Pretty Witches All in a Row (32 page)

Smiling around a mouth full of sandwich, Annaliese nodded, chewing before she began recounting her experience to him.  Listening with avid interest, Nick at first attributed her experience to an overactive imagination, until she mentioned details that he hadn’t shared with her.  While he couldn’t remember if he’d told her about the different water in Seraphine’s lungs or not, he knew he hadn’t mentioned the traces of dirt in the sink.  Plus the stab wounds on Meiliyn being inflicted post-mortem, he was fairly certain that hadn’t come up before either.  And this new death… it wasn’t like anything they’d come across before in their investigation; were there even more victims they knew nothing about?

“Alright… we know that the killer is a woman, check.”  He pulled out his little notepad.  “She has long, dark hair, check.  At one point she had a gold locket necklace, check.”

“I could try to draw a picture of the design on it, it might be a clue to her identity, she seemed very fond of it.”  Annaliese offered between bites. 

“That would be helpful, thanks.  Is there anything I missed?”

“I’m also pretty sure she was around in the 1940’s, that’s definitely the feel I had for the last vision.”

“That would make her what… eighty five, ninety years old then?” 

“Maybe…”  Annaliese sat forward in her chair, pushing aside the empty plate.  “I was thinking about this… the energy that goes through her when she kills… what if it’s… I don’t know… restoring her life force or something?  Kind of like a life force vampire if such a thing exists?  She’s definitely working a spell when she kills them, and after she killed that woman in the 40’s… she felt so powerful and alive… I can’t compare it to anything I’ve ever felt before.”

“Careful, you’re not gonna start killing witches to try and duplicate it now, are you?” he laughed nervously and she rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Don’t be silly, of course not,” she pushed at his shoulder playfully.  “Oh God, you didn’t really mean that, did you Nick?” Annaliese gaped at him.  “Hey, I admit it, I’m a little buzzed by what happened, but it’s from the success of the visions.  Like I said, I’ve never done anything like that before, that doesn’t mean I’m going to turn into a junkie over it,” her frown deepened. 

“No, I know, it was a bad joke, sorry.”  Nick reached out to cover her hand with his.  

“It’s alright,” she smiled back at him, turning her hand up and threading her fingers through his.  “I am feeling a lot more like my regular self now; I think the food helped, thanks.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” Nick smiled, giving her fingers a brief squeeze.

“Where does that leave us now?” 

“I’ve got to head back to Troyer’s precinct by four o’clock,” he frowned; he wasn’t looking forward to leaving her alone again.  Maybe there was a way he could bring her with him?  Not into the briefing itself but at least into the bullpen to wait for him.  Sure, it’d earn him a tongue wagging from Troyer at best and Captain Quinn at worst, but overall it might be worth it.

“I should really get that stuff cleaned up upstairs.”  Annaliese rose from the table, bringing her dirty dishes to the sink. 

“Oh hey, I meant to ask you, why don’t you have a ritual room like Skye or Seraphine did?” Nick remembered suddenly. 

“I don’t do a lot of formal rituals on my own.  I’m usually with the circle when I do something elaborate and we take turns meeting at people’s houses.  When I practice by myself I’m usually outside if the weather permits or up in my sitting room like you saw earlier.” 

“But most witches, they have a dedicated space for that sort of thing?”

“Not necessarily, it depends on the space they have to work with.  You saw Mei’s house, she had her stuff mixed in her bedroom.  Sera kept her supplies in her sewing room; we mostly did our rituals in the middle of her great room when we met at her place.  Most of us can’t afford to have a whole separate room dedicated for ritual work, unless you have a ginormous place like Rose does.  She has a room that she sets aside just for ritual work.  It’s a sunroom with lots of plants and vines growing all over, it’s almost like being outside only protected from the rain.”

“That must be nice.  Especially with how much it rains here.” 

“Hey, you knew it rained here before you moved here, right?  Don’t go dogging Oregon just because we actually
have
seasons, unlike California,” she teased.  “Do you need to rush off, get back to the office?”

“I have to be there at four, until then I’m all yours.”

“Good, ‘cause I have something in mind…” she turned and crooked her finger towards him, backing to the stairs.

“Oh you do, do you?”  His brows rose as she led him up the stairs.  “I can’t wait to see what you have in mind.”

“You’ll like it, I promise.  It’s definitely what you need.”  Annaliese all but purred, leading him back to her bedroom.  “Why don’t you go into the bedroom and relax while I get this cleaned up and I’ll be in there in a minute?” 

“The bedroom?  That sounds promising.”  Nick’s smile was a mile wide as he preceded her into the bedroom, slipping off his tie and coat.  After a moment’s thought he discarded the shoulder holster as well, but placed the gun on the bedside table where it would be handy.  Not quite sure what to do while he waited for her, he kicked off his shoes and lay down on top of her bed which was still a bit rumpled from her hasty departure after the nightmare. 

Annaliese entered the bedroom a few minutes later as promised, immediately picking up her alarm clock, setting it for three o’clock.  “In case time gets away from us.” 

“Good thinking,” he replied with admiration, patting the bed next to him and she pulled back the covers to slip inside.

“You’re not getting inside?  It’ll be a lot easier that way.” 

Not needing to be told twice, Nick scrambled under the covers, facing her while she adjusted the blankets just so.  He waited expectantly for her to turn towards him as well, but instead she remained on her back, her eyes slipping shut.  “Annie…” he said gently. 

“Have a nice nap, Nick,” she yawned, the smile on her face telling him she knew perfectly well what she’d led him to believe.

“Woman, you are a tease,” Nick muttered, rolling onto his back, staring up at the ceiling.  Of course it stood to reason she’d be tired, he was tired too, but he wouldn’t have minded staying awake with her if she was in the mood for other… entertainment. 

“Not at all.  Didn’t you know that anticipation makes the heart grow fonder?” Annaliese replied, her lips still curved into a smile.

“That’s absence…”

“I thought you said you didn’t want to let me out of your sight?”

“I did say that.” 

“Hence… the anticipation.”  She rolled over and snuggled closer to him, yawning into his chest.  “G’nite Nick, see you at three.”

His arm automatically wrapped around Annaliese, drawing her close.  “Good night, Annie, pleasant dreams.”  He placed a soft kiss into her hair, eyes drifting shut. 

Chapter Seventeen

After sleeping like the dead until the alarm woke them up, they argued for a full half hour as to whether she should accompany him down to the police station for his briefing or whether she could be ‘trusted’ to remain on her own for an hour or two in her locked house in broad daylight.  He’d lost, she’d won, which Nick took as par for the course when dealing with stubborn women; his years of living with Veronica softening the sting of being overruled. 

The briefing itself turned up nothing new.  Troyer and his men were still absolutely bent on Norma Goedel as the prime suspect and he couldn’t provide any concrete evidence to the contrary.  They were dismissed, each with their assignments to watch over the remaining coven members and the Goedel woman.  Troyer and his team naturally took Goedel in two shifts, and Park and Brady were given Ellie while he took Annaliese for the duration of the night.  It was assumed that Rose would be leaving town and wouldn’t need protection. 

After a phone call to Annaliese to determine that yes, she was in fact, still alive after his briefing, Nick stopped at home to pack an overnight bag.  Hopefully they would have a peaceful night in the big rambling house, but more than likely they would be interrupted by some kind of violent action.  The murders were occurring too frequently now; it was unlikely the killer would take the day off.  Even if no attack came on Annaliese directly, she’d be woken up by the dreams if someone else was attacked.  Either way didn’t exactly spell out a restful night. 

As he crested the rear steps of her house, the back door flew open just as his hand was poised to knock.  “I’m so glad you’re here,” Annaliese breathed, her relief palpable.

“That’s always nice to hear.”  Nick’s grin appeared before he noted how shaky she looked.  “Hey, what’s wrong, did something happen?” 

“No, not exactly, I mean nothing bad happened really,” she responded, looking a little sheepish over his concern. 

“Uh… okay… can you maybe vague that up for me a little?”  He tried to lighten the mood.  “What’s got you so spooked?  Apart from being targeted by a homicidal witch bent on your destruction.”

Annaliese gave him a wan smile, taking a seat at the kitchen table.  “Look, I know I’m probably being jumpy, but I could have sworn there was someone out there before when I went to take out the recycling.  I didn’t see anybody; I just felt…something or someone watching me.”

“Or maybe you’ve got a case of the nerves, it could happen to anybody,” he replied, his voice heavy with sympathy.  On the one hand he wanted to rail at her for venturing outside alone in the first place after she’d sworn up and down to stay locked inside while he was gone, but he could tell that now wasn’t the time or place to read her the riot act. 

“You’re probably right.  The closer it gets to nightfall, the jumpier I get.”  Her gaze dropped to her hands for a moment.  “I’m really not that girl, you know?  Clingy, over emotional, jumps at every little thing…”

“These aren’t the usual circumstances are they?” he reached for her hand.  “So try and relax, I’m here now, and there’s no way I’m gonna let anything happen to you.  Unless… you go out there by yourself again unprotected, in which case all bets are off and I’ll probably kill you myself,” he teased, and Annaliese finally managed a real smile.

“Alright, I promise, I’ll stay under lock and key as long as you’re here to keep me entertained.  Now… are you hungry?  I made lasagna.”

“A woman after my own heart.  When am I not hungry?” 

* * *

Dinner consumed, Nick and Annaliese adjourned upstairs to the sitting room to watch a movie they’d both seen before, spending more time chatting through it and getting to know each other than watching the movie itself.  The more time he spent with her, the more Nick enjoyed her company; the differences in their personalities seemed to complement each other well.  Her… eccentricities, as he liked to think of them, only served to pique his interest.  If he wasn’t careful, he was going to find himself deeply smitten by the time it was all over.  Or was it too late? 

They were enjoying a cup of coffee, when a frantic knock sounded at the front door to the store.  Annaliese immediately rose to her feet but Nick stayed her with a hand.  “Let me go first.”  Proceeding down the main staircase, he approached the front door cautiously, doing his best to remain hidden from the view.   He didn’t notice that Annaliese wasn’t right behind him until he reached the front door, easing the shade aside to see who was out there. 

The knock came again, but this time from the rear of the house, and Nick looked up in time to see Annaliese move through the kitchen towards the door.  “Annie!” 
God damn it… he’d told her to let him go first!
Sprinting through the shop, he burst into the kitchen just in time to see her pulling the door open.  Heart pounding madly in his chest, Nick skidded to her side.  “Annie wait!” 

“It’s only Rose,” Annaliese offered by way of explanation, pulling the door open wider.  “Rose, I’m glad you’re still here, I thought you were leaving town,” she smiled, stepping back to let her in. 

Rose burst into the kitchen, openly scowling as she spotted Nick standing there behind her.  “I need you to come with me right now, okay?”

“What?”  Annaliese shook her head, brows drawing together in puzzlement.    “Where?”

Nick grit his teeth together at the look from Rose, not liking her unexpected visit for one instant, nor her attitude towards him.  What had he ever done to her? 

“It doesn’t matter; we need to leave.  Don’t even worry about packing a bag; I’ll buy you whatever you need.”  Rose tugged at Annaliese’s hands, urging her towards the door but Anna laughed, pulling her hands back and digging in.

“Rose… I’m not going anywhere.  What’s this about?”

“How can you ask me that?  You above all people should know, Anna.  You’ve always known, haven’t you?”  Rose looked near tears as she pleaded with Annaliese and they both stared back at her uncomprehendingly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Rose.” 

Nick stepped forward, insinuating an arm around Annaliese.  “Why don’t you come on inside, Rose?  Sit down and explain what this is all about,” he suggested in a calm, soothing tone.  Something about the look in her eyes bothered him; it had an almost hysterical glint to it, as though she was on her last tenuous thread of control.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Rose bit out, giving him a withering glance. 

“Hey, he was trying to be nice,” Annaliese objected, her arm going around Nick’s waist in kind. 

“Yeah, that’s exactly what he was trying to do… God you are so stupid sometimes, Anna.  I thought you were different.”  Her eyes narrowed in pain even as Annaliese stared back at her, completely baffled.  “I’m only going to say this one more time.  Come with me right now, and we can avoid all of this unpleasantness.  But you need to choose right now.  Who are you going to trust?  Your closest friend for years and years, or some guy you started shacking up with this week?”

“Now hold on a minute…” Nick interjected, about to give her a piece of his mind but Annaliese’s light hand on his arm stayed his angry words.