He smiled at her, shifting so he could sit up. “Look at you, beautiful like your momma.”
Walking over to the bed so that she could help him, Raelin gasped when she touched his hand. It tingled. Raising her head, she looked at her father. “Did you feel that?”
“Thank you child and I did. Seems like you took after Quinlan in more than just your good looks,” he said chuckling, but his chuckles quickly turned into a rough cough.
Reaching over, Raelin picked up a glass of water and offered it to him, waiting as he took a couple of sips through a straw. When he had finished, she put it back on the table and turned back to her father. “Do you mind if I ask you some questions?”
“I’d be surprised if you didn’t. I’ll answer whatever I can. I owe you that much at least,” he replied, patting the bed for her to sit.
Carefully she sat next to her father. Raelin smiled at the thought. ‘Her father.’ “Is it okay with you if I call you Dad?”
“It would please me greatly. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you all these years,” he said sadly, looking at their joined hands.
“Why weren’t you? Why didn’t you come to me after Momma died?” Raelin kept a hold of his hand. The tingling was barely there now.
Arthur thought over his words a minute or two before he spoke. “Regina is a very cunning and ruthless woman. I was forced into that marriage by my father, for a business deal. When I told her I wanted a divorce, she was not happy. She was going to take everything from me. I was willing to give it all up, but your mother didn’t want me to lose everything I had. The day your mother died, I was not myself afterwards, and when Regina found out who it was I was having an affair with, she put two and two together and threatened your life if I tried anything stupid. Raelin, I couldn’t lose you both. So I ran; I figured you were better and safer without me,” he said. “I’ve regretted not being there for you every day since the day you were born.”
“Were you there when Regina shot Momma?” Raelin quietly asked.
“I was there, at the spring with your mother. Regina must have followed me. I’m sorry Raelin. You suffered because I made such a mess of things,” he whispered, the memories of that day running through his mind.
“It’s okay. You’re with me now. You can come home with me, and I’ll take care of you. I can help you get better.” Raelin reached out to caress his face. The witch wouldn’t be able to heal her father outright, but she could extend his life if he wished.
“Raelin, I can’t ask you to do that. I’ve never done anything to deserve that kindness from you. And I know enough about what you can do that you can’t stop my death. I’ve accepted that it’s my time and I’m ready for it,” he said, knowing that his daughter would do anything to help her family.
Leaning forward gently kissing his cheek, Raelin shook her head. “You are my father, and you don’t have to ask me. I want to. I want to spend time getting to know you.”
“I’m afraid time is something I don’t have Raelin,” he said, smiling at the kind heart of his daughter. “You were always such a kind child. A little shy, but always willing to help someone when they needed it. How about you tell me what you’ve been up to? Rori still kicking around? A special gentleman perhaps?” he asked, not wanting to waste precious time with his daughter talking about his health.
Raelin frowned a little at his last question. She wanted him to accept her, but she didn’t feel right lying to him. “No sir...there isn’t a special gentleman...there is however, a special gentlewoman who helped me find you. And yes, Rori is still around.”
He looked at the woman sitting next to him and smiled. He’d watched her growing up and suddenly her lack of interest in any of the local boys made sense. “Tell me about her. She must be pretty special if she makes your eyes light up like that.”
“Her name is Delaney Delacroix and she’s a private investigator. She is beautiful and smart, and she accepts my magic without hesitation. She is everything I’ve ever wanted in someone to share my life with. Maybe you will be able to meet her.” The brunette smiled at her father.
Arthur felt his heart breaking at the optimism in his girl’s heart and he didn’t have it in him to upset her. “Maybe someday Raelin. Does she treat you right?” he asked.
“Dad, she treats me so well. Oh, Jenny is outside. Jenny LeBlanc, your granddaughter. Would you like to talk with her?” Raelin wanted more time with her father, but knew that it wasn’t fair to her friend.
“Little Jenny is here too?” he asked smiling. “You can bring her in if she’d like. Before you do, Raelin I just wanted to say that I love you. I always did, and I so wish I had been better at showing you,” he said, softly patting her cheek.
Leaning over to kiss his cheek, Raelin hugged him carefully around all the wires and tubes. “I love you too Dad. You’re here now, and that’s all that matters. Let me go get Jenny,” she patted his hand and walked outside.
Jenny was sitting in a nearby chair and looked up when Raelin walked out. “Hey! How is he?”
Nodding her head, the witch took a moment to get her emotions under control. “He wants to see you so why don’t you go on in. I want to ask the Director some things.”
Jenny nodded and went inside the room.
Raelin bowed her head and offered a prayer to her Goddess before she turned to the Director. “What exactly is his prognosis? How long does he have.”
“His heart is failing. His mind his sharp, but they don’t think his heart will last the night. I’m so sorry Ms. Montrose,” she said sadly.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, it took the younger woman a few minutes to ask her next question. “Did he tell you about my mother’s murder? Did he give a statement and is it enough to charge Regina Kingsley for it?”
“He did. Sadly, it’s not enough for an arrest. The good news is that it’s enough for a warrant to search her house. Hopefully we’ll find the murder weapon there. I’m told Ms. Delacroix specialized in physics and ballistics. So hopefully she along with our own experts will be able to match it to the bullet Brito already found at the scene originally.”
Raelin was about to say more when Jenny stuck her head out the door. “Raelin come quick.”
Rushing into the room, the brunette found her father coughing and trying to catch his breath. “Dad...dad...” Turning to the Director, she told her to get a doctor. Turning back to her father, she rubbed his back, trying to help him calm down and catch his breath. “Easy Dad.”
“It’s okay Raelin,” he said gasping. “I am so proud of what and who you are. You’ve grown into a smart, loving, and kind woman. Having said that, I will always remember the little girl I watched racing off to her first day of school, wearing her favorite jumper and carrying her Gumby and Pokey lunch box,” he leaned back, his breathing erratic to match the uneven and weak beeping of his monitor.
“You were there Dad? You saw me?” Tears were falling down Raelin’s face and she held his hand to her heart.
“I was there on all of your first days until you went off to college. I have every one of your school photos. That and letters from your mom were all I took with me,” he paused when a new coughing fit took him.
Wiping the tears that were on her face, Raelin leaned down to whisper in his ear. “I love you Dad. I’m glad that we had this time together. Momma is waiting on you, you know. I can feel her love for you in this room.”
He smiled, weakly struggling to form words. After a few minutes, he was able to rasp out what he was thinking, “I know baby, and I love you too. And you Jenny, my little scamp. Take care of my girl for me. Now I’ve got a date with a beautiful woman I’m six years late for,” he said, reaching out for his daughter as he closed his eyes.
Taking her father’s hand, Raelin held it as he took his final breath and closed his eyes with a peaceful look upon his face. Jenny wrapped her arms around her waist, and they stood there for a long while staring at the man they both loved, but really didn’t know.
Finally, Raelin placed his hand over his chest and turned to hug Jenny. She couldn’t get out any words so she just rubbed the young woman’s back.
Turning to the Director, Raelin asked what kind of arrangements needed to be made and how she could help.
j
Del parked the Jeep in front of Jasper’s store and looked over at Kasey with a shocked look on her face. The entire drive into town had consisted of the two women discussing the game plan. “There’s no way I’m going to be able to go in there and act like nothing is wrong, Kasey.”
Kasey was about to reply when she felt her phone vibrate just before it started ringing. “Hold that thought,” she reached for her phone and answered it. “Spaulding.”
“Where exactly are you, Agent Spaulding?” The Director’s voice came through the earpiece.
“Just outside the antique shop. We figured we’d get an early start on a game plan with Ryerson,” she replied.
“No, hold your position. We are five minutes out. Wait for us to arrive before entering the premises.” The connection was closed.
Del looked at the other agent when she heard a muttered curse. “What?”
Shaking her head, Kasey muttered, “That woman knows nothing about phone etiquette,” speaking up, she explained, “That was the Director. She’s five minutes away and wants us to wait on her before we go in.”
Del glanced at her watch. “They are way early. That can’t be a good sign,” Del breathed. “Why didn’t you ask how Raelin and Jenny were doing?”
“Like she gave me the chance,” Kasey groused.
“She hung up on me this morning. She always like that?” Del asked with a crooked grin.
“Seems that way. And you’re right. They are way too early. This is so not a good sign.” Kasey agreed.
Del thought for a minute and closed her eyes, her hands tightening on the wheel. She concentrated, but opened them up a few minutes later. “Damn,” she muttered.
“What?” Kasey looked around with her hand on her pistol.
Del snapped her head around to look at Kasey. “Oh sorry, I was hoping since they were close that I could get a feel for Raelin, but I can’t feel anything, except the tainted lines here in town.”
Nodding her head up the street, Kasey said, “Here they are now.” And both women got out of Delaney’s Jeep to watch the black SUV park across the street in front of the diner.
The back doors of the SUV opened and Jenny and then Raelin got out. Both women waited until the Director had joined them before they crossed the street to the antique shop.
Del knew by the look on Raelin’s face that she was a mixture of sad, upset, and angry, mostly angry and that didn’t bode well at all. “Raelin?” she asked, concerned as the women finally stood on front of them.
“I’m okay. I just need to do one thing and I’ll be much better.” Raelin couldn’t look Delaney in the eye just yet or she would start crying. Shaking her head slightly, she looked at the Director. “I can take care of this the way I want right?”
Taking a step back, the older woman motioned to the door of the shop. “Be my guest.”
Del followed confused as Raelin hauled open to the door of the shop and marched inside. Knowing Kasey and Jenny were behind her, she watched silently as Raelin stalked over to where Jasper stood in front of his counter, and then froze when Raelin hauled off, and threw a fierce right hook, connecting solidly with Jasper’s cheek. Del’s body finally catching up with her mind, she ran over and grabbed her lover around the waist pulling her away from the older gentleman. “What has gotten into you?”
Raelin shrugged out of Delaney’s grasp as the Director placed a hand on the blonde’s shoulder. “Let her be.”
Stepping forward, the witch grabbed the older man by the shirt and nailed him once more. “Jasper Wilkins, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can, and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights as they have been explained to you, you son of a bitch?”
“What the hell is going on here? I’m a Federal agent; you can’t manhandle me like this. Delaney, control your woman,” he demanded, rubbing his face.
“First of all I don’t control her. Second of all, you deserve this. We fucking trusted you Jasper,” Del growled; her arms crossed over her chest.
Raelin took a step toward the retired agent and took some satisfaction when he took a step back. “You found my father four years ago and you kept him in a mental hospital so you could make some money. You’re involved in all of this. I thought that you were my friend. I welcomed you into my home, and this is how you pay me back? The people of this country trusted you, and you pay them back by stealing their daughters, their sisters, or their loved ones,” she was breathing hard and was trying to control her temper. “My father is dead by the way, but I did get to talk with him before he passed. So that’s one thing that you’ll never to be able to steal from me.” Shaking her head, the woman turned away.
Del shook her head sadly when she heard Raelin’s father had passed, but was relieved when Raelin had at least been able to talk to him. “Jasper, I’ve never felt so betrayed in my life. I trusted you with Raelin’s safety, and here I find out you were working with the men who attacked her. Did you really think they wouldn’t connect the dots?” Del said, her own anger starting to bubble.
The older man looked around and saw that any hope of escape was out of the question, so he glared at the group. “I had twenty years in the Bureau and all they give me is a gold watch and a pat on the back. The so-called retirement plan is a joke. So when I was asked to come here, I found that I could make some money. I happen to come along to your father when I was making sure there weren’t any loose ends, and I couldn’t take the chance of him coming back here and ruining everything. I paid the owner of the hospital enough to keep him there, but I swear I didn’t know that he was sick. You have to believe that Rae.”
“NO! You don’t get to call me Rae. Only my friends get to do that. And no, I don’t have to believe you, and I don’t. Neither does anyone else. All you care about is the money. What I don’t understand is why you brought Delaney in? Why did you tell her about the girls? Why take the chance?” Raelin asked.
Jasper glared at the blonde. “I figured that Regina had hired her to find Jenny only to throw suspicion off her when you discovered everything. I wanted to keep tabs in the investigation, and gave her some of what I thought was harmless information to gain her trust. I didn’t figure that she would put everything together.”
“Well, you certainly shook things up didn’t you, old man. Now what I want to know is why Raelin was attacked when she was with you. Come to think of it, you didn’t take much damage in that scuffle, just a crack to the head,” Del paused, her detective’s mind making quick work of the pieces. “You sick son of a bitch. You knew they were coming. You fucking orchestrated the whole damn thing, didn’t you?” Del roared, her own anger cutting loose. She grabbed him, slamming him into the side of the nearby bookshelf.
“You had a plan the entire time. You set it up with those assholes to catch Raelin the next time she came in alone, and then you sat back and waited for the opportunity. You did it again with the truck. She called you to say she was coming, and you used the head start to call your buddies,” she slammed him back again. “She could have been killed. She very nearly was and you were supposed to be her friend. She’s never been anything but nice to you and this is how you pay her back? Jesus, at the very least I thought I could trust you. I trusted you to keep the love of my life safe when I couldn’t. Jasper, I hope you rot in jail. They’re going to love you Agent,” she sneered.
Kasey was watching in satisfaction as Del gave Jasper a taste of what he deserved. She felt just as betrayed, knowing he’d also been left to protect Jenny.
“You’re right...you’re right about everything, but you know what? You’ll never find the money
or the girls.” Jasper tried to push the blonde away.
“Who do you think you’re dealing with old man? Don’t think for one minute I didn’t memorize the combination to the clock you keep your files in when you unlocked it in front of me. I’ve got a keen eye for details I’m told. Everything you’ve got in that grandfather clock of yours; it’s ours now. Not to mention we also have the Reverend,” Del grinned.
“What do you mean you have the Reverend? We weren’t supposed to arrest him until tomorrow,” the older man looked around the room at everyone’s face and they looked very satisfied.
“Well, thanks to Jacobs taking over as Director, things run a lot more efficiently since you were posted here. Since she managed to get everything in place already, we figured we’d move the timetable up a bit.” Kasey grinned.
Del smiled and reached a hand towards the agent, smiling when Spaulding handed over her cuffs. She turned Jasper around and smashed him back into the bookshelf, this time face first, and slapped the cuffs on him.
Turning him back around when she was done. “My, my, now if that ain’t a great thing to see. You know, I’ve learned something very important since I’ve been here from a very wise woman,” she looked at the older man, and when he simply glowered at her, she shrugged and continued. “Karma, Jasper. It’s a bitch.”
Before she stepped back to let Jasper be led away, she asked one more question, “Did Regina know that you had Arthur in the mental hospital or is that one more piece of information that you kept from her.”
“I didn’t tell her anything. It was going to be my ace in the hole if she tried to back out of the deal, but I swear to you. I had no idea that he had a heart condition” Jasper replied.
The Director motioned for two agents to take away the older man as Delaney went over to the clock, used the combination, and opened the secret file cabinet. Looking in, she smiled and turned to the remaining people.
“I just got a report that the camps have been taken and four girls have been rescued right as they were about to be put on a boat. They’re on their way to the hospital to be checked out before they are returned to their families. I do believe that we have one more stop before this day is over,” Director Jacobs stated.
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