‘Beef stew it is then.’ Jackson flagged down a pretty blonde waitress as she swung by with an empty tray.
‘Shelley darlin’, a beef stew for our Olivia here.’
‘No problem,’ she smiled as she dropped the tray down onto the bar. ‘Two cokes, a white wine and a Guinness, Jackson.’
He nodded as he lifted a glass down and began to build the Guinness slowly, layer by layer.
‘So, you new in town?’
‘Old, just moved back,’ Olivia replied.
‘This is Evie’s great niece.’
‘Really?’ Shelley replied speculatively, ‘well, welcome home.’
‘Thanks,’ Olivia murmured.
She hadn’t missed the look Shelley had given her, but if she did know anything about her family’s past at least she was polite enough to keep it to herself.
‘No problem,’ Shelley nodded. ‘I’ll get you that stew.’
‘So, the accent,’ Olivia turned back to Jackson as he filled two glasses with soda and added a slice of lemon to each. ‘Is it real?’
‘Certainly it is,’ Jackson smiled. ‘My mother is American. She was born and raised here in Mercy with my uncle, but she fell in love with my Da who was passing through on his travels and when he left, she left with him. They still run a pub of their own back in County Clare.’
‘That’s sweet,’ Olivia propped her cheek on her fist, lulled by his accent. ‘So what brought you to Mercy?’
‘My uncle died and left me the pub, so I thought it was time to try my luck serving my American cousins, across the pond.’
‘How long ago was that?’
‘Let's see now,’ his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ‘Must be over ten years now.’
‘You must like it then.’
‘Oh aye,’ he murmured, as his gaze flickered to the petite blonde swinging back through the door to the kitchen, carrying a tray of steaming stew. ‘There’s a lot to like.’
Olivia’s mouth curved slowly.
‘It’s a good thing it’s not your heart that the women of Mercy are after,’ she spoke softly, as his penetrating blue eyes landed on her sharply. ‘I get the feeling it isn’t free.’
‘Well aren’t you the perceptive one,’ he murmured as he watched her thoughtfully. ‘So, you’ve a bit of witch in you then?’
‘Doesn’t everyone in Mercy?’ Olivia shrugged nonchalantly.
‘True,’ he grinned as Shelley approached.
‘Would you like a table?’
‘Here’s fine,’ Olivia replied as Shelley slid the piping hot bowl onto the bar in front of her, along with a plate of warm fragrant rolls and sparkling cutlery wrapped in a crisp white napkin.
‘God, that smells good.’ Olivia breathed deeply as the spicy scent rose from the dish in little wispy tendrils.
‘Enjoy,’ Shelley smiled as she turned back to Jackson and began to load the drinks she’d ordered, onto her tray.
‘Is Adam off his break yet?’ Jackson asked.
‘He’s just finishing his cigarette; he’ll be back in five.’
‘Alright then, tell him I need a hand. The movie theater will empty out in about half an hour and it’ll start to pick up.’
She nodded, hesitating slightly.
‘What is it?’ he asked, catching her reluctance.
‘It’s just,’ she paused frowning, ‘Stu called. I can’t work this Thursday, he needs me. Some work thing with his boss.’
‘This Thursday?’ Jackson replied evenly, his expression carefully neutral.
‘Yes,’ she replied miserably.
‘But you’ve spent months trying to book the band coming in on Thursday. They’re your favorite.’
‘I know,’ she sighed, ‘but sometimes I need to put his feelings first. His career is important to him.’
‘It seems to me that you do plenty for him. Perhaps occasionally he could think of you.’
‘He does,’ Shelley snapped defensively. ‘He’s not as bad as you think.’
‘You really don’t want to know what I think,’ he murmured under his breath.
‘Can I have the night off or not?’ Shelley scowled at him.
‘The truth is, I don’t know as I can spare you. It’s a live music night and we’re usually packed out.’
‘My cousin Josie says she’ll cover for me,’ she replied tightly. ‘You remember her. She worked in here during last summer, so she knows the ropes.’
‘Fine,’ Jackson replied blandly.
‘Jackson, I really am sorry,’ Shelley sighed. ‘I can’t please everyone.’
‘No, I imagine not, but then I am the one that pays your wages.’
‘Yes you are,’ she replied quietly. ‘But he’s the one I have to live with.’
Jackson watched silently as she picked up the tray and disappeared into the rapidly expanding crowd, his jaw clenched and his eyes guarded.
‘You know,’ Olivia scooped another spoonful of stew into her mouth and swallowed. ‘Sometimes it can be helpful to unload onto a complete stranger.’
The corner of Jackson’s mouth twitched as some of the amusement crept back into his eyes.
‘If I was any kind of bartender worth my salt, I would be saying such to you.’
‘I won’t tell if you don’t’ she smiled. ‘And if anyone asks, I’ll swear blind you talked all my deepest, most miserable secrets out of me and I cried my heart out into this awesome stew.’
The laugh caught them both by surprise as it bubbled out of Jackson, honest and unexpected.
‘I think I’m going to enjoy your company Olivia West,’ he smiled.
A sudden crash had them both turning their heads in the direction of the kitchen, as a tall sandy haired guy darted through the swinging door.
‘What the hell’s going on Adam?’ Jackson frowned.
‘You’d better go deal with Owen,’ Adam grinned as he lifted the walk through and slid behind the warm cherry wood bar. ‘He’s on a tear again.’
‘What this time?’ Jackson rolled his eyes to the ceiling in exasperation, muttering under his breath. ‘You’ll excuse me Olivia darlin’’
‘Sure,’ she replied, watching in interest as Jackson ducked under the bar and set off purposefully towards the kitchen.
‘Can I get you another one?’ Adam asked her, indicating her empty glass.
‘Better not,’ Olivia shook her head, appraising him silently, taking in his brown eyes and slim build. As he turned in the light, she noticed a small tattoo of a four-leafed clover on his neck and a silver St Christopher hung at his throat, peeking through the open neck of his dark colored shirt.
‘I still have to drive home, but I’ll take a coke.’
Adam nodded. ‘You local then?’
‘I’m up at the Stick House,’ she replied, dusting the breadcrumbs from her fingers and stacking her empty bowl on top of the bread plate.
‘The Stick House,’ Adam replied thoughtfully, ‘the big place in the woods, by the lake?’
‘That’s the one,’ she watched as he slid a glass of coke in front of her and scooped up her dirty glass.
‘Wasn’t that Evie’s place?’
‘Yeah,’ Olivia replied softly, ‘she was my great aunt.’
‘Sorry to hear about her death,’ Adam answered, ‘only met her a couple of times but I liked her.’
‘Thanks,’ Olivia nodded. ‘So how about you?’
‘Sorry?’
‘You from around here?’ she clarified.
‘All over, but Ulysses Kansas originally,’ he wiped down the bar casually. ‘Decided to travel a bit, landed up in Mercy about six months back.’
‘Hey Adam,’ a sassy redhead slung an empty tray down on the bar with a wink. ‘Jack and coke, white wine and two pints.’
He nodded and turned to grab a glass but his gaze continued to follow the redhead. Olivia sat quietly, sipping her coke, as her eyes scanned the fairly busy pub. It was a warm welcom
ing place, with dark polished wood trims everywhere, almond colored walls and small black and white checked tiles on the floor. Irish music played softly in the background, something complicated involving pipes and a fiddle which made her want to tap her foot, without even realizing it.
‘Good God, the man’s a menace,’ Jackson swung back through the doors and ducked back under the bar.
‘Crisis averted?’ Olivia’s mouth curved in amusement.
‘Of a kind,’ he shook his head ruefully. ‘Can I get you anything else?’
‘No thanks’ she replied, ‘I should head back. I still have boxes of my aunt’s things to sort through.’
She stood and brushed the crumbs from her jeans as she reached into her purse for her wallet.
‘It’s on the house,’ Jackson shook his head when she offered him a couple of bills. ‘Welcome home Olivia.’
Olivia stood motionless for a heartbeat as she took in his sincere gaze and warm smile, and felt the simple warmth of an honest welcome spread through her. Maybe coming back to Mercy wouldn’t be as bad as she thought.
‘Thank you’ she murmured, watching him thoughtfully.
‘Don’t be a stranger Olivia love,’ Jackson grinned. ‘It’s too easy to stagnate in that big house, rattling around by yourself.’
‘I won’t,’ she chuckled lightly, ‘bye Adam.’
He raised a hand in silent farewell as both he and Jackson watched her walk out the door.
‘Well, she’ll make the place more interesting,’ Jackson mused.
‘You have no idea,’ Shelley dropped an empty tray down on the bar.
‘What do you mean?’ he frowned.
‘Olivia West and her parents are practically a legend in this town. About twenty years ago her daddy murdered her mama and his mama in law, Olivia’s grandmother Alice. She was Evelyn’s twin sister.’
‘Is that right?’ Jackson replied curiously.
Shelley nodded.
‘Stabbed them both to death, right out of the blue. Just snapped apparently. I knew her daddy. He taught history at the high school; I was in his class. Funny, he never seemed the type. He was so quietly spoken, so nice.’
‘That’s what they say about some serial killers,’ Adam shrugged as he wiped the bar down with a damp cloth.
‘I suppose,’ Shelley murmured. ‘Anyway, word is, when he realized what he’d done, he burned down the house with the bodies inside. He kidnapped Olivia, who was only a kid at the time. I think he got as far as Boston or Philly before the cops picked him up. I don’t know what happened to either of them after that, but there was a lot of gossip going around Mercy High at the time.’
‘How come I’m only just hearing about this?’ Jackson frowned. ‘I’ve lived here nearly ten years.’
‘People were encouraged to keep their mouths shut,’ Shelley shrugged.
‘Encouraged?’ Jackson’s eyes narrowed.
‘Evelyn didn’t like to hear people talking about her sister and her niece like that, so she made it known.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well let’s just say that bad things had a way of happening to people who gossiped about the Wests after that.’
‘This town and its superstitions,’ Adam snorted, shaking his head as he began to unload glasses from the dishwasher.
‘It’s not superstition,’ Shelley’s eyes narrowed in warning, ‘and if you’d been raised in this town you would know that. After all, it was founded by the survivors of Salem and the Wests are the oldest family in town.’
‘Witchcraft?’ Adam smiled in amusement. ‘Seriously, you don’t buy into that crap, do you?’
‘I know enough to know when to keep my mouth shut,’ Shelley replied coolly.
‘So why are you opening it now, if something bad happens to anyone who talks about the murders?’ he asked flippantly.
‘Evelyn’s not here anymore, is she?’ Shelley snapped.
‘You’re so full of bull,’ Adam snorted. ‘Seriously, save it for the tourists Shell. There’s no such thing as Witchcraft.’
‘It’d serve you right if something bad happens to you,’ she hissed snatching up the tray and sailing through the door into the kitchen.
‘You certainly have a way with women Adam,’ Jackson sighed.
‘Don’t tell me you believe in all that witch stuff. It’s just made up to encourage tourism, just legends and superstitions,’ he replied.
‘You forget, I’m from Ireland, the land of magic and myth,’ Jackson’s eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘While I may not share some of the local beliefs, I respect their right to them. Just because I don’t believe something doesn’t make it any less real. Besides I’ve found that many legends and myths grew from a grain of truth, so who are we to say what is real and what is not?’
‘Very diplomatic,’ Adam laughed.
‘You can’t run a bar unless you have a lot of experience with diplomacy,’ Jackson smiled. ‘Don’t let it work you up Adam. Let the locals believe what they want.’
Adam grunted noncommittally before moving down the bar to serve another patron, leaving Jackson to sigh. He had a feeling it was just going to be one of those nights.
Olivia stepped out into the crisp autumn air, watching as her breath was expelled as a fine mist. The temperature had dropped rapidly since she’d been inside the pub. Pulling her coat tighter around herself, she made her way down the sidewalk to where she’d parked her car.
The wind picked up and pulled at her clothes and her hair. She wasn’t sure what made her glance up, but as she watched the turbulent clouds part to reveal the full pregnant moon she noticed a hazy red ring encircling it. Her heart clenched unexpectedly and she felt her stomach drop. The only other time she had seen a red moon had been the night her mother died. It could only mean one thing; there would be blood spilled this night.
Suddenly uneasy, she reached into her pocket, pulling out her keys, and quickened her pace. But an uncomfortable prickling sensation at the back of her neck had her turning back to look.
A man was standing outside the pub, leaning nonchalantly against the wall, watching her with dead looking eyes. He continued to stare unashamedly, not appearing at all fazed by the fact he’d been caught watching her intently.
Olivia almost stopped in surprise as she took in his appearance. His clothes were dark and nondescript but his hair and his eyes were what had caught her attention. His hair was a complete contradiction to his face. His skin was unlined with age, smoothly shaved, the face of a man in perhaps his early thirties and yet his hair was almost pure white like a little old man. But it was his eyes that really got Olivia. They were so pale they seemed almost colorless, like those of a serpent.
Ignoring his penetrating gaze, she turned away from him and hurried her pace. His eyes burned into her back and ghostly little fingers of unease crept down her spine, causing a clammy sweat to form in the hollow of her throat, despite the cold night air.
Reaching her car, she fumbled with the lock, her breath hissing out in relief as the door opened. She threw herself into the driver’s seat, locking the door behind her. The pale colored man didn’t move, he simply watched her silently and brazenly as she tossed her purse into the passenger seat, threw the car into reverse and pulled out of the parking space with a squeal of tires.
Adam shrugged into his jacket with a sigh of relief. It had been a long night and he was ready to crash. His eyes scanned the quiet pub and landed on his boss who was stacking stools on top of the tables.
‘I’m off now Jackson,’ he caught his attention. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow; do you need me in early?’
‘Nah,’ Jackson shook his head, ‘the usual time will be fine.’
‘Alright, I’ll see you then,’ Adam turned to leave.
‘Hold up a minute,’ Jackson called as he lifted the last stool and trotted over to the door. ‘Ted Benson was in earlier and happened to mention that one of his tenants skipped out on him.
So, he’s got a unit going free if you’ve had enough of living out of a motel. It’d probably work out cheaper.’
‘I don’t know,’ Adam frowned. ‘I don’t know if I’m going to stay yet.’
‘Adam,’ Jackson laid his hand on the young guy’s shoulder, ‘you’ve been here six months now. You’ve just bought yourself a car and don’t think I haven’t noticed you and Kaitlin have been sneaking off together, every chance you get.’
‘So?’
‘So maybe it’s time to take a chance and see what happens,’ he told him. ‘It’s just a small rented place. You’re not taking out a mortgage or signing it in blood.’
Silence stretched out, as Adam watched Jackson carefully.
‘Just think about it?’
Adam nodded as he shrugged off Jackson’s hand and stepped out of the side entrance, which opened out into a street across from the parking lot. Hearing the bolt shoot on the door behind him, he pulled up the collar of his jacket against the biting wind and set out across the street.
In his pocket his fingers curled around his car keys, as he caught sight of the rusty red car parked opposite him in the lot. It may not be much, but it was all his. It had felt good buying something of his own, even if it had been a piece of crap. Maybe he would think about renting one of Benson’s places. He’d lit out of his hometown when he was just sixteen, out from under the thumb of his stern Presbyterian father and his continuously dissatisfied mother. He’d run as far and as fast as he could from his old life, moving from town to town for the last eight years. Maybe it was time he took a chance. After all, there were worse places than Mercy.
He crossed into the parking lot which was pretty much empty as he headed towards his car. Kaitlin was cool after all, and to be honest, hot as hell in bed. It must have been all that wild red hair, which matched her personality perfectly. He wasn’t sure what he felt for her, but it was definitely something.
Unlocking the door, he pulled it open and paused. Maybe he would stay for a while. With that thought firmly in mind, he resolved to call Benson in the morning. He was so caught up in his thoughts he didn’t notice the slight movement behind him until it was too late. A sudden violent shove and he pitched forward. His forehead cracked hard against the top of the door frame, leaving a bright smear of blood against the rusty paint. His keys dropped to the damp ground as he fell backward, feeling the crunch of the dirty gravel beneath him, before blackness took him.
The Guardians Complete Series 1 Box Set: Contains Mercy, The Ferryman, Crossroads, Witchfinder, Infernum Page 3