The Metaphysical Detective (A Riga Hayworth Paranormal Mystery) (27 page)

A flicker of irritation crossed the face of the goddess.  “Quite close.  Hermes and I were speaking – he’d lost the kibisus.”

“Not lost,” Hermes said crossly, “it was stolen.  I still haven’t found the damned thing.”

“Then you should not have left it lying about,” Artemis said.

Riga raised her hand.  “Excuse me, what’s a kibisus?”

Artemis rolled her eyes.  “The magical satchel Perseus used to safely bring the head of the Gorgon to Athena.”

Hermes sat up, indignant.  “Do you have any idea what I had to go through to get it?”

“Yes,” Artemis said dryly.  “You told Perseus where to find it, and he brought it to you.”

He grinned.  “Do you have any idea what I had to go through to find out where the bag was?”

As they bickered, Riga wished she had not become immune to their influence – it was too easy to imagine them as a normal family.  But Brigitte was right; they were dangerous.

Artemis ended the argument.  “At any rate, Hermes was bleating to me about his magic bag and Apollo skulked behind us.”

Riga stopped doodling in her notebook and raised her head.  “Skulked?”

“I had no intention of being inflicted with Hermes’ prattle,” Apollo snapped.

Hermes crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back upon the divan.  “Now you’re just being mean.”

“I see.” Riga turned to Hermes.  “Sir, when was the last time you saw Hecate alive?”

Hermes stretched his legs before him, admiring his tanned limbs.  “I suppose you were the last of us to see the old girl alive, Apollo.  I passed you in the library together an hour or so before dinner.  What were you talking about?  You looked as thick as thieves.”

“You would know about thieves,” Apollo snapped.

“Oh,” Hermes drawled, “you’re not still angry about those cows, are you?  Let it go.”

Artemis intervened.  “Enough, brothers!”

Riga looked at Apollo.  “I would be interested to know what you and Hecate were discussing, sir.”

“How should I remember?  She was probably droning on about her model of the universe again – imaginary time, dimensional contacts, the five elements, we’d all heard it before.”  He drummed his fingers on the chair. 

Artemis laughed, a harsh sound.  “She needed a new hobby.”

They were describing Riga’s model.  The fifth element – of course.  That was what caused the dimensions to brush against each other.  She’d been blind.  Riga looked down at her blank page, giving herself time to think, hoping they hadn’t noticed her reaction.  “Imaginary time?” she said.  “What’s that?”

Hermes shrugged dismissively.  “Any time you’re not in is imaginary time.”

“And can one travel between different points in time?” Riga asked.

His lips curved in a lopsided smile.  “I can.  However, my brother and sister are bound by the movements of the celestial bodies they rule, ever forward.”

While Riga ran in circles.  “Thank you, sir, for explaining that to me.  I think I understand.”

“I thought you would.”

Artemis gave a cry and in a swift motion removed a bow and quiver from a hook upon the wall.  “A harpy!  Here!”

Hermes leaned his head back in exasperation.  “You’re seeing things, darling.”

Artemis ignored him, striding to the balcony.  The others followed.  She nocked an arrow to her bow string.  “There!  See it?”

A black speck fluttered over the sea – Brigitte, just where Riga had told her to be.  Her heart lurched.  “No, ma’am, please wait.  That’s not a harpy.”

Artemis drew back her bow. 

Riga grabbed her arm and shoved it aside.  “No!”

Riga felt a shattering pain in her head, along her spine.  She couldn’t breathe.  Light blinded her.  She was dying. 

Then she was sucking in great gulps of air, cool marble against her cheek.  “Brigitte,” she gasped.  Black dots swam before her eyes.  “That’s not a harpy.  She’s a gargoyle.  She’s with me.”

Hands grasped her roughly by her forearms, hauling her to her feet.  “Are you harmed?  Where did he hurt you?”

Donovan/Not Donovan’s face swam into view.  More people and objects resolved themselves.  Artemis, arrow still nocked but aimed at the floor, staring curiously.  Apollo, raising himself from the ground and rubbing his cheek.  Hermes, leaning against the balustrade, amusement lighting his eyes. 

“Don’t let them shoot the harpy,” Riga gasped.  “Please.  She’s not a harpy.  Brigitte is a gargoyle.”

Apollo flung a table aside.  “She laid hands on the goddess.  The human must die for this.”

Dionysus turned, keeping Riga behind him.  “There has been enough killing on Olympus.  Zeus commands her to complete her task.  You shall not interfere.”

Apollo closed the gap between the two.  “Zeus shall hear of this.  You know as well as I what his judgment shall be.”

Artemis raised one hand.  “Wait, brother.  I wish to know more of this creature.  What is a gargoyle?”

“A stone statue carved upon monuments,” Riga said.  “Many of them were used as waterspouts, and they were carved in monstrous forms – I can’t remember why.  This gargoyle, Brigitte, was brought to life by a magician many centuries ago, and became my companion.  When I came here, she followed.”

Artemis drew her brows together.  “And you protect this creature?”

“Yes, ma’am.  Zeus is aware of her presence,” she added.

Artemis removed the arrow from the bow string.  “You protect those weaker than you and you have courage.  I will pardon your actions today.  But know this, if you touch me again, I shall feed you to my hounds, and even Zeus will not object.”

Chapter 41: Goodbyes

“Take Artemis’s threat seriously,” Dionysus said when they had returned to Riga’s room.

She threw herself upon the divan and stared at the ceiling.  “I take all of them seriously.”  She glanced at him.  “Even you.”

He took a step toward her, hand outstretched.  “Riga Hayworth, I—“

She interrupted him.  “I think I can get her back.”

His expression shifted – shock, disbelief, hope.  “What?  How?”

The door slammed open and Vinnie scuttled inside, shutting and bolting it behind him.  He leaned against it, panting.  “That was horrible.  I’m dead and they scare the hell out of me.  It was worse than the Pacific – the Japs may have wanted us dead, but they were fighting for their lives, too.  These guys just don’t care.  You gotta get me outta here, Riga.  Hades is not going to make things nice for me if I’m stuck in his underworld.”

 “We’re all getting out, Vinnie,” Riga lied.  One of them would be staying behind.  “What did you find out?”

He hurried to the divan and sat on the edge, flipping through his notebook.  “All of them had a reason for wanting to off Hecate, but I don’t see how any of them could have done it.  Sore winners, that’s what they are.  Did you know that Hecate was Hades’ ex?  Wife number two – that Persephone dame that’s got your niece –  she wasn’t too happy to have Hecate hanging around.  Insecure with feelings of inadequacy, as Dr. Phil would say.”

Riga only had a moment to marvel at the ghost’s knowledge of daytime TV before he continued.

“And Hades – hoo boy.  He may be lord of the underworld now, but Hecate ran the place long before he turned up.  Apparently, the troops down below are still loyal to her and Hades knows it.”

Riga’s heart sank, her suspicions confirmed.  “What about Demeter?”

“She felt Hecate wasn’t doing anything good for her daughter’s marriage – not that she’s a fan of Hades, but Persephone seems to like him, so mom’s protective.  I’ve got to say, I never thought I’d feel sorry for Hades, but I wouldn’t want that one as a mother-in-law.  Anyway, to make a short story long, the three were together all day (poor bastard), and the last time any of them saw Hecate was when they passed her walking in the garden with Zeus.  Unless they all killed her, which ain’t outside the realm of possibility, they’ve got alibis.”

“Enough!” Dionysus said.  His face was taut with anxiety.  “You said you could get her back, Riga Hayworth.  How?”

 “I said I might be able to but I can’t tell you now.”  She looked at him steadily.  “Please, Dionysus, as god of mystery, allow me this one for just a little longer.”

 “Do not ask this of me, Riga Hayworth.”

Pain burned in his eyes, pain which Riga had renewed.  But she needed his help, and he had to play true to his archetype as well.  He was the god of mystery, not solutions, and he couldn’t force Riga to pull back the veil.  “There may be more magic in Hecate than even you can imagine,” she said.  “I need you to convince Zeus to assemble all of the Olympians who were here when Hecate was attacked, in the throne room of Hades’ palace.”

Dionysus paced, his hands clenching and unclenching.  “Hades will not like it.  He guards his realm jealously.”

“The proof of who committed this crime is there,” Riga said, tracking him with her eyes.  “The only way to clear this up, to end the discord here, is for everyone to see and understand what happened with their own eyes.  We have to go there.  It’s also the only chance we have to restore Hecate.”

He nodded grimly, understanding.  “Very well.”  He turned to go.

“Wait.  Before you go, I need to see Donovan.”

Dionysus hesitated, then there was that strange, snapping of reality and Donovan was back.  He sagged with fatigue, sinking to the divan.  “You don’t need to explain.  I know what you told him.”

Riga avoided his gaze, afraid he’d see the lie in her eyes.  “It’s getting harder to contain him, isn’t it?”

“So you decided to give me a break?  I knew you cared.”  A shadow of the old Donovan flickered to life, a slow, sensuous smile, but it faded quickly.

Vinnie cleared his throat.  “I’m going out to the balcony.  Later, maybe someone will tell me what’s going on.” 

 “Sorry, Vinnie,” Riga said.  “I’ll catch you up.  Just give us a few minutes.”

She waited until Vinnie had left, grumbling, then sat down beside Donovan.  Their thighs brushed and a shiver of energy raced through her.  She moved slightly away from him but he took her hand and pulled her close.

“I’m too tired to seduce you.  Not that I’d try with Vinnie on the balcony.  How are we going to get rid of him?”

“Zeus has promised that if I find the person who attacked Hecate and resolve the problem between our worlds, you, Pen, Vinnie, Brigitte and even Dog will be sent back.”

“Brigitte?  Oh, the gargoyle.  Why didn’t you tell me about her?”

She gave him a look.

“Right,” he said.  “So I’m getting three for the price of one – you, a gargoyle, and a ghost.”

Her chest tightened.  Being with Donovan was a lovely dream, but that’s all it was.  “Don’t worry,” she said lightly, “I expect Vinnie will move on once he’s resolved his unfinished business

Donovan looked thoughtful.  “Unfinished business...  I might be able to help with that.”

“What?  How?”

“Oh, no.  You’re keeping your big reveal from Dionysus and me.  I’m not telling you anything.”

Riga smiled.  “Fair enough.”

He angled his head, cocking an eyebrow.  “Why did you really want to speak with me?”

She stood.  “I should introduce you to Brigitte.”

She went to the balcony and Donovan followed.  Vinnie looked up from the table, where he chewed resentfully on a chicken breast.  The sun was setting, and the hills darkening to a blue almost as deep as the sea before them.  Riga waved into the darkness, unable to call Brigitte with her magic, hoping Brigitte’s new eyes would see.

“About time,” Vinnie said.  “So what’s the story?  You figure out how to get the kid back?”

“Yeah, but there’s someone I want you to meet first.”

Brigitte swooped onto the balustrade.  “At last!  What is ze plan, Riga?”

Vinnie yelped and tumbled backwards, scattering food and platters across the balcony.  A grape rolled to a stop at Riga’s foot.

Donovan stared at the gargoyle, his river-water eyes widening in astonishment.  Then he inclined his head.  “And this must be Brigitte.  How nice to finally meet you.”

She nodded to him.  “Good evening, Monsieur Mosse.”

“That’s a—that’s a—“ Vinnie spluttered.

“I am a gargoyle,” Brigitte said huffily.  “And as you are a dead man, I do not see why you find my presence so shocking.”

Riga interrupted before Vinnie wedged his foot more firmly in his mouth.  “I wanted you all to meet.  Zeus has promised to send everyone back once I fulfill my end of the bargain.  Brigitte, we need to go back to the underworld to do it, so I don’t think you can come along.”

Brigitte ruffled her feathers in a shrug-like gesture.  “Once you return to our world, I will go back anyway.  Zeus has nothing to do with it.”

“Yes, of course, I’d forgotten,” Riga said.

Brigitte shot her a keen look, but said nothing.

Riga rubbed her arms, feeling suddenly chilled.  If she was wrong – she was in deep trouble.  If she was right, she was about to make a very powerful enemy.

Chapter 42: I’ve Gathered You Here Together…

The Olympians had gathered in the throne room of Hades, muttering on divans placed in a semi-circle facing the empty thrones.  Working with archetypes had one advantage: they weren’t hard to read.  Hades: brooding and grim. 

Zeus: the stern father. 

Apollo: blazing with anger – who was Riga to command him? 

Artemis: alert and interested, always on the hunt. 

Hermes: amused and on the lookout for trouble to cause. 

Demeter…  Riga looked at her with interest.  Demeter looked worried, her soft brown eyes fixed on her daughter.  Persephone squirmed beneath her mother’s gaze. 

Vinnie perched on the divan beside Dionysus; both watched Riga intently.  She couldn’t bring herself to meet their eyes, and paced before the wide fissure in the floor, mist billowing about her feet.  Cerberus lay curled in a corner, its three heads also watched Riga intently; its tail beat the stone floor.

Zeus cleared his throat and the hum of conversation stopped.  He sat upright on the central divan, feet planted on the floor.  “Thank you, brother, for allowing us entry to your realm.”  He nodded to Hades.