2 Spirit of Denial (12 page)

His eyes never left Clara's, though, and she knew he wanted nothing more than to be gripping her hand in comfort.  He smiled at her adoringly and said, "Lovely dress."

And Clara began to laugh until tears streamed down her face.

W
esley and Clara hobbled out of the house just as a black police wagon pulled up.  Leading the wagon was the hansom cab and driver who had helped Clara earlier.

He doffed his hat.  "Forgive me for being so presumptuous, misses," he stammered.  "It just seemed you needed help and I wanted to make sure that you had all the aid you needed."

One look at Clara's torn and bloodied clothes, the shiner that was beginning to appear on Wesley's cheek from his fight with Pauline, and the police began jumping out of the back and swarmed by them up the stairs to subdue whomever was inside.

"Thank you," said Clara, touched by this driver's thoughtfulness.  "That was very wise." 

Wesley held out his hand to the man.  "Neither of us would have survived if not for your quick service, and the police are most welcome.  Tell me, what is your name?"

"Most folks call me Red," the freckled cabbie said, his pale skin blushing almost as bright as his hair.

"We wouldn't have had an idea what was going on here if it wasn't for him," came a familiar female voice.

Clara looked over and beamed.  "Marguerite!"

Their old companion was on her feet, walking with a cane, but out of the hospital and looking hale.

Marguerite pointed her cane at Clara.  "Next time, let the proper authorities deal with matters like this will you?  You could have gotten yourself killed."

"You have my word," Clara laughed, leaning heavily upon Wesley.  "I promise."

"And I shall hold her to it," said Wesley, smiling into her bright eyes.

"Mrs. O'Hare?" Marguerite said, looking up at the scientist's home.  "Trouble seems to have a nasty habit of finding you."

"It seems," said Clara.  "Though, I am hoping to buck this trend immediately."

"Red said you were in great need of assistance and it was a matter of life and death.  Care to explain?"

"I believe that we have found the source of all the recent murders," Wesley informed her.

"Well done!" said Marguerite, pleased.

"You'll find the culprit inside, a Mr. Phineas Stokeman down in the basement.  He was truly deranged and confessed to all of the killings before he passed away."

"Really?" said Marguerite, one eyebrow arched as she saw through their white lie.  "Confessed to everything?"

A constable was escorting Pauline gently out of the house just in time for her to overhear this exchange.

"He did, ma'am," piped up Pauline.  "I heard him myself.  I'm a witness.  He was trying to kill me, too."

Marguerite gave a who-am-I-to-argue shrug and turned to the officer with Pauline.  "Well, we have three people who will swear to his confession.  I think that will hold up in any court, don't you?"

He nodded in agreement.

"You will also find a scientist inside who is in need of medical attention," said Clara.  "Mr. Stokeman attempted to kill him.  It was quite violent and I would not be surprised if he is raving a bit when he wakes.  He might even tell you stories of mummies and curses!  Poor man..."

"Ah," said Marguerite understandingly.  "There are so many tricks the mind can play.  I shall make sure to let him know his delusions are unfounded."

A constable came running out of the house.  "Ma'am, I think you should come and see this..." he said.

Marguerite gave a curt nod to Clara and Wesley.  She said to Wesley, "Take Clara home.  And keep her out of trouble, will you?"

"It would be my pleasure," he replied, looking down at Clara with love in his eyes.

"Thank you," said Pauline, interrupting them.  "Both of you."

"Of course," said Wesley, reaching out his hand to take hers.

"I knew you were good folks when you came to see me, but I couldn't talk, ya see.  There was something, it was like there was something forcing my mouth to make words I didn't want it to make," she confessed.

"I understand," said Clara, remembering the queen's compulsion down in the basement.  "We understand completely."

"Can we take you home?" said Wesley.

Pauline looked up at the sky.  "Naw.  I sort of feel like maybe I want to walk a bit.  Maybe have some quiet time to think about things and such.  It's been so long since I felt like me.  I just want to enjoy that feeling for a little while."  She was immediately apologetic, as if what she said was somehow offensive, "If ya don't mind and all.  You both seem very nice."

"No offense taken whatsoever."

"I'm sorry I tried to kill you," she apologized awkwardly.

"These things happen," replied Clara.

"They do?" said Pauline.

Clara looked up at Wesley gratefully.  "Yes, they do."

Pauline gave them a little wave and headed down the street.  One of the constables rushed up to her to get her information.  She gave him a couple words and then started walking, alone, to the end of the block and turned out of sight.

Clara and Wesley watched her until she was out of sight.

"I am grateful she didn't kill you," said Clara.

"As am I," Wesley said.

"I couldn't stand to lose two men that I loved in one lifetime."

Wesley looked down at her. "I should like to kiss you right here in the middle of the street."

Clara laughed and then looked over at the waiting cab. "Red?  Would you take us home?"

"It would be a pleasure, misses."

He opened up the door to the cab and waited as Wesley and Clara climbed inside.  The trip to Clara's little house upon the square was too short, the journey broken up with tender caresses and silent kisses.

As the cab pulled up to the townhouse, Wesley helped Clara out of the cab.

Clara's blood froze in her veins. "Minnie," she whispered.

The ghost of Wesley’s sister was standing on the front porch as clear as day to Clara, but Wesley looked wildly about, unable to perceive her.

"Oh!  Looks like you have company!" Red said, giving Minnie a wave. 

"Can you see her?" Clara asked in surprise.

"Of course, misses. My eyesight isn't as good as when I was a lad, but I can see from here to your steps without any problem."

Minnie gave Clara a smile and Clara understood.  She turned to the cab driver and said, "I do say, Red, I feel that perhaps fate has brought us together.  Something in my bones says that we shall have many interesting days ahead of us."

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Thank you!

M
aryland Distinguished Scholar in the Arts and twenty year veteran of stage and screen, Kate Danley received her B.S. in theatre from Towson University.

Her debut novel,
The Woodcutter
, was honored with the Garcia Award for the Best Fiction Book of the Year, named the 1st Place Fantasy Book in the Reader Views Literary Awards, and won the Sci-Fi/Fantasy category in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

Other titles include: 
Maggie for Hire, Maggie Get Your Gun,
and
5:00 Breakout
.

Her plays have been produced in New York, Los Angeles, and Maryland. Her screenplay
Fairy Blood
won 1st Place in the Breckenridge Festival of Film Screenwriting Competition in the Action/Adventure Category and her screenplay
American Privateer
was a 2nd Round Choice in the Carl Sautter Memorial Screenwriting Competition.

Her films and shorts
The Playhouse
,
Dog Days
,
Sock Zombie
,
SuperPout
, and
Sports Scents
can be seen in festivals and on the internet.

She lost on Hollywood Squares.

For more info visit
www.katedanley.com

T
he Woodcutter

Winner of the Garcia Award for

Best Fiction Book of the Year

1
^st
Place Fantasy Book

Reader Views Reviewers Choice Awards

Winner of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Category

Indie Book Awards

Available in Paperback & e-Book

Queen Mab

W
hen Faunus, the god of daydreams, breaks the heart of Queen Mab, revenge can be the only answer.  Using the most powerful families in Verona, they wage their war against one another, and place their final bets upon the heads of two teenagers, one named Romeo and the other named Juliet.

But when Queen Mab falls in love with a gentleman named Mercutio, everything changes and she will do anything, even if it means destroying the world, to save him.  Will it be enough to stop the tragedy?  Or only spur it forward to its terrible end?

Weaving Shakespeare's original text into a new fantasy, fans of The Woodcutter will delight in this loving retelling by award-winning author Kate Danley.  Experience the romance and passion of Romeo & Juliet from a different point of view - through the eyes of the bringer of dreams... Queen Mab.

Maggie MacKay

Magical Tracker Series