Col: His Destined Mate

by Georgette St. Clair

  She had introduced herself as Detective Garland, and it was clear that she and Simon went back a ways, although the connection was mainly through Miller.

  Some EMT had checked Lily over, and draped a mylar blanket over her, after agreeing that she didn’t have anything that required medical intervention. Another EMT had pulled one of the chairs out of a parlor so Lily could sit. She had asked for it to be placed as close as possible to where Simon was. Lily knew that she and Simon wouldn’t be able to talk yet, and she could see the questions swirling in his eyes, as he took in the same information that she had given the detective.

  Yes, she knew Rey. He was her ex, and she had been on the run from him. He had tracked her down here, probably with the intent to use the gun on her, or abduct her. The name she had given for Rey was a match with the one on the driver’s license they found on him.

  She couldn’t read Simon’s expression. Except it didn’t appear to be surprise. How much of this had he known? The only thing he did when she caught his eye was nod at her, as he tapped on his sternum. She knew it was a sign that he was stressed, and who wouldn’t be?

  Especially as they listened together while the detective conferred with the coroner.

  Apparently it was a mystery how Rey died. Lily had told them about the other man, but there was no trace of him, not even blood. Lily could have sworn that he was shot—just an impression, she certainly wasn’t registering a play by play as it was happening — but even so, it was weird that there was nothing indicating that had been there, except her word for it. Rey was definitely not in any shape to back her up. Not that he did when he was alive, either.

  Lily could honestly say that she didn’t see how it all went down. How could she describe the swirling blur, with flashing lights that had popped up right as Rey fired his gun without sounding delusional? It was like magic, like something out of Harry Potter, or the lab that created the CGI effects for the movies.

  She was still having trouble believing it, and it had happened right in front of her.

  The store owner had been called, and she was on her way back to the building. But, the detective shook her head ruefully. Apparently the store owner said that yes, there were security cameras at the entrance. Both Lily and Simon perked up. Footage that would show what had gone down! Unfortunately they had been disabled before the shop closed to the public for the day, as it would be whenever she had a private VIP client shopping trip scheduled. It would be turned on again after the trip was concluded and the client had long since gone. It sounded plausible, although the detective was definitely going to be following up on all that. Especially as the store owner had babbled about having taken ill and leaving in a hurry.

  Lily felt awful for the store owner knowing that she had been coerced into tying her up. All to save Phoebe Buffay.

  The gun had obviously been fired, but there were no discernible signs of Rey having been shot. In fact, she overheard the coroner giving preliminary findings of a heart attack or aneurism.

  “But we won’t know until we get him opened up,” the woman wearing a jacket emblazoned with the word CORONER said to the detective. Lily wrapped the mylar blanket tighter around herself. It was only starting to sink in now. The person who she had feared, and once thought she loved, was now just an empty shell on the ground, ready to be “opened up.”

  Detective Garland nodded, and the coroner continued. “And run a tox screen, see if drugs are involved.”

  Lily blurted, “Rey was using drugs.”

  “You mean this?” One of the cops held up a pack of glassine envelopes that he had pulled out of Rey’s cargo pants.

  Detective Garland’s eyes narrowed. “Looks like The Rage. Let me see that up close. There an image printed on the bags?”

  The cop handed it to her. The detective murmured something Lily couldn’t hear and took out some kind of tricked out phone, tapping into the keyboard. And then hissed, before muttering something that sounded like Spanish.

  Lily could have sworn she heard the detective say under her breath, El Monstruo. She looked hard at Lily, and then at Simon. “Stay where you are,” before barking a series of orders at the cops on the scene, setting off a new flurry of activity.

  As if she had any place to go — oh wait, she did. Lily turned a stricken look at Simon. “Col’s waiting for me at the restaurant!”

  Simon opened his mouth to speak, but there was a sudden commotion behind him. The cop nearest to them quickly stood and blocked the door.

  “Sir, you need to stay back from the crime scene.”

  Now she heard Simon’s voice. “Do as he says. Katie’s fine.”

  And then he filled the doorway, a massive man in a dark suit, holding a huge bouquet of white flowers. He quickly moved to take the spot next to Simon, right to where he was directed, all the while his hazel eyes searching for, and finally finding, Lily.

  It was Col.

  It had taken him forever to find a store that carried Calla lilies, but once he did, Col had them arrange them quickly and beautifully, as befit the female who had occupied his thoughts since they met. He had hurried over to the restaurant, fearing that he was late, but learned that she had not yet arrived.

  It was already past the agreed upon time, might she still be at the lingerie store? At the restaurant hostess’ suggestion, he could leave to search for her, and if Katie Cooper came while he was gone, she would be able to wait for him at the bar until his return.

  Col thought that was an excellent idea, and heedful of advice from Miller, remembered to hand the hostess a folded twenty dollar bill.

  And then he raced off in a manner that would have done Merek proud, the car going as fast as he knew allowable within city limits. To the beginning of The Main Street, where his beloved might possibly be found.

  He was eager with anticipation, which rapidly turned into apprehension, as the building which housed the retail establishment had many vehicles belonging to the city’s law enforcement in front of it, their flashing lights reflecting off the glass of the storefront windows.

  The pit in his stomach became as a millstone, as something he recognized and dreaded came into view. It was simply a phrase emblazoned on the side of one of the larger vehicles. Five words that read: GARDENDALE OFFICE OF THE CORONER .

  Someone had died, and he prayed to She Who Grants Abundance, to hear him now, and provide that it not be the one he had just found. The one who brought him everything he knew not that he had been seeking.

  He pulled to the side, leaping out of the car as soon as he could, and rushed towards the entrance. A uniformed law enforcement officer sought to halt his progress, but he would not be deterred until he saw for himself that she was alive and well. Another appeared in front of the door with his arms stretched out wide. Only Simon was able to stop him from running over the officer, charging in like one who had lost his reason.

  And it was in that moment where he regained his composure that he was able to look around, and find her. His Lily. Alive. Sitting only a few feet away, but, thank Goddess, very much alive. She was encased in some type of metallic sheet, but she also looked to be free of injury. Simon shook his head when Col made as if to join her. Perhaps whatever she was enshrouded in needed space to work, as no other person was near her, so he would keep his distance.

  She was looking at him beseechingly, but then something else registered for him. Simon was talking to him, but it was not his words, nor anything Col could hear.

  It was what he scented.

  The scent of the man who had abducted him. The room fairly reeked of it. He strained again, his eyes automatically searching out the cause of that scent. But to little avail. The body on the floor had its own scent, and was not the source. He would ask the identity of the body afterwards, and why his Lily was still here, but for now it was critical to let Simon know.

  “He was here,” Col growled at Simon. “Not much time has passed since.”

  The cop nearest them perked up, and Simon drew Col away.<
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  “Who?” Simon asked.

  Col lowered his voice. “The one we have been seeking.”

  Simon’s eyes widened. “Katie mentioned there was another man here who fought with the person lying on the floor. But there’s no physical trace of him so far. The store owner is coming in, and will corroborate what Katie’s said.”

  “Katie Cooper is not a liar,” Col growled again. She had comported herself with honor throughout their time together, and he would not hear any aspersions cast upon her character.

  “Nobody is saying she is, Col.” Simon turned towards the scene in front of them. The female detective was now going through the backpack that had been found on the dead person with gloved hands.

  And the leader pulled out something soft and brown that Col recognized. From the first night they had lain together.

  “Mr. Calabash!” his Lily cried out, and made as if to move out of her seat.

  “Remain seated.” The unformed leader’s voice rang with authority, as she gave Katie a sharp look. She turned the toy animal in her hands, and held a section closer to her face. She jerked her head at one of her subordinates, who instantly rushed to her side with a blade.

  Col could hear Katie’s gasp, as the leader turned the blade onto the toy, ripping through what looked to be stitching.

  And a mass of shiny small packages cascaded out, as Katie inhaled sharply.

  The leader caught one before it fell to the ground with the others, and held it a few inches from her face, examining it carefully.

  “This is premium grade Rage,” she announced.

  “Drugs?” Simon’s shocked voice burst out as he turned to Katie. “Is this why you needed a cash advance on your salary?”

  Her face drained completely of color as Simon’s body quivered with fury. Col’s jaw dropped.

  Drugs.

  Hidden in a toy.

  Found out in a room saturated with the scent of the one that had tried to sacrifice him on a stone alter, and posed a threat to his Bredhren.

  What else had she been hiding? And what did it matter. What had been uncovered was damning enough.

  His head reeled as if he had been struck a killing blow. His world had completely shattered.

  He needed to get out of there before he went mad. He did not trust his voice, indeed there were no words to say. He loosed the bouquet of flowers that had the very word lies in their name onto the ground, before turning and leaving through the doorway. A uniformed officer barely got out of his way, as he rushed into the night.

  Away from her.

  Lily was stunned by what had just happened. That drug had been inside of Mr. Calabash? Rey had stuffed her beloved toy, the only thing she had from her father, with The Rage?

  If he weren’t already dead, she’d kill him herself.

  And now Simon, the one to whom she was so grateful, was looking at her as if he saw something monstrous. He did. He saw a drug dealer.

  She shoved her hand into her wallet, and quickly produced the wad of cash that Rika had advanced to her, her eyes filled with tears.

  “No, Simon. I needed the advance for my car repair.” Her hand was trembling, the cash making an obscene fan in front of Simon’s face. The lock of hair on his forehead danced and he drew it back with his fingers with a frustrated sigh.

  “She one of your employees?” The detective asked Simon.

  Lily drew in a deep breath. Was he about to fire her?

  “Yes,” he said, looking at her. “In fact, she’s a valued employee, and she’s been working at the Staff Childcare Center as well as for me directly, at my home.”

  Present tense. Still an employee, thank God. She didn’t care if her exhalation was loud enough to hear by everyone in the room. But what Lily didn’t know before was how much it mattered to her that Simon believe she was innocent. She did now.

  That bastard Rey. Even dead on the floor, he was finding new ways to make her life hellish.

  Still. He was dead. He’d died right in front of her. Her knees felt like jello, and tears burned in her eyes, although she couldn’t say for what. She’d stopped loving him long ago, staying with him because he’d beaten her down so much she thought she deserved no better.

  Even so, it was going to take a long time to get over seeing what she’d just seen.

  Everybody was staring at her. She cleared her throat, blinked hard, and spoke up. “Mr. Calabash was taken from the trailer that was broken into.”

  Simon nodded, but Detective Gardner immediately asked, “Where and when did this break-in occur?”

  Damn. Lily hadn’t reported it to the police. It sounded unbelievable, even to her.

  “It was an internal matter involving one of my other employees,” Simon sounded like his usual self again. “I can corroborate that her residence was broken into while she was in the hospital, so we haven’t been able to fully inventory what had been taken at the time.”

  Detective Gardner was jotting down notes while Simon continued. “Ms. Cooper’s paramount concern at the time was for her safety, and except for the night when the break-in was discovered, Ms. Cooper has been a guest in my home ever since.”

  The detective slammed her notepad shut. Lily suspected that she was very lucky that Simon, a well-respected man and the biggest employer in town, was vouching for her.

  Still, the detective’s gaze was uncomfortably piercing as she looked Lily up and down. “Don’t leave town, in case the boys from the DEA want to talk to you. Most likely they won’t, this guy was a two-bit player since he’s not showing up on our databases. Looks like he might have been stealing from the one they’re really after, a bigwig named El Monstruo.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Lily murmured, and as soon as the detective said she was free to go, Simon walked over to her, and she impulsively leapt up and hugged him.

  To her relief, his arms went around her too. His hug was stiff and awkward, and he stepped back quickly, brushing.

  The irony of her new situation. Lily wanted to laugh with the absurdity of it, but then she would cry.

  She was now forced to stay once again, when the reason for fleeing in the first place was lying dead just a few feet away, the threat gone forever. But behind Simon, she spotted the ribboned, beautifully wrapped paper cone, with the tips of Calla lilies peeking out. Discarded, on the floor. The person who had been holding them, who had meant to please her with them, long gone.

  And so, too, was her reason to stay.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Lily didn’t even remember what she and Simon talked about on the car ride back to his house, most likely it was filling in the gaps from what Simon had learned earlier that evening, with Rey lying dead on the floor. She was still in a daze over all the events that occurred since she first stepped foot into the lingerie shop, all the revelations that had come spilling out.

  Miller and Tybalt were the only other adults in the house when they arrived. Miller quickly assuring Lily that the twins had been fed, bathed, tucked into bed and told stories by Bawwic until they fell asleep. Simon quickly filled them in on what had happened.

  Tybalt peppered her with questions about the other man in the lingerie shop, the one that had threatened Phoebe Buffay and the shop owner. Lily did the best she could to describe his appearance and demeanor, especially when Simon joined in with the probing questions. What little she could recall of the man’s words seemed to frustrate Tybalt, but he was quick to reassure her that he wasn’t aggravated with her, just the situation, which she appreciated.

  It didn’t help that she kept watching the door that led to the backyard the entire time, with her senses on hyper alert for all the other entrances, in a futile hope that Col would walk in.

  Miller intervened at last, telling Lily to go to bed, and both Tybalt and Simon agreed.

  Somehow she made it up the stairs and to the wing where her room was. She dredged up the energy to peek in on the twins, but even the sight of them both quietly sleeping in their beds only remind
ed her of what had occurred just the night before, when Col had been waiting for her outside their room. And then what happened afterwards, when under the moonlight he had told her of his feelings for her.

  It had been bliss.

  It had been short-lived.

  She changed into a teeshirt and cotton skirt, as if somehow that would summon him to her. And then she waited.

  She lay on top of her covers, and still she waited. The hours passed, as her senses were painfully attuned to anything that might indicate his approach. When the first streaks of dawn appeared in the sky, she at last yielded to the tears that racked her body.

  And finally, when she could cry no more, a merciful, dreamless sleep arrived.

  Col raced the furthest he had ever gone through the woods in wolf form, in a vain attempt to outrun the agony engulfing him. Aylwyn, Barric and Merek were in wolf form as well, but far away, where they could not hear his pain. He didn’t want them to, did not need for them to. He wished to be alone in his anguish.

  There were no thoughts worth sharing anyway, for it was only a brutal onslaught of suffering. Torrential feelings of betrayal, hurt, despair, all caused by the woman he had laid bare his soul to. Would have laid down his life for. Had imagined his young with, suckling mother’s milk from her breasts.

  On and on he ran, the four thick pads of his feet silent upon the forest pathways lined with leaves, earth and felled plants. The nighttime birds with their cries seemed to mock him, the chittering of the crickets a symphony of laughter.

  He had never heard mild-mannered Simon sound so angry, but the cause was deserving of such ire. Col knew of the scourge of illegal drugs, one of the modern plagues that in his day were the poisons, potions and elixirs that conveyed visions, the draughts that affected the mortal body, meted out with great care by those wise enough to wield it. It had horrified him, when he had learned of its widespread use as weaponry in modern day warfare. Only those without honor would employ such means.