floor, takingZoe with her. “Oh, God. Are you pregnant?”

“What?” The shock went a long way toward clearing her head as she goggled atZoe . “No. Jeez. I just started having sex again, remember? Would you two stop staring at me as if I were about to start speaking in tongues?”

“Here. Have some water.”Zoe pulled a bottle from the holster on her tool belt.

“Im okay.” But she gulped down the water. “I was just experimenting with a little selfhypnosis.”

“Here, let me have that.” Malory reached for the water, took a deep drink. “You scared the hell out of me.”

“Sorry. I had this idea that the keys here. Yours was— and the whole past, present, future thing. The store, our businesses. The books Im going to be hauling in here. Truth in lies. How Kane showed me the place all finished and full of those books and customers buying them.”

“Okay. Im following.”Zoe pulled out a red-and-white bandanna and dabbed at Danas brow. “But what happened? When I walked in you were standing in the middle of the room with your arm out in front of you. Kind of swaying, with your eyes closed. Honey, you looked really spooky.”

“I was trying to, you know, bring the key out. See the key. Be the key. Shit, that sounds stupid.”

“No, it doesnt.” Handing the water back toZoe , Malory considered. “Its a good idea. It could be here. Hell, it could be anywhere, so why not here?”

“A good idea,”Zoe agreed. “But I dont think you should try something like that alone. It could be like opening yourself up to him, with nobody around to keep you steady. Like a control group, or backup. You really looked out of it, Dana.”

“Youve got a point.” But she smiled. “Stop fussing, Mom.” To lighten the mood, she pinchedZoes biceps. “Youre a lot stronger than you look. You work out regular?”

“A little here and there. Mostly Im just built.” And her heart rate settled down again. “You look better now. Maybe we could try something like this, with the three of us.”

“It might be worth a shot,” Malory agreed.

“If youre up to it, Dana. We could sit right here, link hands. Mal and I could sort of push our energy toward you.”

“Perhaps you recall a small incident last month involving a Ouija board?” Dana asked.

“Not likely to forget.”Zoe gave a quick shudder. “But we wouldnt be using anything but our own connection. Its not like were playing around with the dark arts, or whatever it is.”

“Okay.” Lips pursed, Dana looked around. “But it seems kind of silly. The three of us sitting on a drop cloth in an empty, half-painted room trying to conjure up a magic key. But…” She grippedZoes hand, then Malorys. “Im in.”

“Mal, maybe you could give her some tips. What it was like for you, what you did.”

“I dont know if I can explain it. So much of it just happened. Its like being in a dream, but knowing youre dreaming, and at the same time knowing its not a dream.”

“Thats a big help.” But with a half laugh, Dana squeezed her hand. “Actually, I know what you mean. Its the way I felt when he took me into the bookstore.”

“I dont know how I understood what to do, but it was suddenly so clear. The one thing was focusing on what I had to do without letting him know I was focusing on it. And that was hard, really hard, but part of that was because I was so scared. For me, it helped to concentrate on painting, the actual art and act. The colors, the tone, the detail. I dont know if that helps you.”

“I dont know either. So lets find out.”

“Were not going to let anything happen to you,”Zoe told her. “Were going to be right here.”

“Okay.”

Taking that long breath, Dana shut her eyes. It was a comfort to feel the hands gripped on hers. Like an anchor, she supposed, that would prevent her from floating off somewhere she shouldnt go.

She let herself listen again to the sounds of the house, to her own quiet, steady breathing matching the rhythm of her friends. She smelled paint, and perfume.

There was the key again, shining on the colored field she now realized was the wall shed just painted. Her wall, with the color chosen by the woman flanking her.