Page 68 of Deadly Deception
“Anything else you can think of that might be helpful?”
Aurelia’s head cocked to the side and her eyes traveled past me to where Tompkins’s body had been when we’d arrived. “He fought them. The one on the ground.”
I gave a weak smile. That sounded like Shane Tompkins. When Aurelia remained silent, I figured that meant she either didn’t know anything else or she if she did, she didn’t feel like sharing that particular piece of information. Either way, Aurelia was done speaking.
Turning my attention from Aurelia, I gave Franklin and Sheriff Henson a synopsis of my conversation. While Henson looked skeptical, Franklin accepted my accounting of the situation easily.
“Where does that leave us?” Henson asked, frustration lacing his voice.
I stared at the paper dangling from his hand and said, “I think we have to wait.”
“Wait?”
“Boone’s right. Trust me, I hate waiting as much as you do. No matter who Vanja is, I think we know enough about them to realize if they wanted Navarre dead, he’d be dead. Same with Tompkins and Tabitha Clark. We have every reason to believe they’re both alive.”
“But why?” Henson asked. “If Vanja took Navarre because they’re afraid of what he might know, then why not just kill him? Why leave us the note?” Henson raised his hand and shook the paper.
I swallowed hard, hating the words crawling up my throat. “Bait. They’re using them as bait.”
“Bait?” Henson jerked back and Franklin’s muscles tensed. I saw the moment Henson understood. “The note’s addressed to you.”
“It is. I wish it weren’t, but that’s not the case. I have no idea what Vanja wants, but whatever it is, they want me to come willingly. Either that or they couldn’t figure out a way to get to me without hurting me.”
Henson grunted. “They should have thought of that before they shot up your car.”
I agreed and so did Franklin. “Something’s changed,” Franklin said. “When they tried to kill us, Boone was seen as a threat. Somewhere along the line, he’s changed to an asset. If not that, then there’s something they need from him.”
I cringed. “Considering I’m only good at one thing—”
“I call bullshit,” Franklin argued.
“Yeah, but that’s you.” I grinned up at the man I loved. “There are a lot of things I’m good at when it comes to you. I doubt those are the kinds of skills Vanja’s after.”
“Christ,” Henson muttered, the sound muffled as he wiped a hand over his face.
“They want you to bring a soul back,” Franklin said.
I shrugged. “It’s the only reason I can think of.” They could be after Pops, but I didn’t think the general population in this area of the country knew my father was Warlock Nikodemus Holland. They could be after Franklin also. I’d learned my lesson with Dr. McCallister. It was foolish to assume.
“Damn it,” Franklin cursed. “I never would have asked you to come with me if—”
“Shh.” I placed my finger across Franklin’s lips, silencing him. “You would have had a hell of a time keeping me from following you. I can be a stubborn fool when the occasion calls for it.”
With a heavy sigh, Franklin pulled me into his arms. I hated the thick coats keeping our bodies apart. “I love you. God, I can’t believe I waited so long to say it, and yet those words don’t measure up.”
I leaned my head against Franklin’s chest, the zipper of his coat digging into my cheek. From close by, I heard Aurelia’s cocky voice as she said, “Mates. I was correct.”
For good or ill, I twisted my arm enough to flip her off. I had no idea if she understood what the gesture meant, nor did I care that in Henson’s eyes, I was giving the one-finger salute to empty air.
Neither Aurelia nor Henson commented, not that I would have likely heard the words anyway. All I could concentrate on was the feel of Franklin’s arms wrapped around me, holding me tight, attempting to keep all the ill will in the world away. Unfortunately, that wasn’t his superpower. In Franklin’s defense, I didn’t think that was any living creature’s superpower.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Franklin
I did not envy Boone right now. While I couldn’t hear Warlock Holland’s comments, seeing Boone’s facial expressions and hearing his end of the conversation was all I needed to understand it wasn’t a pleasant phone call.
