Light the Shadows (A Grimm Novel)

by Clay, Michelle

  Her car was the only one in the driveway, and no one waited in the courtyard or on the front patio. Unlocking the door, she pushed it open then went into the kitchen to plug in a cookie scented warmer. She’d read somewhere that realtors used baked cookies to put the client at ease and make the house smell more homey. It certainly couldn’t hurt.

  She and Anna did a quick sweep through the house, making sure everything was in order. Last was the pool. She crouched to pluck a couple fallen flower petals out of the sparkling water. She and Sully had made memories here, and oh, were they special memories. Emotion cascaded over her, and she felt her face warm. Sully loved her. He’d said so himself. She was the luckiest, happiest girl in the world.

  Anna whirled around to face the house. “Someone’s here.”

  Movement directly behind Micah forced her to her feet. Had the client finally arrived? The smile died on her face when she saw who it was. “Ben? What are you doing here?”

  “I didn’t think you’d come.”

  “I don’t like this, Micah,” Anna said. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Wiping her damp fingers on the thigh of her pants, Micah frowned in confusion. “Where is Mr. Calhoun?”

  “You’re so naïve sometimes.” Ben laughed then kicked at a fallen bud. “No one’s coming, Micah. That was me, disguising my voice. I knew you wouldn’t come if I asked you to meet me.”

  Backing away, Micah cast an unsure glance at the house. Ben had closed the sliding glass door when he’d come outside.

  “What do you want, Ben?”

  He cracked his knuckles. “You’ve ruined everything, you stupid bitch.”

  Anna cast a furious glare at Ben. The fallen buds at his feet kicked up in a whirlwind, but he took no notice of the ghost’s anger.

  “What are you talking about?” Micah edged away from him. For every step she took, he matched it.

  “Diane is leaving me.”

  “You’re cheating on her. What did you expect her to do?” Micah asked.

  “Diane was my cash cow. If she leaves, she’ll take everything. She’ll take the business, the house, and half of everything I’ve got.” Ben gripped her upper arms and dragged her closer. The vein in his forehead throbbed in time with his heartbeat. “You just couldn’t keep your damn mouth shut, could you?”

  “You’re hurting me.”

  “I thought I took care of the problem.” He gave her a rough shake. “Can you imagine how scared I was when I saw you alive and well?”

  “Oh my God, Ben.” Her voice had risen slightly, fear beginning to take hold.

  “You didn’t say anything, going on about this amnesia bullshit, so I thought you’d learned your lesson. Since you didn’t seem to remember anything, I thought I was in the clear.” There was a maniacal gleam in Ben’s eyes. “But as soon as you saw me and Karla, everything came back, didn’t it? You remembered walking in on us before, didn’t you?”

  “Before?” Understanding washed over Micah in a tidal wave of shock and terror. A memory flickered behind her eyelids. The real Micah’s memory became her own. Everything he’d just said was true. Was this the reason he’d tried to kill her the first time? She’d walked in on him and Karla in a compromising position?

  “You called her to tattle on me as soon as you caught me and Karla together again.”

  Micah tried to jerk away from him. “She already suspected. I didn’t have to tell her anything.”

  “Stupid bitch.” His fingers squeezed harder, bruising the skin.

  “Let me go.” She raked the toe of her shoe down his shin and tried to pull away. If anything, his grip tightened.

  “You’re going to be sorry you ever fucked with me.” Ben growled in her face.

  Desperate to reach safety, she pushed away from him then ran for the house. Her shoes slipped on the wet tile, and she crashed onto hands and knees.

  Ben’s fist twisted in her hair before she could gain any ground. Her nails scrabbled against the tiles as he pulled her backward then hauled her up to her feet. “Your step-daddy showed up, and I wasn’t able to make sure you had actually drowned. I won’t make that mistake this time.”

  “Please, Ben. You don’t have to do this.” Tears stung Micah’s eyes, and her roots were on fire. Her nails clawed at his hand, but he refused to release her.

  Micah screamed, praying the neighbors might hear and call for rescue. Not caring if she ripped her hair out by the roots, she struggled to break free from him. Cursing, Ben wound an arm around her waist and hauled her up and off the ground.

  Micah threw her head back and cried out in triumph when the back of her head cracked against his nose. Ben cursed and stumbled backward, but didn’t loosen his grip. Together, they fell into the pool.

  Anna screamed then disappeared. Micah could only pray she had gone for help.

  Together, they were sucked beneath the water, and Ben’s arms flew out to keep from striking the pool bottom. In that instant, Micah kicked away from him, determined to break the water’s surface. Bubbles exploded from her mouth and nose when Ben’s fingers curled at her waistband. He jerked her downward, deeper.

  She twisted her upper body, clawing at his eyes and any other fleshy part she came into contact with. His nose was bloody from where her head had smacked him. Crimson twisted like a serpent away from his face. Her thumb gouged his check, just under his left eye. He cried out, bubbles exploding from his mouth, then let go. She took that advantage and lunged away from him.

  Micah broke surface, sucked in a deep gulp of air then was tugged beneath the water again. She clawed and kicked at Ben, but he managed to keep his most vital parts just out of reach. Her shoulder slammed against the ladder. She gripped it, struggling to pull herself upward, knowing she’d likely die if she didn’t succeed. Her lungs ached for oxygen, and she was lightheaded. She had to get away from him.

  Ben hauled her up by the hair. She sputtered and gasped, still holding to the ladder’s rail like the lifeline it was. When he tried to pry her hands away, she kicked him in the balls then pulled herself upward. He caught her by the ankle then dragged her back down into the water. Her hands slipped off the rail, and she lurched forward. Her forehead clipped the curved handrail. Black dots swam across her vision, and her stomach heaved.

  Oh God no, Ben was going to kill her again!

  She was pulled beneath the water, Ben’s hand still tangled in her hair and in her clothes. He held her head beneath the surface in an iron-like grip. Each time she tried to raise her head, he shoved her deeper. His body pinned hers against the side of the pool, and there was nowhere to go. Micah’s legs kicked out, desperate to knock him down. Her arms flailed, but she was beginning to weaken and could not knock his hands away.

  A tendril of red floated across her vision as blood trickled out of the stinging cut on her forehead. Her lungs burned, and despite trying to hold her breath longer, bubbles leaked out of her nose. Her hands fell away from his, and her legs gave out. She floated in the water the same way her consciousness floated on the edge of nothing.

  Someone’s muffled voice crept into the edge of her awareness. She could barely lift her head or fight for her stolen life. Just like her strength, life was ebbing away. At the edge of her vision, through the water’s depths, she spotted a shadowy form at the pool’s edge. Ben’s fingers released her tresses, and she was able to grip the ladder’s lowest rung. Resting her cheek against the cool metal bar, she struggled to catch her breath and make sense out of what was happening.

  Sully wound a forearm around Ben’s throat then hauled him up and out of the water. Screams turned to gurgled pleas as his fingers clawed at the Reaper’s shirt sleeve. Ben’s feet thrashed the pool’s surface, sending waves radiating out to the middle of the pool. Ben’s body grew limp, and his hands fell to his sides.

  Sully tossed him aside like a useless ragdoll. He turned to reach for Micah, his hand held out to her. “It’s going to be okay, doll.”

  Gasping and sputtering, Ben scrambled u
p to his feet. He snatched up a rather large gnome statue that sat next to the patio table. With a cry of anger, he swung it at Sully’s head. The pointed hat narrowly missed him. When Ben swung again, Sully growled a curse and knocked it away. The gnome clattered across the tiles then rolled just out of reach.

  Ben tried to back away as Sully sprang up to stalk him. He’d just reached the glass doors when Sully’s fingers fisted the back of his shirt.

  “She’s going under!” Anna screamed.

  Sully released Ben, giving him a shove and smacking his face against the glass. “Touch her again and I promise you’ll be a dead man.”

  Micah tried to pull herself from the water, but her arms were far too weak. Her fingers loosened on the ladder’s rail, and she fought to keep her eyes open. Sully yelled her name then sprinted across the small lawn. The last thing she heard was a splash as he dove in to rescue her.

  She drifted to the bottom of the pool, her cheek bumping against the rough tile. Her eyes shut, and she exhaled the last precious breath.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Sully dove into the water, fearful he wouldn’t reach Micah in time. It had been stupid to pursue Ben when she was too weak to pull herself from the water. If she died, part of him would surely die, too.

  His fingers closed around the front of her shirt, and he hauled her upward. Her head fell back as she broke surface, and he feared the worst. He dragged her out of the water then laid her on the ground. Water puddled beneath her head as it ran off her hair.

  “Is she breathing?” Anna flitted about, worry creasing her forehead. “She isn’t supposed to die, is she?”

  Sully laid his head against her chest, listening. Cursing softly, he brushed away the wet hair that clung to her face and began CPR.

  “Breathe, damn it!” It was easier to get angry than scared. He could not lose her, would not allow it. “Come on, Micah!”

  Anna fell to her knees beside him, tears leaking down her face. “Please, don’t let her die, Sully.”

  Already a doorway had blinked into existence. A delicate flower pattern was carved into the wood’s grain.

  “No, no, no…” Anna wailed.

  Sully glared at the door as if doing so would force it away. She’d only been beneath the water for a moment, so why wasn’t she breathing? “Come back to me, doll. Please.”

  Micah choked as water trickled past her parted lips. She gasped and coughed as she struggled for a gulp of clean air. Sully repositioned her into a sitting position, using his knee as a brace against her back. He leaned his forehead against her shoulder and stifled tears of relief.

  “We’re okay.” Anna’s voice was shaky. “The door is gone.”

  When the worst of it was over, Micah turned her gaze toward Sully. In a hoarse voice, she said, “You saved me.”

  He smoothed hair from her face then wrapped his arms around her. “I guess that makes us even, doll.”

  Anna fell forward onto hands and knees. Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she laughed hysterically. “I thought you were a goner.”

  Micah smiled at her friend then reached out to touch fingers with the ghost. Anna’s fingers passed through Micah’s, but the sentiment wasn’t lost on Sully. He’d even begun to like the shepherd a little, especially since she had proven how much she cared for Micah. If she hadn’t come to him, told him that Ben was killing her … well, he didn’t want to imagine what might have happened.

  “Where is he?” Sully asked Anna. “I’m going to kill that mother-fucker with my bare hands.”

  “He got the hell out of here,” Anna said. “He’s long gone. Should we call the police?”

  “He’s going to pay for what he’s done.” Sully helped Micah to her feet then wound an arm around her waist. She leaned heavily on him, still weak and shaky.

  Micah gripped his hands. “But not by your hands. We’ll let the police take care of it, okay?”

  Sully opened the glass door and urged her into the house. “Fine.”

  The ghost and Micah exchanged a glance. Sully suspected neither believed him.

  “Do you want to go to the hospital to get checked out?” he asked.

  “I just want to go home.” Micah gripped his hand. Her fingers trembled in his. “But I don’t want to be alone right now.” Her laugh was a sharp exhalation of air. “I’m still a little shook up. I’m so stupid. I should have known that was him on the phone.”

  “This isn’t your fault,” Anna said in a flash of frustrated anger. “That son of a bitch tried to kill you. You did nothing wrong.”

  “I know, I just…” Micah shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut. Fresh tears danced at the corners of her eyes.

  Sully gently gripped her shoulders to turn her to face him. His fingers tipped her chin up, and he placed a soft kiss at the corner of her mouth. “I want you to go lie down and get some rest. Don’t come out until I come for you, understand?”

  She opened her mouth to question him further, but he placed a finger against her lips. “Do as I say, doll.”

  Micah shared another suspicious glance with Anna before she finally trudged deeper into the house. He waited until he heard her shut an upstairs door then fished Micah’s cell phone from her purse. He dialed a number then waited to be connected. Anna watched him in silence as he asked for Detective Brewer. After giving Brewer an address, Sully hung up.

  “A friend of yours?” Anna asked with a raise of a brow.

  “Reaper,” Sully said then sat on one of the patio chairs. He pushed fingers through his hair then sighed. As far as he knew, Ben Harmon was not supposed to die anytime soon. Though if the bastard crossed Sully’s path again, it’s exactly what would happen. There would be consequences, but he’d deal with them later. Azrael was bat-shit crazy if he thought he’d allow that asshole to kill Micah.

  A stocky man in a white shirt and dark dress pants filled the doorway ten minutes later. He narrowed eyes on Sully. “What the hell’s going on, Sullivan?”

  Anna cast a doubtful glance at the detective/Reaper then drifted toward the house. “I’ll go check on her.”

  Brewer knelt next to the pool to inspect a dribble of blood. “Whose is this?”

  “Ben Harmon. He was trying to drown my Grimm.”

  “Thomas?” Brewer glanced around as if searching for him.

  “No, his protégé. Micah Munroe.” Sully didn’t bother to hide the anger in his voice.

  Brewer studied him for a moment then grinned. “She’s the one who body jumped, isn’t she?”

  “Yeah.” Sully eyed Brewer, not liking the sudden interest. “She’s Azrael’s granddaughter or some shit.”

  “I heard you ran into some trouble a few days ago. Good to see you’re back.” Brewer said, though there was no sincerity in his voice. He gestured toward the sparkling pool. “So, I guess you’d like me to look into this, see what I can charge him with?”

  “Yeah, that would be great.” Sully stood now, anxious to end this exchange.

  “I need to talk to her, get her take on things. That’s her car out front?” Brewer turned to look at the house now.

  Sully nodded.

  “And the girl is okay?”

  “I’m fine,” Micah said as she moved through the doorway to stand on the patio.

  Sully whipped his head around to look at her. Damn it, she needed rest. She needed to stay out of this. Plus, he’d heard that Brewer was quite the ladies’ man, and he didn’t want him anywhere near Micah. She belonged to him, plain and simple.

  She’d toweled her hair, but it was still damp. Her clothes clung to her body, showing each and every curve. He could even see the polka-dot pattern of her bra through her shirt.

  Brewer put on a charming smile and nodded hello to Micah. “You want to tell me what happened?”

  “We’re wasting time,” Sully growled. “The longer we take, the more time he has to hole up and hide.”

  Brewer held up a hand to silence him. “Go on, sweetheart. What happened?”

&
nbsp; Sully watched the detective as Micah explained everything in detail. Brewer watched her closely, maybe a little too closely. There was an odd glint to his eyes as she described her near drowning, and Sully didn’t like it. Brewer might be one of those Reapers who got off on the killing. Some of them, especially those who had been around a long time, had grown bored with the mundane deaths. These few thrived on the more horrific and brutal killings they witnessed. Even though they played a small part in the act overall, they tended to have ideas of grandeur. He hoped he never turned into one of them.

  Brewer pulled out his cell phone and stroked his thumb across it. “Okay, Sullivan. You get this pretty lady out of here. I’m going to run the investigation, so I’ll make sure this Harmon guy is charged with attempted murder. He’s not going to bother you any more, Ms. Munroe.”

  “You’d better find him before I do,” Sully said in warning.

  A horrified expression crawled across Micah’s face. She gripped Sully’s sleeve and whispered, “Don’t do anything we’ll regret. Ben’s a bastard, but I don’t want you to do anything stupid or get in trouble on my account.”

  “Better listen to her, Sullivan,” Brewer said. “Look, I’m gonna go pick up this Harmon character. I may call with more questions later.” He glanced at Sully then seemed to recognize how pissed off he was. “If I do, I’ll call you, not her. Just be aware that she’ll have to testify in court.”

  Micah looked at Sully, and her expression clouded. “Can we go home now? Please?”

  Sully pursed his lips then nodded. He gripped her hand and pulled her toward the house. “Of course, doll. Let’s go.”

  Brewer followed close behind.

  Micah cast one last glance at Brewer, who smiled reassuringly as he moved past them. “Everything’s going to be fine,” he called from the front patio then made his way to the sedan parked nearby.

  Crammed into her car, Sully silently cursed the small vehicle as he drove away from the house. Luckily, it was still early enough that most of the neighborhood was not home from work. He didn’t know how well he’d handle their gawking stares.