Corin & Angelique (After the Fall of Night)

by Sherri Claytor

  “It will never happen!”

  “Well, good luck to you there, buddy.” Jordon stood. “I’m pretty sure it’s already out of your hands. Sometimes it’s just meant to be.”

  Jordon left the room leaving Tomes alone. Contemplating the immortal’s words, Tomes knew Angelique and Corin were attracted to each other, but he had to stand between them in order to save his sister. He would do whatever it took to protect her, even if it meant saving her from herself.

  Waiting for her return, he listened to the clock tick, seconds turning to minutes and minutes eventually reaching an hour. Weighted with anxiety, still having a bad feeling, twisted knots his gut.

  Something’s not right.

  “Tomes—” The sound of Corin’s voice calling out from the basement door jolted him. Pushing himself up, he eased his injured body in Corin’s direction.

  “Where is Angelique?” Corin talked through the cracked door, careful not to let the sunlight strike his flesh. “I don’t sense her presence in the house.”

  “She went to the farm. I couldn’t stop her.”

  “What!” Corin bellowed, his shout startling Tomes. “Knowing the danger, you allowed her to go out alone?”

  “She wouldn’t listen. You know how she is. I swear, she’s bound to turn me old and gray before my time.”

  “I can’t believe this.”

  “Jordon didn’t help matters any, saying she’d be okay since Boldor can’t do anything till nightfall.”

  “I’m surprised by his lack in judgment. He, better than anyone, should know how resourceful Boldor is—that he can find a way to get his jobs done day or night.”

  “You might be right. I’m worried. She should have been back by now.” Tomes wished now he’d put up more of a fight and not given in to her stubbornness.

  Tomes suddenly buckled over, struck by an overwhelming flash of anxiety and dread. He could feel Angelique’s panic.

  “What is it?”

  “Angel.” He grabbed the edge of the door to steady himself. “She’s in trouble!”

  Jordon rounded the corner, having heard Corin’s outburst. “What’s going on?”

  “Angelique’s in trouble. You have to go after her,” Corin told him. “You’re the only one of us who can.”

  Jordon peered through the narrow opening. “How do you know she’s in trouble?”

  “There’s no time to explain,” Tomes knew something was happening, and it wasn’t good.

  “Hold on. I’ll be right back,” Corin rushed down the stairs and returned in a flash. “Here.” He shoved a set of keys at Jordon. “Take the ‘Vette and get moving,” he barked. “Get to the farm and find her. Don’t waste another minute.”

  Jordon rushed out without further delay, leaving Corin and Tomes to worry and wait.

  “I almost forgot.” Tomes handed Corin the message Fulner had delivered.

  “It’s your move,” Corin read the words and cursed. “This was just a diversion to make us think we were safe. And it worked.”

  Corin flew down to the basement and paced the floor. Tomes could hear his rant as he thrashed about beneath him. Knowing it was best to leave the nightwalker alone for the time being, he hobbled back to the living room sofa. Sitting there, the movement of the sounded seemed amplified, the hand moving past each second with a lingering echo as if time had slowed to a crawl. It felt like an eternity had passed when Jordon finally returned nearly half an hour later...alone.

  “You couldn’t find her?” Tomes followed him to the basement door where Corin met them.

  “No. The truck was parked in front of the house, but she wasn’t there,” he informed them.

  “You checked the entire grounds,” Corin pressed. “And the creek?”

  “Yes, I remembered the creek. I was very thorough. I’m so sorry. I thought she’d be safe till nightfall.”

  “He has her, doesn’t he?” Tomes already knew the answer, his worst fear becoming a reality.

  “Yes, it seems he does,” Corin answered. “Fulner. It had to be Fulner.”

  “Someone’s outside,” Jordon alerted them to another arrival a moment before the bell rang out.

  “You’ll have to get it, Tomes,” Corin said.

  Jordon reclaimed his previous position, remaining out of sight, while Tomes hobbled to the door.

  “Mr. Jaffler, so we meet again.”

  “Sheriff. Back so soon?” Tomes stepped outside alongside the official.

  “If I didn’t know for a fact you lived at the farm, I’d swear you’d taken up residence right here with Mr. von Vadim.”

  Tomes grimaced, not quite sure what he was implying, but having no time to elaborate. What unbelievable timing this guy had. This was the last thing they needed, a snooping sheriff hanging around the front door, when his sister was out there somewhere in trouble.

  “What brings you ‘round, Sheriff,” Tomes asked.

  “What, if I may ask, happened to you, Mr. Jaffler? Were you in an accident?”

  “Oh, yeah, I-I took a spill off the ladder. I was way up there, too. But as you can see, I survived it. I got lucky and some rocks broke my fall,” Tomes joshed.

  “I see. Well, I’m here to see Mr. von Vadim, if he’s around.”

  “He’s not, sorry Sheriff,” Tomes hoped he’d just leave, but knew he wouldn’t get off that easy.

  “He’s gone a lot.”

  “I don’t question what he does. I just work for the man.”

  Sheriff Pierson looked at him skeptically.

  “With his kind of money he can afford to take off and do anything he pleases without having to answer to me or anyone else.” Tomes held onto the edge of the door for support.

  “Not exactly anything he pleases. The rich must abide by all the same laws as the rest of us.”

  “Of course. I just meant he has the means to do whatever comes to mind without having to worry about cost, a job, or even family. He has nothing tying him down and millions to spare,” Tomes explained.

  “I wouldn’t know about that, since I do have a job to worry about and money that must be earn.”

  “You’re not alone there, Sheriff. Most of us are in that same boat.”

  “Still working on the north wall?” Sheriff Pierson asked.

  “It’s the south wall,” Tomes corrected. Pierson was obviously testing him. “And yes, I am. But Corin’s now hired me as his estate manager,” he added, thinking it would be a perfect cover.

  “You have time for that with a farm of your own to run?”

  “I make time. I also have money to earn. Bills to pay. Now, Sheriff, if there’s nothing else, I do have things to attend to.”

  “In the shape you’re in, it’s surprising you’re working.”

  “I can do a few things. I bounce back fast.”

  “Let Mr. von Vadim know I was here. I have some more questions. I’d like to ask him about one of the murder victims, a Madam Monicca.”

  “He’s not the killer,” Tomes declared.

  “You’ve defended him before. There are five women dead now, your wife being the first. What if you’re wrong?”

  “I’m not wrong,” Tomes maintained.

  “I don’t understand how you can be so certain of a man you hardly know. He must be paying you well.”

  “Now wait just a minute, Sheriff. You’re way off base with that one.”

  “You’re right, Mr. Jaffler, I was out of line,” Pierson quickly apologized for his remark.

  “Yes, you were. I think we’re done here.”

  “For now.” Pierson headed away.

  Waiting till the SUV was out of sight, Tomes hurried back inside, rejoining Corin and Jordon at the basement door.

  “He’s gone.”

  “We heard,” Jordon said. “I have to give you kudos for that performance.”

  “That man gets under my skin,” Tomes griped. “Did you hear, Corin? He wants to question you again about one of the murders. He said a Madam…something. I don’t remember the
name.”

  “The fortuneteller from the county fair.” Corin’s voice floated from the darkness behind the door.

  “He’s definitely still got his mind set on you being the killer.” Tomes told him.

  “We’ll have to deal with him later. Right now, Angelique is first priority,” Corin made clear.

  “So, what’s the game plan?” Tomes was in full agreement.

  “We know Fulner has to be behind her abduction,” Corin said. “If we find him, you can bet Angelique won’t be far off.”

  “They’re probably holed up at the funeral home.” Jordon figured.

  “My thoughts as well,” Corin agreed. “Boldor would have shelter there.”

  “You don’t think he’ll kill her, do you?” Tomes worried for his sister’s safety.

  “I don’t think so. He needs leverage to use against me. Although, he has threatened to change her—make her a replacement for Louisa.”

  The possibility of that hadn’t occurred to Tomes. “We can’t let that happen!”

  Just then, the phone rang, jolting Tomes from his nightmarish thoughts.

  “I don’t get many calls,” Corin said. “It may be about Angelique.”

  Tomes answered, wishing he could climb through the line and rid the world of the person on the other end, sleazy funeral director, Fulner.

  “Where’s my sister?” Tomes demanded. “If you touch—”

  “Threats won’t get her back,” Fulner cut him off. “Put von Vadim on the line.”

  “You hurt her and you’re dead.” Tomes pressed speakerphone on the handset before shoving it through the cracked door to Corin.

  “You tell me what you’ve done with her.” Corin’s tone was fearsome. “I’m in no mood for games.”

  “Now, now, I believe we’re the ones holding all of the cards.”

  “What does he want in exchange?” Corin growled.

  A moment of silence passed.

  “What is it you want?” Corin’s temper flared.

  “Haven’t you figured it out yet, von Vadim?” Boldor’s voice came on the line. “I want everything you have. I want your life—your identity, your estate, and your millions,” he stipulated. “By the way, what did you think of my little message?”

  “You didn’t give me my move,” Corin told him. “This wasn’t a fair play.”

  “One doesn’t stay ahead in the game by playing fair. And now I’ve won a prize. Just look at this little angel I’ve captured. Isn’t that what her brother calls her, Angel? To save this luscious, little mortal, I think you’d probably give up your life. Am I right?” He released a sinister chuckle. “I do believe I’ve found your weak spot, von Vadim.”

  “I’ll take your head for this,” Corin snarled.

  “I have the upper hand here.”

  “You think you have me all figured out?”

  “I know I do,” Boldor’s voice remained calm. “Take a listen to the card I have to play.”

  Angelique cried out, a sound that ripped through Tomes’s heart. “Corin!” he yelled, experiencing her pain, her fear.

  “I could snap this precious little thing’s arm right off if I desired,” Boldor made his point. “Now, enough of this. The deal is your life for hers. Understand?”

  “I understand.” Corin hit the wall with a thundering force. “Just name where and when. I’ll be there.”

  “Tonight, after the fall of night, center of the cemetery,” Boldor rattled off the location and ended the call.

  Corin threw the phone to the floor. “I can’t stand the thought of that filthy wretch’s hands on her,” he roared, striking the wall again.

  Tomes wasn’t altogether sure how to react to Corin’s behavior, wondering the same thing he’d asked himself several times now—just how close had he and Angelique already gotten?

  In spite of it all, he had to push his disapproval of their relationship aside and focus on getting his sister back, something he needed Corin’s help to accomplish. At the moment he was dependent on him, trusting that together, they would save her from Boldor’s clutches.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  The Green Folder

  Boldor shoved Angelique into a closet and secured the door. No match for his strength, she still continued to fight back, banging against the inside panel.

  “Give it up, princess,” he shielded himself from the faint light entering the back room. “You’ll get out when I let you out. Now mind your manners and maybe I’ll let you live.”

  Angelique gave up and slid onto her knees. Boldor could hear her whimpering and laughed.

  “I want you to keep an eye on her while I rest,” he instructed Fulner. “Remember, if she vanishes…you vanish.” He slithered back to the room containing his casket to rest within its dark confines until nightfall.

  It was going to be his night to seize riches. He would set everything in motion by killing von Vadim, thus, putting himself in the position to take over his role. He’d then get rid of everyone involved, that short list including Tomes Jaffler, the marshal, the little angel in the closet, and the director. They’d all have to be terminated in order for his plan to go without a hitch. With von Vadim and these four dead, he’d be free to step right into the nightwalker’s shoes.

  * * * *

  Sheriff Pierson decided to pay a visit to Jaffler Farm, hoping he might manage to manipulate some information out of Angelique Jaffler. Involved or not, she seemed to be the person closest to both Tomes Jaffler and Corin von Vadim.

  Pulling up the drive, he stopped in front of the house where two vehicles sat—a car and a truck. Shoving the shifter into park, he got out and went to the front door, finding it ajar.

  “Hello?” he called out, receiving no response.

  Pushing a hand against the door, a light shone in a back room. Stepping inside, he called out again, but there was clearly no one around.

  Backing out of the house, he walked around the building to the back lawn and checked the barn, finding the farm deserted. He rubbed his left ear. Things didn’t feel right, and that worrisome quiver was going at it full speed, something it had done a lot this last week.

  Returning to the front door of the residence, he decided to go back inside and check the house, justifying the act with the thought that the lady of the house might be in distress, or worse, a victim of foul play. An understandable concern considering the murders in the county.

  “Ms. Jaffler,” he called out as he meandered the living room, glancing over an array of photos and décor, observing a large, white Bible displayed on a small, oval table near the window.

  Moving on through the home, he saw no sign of mischief and backtracked to leave, but halted when he passed by an office where a desktop computer sat atop a compact desk.

  You have no legal right to snoop, Pierson.

  But unable to resist, legal or not, he took advantage of the opportunity and slid open the top drawer of the desk, finding pens, clips, and other typical office items. Nothing of consequence. Traveling to a lower drawer, his luck fared better, discovering a green folder lying atop several reams of paper.

  Interest piqued, he skimmed its contents. “What on earth?” The extensive research someone had applied toward such a foolish matter surprised him. “Vampires,” he mumbled. “Ridiculous notion.”

  Coming upon a handwritten page, it appeared to be a theory of Louisa Jaffler’s death, leading him to presume, by the manner of writing, that the folder belonged to Tomes Jaffler.

  What? His eyes widened with disbelief as his gaze locked on a single line written in capital letters, a conclusion at the bottom of the page.

  VON VADIM IS A NIGHTWALKER.

  Pierson contemplated taking the folder with him for further study, but he’d be committing theft. Knowing it was wrong, he reluctantly placed it back in the drawer. Besides, such nonsense couldn’t be of significance to him in regard to the murders. Yet, that nerve behind his left ear was signaling him otherwise, giving rise to second thoughts, and to date,
it had never steered him wrong.

  “You have no search warrant.” His conscience was working on him—a devil on one shoulder, an angel on the other. “You’re the sheriff, for Pete’s sake. You need to do this by the book.”

  The pitchfork winning out, he went against his own better judgment and grabbed the folder, tucked it under his arm, and made a rapid exit. If he had to take a few detours off the straight and narrow in order to get to the bottom of the murders, then so be it. He never claimed to be perfect. He was no different from every other man in the world…just human.

  Leaving the farm, he thought over the connection between Corin von Vadim and the Jafflers. First of all, the two siblings’ farm connected to von Vadim’s estate, making them neighbors. Secondly, Tomes Jaffler worked for von Vadim at his estate, and thirdly, Angelique had been seen out on a date with the estate owner, spotted by the very reliable Officer Traci Keller while visiting the fair with her young son the night before last. They looked pretty cozy with each other, Pierson recalled her exact words.

  He was slowly building his case against Corin von Vadim, and the Jaffler siblings were all tangled up in the man’s life. He didn’t have a motive yet, but he was sure if he kept digging, things would start coming together. Reviewing his links, what he had so far was the second victim’s business card acquired by the heir from Purcell’s Garage the very night of her murder. In addition, there was the gold pocket watch found at the murder site of the third victim, Jessica Daniel’s, inscribed with the name Miralanya, matching a past relative of von Vadim. And now, Officer Keller had placed both him and Angelique Jaffler at the fairgrounds where Madam Monicca, the fortuneteller, was murdered. However, other than being a neighbor of the first victim, Louisa Jaffler, he didn’t have anything connecting him to her murder, or to the latest victim—the maid at the Inn. But he had no doubt that something would eventually arise as it had with the others.

  Unfortunately, what information Sheriff Pierson had was all circumstantial, not enough for an arrest. He needed something concrete to turn over to the DA that would get an indictment. This pushed him to the next step, setting up a stakeout to keep twenty-four hour surveillance on the suspect, hoping that at some point, von Vadim would slip up.