Chapter 17.
Deep in the heart of the woods the snow had settled crisp and white, the starkness broken every now and then by dark twisted twigs and branches. The edges of the clearing were marred by huge dirty paw prints leading in a never ending circle along the perimeter. The pale winter sun had dipped low on the horizon setting the sky ablaze with pink and purple. On its heels followed a blanket of pure black punctuated every now and then with a scattering of stars. Everything was so still and quiet, it was like the entire woods were watching and waiting to bear witness.
Olivia lay splayed out on her stomach on the freezing cold ground. The giant Hell Hound stood over her snarling, its teeth sunk into the back of her neck, pinning her in place and unable to move. Her fingers clawed at the snow as she tried desperately to escape but bright rivulets of blood spilled down her neck and onto the whiteness of the snow.
Theo beat his fists against the pale coloured shield of magic keeping him out of the clearing. His hands were bloodied and left red smear prints as he tried desperately to get to her, unable to do anything but watch helplessly.
Tears spilled down Olivia’s face. Her body was wet and numb from lying on the snow; her neck was held at an agonizing angle by the Hell Hound which seemed intent on pinning her in place. It forced her to watch the scene unfolding in front of her rather than delivering a killing blow.
A terror filled cry filled the clearing and Olivia’s eyes were drawn to the young man laid staked out on the ground. The hooded figure knelt down over him holding out his hand above the victim’s chest. The boy screamed in agony, his back arching unnaturally as his chest split open and his heart was yanked out of his body.
The killer dropped the heart into a large canning jar and moved to the hollowed tree twisting up from the centre of the clearing. Four symbols glowed, a sooty orange colour visible through the snow. Moving past them the killer stopped at the last gap and the earth and snow began to churn upwards revealing a deep hole. The jar was placed in the hole and the earth suddenly folded inwards burying the jar containing the human heart. A fifth symbol appeared, which matched the other four. The five symbols continued to burn brighter and brighter until they burst into flame, lines of fire ran between each of the points until they joined to form a perfect pentacle with the tree at its centre.
Theo looked on in horror as the figure turned and approached Olivia slowly. He beat frantically against the magic but it held firm.
Olivia looked up as the figure knelt in front of her. Her eyes widened in recognition and a pain filled cry left her lips.
‘No!’
The killer reached out touching the side of her face almost tenderly, the way Theo himself had done a hundred times. As he traced his fingers along her jaw she tried to pull her face away from his touch but the hound bit down harder causing her to cry out in pain. His fingers danced along the edges of her wound allowing her blood to drip onto his fingers. He pulled them away rubbing his fingers together like he was studying them.
He stood suddenly and strode back to the blackened and dead looking tree, now bathed in the sooty orange glow of the burning pentagram. With his hand outstretched he pressed his palm to the bark and whispered.
A great splintering sound suddenly filled the clearing causing the killer to step backwards. The tree cracked down the centre and split outwards filling the cold night air with the acrid smell of sulphur and brimstone. Slowly and painstakingly a figure began to claw its way out of the carcass of the ruined tree. Its skin was raw and red and naked but it was unmistakably the figure of a man.
He crawled onto the fresh snow, which hissed and melted as his overheated skin touched it. Theo and Olivia both watched in dread as the figure stood shakily, his eyes glowing red in the darkness. Seemingly unconcerned with his nakedness he stood and surveyed the carnage of the clearing with interest. The symbol of the dual serpents was carved into the flesh of his chest, directly over his heart.
He walked towards Olivia the snow melting under his feet as he went.
The Hell Hound sank his teeth further into Olivia’s neck and dragged her to her knees like a rag doll.
The naked man reached down and stroked the hound’s mangled fur. It dropped Olivia at his feet like a dog presenting its master with its favourite toy. If it had a tail instead of a skeletal stump it probably would have wagged it.
He turned his attention back to Olivia, lifting her face and studying it intently. His fingers wrapped around her throat and squeezed as he dragged her to her feet, lifting her so her toes scrapped ineffectually against the ground. She clawed at his hand as she fought for breath but he merely tilted his head and studied her curiously.
‘So you like to play with fire do you Olivia West?’ his voice was deep and amused.
A shiver of cold hard dread clamped Theo’s spine painfully, he knew that voice.
The naked man’s skin started to ripple before suddenly bursting into flames. The fire travelled up his arm to his fist where he held Olivia tightly. Her skin began to smoke and blacken beneath his touch.
Theo screamed uncontrollably, beating his fists against the shield as the bones of his hands shattered and broke with the force of his blows. Blood poured from the wounds, and pieces of tattered flesh hung from his hands. He didn’t even notice, all he could see was his woman burning.
Theo woke with a great shuddering gasp, trying desperately to drag air into his starving lungs. He reached out blindly for Olivia and was met with cold empty sheets. Sitting up with a start his gaze swept the room; she was nowhere to be seen. Pulling the tangled sheets off his body he swung his legs over the side of the bed and fumbled for his jeans, yanking them on even as he moved over to the window.
His heartbeat slowed slightly when he saw it was still cold and damp, without a hint of snow in sight. The pale morning sun set high in the sky and the world was still. He cast his gaze down to where Olivia usually parked her car and realised it was not there. Frowning, he headed downstairs checking the rooms; she definitely wasn’t in the house. Cursing lightly he headed into the kitchen and noticed a note on the counter.
Didn’t want to wake you, heading into town to see Erica, be back soon x
Pulling his phone out of his pocket he scrolled through to her number and let it ring. The last vestiges of the nightmare still clung to his thoughts and he couldn’t get the image of Olivia burning out of his mind. It wasn’t the first time he’d had this particular dream but it was the clearest it had ever been.
Olivia’s phone suddenly answered and he relaxed at the sound of her voice.
‘Hey,’ she greeted him, ‘I thought you’d be out for longer, you were sleeping like the dead when I left.’
‘You should have woken me,’ he grumbled.
‘Theo I doubt an entire brass band in the room could’ve woken you this morning.’
‘Are you okay?’ he asked rubbed his chest unconsciously.
‘I’m fine,’ her voice softened, ‘I’m at Erica’s office now, just waiting for her to finish with her client.’
‘Alright,’ he conceded, ‘call me when you’re done.’
‘I will,’ she smiled, ‘stop worrying.’
‘Not possible,’ he replied noticing a shadow at the front door.
Walking through the hall he gazed through the peep hole before answering the door. Jake stood on the other side with a small package tucked under one arm.
‘Look I’ll be fine,’ she answered, ‘I’ll be back by lunch.’
‘Okay, I’ll see you then,’ Theo hung up as he stepped back and let Jake pass by.
‘Why are you always half dressed when I turn up?’ Jake asked as Theo followed him through to the kitchen.
‘Why do you insist on turning up so early?’ Theo countered.
‘Because I’ve just finished the graveyard shift,’ Jake turned to face his friend, ‘Where’s Olive?’
‘In town, she’s gone to see Erica.’
‘And you let
her go on her own?’ Jake replied incredulously.
‘I didn’t know about it,’ Theo frowned.
‘Snuck out while you were sleeping did she?’
‘Yes,’ Theo grumbled.
‘She’s a stubborn one,’ Jake shook his head, ‘was that her on the phone?’
Theo nodded.
‘What’s that?’
Jake set the package down on the counter.
‘Your first gun’ Jake replied, ‘but please try not to kill anyone with it as it’s registered in my name.’
‘Why is it in your name?’
‘Because it would take too long to wait for you to apply for a gun license,’ Jake told him, ‘and I would feel marginally better knowing that you are at least armed out here in the middle of nowhere with a murderer on the loose.’
‘Okay,’ Theo shrugged.
‘Now go get showered and dressed while I put the coffee on, we’ll start with basic gun care and then move on to target practice.’
Nodding in agreement Theo turned and headed out of the room.
Olivia sat in the rather elegant and comfortable waiting room of Erica’s law office idly leafing through a magazine. The stern looking secretary was blatantly staring at her. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, she was well aware of what the town were saying about her but she didn’t need it thrown in her face at every turn.
She looked up gratefully as Erica’s door opened and she wandered out with a young man of about nineteen, shaking his hand and nodding, she watched as he left. She turned and smiled as she caught sight of Olivia.
‘Hi,’ she held open her door.
‘Hey,’ Olivia dropped the magazine down on the table and stood, ‘thanks for seeing me on short notice.’
‘I’ve always got time for you Olivia,’ she replied as they walked into the office.
‘So what can I do for you?’ Erica moved around the desk and sat down.
‘I want to make a formal complaint about Chief Walcott.’ Olivia blew out a breath.
‘What has he done now?’ Erica sighed.
‘Has Jake said anything to you?’
Erica shook her head, her lips pursing in annoyance.
‘We haven’t been able to see much of each other since the Chief has him on the graveyard shifts.’
‘Sorry,’ Olivia murmured.
‘Trust me, it’s not your fault,’ Erica shook her head, ‘don’t start feeling guilty, the guy’s an asshole.’
Olivia laughed lightly.
‘Look there’s some stuff I need to tell you but it has to be kept confidential.’
‘Olivia, whatever you tell me is protected by attorney- client privilege.’
‘I know, it’s just,’ she tried to organise her thoughts; ‘it’s about Chief Walcott and its personal. Despite the fact that I can’t stand the guy I don’t want it to be made public.’
‘Well you’re a better person than me,’ Erica replied, ‘but let’s take this one step at a time. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on and we’ll figure out a plan of action. I promise I won’t do anything that you don’t specifically agree to.’
‘Okay,’ Olivia nodded.
‘So what’s going on?’
Once Olivia opened her mouth she found she couldn’t stop. It felt good to have another woman to talk to and it all just came pouring out. The cops following her every time she left the house. Even Officer Hanson following her into the medical centre and the ridiculous lengths she and Theo had gone to in order to lose her. Then she told Erica about the Chief threatening her in the pub and the fact he probably would have hauled her into the station for more questioning if Theo hadn’t been there. She then went on to tell her about the file and James Talbot and the Chief’s relationship with him and his friendship with her father.
Erica just sat taking it all in, waiting for her to finish. Finally Olivia fell silent and Erica’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
‘Okay,’ she said after a moment, ‘I think we can keep the information about the Chiefs relationship with the previous victim between us for now, but I think you’re right you do need to put in a complaint and I know just who to speak to.’
She leaned over and pressed the intercom.
‘Jacqueline, I’ll be going out for a while, bump my next client back an hour. Use my lunch hour if you have to, if that’s not convenient for them reschedule.’
Olivia barely heard the mumbled response as Erica pulled her purse out of her desk drawer and stood abruptly. Straightening her skirt and slipping a smart beige raincoat over her suit, she moved with frightening ease and elegance on her tall skinny heels.
‘Where are we going?’ Olivia stood and followed her from the room.
‘You’ll see,’ Erica replied easily, ‘we might as well walk, it’s not far.’
They stepped out into the crisp November air and Olivia looked up at the heavy grey clouds moving in.
‘It looks like it’s going to rain,’ she noted.
‘That’s November in Massachusetts for you,’ Erica shrugged, her red hair tumbling over her shoulder and catching in the wind.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to drive?’ Olivia asked.
‘It’s not worth it,’ Erica crossed the road giving Olivia no choice but to follow; ‘it really is just around the corner.’
She wasn’t kidding, they walked a couple of blocks and turned left and Olivia could see a large cream coloured building surrounded by neatly manicured lawns.
‘The town offices,’ she murmured, ‘who exactly are we going to see?’
‘The Mayor,’ Erica replied easily.
‘The Mayor,’ Olivia stopped dead, causing Erica to pause and look back.
‘Come on, it’s going to start pouring down any moment,’ Erica pulled a small compact umbrella from her purse as the first fat droplets of rain began to fall.
‘Erica,’ Olivia pulled up the hood of her jacket, ‘We can’t just show up and expect to see the Mayor, don’t you need an appointment or something?’
‘She’ll see me, don’t worry,’ Erica hurried along the sidewalk and up the steps to the front entrance.
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘Because she’s my godmother,’ Erica grinned holding the door open.
Erica followed Olivia through the door and shaking out her umbrella she dropped it in the holder near the entrance.
Leading Olivia through the offices with ease she made her way up to the second level and stopped in front of a neat desk. A heavily pregnant woman with honey blonde hair looked up and smiled.
‘Hey Erica,’
‘Audrey,’ Erica smiled back, ‘Goodness you look like you’re about to pop.’
‘Nope,’ she laughed delightedly as she leaned back in her chair and rubbed her swollen belly, ‘Still got about two months to go,’
‘Seriously,’ Erica’s brow rose in surprise, ‘you sure you’ve only got the one in there?’
‘I hope so,’ she chuckled, looking over Erica’s shoulder at Olivia with interest, ‘what brings you by?’
‘I was hoping to see the Mayor, does she have a moment?’
‘Take a seat I’ll see if we can squeeze you in,’ she replied.
Olivia and Erica took a seat nearby on a plush sofa, a stylish cream colour with dark green stripes. Olivia watched with interest as Audrey pushed back from her seat and hauled herself awkwardly to her feet, before disappearing through a door behind her desk.
‘Awww, she’s got a waddle,’ Erica laughed.
‘You two know each other well?
‘We went to school together,’ she replied, ‘she got married last spring, this is her first baby.’
Olivia nodded.
‘So the Mayor’s your godmother then?’
‘Yes,’ Erica answered, ‘known her all my life. I want you to know you can trust her. Although she was the one who appointed Walcott chief of police she is fair, she’ll take this situation ver
y seriously.’
‘I hope so,’ Olivia replied with a heavy breath, ‘the last thing I need is someone else in authority after my head on a plate.’
‘It’ll be fine,’ she patted Olivia’s hand reassuringly, ‘trust me.’
‘Well it seems to be your lucky day,’ Audrey reappeared, ‘her next appointment had a minor fender bender out on south ridge road and has been delayed. She can fit you in now.’
‘Thanks we appreciate it,’ Erica nodded as she rose from the sofa beckoning for Olivia to follow her.
The Mayor’s office was elegant and homely, that was the first thing Olivia noticed. The second thing was the woman herself as she rose from behind the antique walnut desk to greet Erica warmly. She had to be in her fifties but the woman didn’t look a day over forty. Her warm dark brown hair shone in a sassy jaw length bob and her face held a few faint lines, just the odd one at the corner of her eyes. She embraced Erica warmly before absently smoothing her peach coloured pant suit and turning her curious brown eyes on Olivia.
‘This is Olivia West,’ Erica introduced, ‘she’s a client and a friend, Olivia this is Tammy Burnett.’
‘Mayor Burnett,’ Olivia held out her hand hoping fervently it wasn’t too clammy with nerves.
‘Miss West,’ Mayor Burnett took her hand shaking it lightly, ‘I seem to be hearing your name a lot lately.’
‘I’ll bet,’ Olivia murmured.
‘Please.’
She indicated they take a seat on a curved pearl grey couch and waited until they were seated before settling herself daintily on a matching chair.
‘Now what exactly can I do for you?’
‘It’s a bit of a delicate situation,’ Erica began in a crisp businesslike manner, ‘I’m actually here in a formal capacity. The truth is we’re here to make a complaint against Chief Walcott.’
‘I see,’ Mayor Burnett’s eyes narrowed and her lips pursed thoughtfully, ‘please continue.’
‘Olivia had nothing to do with the murders, she didn’t know either victim personally, she had only met both of them once in passing. There is no physical evidence or motive tying her to either victim and although the remains were discovered in the woods they were not on her property. Yet Chief Walcott has pursued her with extreme prejudice and is making life intolerable for her. She is trying to start a new life for herself in Mercy but Chief Walcott continues to spread unfounded accusations about her. He has had her followed every time she leaves her property, an appalling misuse of police resources and he has accosted her in public threatening to arrest her without substantial cause to do so. She has been extremely tolerant up to a point but this is too much. He either needs to leave her alone or we will have no choice but to sue.’
Mercy (The Guardians Series 1) Page 30