"I just wish they'd catch this guy." Christina sighed.

"He'll be caught. It's only a matter of time." Tayler winced. She wanted to tell her mother that it was a woman who had attacked her, but Christina would not believe a woman could be so evil-just like she hadn't at first.

"What happened to Erica's security system the night of the fire? I'd have thought it would have prevented an arsonist from getting near your house?"

"It malfunctioned. The camera, however, did catch a glimpse of something," Tayler paused.

"What was it?"

"A large black cat. It ran away from the house right before the first explosion."

Christina shook her head. "I should've known."

"Known what?"

"If Erica's involved -and she has been in both attempts- it won't be a male in his early twenties, muscular build and a mustache. It means witches, black cats, fires, curses and things like that."

"Mother, you're starting to sound like some New Age fanatic."

"Tayler, this is serious." Christina stopped talking, while she scooped some fried rice and chicken almond ding on her plate. "I think these attempts have something to do with Erica."

"What?"

"I'm talking witchcraft, Tayler."

"Oh, Mother, please, I-"

"She's dangerous," Christina eyes silently pleaded for her daughter's understanding.

"Well, I'm not scared," Tayler retorted. She drummed her fingers on the table unable to eat her lunch.

"Darling, why don't you come with us to Europe? You'd love it and you could relax. I've never seen you so edgy. There's so much to see and so many opportunities to be seen. I'm sure we could find someone to help you relax."

"Male or female?"

"Whatever you prefer," Christina squeezed Tayler's hand. She took a bite of her chicken.

"Mom?" Tayler began slowly. "When did you realize you preferred women over men-I mean physically?"

Christina chuckled. "Do I have your promise that this won't appear in The Narrator?"

"I promise," Tayler raised her right hand. "Cross my heart and - " she let the rest of the saying go.

Christina's breathed a heavy sigh. "When you were born I thought my life was complete. I was married and had a beautiful baby girl. Life as a new mother was busy and I had you to fill my days, but I began to feel an emptiness deep down inside. At first I thought I was going through postpartum, but then I stopped my charity work, gained fifty pounds and had no interest in s.e.x. Doctors in California told me that I was going through a normal stage and that I would snap out of it. But I didn't. Your father sent me to a clinic in France for treatment."

"And?"

"And that's where I admitted my attraction to women. I'd always been interested in women, but it scared me. When I 'came out' I experienced such deep excitement, pa.s.sion and fear."

"Fear?" The word surprised Tayler. "Why fear?"

"Because I had to come back and face your father."

"I've read the transcripts from the custody case. He was pretty angry with you."

"Pretty angry?" Christina winced. "He was vicious."

"Why?" Tayler looked at her mother, puzzled.

"Because I was his cover."

"I'm not sure I understand," Tayler squinted her eyes in the bright sunlight.

"He had a wife, a little girl who adored him and a beautiful home. He was the top publisher in the country, he was wealthy, good-looking and had a string of mistresses. I blew his world apart by admitting that I preferred women. I threatened his masculinity and his life was suddenly filled with chaos."

"He never told me any of this." Tayler stopped talking. A memory wavered on the brink. "Whenever my birthday or Christmas came and I didn't receive a card or a present from you, he'd use that to demonstrate how awful you were."

"But I did send you cards and gifts," Christina's voice rose. "You have some of the gifts, I've seen them."

"After Dad died I went through his belongings. In a storage closet I found the things you had sent. I think I cried for weeks when I realized how I had let his feelings for you poison my own. That's when I decided to find you. I had been such a fool."

"No, not a fool. Your father loved you and wanted to make you happy. Hopefully, you've come to realize that I did too." Christina's eyes brimmed with tears.

"What's the hardest thing for you about being a lesbian, the religious condemnation or the public hatred?" Tayler had so many questions to ask.

"Society's unwillingness to acknowledge the bond two women or two men can make to one another is rough. Then there's the att.i.tude that h.o.m.os.e.xuality is a sickness. But the hardest part of all is," Christina stopped and squeezed Tayler's hand, "is wondering if your child will someday have to face the same hatred and prejudice that you face."

Tayler coughed. "a.s.suming your child is gay."

"a.s.suming your daughter is spending a lot of time on the fence deciding," Christina smiled knowingly. "Be careful, Tayler. You're a very powerful and attractive woman. There are a lot of sharks out there. And believe me I know - I've slept with some of them." Christina laughed.

"You really love Catherine, don't you?"

"Yes, I really do. She hates the mosquitoes and 'Minnesota nice,' but then she's English, what can I say?" Christina's eyes took in her daughter's facial features. "I love it here but I also love Paris."

"Then go." Tayler stood. "Your flight leaves in five hours and Catherine is probably in hysterics because you're not home yet."

"I'm already packed." Christina took Tayler in her arms. "I really am worried. Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"Absolutely. I'll let you know if something happens," Tayler promised.

"Sure you will," Christina replied sarcastically. "Just like I found out about the fire in the morning paper."

Tayler held up her hands. "How many times do I have to apologize for that one?"

"Just be careful -please." She dug around in her purse. "Here's the number. Call me no matter what, okay?"

"Don't worry, Mom, I've got my crystals handy." Tayler laughed when she saw Christina frown. She opened her mouth to say something but Tayler cut her off, "I've got to get back to work. Have a good time and give Catherine a hug for me."

"I love you, Tayler." Christina tightened her arms around her daughter.

"I love you, too, Mom."

Ten.

The night was uncommonly dark and a fierce wind rattled the windows. The warmth of summer had finally surrendered to the chill of winter. Standing in front of the view, Tayler wrapped her arms around herself though it was warm in her office.

Jane knocked on the open door. "Hey, Tayler, look what just arrived for you." She walked in carrying an ornately wrapped package.

Tayler, however, continued to look out the window. "Jane, when I get back I have to find a place to live."

"Oh no, it sounds like there's trouble in paradise." Jane set the package on Tayler's desk. "Did something happen?"

Tayler shook her head, shivering in the prevailing eeriness of the late hour. She turned around eyeing the expensively wrapped package.

Jane looked at Tayler, "I've never seen such exquisite wrapping before. It's really unusual." The 'paper' was black velvet. Silver stars and crescent moons danced across the its surface.

The bow and ribbon were silver and sparkled in the evening light. "Should we guess who it's from?"

"No," Tayler ran her fingers through her hair.

Jane lifted a ribbon and ran it through her fingers. "If you ask me I think you've fallen in love."

"I didn't ask." Tayler stared at Jane and then looked away.

"Tayler, I've been your friend for twenty-five years and your editor for fifteen. I've seen you conquer the hula hoop and city hall. Don't you think I've noticed your behavior these past weeks? You rush out of meetings to find out if you have any messages, you cancel lunch engagements right and left, and you bounce from one topic to the next without a thought."

"That obvious, huh?" Tayler coughed. Her voice ebbed and flowed like the tide. It was still strained with occasional instances of clarity.

"I bet this is from her," Jane pointed to the gift box. "I think she's both attracted to and afraid of you."

"Why would she be afraid of me?"

"Because you're a writer and you work for a magazine. Everyone knows how much she dislikes publicity."

Tayler thought about Jane's theory. "I know. I haven't written a word about her, yet because of me, one of her houses was burned to the ground and her arm was sliced. I don't think she appreciates the attention." Tayler shook her head. "I seriously doubt she's happy with me for shining a spotlight on her private life."

"From what you've told me I think she's mad about you. So open the box and see if it's from her," Jane coaxed.

"Wasn't there a card with it?" Tayler asked.

"Elite gift shops place the card inside the box," Jane winked at Tayler and walked to the door.

"Don't you want to stay and see what it is?"

Jane shook her head. "I've got a few errands to do tonight and I'm already behind."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow," Tayler eyed the package.

She had never received such a magnificently wrapped gift before. Tayler slowly untied the bow and removed the paper from the box.

"Tayler!"

"G.o.d, Jane, you scared me half to death," Tayler pulled herself away from the package. "What are you - "

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Jane warned, "Get away from the box,"

Tayler looked down and saw the cover move. "s.h.i.t!"

Jane's voice was low but urgent. "Back up slowly. Don't make any sudden moves."

"What is it?" Tayler whispered, her nerves straining against the sudden surprise. She felt her way from the desk with her hands, her eyes never leaving the box.

"Tayler, stay where you are, don't move," Jane inched her way out of the office. "I'm going to call security. Just don't make any sudden moves."

A three foot black snake with blue and white stripes slithered out of the box. It slipped its way down the desk and on to the floor.

Hurry, Jane, Tayler's mind screamed.

The snake moved silently closer, its tongue darting in and out. The sound of hissing filled the quiet office. Tayler could hear Jane's high-pitched voice calling for help.

The snake was now two feet from Tayler. She held her breath and forced herself to look past the snake. She knew that staring at a dog made them feel threatened, but she didn't know if the same logic applied to snakes.

Inches from Tayler the snake coiled, its body swaying in the heaviness of the air.

A large shadow flew past Tayler's shoulder and landed squarely on the snake.

Tayler felt herself yanked from behind.

"Get out, Tayler - " Jane screamed.

In her car on the way to Tayler's office, Erica was grateful for the silence. The past months had been filled with too many questions and no answers. Now it seemed signs were appearing. Though she sensed a quiver of hope, her growing desire for Tayler terrified her. She knew too well that if she acted on her feelings Tayler would die. She tried to stay away from Tayler, afraid that she would succ.u.mb to Tayler's beauty and energy, but tonight she needed to take Tayler home and try to explain the curse.

When she arrived at Tayler's office she was shocked to see six police cars with lights flashing parked in front of the building. She jumped out of her car and ran to the entrance.

"I'm sorry, miss, but you can't go in. This building is off limits." A police officer stopped Erica.

"It's okay, officer, you can let her through," Detective Steffan emerged from a crowd of police officers. "Why don't we go in and have a chat, Ms. Laird?"

The officer raised the yellow tape for Erica. Steffan took her by the arm and led her to an empty conference room on the first floor. The table was filled with used Styrofoam cups and smelled of cigarette smoke. Steffan sat down across the table from Erica. His eyes moved slowly across her face.

"Detective, what's going on here?" Erica's eyes rapidly shifted from Steffan's face to the door.