by Ann Charles
“Don’t even think about it.” Cooper beat me to the punch. When she scowled at him, he scowled right back. “You can be pissed at me, Nat, but that thing is too dangerous for you to be anywhere near it.”
“He’s right,” I said.
“If anyone is going to be bait,” Reid said, “it should be me.”
“Are you drunk, Martin?” Aunt Zoe asked.
“A little, but not enough to be easy yet, woman, so keep your hands to yourself.”
Aunt Zoe rolled her eyes. “What makes you think you’re ideal bait for a lidérc?”
“It used my dad to get to me, remember? It knows my weakness.”
She shook her head at him and then me. “You’re not using him as bait again, Violet Lynn.”
“I agree.”
“If I go in with you,” Harvey said, “we can have ol’ Prudy step in to help again.”
True, but … “I don’t want Prudence around for this. The lidérc will be doubly suspicious if two Executioners show up to the party, especially after we tag teamed up on it today.” I looked at each of them in turn. “I appreciate your offers to help, but if anyone else is in there with me, I won’t be able to focus on what needs to be done because I’ll be worried about protecting instead of killing.”
This time it would be just me and my mace.
“How will you kill it?” Aunt Zoe asked.
“I think I’ve figured out its weak spot,” I said and told them about the silver swirling center I’d seen.
Reid reached for the extra bottle of beer in the center of the table. “What if you can’t kill it?”
“I’ll pull her out before it can attach to her,” Doc said. “And then we’ll try to figure out another plan of attack.”
I took a drink from my glass, peering at him over the rim. He met my gaze, his eyes dark and troubled.
“I’m not thrilled about this either,” I told him, lowering my glass.
He reached out and tucked a curl behind my ear, not saying anything.
“What about when Masterson realizes his pet is gone?” Reid asked.
“If he brings it up to me, I’ll act as surprised as he is—and worried, of course, since it will be coming for me.” I reached for the tequila. “But I’ll also have a strong alibi.”
“You need to keep Dominick distracted,” Aunt Zoe said.
“What do you mean?”
She nodded, as if it were already decided. “I’m going to make sure Dominick stays away from the Sugarloaf Building the night you do this. I’ll invite him to meet me for a farewell dinner.”
“No!” Reid and I said at the same time.
She ignored Reid and focused on me. “Violet Lynn, you risked your life to save me from him. This is the least I can do. What is the worst that can happen?”
“He uses his charm shine on you,” I said, “and convinces you to fly to Vegas and marry him. You know, the whole ’til death do you part bit.”
She laughed. “I was thinking more along the lines of ending up in bed with him.”
“That’s not any better,” Reid said, indignant.
“This is a bad idea, Aunt Zoe.”
“I’ll tell you what,” she said. “Reid can be there spying on us to make sure nothing more than dinner happens. How about that?”
“I still don’t like it,” Reid said.
She smirked. “Too bad, Martin.”
I pondered her idea. If Reid was going to be there with her, maybe it was a good idea. We certainly didn’t need Masterson showing up in the midst of the hunt. “You don’t think he’ll be suspicious about you wanting to meet him after you were avoiding him this whole time?”
She winked at me. “Don’t worry about that, kiddo. His ego will be thoroughly stroked.”
Harvey snickered. “If he gets rambunctious, you can stroke something else while you’re at it. That’ll keep him good and distracted.”
“Willis!” she chastised, grabbing a chocolate chip cookie out of the Betty Boop jar and throwing it at him.
He laughed and picked up the cookie, stuffing the whole thing in his mouth.
“I still think I should go with you,” Natalie said to me.
“No,” Cooper said.
She steeled her shoulders. “Listen, Coop,” she started.
“No!” He shoved back from the table, taking his soup bowl to the sink. “I’m not going to listen, Nat, so don’t waste your breath.” He leaned against the counter. “I don’t like Parker risking her neck or Zoe wining and dining that son of a bitch, but I understand why they need to take these risks. You, on the other hand, don’t need to put your ass on the line, too, just so you don’t feel left out again. We have enough of a problem on our hands now with Hawke after your spying game earlier at Bighorn Billy’s.”
Oh, hell. I sucked air through my teeth, cringing as I turned to Doc. “Cooper didn’t really just say all of that out loud, did he?”
“He certainly did,” Natalie said, her voice low and lethal. She stood slowly, facing him. The gunslinger was back. Cooper was lucky she wasn’t packing lead.
Addy wandered into the middle of the gunfight-at-high-noon moment and placed her bowl in the sink. She looked up at Cooper. “Hey, Coop, do you like bearded lizards?”
He pulled his focus away from Natalie and smiled down at my daughter. “I like bearded ladies just fine, Addy,” he teased. “But I prefer the clean-shaven ones more.”
She giggled. “I said ‘bearded lizards.’ You’re funny for a cop.”
“You’re funny for a kid, too.” He patted her head, and then his attention returned to Natalie, who was still glaring at him.
Addy came over to me, oblivious of the tension in the room. “Hey, Mom, can you come help me clean Duke’s cage?”
“Adelynn Renee, you were supposed to clean that yesterday afternoon.”
Addy’s chin lifted. “But Kelly was here.”
“She could have helped you.” I narrowed my eyes. “You promised you would get it done last weekend and now you’ve gone another whole week without cleaning it.”
“I know, but I forgot. I’m sorry!”
I pushed my chair back. “I’ll help this time, but the next time you make a promise, you need to stand by it.”
Aunt Zoe popped up. “You stay here, Violet. I’ll go help her.”
“You don’t have to do that.” I glanced at Reid, who was still working on his beer.
Aunt Zoe drained her glass and dropped it off at the sink. Then she took Addy by the hand, pulling her in for a hug. “It’s no problem. I haven’t been able to spend much time with Addy-girl lately because of work.”
Addy smiled up at her and then skipped out of the room with Aunt Zoe following behind her. “Come on, Layne,” I heard Aunt Zoe call out. “Let’s get those teeth brushed and pick up the dinosaur bones I saw lying around on your carpet earlier.”
Three sets of feet pounded up the steps.
Harvey leaned over and poked Reid in the shoulder. “You gonna chase that loose heifer, cowboy?”
Reid finished his beer and set the bottle down with a clunk. “She’s too headstrong.”
“You just need to work on your lassoin’ technique.”
“Duke’s cage is big and heavy, Reid,” I said. “You’d better go help. I’d hate for Aunt Zoe to hurt her back lifting it and not be able to finish that glass order on time.”
He snorted. “Well, damsels in distress are my specialty.” Setting his empty bottle on the counter next to Cooper, he stopped by long enough to give my shoulder a squeeze and then headed after them.
After he left, I got up and went to the freezer for more ice. “Cornelius, tell me the risks,” I said, trying to diffuse the tension that still rippled between Natalie and Cooper.
He glanced over at me. “The risks of eating ice? They are plentiful. I hope you have good dental insurance.”
Maybe that was why Prudence didn’t like having ice in her house. “The risks of facing off with the lidérc, smartass. You ha
d that smoky devil in your head almost as long as I did.”
“Not quite,” Doc said. “But Violet’s onto something. When you had it shut away in that room, Curion, did you discover any of its weaknesses?”
“Hmm.” Cornelius swirled his wine, his lips pursed in thought.
Meanwhile, Cooper and Natalie continued their battle of wills via a silent staredown. The air practically crackled between them. Maybe they should go back to Doc’s place and work this out alone.
Harvey watched me pour more lemonade and tequila into my glass of ice. “When are you gonna do this killin’ business?”
I shrugged. “When Doc is ready, but I’m thinking the sooner the better. Neither Masterson nor the lidérc will expect me to return for another round right away.”
“I still think you need your bodyguard,” Harvey said.
“Forget it, Uncle Willis,” Cooper cut in. “This has all kinds of potential to veer off-course, or crash and burn.” He looked at me. “Parker, that lidérc has killed two other Executioners. What makes you think you’re going to beat it on your own when it took Prudence’s help just to get it into that mirror?”
“Damn, Coop.” Natalie crossed her arms. “It almost sounds as if you’re worried about Violet.”
“Of course I’m worried about her,” Cooper growled, glaring at me as though I was torturing him with thumbscrews in order to make him admit that. “Contrary to what you two pains in the asses think, I’m not a goddamned robot.” His focus switched back to Natalie. “And I’m not sure how to get it through your stubborn head that I can’t handle you getting hurt—or worse. You insist on standing in the line of fire, not giving a damn about how I feel.”
Wow! I gaped at him, the same as Natalie. A muscle pulsed in his jaw. His arms were locked tight over his chest, as if he was holding himself in check.
“Okay, Coop.” Natalie’s voice was softer now. “Would you rather Vi wait for the lidérc to get loose somehow and come back for her when she least expects it?”
“No, of course not. But I’d rather she give it some time for the dust to settle before going back for the final round.”
Doc and I exchanged thoughtful frowns. This type of chaotic craziness had to be hard on Cooper. He was used to following procedure and controlling everything at a crime scene, and what he couldn’t control he probably wanted to shoot.
“Cooper,” I said, “you don’t have to go with us.”
His steely eyes met mine. “Yes, I do, Parker.” He pointed at Natalie. “But she doesn’t.”
“Damn it, Coop.” Natalie jammed her hands on her hips. “I’m not some dainty lady prone to fainting at the slightest hint of danger.”
“I know that, but …”
“No, you don’t know.” She rushed him, standing toe to toe. “You need to get something through your thick skull. You may be sharing my bed, but that doesn’t give you the right to rule my world.” She huffed, her cheeks pink.
He stared down at her, deep furrows crisscrossing his face. “My feelings for you aside, you can’t go to the Sugarloaf Building with them.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I overheard Hawke telling a couple of the deputies to start monitoring your whereabouts. He thinks Parker ‘the witch’ has connived you into spying on him.”
Her mouth fell open. “You’re kidding me.”
He shook his head.
“Shit.”
“If you go with Violet to kill the lidérc, you risk dragging a tail along with you.” He rubbed his jaw. “I’m thinking you and Uncle Willis would be more helpful running a distraction of your own.”
“What sort of distraction?” Harvey asked.
“One that will keep Hawke and the deputies following Nat tied up while we’re at the Sugarloaf Building.”
Harvey clapped once. “I have just the rope for the job.”
“That was a figure of speech, Uncle Willis.” Cooper caught Natalie’s hand, holding it. “As much as I hate this idea, I was thinking that maybe you could challenge Hawke to a few games of pool at the Purple Door Saloon. Uncle Willis can be there, too, making sure Hawke doesn’t get too handsy around you.”
“That might work,” Natalie said, a small smile appearing as she looked at him.
“But you’ll need to let him actually win a game or two.”
“Win, huh?” She sighed dramatically. “I suppose I could, but I don’t like losing.”
One of Cooper’s eyebrows lifted. “You threw a game for me.”
“Yeah, but that’s because I’m smitten with you.” She looped her arms around his neck, giving him a full body press. “I suppose I could lose one time for you, but you’ll owe me.”
“Give ’er your pound of flesh, Coop,” Harvey threw out. “That’ll satisfy her for a night.” He wheezed with laughter as I pulled another cookie out of the jar and threw it at him.
Cooper slid his hands around Natalie’s waist, hooking his thumbs in her belt loops. “You drive me crazy, Beals.”
She kissed the corner of his mouth. “We’re just getting rolling, hot cop.”
“I have it!” Cornelius said and slapped the table, making me jump.
“What?” Doc and I said in unison.
He crossed his arms, looking almost smug. “I know one of the lidérc’s weaknesses.”
* * *
Several hours later, I lay under the covers next to Doc, staring up at the ceiling.
The house settled and creaked around me. While both kids slept in their beds, Aunt Zoe worked into the night out in her workshop. Reid had gone home with a smile on his face, giving me a thank-you hug before heading out to his rig. Cooper had returned to the station for a few hours to work on the pile of paperwork on his desk, for which he blamed me. Natalie had offered to drop off Harvey and Cornelius on her way back to the Galena House. That left Doc and me to help the kids settle down for the night and get ready for another week of school.
I had savored tucking both kids in, sharing giggles and kisses with them. Funny how facing death made regular life so appealing.
“Doc?” I whispered in the darkness, hoping he was still awake.
“What?”
I rolled toward him. “If anything happens to me—”
“I’m not going to let it.”
“But if—”
“Violet.” He turned, facing me. “You can’t go into this with doubts.” He took my hand. “Together we will kill this bastard.”
I stared into his dark eyes, wanting to believe him with all of my heart.
“And anything else that comes our way while we’re at it.” He lifted my hand, kissing my curled fingers. “Besides, I think you’re underestimating Cornelius.”
“What do you mean?”
“Haven’t you noticed that since he started helping us, his abilities have grown and improved, the same as yours, mine, and Prudence’s?”
“I guess so.” I shifted closer. “You aren’t worried about that freaky room in his head?”
“A little, of course. I’ve seen some of what’s behind that door, remember?”
“Yeah.” I shivered, easing in closer to him.
“Are you cold?” Doc asked.
“A little.” I rubbed my foot down his leg, tired of thinking about devils.
He flinched. “Your toes are ice nuggets. Where are the socks I bought you?”
“In the laundry.” I wrapped my leg around him, moving in to kiss his neck. “How about you warm me up?”
He rolled over on top of me, his eyes dark and sexy as he stared down at me. “Do you want me to start with your lips or your feet?”
I wrapped my legs around him. “How about somewhere in the middle?”
While he kissed me, his warm hands stole under my thermal shirt and found my soft parts. “Cantaloupes, huh?” he whispered against my neck.
“It wasn’t sexy, Doc,” I said, moving my hips against him.
He groaned. “Boots, everything on you is sexy.”
Ep
ilogue
Wednesday, January 16th
A little after 9 p.m.
“I’m really getting sick of this place,” I muttered, shivering in the cold.
Once again, I found myself staring up at the Sugarloaf Building on a dark and snowy night.
“You and me both,” Doc said. “Don’t forget this.” He handed me my mace and then closed the back door of Harvey’s pickup, which we were using since my SUV might draw more attention from any locals driving past. We’d brought the mirror along in addition to the mace, but only as an “in case of emergency” option.
I shivered, squeezing my coat tighter at my neck. I’d forgotten my hat, but Cornelius had found one of Harvey’s in the back seat—a fur-lined bomber cap with ear flaps that he claimed made me look like a mad poodle thanks to my “crazy curls.” I let his hair remark go unpunished, too wired about the fight ahead of me to bother with giving knuckle-rubs right then.
Doc pulled his dark stocking hat lower over his ears, reminding me of a lumberjack minus his trusty ax. “You ready to do this, Killer?”
“Sure. Why not.” I looked over at where Cornelius stood near the front of the truck. “How about you?”
He held up his one-horned Viking helmet that he liked to use during séances. “Give no truces to your enemies.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It’s part of an old Viking saying.” He braced as a gust of wind whipped snow at us, peppering our faces.
Doc’s phone pinged. He looked down at the screen. “Coop says the coast is clear.”
Cooper was standing guard at the intersection down near the main road until we were settled in and the game was underway.
Another gust slammed into us, whooshing up from the Open Cut next door. My face stung from the freezing blast.
“Damn, it’s cold tonight.” Doc grabbed my elbow, leading me toward the chained front doors. “Let’s go see if this Hungarian bastard feels like having a play date.”
While Doc unlocked the padlock and pulled the chain free from the doors, I frowned across at the buildings that remained from Homestake Gold Mine’s days of shining glory. What was going on with the caper-sus problems Mr. Black had told me about last week? How much did Dominick know about this cult?