Tiger's Eye (A Stacy Justice Mystery Book Three)

by Barbra Annino

  “Because someone torched your grow house?”

  “What?”

  The raw look on his face told me everything I needed to know and I trained my gun on him.

  “Hey, Stacy, take it easy. Put that thing away before someone gets hurt.”

  “See, that’s the thing, Parker. Someone already got hurt.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You know what I’m talking about!” I yelled. “Everything he touched turned to gold. Isn’t that what you said? Where did you hear that, Shea? Where?”

  He stood, moved around to the side of his desk, and I followed.

  “RJ, perhaps?” I said.

  My soon-to-be-dead boss swallowed hard. “Stacy, you have to understand, she’s crazy. For Christ’s sake, she tried to set me on fire.”

  “He trusted you and you betrayed him!” I didn’t think it was possible to get any angrier, but I did. It was like a snake pit festering in my belly. The gun shook in my hand.

  Shea wagged his head. “No. I tried to warn him.”

  “LIAR!” I shoved his monitor off the desk and it crashed onto the carpet.

  He stared at the broken glass and his shoulders heaved. “Okay, at first, I admit, I was a plant. She sent me here to stake out your father, find out what his next business venture would be, but”—he looked at me, his eyes pleading—“then I got to know him. And your mother. And you.”

  I held the gun steady, the grip engulfed in my hand, and pointed it at his head. Parker took a step back and I moved forward. We circled the desk.

  “She thought the newspaper would be a moneymaker.” His words came out like rapid fire then. “I showed her the books, explained that it wasn’t the gold mine she thought. Then I didn’t hear from her for two years. She found some other guy or something and set her sights elsewhere.”

  “So you were lovers?”

  He nodded.

  “Then why did you stay?”

  “I liked it here. I liked your dad, the town. It felt good to be legitimate. My old life seemed like a distant nightmare. Plus”—he looked at me—“I thought if she ever returned we could face her together. It seemed like there was nothing your father and I couldn’t accomplish.”

  The white tiger flashed in the photo on the wall, a warning, a reminder. Don’t go too far.

  I yanked the frame from the nail and smashed it on the floor.

  I wrapped both hands around the grip of the gun. “Get on your knees.”

  He shook his head, but he did it.

  I stepped closer. “Give me one good reason I shouldn’t kill you.”

  The door flew open at that moment. “Stacy! Drop the gun.”

  The voice was Leo’s.

  I ignored him. Didn’t even look at him, my mind was only focused on the truth.

  Parker looked toward the door, hope in his eyes. Then he saw my face and the hope drained.

  Good. Now he knew how I felt.

  “Don’t do this,” Leo said.

  “I didn’t know she came back, I swear,” said Parker, hands in the air.

  “LIAR!” Both my hands hugged the gun, my finger perched on the trigger.

  “It’s true! I swear. He told me he had something important to do when he left that night. Gave me a lockbox and said to hang onto it until the morning. But he never made it in that next day.”

  Parker was quivering and I was enjoying it.

  “So I hid the box in the floorboard of his car after the crash. I didn’t know what else to do with it. If it had something to do with RJ, I wanted to bury it with your father. Certainly, it wouldn’t do any good if your mother or you got a hold of it.”

  “Why? Why did RJ do it?”

  “Do what?”

  “I have a tape, Parker. I know who crashed the truck into my father’s car.”

  He paused too long for my taste. “WHY?”

  Parker licked his lips and his eyes scanned in the direction of Leo. “There was one thing. One way she could cash in on one last scam. But I didn’t know what she had in mind before the crash, I swear. And I’m so ashamed.” He sobbed.

  Shea looked at the broken picture of him and my dad holding the award. Together.

  Partners.

  And the last piece clicked into place.

  We hit him and I know I can use that as leverage.

  With who?

  “Insurance money,” I said, venom on my tongue. “You inherited Dad’s half of the paper. There must have been a payout when he died.”

  “It wasn’t much. But she promised never to come back if I gave it to her. She left me a PO box number. When I got the check, I cashed it and sent every cent to her. I wanted her to stay out of my life, out of yours.”

  “Stacy, put the goddamn gun down. Don’t do something you’ll regret,” Leo said. “We’ll sort it all out.”

  I almost did.

  Almost.

  But another thought occurred to me.

  “You shot at me,” I said slowly. “You didn’t go fishing that day.”

  Parker started sweating profusely. “Just to scare you. It wasn’t a real gun.”

  “You were the guy with the BB gun?” Leo asked.

  Parker kept his gaze on me. “I did it to protect you. When Leo asked me about the phone call to the office from the dead man’s phone, I knew it had something to do with RJ. If she thought you had any dirt on her, dirt I know your dad warned her about, she would have killed you.”

  “You could have hurt me or Derek. You could have blinded either of us, maybe even killed us!”

  Parker shook his head. “I missed on purpose, but that bird flew at me and the last few shots misfired. I didn’t want to hurt anyone.” He shook his head and tears fell.

  “And Scoog?”

  Leo said, “He had a heart attack, Stacy.”

  “But you were there, weren’t you, Parker?”

  “I didn’t mean to scare him,” he said quietly. “He had the record of me looking for the car after Stacy Senior died. I didn’t want anyone to find it. His arm just came off in my hand.”

  “And then you set it up to look like he was berry picking.”

  Parker looked down. Another sob escaped his throat and my heart hardened further.

  He had no right to cry.

  “Come on, Stacy,” Leo said. “Please, let’s just go.”

  I looked at Leo. Looked at Parker. Studied the shattered glass of the picture frame.

  I sighed and shook my head. To Shea I said, “You’re not worth it.”

  Slowly I lowered the gun.

  Leo and Parker each blew out a breath.

  I watched as my boss rose from his knees.

  But I thought better of it and fired at him anyway.

  Chapter 35

  The electricity from the taser lit up Parker like a Christmas tree. I watched him convulse for a moment, flopping around like a fish on land.

  Leo looked at me, incredulous. “A taser gun?”

  I shrugged. “Gotta love that spy store.”

  “I could have killed you.”

  I said, “No, you couldn’t.”

  Then I left.

  Chapter 36

  On the morning of the summer solstice, with the sun shining and the cardinals singing, I found myself back in the cemetery speaking to my father.

  “You can rest easy, Dad. RJ can’t hurt anyone anymore. And Parker, well, he’ll likely face charges too. Leo is sorting the whole mess now. He’s been questioning your old partner for a few days, not to mention a couple of the band members. The chief is convinced that Rebecca Jean couldn’t have rowed Cole out to the lake to dump him by herself. Knowing what she’s capable of, though, I have no doubts she acted alone.”

  Leo had the “e” that Keesha had swallowed and then eliminated, proving that RJ, at the very least, made contact with her blood brother. I suspected the raven medallion would match that “unique” impression on the back of the man’s head too, though it was doubtful it had the power to knock him
unconscious. She must have hit him with something else after she stunned him. That, coupled with the evidence inside the lockbox, and her attack on me, should be enough to put her away for a long time.

  He also said that Gramps was aware of the false wall I had knocked down (I turned the article clippings over to Leo), but that he never knew of any lockbox.

  “There was something in there for you,” he told me. “It’s gift wrapped with instructions for you to open on your thirtieth birthday.”

  The family heirloom, I presumed. I told him to give it to Gramps for safekeeping as my father had intended.

  I didn’t need any more surprises for a while.

  I said to my father’s headstone now, “I need one last favor, Dad.” I pulled out the penny from the year Lolly was to be wed. Fiona had any number of pennies stashed away for emergencies such as this. They are a great conductor to contact the spirits.

  I put the coin to my third eye and imagined Lolly in her wedding dress, a faceless groom standing by her side.

  I didn’t dare do any further magic in this place.

  I set the coin on my father’s headstone and said, “I made a promise to Aunt Lolly to find out what happened to her beloved Jack. Think you could help out with that?”

  A long while passed.

  Then, behind me, I heard a familiar voice. Then another and another.

  Mr. Scoog spoke first. “Take it easy on the girl, folks, she had quite an ordeal last time. We don’t want to break her.” He looked at me and said, “You’re a legend around here, you know. Did a lot of good for the dead.”

  I nodded.

  “So now we’ll do something for you.”

  The crowd parted slowly and there, holding a beer bottle that read Lolly’s Lager, was a young, handsome ghost.

  The remaining spirits misted away and I approached Jack.

  He had sparkling eyes and quite the physique. I could see why my aunt was drawn to him. He fumbled with the label on the beer, peeling it back and forth.

  Finally he spoke. “How is she?”

  “She’s fine. She misses you.”

  “I miss her too.” A cloud swooped across his face. “Tell her I’m sorry.”

  “I think she knows.”

  He stared at the statue of the Virgin Mary for a long time. Sat on a cement bench.

  “What happened to you?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “It was foolish. I wasn’t careful.”

  “Go on,” I urged.

  “I was preparing a special lager just for her.” He held up his beer to show me the label. There was a silhouette of a woman beneath the scrolling font. “She could hold her liquor like no other.”

  That did not surprise me.

  “Anyway, I was mixing it in an old corner of the brewery that had been walled off from the inside. It was a circular stone structure like a silo. I had to lower the supplies down pretty carefully, but it was going to be worth it just to see the surprise on her face when I unveiled it for the wedding. I didn’t tell anyone, you see. Wanted it to be a secret.”

  He took a swig of the potion. “I worked on it for months. Up and down that ladder every day.” He stopped to watch a pair of doves flutter through the trees. “On the morning of the wedding, I was hauling up the first case when I slipped and broke my neck.”

  “And no one knew to look for you there.”

  Jack nodded.

  “Where was the brewery?”

  “It was on my grandfather’s land. Off Blue Diamond Road.”

  “Your cousin lives there now. He’s a metal sculptor.”

  Jack nodded. “It’s good that it’s still in the family.” He took another swig of beer. “So you’ll tell her?”

  “I will. And we’ll find you a proper resting spot.”

  With that, he smiled and faded into a whisper on the wind, but the beer bottle remained, clanking in the absence of a hand. It up-righted itself when a breeze blew by. A flash of crimson flew in front of me, circled over my head then, and landed on top of the bottle.

  A cardinal.

  I made a quick stop to the vet’s office to see how Keesha was doing. Tracey decided to adopt her and she was presently the office mascot.

  She wiggled over to me, happily shaking her tail, and I gave her a big smooch on her heart-shaped head. I promised a playdate with Thor as soon as he was all better. She yipped in agreement and scampered off.

  Thor was recovering quietly at home, with as many cheeseburgers and hot dogs as he wanted. The wound was healing nicely, thanks to Doc Zimmerman and the magical touch of Fiona.

  When I got to the cottage, he was sprawled across the couch, upside down, watching America’s Funniest Videos.

  The holiday ceremonies were to begin in an hour, so I was applying eyeliner when Chance arrived.

  “Hey, it’s me,” he called. “Don’t come out guns ablazing.” He walked into the bathroom and whistled at me. “You look gorgeous.”

  “Thank you.”

  There was a bouquet of thyme, lavender, rosemary, and sage in his hand tied up in a pretty ribbon.

  “For you, m’lady.” He bowed.

  “Thank you, how sweet. I’ll put them in water.”

  I walked into the kitchen, chatting about how I thought it might be time to plant my own garden in the back so I wouldn’t have to swipe herbs from Birdie.

  When I turned around, he was on one knee.

  “What are you doing?” I shook my head. “Chance, get up.”

  He grabbed my hand. “I was going to do this later, but I decided it should be private.”

  “No, later is good,” I stammered. Much later. Much, much later.

  “Stacy, I love you. I love everything about you. I love your wit, your smile, your loyalty, your determination.”

  Oh God.

  “I think you’re the most exciting, compassionate woman I’ve ever met.”

  No, no, no.

  “And I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

  He pulled out a ring. A modest cut emerald.

  It was exactly what I would have chosen.

  “Chance, I—”

  “Will you marry me?”

  I swallowed hard. “We haven’t even been together that long.”

  “We’ve known each other most of our lives.”

  His face was sincere, so very sweet.

  “I just think it’s too soon.”

  He shrugged, still on his knee. “Maybe, but things are different now.”

  “What things?”

  “You know.” He put his hand on my belly. “The baby,” he said softly.

  “What? I’m not pregnant!”

  “You’re not?”

  “No.”

  “Oh.” He looked confused. “I saw you buy two pregnancy tests. I was on my way home from a job, stopped to get a soda at a convenience store.” He gave me a sheepish look. “I didn’t say anything because I thought maybe you wanted to keep it a secret for the time being. Superstitions do run strong with the Geraghty women, after all.”

  I grabbed his cheeks and kissed him. I did not deserve this man. “Oh, Chance”—I shook my head—“that was for Cinnamon.”

  He looked surprised for a moment. Then he said, “So what? Marry me anyway.”

  I turned down the proposal, gave back the ring. I couldn’t agree to marry him. Not now. Not when there was one more very important thing to do.

  That evening, after the wine was poured and the fire started, my grandmother approached me. We stood there in silence for a moment.

  “You know why I did it, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Tell me.”

  “You wanted me to stand on my own this time. Because if I didn’t learn now, I wouldn’t be prepared for my mother’s retrieval.”

  “Very good. How did you figure it out?”

  “Your son was a cop. I don’t expect you’re all that gun shy.”

  She smiled, wistfully. “Are you prepared to begin your training
? To learn more about your ancestors?”

  “You mean the red-haired, fair-skinned magical people called the Tuatha Dé Danann?” I sipped my wine. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Birdie nodded, her red cape slipping just over her forehead.

  I glanced at Lolly, clutching her lost groom’s gift. And Fiona, gently stroking Thor. Then I looked down at my own glittering blue cape, wondering if any of the Danann’s gifts belonged to our tribe.

  Wondering if the months of training that lay ahead would prepare me for the next journey.

  “They better,” Birdie said. “Because it’s the most important mission of your life.”

  I hated it when she did that. “And if I fail?”

  “Neither you nor your mother will return home.”

  “Well, at least there’s no pressure.”

  THE END

  Author’s Note

  While writers often take great liberties in fiction, we also strive to make the reading experience as authentic as possible. Much of what you’ve read here came from hours of research. In case you’re interested in further information, I’ve included links below to some of the highlights of the story you just read.

  The Hill of Tara is located in County Meath, Ireland, and was the ceremonial epicenter for the seat of high kings. This is just one of many impressive ancient sites and has been the focus of many archeological digs over the years. Myths and rumors surround this sacred site, which is older than the pyramids of Egypt.

  You will learn more about it—and other spiritual enclaves—in Emerald Isle, Stacy’s next adventure.

  The godlike people known as the Tuatha Dé Danann are to Ireland what King Arthur’s legend is to England. Their gifts to the land and her people were many, with the four treasures being the most sacred. The ancient text The Book of Invasions highlights their journey in detail. It was compiled in the twelfth century by Irish monks.

  Finally, the prison dog program has been adopted by many correctional facilities across the globe. It’s been an invaluable tool to not only save the lives of dogs who otherwise would have been euthanized, but also the spirits of men and women who have lost their way. You can do a Google search to find out if there is a program in your area and how you can support it. The blog below has some great information and videos so you can see for yourself what a profound impact this program has on the lives of both four-legged and two-legged souls.