Heroes of Falledge Book One: Black Hellebore (20 page)

Which was in process of being rebuilt. Nothing would stop him. He had climbed his way to the top, he would get there again. After all, he was one of the most respected chemists in his field.

He lifted his chin and looked up at the hatred burning in Lewis' eyes, and his hardened resolve crumbled into pitiful fear.

Lewis pressed his hands against on either side of Alan's face. Before he could squeeze fully, Alan jerked backward so swiftly his chair tipped over. The sudden movement freed his head from Lewis' grip, and the monster flew through the glass window behind Alan's desk.

Alan didn't hesitate nor waste precious seconds to see if Lewis had fallen the fifteen stories to the ground. He had a feeling such a fall wouldn't kill the skeleton -- if anything
could
kill him.

He raced down the stairs, hopped in his car, and drove away. If Lewis chose to destroy his headquarters, so be it. As long as Alan still breathed, he still had his formulas and equations to recreate his drugs. His brain was all he needed to try again.

Which might be what Lewis wants,
a tiny voice in the back of his head said.

*****

Julianna stared at the building before her. With a stark white paint job, it looked too clean and professional, and at complete odds with the dim interior inside. The police station.

Her police station.

She lingered outside, staring at the green grass, the bushes that begged for trimming, the weeds waiting to be plucked. She was stalling and she knew it, but each time she walked inside, their deaths hit her like a huge blow all over again.

It was almost dinnertime now, and she should go home. She wasn't eating enough. A fender bender had called her out of the station, and instead of returning to her place, she found herself here. Again.

Maybe she should set up a cot. She was hardly home anymore, and she never saw Nick anymore either.

It pained her, but perhaps it was for the best.

She took one step forward when tires squealed behind her. Whirling around, she saw Dr. Richards climb out of his car.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her tone sharp, her fatigue instantly banished.

His face white, he glanced over his shoulder, up and down the street. He grabbed her arm and practically dragged her into the station.

Once he closed the door behind them, she jerked herself free of his steel grasp. "What's going on?" she demanded.

Trembling like a leaf, he looked ready to collapse. She brought over a chair. It squeaked against the floor. He sat down, his head in his hands. When he lifted it a moment later, his eyes were clear and some of his usual haughtiness returned. "I'm sorry."

She poured him the remainder of the pot of coffee she made this morning. Although it had to be nasty by now, he drained it.

Maybe he wasn't here to talk. Maybe he just came here to be safe. Well, screw him and his secrets. She needed answers if she was going to prevent any more deaths.

"Doctor Richards--"

"I don't want to--"

"The other day, a monster attacked me. A huge feline. Was there an incident at the laboratory before the night it collapsed?" She stared at him until he looked away to pick a piece of lint off his pants.

After a long moment of silence, he stared at her, an incredulous expression on his face. "A monster? Having nightmares lately?"

Her palm itched like mad, wanting to connect with his cheek. He was so obviously lying, without even blinking an eye!

"What did this so-called monster look like?"

"Huge. Massive. Tusks..." She clenched her teeth until her jaw hurt. She did have nightmares every night, for the hour or two that she lay in bed. Always the same: the monster and the strange guy, attacking her, killing her... For some reason, the guy would change into a skeleton. Yes, the guy had been on the pale side, but a skeleton? At least she knew it was a nightmare when he transformed. Belatedly, she realized the doctor was waiting for her to go on. "Two rows of teeth--"

"Three."

"Excuse me?"

Dr. Richards handed her back the mug, not looking at her.

So, she had been right! What could have created that monster? Could the doctor have had something to do with it?

"I think I saw Lewis then, later on that day," she said slowly, gauging his reaction.

"O-oh?" He jumped to his feet. "Listen, Lewis isn't himself. He's... well, he's beyond dangerous. He's a lunatic with delusions."

At the scene, her intense focus on Logan and the sheriff prevented her from getting a good look at the guy. Besides, Nick could deal with him. By the time the guy vanished, her overwhelming grief clouded any questions, including how Nick allowed that to happen. Like it or not, she must pay him a visit soon. "Delusions?"

"He attacked me."

"When? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. My headquarters might not be."

Julianna walked over to Sheriff Higgins' -- her -- desk and touched the receiver. "Should I send a team over?" She had been relying on Lightmeadow to pitch in lately. Asking for help had never been her strong suit, and now she knew it never would be.

He nodded and tilted his head toward the restroom. "Excuse me."

She called and asked Sheriff Palmerton to send an armed team to Richards' headquarters. Thankfully, Palmerton didn't give her any grief, but the pity in his voice grated her. She hated that everyone tiptoed around her. She wasn't going to crack. She would have already if she was going to.

The bell on the front door jingled, and she jumped up. Nick held up a fast food bag. "I know it's not much, but I thought we could have dinner together."

He wore a sheepish smile. Despite his muscles, he looked like a boy hoping to impress a date. He walked over and placed the bag on the desk. Her stomach growled.

"I take it that's a yes." He sounded so pleased she had to laugh.

"Just this once."

"You're the one who could use meat on her bones."

The mirror agreed with him. And, as she eyed him from head to toe, he had more muscle than she remembered, although he didn't look like one of those bodybuilder freaks who were only that big because of steroids. How much of him was him, and how much of it was because of his superpowers, she had no way to tell.

"Where have you been?" She unwrapped a chicken sandwich and took a small bite.

"Working at the laboratory."

"That's it?" She crinkled the wrapper. Somehow, she had finished it already. She hadn't realized how hungry she was. He handed her another one. After a short hesitation, she bit into it.

"I had to cool it, remember?"

"Right, because of your heart thing."

He swallowed before answering. "Yeah, it speeds up too fast. Not good."

She wiped some sauce from her lips and licked her finger. Nick watched her closely, a different kind of hunger in his eyes, and she blushed. "My heart's beating a little fast."

He stepped closer to her so the length of their bodies touched. "Is that right?"

"Right. Right," she murmured, closing her eyes, parting her lips.

"Ahem."

Damn Dr. Richards!

She jumped back. "A team has been sent to the headquarters. Do you want me to escort you there?"

"Actually, I was hoping I might stay here a little longer."

Nick looked back and forth between them, his brows furrowed.

She touched the doctor's shoulder to calm him. "Afraid he'll come after you again?" She already knew this was true, but she couldn't help jabbing him.

The doctor sat down on a chair and closed his eyes.

Nick held her hand. "What's going on?" he whispered. "Anything the Black Hellebore needs to know?"

Julianna smiled. To think she had wanted to arrest Nick for murder. He may have committed a crime in the past but, until she had proof and a full confession, she could do nothing about it. Right now, that was so far down the to-do list it might not even be on the list anymore. "That guy at the..."

"Go on."

She smiled again, glad he didn't need her to be more specific. "I think that was Lewis Lichman. He's the suspect in the laboratory incident."

Nick mumbled something.

"Pardon?"

"Stay away from him. He's a job for..." He glanced over toward the doctor.

Julianna guided Nick into a soundproof interrogation room. "The Black Hellebore? Why?"

"Because he's not Lewis anymore."

"What are you talking about?"

"He goes by Skull Krusher now. He has powers, too. From the chemicals he spilled."

"Oh. Oh!" Her eyes widened. "And I sent a team to the headquarters. He might still be there. I have to go!" She started to leave.

Nick grabbed her arm. "They're trained to do their job. They'll be fine."

"But I wouldn't be?" Did he honestly think her the damsel in distress type?

"What about the doc? What if Skull Krusher comes after him again?"

"You babysit him. I have to go. I can't leave them to walk into what might be a trap."

"
You
babysit..." He tilted his head, and she could see his gears turning, trying to guess Skull whatever's next move. Nicholas sighed. "Fine."

He pulled her against him again. When his lips brushed hers, she moaned.

"Don't do anything dangerous," he murmured in her ear.

She smiled against his cheek, nuzzling him. "Don't do anything stupid."

"Don't joke. I'm being serious. I can't lose you. Not after..."

Julianna bristled, closing up like a thorny flower, and stepped out of his embrace. "I won't die on you like Justina did, don't worry."

"That's not what I meant!" he protested, reaching for her.

She pivoted on her heel and raced out of the building.

Driving like a madwoman -- using the sheriff's car -- she tore through the city toward the headquarters. At a red light, she spied a huge house on a nearby hill. The most luxurious house in all of Falledge, and it belonged to Dr. Richards.

His wife. Could she be home? Was it possible Skull whatever might think the doctor had gone home to hide?

Radioing in for the others to be careful and to consider the suspect incredibly dangerous even without weapons, she floored the gas and zoomed to the estate. The sound of glass breaking almost camouflaged her tires squealing as she slammed on the brakes. She gripped her gun and climbed out of the car in time to see a white figure jump from the balcony, and then the thing was gone. Vanished.

A quick look around showed no signs of the figure, and Julianna began to wonder if she had seen anything in the first place. She rushed to the front door, glass crunching beneath her soles. It stood ajar. She toed it open and called out, "Mrs. Richards? Are you home? This is Julianna Paige, deputy... Sheriff of Falledge. I'm coming inside."

She entered the house, and a chill ran down her spine. The place was a mess. Furniture overturned, knocked paintings, glass and broken dishes and vases everywhere. Careful to watch her footing while keeping her eyes peeled for Mrs. Richards, Julianna walked farther inside.

"Mrs. Richards? Are you all right?"

She followed the path of chaos, which led her to a grand staircase. Taking two steps at a time, she quickly reached the top. The door in front of her was half closed, a puddle of blood oozing out from beneath it.

Julianna burst into the room. Mrs. Richards lay on the ground. Julianna pressed her fingers to her neck. She eased the woman onto her back and immediately wished she hadn't. Mrs. Richards' chest had been crushed, completely caved in, her once-white blouse stained a vibrant, vivid red at odds with her ghostly pallor.

With trembling fingers, Julianna grabbed her radio. It crackled to life before she could say anything. "Sheriff Paige, the headquarters is secure. There's some vandalism, but no sign of the perp."

"Roger that. I need a crime scene team at the Richards' residence."

"Do you need an ambulance?"

There was no mistaking the glassy look in Mrs. Richards' gray eyes. "Negative. Send the coroner." She eased the woman's eyes shut and closed her own eyes, rocking gently back and forth, hugging herself. She had to be strong. Her town was falling apart. She could not let that happen.

But she couldn't do it alone.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Nicholas paced back and forth around the sleeping doctor's chair. How the guy could sleep now Nicholas didn't know. He also didn't know why the mob boss hadn't contacted him again. Considering Big Don didn't seem like the type of guy willing to sit around and wait for results, it was most curious.

On his next pass around, Nicholas purposely kicked the doctor's shoes. He grunted and opened an eye. Seeing Nicholas, he grunted again and closed it.

Nicholas bent down in front of him. "Wake up. Time to talk."

"You're just my bodyguard. I don't have to tell you anything."

"If you want me to protect you, you better start spilling the beans. Why does Skull Krusher want you dead? Because you created him?"

That got the doctor to look at him. "Skull Krusher?"

"Yeah. Apt name, since he likes to kill people by crushing their skulls."

The doctor paled and turned away. "I didn't create him."

"Your drugs or chemicals, or whatever, did."

"Okay, if you want to be technical, I didn't voluntarily or directly create him. That was never my intention."

"He's a skeleton now."

The doctor winced, his thin shoulders jerking at an angle. "His bones must be super strong now. Unbreakable."

"That's why bullets bounce off of him."

"Most likely."

"What else?"

"Excuse me?" Some of the fear disappeared from the doctor's eyes, replaced with confusion.

"Would he have any other... mutations?"

"He has no nose, so no sense of smell. Not sure how his bones can feel, if they feel. Skin touches, not bone...Without being able to properly study him and run tests, I have no idea what he is capable of."

Tests. Nicholas snorted, imagining Gavina attempting to run tests on the skeleton, picturing Skull Krusher killing the witch.

He shook the image away. "With his super bones, he'd have super strength?"