Nick: Justice Series (6 page)

“I’m a necromancer. So is Steele. We help them, the clients we call them, when we can. The dead, they connect about their past, their loved ones, so they can move on.” She pulled her hand from his and stared at Steele. “Steele here is the best there is at this. And I’m pretty sure that he’s going to show you how true what we’re telling you is.”

Steele reached his hand out and connected his palm to that of the woman that Nick didn’t know. He had a feeling she was Ellen’s mother, but really wasn’t sure. The man took the woman’s hand, and they both sort of faded into the room. Addie just stared at them.

“This is Mrs. Elaine Wooten, mother to Ellen. I’ve used some tricks that I have to make it so you can’t see what was done to them, but they didn’t die easily. The man on her other side is John Weeks, a man that Ellen murdered at his house. Ellen also killed his children, the family dog, as well as his in-laws and wife.” Addie started to shake her head. “There are others in the room with us as well. My sister, Aster, and my friend, Carlton, who has been helping us keep tabs on Delaney. As well as my grandfather. Would you like to see them as well?”

“No. Why you are…how are you doing this? Tricks and mirrors?” When she stood up, Nick reached for her, but she smacked his hands away. Addie was standing in front of Elaine when she stopped. “Where are you? In the other room? Is this a trick to make me think that…? I have no idea why someone would do this.”

“You’re very beautiful.” Addie took a step back when Elaine put her hand out to touch her. “I died violently, so I have a few things that I can do that might help you. May I touch you?”

“You can’t. Projections can’t touch someone.”

But Elaine put her hand on Addie’s cheek, and she cried out with it. Nick knew it wasn’t painful, but she could see what Elaine wanted her to. When Elaine pulled her hand away, Addie fell back. Nick only just managed to catch her when she started to fall. Christ, this wasn’t going well at all.

~~~

Addie got out of the bed when she was sure that she was alone in the big room. She walked to the window seat, sat on the seat cushions, and looked out over the expansive yard. It was shadowed in darkness now, but the moon made it so she could see that the entire back yard was well maintained, and there was a large pool and pool house back there as well.

“Hello.” Addie was almost afraid to turn to the voice. She just knew it was going to be Elaine and that they were still up to their tricks. Addie wasn’t sure she wanted her near her again. “My name is Aster. I was here earlier. I’m Steele’s sister. And before you ask, yes, I’m dead too.”

“I don’t believe in ghosts.” She turned and looked at the lovely woman. “You’re a kid. What is wrong with you people and trying to make me insane with this? Do you have any idea how cruel this is? Talking to me about dead people when I’ve seen…what is really going on here?”

“I died when I was seventeen. It was just an accident. Me not paying any attention to where I was going, and I fell. Steele and I are twins. I left him…well, when I died he had so much going on that day that he has only just recovered from it. Thanks to Kari, his wife.” Addie asked if she was dead too. “No. She’s very much alive, and having a baby too. I come to talk to her often, and the baby. But for right now, I’d like to talk to you.”

“Whatever.” Addie turned and didn’t look at the young girl. But no matter what happened or what was happening, she wouldn’t be rude and turned back to look at Aster. “I don’t know how they did it, but a nightmare was put into my head and I can’t think beyond that right now. Why the hell are you people doing this to me?”

“Nick has suffered so much, did you know that?” Addie started to turn back to the yard, but Aster said her name. “It’s important that you know this much so that I can explain the rest. Most of it…most of what I’m about to tell you is going to be worse than the things that Elaine showed you, but I won’t show it to you. Only Nick can do that.”

“That girl in those…there was so much blood. And the look in her face when she did it, it was as if she was enjoying what she was doing to her mother. If that were true….” Aster told her it was. “Why?”

“Why? Why did she kill her, or why did she enjoy it? The only thing I can tell you is that when Ellen was a small child, even younger than when she killed her family, she would kill small animals. Dogs and cats, mostly kittens that she’d find and experiment on. Her mother didn’t know, but her father did. He was terrified of his only child, and was ready to have her committed the week before the murders. Ellen didn’t know, of course, but when she killed them all and was caught, the courts knew that she needed help. That was why she was put away in an institution rather than in a prison.” Addie leaned back on the seat and decided that she’d let this woman tell her part in all this. “You don’t believe me. I can see that on your face, and that’s all right. But I’d like to talk to you about Nick. Later, if you like, we can discuss Ellen and her murders.”

“Nick has a stepfather. He’s in my dreams that I share with Nick. How are you guys doing that?” Aster told her she didn’t know. “And you wouldn’t tell me if you did know.”

“This will go so much faster if you would stop being snarky to me. I’m trying to help you understand. Nick was abused as a child. Not just physically, though that was more than enough, but also sexually. Nightly, from what I’ve gathered, and his mother knew about it. He has a sister too, Ana. She’s gone as well, but she too was abused, and because of it, she took a heavy dose of heroin to end what she considered more than she could handle. It more than likely was. The abuse, all of it, was a lot for a small, weak minded child such as Ana. She’s better now, safe, but she’s still having troubles. Even after all this time.” Addie felt her heart twist at the suffering that they had gone through. “When Nick turned fourteen, his stepfather, Dane Glass, had invited a bunch of his friends over to help celebrate Nick’s birthday. Nick, of course, had no idea what was going on or he might have run then. But they beat him up and tied him to the bed. Once he was there, they took turns with him.”

Addie had to think what she meant, then when she understood she felt her belly lurch in protest of the images that flew through her mind. Abuse was one thing, but to gang rape a child was something that she could not imagine.

“How could anyone do that to their child?” Aster said she didn’t know. “So what happened…his mom got her ass in gear and called the police? Surely she didn’t let them do that to her child?”

“Yes. She claimed it wasn’t something she was aware of, that she was stoned, as she was most of the time. But she knew and let it happen. To both of her children. From what I understand, she knew it was going on but never paid any attention to it, as Glass helped her with getting all the drugs she could take. Then later, after Dane had spent a few weeks in jail for another charge, he was let out, and he fought with Nick. That was when Nick killed Dane. Even as they took the body out of the room, his mom kept blaming it on Nick.” Addie looked out the window again, not to see the view but to try and dispel the one that was running through her head right now. “Nick ran that night, blood covering his body. In pain and hurting, he ran until he couldn’t move. It was a couple of days before someone, another ghost like me, led them to him. Nick was dying, you see.”

“Who?” But Addie had a feeling that she knew what it was that led them to him. “He said that he’s a necromancer. Is that why? He was dying and that gave him the ability?”

“No. Nick could always see the dead. He helped them whenever he could. And when he couldn’t, then he would ask others to help. One of the people who he had helped was the wife of a cop. A good man by all accounts. His wife led him to Nick. It’s all that saved him.” Addie got up and moved around the room. There wasn’t much in the way of personal items in this room…a few little pictures of an older man and woman. She held one of them to Aster and asked her who they were. “He was here tonight. My grandfather. He didn’t know at the time of his death that we were going to be his grandchildren, but things happened and he died before we were born. That woman with him is my mother. Not the one that raised us, but my real mother. She lives here as well.”

Addie put the picture down and looked at Aster. “I don’t believe this. None of it. There are no such things as ghosts. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not going to be sucked into whatever you guys are doing.”

Aster stood up and her face changed. Her body, once beautiful and full of life, now looked like she’d been hit by a car, dragged for many feet before she came to rest. Her face was ravaged as well; most of one side of her head was gone. When she turned back, became the woman that she had been, she smiled at Addie.

“You believe more than you say. You saw me for what I was. Only a few necromancers of some ability can do that. I think perhaps it is because you faced death that you can. But I’m not entirely sure about that. The rest will have to come to you in bits.” Aster moved toward her, and Addie backed up. “He’s coming for you. He and Dane Glass. And when they arrive they will hurt Nick in ways that will make what has happened to Elaine and myself look like nothing. He is an evil man. And Joel will help him. And you will be destroyed.”

“I can’t help any of you.” Aster nodded sadly and moved away. “I don’t believe in ghosts, Aster. I can’t help you because of that.”

“Yet here you stand talking to me. I did nothing to make it so you could see me. When you looked at me, I was as surprised as you. You may not believe in us, Addison Evangeline West, but you know that we’re here now.”

Chapter 6

Evie looked around the room once more. She had a feeling that she’d never be back here, so she wanted to make sure that she didn’t forget anything important. Closing the door to the bedroom that she’d made so many memories in, she felt as if she were closing a chapter of her life that she’d only have in her heart. Bentley was standing in the hall when she turned around.

“My lady? Are you well?” Nodding, she moved to the stairs. “Are you sure this is what you want to do? We don’t even know if they’ll let you stay with them should it prove to be your granddaughter.”

“And we both know that it’s her. But I can’t stay here. Not with…I just can’t.” He nodded, and she knew that he understood. “I will just live close by should this person not want me in his home. But by all accounts, he’s a good man with a good heart. And I’ve known of the Bennetts since…the son is nothing like his parents, and I think if nothing else, he will help me care for her.”

“You know as well as I that the knowledge of some money to be had can change a person. We have seen it a great deal, you and I.”

She knew it. Her son-in-law was a prime example of it. Bentley followed her down the stairs as he continued.

“She might have become her mother, for all you know. I doubt it. One of them was quite enough. But she might not…she might be different now after all these years.”

In a way, Evie was hoping that she was different. Not like her daughter. No, that would never do. But more like her. Someone that would not let anything come between them again. Evie knew that Addie had to run. At the time there was nothing to keep her family from doing just what they wanted with Addie. Nothing would have stopped them from having their way. And it seemed that they’d picked a man to marry their daughter that was as much like them as could be.

But now, after all these years, she was going to see her again. Tears threatened again when she thought of how long it had been. How many years had passed between the day she’d called her from the bank and told her that she had to go? That call from Nick had changed everything for her. Evie felt alive again, and now she needed to see her.

Evie had put the house on the market the week after Joel’s death. It was hard on her to have that hanging over her. She’d never actually seen a person die before. And when Evie had gone to see her daughter and her husband two days later, she had expected…well, she had no idea what she had expected, but nothing like she’d encountered.

“Mother? What on earth are you doing here?” Addison looked at her husband before addressing her again. “To be honest, I thought you’d died some time ago. We both did. I guess that you’re doing well, then?”

“I’m not dead, no. And thank you so much for caring enough to find out.” She sat on the couch that was as ugly as the rug it sat on. “I’ve come to tell you that I’m selling the house and moving away. Not that it will bother you overly much; we didn’t see each other all that often. Why is that, Addison? I’m your mother.”

“You are. But we’ve grown apart. I’m not unhappy with that, and would think that you’re all right with it as well, Mother.” Her daughter looked at her husband, Dalton, then at her again. “We heard about Joel, the poor man. Whatever did you do to him, Mother? We know that you didn’t care for him, but that was no reason to murder him.”

Her accusation bit into her heart like a pin, sharp and full of barbs. Addison had always been a strange child. Standoffish and a little snobbish too. But Evie had hoped that once Addie had been born her daughter would loosen up. Maybe bend that ridiculous backbone of hers and see what she had been missing. But if anything, she’d become colder, more hateful. Just like Dalton was.

“I’m going to see if I can find my granddaughter. Have you even thought of her since she left here?” Addison just huffed at her before looking at Dalton, like she needed permission to talk to her own mother.

“No, we have not. And why should we? She was nothing but a troublesome girl, and I would think that time has not changed that.” Evie had looked at Dalton when he continued. “You’ll not mention her name to us again. As far as we’re concerned, there was never an issue born to us. When she ran out on Joel, the poor man was devastated. He nearly took his own life. I’ll not have a thing like that mentioned in my home again.”

“My home.” They both looked at her then, and Evie could see that she had their full attention. Up until that second, she’d forgotten about the fact that she owned the home they lived in. “This is my home. You only live here because I allow it. And as for poor Joel, would it bother you to know that he was ready to harm me when he fell to his own death?”

“No doubt you did something to provoke him. You and that child are just alike. As for this being your house, I’ve no worries on that. You’ll leave it to us soon enough, I should imagine.” Evie stood then and looked at the two people that she would have done anything for should they had treated her or Addie with any act of kindness. “What are you here for, anyway? Just to tell us you’re selling the house? Good riddance, I say. We never cared for it anyway, and when you die, it will be one less thing we have to worry over.”

Dalton had been right when he said that he’d have one less thing to worry about. And she’d taken care of that as soon as she got back to her home after the visit. They would be notified of the sale of their house too. And if Addie wanted the house, then it would revert to her to do with as she pleased. But they would not be living in it. She was making sure of a lot of things that she’d just let slide. But no more. All her money, property, as well as anything else that Evie had would all go to Addie. Her daughter and her bastard of a husband would have nothing. Less than nothing, because the business that he owned was going to go to be hers, and she’d see it fail before they got another dime from it. Her lawyer was buying up as much of the stock as he could find. She’d have that in a few days as well.

Evie was loading her cases in the car when someone pulled up in the drive. Smiling, she walked over to Benson Harrison, her lawyer and son to her previous attorney. He kissed her cheek and then hugged her to him. He even shook Bentley’s hand when offered.

“I’ve got controlling interest in West Iron Works for you. It was easier than I thought it would be. Seems the board is not very happy with his lack of interest in what is going on with the market.” She’d heard that as well, some time back. “You now have seventy-five percent, and at your suggestion, I have twenty-four. Dalton has the last one percent. He should be notified next week when the board meets and he is no longer at the head of the table.”

“Good. And you’re putting in motion the rest of what I want done?” He nodded and grinned at her. “You’re enjoying this as much as your father would have. He’d be so proud of you.”

“I know he would be. And working with you is like having him here with me all the time. But yes, all the things you wanted to happen at the Delaney house are working through the system. There are nine employees there now, and they’ve cleaned out most of the stuff in the house. All his possessions are now on the auction block to be sold off, and the charity that is to receive the money is very happy with the arrangements.” She asked him if there was anything in the mess he wanted. “I’ve taken a couple of things. Oh, and thank you very much for the new car. How did you get the bank to agree to this?”

“I have friends in high places.” When he laughed, she did as well. “I found out that Joel was losing his shirt on several deals that had been…let us just say that his lawyer is not as good as you are. But everything was going to go into bankruptcy anyway, and I saved the bank from the embarrassing task of calling in someone to clean up after him. It really is too bad that he didn’t live long enough to know that his firm and all his cash had been lost in a venture that his lawyer put him in.”

After she told him where she was headed, he told her that there were a number of people interested in her home. Mostly big conglomerates that wanted to use the house as a retreat, but she didn’t care so long as it was gone. There were a lot of good memories in the house, but they were covered up by the bad ones. She asked him about the house her daughter lived in.

“They will be notified soon after you’re gone. I’m waiting, I hope you don’t mind. When this house is sold and the business is taken care of the way you want, you know that I’m going to have to talk to Addie, your granddaughter. She’ll have a lot of things to sign when this is done. You will tell her what she’s going to be worth, won’t you?” Nodding, she started for the car, trying not to think how upset Addie was going to be with her. “Evie, do you have any idea how much you’re going to be giving your granddaughter when you pass? I mean, including the sale of the house and everything else.”

“Yes I do, Benson. Right to the penny. Four hundred twenty-three billion, seven hundred fifty-three million, nine hundred thousand, sixty-seven dollars and five cents. As of nine this morning, anyway.” He nodded and they both looked at Bentley when he swore. “Bentley, are you all right?”

“I am, my lady.” He laughed a little. “I’m hoping that my name is in that will somewhere. I could use me a bit of that now and then.”

Evie winked at Benson, who only nodded. Yes, her Bentley was in the will. The man would never have to work again should he not want to, and his beloved daughter and grandchildren would be taken care of for the rest of their days as well. As would their family after them. Evie took care of those she loved.

As soon as Benson left, she and Bentley got into the car. They were traveling as far as they chose to tonight, then more tomorrow and the next day. The plan was to drive willy nilly like this to keep her granddaughter safe. There were a lot of people out there that would love to get their hands on her, and Evie hoped that anyone attempting to follow her to Addie would be thwarted. Even as old as she was, she was like a little girl excited for the next adventure. When they stopped to have dinner, she smiled at Bentley.

“You do know that this will work out, don’t you?” He nodded at her as he bit into his salmon. She waited until he was finished before she continued. “I’m leaving you five million dollars. And the house in Paris to use as you wish.”

He nearly choked to death. She was up and out of her chair before the waiter came to their aide. It might have been funny if she wasn’t so afraid that she’d killed him. When he told her for the fourth time he was all right, she sat back in her chair and waited for him to say something.

“I was joking, my lady. I never expected you to…what a thing to do.” He pushed his plate back. “Tell me that you’re kidding me and we’ll laugh about this.”

Shaking her head, she picked up her own fork. “The house will be in your name, but also your daughter’s. I didn’t want either of you to pay any taxes either, so I have set it up that it’s paid yearly. The money is all in your name. I have put it in some accounts, investments that will make you more money so that you can leave it to whoever you wish. I’ve also set up a—” He cut her off. “I have to do this. Benson said that you’d need to know in the event that I die soon.”

“You’re not going to die soon. You’re too stubborn for that. But the money will have to be given to someone else. I’ve no need of that from you.” When he picked up his fork, she could see his hand trembling. “You can give it to one of those charities that you’re forever going on about. And as for my daughter, she is doing very well thanks to you and the funds that you set up for her children.”

“I’ve paid off the loan too.” He looked at her and sat his fork down again. “I didn’t know about it until recently. Had you come to me about the money, I would have gladly given it to you. I love your daughter as much as you do. You know that.”

“I never meant for you to find out. Never. It was something that I had to do, and coming to you about it would have…she was afraid you’d fire me. The doctors had to have it all right up front or they’d not help her.” He looked away. “Can you believe it? Not help someone like my little Caroline? And she with them babies too. What was I…? I couldn’t go to you. Not then. She told me that she’d not do it if I was beholden to you. I didn’t want her to be more upset than she already was. And she loves you too, Miss Evie. You’re the best…she loves you too.”

“You should have come to me later, when she was better.” He nodded and looked down at his plate. She could tell he was crying, and her heart hurt for the big man. Caroline was his world, as were her four children.

“Cancer is a nasty business. It took my wife when she was no more than a child herself. And then it was fixing to take my child too.” Bentley sobbed harshly, and she put her hand over his and squeezed. “I just couldn’t lose anyone else. Not again.”

“Bentley, I’ve made a large donation to the cancer research center. They’ll lick this thing sooner or later.” He nodded. “I’m leaving you that money so you don’t ever have to do that again. For your daughter or your grandchildren. I want you all to be safe.”

“You know that I appreciate you and love you without the money.” She nodded. “You old bat, what am I gonna do with you now?”

It was the first time in all their history together that he’d called her anything but “my lady” or “Miss Evie.” Evie laughed so hard that she nearly choked herself, and had to stand up or she’d fall on her face. By the time they left the lovely little restaurant, they were both still laughing and getting long looks from the staff. Evie went to bed that night with a large smile on her face, and so much joy in her heart that she could have sworn she saw her Jacob. Her first and only true love.