15

 

Over breakfast the following morning, Nate studied his fiancée across the table. His heart was full to bursting with so many different emotions. He fluctuated between ecstatic and worried and scared. As if, even now, something or someone might reach out and snatch away his happiness and chance of everlasting love.

Who had left the herbs? Was it a copycat? Was it just someone with a sick and ill-timed sense of humor? Or was there something more sinister going on?

But he had a sickening feeling they’d missed something. He had to get the Herbalist back in the interview room. The bag of herbs left at every murder had never been publicized. Nor would it be. But someone outside of the investigation team knew.

After Adeline had found the herbs, he’d brought her and Ben straight back to his house and sent a forensic team over to hers.

Preliminary results showed there had been no sign of forced entry and nothing had been touched. Even though it looked as if the envelope had just been shoved through the letter box, he wasn’t going to take any chances. The herbs were at the lab, and the envelope being dusted for fingerprints. His fervent prayer was that there would be some trace of DNA or something that would give them a lead.

His mother hadn’t been happy when he arrived home with Adeline, the dog, and a suitcase. Given time he hoped she’d come around.

My fiancée. That has such a lovely ring to it, Lord. And speaking of rings, I need to do that at lunchtime today. I can’t lose her now, I just can’t. Keep her safe.

Adeline put her spoon down. “I know that look, Nate. Spit it out.”

“Spitting is disgusting.” Vianne interjected as she finished her toast.

“It is. Now go and wash your face. You have peanut butter all over it.” Nate shot her a half smile.

“OK.” She grinned at her grandparents. “You really should try peanut butter. Adeline thinks it’s disgusting, but Uncle Nate and I like it.”

Mum picked up her coffee cup. “Then I guess Miss Monroe and I agree on one thing”

Dad winked at Vianne. “You both get it from me. Just don’t tell Nanny I like peanut butter, or she won’t let me kiss her.”

Mum shook her head. “Too late, I heard.”

“In that case…” He reached for another slice of toast and the peanut butter.

Vianne laughed as she skipped from the room.

Nate stifled a grin and turned back to Adeline. “I’ve arranged backup and for a protection officer to follow you around today. However, I want to emphasize that I’m not happy with you going to work. At all—that’s Not with a capital N. I’d far rather you stayed here, today and every day, until we catch him.”

Steel flashed in her eyes, and a resolute look settled over her face. “I’m not giving in to him. I assume it was dried nettle in the bag,” Adeline said, not signing.

“It was actually a combination of all the herbs with datura added. He wants you dead.” He signed to get his point across, speaking aloud so his parents understood, too.

“I thought you had the Herbalist locked up.”

“Someone knows. Therefore the case is now active again and you’re back in the protection system.”

“Wonderful. Tell you one thing, if this guy, whoever he is, wants me dead, then he’s going to have a fight on his hands,” Adeline replied firmly. “We went over and over the self-defense stuff last night, until I can do it in my sleep. I have Ben and the officer following me around. We’ll be fine.”

“Hmmm.” Somehow, despite the fact she’d broken his nose on her first attempt at the self-defense, that didn’t make him feel any better. “Speaking of sleep. Did you dream last night?”

A tinge of something flickered in her eyes, then vanished. “I might have. I did the night before.”

“And—?” Nate held her gaze, leaning across the table. He knew evasion when he saw it. He knew her concern, too. His parents would wonder what kind of person she was, with visions and dreams. But this was too important.

Mum set down her cup with an audible chink. “Nathaniel, really. I hardly think the breakfast table is the place for one of your interrogations.”

“Mum, please. This is important. Adeline, did you dream about him?”

“Yes, all right. I did dream, but I don’t know if it was him, or not. I dreamt I was running from something. There was a storm, lots of lightning and this huge pair of yellow eyes, like a cat’s, with huge slits, watching me from the clouds. The ground stank of garlic. But, honestly, the garlic was the only real link.”

“When was this?”

“Night before last was the first time. I would have told you yesterday morning at breakfast, but you looked shattered, and then your phone rang and you had to dash off.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I should have told you. I’m sorry.”

Nate ran the pad of his thumb over her knuckles, his skin warming at the touch. “The first time?”

“I had it twice last night. It’s probably nothing. It’s not like before when I saw him killing. It’s more of an overpowering sense of evil. Like something, or someone, is watching me all the time. And a storm. There is always a storm.”

“Always tell me these things. I’m never too busy for you.”

“OK. I’m sorry. I promise I will next time.”

“Apology accepted.” He smiled at her to show he wasn’t mad at her. “PC Denise Jones will be joining Mrs. Avon on the front desk, this morning. Agent Debone is insisting on helping as well. He’ll be in later. Two plain clothes officers will be outside in a parked car—”

“That’s overkill. Seriously, Nate, that’s far too much. By all means put someone on the inside, but other than that I don’t need anyone there.”

Nate sighed. She could be the most exasperating woman at times. “Adeline, be reasonable. I want to marry you, not bury you!”

Two pairs of eyes swung his way, two voices speaking at the same time.

“Marry?”

“You want to what?”

He glanced at his parents, having forgotten for a moment they were both there. This wasn’t how he wanted them to find out, but now it was done. “Yes, I intend to marry Adeline. I asked her last night, and she said yes. Although if I’d known then how pig-headed she is, I might have thought twice about it.”

Adeline took his hand and squeezed it. “You know very well how stubborn I am, and you still love me. I promise, I’m going to marry you. I won’t do anything to jeopardize it.”

“Then let me post as many officers around you as I can. Especially in light of the dreams.”

“See, I knew you’d react like this. That’s why I hesitated over telling you about them.”

His mother sent him a withering glance, making him feel ten years old again. “Adeline is a big girl, Nathaniel.” She knew he preferred Nate. “If she wants to go to work, then let her. She’ll be fine with all those officers around her. You worry far too much. Your father never mollycoddled me.”

“You never gave him the chance and you never had a murderer after you,” Nate muttered too low for his mother to hear. From the grin on Adeline’s face, he knew she’d caught that comment. “Fine, Adeline can go to work, on the condition she accepts the protection offered, but Vianne stays here with you and Dad.”

“I don’t want to stay here. I want to go to work with Adeline. It’s not fair,” Vianne wailed.

Nate closed his eyes in exasperation. All he wanted was keep everyone safe.

“I don’t care what you do or do not want, young lady. Nanny and Grandad have come all this way to spend time with us. I have to work today, so you get them all to yourself.”

“But, Uncle Nate…”

“No buts. Maybe they’ll do something fun with you.” I hope.

His mother nodded. “We can do fun. How about we go shopping, Vianne? You look like you could do with some clothes that fit.”

“OK. I’ll go put my coat on.”

Nate stifled a sigh and finished his coffee. He thumped the cup down on the table. There was nothing wrong with what Vianne was wearing and his mother knew it. He got up, praying he wouldn’t say something he’d end up regretting. “I’ll drop you off at work on my way in to the station, Adeline. But we need to leave now.”

“Thanks. I’m ready to go.”

 

****

 

The morning passed uneventfully. As tempting as it was, Adeline resisted the urge to send Nate a text saying ‘told you so.’

Just after lunch, the sun vanished behind a bank of thick, ominous looking green-black clouds. The heavy oppressiveness grew and a severe storm warning was issued by the Met Office.

Adeline sent Mrs. Avon home and started around the building, disconnecting phone lines and electrical equipment.

Rain hit the windows as she closed them. Heading back into reception, she looked at PC Jones. “It’s got really nasty out there. I might close up for the day.” She moved to the door just as a huge flash of lightning flashed through the room.

The door opened and Vianne ran in, followed by her grandparents.

Adeline smiled at her. “Hello. This is a nice surprise.”

“Can I stay here?” Vianne asked. “In the dry.”

“We need to go to the bank and a couple of other places, and she’ll get bored.” Jeremiah smiled. “I don’t want to put you out, but she insisted it would be all right. I wouldn’t have gone against what Nate said if the weather hadn’t suddenly become so disagreeable.”

“Of course it’s fine for her to stay here.” She looked at Vianne. “Go and get the colors and books out. You can spread them all over the reception desk.”

“Yay, thank you.” Vianne grinned and ran off.

“Thank you. We won’t be more than an hour or so.”

“No problem. See you later.”

Adeline sat next to Vianne.

Lightning flashed almost constantly with Vianne jumping soon after each flash. “Don’t like thunder,” she said.

“Mum says thunder is the devil throwing his boots down the stairs because he’s in a mood,” Adeline said. “But really, it’s just the sound the lightning makes.”

“It needs to shut up.” Vianne scribbled hard on the paper. “Least you can’t hear it.”

DC Jones excused herself and headed out the back to the ladies.

Vianne dropped a pen on the floor and jumped under the counter to retrieve it.

The light over the door flashed, and as it opened a huge streak of lightning illuminated a figure standing there. He moved into the room, a strong scent of garlic preceding him.

Adeline’s heart pounded in her chest, fear rose, catching her breath.

Ben huddled next to a cowering Vianne.

It must be thundering again. She glanced down, signing rapidly. “I need you to run and get Uncle Nate.”

Vianne scrunched her face, signing back. “But it’s thundering and raining.”

Adeline signed back. “Please, Vianne. The bad man is here, and the phones aren’t working.”

Two hands landed on the counter, and the man leaned on the desk. The stench of garlic almost overpowered her, and she gagged.

His eyes were hauntingly familiar. He was a man she’d only met the once.

Susie’s boyfriend. Storm.

But the eyes…she knew the eyes from her dreams and visions.

She sucked in a deep breath. “Can I help you?”

“Yes. You can die.”

Petrified, Adeline swallowed hard. She signed frantically under the counter. “Go now. Take Ben. He and Jesus will protect you.” She glanced down as Vianne tugged on her leg and shook her head. She signed again. “Please, go now.”

Storm leaned over the counter. “What are you doing?”

“Run!” Adeline shouted.

Vianne darted from under the counter taking Ben’s collar and leash.

Storm tried to grab her, pulling her hat from her head.

Vianne froze. “My hat. He took my hat.”

Storm reached for her again, but Adeline knocked his arm away. “You wanted me, not the child.”

PC Jones came back in. “What’s going on?”

Storm turned as lightning flashed.

Adeline moved around the counter and grabbed Vianne, bundling her out the door. “Go and get Uncle Nate, now.”

“But my hat…”

“Just go. Never mind your hat.” She clipped on Ben’s leash and gave it to Vianne as a hand gripped her, pulling her back into the room. She saw Vianne run off before Storm swung her around to face him.

PC Jones lay on the floor, eyes staring sightlessly, blood oozing from a head wound. Vianne’s hat lay on the floor. A smoking gun waved in Adeline’s face.

A hand flipped the closed sign over, locked the door, and pulled down the blind.

She looked into the hate-filled eyes.

Please, Lord, protect Vianne out there. Let her get to Nate safely.

She sucked in a deep breath. “What do you want with me?”

“It’s time for some fun. And then you die. Just like all the others did. But you? You complete the pattern.”