Tholan: Mystic Protectors: An Angelic Paranormal Erotica

by Kathi S. Barton

  “The max he could get for murder and armed robbery is twenty years, I think. I don’t know how they think to make this stick, but then, this entire thing has me baffled. The least amount? I don’t know. Four to ten?” She nodded and thought of what she had done already and what she’d have to give up. “What are you thinking? You thinking that he’ll make it?”

  “I did it.” Joseph asked her what she’d done. “This thing. The thing that they have on Da. If I confess, then he can’t be charged. If I confess, then he’s free to find out what happened and see if Angela is a part of it.”

  “No. You can’t do that, PJ. If your father got wind of what you’re thinking, he’d bust your bottom. No. That’s a terrible idea. Don’t even think that again.”

  PJ nodded and told Joseph to listen to her. “I’m younger than him and able to get away should someone come after me in this place. And Da has a good attorney in you. The two of you can work together and set things right.” Joseph told her again that this was a bad idea. “Then if you have a better one, I’m all for it. This will have to work, Mr. March. If not, then I’m going to lose more than just my da’s business; more importantly, I’ll lose him. And I just can’t do that.”

  “Let me talk to him first. See what he thinks.” PJ told him no, that if he did, he’d talk him out of it. “PJ, this is not a good idea. You’re only twenty-three years old. You have a good head on your shoulders and have become a good attorney in this short amount of time. If you go to prison, you’ll lose that as well.”

  “I’m going to save my dad. The details in this, they won’t matter because Da doesn’t have what it takes to live the life of a prisoner. I’ll just confess and let the chips fall where they might. You and my dad, you can get me out. If not, then he’ll be all right and I’ll come home to him when it’s all said and done. That’s what has to be done, Mr. March. We both know that there isn’t any way that he can survive this. He’s too frail. And being in a wheelchair, they’ll hurt him with that as well. Please. You have to help me with this.”

  It took less time than she had thought it would for her to be jailed. Her father was released and barred from seeing her until the trial. Everyone, including her stepmother, was pissed that she’d confessed. And confessing in front of a news camera had spoiled a great many plans, she thought.

  The trial was just as she’d been told it would be—quick, no evidence. The witnesses that the police presented kept saying that they had seen a large man running away from the scene after the place was robbed. No one had a name for the man that she’d allegedly killed, and there wasn’t a body. Things like this, whatever they were doing, were going to be something for the books one day.

  Four days after she confessed, not only had she been found guilty of the crimes, but she’d been shipped to prison. Her da cried during the entire trial. PJ knew as soon as the trial began that there wasn’t going to be any saving her. She was going to go away for a long time.

  Ten years. Ten years for a murder there wasn’t a body for. Ten years for a robbery that she didn’t do, as well as ten years of life without her da. PJ had been fucked. And there wasn’t anyone who could help her.

  Chapter 1

  Parker read over the last of the reports that had been given to her. The businesses were doing well. She was just putting away some of the files that she’d pulled out when Allen Blackwell, her personal attorney, came into her office. He’d been in and out of it since she’d arrived this morning.

  “I’ve made a dent in the things that you handed over last night. I have two bids on the downtown apartment building that I think you’ll be pleased with.” She asked him about the other. “That is going to go just as you planned. How on earth did you know that she’d not paid her taxes in all this time?”

  “Because she’s used to having someone do shit for her all the time. Plus, she’s broke. And when I was going through some of the records that Da kept, I found that she’d been paying them with his credit cards, and that had stopped. Once he passed away, the courts canceled them all and she was shit out of luck.” Parker grinned at Allen. “You didn’t tell her, did you?”

  “No. But she’ll be served in a few hours. Also, those buildings that you wished to purchase downtown, they’re sold. I’m sorry. And I’ve a meeting with the owner tomorrow. I made it then so that, if you should want to go, you’d have time to clear your morning.” Parker, no longer PJ since she’d gotten out of prison two months ago, told him that she would love to go. “Good. From all accounts, he’s a good man. Rich too, so perhaps he’ll allow you to buy them from him, as he and his wife and a few others that he works with own most of the rest of downtown. Especially after you tell him what you want to do with them.”

  “Mostly I want it to turn them into something better than it meant to me. That is the building that the robbery and murder that I ‘committed’ happened in. I need to get in there, before someone tears it down, and see what I can find. Did you know that there hasn’t been anything remotely business-like in there in the last twenty or so years?” Allen knew that. Parker was also looking over some records that she’d found in her father’s desk. “I have some things that I’d like for you to take care of before tomorrow. And I need to make a few donations to the charities that have sprung up in town. Do you know anything about the charity work called Business Helpings?”

  “Just that it’s a project of a couple of people, one of them being the wife of Riss Trainor. She’s been coming up with a few nice projects like this one.” Parker asked what they did. “It’s a great set up. They have other businesses come in and interview people who might have been out of work for a while. Or some kids that need a first-time job. They also set them up with nice used clothing, as well as a ride should they need one. After that, they will help the people get to and from work for six months if necessary.”

  Parker liked that. Some of the women that she’d been incarcerated with had never had a job, their skills at computers were usually nonexistent, and they didn’t have anything but the shirts on their backs. Prison, for some, was the only way to have a roof over their heads, food in their bellies, and for the most part, hide out from someone trying to kill them. Parker had seen it all.

  “Good. That’s something I can get behind. And I’m to understand from Maggie that there is a clothing drive as well as a school drive. See what you can find out about how I can donate to those causes as well.” She marked the things off her list that she’d wanted to go over with her attorney, and then leaned back in her seat. “I need to revamp the kitchen here. Can you find someone to help out with that?”

  “I know just the firm. It’s called Heavenly Starts. I have no idea why, but it’s a bunch of men and women, most of them just needing something to do with their time, that can get a job done in no time. And I do think that they’re a part of the other firms here. They don’t charge you but do ask for a donation to one of the charities that I mentioned. And before you ask, yes, it’s all legit. Good things are coming from your new neighbors, Parker. I’m glad to be helping them out with you.”

  She made herself a note to check them out as well. Not that she didn’t trust Allen; he’d been helping her for the last eight years on keeping things running here. But she did want to check it out. She might find something that he’d not noticed.

  “The new computers you asked to have donated to the schools have been delivered. Just as you asked, no one knows who they are from. And the Internet has been set up for the place in the same way. The old computers, they’ve been donated to the local shelters, just as you asked them to do.” She nodded and made another mark on her list. “I’d like to take you to dinner tonight. There is a restaurant that I think you’d really enjoy. And it’s a part of the family that is doing a lot of updates in town.”

  “The PP&J place.” Allen grinned and nodded. “Maggie has talked about nothing but the bread that she gets from there every day. And two days ago, she brought me a roast beef sub from there. Holy shit, it was great. Okay,
I’m in for dinner. I have about three hours of work left here, then we’ll go.”

  “No, we go now.” She looked at Allen and cocked her head. “You’ll be here till midnight again, and we both know it. About ten, Maggie will come in with something for you to eat, which you’ll ignore, then you’ll get up at six in the morning and forget to eat because she’s not here to remind you. We’ll go there now, Parker. If we do, you’ll be able to last longer on a full stomach.”

  Laughing, she got up and followed him out of the house. Stopping to tell Maggie where she was going, she was given an order for three loaves of bread, bagels, and if they had some, muffins. Parker asked if she was able to eat too.

  “Go on with you. Seeing you going out, even if it is with this old man, is better than you sitting behind your daddy’s desk all night. He’d be mightily upset with you if he could see you now.” Maggie hugged her tightly and told her to have fun. “And don’t forget my order. I’d hate to not have anything here for you to eat in the morning.”

  The place was packed when they got there. Parker still hadn’t gotten her driver’s license renewed and hated to have to rely on others to get her around. There was the limo, of course, but that was just not something she was comfortable with yet. Being in the house alone for the most part was difficult enough.

  “Mr. Blackwell, it’s nice to see you again.” The young man seated them and introduced himself to her. “My name is Kip. I’m going to be your server tonight. I’m kinda new at this part, but my mom is working here so I thought I’d help out. What can I get you to drink?”

  He was personable. His charm, if that’s what they called it now, was right there and it made her smile. It was the first time since she’d been out that she’d had a meal in a restaurant, and because of him, she wasn’t as put off as she thought she’d be. Ordering an iced tea, she sat back to have a look around the place.

  The walls were done well. She had a feeling that someone had either a good hand in art or these were the original wall advertisements. There was a counter at the front that had pastries and breads in it. And toward the back, there was rack after rack of jams and jellies. Parker could smell the fresh bread baking, and it made her mouth water. When a glass with ice was set before her, she was astonished that a pitcher of the most beautiful amber colored tea was set down as well.

  Judith, the owner, came to sit with them, and was talking to Allen like she’d known him for years and years. When Parker’s sandwich came, she could only stare at it. The size of it was about three times as much as she’d expected. Not to mention, it was about five times bigger than what she could eat.

  “Something wrong with your sandwich?” Parker told her that it was a tad bigger than she’d thought. “Yes, well, we have a lot of elderly come in, and they love being able to share then take some home to share for the second time. And we’re happy to have their business. You’re Parker Brooks.”

  “Yes.” She pushed the sandwich away and Judith pushed it back, telling her to eat it. “I’m not much on being out in the public yet. When people recognize me, I sort of seize up, if you can imagine.”

  “You are the woman that supposedly killed a man and robbed his place. When Allen mentioned you, I had my friend, Dusty, look into a few things. She has this freaky ability to find and track people. I’ve been finding a few things out that perhaps your attorney should have found.” Parker said that it was a slam dunk when she’d confessed. “Yes, so I heard. And your stepmother, Angela? She needs to have her ass kicked about a dozen times. Right to the edge of town, and then pushed out.”

  Parker laughed. It was nice having someone that was so honest with what they wanted to say and just said it. She picked up her sandwich that had been cut into fourths and bit down into the crusty bread and rare roast beef. After telling her that it was good, Parker asked her about her interest in her trial.

  “Oh, for any number of reasons, I guess. But mostly because no one seems to know who you killed. And the place you killed this unknown person in has been empty for a few decades.” Parker said that they had wanted her father. “Yes, well, I’m to understand that instead of leaving his riches to his wife, he left everything to you. Smart man, your father. But I’m betting that there was more to it than him just being a smart person.”

  “I think so as well.” Judith got up to leave them but said that she’d return. Parker looked at Allen when he laughed. “I’m assuming that you knew this meeting was going to happen, and that you somehow set it up that I’m going to be meeting more of the group that I want to do business with.”

  “Yes, well, I’ve had some trouble getting you out of the house. And this way, not only do you get to see the people that you want to do business with, but you also got some food in that skinny body of yours.” She looked down at her waist and then back at him. “You have lost a great deal of weight, Parker. And none of it was by design. I’ve also been informed that if you sit here quietly, you’ll get a show while you eat.”

  She had no idea what he was talking about until Angela walked in the door. She’d not aged all that well, and Parker had to cover her mouth just to keep from laughing out loud. The fashion plate that she’d always been was gone, and in her place was a haggard looking woman who looked as if she’d been binging for several months, and not on salads.

  “I wish to speak to the manager.” Judith was in the back room, more than likely by design. “She said that this bread was gluten free, and I just read that flour is a gluten. I want my money back.”

  “That is our rice bread and made with rice flour, which is gluten free. Besides, I don’t think we can give you a refund on that.” Angela, her voice very loud now, asked her why not. And in an equally loud voice, the cashier answered her. “You’ve eaten all but an inch of the bread, and that isn’t enough to return. I can get you a refund on this much.” The cashier laid a quarter on the counter and walked away.

  “Why, of all the nerve. Get back here.” Parker stood up, and Allen asked her if she was ready for this. Angela continued to berate the poor girl as she made her way to the cash register. Angela was on a roll now, it appeared, and was screaming at the top of her lungs. “You tell that woman that she’s lied to me for the last time. I want her to come out here and face me.”

  “Angela?” Angela turned so quickly that she nearly fell off her too high heels. Parker looked her up and down and smiled. “I see that you’ve let yourself go. I’m guessing that all the sex you had in my father’s house kept you in better shape than one would have thought. And so that you know, most flour has gluten in it, but not rice flour, as she told you. Moron.”

  When Angela drew back her hand to no doubt hit her, Allen grabbed it in midair and told Angela to behave. Her screaming had the entire place standing up and staring at her, just the sort of attention that she loved. With Angela going on and on about bread and Parker being an ex-con, just out of prison, Parker listened to her before Judith came from the back room.

  ~*~

  Tholan heard about the uproar at the deli. He wished in a small way that he’d been there to see it. He’d run into Angela during his time around the town that the compound was in. She wasn’t the type of person that he thought of as a nice being.

  His charge was a nice young man. He worked hard, and his business was doing well. Jack had a pleasant family, two of the cutest little girls, and he didn’t seem to be into anything that would get him into trouble. The only time that Tholan had to give him encouragement was when his mother-in-law would come to visit. The poor gentleman would be so depressed after she left that he’d sit in a dark room and cry.

  She would say things like “Can’t you get a better paying job so that my daughter doesn’t have to work so hard?’ Jack worked two jobs so that his wife didn’t have to have a job outside of the house. And she seemed to have everything that she needed, even if he had to work just a little more to afford it for her. “I wish that she’d never married a lazy ass like you.” Tholan was trying to wrap his head around tha
t one. Jack seemed to be at work more than he was at home.

  And the one that would send Jack to the basement for a few minutes to compose himself was, “Your mother must have slept with her brother or father to produce you. You are far and away the stupidest man I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet.”

  He never commented back to her, but his wife did. She would order her mother out of the house, which wasn’t enough as far as Tholan was concerned. The woman, to him, should have been barred from the house forever. But he wasn’t in charge.

  They were in the basement tonight, the mother-in-law having just been ordered from the house, when he moved closer to his charge. Tholan wasn’t sure what to tell him that he’d not already said to him but wanted him to get some encouragement from the fact that she’d been told never to come back. Tholan had a feeling that even the children were relieved. She had been taking her nastiness out on them when she could no longer get to Jack.

  She was getting to him—that was the problem. He’d had to tell him nightly before this that his life was worth living, and that taking someone so precious from his family would be a heartbreaking thing to do. But now, Tholan couldn’t hear his thoughts. Nor could he see any sort of expression on his face. When Michael showed up, Tholan wanted to beg him to not kill him, to let him do this, when he shook his head.

  “I have sent his children down to him.” The two little girls came down the stairs then and crawled up into his lap. It was the first expression that Tholan had seen on Jack’s face for many hours. “His wife could use some of their kind of loving too, but him more so.”

  The smile was there, but it was a sad one. At this point, Tholan would take what he could get from him. Moving closer to the chair where they sat, he told the man again how much the little ones would miss him should he do what he was thinking about. Just as he was ready to walk away, Tholan tried something else.