The Detective Inspectors (The Doorknob Society Saga Book 4) (3 page)

“Why, because he wouldn’t approve of what you’re doing?”

“My brother and our whole cursed family can go to hell!’ she yelled.

“This isn’t you, how could you attack Chloe?”

“I gave her a choice, she chose wrong.”

“And Elijah, did you give him a choice as well?”

“He betrayed me!”

“Never, Elijah loved you. Even at the end he couldn’t bring himself to hate you.”

“You’re a fool just like him, Mother, and you’ll end up like him... dead. I’m not protecting any of you anymore; if you stand in the way of the First Kind you’ll be destroyed.”

“Talia.” Gran’s voice wavered and her shoulders slumped.

“Don’t Talia me, Mother.”

“Don’t you take that tone with me, Talia Grimm! I was tracking and capturing rogues like you long before you were born. And if you think I’m going to let you hurt my granddaughter, you’re horribly mistaken. If you come for her, be prepared to deal with me as well.”

Mom leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she peered through the crimson lock that prevented her from coming through the portal. “Very well, Mother, I’ll see you both soon.” She stormed away from the portal and Gran spun and dropped down beside me.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll survive.”

“What the hell happened, I didn’t even know you’d left?”

“Got a lead on Edgar I had to follow.” I placed a hand to my side, testing to see if I had broken any ribs. Luckily, it felt more like a deep bruising than anything worse.

“I suppose the lead was good?” Gran pointed to where Mom had been.

“It got us closer that’s for sure and thanks for the assist, Gran.”

“Don’t worry about it, dear, let’s just make sure you’re okay.” She smiled and helped me to the couch in the living room.

 I gritted my teeth as I sat down, not so much from the physical pain—though it did hurt like hell—more from the pain I knew my gran had to be feeling having confronted her daughter that way. I suppose it was the reverse of my own situation and it hadn’t been easy for me the first time I found myself confronting a mother that had left me and now wanted me dead.

 “I know that wasn’t easy for you,” I said.

 “It wasn’t pleasant, but I also know that whoever that was; it wasn’t my daughter. She may look like her and sound like her. But my Talia would never hurt her own child let alone kill Elijah, the man she loved beyond measure. I’ve lost one child already. I’m familiar with the pain of loss, just as you are. ”

 We didn’t talk much about Uncle Thomas, Jess’s father. He’d died when we were very young along with his wife. I sometimes forgot how many people Gran had lost over the years.

“But, Gran, it is your daughter... my mother.”

 Gran reached out and rested her hand on mine and gave a squeeze. “Chloe, as far as I am concerned your mother died the night she left our family. Whoever that woman is, she isn’t my daughter. And if she comes after you again, I will kick her ass.”

Status: Friends and fun.

I rolled out of bed and decided I was going to need to either get new medical insurance or I needed to be more careful. My side ached more than it had yesterday and I checked the bandages that Gran had wrapped me in last night. They were still secure but lifting my arm too high would elicit shooting pains. I considered using my new bag of Polymorph tricks to speed up the healing process, but Gavin had taught me that sometimes you needed to fight the pain and save the healing for really major problems.

I’d spoken to Gavin while Gran had fixed me up. He and Ivan had gotten Emory out without any damage and were headed to a new hiding place. He said he’d contact me when he had something new on Edgar.

The room hummed with energy and I didn’t even bother to look up since I recognized the power signature.

“Hey, Jess.” I reached out pulling my dresser drawer open looking for something to wear.

“Hey, cuz, I heard about what happened.”

“Have to love our family. For years they keep secrets from me and now nothing is a secret.” I chuckled as I found something to wear. I was bummed about losing one of my favorite hoodies and boots during the chase, but at least I’d gotten away. If I hadn’t, I would have ended up like Dad. I pushed the thought away. I couldn’t let myself dwell on my dad’s death or I’d get upset and get caught up in the feeling of losing him all over again.

“What’s the plan?” Jess stretched out on my bed, yawning.

“Tired?”

“DeAndre has me tracking almost every night; I’m working on four hours sleep.”

 DeAndre Morgan was Jess’s mentor from the Skeleton Key Guild and one of the best trackers around.

“How’s it going?”

“I’m learning a lot but it’s crazy busy. With everything going on with the First Kind, the Guild has us on missions more often than not. How about you, are you ready?”

 I was due to start my apprenticeship with Uncle Archie in London and I was still feeling odd about it. I wanted to learn more, but it all seemed like a sideshow to my real mission of finding Edgar.

“I guess.” I offered noncommittally.

 “Come on, it’s going to be fun. You’ll be in London; I’ll be in Paris. We can spend weekends checking out all the cool portals and dimensional hang outs in Europe.”

“I suppose, but right now I want to talk about my mission.” It was official, I would be the one to find and rescue Edgar. I would answer to Uncle Archie, but I would have the chance to pursue any leads and gather my own team.

“Are you asking what I think you’re asking?” She winked at me.

I laughed. “Yes, I want you on the team.”

“If you hadn’t asked, I would have had to slap you.”

“I wouldn’t want that.”

“Who else are you going to ask?”

“I was thinking of talking to Slade.” We hadn’t talked much since he came to my dad’s funeral but even with all the issues between us, I still trusted him more than most.

“Good start, anyone else?”

“Gavin is already helping, so he’s on the team, and we need a Mapmaker and a DI, any suggestions?”

“There’s a DI that I’ve been working with in Paris who could be helpful. I can contact him if you want.”

“If you think he’ll fit with the team and as long as you trust him, then give him a call. That leaves a Mapmaker.”

“I’ve got no clue on that one. Edgar is the only Mapmaker I’ve ever really been close to. Is that going to be the whole team?”

 I knew what she was asking, though I had no idea how to find Nightshade or if he would even be interested in helping me. He hadn’t returned entirely, his memories of me—us—were half forgotten. The First Kind had planted deeply rooted false memories as well... blaming me for the death of his girlfriend Laura Harkness, who had died way before I ever met him.

“Have you tried getting in touch with Nightshade?” Jess asked.

“I don’t know where he is. He needed space, so I gave it to him.” I pulled an old pair of boots out of the closet and tossed them at the bed. The thought that Nightshade didn’t remember me let alone
us
tore at my heart. I yanked out clothes not really caring what I took. All I could think about was what if Nightshade never got his memory of us back? What if he never looked at me like he had in that picture on the night of the year-end school dance? I yanked more clothes out, wishing I could yank the pain and doubts out of my heart as easily.

“If you say so, where are we going anyway?”

“The Beanery for some coffee, and then to meet Val. She’s settling into college and I want to surprise her and try to cheer her up. She’s so worried about Edgar and I’m right there with her.”

“I know what you mean,” Jess said disheartened.

  Edgar was the heart of our group in so many ways. We all had our specialties but when it came down to it Edgar was the one who always pulled us back together. A few months ago when I was reeling over the loss of Nightshade, Edgar was there. He wouldn’t let me push him away and when I needed my friends to try and help Edgar, they were right there. Partly for me, but mostly because of how much he meant to all of us. Jess pulled out her phone and started texting, trying to avoid talking about him.

 I grabbed my robe off the back of my door and headed for the shower.

 “Don’t take too long I want to hit the Beanery before Paladin Academy gets out.”

I waved over my shoulder and made my way to the bathroom. I pulled my clothes off and undid the bandage around my ribs. The blue-purple welt on my side wasn’t as bad as some I had gotten so I took that as a good sign. I checked myself in the mirror and my hair was a disaster. I wished I could handle my hair and make it look as good as easily as Jess did hers, but that was a wish that was never going to come true. And I’d never match Jess in the style department, but I did at least clean up well.

I turned the shower on as hot as I could tolerate and slipped in letting the water wash over me. I ran my hands through my hair and closed my eyes as wet heat raced over my face and steam began to ease the aches in my body.

 Maybe Jess was right, maybe I should try and contact Nightshade. I wanted so badly to talk with him even if his memory of me was jumbled. My feelings for him hadn’t changed and I missed him so damn much that it hurt. I thought I was doing good keeping my distance from him, giving him the space he want, but maybe if I was in his face and we tormented each other the way we once had it would jog his memory of us. After all, I think we had wanted to strangle each other just as much as we wanted to kiss.

I shook my head feeling foolish for even thinking about this now. Dad was dead and Edgar was missing and I was worried about Nightshade. Really? Was I becoming one of those vapid girls who only cared about men? Not if I had anything to say about it. If Nightshade wanted to talk, he could find me. All I was going to concentrate on from this point forward was finding Edgar and taking down the First Kind.

I finished up my shower and toweled off. When I made it back to my room Jess had put away the clothes I’d taken out and laid out new ones for me. I laughed when I saw them. My cousin was always trying to dress me up like I was a life size Barbie doll. I suppose she didn’t appreciate my hoodie and combat boots.

I changed quickly and added my own touches those being the aforementioned hoodie and boots. I thought they went will with the cute short skirt and nice shirt she’d chosen.

I fixed my hair combing it out and drying it straight and applied a minimal amount of makeup and even that was a chore since I much preferred au natural. Then headed downstairs to where I assumed Jess was waiting for me.

“Really?” Jess pointed to my hoodie.

 I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s my thing.”

“Fine,” she said with all the finalization of a man facing the gallows, accepting it, but damn sure didn’t like it.

We left the house and walked down Mission Way toward the Cape Beanery. As we turned the corner there was already a line leading out the door.

“Damn,” I sighed.

“No worries, I took care of it.” She pointed and sitting at a bistro table out front was Michael Slade.

His ever present smile greeted us. He was wearing a dark t-shirt that stretched tight across his impressive, broad chest. You couldn’t deny that he looked good. He pointed to two large coffees on the table as we walked up to him.

“Ladies.”

“I texted Slade, while you were in the shower.” Jess informed me as we took seats opposite him.

“I was waiting to hear from you.” He looked at me and leaned back.

 It stopped me for a moment, Slade and I had been together for a while. But that had all fallen apart when he chose an Artifact over me. Our past was complicated but for a second there I thought he might have wanted me to contact him for more than my new team.

“I guess you figured out that I was hoping you’d join my team,” I said.

“About damn time, you couldn’t keep me from helping to find Edgar.”

“This is great.” Jess beamed. “It’s like we’re getting the old group back together.”

 I reached out, grabbed my cup, and took a sip. I didn’t want to mention the one person who was absent from our group.

“If that’s the case where’s Val?” Slade asked.

“College, we’re going to visit her, do you want to come?” Jess offered before I had a chance to say anything

“Sure, it sounds fun.” He smiled and Jess elbowed me happy with herself.

“Missing Val are you?” I asked.

“It’s odd but she’s kind of like the annoying noise you hear in your room at night that after a while you can’t go to sleep without it.”

“I know, she grows on you doesn’t she?” I said

Slade grinned. “Yeah, like a fungus.”

 We all laughed and for the first time since Dad died I felt happy. I’d missed my friends, all of us together hanging out and having a good time.

“Where are we going then?” Slade asked.

“London.”

Status: London Calling.

We stepped through the portal into the back of a pub. I’d gotten the coordinates from Cheryl, Edgar’s sister to a local Old Kind haunt. I wasn’t practiced enough in my mapmaking abilities to trust them just yet.

“Get us a table while I’ll grab some drinks and text Val.” Jess ran off toward the bar.

Slade and I found a booth in the back and slid in across from each other.

“How have you been?”

 Slade’s voice was low and filled with concern and I remembered why I had liked him in the first place. He was kind and caring.

“I’m handling it.”

“If you need anything, I’m here.”

 His hand brushed across mine on the table and I pulled it away. I’d never been good with public displays of affection and I was still gun shy from losing Nightshade.

“Sorry,” I apologized as I rubbed my hands together.

“It’s okay.” He shrugged and winked at me.

“Thanks, Slade. I don’t want things to be weird between us.”

“I know, neither do I.”

“We’re okay then?”

“As far as I’m concerned, we’re good.”

“Good.” I smiled and let out a deep breath. I really wasn’t sure I could handle losing any more friends.

“Val texted, she’s on her way,” Jess placed full glasses in front of each of us and slid into the booth beside Slade. “And the DI I mentioned to you is here. He’s going to join us and we can decide if he’s a good fit for the team.”