The Guardians Complete Series 1 Box Set: Contains Mercy, The Ferryman, Crossroads, Witchfinder, Infernum

by Wendy Saunders

‘Look Theo,’ she shrugged. ‘There’s no reason we can’t enjoy each other while you’re here, but don’t make it into something that it’s not. It’s sex, and nothing more. Really good sex, don’t get me wrong, but just sex.’

  ‘Just sex?’ he repeated again slowly.

  ‘Yes,’ she nodded, thinking he seemed to be taking it quite well.

  Suddenly he grabbed her, pinning her to the wall. His hands pressed against the wall either side of her head, caging her in without actually touching her. His eyes darkened to almost black and his pupils dilated, as he took her mouth, plundering deep with his tongue. She moaned as her pulse kicked into high gear, and her breath caught in her throat, helpless to control her body’s reaction to him.

  He tore his lips away, breathing hard, his hands still pressed against the wall.

  ‘Just sex is it between us Livy?’ his voice was deep, and gravelly, ‘then tell me this. Why is it that your heart thunders so loud I can hear it? Why is it that your skin is flushed, and your eyes are glazed?’

  He glanced down at her nipples, hard and erect through the throw pressed against her chest.

  ‘I bet if I was to reach between your thighs I’d find you ready for me,’ he breathed against her lips. ‘All this from just a kiss?’

  ‘It means nothing more than the fact that I’m attracted to you,’ she replied, breathing hard. ‘It’s just chemical.’

  ‘No lies, remember Livy?’ he reached down, and stroked her cheekbone, tracing down the line of her jaw. ‘Did you think I didn’t feel what you felt last night?’

  His voice was low, and seductive, as his fingertips trailed down her throat, and over the swell of her breast causing her to ache.

  ‘Do you think I didn’t feel what you felt when I was inside you?’ he breathed. ‘It will never be just sex between us Livy, it will always be so much more.’

  ‘But I don’t want it to be,’ she whispered sharply, her eyes flashing.

  The sharp knock at the door distracted them both.

  ‘That’ll be Jake,’ she pushed away from him angrily, scooping her clothes off the floor. ‘You can deal with him, I’m going to take a shower.’

  He watched her silently as she stormed out of the room and disappeared up the stairs.

  The door was pounded again impatiently. Theo bent down, and grabbed his shirt, slipping it over his head as he yanked the door open.

  Jake took in his appearance as the door opened abruptly, noting his friend’s half-dressed state, and rumpled hair, and the fact he was still obviously wearing his clothes from the day before. Jake crossed his arms as his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

  ‘Where’s Olive?’

  ‘She’s in the shower,’ Theo replied in annoyance.

  ‘You know,’ Jake said coolly, ‘when you said you were going to stay here, and keep an eye on her I assumed that meant you’d be sleeping on the couch. Why do I get the distinct impression this is not the case?’

  Theo cursed silently.

  ‘If we’re going to have this conversation I need coffee,’ he muttered turning. He padded silently into the kitchen on bare feet, leaving Jake to follow in his wake.

  Jake slid onto a stool at the center island, and watched his friend carefully as he switched the coffee machine on.

  ‘Coffee?’

  Jake nodded.

  Theo stared at the brand new shiny machine. Even though she wasn’t that fond of coffee, preferring to drink tea, Olivia had taken the trouble to have a coffee machine delivered to the house for no other reason than because he liked it. He sighed heavily, the woman was a mass of contradictions.

  ‘So you and Olive?’ Jake began.

  Theo poured a cup of coffee for Jake and set it on the island in front of him.

  ‘Yes,’ Theo poured himself a black coffee straight up, needing the extra kick. ‘Me and Olivia.’

  ‘Do I need to shoot you?’ he asked seriously.

  ‘I certainly hope not,’ Theo’s mouth curved into an amused smile.

  ‘I thought you Puritans didn’t believe in sex before marriage?’

  ‘And as all of you are so fond of pointing out to me this is the 21st century.’ Theo took a deep swig of his coffee and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. ‘Besides who says I don’t intend to marry her.’

  Jake choked on his coffee, spraying the counter and thumping his chest as he began coughing.

  ‘Seriously?’

  Theo shrugged nonchalantly as he drained his cup.

  ‘Holy fucking shit, you are serious,’ Jake wheezed as the coughing subsided.

  ‘Look Jake,’ Theo replied, ‘the truth is, she’s it for me. She always has been.’

  ‘And if she doesn’t feel the same way?’ Jake asked curiously.

  ‘She does,’ he stared into his empty cup, ‘she just doesn’t want to admit it.’

  ‘Well then,’ Jake laughed, ‘I wish you luck man. You sure as hell are gonna need it.’

  ‘Tell me about it,’ he sighed, ‘the woman’s a handful.’

  ‘Amen brother,’ Jake lifted his coffee cup in a mock toast, ‘besides, my mom always says if it’s not complicated it’s not worth it.’

  Theo nodded and turned to refill his cup.

  ‘Jake,’ Theo changed the subject, ‘I’m concerned about Olivia.’

  ‘We all are,’ he replied.

  ‘No,’ Theo shook his head, ‘I mean specifically about Chief Walcott. We were in the pub last night and he went after her in public. He waited until I was in the restroom and then caught her while she was alone, even making threats about arresting her.’

  ‘He doesn’t have any grounds to, and he damn well knows it,’ Jake frowned.

  ‘Exactly,’ Theo agreed. ‘He’s crossing a line now.’

  ‘I have to admit, he’s been different down at the station too,’ Jake replied thoughtfully. ‘He’s been even more erratic and confrontational, and others are starting to notice it now.’

  ‘You don’t think he’ll actually hurt her do you?’ Theo asked. ‘I’d hate to have to go to prison for killing the Chief of Police.’

  ‘I get the uncomfortable feeling you’re not joking.’

  ‘I’m not going to let anyone hurt her, not even a man of the law,’ Theo replied seriously.

  ‘I know,’ Jake shook his head, ‘but this isn’t the seventeenth century. You can’t just go around killing people. Besides, I don’t think he’d actually physically hurt her, but then again, I just can’t gauge him anymore. He’s obsessed. Why’d he go after her anyway, what did he want to know?’

  ‘He wanted to know where she was yesterday afternoon.’

  ‘Ah,’ Jake nodded. ‘Yeah, I heard you two gave Hanson the slip.’

  Theo paused with his cup halfway to his mouth.

  ‘Louisa told me,’ Jake clarified. ‘After all it was my sister’s car you borrowed.’

  ‘That’s true,’ Theo took a sip of his coffee.

  ‘So where’d you two go anyway?’ Jake asked curiously.

  ‘I’d better let Olivia explain that to you,’ Theo grimaced ruefully. ‘She’s already mad at me.’

  ‘Do I want to know why?’

  ‘Probably not,’ Theo shrugged.

  ‘About the Chief,’ Jake mused thoughtfully, ‘maybe Olive should call Erica, and get her to file an official complaint with the Mayor’s office. If he’s got someone above watching him it might force him toe to the line.’

  ‘Or it might push him entirely the other way,’ Theo

  answered.

  ‘Maybe, but then she has both of us; we just need to

  keep an eye on her.’

  ‘There’s one more thing,’ Theo’s unwavering gaze locked with Jake’s. ‘I want you to teach me to shoot a gun.’

  ‘Do I need to worry about you shooting the Chief?’ Jake asked in amusement.

  ‘I’ll try not to,’ Theo replied dryly.

  ‘Then why?’

 
‘Because we still don’t know what is in the woods and there’s a murderer on the loose.’

  ‘Fair point,’ Jake conceded. ‘Okay I’ll stop by tomorrow morning, and we’ll get started.’

  ‘Started on what?’ Olivia padded back into the kitchen pulling her long wavy hair into a pony tail.

  ‘Nothing,’ Jake frowned absently, noticing the file tucked under her arm. ‘What’s that?’

  ‘Take a look for yourself,’ she dropped it on the counter in front of him.

  Jake watched on, highly entertained, while she walked past Theo, obviously annoyed with him, and took a mug down from the shelf. Theo’s eyes dropped down to her ass for a moment before he turned, and flipped the kettle on. Jake continued to watch them. Olivia dropped a teabag in her mug, as Theo automatically turned to the refrigerator and took out the milk. Olivia took down the sugar, and scooped a spoon into her mug, and two in Theo’s mug. As she turned to put the sugar back, he squeezed the teabag into her cup and removed it, while she added milk to both her tea, and his coffee, stirring it before handing it to him.

  ‘You shouldn’t mainline coffee, it’s not good for you,’ she scowled at him.

  He smiled at her as he took a sip.

  Jake was startled at how in sync with each other they were, and even more so, that they didn’t seem to be aware of it. Shaking his head in amusement he turned his attention to the file in front of him.

  ‘Is this what I think it is?’ he suddenly frowned as he scanned the first few pages.

  ‘The files from the original murders in ‘94,’ Olivia slipped onto the stool beside Jake.

  ‘How?’

  ‘I was sent it yesterday,’ Olivia sipped her tea.

  ‘This has something to do with where you two disappeared to doesn’t it?’

  Olivia nodded, putting her cup down and flipping to the pages pertaining to James Talbot.

  ‘Victim number four James Talbot,’ she began, ‘this victim was specifically highlighted by whoever sent me the files. So I figured there was something special about this one, something someone wanted me to know. I read through his file, and the only thing of note was that he was the only victim who didn’t live in Mercy. He lived in Salem with his parents. So we decided to drive out there and see if his family still lived there.’

  ‘And did they?’ Jake asked.

  ‘His mother did,’ Olivia replied picking up her mug again. ‘His father passed away some years ago, but she was happy to speak with us. It turns out James Talbot didn’t always live in Salem but was born and raised in Mercy. He went to school with my father, and Thomas Walcott. The three of them were best friends.’

  ‘Thomas Walcott?’ Jake replied in surprise, ‘Chief Walcott?’

  ‘Yes,’ Olivia nodded, ‘there’s more though. Chief Walcott, and James Talbot were lovers.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Jake asked sharply.

  ‘I’m sure. Mrs Talbot had letters to prove it,’ she sighed, ‘and my father was the only other person who knew the truth. The night James was murdered he was supposed to meet in secret with the Chief, and no one but my father knew James was going to be in town that night.’

  ‘That’s why he has a problem with you. He must blame your father somehow, and by extension you.’

  ‘He pretty much said that to me last night,’ Olivia replied. ‘He basically accused me and my dad of being a murder tag team. I think in his mind my father committed the original murders, and I took up where he left off, until he busted out of the nut house. Now he thinks we’re having ourselves a little joint murder spree.’

  ‘For fuck’s sake,’ Jake pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. ‘Christ, not only is that ridiculous, I had no idea that he…’

  ‘Prefers the company of men?’ Theo answered.

  ‘Yeah,’ Jake murmured. ‘I mean, I knew he wasn’t married, we all just figured he was married to the job. He obviously goes to great pains to hide his preference. I’ve never even had a hint that he was homosexual. It wouldn’t matter to any of us though, I wonder why he feels as though he has to hide it.’

  ‘There could be many different reasons,’ Olivia shrugged. ‘He could be ashamed of it, or he could have family that wouldn’t approve; he could’ve felt that it would hinder his career, or maybe he’s just a very private person. Who knows?’

  ‘You know, this makes him very dangerous,’ Jake replied seriously. ‘If he believes your father murdered the person he was in love with, a person he has been unable to mourn publicly for the last twenty years, he is going to take it out on you if he can’t get to your father.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Olivia replied miserably, ‘I’d pretty much figured that one out. He’s not about to let this go anytime soon, and while he’s fixated on me he’s not looking for the real murderer, whether it’s my father and his partner, or not.’

  ‘Olive,’ Jake spoke thoughtfully, ‘I really think you need to speak with Erica, and put in an official complaint about Chief Walcott.’

  ‘That will probably only make him worse,’ Olivia frowned.

  ‘But it will mean that there is someone keeping an eye on him,’ Jake insisted. ‘It will give you some measure of protection.’

  ‘I guess so,’ Olivia replied unconvinced.

  Jake nodded in approval.

  ‘So, do you have any idea who sent you the file?’ he scanned through the notes. ‘Do you still have the packaging it was sent in?’

  ‘Yes,’ she nodded sipping her tea, ‘I didn’t recognize the handwriting though.’

  ‘I’ll still check it anyway, maybe I can find where it was sent from. Was it through the postal service, or a courier?’

  ‘Courier,’ she answered.

  ‘I should be able to trace it then,’ he mused thoughtfully. ‘If this is Ex-chief Grady’s copy, that would mean it was possibly sent to you by the pale haired man working with your father. But why would he want you to know about your father’s connection to the victim?’

  ‘I have no idea,’ Olivia shrugged, ‘to be honest the whole thing’s giving me a headache.’

  Jake fell silent as he studied the case notes intently.

  ‘Jesus,’ he muttered as he read through the later victim’s autopsy reports, his face turning pale.

  ‘Yeah, it’s pretty grim,’ Olivia muttered.

  ‘Going by the details of Adam and Brody’s murders I’d say we were dealing with the same person. If the third body turns up in the same condition as victim number three from the ‘94 murders I’d say we’re dealing with either the original murderer, or an apprentice. There are too many precise details for it to be copycat, things that were never released to the press.’

  ‘There is something I’ve been meaning to ask you,’ Olivia took the file from him, pulling out the crime scene photos. ‘What’s this?’

  She pointed to picture after picture of a blurry mark on each of the corpses.

  ‘That looks like it’s a brand, just like the current victims were marked with, but it’s not too clear,’ he squinted at the picture. The rest of the picture seemed to be sharply in focus, it was just the mark on the corpse that was unclear. ‘There should have been close ups taken of the markings.’

  ‘You mean these?’ Olivia handed him another small stack of pictures.

  ‘What the hell?’ he murmured.

  Every single shot of the mark, regardless of which victim it was on, was obscured by a bright light, like a flare.

  ‘Hold on a moment,’ Jake pulled out his phone. ‘I took a picture of Adam’s mark when I was in the morgue with Doc Hughes. It should be in here somewhere.’

  He scrolled through the pictures on his phone.

  ‘Well I’ll be damned,’ he breathed. As he handed the phone to Olivia, Theo leaned over her shoulder to get a look.

  The picture he had taken of the mark on Adam’s corpse had the same light flare as the other pictures.

  ‘What does the mark look like?’ Theo asked Jake.
>
  ‘It’s circular,’ Jake cast his mind back. ‘Inside the circle are two serpents entwined in opposing ‘s’ shapes, so it kind of looks like the figure ‘8’ only it wasn’t vertical but horizontal.’

  ‘So, not the number ‘8’ but more like the infinity symbol?’ Olivia answered.

  ‘Yes, that’s it exactly,’ Jake nodded, watching as Theo disappeared from the room, and came back holding a sketch pad and pencil.

  Olivia and Jake both watched curiously, as Theo drew on the paper with quick confident strokes.

  ‘Did it look like this?’ he asked seriously.

  Jake’s gaze dropped down to the paper, his eyes widening, and his mouth dropping slightly open. Theo had drawn the mark in exact detail.

  ‘How do you know what it looks like? he asked suspiciously.

  ‘Because, as soon as you started talking I recognized it. I’ve seen this symbol before.’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘Salem, 1695,’ he replied turning to look at Olivia. ‘You remember the cleric I told you about, Nathaniel Boothe?’

  ‘Yes,’ she nodded.

  ‘This was his personal seal, he wore it around his neck. He was never without it.’

  ‘What the hell is a seventeenth century seal doing on the corpses of twenty first century murder victims?’ Olivia frowned.

  ‘I have no idea,’ Theo shook his head, ‘but we do know he had some kind of connection to your family Olivia. From what I understand he was responsible for the death of Hester and Bridget West’s mother. We also know he was after something he believed they had.’

  ‘What was that?’ Jake asked curiously.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Theo shrugged. ‘All I know is it was called Infernum, but I don’t know what it was. We also know that the murderer is connected to you somehow, whether it’s your father or not. We can’t make any assumptions yet, but the murderer is taking people connected to you, marking them with Nathaniel’s seal, and then dumping the bodies near to your home. It’s a tenuous link at best, but it is a link.’

  ‘This doesn’t make any sense,’ Jake frowned in frustration. ‘How can this be connected to a cleric who lived over three hundred years ago?’

  ‘Maybe the link isn’t to him but to a descendant,’ Olivia mused thoughtfully.