Heroes of Falledge Book One: Black Hellebore (23 page)

He closed his eyes and opened them again. She was still there.

"You know, I've never stopped praying for you. I always thought of you as one of the family, as a son. Harold and I both did."

"I should have come back a long time ago." He stared at the fancy-looking tablecloth. Mrs. Paige might not have had a ton of money to work with, but she knew how to make a house a home with small touches.

"I'm just glad you're here now. Are you staying long?"

"I'm staying at Ginny's for now."

"Oh good! She loves you, too. And Julianna? Have you seen her yet? Did you know she's the sheriff now? It's a shame what happened to Sheriff Higgins. He was a good man."

Nicholas looked up. Justina was still sitting across from him, her head titled to the side. She looked like a doe, so youthful and innocent, at odds with her rebellious nature.

"Well, I'm so glad you stopped by, but I have to get going and open the library." Mrs. Paige patted his hand again and stood. She whisked their cups away and herded him to the door. "Thank you so much for the visit. If you get the chance, stop by tonight. Harold will be around. Maybe Julianna will answer my call and we can have you both over for dinner. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Nicholas mumbled something, and Mrs. Paige drove off, waving the entire time. He wasn't sure what he'd expected, but for Mrs. Paige to accept him right back into the family shocked him. He'd missed her warmth and loving nature. She'd been like a second mother, after his foster mother Mrs. Perry.

Vowing to himself to track down Mr. Perry once Skull Krusher had been dealt with, Nicholas headed to work. He'd visit Gavina on his lunch break. His time with Mrs. Paige had taken too long, although he wished it had been even longer.

The replacement laboratory was starting to come along, and Nicholas wondered if any of the workers knew about the death of their employer. Harry didn't seem to, busy barking orders as usual.

Nicholas kept his head down and worked hard. Shortly before lunch, he overheard someone saying they had a ton of DVDs to sell, as well as an HD player. Nicholas looked over his shoulder to the speaker, and his fingers curled into a fist. It was the burglar he hadn't been able to apprehend.

He stalked over and deliberately shoved into the guy.

"Hey, watch where you're going, buddy!"

Nicholas whirled around. "Are you talking to me?"

"You're the one who walked into me, so yeah." The guy puffed out his chest, trying, but failing, to look macho.

"I didn't see you there."

"Well, I'm waiting for my apology."

The other guys snickered.

"I'm not apologizing." Nicholas crossed his arms, deliberately flexing his muscles.

The jerk shoved him.

Nicholas held his ground.

The guy shoved him again.

Nicholas didn't move.

The guy dove at him, and Nick allowed himself to be knocked to the ground. The thief cocked back his elbow to punch Nicholas, when Harry grabbed his arm. "What the hell is goin' on here?"

"He bumped into me!"

Harry looked from the guy to Nicholas as he stood up. "Did ya?"

Nicholas shrugged.

"Stand over there, Jake. I'll talk to you in a minute."

The burglar grumbled before strutting to his friends like an over-inflated rooster.

Harry grabbed Nicholas by the arm so they couldn't be overheard. "What happened? You're one of my best workers."

"If you have to fire me, then fire me." Nicholas stared at the dust covering his boots. If he had no job, he wouldn't be able to help Ginny out. He had taken it upon himself to fix the rest of her house, one project at a time, after he'd mastered the art of refraining from using his superpowers during his week "off."

Why he had picked a fight with Jake he didn't know. Hadn't even really fought the guy, had been too afraid he'd kill him accidentally.

"Are ya crazy? No one's getting' fired." Harry glanced at Jake before leaning closer to Nicholas. "If I could, I would fire Jake. He's lazy and a bum, but he's a cousin so I feel like I owe him. I do know he's troubled and wouldn't be surprised if he... Well, anyhow, I'll switch his shift so ya two don't have to work together."

"It wasn't much of a scuffle. Is that necessary?"

"You're still new here. He's gotten into plenty of scuffles. He'll work at night now. Maybe he'll stay out of trouble then."

Nicholas nodded and jerked his thumb to the street. "Gonna grab some food. Be back in a few."

Harry had already motioned Jake over.

Nicholas walked down the block, glanced around to make sure no one was looking his way, and took off for Gavina's. She had been gardening but stood before he halted in front of a beautiful flower. "What's this?"

"Don't touch. It's poisonous." She smiled sweetly. "Not everything that looks pretty is."

He crossed his arms and tapped his foot. "You let that guy get away."

Now her grin turned cunning, and she wagged a long finger at him. "That's what you think."

He cocked an eyebrow.

She giggled and clapped her hands. "Let's just say he's in for a nasty surprise if he tries to break into another place. And no matter how much you beg, I'm not giving you more detail than that." She giggled again. "It's not something a lady should speak of." Gavina batted her eyes.

"Okay..."

Her gaiety disappeared, and she crossed her arms. "Why are you here? What do you want?"

Her sudden sour mood surprised him. "What's wrong?"

"You're shutting me out!" she whined. "You were supposed to tell me how I can help. What's going on, Black Hellebore? I keep scrying, but every time I try to see you, it's now fuzzy. I'm helpless."

Nicholas looked up and down the street.

She placed her hands on her hips. "No one's around, and besides, I spelled the place so no one can hear what's going on, on my property."

Cool... but what if her place caught on fire and she wasn't around?

"I would see that in my scrying. I always scry before I leave."

"And you can read minds now?"

"Just faces. Now spill."

Despite her spell, Nicholas whispered to her. Her eyes grew wider and wider as he described the beast.

"I've been having nightmares about it!"

He must have looked skeptical because she motioned him to follow her into the house. In her bedroom -- which was dark with lots of red: black walls, red carpet, black bed frame, red sheets, black curtains, red windows -- she grabbed a portfolio from on top of an ornate chest at the foot of her bed.

Nick took it from her and flipped through it. Page after page was filled with various pictures of the beast. A chill made his body shiver, and he shuddered. The exactness of her drawings struck him. Beyond eerie.

"Here I thought they were just nightmares." She smacked her hands together. "Should've known better."

"Did you have any dreams about a skeleton?"

Gavina started to shake her head, then stopped and slowly nodded. "Yes. Just one. But I don't remember much about it."

"Any idea how to destroy an invincible skeleton?"

"He has to have a weakness. He can't be invincible. Even you aren't."

He grimaced. "Thanks for the reminder. But I have no idea how to kill him." He brightened. "What about that poisonous plant, could that help any?"

"Naw, that just causes skin irritation."

"Any other plants? Spells? Potions?"

"I'll do some research and let you know what I find out tonight." She walked him to the door, her hand on the knob. "If you want my help, Black Hellebore, it's going to be with everything. With fighting crime, and that beast, and Skull Krusher."

"Gavina..."

"All or nothing. You need my help, and you know it." She removed her hand from the knob and leaned against the door, her arms crossed again, barring his way. "Deal?"

"Why do I have a feeling that deals made with witches are no better than deals made with the devil?"

She giggled. "But I'm a cute witch."

"How does that make any difference?"

"So you do think I'm cute."

Nicholas groaned. "You aren't going to let me leave without agreeing, are you?"

She shook her head. Today her earrings were dangling rosebuds that opened and closed. "And don't even think about running away."

Of course, he tried to do exactly that, only his feet didn't move. "What the--"

Gavina stared at him, not a hint of laughter or mirth in her features.

"Fine. Deal."

She held out her hand. He reluctantly shook it. An electric current ran up his arm to his heart, and he sucked in a deep breath at the same time she did.

"What did you do to me?"

Gavina's smile was dark. She stepped away and held up her hand. The door opened by itself.

Nicholas bolted back to work. Maybe aligning himself with the witch wasn't a good idea, but he did need all the help he could get.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Once Dr. Richards' body was taken care of, Julianna asked Earnest, one of Lightmeadow's deputies, to help her carry the boxes out of the doctor's car and into a small room in the back of her station. He offered to help her go through them, but she declined.

While eating a large bowl of salad with walnuts on top, she sorted through the papers. It didn't take her long to realize she wouldn't be able to decipher them.

About twenty minutes later, Hunter Walter strolled in.

"Hello, Hunter, I'm Sheriff Paige. You can call me Julianna. Thank you for coming out here."

"You said on the phone it was urgent." A tall, thin man, Hunter held himself in rigid manner, as if he wasn't quite comfortable in his skin. He wrung his hands.

"Yes. I'm afraid--"

"Alan Richards is dead." His hands stopped moving, and he momentarily closed his eyes.

"How did you know?"

"You don't climb to the top without making a lot of enemies."

"It seems the doctor's last wish was to help you climb to the top." Julianna handed him the will.

Hunter barely looked at it. "Are these his things?" He nodded to the boxes and papers around them.

"Yes, but I can't give them to you just yet. We're investigating his murder, and they're evidence."

"May I?" He reached toward a paper.

She nodded.

He looked it over and picked up another. "His old formulas."

"For his medicine?"

"The ones that failed. Doctor Richards was an obsessive man. He was always trying to figure out why things went wrong, as they sometimes did."

Side by side, Julianna and Hunter went through each piece of paper. None of it made sense to Julianna, and she had to rely on Hunter's knowledge. She wasn't a chemist, and she had no way to know if he was telling her the truth or not.

After they looked at the last binder, Hunter closed it and began to pack up the papers.

"Did you know about the doctor's connection to the mob?"

Hunter narrowed his eyes. "Doctor Richards had been a fool to hire Karl Coleman in the first place."

"Not many people will tell Big Don no. Especially when it comes to his son."

"True, but you have to be stupid to tell him yes, only to backtrack later and say no."

Julianna raised her eyebrows. "The laboratory accident, can you tell me your thoughts on that?"

"It wasn't an accident. It was sabotage."

"By?" This Hunter was a shrewd man. She wasn't sure if she appreciated his knowledge or not.

"Someone working for the mob. Is it all right if I take these now?"

Julianna pursed her lips. There was nothing here she could use. As for the investigation, she already knew who had killed the doctor. She had no reason to keep the papers. "Go ahead. Would you like me to help you load them into your car?"

He shook his head, and a short time later, she found herself alone in the station. Sheriff Palmerton had offered her deputies some from his force. She might have to take him up on that offer.

She stood and walked to Higgins' coffee maker. His wife had donated it to the station after his death. Today was the first time she remembered not brewing an entire pot for them all to enjoy. The machine percolated, and the scent of hazelnut filled her nose. Logan hated hazelnut so she had gone without it ever since he'd joined the force.

The door opened, and she jerked to attention. "Can I help--Mom? What are you doing here?"

Her mom strolled over and gave her a fierce hug. "You haven't been returning my calls. Before you say anything, I know you're busy, and I get that, but we live right next door and you used to show up all the time. I miss you. So does your father."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Here, I brought lunch. It's not much. Some lasagna and garlic bread."

"Mmm." Julianna heated up the plate, and the divine scent of homemade cooking filled the air. "Thank you."

Her mom watched her eat, and Julianna enjoyed every bite. Her mom was a wonderful cook, even made the noodles herself. Julianna never bothered to pick up her mother's tips. Justina had learned most of the baking hints, although she hadn't been one to spend a ton of time in the kitchen, either.

"I had a visitor this morning."

"Oh?" Julianna smiled, not surprised her mom had an ulterior motive for showing up.

"Did you know Nick Adams is back in town?"

Julianna coughed on the last piece of bread. Her mom patted her back, and she swallowed the last mouthful of coffee. "What did he say?"

"He's staying with Ginny. He's all grown up now. I can hardly believe it. Almost didn't recognize him! So tall and strong."

"Did he mention..."

"Justina?
I
did. He turned out to be such a wonderful boy. I invited him to dinner tonight, and I would love for you to be there, too."

Julianna touched her warming cheek. She had wanted to know if he had mentioned
her.
Why would he, though? Why visit her parents at all?

"Please say you'll come. I already told your father you would."

"I'll be there."

"Good. Wear something nice, dear."

Julianna gaped. Was her mom trying to set her up with Nick?

"Close your mouth. You look rather... worn. Put on some makeup. And heels. Dinner will be served at six." With a peck on her cheek, her mom waved and left.