Page 18 of Deadly Deception (Necromancer Tales #2)

Chapter

Eighteen

Franklin

I’d been to Tompkins’s home a handful of times over the years he’d been my police captain. There had been a smattering of cookouts, a misguided Christmas party I’d rather not remember, and the occasional time I’d dropped him off or picked him up. The house looked exactly as I remembered. It was well-tended. The cold winters had done their damage, but Tompkins religiously battled back Mother Nature’s efforts year after year.

Uncarved pumpkins lined the drive, and a gathering of cornhusks were tucked into a corner on the porch. A plastic skeleton hung from each porch post and a string of orange lights wrapped over the front door. I’d forgotten that Tompkins enjoyed holiday decorations. While his house wasn’t the most decorated on the block, it was respectful.

Tompkins opened the door before I had a chance to knock. He appeared grim, but otherwise well. “Good to see you, O’Hare. Come on in and get out of the wind.” A gust came by and swung one of the skeletons wide.

I ushered Boone and Clark inside first and followed, closing the door behind us. Boone made introductions. “Shane Tompkins, this is Tabitha Clark. She’s the medium the Magical Usage Council sent.”

Tompkins’s eyebrows rose, but he got over his surprise quickly. “Medium, huh? Never met one that I know of, but it’s good of you to come.” Tompkins shook his head. “Something needs to be done for that poor young man.”

Boone shucked his coat and asked worriedly, “Did something happen to Navarre?”

“Nothing new. I did get him to eat some breakfast and lunch. He took a shower too, but that’s about all I’ve gotten out of him. I’ve tried striking up a conversation or two, but he doesn’t really respond. That’s not to say he’s not talking.” Tompkins scratched the back of his neck, looking distinctly uncomfortable. “He’s talking to someone . Hell, I think he’s having full-blown conversations with them. I’ll be damned if I know who though.”

Tabitha Clark hummed quietly and headed for the hall.

“Third door on the right,” Tompkins said as we followed her.

She waved us off. “I know where he is, or more precisely, where the spirits are.” She knocked once, not waiting for an answer before opening the door and walking in. Boone followed, standing close to Tabitha. I moved just inside the doorway, and Tompkins stood within it. We were an odd group, and the room wasn’t nearly large enough to hold all of us comfortably. Idly, I wondered just how many others were crowded inside the space as well, their noncorporeal bodies absent but their spirits suffocating.

“My, my,” Tabitha hummed. “It is quit the collection. Impressive.” She sucked in a hissed breath.

“Are you—”

“Hush,” Tabitha scolded Boone. “Let me concentrate.”

Boone did as he was told. Tompkins and I followed suit, and the room grew deathly quiet. Navarre didn’t so much as look up. He simply sat there, staring out the window across from the bed. Forearms resting on his thighs, Navarre’s gaze was vacant.

The air rustled around Tabitha’s head, stirring her silvery strands. Head slightly tilted and eyes closed, she gently swayed back and forth, purse still dangling from her forearm but clutched a bit tighter to her chest. The seconds ticked away, turning into minutes. Tompkins shifted his weight, leaning against the opposite doorjamb. Boone glanced my way, raising a single eyebrow. I could only shrug in response, unsure how long this would take either.

With a heavy exhale, Tabitha opened her eyes. The gentle breeze surrounding her settled and her shoulders sagged. Navarre stayed where he was while the rest of us remained quiet.

“Well, now… That’s…” Tabitha seemed at a loss for words. With a soft shake of her head, she turned and headed back to the doorway. With a wave, she indicated we should follow, and like good little ducklings, we did just that, heading back into Tompkins’s living room.

“Coffee?” Tabitha asked Tompkins hopefully.

“As long as you’re okay with instant, I can get you something quickly.”

“It’ll work. Please tell me it isn’t decaf.”

I wasn’t certain if Tompkins’s horror was in jest or not. “Don’t even joke about such atrocities.”

Tabitha chuckled while easing down on a chair cushion. She nodded with approval, as if the seat met her comfy standards. “Please. Sit.” Tabitha waved toward the available seating. Boone and I took the loveseat, leaving Tompkins the other lone chair.

It wasn’t long before we heard the beep of the microwave and soon the scent of instant coffee filled the air. Tompkins came out carrying two cups. He handed one to Tabitha and kept the other to himself. “If I remember correctly, you’re not a fan of instant.” Tompkins motioned toward me. “And Erasmus seems more like a sweets man.”

“True enough,” Boone answered. “I got my sweet tooth from my momma, honestly. Plus, it helps when I work.”

Tabitha blew on her coffee before taking a sip. After swallowing she said, “Caffeine’s my picker-upper.” After downing about half her mug, Tabitha set the mug on a nearby table and said, “I don’t believe I’ve ever felt so many spirits huddled together before. The best way I can describe it is like a dense cloud, almost like fog. It’s difficult to see through and even more difficult to parse out individuals.”

Boone shot me a worried glance before he asked, “Can they be separated?”

Tabitha tilted her head, eyes distant before she answered “Yes, I believe so, but it will take time. Most likely more time than what I allotted. The spirits will need to be stripped away, one at a time. It will be like peeling an onion.”

“Jesus,” Tompkins muttered. “How is he coping with that?” Tompkins’s gaze strayed toward the hall and the room containing Navarre.

Tabitha shrugged. “I would suspect it is something he’s gotten used to. All these lost souls didn’t show up at one single time. They’ve attached to Navarre over a lifetime. Chances are, the ones that are closest to him, the ones he can see and hear the loudest, are the oldest.”

Boone shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s entirely true. Pretty sure that DeWayne Foster’s soul was his latest, and from what I can piece together, Navarre said he was pretty loud. We had DeWayne’s body, so I was able to pull his soul back and then send it into the afterlife.”

Tabitha gave a thoughtful nod. “That may be so. Perhaps it depends on the strength and tenacity of the soul. It is also probably driven by emotion. Powerful emotions typically lead to powerful spirits.”

While I wasn’t a medium, necromancer, or anything in between, I figured I understood well enough to follow. “You said if they’re willing to go, it would be easy. Are they willing?” I asked.

“I get the impression some are. Some not so much. It will take time to tease out who is who.” Tabitha’s mouth pinched. “There is something else to consider here as well. What will removing the souls do to Navarre?”

Boone’s spine straightened and he shot me a confused look. “Hopefully it will get him some peace. With them gone, he’ll be able to tell who’s really alive and, in the room, and who isn’t.”

“Yes, yes.” Tabitha waved Boone off. “But what you aren’t taking into account is that this is Navarre’s normal. If you remove all of them, the quiet might become deafening.”

“I—” Boone started to speak but slammed his mouth closed. “I don’t understand.”

Tabitha leaned forward and placed a hand on Boone’s knee. “I know, dear. That’s the point. None of us can truly understand. All I’m saying is that removing them all might not truly do Navarre any favors. It might actually make the situation worse. He needs to understand what we’re doing and why. He needs to be aware of their loss. Otherwise, the emptiness may be too loud.”

Boone sucked in a painful breath. I reached out reflexively, entwining our fingers. “I think I speak for everyone in this room when I say that’s not our desire.”

“Of course it isn’t,” Tabitha quickly answered. “But as we all know, best intentions don’t always equal the best results. It’s a damnable thing that sometimes, trying to help makes everything a lot worse.”

“So, you’re saying we shouldn’t do it?” Boone asked, his tone heartbroken.

“No dear, that’s not what I’m saying. I simply want everyone here to be aware that even if I’m able to clear all the spirits, we may not truly get what we want.”

Well, shit . That hadn’t been at all what I was expecting.

Slapping her thighs, Tabitha stood gracefully, purse still clutched to her body. Snagging her mug off the table, she said, “I’ll be needing more of this, freshly brewed if possible.”

“I can manage that,” Tompkins answered as he headed for the kitchen.

“No time like the present to start weeding through this spiritual garden.” Tabitha grinned and winked before she turned and headed back down the hall.

“Franklin, what…?” Boone’s soft voice trailed off as he watched Tabitha fade from view.

“I know,” I answered, even though I didn’t have a clue. “It’s the best we can do.” I simply hoped that was true.

B oone and I quietly made our way back to our hotel. I considered getting takeout but thought better of it. I knew I wasn’t hungry, and Boone would let me know if he was. We could always get something delivered later.

Occasionally, I heard a heavy sigh from Boone’s direction. There were a couple of times I was certain he wanted to say something, but nothing was forthcoming. Most likely, he didn’t know what to say. I knew that was how I felt. I did know one thing for certain. Tabitha Clark was right when she said that attempting to do the right thing didn’t always make it the correct, or maybe best, option. No one had a crystal ball, not even fairies, and oracles were more cursed than blessed. Far more cursed. Parsing out what was worthless babble and what was true prophecy was a pointless endeavor nearly everyone had given up on. If there was one species that garnered universal sympathy, it was oracles.

My eyes scanned the road and our surroundings as I made the drive back to the hotel. Nothing suspicious popped up on my radar. That didn’t mean we weren’t followed, but if someone nefarious was around, so far they hadn’t acted on their ill intentions.

I parked near the entrance of the hotel and turned off the vehicle. Boone silently opened the door and slipped to the ground. The SUV was smaller, but Boone’s shorter frame still meant the ground was more than a step away. He waited on me, and we walked into the hotel together. The silence continued as we entered the elevator and made our way to our room. A quick check indicated everything was as we’d left it.

“I’m gonna take a shower,” Boone finally said while gathering a change of clothes.

“Are you hungry? Do you want me to place an order?”

Boone shook his head. “I don’t think I can eat.”

With slumped shoulders, Boone headed for the bathroom. I sat down in a nearby chair and scrubbed my hand over my short, ginger hair. Checking my phone, I saw I had a missed message from Captain Cicely. It was brief and said that if I needed more time, to take it. It was the answer I expected but was no less grateful for.

I also had a voicemail from my sister, Lynn, and was just bringing it up when my phone rang. Nana’s picture and number digitally came to life on the screen. “Hey, Nana,” I answered. “I was going to call you later tonight.”

“No doubt you were,” Nana huffed, and I could hear the anger in her voice. I was instantly on alert while racking my brain trying to figure out if I’d reneged on another promise. I opened my mouth, ready to apologize without fully understanding why when Nana said, “I have no idea what’s happened to your sister.”

My mind twisted with possibilities. Nana sounded angry rather than worried, which made me think Lynn was physically okay.

“I can’t believe she actually called you and told you she won’t bring the girls to Christmas if Erasmus is there.”

My heart stopped and I swear my brain cut off too. It was like everything in me hit a brick wall. Just as quickly as my brain and body went offline, it came back with a thunderous roar. Teeth gritted, I barely managed to say, “She said what?”

There was a pause on Nana’s end before she said, “Lynn told me she called you.”

“It’s been a rough day. Boone and I just got back to the hotel. I was about to listen to Lynn’s message when you called.”

Nana made an irritated sound. “Do yourself a favor and delete it before you listen. I’m sorry, Franklin. I really don’t know what to say beyond that.”

Considering I hadn’t listened to Lynn’s message yet, I wasn’t sure what Nana was apologizing for, but thought it safe to assume it was Lynn who needed to do the groveling, not Nana.

Inhaling, I pinched the bridge of my nose, begging the universe for a calm I didn’t feel. “Lynn’s really holding your great grandchildren hostage on Christmas?”

Nana huffed. “She thinks so, but let me tell you, that sister of yours has another thing coming if she thinks I’m going to be dictated to in that manner. I will not be told who I can and cannot invite into my own home for the holidays. Honestly, your mother would roll over in her grave if she knew what your sister is trying to pull. For that matter, so would your father. Neither one of them would have stood for this type of foolish bigotry.”

Nana’s righteous fury cooled my own, melting the block of ice that had settled in my chest. “Thank you Nana, but honestly, I doubt Boone and I’d make the trip back up here for Christmas anyway. Truth be told, I hadn’t even given the holiday much thought.” I’d ventured back to Nana’s the past few years either for Christmas or in the week or two after. I didn’t always get the holiday off, and had no idea what the schedule was for this year. Besides, I was with Boone now. I knew he followed his father’s spiritual beliefs, but I also knew Lydia Boone was centered by Christian beliefs. I had no idea what their holiday traditions were.

“Are you certain?” Nana asked, a hint of disappointment rather than relief in her tone.

“I’ll talk with Boone. Maybe we can make it up sometime around the holiday, but I doubt we’ll be here on the twenty-fifth. You can tell Lynn that she doesn’t need to worry.”

“Pfft, that’s the last thing I’m telling your sister. Believe you me, that woman has a lot to worry about from me. Honestly, if it wasn’t for her girls, I’d tell Lynn she’s not welcome in my house until she readjusts her frame of mind.”

I grinned. There was a reason Nana was so damn special. “I’m sorry she brought the girls into this.”

“I am too, but that’s your sister’s decision, not mine and certainly not yours. I want you to know that you and Erasmus are welcome in my home anytime. He’s such a nice young man. Lynn’s idiocy aside, I’m so happy for you, Franklin. You treat that boy well. Erasmus is a keeper.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice, Nana. I already figured that out.”

Nana chuckled. “I always said you were the smart one in the family. Now don’t you go telling your brothers that. Feel free to tell Lynn though.”

Laughter bubbled up from deep within my chest, easing the ache there. When I looked up, Boone was standing just outside the bathroom door, his head slightly cocked to the side and a curious grin lifting the corner of his lip. Hair wet, its darkness clung to his skin, highlighting its paleness. Boone was beyond beautiful. The outside packaging was just the tip of that beauty. The inside was the true showstopper. Lynn was a fool for closing her eyes to what was right in front of her.

As the saying went, you can’t fix stupid. All you can try and do is work around it, and I had no trouble navigating the stupid that surrounded Erasmus Boone’s life. I’d found the real prize and preened like a damn peacock over my good fortune.

“Thanks for the heads-up, Nana. And thank you for being you.”

“Who else would I be?”

I laughed again. “I have no idea and I’m glad I’ll never have to find out. I love you.”

“I love you too, Franklin. Never doubt or forget that.”

“No worries,” I answered.

“Try and get some rest. Be careful and take care of yourself and Erasmus.”

“Done and done,” I promised before ending the call. I eased my phone onto the side table, giving Boone my full attention.

“Was that Ms. Violet?” Boone asked, his southern drawl sending shivers down my spine.

“It was.” I tapped my lap. Boone’s eyebrow quirked but he padded forward on bare feet, slipping fluidly onto my lap.

I pulled him closer, and Boone protested. “I’ll get you wet with my hair.”

“Don’t care.” I wrapped my arms around him, holding on for dear life. Boone’s wet hair was cold against my chest, but like I’d said, I didn’t care. The rest of the man was warm and pliant.

“It’s been a hell of a day,” Boone said quietly.

“It has.” I rubbed my hand up and down his arm. “Everything’s going to work out.”

“You don’t know that.”

“No, what I don’t know is how it will work its way out.”

Boone huffed. “You implied it would be fine.”

“It will be.” I was suddenly very confident. “Navarre isn’t alone any longer. No matter what comes of things, we’ll make sure he’s taken care of. We’ll see him through. It’ll take work, but that’s not something either of us has ever shied away from.”

Boone snuggled in closer. “Gaia, I love you.”

My heart banged inside my chest. It was the first time he’d said those words. It was also my first time. Channeling Nana, I said, “I love you too. Never doubt or forget that.”

“I won’t,” Boone promised. His breathing evened out until he lay in my lap, sleeping peacefully. Leaning my head back, I knew I’d have one hell of a crick in my neck, but I remained where I was and drifted off as well.

Right then, for that brief, blissful moment, I felt like I could protect Boone from all the bad in the world. It was a fleeting feeling. It was a feeling that wouldn’t last.