5

 

Wednesday came quickly, and having buried herself in fixing broken toys all day long, Adeline finished work as soon as Vianne arrived after school. She was glad of the change of pace.

Perhaps this would call a halt to the images running through her mind’s eye ever since she jerked awake at three AM with a nightmare. “Hey, ready to go?”

Vianne looked at her. “Now? Can’t I visit with some of the dolls first?”

“We need to get home and put the meat in the oven.” Adeline clipped on Ben’s lead. She straightened to find Vianne scowling at her. “What’s that face for?”

“I want to read to the dollies.” Vianne stamped her foot for added emphasis.

“I want, doesn’t get.”

“That’s what Uncle Nate says all the time.” She folded her arms across her chest, bottom lip sticking out.

“Then it must be true.” Adeline looked at the frowning child. This wasn’t a great start. If she didn’t leave now, the meat would either be as tough as old boots or not cooked at all. “Do you know how to make Yorkshire puddings?”

“No.”

“Want to learn?”

Vianne’s face brightened. “Really? I’m not allowed to cook at home. It’s ‘too dangerous.’” She put quote marks around the last two words, rolling her eyes as she spoke.

“Especially the way I do it.” Adeline laughed. “I’ll teach you, and we won’t tell him ‘til after he’s eaten.”

“Cool.” Vianne beamed at her. “So what are we waiting for?”

 

****

 

By the time Ben told Adeline there was someone at the door at seven fifteen, the kitchen no longer resembled the bomb site it had been all afternoon. The flour had been cleared off the surfaces and floor, batter wiped from the cupboard doors and Vianne’s face. She even picked the remnants of the egg shell from the sugar bowl.

She opened the door and let Nate in out of the rain. “Hey.”

“Hey. Something smells good.” Nate entered the house, shedding his wet coat.

“Thank you.” She took the coat and hung it on the free standing coat rack set in one corner of the hallway. “This is soaked.”

Nate nodded. “I was outside all afternoon at a crime scene. Uniformed officers got the call this morning, and we spent the afternoon talking to the neighbors in the hope of finding something useful.”

Adeline held his gaze. Sorrow filled his eyes again, this time seeming to permeate to his soul. She should have called him, but one thing after another had come up and… “The Herbalist?”

“Yeah. He made sure this one died. She was only fifteen.” He took a deep breath, raw emotion crossing his face. “It doesn’t matter how many of these I do, I never become immune to it.”

“Was there an herb cutting in one of her pockets?”

Nate’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, there was. How did you—?”

“And it matches the name of the road.” She closed her eyes, and then stared unwavering at him. “Toadflax.”

Nate took a deep breath, and suddenly looked beyond her. His face changed in an instant from a concerned frown into a broad smile. “Hey, pumpkin. How was your day?” He moved past her and swung Vianne into his arms.

Adeline moved into the kitchen to check on the food. He was right. This conversation was not one to be had in front of a child. She glanced down at Ben. “I know what you’re thinking, but I’m not running to him every time I have a nightmare or one of those vision things. He’s the detective. He can put the pieces together all by himself without my rubbish interpretation. And don’t tell me that makes me accountable. Or guilty by association.”

Ben cocked his head at her and put a paw over his nose. Adeline screwed her nose up at him. “Ack, get over it. I’ve put one and one together and made five.”

He knocked her foot and looked behind her.

Her stomach dropped into her slippers as she saw Nate standing there. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she hoped he’d assume it was heat from the stove causing the blush and nothing more.

 

****

 

“What makes five?” Nate asked, as he followed Vianne into the kitchen.

“Two plus three, silly,” Vianne giggled as she sat at the table.

Adeline was covering something, but the question was what? Had she known about the latest murder and not told him?

“Five thousand. We’ve made enough to feed the five thousand, so I hope you’re hungry.”

“We?”

“Vianne stirred the gravy and crumbled in the Oxo cubes. That’s the most important job.”

“I also made the Yorkshire puddings,” Vianne added, bouncing on her chair. “Or I helped to. I wasn’t allowed to put them in the hot fat, but I beat the mixture.”

Nate’s stomach growled and he was grateful Adeline couldn’t hear it. Breakfast was hours ago, and he’d worked through lunch. Rather, lunch still sat on his desk, a paltry two bites taken from the sausage roll he’d bought from the canteen. “Can I do anything?”

“No, just sit down and wait patiently. It won’t be long.”

Nate perched on a chair by the table, watching Adeline as she moved around the kitchen, half listening to Vianne rabbiting on about her day at school. The other part of his mind, the cop part that never switched off, went over and over Adeline’s words. There was only one way she could know about the herbs left on the victims. Unless she knew the killer, and he doubted that.

Adeline brought over the first dishes, her eyes clouded with sorrow, as she took in the plaster still adorning his face. “How’s your nose?”

“Sore, but a lot less painful than it has been. I should be able to lose this plaster thing soon, hopefully.”

“Your eyes look better. Have you considered make-up to hide the bruises?”

Nate looked aghast at her. “I’m a bloke. Blokes do not wear make-up.”

“Sure they do. Actors and news readers do it all the time. I can show you how to use just a little foundation to hide it.”

“It’s fine. Thank you all the same.”

Vianne tugged Adeline’s arm to get her attention. “He thinks it’s manly to have bruises,” she said. “Improves his street cred, or so Uncle Dane says, and makes the bad guys a-feared of him when he’s playing bad cop.”

Adeline laughed.

Nate frowned. “When you two have quite finished teasing me…”

Vianne hugged him. “We have.”

He wiggled her nose and then tickled her, making her squeal with laughter. “And I’ll have you know that I’m the good cop. Uncle Dane is the bad cop.”

“Uh huh,” she squealed, trying to get away.

Nate let her go. “Yes, uh huh, he is.”

“Dinner’s ready.” Adeline turned to Vianne. “Run upstairs, and wash your hands.”

Vianne nodded and ran from the room. Nate moved over to Adeline and touched her arm. He held her gaze, needing to get her to open up to him. It worked with the criminals if he did it long enough. As did the silent treatment—although good cop-bad cop in tandem with Dane was far more effective.

“I should dish up.”

“I know. First I need to know something. How did you know the Herbalist puts herbs in the victim’s pockets?”

“I just do.”

He tightened his grip a little as she tried to pull away. “It’s important, Adeline. No one knows that except Dane, the Guv, me, and the coroner. It’s not even in the files in case it gets leaked to the press.”

“I saw it,” she said finally looking him in the eye. “Last night. I dreamed the whole thing. Saw him stalk her and kill her. He put the herbs in her pocket. They were in a small clear plastic bag. One of those self-sealing ones.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?” Nate’s voice rose automatically, anger and frustration filling him. “You have my number, you could have called me. You should have called me.”

Adeline signed jerkily as she spoke. “I’m sure you’d love me ringing you every time I have a nightmare. Especially at three in the morning.”

“If it’s a dream that concerns the Herbalist, then yes, I do want you ringing me, no matter what time of night it is. We might have gotten to her in time.”

Adeline shook her head, her eyes glistening. “She didn’t stand a chance. No one does. And you know something? She didn’t have one of your ‘disabilities’ like all the others did. He didn’t kill her because she was deaf or short sighted or—”

Nate narrowed his eyes, his stomach twisting at her use of the word. “Then why?”

“Ask him when you catch him.”

“I’m asking you. You can’t just drop something like that on me and leave it at that.”

Adeline turned her face away.

Nate waited impatiently. He could just turn her face back towards him, but it would be better for both of them if he didn’t. He tapped his foot, desperate for the information. It seemed an eternity before she turned back to face him. “Well? How was she different?”

Adeline’s voice trembled as she spoke. He’d wondered if she was capable of raw emotion in her voice, and she was. “You need to interview her father. The herbalist was saving her from him.”

 

****

 

Approaching Nate’s house two days later, Adeline consulted Ben. “Are we doing the right thing? Just dropping around unannounced like this? What if they’re out?”

Ben regarded her with deep, soulful eyes. He must be the epitome of puppy dog eyes because she could never resist him.

“I know, post it through the door. Maybe that would be better. I mean, we didn’t exactly part on good terms the other night. Dinner was decidedly frosty after the dream incident.”

Adeline raised a hand to ring the doorbell and hesitated. Maybe she should just shove it through the door. She lowered her hand, intending to get a pen from her bag, so she could write on the package, when the door opened.

Nate stood there with an empty milk bottle in his hand. “Oh, Adeline…hi.”

“Hi, I was passing and thought I’d call in on the off chance you were in.”

The stiffness in his body as he set the milk bottle on the step, gave away the unease he felt. He straightened and then replied. “We’re in. How are you?”

“Fine. You?”

“Yeah. Fine. So’s Vianne.”

“Speaking of Vianne, I have something for her. Is she around?”

“She’s watching TV. Come in for a few.”

“Thank you.” She guessed he shouted for Vianne because she appeared in the hallway. “Hi, Vianne.”

“Hi. How are you?” Vianne carefully signed as she spoke.

“I’m good. How are you?”

Vianne revealed a gap toothed smile. “Good,” she signed. Then she went back to speaking. “Did I get it right?”

“You did.”

“Yay. And the tooth fairy is coming later. At least I hope she is. Jodie got a pound when her tooth fell out. But Uncle Nate says it depends on whether the tooth fairy has been paid or not as to how much she leaves.”

“Sounds about right. I have something for you.” Adeline signed carefully. She held out the bag she was carrying to Vianne.

“What is it?”

“Open it and see.”

Vianne tore into the bag and a huge grin split her face and filled her eyes. “Cool.” She pulled out the baseball cap. “Thank you.” She flung her arms around Adeline and hugged her.

Adeline hugged her back. “You’re welcome.”

After a minute, Vianne pulled away and very hastily replaced her hat with the new one.

Adeline got a very swift glimpse of short auburn curls before they vanished under the new hat. “Very nice.”

Vianne smiled and dropped into sign. “Thank you. Do I look pretty?” She twirled around.

“You look lovely.” Adeline signed back. She glanced at Nate seeing a smile on his face, but something else in his eyes. “What is it?”

“Just feeling a little left out here. Could you teach me sign language?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Is that so you can interrogate the victims by yourself?”

Nate blushed and looked down and then away.

Adeline sighed and moved to stand in front of him. She signed rapidly, not saying a thing.

A wry smile crossed Nate’s face. “I guess I deserved that. No, I want to learn sign so that I can communicate with you.”

Adeline moved her hands slowly as she spoke. “Yes, I’d love to teach you.”

“Maybe I could start by learning how to say ‘I’m sorry’. It’s something I seem to say an awful lot.”

“That’s as good place as any.” Adeline showed him and smiled as he repeated it correctly.

 

****

 

Two days later, Susie hadn’t arrived at work or called in.

Adeline sat on the desk, phone in hand. She’d tried calling several times, but there was no answer. She was more than slightly irritated now and had several versions of the conversation she needed to have with her errant receptionist running through her mind. She hung up for the tenth time when the light over the door flashed and Ben nudged her leg.

Glancing from Ben to the door, she smiled as the customer walked in.

His bleached blond hair, pulled back into a tight ponytail needed re-dying as the roots were showing. His ice cold, blue eyes glittered as they raked over her. A broken doll dangled carelessly from his left hand.

Adeline shivered. Something about him set every nerve on edge and made her skin crawl. Managing a smile anyway, she looked directly at him. “Can I help you?”

“I need the doll fixed. Now, if possible. She won’t sleep without it.”

“Sure.” Adeline took the doll and looked it over. She glanced at the customer. He seemed agitated, if his pacing was any indication. He moved over to the door and looked through the window.

She turned her attention back to the doll. It’d be a simple job, one he probably could have done himself if he’d thought about it. But if he was willing to pay her, then she wasn’t going to complain. “It’ll take five minutes.”

The man glanced at her. “That’s fine. How much do I owe you?”

“Three fifty.” Adeline didn’t need a calculator or the till to work it out. She swiftly fixed the doll. Every time she glanced up the bloke was either pacing or watching out of the window. A couple of times she found his eyes raking over her. She worked faster, eager to get him out of her shop as soon as possible.

Ben stood by her legs, his hackles raised.

She was grateful Jasmine was working in the back. One shout and she would come running.

“There you go. All fixed.” She held out the doll.

The man pulled a crisp new ten pound note from his wallet and handed it over. “Keep the change.” He took the doll, his cold and clammy fingers brushing against hers, and left.

Rivers of ice surged though her veins as he touched her. She shuddered and lost her balance. Something dark permeated his soul. She closed her eyes tight as the door shut. Something bad was going to happen. But unlike before, all she had was a feeling. Was disaster going to befall the man who touched her? Was that it? Would he be hit by a car or cause an accident? Whatever it was, death walked with him.

She took a deep breath. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Adeline expelled a deep breath and looked down at Ben. “Not even a thank you. Oh well, at least he left a tip.” Ben covered his nose with his paw and Adeline laughed. “My sentiments exactly.”

Her thoughts took a different turn. Ponytail—was it him? Or was she just being ridiculous now? She’d never seen his face, just his eyes and a glimpse of his hair. If only she’d heard his voice, then maybe…

Adeline closed her eyes trying to visualize the man from her nightmares. Ben nudged her foot, and she opened them to see Jasmine standing at her elbow. She pulled her mind off the stranger and onto work. “Did you manage to get that teddy stitched up all right?”

Jasmine nodded. “I sure did. Do you have any idea what Vianne did to him to cause a rip like that?”

“Nate washed it in the machine. He killed it—according to Vianne.”

“Oh dear. Is that another case of child abuse?”

“In capital letters, no less. She wanted to put murder down, but I talked her out of that one. We settled for intent to cause grievous bodily harm.”

Jasmine chuckled. “You can tell she’s a cop’s niece. She knows way too much. Did he peg it to the line by its ears, too?”

Adeline’s smile widened. “Yep.”

“Oh boy. She must really hate him this time. Jodie didn’t talk to me for a couple of hours when I did that to her stuffed elephant.”

“Vianne’ll get over it. She always does.” She paused. “Did you see that guy that was in here just now? Blond hair, ponytail.”

Jasmine shook her head. “No. Why? Did he run off without paying or something?”

“Far from it, he overpaid and told me to keep the change. But there was something about him. His eyes…” She broke off. She’d seen those eyes before. “It was him.”

“Who him?” Jasmine signed as she spoke.

“The man from my nightmares. He changed his hair color and wore those odd-colored contact lenses to change his appearance.”

Jasmine crossed her arms. “Call Nate. Now. He believes in your visions and so on. It could be nothing. Then again...”

Adeline reached for the phone and dialed Nate. She shook her head. “It’s engaged.”

Rather than leave a voice mail, she sent him a text. ‘Nate, call me, it’s urgent.’

Jasmine shook her head. “He and Dane are on duty. Probably out on the streets somewhere. If he doesn’t answer, it means he’s in the middle of something really important. He’ll get back to you. Tell you what you need? A change of scene. Listen, the Prime Minister’s due to dedicate the new memorial garden in about twenty minutes. Why don’t you go and watch?”

Not really wanting to go out on the streets, Adeline signed a response. “I have a lot to do. I can’t take time off to go and see someone I can see on the television every day. And it’s not as if I voted for her party, either. I voted the same way I always do.”

“For the party that doesn’t stand a chance of winning.”

“Exactly. All the more reason I can’t go.”

“Course you can go. Look, Ben needs a walk, right? So go for a walk towards the memorial garden. If you happen to see the Prime Minister, all well and good. If not...” Jasmine shrugged. “You had a break. Maybe you can catch Nate, or he’ll return your call. You might be able to speak to him for a few minutes.”

“Nate won’t be there. They’d have all the uniformed officers out, not the murder squad.”

Adeline took a deep breath. Perhaps she was imagining things after all and the fresh air would do her good. And with Ben and the Lord with her, what more did she need? “Oh, why not?” She ruffled Ben’s ears. “Fancy going to see the Prime Minister?” He cocked his head at her. “Go for a walk?”

He ran off, coming back in a few seconds with his lead hanging from his mouth.

She shook her head. “I guess we’re going out. Although I think the magic word there was walk, not go see the Prime Minister.”

Jasmine smiled. “I’ll try to reach Susie again while you’re gone.”

“Thank you. If need be I’ll swing by her place on my way home tonight to make sure she’s all right. Tell you this much. If she is skiving, she’s gonna be in trouble.” Adeline slid into her jacket. “Come on, Ben.” He moved over to her. She clipped on the lead and headed outside.

Warm sunshine streamed through the trees, leaving dappled shadows on the ground by her feet. A pleasant change from the drizzle they’d had all morning. The closer she got to the memorial garden, the more security seemed to outnumber the spectators.

It looks like a police convention. I might not see a thing.

She made her way to the edge of the crowd, finding a space right on the corner of the street to stand. Pulling her phone from her pocket, Adeline started taking photos to show Jasmine. It wasn’t every day a famous person visited her part of England.

Glancing across the street, she saw the man again. He was standing on the corner, leaning by a lamppost, a camera in one hand and the doll hanging from the other. He looked totally bored and thinking quickly, she took his photo, too.

If it was him she had a photo to show Nate. If not, she’d delete it. As she watched, the man moved away and into one of the buildings behind him.

Nate raised a hand from where he stood on the opposite side of the road. Adeline waved back. What was he doing here? She slowly signed to him. “I need to speak to you.”

Nate frowned. “What?”

She wouldn’t have heard him over the crowded street anyway, but reading lips made it easy.

He turned to Dane and spoke rapidly. Dane nodded, and Nate started towards her.

Her breath caught as the Prime Minister’s car stopped almost in front her. Somewhat awestruck, she brought her phone up, taking several shots as Prime Minister Williams got out of the car and smoothed down her suit. Adeline had never been this close to anyone famous before and felt ridiculously nervous. It wasn’t as if she was going to meet Prime Minister Williams, was it?

Nate edged closer, waving his ID at the security men.

Then Prime Minister Williams was in front of her, with an outstretched hand, and a smile on her lips that never quite made it to her eyes. “Hello, how are you?”

Completely overwhelmed, Adeline reached out and shook her hand. “Hello. I’m fine, how are you?”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

Ben held out a paw and the Prime Minister leaned over shaking it. “What a lovely dog.”

“Thank you. He’s a service dog.”

“Prime Minister? Mrs. Williams?” A couple of press photographers called to her, and pasting a smile on her face, she knelt and posed with Ben.

Adeline took a photograph as well. Jasmine would never believe her otherwise.

“How about you stand in the picture, too?” The Prime Minister moved closer to her.

A red beam blinded her before sliding down her face to her chest. She twisted slightly and posed for the photographers with the Prime Minister and Ben.

Then Prime Minister Williams moved back in front of Adeline and held out a hand again. “Thank you—”

A flash came from the building across the road.

The Prime Minister jerked, shock written across her face.

There was another flash.

Something red erupted from the Prime Minister’s chest. Her hand started to rise to cover it. Then she fell forwards, landing on Adeline.

The phone jerked from her hand and fell to the ground, the camera going off again. Automatically, she cradled the injured woman, landing on the pavement with her. Pain filled her as her arm took the full weight of them both.

Police and security personnel swarmed from all directions. Chaos reigned around her. People’s mouths opened and closed as they moved in slow motion. More flashes, something whizzed past her.

Nate landed on top of her, his breath hot against her ear, as he shielded her and the Prime Minister with his body.