Not wanting to hang around outside and expose herself any longer than necessary she opened the door and let herself in. Dropping the books and her purse on the couch she called out to Theo, frowning when he didn’t answer or appear. Moving through the living room she called out again but when he didn’t answer she shrugged. Maybe he had decided to sleep in after all. Deciding she’d just use the bathroom and then go put the coffee on, she opened the door to the hallway which led to the bathroom and the two bedrooms, but as she stepped into the hallway she froze.
The door to the bathroom opened and Theo stepped out into the hallway in a cloud of steam wearing nothing but a towel, drying his damp hair with another. He stopped, observing her silently when he realised she was in the hallway.
Olivia nearly swallowed her tongue, or possibly she may have, she wasn’t entirely sure. Her gaze inadvertently followed the small rivulets of water as they slid slowly down his chest and his rock hard abdomen. He had that delicious v shape from his hips to disappear into the fluffy towel he wore. Her mouth fell open slightly as her eyes slowly travelled the length of his body and then back up to meet his curious gaze.
‘Uh, I,’ Crap what was she trying to say? Her brain seemed to have temporarily switched off, ‘um sorry, I’ll just…’
She turned back to the living room and with a resounding crack she smacked her head on the door.
‘Ow,’ she murmured holding her forehead. Too mortified to turn back and look at Theo she headed towards the kitchen to get some ice.
She was just pressing a bag of frozen peas to her forehead when Theo wandered into the kitchen wearing jeans slung low on his hips and pulling a black tee shirt over his head. Trying not to notice the delicious trail of dark hair which ran from his belly button to disappear into his jeans, she bit her lip avoiding his clear gaze.
‘Are you injured?’
‘I’m fine,’ she mumbled from behind the bag of peas.
‘Let me see,’ he stepped closer.
‘No,’ her voice was muffled as she pressed the bag closer to her face, ‘I said I’m fine,’
‘And I said let me see,’ she could almost hear amusement in his voice.
His hands gripped hers lightly as he pulled the bag away from her face. He stepped in closer brushing her body with his own larger, harder frame. His hands cupped the sides of her face gently, tilting it into the light as he examined the welt forming at her hairline.
‘The skin did not break,’ he murmured. ‘It will heal quickly.’
God, he smelled so good. She fought the ridiculous urge to press her face into the line of his throat and breathe in the delicious scent of his skin. What the hell was wrong with her? She had never been one of those women who made a fool of themselves over a guy, so why on earth did she have the sudden urge to bite him?
Stepping back she shook her head.
‘Thanks, I’m good’ she breathed heavily turning towards the coffee pot, ‘you want a coffee?’
‘I would thank you,’ he smiled, ‘I find I am very fond of coffee.’
‘What else has Jake been introducing you to?’ she threw a glance over her shoulder.
‘Beer.’
‘I’ll bet,’ she chuckled.
‘And Pizza, I really enjoyed the pizza.’
‘I suppose I’d better cook you a proper meal or Jake will have you eating take-out every night,’ she murmured absently. She turned and handed him a cup of coffee before picking hers up and heading back into the living room. ‘So where did we get up to?’
‘We covered the American revolution, the Declaration of Independence and the Industrial Revolution,’ Theo followed her.
‘Okay so moving on, The Louisiana Purchase and after that we’ll get started on the Civil War.’ Olivia scooped the books off the couch and sat down at a table by the window.
‘The Louisiana Purchase,’ Theo’s eyes narrowed in thought, ‘1803 the purchase of 828,800 square miles of land by President Thomas Jefferson from Napoleon Bonaparte for 78 million francs essentially doubling the size of the United States.’
Olivia raised one eyebrow questioningly.
‘The Discovery Channel,’ he replied sheepishly, ‘sometimes I can’t sleep.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with that,’ she smiled, ‘you tried the History Channel?’
He nodded, ‘and the comedy channel.’
‘The comedy channel?’
‘I like the programme called Friends.’
‘Well it’s a classic for a reason,’ she laughed lightly. ‘Okay so we’ll skip the Louisiana Purchase and go straight for the American Civil War. Are you familiar with any of it?’
‘Something about the South declaring independence from the North over the issue of slavery?’ his brow creased as he thought back to one of the books he’d flicked through.’
‘Well, it’s a little more involved than that but yes, slavery was the bare bones of it.’ Olivia drew out one of the text books and flipped it open to the chapter she wanted and started talking.
Theo sipped his coffee and let her voice wash over him. He liked it when she got that prim school teacher’s voice as she delved into her history and his future. But despite the fact that he found it all very fascinating, his mind began to wander and he found himself only half listening, his gaze drawn to her full rose coloured lips.
The ringing of her phone startled him out of his reverie as she pulled it out of her pocket and frowned at the screen.
‘Here,’ she said handing him the book, ‘the battle of Gettysburg.’
‘Hey Mags,’ she stood and wandered towards the window, turning her back to him.
His eyes naturally fell to her shapely – what was the word, - oh yes, ‘ass’ and he didn’t feel the slightest bit bad about that. Now that he’d had the chance to get used to the way women dressed in the 21st century he found himself very appreciative of the very tight trousers known as ‘skinny jeans’.
‘No, I haven’t sent the final copy but you’ll get it in the next few days,’ she murmured into the phone as Theo turned back to the book.
Skimming through the first few paragraphs, he sighed quietly. There was so much to learn, it was amazing to think how much had happened to the world in the last few centuries alone. It was fortunate for him that he was able to pick things up quickly; when he was younger it had truly been a curse. His father hadn’t been appreciative of his intellect nor his gift for reading and words. Matthias Beckett had been a devout man who believed that sparing the rod spoiled the child and needless to say Theo had been neither spared nor spoiled. Anything outside of Matthias’s sphere of understanding was immediately labelled ‘the work of the devil’ and punished most severely. Unfortunately for Theo his gift for remembering words had fallen decidedly into that category and he had been punished accordingly. After that he hid it as much as he could. It was strange being here. Now instead of being derided for his gift he was encouraged. Olivia seemed inordinately pleased that he was able to retain so much information so quickly and he could admit to himself, it was a balm to the soul, to be allowed to be himself. It was like finally being able to take a breath.
‘You still want to come and visit?’ he heard her ask. ‘Um, it’s not really a good time at the moment, the house is a mess and I’m still trying to sort through decades of junk.’
She listened quietly for a moment.
‘No, I know that Mags and I appreciate that you want to help but I really need to do it on my own.’ Olivia breathed a small sigh of relief when Mags finally gave her a break.
After saying their goodbyes and hanging up, Olivia stood a moment, gazing thoughtfully out of the window.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see her, in fact it was the complete opposite she missed her like crazy, but the simple fact was that with a psycho on the loose and her sadistic father trying to torment her she figured Mags needed to keep as far away from her as possible. It was bad enough Louisa and Jake had been dragge
d into the mess she was in now, she certainly didn’t want Mags getting caught up in it too.
Her heart sank as her thoughts once again drifted to her father. She couldn’t understand why he would do something so cruel as to leave her the doll she’d been holding the night he killed her mother. A small voice at the back of her mind told her it might not have been him, but there was no one else it could have been. No one else would have access to the doll. But why now, why hold onto the doll all these years and then leave it sitting on her porch? Did he hate her that much? Hadn’t he taken enough from her that he now had to take her peace of mind as well?
‘Olivia,’ Theo’s voice rumbled close to her ear.
She jolted and half turned. She had been so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t even heard him approach.
‘What’s wrong?’ He stepped in close brushing against her body, making the tiny little hairs on her arms stand on end.
‘Nothing,’ she murmured, turning away from him, unable to stare into those dark eyes, not when she felt so raw inside.
‘No lies Olivia,’ his voice was low and deep, his breath brushing her ear as he ran his hands up her arms, lightly pinning her to back against his firm chest. ‘Isn’t that what we agreed?’
‘I also said, if I didn’t want to discuss something I wouldn’t,’ she frowned.
‘Olivia,’ he turned her slowly so they stood face to face, her body naturally leaning into his as if he were her own personal source of gravity, ‘I know something is wrong, something other than the murder of Adam and Brody’s disappearance.’
‘You know about that?’
‘I hear things,’ he shrugged, ‘but it’s not that, it’s something else; you’re afraid.’
‘Don’t,’ she shook her head.
‘Olivia,’ he wrapped a stray curl of her hair around his finger, ‘talk to me. Are you worried about what is in the woods by your home? Is that why you don’t want your friend to visit you?’
‘Is there anything you don’t know about?’ Olivia asked dryly.
‘I overheard you and Jake talking about it the first night you brought me here.’
‘You know what they say about eavesdroppers,’
‘Actually I don’t,’ he answered ruefully. ‘I’m worried about you.’
‘I told you before Theo I don’t need saving,’
‘I know,’ he murmured as he absently traced her jaw with his fingers, ‘but you have to understand why I feel so protective of you.’
‘So explain it to me,’ she whispered.
‘I’ve seen you my whole life, I thought you were nothing more than a dream. If I had known you were real,’ his gaze dropped to her mouth as he grazed her bottom lip with his thumb, his voice soft and low, ‘I would have torn the world apart brick by brick looking for you. I didn’t know, but now I do. You’re real and I am never going to let anyone or anything harm you.’
‘Theo,’ she sighed.
‘Tell me what is in the woods; tell me what you’re afraid of.’
‘I can’t.’
He opened his mouth to interrupt her but she pressed on.
‘It’s not because I don’t want to,’ she shook her head, ‘It’s because I don’t know, I don’t know what it is.’
‘Tell me what you do know then,’
‘It’s old,’ she whispered as her eyes became distant, ‘it’s lain dormant for a long time but it stirs, even now it feels the edges of its power, it flexes its claws and it waits.’
‘For what?’
She was breathtaking was all he could think, her eyes had gone from a deep dark aged-whiskey to pure gold. Her skin almost glowed and he could feel the heat of her body against his own.
She trembled in his arms as a wave of dizziness washed over her.
‘Sorry,’ she murmured, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. ‘I don’t know why I said that, I must be more spooked than I thought.’
‘Do you think it’s the murderer?’ He stroked her face lightly, ‘they did find the body of Adam Miller in the woods.’
‘Maybe,’ she replied.
She knew it wasn’t that but she couldn’t go into further detail without revealing things to him that she wasn’t sure he was ready to deal with.’
Suddenly the moment was broken in a loud squeal of tyres, causing Olivia to break away from Theo’s embrace and look out of the front window. The unmarked cop car that had been following her pulled out from its surveillance spot across the street into a u-turn and headed out down the street.
‘That can’t be good,’ Olivia frowned.
‘What is it?’
‘Those cops have been all over my ass for days, something pretty big must have happened for them to light out while I’m still here.’
Theo turned towards the front door as it opened and Jake strode in.
‘Jake?’ Olivia stepped out from behind Theo, ‘what’s going on?’
‘They found Brody,’ he replied tightly.
‘Why do I get a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach,’ Olivia paled.
‘They found his body in the woods like Adam.’
‘How?’ her voice came out a broken whisper, ‘how did he die?’
‘Olivia,’ Jake shook his head.
‘Tell me the truth,’ her voice hardened.
‘It looks as if his eyes and tongue were ripped out. There’s no clear cause of death at the moment, but Doc Hughes was called to the crime scene and he says that it could be shock or exposure that actually killed him, but the mutilation was carried out perimortem.’
‘Oh my God,’ Olivia breathed, her hand involuntarily going to her mouth as she gasped in shock.
‘What is perimortem?’ Theo asked, ‘I am not familiar with this word.’
‘It means injuries occurring at or near the time of death with no evidence of healing.’ Olivia replied quietly.
‘It means,’ Jake hissed, ‘that Brody was still alive when the son of a bitch took his eyes.’
‘God have mercy,’ Theo crossed himself.
‘Cam is pretty messed up,’ Jake blew out the breath he was holding.
‘Who is this Cam?’ Theo asked Jake.
‘Deputy Walker, he’s Brody’s brother,’ Olivia answered for him as she looked directly at Jake. ‘Does he blame me?’
She could tell by the tension in Jake’s jaw what the answer was, his silence just confirmed it.
‘Will he cause her harm?’ Theo demanded.
‘I honestly don’t know,’ Jake shook his head. ‘I’ve known Cam a long time, he’s a good man, a good cop, but right now he’s messed up, he’s not thinking clearly with all the rubbish the Chief has been filling his head with. I just don’t know. I’m trying to do as much damage control as possible but they’ve got me pretty much on lock down. I wasn’t even allowed near the crime scene.’
He took a deep breath his gaze firmly fixed on Olivia.
‘Olive, I’m worried about you.’
‘Jake,’ she stepped closer, ‘please, you have to trust me. I can’t explain why but I need to stay in that house. I feel it right down in my gut, I cannot leave.’
‘I don’t like you being out there on your own, especially with the Chief and the police department crawling all over the woods near your house. I know for a fact Chief Walcott is putting pressure on for a warrant to search your property. I don’t want you in the house alone. We still don’t even know where your father is or what his intentions are towards you. He’s already kidnapped you once.’
‘What?’ Theo’s head whipped around to stare at Olivia, ‘what’s this about your father?’
‘That’s a story for another time,’ she brushed it aside, one problem at a time please.’
There was no way she was telling either of them about the doll or the fact that her father apparently had been right up to her front porch. If they knew they’d both freak out and insist she stay somewhere safer, but deep down she knew she couldn’t. She c
ouldn’t explain it even to herself, all she knew was that she had to stay in her house. It had called her back and it needed her to stay.
‘I need to get home,’ Olivia reached for her coat which hung on the back of her chair.
‘Olive,’ Jake raked his hand through his hair in frustration, ‘I don’t like this. I don’t want you in that house on your own.’
‘Don’t worry she won’t be,’ Theo’s jaw set in a hard line, ‘I’ll be with her.’
Chapter 12.
Charles Connell stood gazing out of the window at the charming little historic city below as he sipped his scotch thoughtfully. The suite of rooms he had taken at the Hawthorne were pleasant enough but not particularly to his taste. Still they were better than his cell at Morley Ridge that was for certain. He was anxious to be back in Mercy again, but he couldn’t risk it at the moment. The police would be looking for him and there just weren’t enough places for him to hide so for the moment Salem would have to do. He would return to Mercy soon enough; if his incarceration at Morley Ridge had taught him anything it was the value of patience.
He unbuttoned the jacket of his expensively tailored suit and tucked his hand comfortably into his pocket. The role of wealthy businessman wouldn’t have been his first choice either, but as disguises went it was acceptable, certainly comfortable. But then he had always been extremely good at hiding his true self, making people see exactly what he had wanted them to see. Taking another sip he allowed the earthy peat smoke and sweet, smooth toffee flavour, to roll around on his tongue. The Macallan was a good choice, he would have to remember to commend Davis on his excellent taste, but then he had learned never to underestimate Davis.
Pulling his hand from his pocket he tilted his wrist, noting the time. Davis was due back from Mercy soon and he was looking forward to his arrival. The door of his suite opened and a smile curved his lips as he turned around to face his pale haired associate.
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