Chapter 248

The car came barreling toward us, but instead of ramming us, it swerved around the side of my car and began to force me off the road.

“Look out, Daisy!” Amy yelled when the car almost slammed into the side of my Mercedes. “Did you see that? It’s not a man driving that car. It’s a girl with red hair.”

It was my first time dealing with an aggressive driver. I tried to stay calm and slowed my car while pulling far enough to the right that the silver car didn’t scrape the Mercedes.

As the car passed only a few inches away from us, I looked up and saw a familiar face glaring at me from the driver's seat of the silver car.

“The driver looks like the younger sister, the redhead, in the Archer’s family photo!” Amy cried. “It must be Andrew and Amelia’s younger sister, Amanda.”

“Maybe she’s as crazy as her grandmother,” I said.

No matter who it was, I had to get us out of the situation before we got hurt.

I pulled off the road and stopped. As we watched the silver car speed away, I was shaking, but I could still think clearly.

“That girl can’t be Amanda Archer. The photo over their fireplace was taken years ago, and the girl in the silver car who ran us off the road was our age.”

“But it looked a lot like her,” Amy insisted. “It’s too much of a coincidence. She must have seen us come out of the Archer’s home.”

“Or maybe she came from the Archer home,” Diana suggested. “She could have been there watching and listening to you the whole time you were there. Evil lives in that house.”

“I agree the incident has something to do with the Archers,” I told Amy and Diana. “But that couldn’t have been Amanda. She was too young.”

“You’re right,” Amy admitted. “But do you think we should call the police?”

“I doubt they would do anything,” I replied. “There’s no damage to my car, and we aren’t hurt.”

I sighed and pulled out my phone. “I’m texting Amelia. She may know who the girl was and make sure it doesn't happen again.”

“Yeah, good idea,” Amy said. “She stopped her grandmother from trying to kill me.”

I texted Amelia, telling her about the silver car that followed us from outside her home and how the young red-haired girl almost rammed us before running us off the road.

Then we waited a few minutes for a reply that didn’t come.

Amy nervously looked up and down the road. “Daisy, maybe we should get going. What if she comes back?”

I started the car and carefully pulled back onto the road. Watching for the silver car, I drove to Lana and Harry’s home, pulled into their driveway, and parked near a new red Bugatti Chiron.

Amy whistled. “I heard these cars cost millions. It must be Lana’s.”

“No doubt,” I agreed. “It’s probably the replacement for her car that was totaled in her accident.”

“It’s gorgeous.” Amy walked closer to the car. She reached out and almost touched the paint that had been waxed to a mirror shine. “It’s too gorgeous to risk a scratch or fingerprints.”

I chuckled. “If you ask nicely, maybe she’ll let you sit in it.”

Amy grinned, and we headed for the front door.

Before I could knock, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Amelia.

I read it aloud to Amy. “Daisy, I believe I know the culprit and will speak to them about their behavior. My apologies. A.”

“That doesn’t make me feel much better,” Amy said. “How many whacko’s are in my biological family?”

I laughed and knocked on the door. “Every family has its characters.”

Saunders opened the door and greeted us warmly. “Good morning, Miss Wilson, Miss Gray. Mrs. Klein is in the drawing room. Right this way.”

We followed Saunders and found Lana writing a letter.

She grinned and put down her pen when we walked into the room. “How wonderful to see you. You’re just in time for lunch.”

We joined Lana in the dining room and enjoyed steak salads and fresh rolls.

“What have you two been up to lately?” Lana asked.

“People have been commenting about the moonstone pendant,” I replied. “Someone told me this morning that it’s extremely valuable. Now I’m afraid I’m going to lose it.”

“The pendant would indeed bring a high price in the right circles,” Lana explained. “It’s been in the family for generations. My great-grandmother told me it was blessed by the Goddess herself.”

I stabbed a piece of tomato with my fork. “Maybe it’s my imagination, but when I’m wearing the pendant, I feel confident and strong, like I could tackle anything.”

“That’s what the legend says it does for the most powerful of Lunas,” Lana said. “The Goddess’s blessing increases the courage, confidence, and strength of the Luna wearing the pendant.”

“We’re going to need all the courage we can get,” Amy said.

Lana crinkled her brows. “What are you two up to?”

I showed her the photo and note. “The police won’t do anything without more evidence, so we are finding the evidence for them.”

“We went to the Archer’s mansion this morning and met the Luna of Lycan Square.”

Amy rolled her eyes. “More like the Lunatic of Lycan Square.”

Lana choked on her iced tea. “You were face-to-face with Martha Archer?”

“Not really face-to-face,” I said. I don’t like to disrespect my elders, but there was no way I would get that close to Martha, especially while she was swinging a cane.

“The old lady came up behind us and tried to smack me in the head with her cane,” Amy explained.

“I’m not surprised,” Lana said. “It has nothing to do with her age. Martha always thought she could do whatever she wanted without repercussions.”

Lana stirred her salad. “I would be glad to help you. I have many more contacts than you in the Alpha world. My being with you will get you into drawing rooms that you might not be welcome in if you attempt it alone.”

“That would be great,” I said, wondering how often Martha escapes her nurse.

“Yeah, thank you, Lana,” Amy said. “Even though I never met my biological mother, I can’t let her murderer go unpunished.”

“I understand, and I have a lot of time on my hands lately,” Lana sighed dramatically. “At least I had time to buy myself an early birthday present.”

“Is it red and parked in your driveway?” I teased.

She laughed. “Isn’t it pretty? I simply adore Bugattis.”

“They are sensational,” Amy agreed.

I finished my salad. “If you have nothing to do this afternoon, Amy and I are going shopping for cocktail dresses.”

“Justin’s parents invited me to a party tonight.” Amy grimaced. “I’m glad they invited me, but I’m really nervous.”

“I’d love to go with you. Are you going to Gisele’s?” Lana asked.

“Yes,” Amy replied. “Do you want to drive us?”

Lana laughed once more. “As much as I would love to show off my new toy, it only has two seats. But I would be delighted to take you around the block before we leave in the limousine.”

Amy’s eyes lit up. “That would be fantastic!”

Saunders took away our salad plates and placed a small caramel flan in front of each of us.

Lana waited for him to leave the room before speaking again. “You must be careful and not just of Martha. Andrew’s mother is a lot like Martha, and she’ll hate having the family’s worst scandal revived.”

“Diana, my wolf, warned me before Martha tried to hit Amy with her cane,” I revealed. “She doesn’t like the vibes in the Archer’s home. She says evil lives there.”

“You should listen to her,” Lana advised. “Our wolves can sense many things that we can’t. And I’ve always felt the same way about that house. Something evil lives there, or perhaps it’s a curse.”

We finished our dessert, and Lana took each of us for a quick ride in her new car before going dress shopping.

When it was my turn in the Bugatti, Lana stopped the car down the street, out of Amy’s sight.

She shivered and took my hand. “Promise me you won’t go into the Archer house again without me. Don’t even let Amy go in there with Andrew. He can’t protect her, or Deirdre would still be alive.”