by K. H. Pope
I nod. “Sister Abigail was there. She helped in the murder of Max and in the kidnapping of Lana.”
“What are you trying to do, Alice? You can’t arrest her. You can’t judge her. You can’t even prove that she was really out there at that time.”
Point made.
“If you’re here to question or accuse Sister Abigail, I won’t let you.”
“She confessed to you, didn’t she?”
He doesn’t answer, but that’s a yes in my book. I stand up and start for the entrance to the parking lot.
“Alice,” he calls.
I stop, but I don’t look at him.
“I asked you a question the last time you were here. I never really got an answer.”
“You did get an answer. It just wasn’t the answer you were looking for.”
With nothing more to say, I walk away.
CHAPTER 24
Softly, I knock on the door. I’m looking down at the ground when it finally opens. The moment I look into Julie’s eyes, she knows. She breaks down and screams in agony. I stay with her for as long as she needs comfort. Hardly any words are spoken between us, but I know my presence is good enough. When I leave, I feel her inner strength that will keep her going. I know she’ll be fine. Her father is with her, and she’s surrounded by friends. She will have all the support she needs.
I find a restaurant in Haughton to enter the transfer chamber, and I come out down the street from Lana’s house. I use that time to think about the past few days, and by the time I make it to her driveway, I’ve come to one conclusion. Max’s murder, Lana’s kidnapping, and Jeff’s death. It’s all my fault. If I had of simply let the vengeance go, all of them would be alive. Evelyn Crowe would not have sought out my wings to stop me.
When Sophia died and saw the light, she forgot all pain and sorrow. She moved on to everlasting peace, and now, she’s happy. I was supposed to move on, also. There was a new charge that was destined to be in my care, but I turned my back for meaningless revenge. If I could go back and change it all, I would.
I’m done chasing Calamous Fawlke. Vengeance became a multiple edge sword, and the person it was meant for never got a scratch.
When I make it back to Lana’s house, I’m soaking wet and a little ticked. All I want to do is tell Lana and John good-bye, and simply move on with wandering the Earth like I was meant to do. Instead Ammon and another wizard are talking to each other in the living room. John is sitting beside Lana, and they are listening to the ongoing conversation.
The new visitor is wearing a black suit with a lavender shirt and a purple bowtie. He has powdery white hair cut neatly almost to the scalp, and his beard is thick and in the same shade.
“Ammon,” I remark.
The visitor smiles upon seeing me and asks, “Is this Alice?”
“Who is this?” I ask.
“Alice,” Ammon says, “this is Acting President Frederick Oliver, Magi Elite.”
The Acting President reaches out his hand, but I stand back. He looks at Ammon, and he shakes his head. The Acting President understands what he means and retreats his hand back to his side.
“I must admit I was expecting someone quite different,” he says.
“I retired the robe and halo a few months ago,” I remark smartly.
The Acting President chuckles, but I’m not finding a thing funny.
“Why are you here?” I ask.
Ammon answers, “The Acting President has something to tell you, Alice. Go ahead, sir.”
“Thank you, Ammon. I have asked the Magi Elite Protection Detail Unit to extend a protection spell to Miss Wells. They agreed, and it’s been done. You have my word that she will not be harmed by another magical being for as long as she lives. I wanted you, Alice, to hear it personally from me.”
I look at Lana. She’s pleased with this announcement.
Acting President Oliver continues in the same comforting voice, “I am hoping that this will show you our dedication to protecting our ordinary humanly brothers and sisters.”
“It does, but what is it that you want from me, sir?” I ask irritably.
“That you cease your pursuit of Lily and Calamous Fawlke.”
“Are you protecting Lana just to keep me from your banished warlock?”
“We are protecting her because she is deserving of our assistance. If you refuse to stop-”
“I will no longer be concerned with the Fawlke’s. You have my word.”
Acting President Oliver turns to Ammon with a pleased as punch smile. “Very good then. Ammon, I believe I will be talking to you soon?”
“Of course.”
The Acting President shakes everyone’s hand, but when he comes to me, he only tips his head as a good-bye. When he disappears, it sounds like paper ripping apart.
I ask Ammon, “Are they going to do anything about Evelyn and the others?”
“Evelyn has been banished. So has her husband. Harrison died at the house in Klondike.”
“You killed him on purpose?” I inquire.
“He wasn’t going to stop,” Ammon answers. “It was necessary. As for Pearl, she has been gifted a binding spell, and she has lost her position as a bounty hunter.”
“Well, with everything wrapped up, I guess it’s time for me to go. Lana, if you need anything from me, just let Ammon know. He has an uncanny ability of tracking me down.”
“Alice, wait.” She stands and hands me a wooden box.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“Your wings,” she answers.
I open it, and inside is the charred stumps. A few of the unaffected feathers are luminescent, still holding the powers of what I used to be.
I close the box and say, “Thank you, Lana.”
“No, Alice, thank you.” She gives me a hug.
John comes to me and says, “Is it too much to ask you to stay?”
“Yes, it’s too much.”
He chuckles. “Where will you go?”
“I will wander. That is my punishment.”
John is disappointed. “I hope to see you again, Alice.”
I’m not sure if I feel the same way, but it’s good to hear him say that.
Ammon touches an unimpeded wall, and the outline of a door appears. It opens, and I enter the transfer chamber. The rifles are finally gone, and I look back at Ammon.
“Disposed of properly,” he says.
I smile as a thanks. After I close the door, I take two steps across the small room and grab hold of the knob. Where shall I go now?
The Motherland Calls. Why not?
MEET THE CHARACTERS
Alice (Shamira): fallen angel
Abigail: nun, St. Eligius, normal
Ammon Seth: wizard
Dennis: Viking’s homeless
Evelyn Crowe: President of the Magi Elite, CEO of Moltean Corp, witch
Francine: Viking’s homeless, normal
Frederick Oliver: wizard
Harrison Piedmont: Chief Financial Officer of Moltean Corp, warlock
Jeff Wells: Lana’s brother, normal
John Zuller: Moltean Corporation Security, wizard
Julie Sullivan: Max’s wife, normal
Lana Wells: Alice’s friend, Jeff’s sister, normal
Livna: living statue
Brett Stewart: Deputy of Bossier Parish, normal
Martha Piedmont: Harrison’s wife, normal
Max Sullivan: Lana’s friend, normal
Paul: Father, St. Eligius Catholic Church, normal
Pearl Nakamura: Magi Elite bounty hunter, witch
Radayo Sanford III: Viking’s homeless, normal
Sigurd: Tip’s guardian angel
Tobius ‘Tip’ Conway: wizard
MENTIONED CHARACTERS
Calamous Fawlke: banished wizard
Kahn: Leader of the Fellowship
Jackie Mitchelson: unknown, normal
Lily Fawlke: Calamous’s mother
Sophia Talson: Alice’s last charge
/> Sticky Fingers Rod: Viking’s homeless
LETTER FROM AUTHOR
Thank you for reading The Good Lady. First published as The Saint of Coppertown, I decided to make some major changes. With this updated version, I hope it’s a better read.
The Good Lady is a stand-alone and first in the series. Other books will be coming, and I hope you return for more mysteries for the fallen angel, Alice.
As a last note, I would like to invite you to leave feedback for this novel when you get a chance. Your constructive criticism and wonderful compliments are welcomed.
Thank you so much,
K.H. Pope
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PUBLISHED NOVELS
The Breanna Raven Series (written as Katarin Haley Pope)
Before the Road (Prequel to the Breanna Raven Series)
Road to Clover (First Book in the Breanna Raven Series)
Path to Agni (Second Book in the Breanna Raven Series)
Alice the Fallen Mystery Series
The Good Lady, Book 1
The Dimension Weaver, Book 2*
The Witch’s Baby, Book 3*
The Guiltless, Book 4*
* Coming Soon