Page 16 of Deadly Lineage
“Erasmus, if you’d please bring my father back, I’d like to ask him a question.”
“I’ll do my best,” I answered. Eyes slipping closed, I focused on the cremains. It took a bit more focus than usual, but soonenough, I had him. “Theodore Phillips Randolph,” I called, feeling the metaphysical tug on the other end of Theodore’s string. Guiding the soul back, a misty gray haze filled the air, settling not far from Alexandra.
The haze swam, coalescing and shifting like a swarm of starlings. Alexandra had no idea her father’s soul was so nearby. Her humanity made her oblivious as she stood there, stock-still, with anxiety eating away at her measured calm.
“Alex.”
She jumped, clasping her sundress’s fabric over her chest. “Daddy?”
“Alex,” Theodore whispered, that singular name awash with affection.
Alexandra choked on a sob as her slender fingers covered her mouth.
I couldn’t sense a hint of animosity in Theodore’s soul, only a great well of love. While I wasn’t certain what Alexandra wanted to ask her father I knew, down to my bones, that Theodore loved his daughter. Given Alexandra’s reaction, the feeling was obviously mutual.
If I’d had more energy to spare, I would have allowed their reunion more time. Unfortunately, time and energy weren’t luxuries I could afford right now.
Clearing my throat, I said, “Theodore Phillips Randolph, your daughter asked me to call you back. She has something important she needs answered.”
Theodore’s soul swam toward me, hovering a few inches away. “Necromancer.” Like most, he stated my species like it was a curse.
“Daddy,” Alexandra scolded. “I asked Mr. Boone to bring you back. Don’t be angry with him.”
Theodore’s soul retreated, hovering by his daughter again. “Apologies, Alex.”
“It’s okay,” Alexandra answered, even though I, the insulted party, hadn’t accepted the apology.
Moving on, I said, “Alexandra, you should ask your question.” I always stayed for this part. We’d already signed a nondisclosure contract. Unless it pertained to a criminal act, I could not repeat the words spoken here tonight. I’d had to add in that little stipulation a couple of years ago when it became obvious that a murder was being discussed.
Alexandra glanced my way. There was a well of trepidation in her eyes. Or maybe it was fear. Whatever she needed to know, Alexandra Randolph was afraid of the answer. Alexandra struck me as a levelheaded lady. If she was worried, then most likely her concerns weren’t without cause.
“I’m engaged, Daddy.” Alexandra held up her left hand, twisting it so the light bounced off the rock sitting there.
For the first time, dark emotion swept through Theodore’s soul. “Who?” he asked.
Alexandra swallowed hard before stating, “You know who, Daddy. Bart.”
Theodore’s soul recoiled and hot rage infused his essence with crimson. “Livingston,” Theodore spat.
Alexandra’s chin jutted out. “We were dating when you…when you passed. It shouldn’t come as a surprise. He comes from a good family. You were good friends with Bart’s father. I don’t see why you’re surprised or upset.”
Somehow, I highly doubted that. I thought this was exactly why Alexandra had asked me to bring her father back.
“Antony was a good man, and even he didn’t trust his son.”
Wait. I knew that name.“Antony Livingston?” I put the names together and came up with a bad case of heartburn.
Theodore’s soul turned its attention on me as his daughter gazed in my direction, eyes wide. “You know him?”
I swallowed hard. I’d signed the same nondisclosure agreement with Bartholomew, a.k.a. Bart Livingston. “I can’t really discuss the particulars…but I’ve met him.” I’d also liked Antony a hell of a lot more than his living descendants. Assuming we were all talking about the same family, then I understood Theodore’s concerns.
“Bart is not to be trusted. He is a greedy fool.”
My limited contact with Bart reinforced Theodore’s opinion.
Alexandra sucked on her bottom lip, chewing on it slightly. “I…I think you might be right.” She twisted the ring again. “He wants to elope. Bart says we don’t need a big wedding, but Mom would be so disappointed, and Iwanta wedding. I want all our friends and family to be there. I don’t understand what the sudden rush is and…” Alexandra trailed off. Gaze fixed on her ring, she said, “Bart spoke with an insurance agent. He says we need to take out life insurance policies on each other. He also wants me to make up a will.”
I inhaled sharply while Theodore’s essence overflowed with fear. In unison, we said, “No.”
