Dallas stood by the monument to Justin McLane, smiling as he listened to the heartfelt apologies that both Justin and Monty were giving him.
“I might have caused Kristi’s death,” Monty said. “I left... I should have been here, I should have been able to do something. I don’t know... I don’t know if I could ever explain what I’ve felt, what... I loved her so much. It was always agony knowing that she died because of me. I should have returned...and then, so foolishly, I couldn’t leave her bones, and...”
“We’re so sorry, and incredibly grateful that Kristi is okay...that it’s over,” Justin said.
“It’s all right. Kristi is fine. And the killers have been caught,” Dallas said.
He turned around. Kristi was coming out of the house, smiling. She’d just greeted Jamie Murphy, and tried very hard to catch him up on everything that had happened before last night—he’d arrived just in time to find Kristi’s house swarming with ambulances and police, and he was, of course, still confused, but Kristi had just sent him off with Jackson and Angela.
For once, the only people at the house were Kristi and Dallas—and, of course, now Justin and Monty.
McLane House guests and staff were still in the hospital for observation.
They’d found out that while Janet had been the descendent of Albert Huntington, it had been Granger who had started out in nursing school.
He had used “Devil’s Breath,” or a street version of scopolamine, to lace the tarts to put everyone out.
He’d used his anger with his daughter to keep her out of the house—telling her that he’d have a talk with Carl Brentwood and the possibility of them seeing each other in the future if she went with Claire to a professional photographer in the city for her own promo shots. Even though he and his wife were clearly some form of sociopaths, they loved their daughter, in their way.
He later told them where they would find Simon Drake’s body—in a sewer near the Murphy house. Drake had been a real danger in Granger’s mind—he wanted to gather all the great stories regarding Savannah and publish them in a book about the city. He’d spoken with Ian as he was collecting his research, and Ian had promised to give him everything that he had.
While not confined for observation as the others, Claire Danson and Lacey Knox were at the hospital, too—both lingering by Carl, determined that their love and adoration would help him get better soon.
“Hey,” Dallas said, drawing Kristi into his arms as she reached him. He smoothed back her hair. “You’re okay, really okay?”
“I’m better than I thought I would be,” she assured him. She glanced around Dallas’s broad shoulders at Monty. “I’m so sorry that I had to use that wonderful period photograph of you.”
“I thank God that I could be of assistance in some small way,” Monty said. “Kristi, it’s your forgiveness I must ask. My Trinity... I loved her so much. I only pray you can understand.”
Dallas felt something clench tightly in his chest, and he whispered, “I think we do understand.”
“You can’t leave her, you know,” Monty said. “You’ll never be all right if you do.”
“He has to leave. He’s with a very unusual and important unit,” Kristi said. “But,” she added, pausing for a smile, to look at Dallas, and then to say very softly, “I’ve got it figured it out. I did get to talk to Jonah at the hospital—briefly. I can do my work anywhere. Jonah and Genie and Sydney do fine without me, and I can come back every month for a few days... It is my heritage, and I love the house and all the people—living and dead—residing here. So...if you’ll have me...”
Heedless of the ghosts, Dallas drew her into his arms. Their kiss was hot and deep, and very passionate, and still the sweetest he had ever tasted. It naturally spoke the words they hadn’t said yet, and when it ended, and he drew away, he did speak those words. “I love you!”
She was smiling, but he searched her eyes before he spoke again. “And...you don’t mind. You really don’t mind coming with me, living my life...giving up so much of your own?”
“Considering the fact that I haven’t worked at all now in quite a while, I may not have any work left here anyway!” she said.
He smiled. “We have some time. There’s a great deal to be tied up here,” he said softly.
And there was, of course. But he really did understand Monty.
He thought about the time years ago, when he had been in the old forgotten cemetery, when he had seen his first ghost...
When he had learned that the beauty of a soul could linger, and that knowing that could make him a better person to see that justice was done, that some could then go on.
Kristi said softly, “I want your life. I think I could be good at it.”
She turned from him then and walked over to Monty.
Dr. Horvath and her team had come back. There had been a lot more digging, more bones discovered—and DNA tested, though articles found indicated whom the bones likely belonged to.
While the yard was a bit of a mess, good things had come from it.
Monty’s and Samuel’s bodies had been found.
Fresh sod would be brought in—and Kristi had commissioned an artist to create a beautiful monument for her ancestors. They could be properly remembered now that Monty’s name had been cleared.
As Kristi approached, Monty offered her something of a grimace. “As much as I hate to admit it,” she said, “I believe that Shelley was right, and that maybe now Trinity can come home—home to you,” she added very softly.
The sun was playing softly through the moss that hung from the old oak trees.
“Trinity, it’s all right. The truth is known, and he loves you so much. Monty loves you so much, Trinity, it’s all right...”
Light dappled over the grounds, through the oaks and the moss.
And slowly, so slowly, an image began to appear. The image of a woman, clad in a lovely blue gown, her pale face beautiful and radiant. She couldn’t quite speak, but she mouthed a single word.
“Monty!”
“Trinity!” the ghost cried, and he rushed into her arms, enveloping her.
The sun burst down upon them; a radiant glow seemed to burn.
And then the two were gone.
For a moment, they were all silent.
Then Justin spoke.
“Well, I guess it’s just down to us,” he said.
Dallas turned to him, grinning. “For tonight, my friend—it’s down to you. There’s a new hotel out on the riverfront, great spa, incredible rooms... We’ll be back tomorrow, of course, but for tonight, well... I thought we might need a bit of a break from...from history. Time alone. Just us. Just for tonight, all right?”
He looked at Kristi, and she laughed, and she was back in his arms.
“For tonight, and forever,” she promised him.
Keep reading for a special peek at the latest thrilling story in the
Krewe of Hunters series.
by New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham.
Available July 23, 2019, from MIRA Books.