Page 49 of Deadly Avarice
“Whatever you want,” I answered, speaking the absolute truth. If I lived to be a hundred, I would never tire of attempting to give Erasmus Boone anything and everything he wanted. It was amazing how soul soothing that thought was. It was as if my life’s purpose came into focus when Boone came into my life. Funny how a man that could return the dead had taught me how to live.
Chapter
Sixteen
Erasmus
My neck and shoulders ached, but not nearly enough to make an appointment with the doctor. I nearly folded under Momma’s persistence. She wasn’t wrong. Getting rear-ended was no joke and could have caused lasting damage. I still refused. Momma wasn’t happy. While avoiding Momma’s unhappiness was always a top priority for me, this was one time I wouldn’t cave. That, more than anything, probably indicated just how badly I hated going to the doctor.
Lying on my couch, I packed a couple of pillows behind my lower back for support, adding another under my neck. I wanted nothing more than to start digging into the list of necromancer mother names, but every time I attempted to find a position that felt comfortable enough to stare at the computer screen, my body protested too much. I could activate one of Pops’s pain charms, but I was afraid if I did that I could cause more damage. Pain wasn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes it kept us from making a situation worse.
I had activated a pain charm last night. It was the only way I’d gotten any sleep. I’d lied to Franklin this morning when he left, telling him I felt okay. I’d downplayed my discomfort. I’mnot sure if he bought it or not. If he doubted me, he hadn’t said. Franklin had simply planted a warm, toe-tingling kiss on my lips. I really wish my body had been up for some sexy times last night. After what happened yesterday, the intimate contact would have done both of us good. As it was, my hurting body hadn’t had a lot of interest in more acrobatic endeavors.
“Fuck,” I winced when I shifted and my neck twinged.Maybe I did need to go to the doctor.I absolutely hated that thought. A GP wouldn’t be enough. She’d refer me for imaging. Most of the time I had the mental wherewithal to put up with others’ shitty comments and barely veiled disgust. When I was hurting or ill, my self-preservation skills took a nosedive.
The doorbell rang and I groaned in response. I debated whether or not it was worth getting up to see who was there. I really needed to get one of those cameras attached to the doorbell. Pops had warded my property. It was difficult for anyone with ill intentions to get past them. We’d learned that hadn’t been enough and I’d installed human-grade security cameras. There was an app I was supposed to download to my phone, but I hadn’t gotten around to. I’d had months to do it and was regretting my laziness.
The doorbell rang again, and I sighed. Pushing off the couch, I swallowed a hiss of pain. It wasn’t just my back and neck. My chest sported a spectacular bruise from my seatbelt. “Coming,” I yelled while walking toward the door like an octogenarian. Momma and Franklin had keys to the house, so I knew it wasn’t them. Aurelia just popped in and didn’t bother with something as mundane as a door. It could be Mrs. Hart. She occasionally traversed our adjoining yards when she needed something, but those cases were rare.
Carefully going up on my tiptoes, I peeked through the peephole and felt my eyebrows shoot skyward. Unlocking the door, I opened it, staring through the screen at Captain Cicely.I’d rarely seen her outside the precinct. The scarlet coat looked good against her dark skin. Gloveless, her ringed fingers glinted in the pale, late morning winter sun.
“Captain Cicely? How can I help you?” Panic suddenly seized my gut. “Did something happen to Franklin? Is he—”
“Detective O’Hare is fine,” Captain Cicely hurried to reassure me. “I should have considered that might be your reaction before I stopped by.”
My thundering heart ached, adding another area of discomfort to my growing list of painful bits and pieces.
“May I come in?” Captain Cicely asked.
“Oh shit. Yeah, of course.” Momma would smack me upside the head regarding my lack of manners. “Can I get you something to drink? I’ve got sweet tea, water, milk, and the lemonade Franklin likes.” The last had been a newer addition.
“Some sweet tea would be lovely if it’s not too much trouble.”
“None at all,” I lied. I straightened my bent body as much as possible while making my way to the kitchen. I wasn’t aware Captain Cicely followed until I heard hertskbefore slapping my hand away from reaching for a higher cabinet.
“O’Hare’s right. You’re as stubborn as a mule. Go sit and let me get the glass.”
I didn’t like being thought of as a mule. The stubborn part was inarguable. It was strange, watching Captain Cicely rummage around my kitchen. She certainly acted comfortable enough. “I’m pouring you a glass too,” she informed me.
“Thank you, Captain Cicely,” I said as she set my glass in front of me.
“Loretta,” she corrected me. “When we’re out of the precinct, please call me Loretta.”
I managed a grin despite my physical pain. “Thank you. Please, feel free to call me Erasmus.”
Loretta’s sip turned into an appreciative gulp. “Mmm, this really is delicious. O’Hare said it was good. Nice to see he wasn’t bullshitting me.”
I opened my mouth, ready to defend Franklin. I couldn’t imagine himbullshittinghis captain, but she waved me off before I could utter a word. “You’re right, that’s not his style. It’s one of the reasons I don’t just like O’Hare but respect him too.” She took another drink before setting the glass down.
Loretta took a moment to glance around my kitchen before her deep brown eyes focused back on me. “Your home is lovely. Very comfortable.”
“Thank you.” My response was automatic, but I was still wondering why she was here. If Franklin was okay, then the only thing that made sense was that she wanted to talk about a soul she needed returned. I didn’t know why that would necessitate a visit to my home instead of a phone call, but I’d try and role with it. “Is there a case you need me to—”
“No, nothing like that.”
My mouth clicked closed and I simply stared. The kitchen chair wasn’t the most comfortable and my back was beginning to truly protest. I was going to need to give in soon and activate one of Pops’s pain charms.
My constant pain made me less accommodating than usual, and I asked, “Why are you here?” I struggled to soften my words when I realized how blunt and offensive they sounded. “I mean, it’s not that I don’t want you here, it’s just…” I struggled to find the right word.Odd, strange, confusing…A litany of others came to mind.
