by T K Eldridge
Grampa got on the phone and told Sin what had happened. He hung up relatively quickly and I looked at him with a question in my eyes. “He’s calling Mira to make sure. He thought he remembered Mira bringing a bakery bag into the house as they were headed out. If she got one, she’ll set it aside for him and a lab tech to go pick up.” Grampa patted my knee. “Don’t worry, Siddie. We’ll figure this out.”
“Thanks, Grampa. Well, I should go get started on work.” I got to my feet and Grampa rose and gave me a hug. “I’ll go get us some breakfast and bring it to you. Just take it easy today, okay?”
I kissed his cheek and nodded. “Thank you, Grampa. I love you.”
“Love you too, my girl,” he said.
Chapter Six
Sin
I had just got to the station when Grampa called, so I tapped one of the lab techs, Benjamin, to come with me back to the farm. Mira had said there was a bakery bag on the porch when we were leaving and she’d put it on the table in the foyer before we left. She and Ethan were at Leah’s house so Ethan and Timmy could play, so the bag should still be where she’d left it.
I explained to Benjamin what we were doing so he could get what he needed. We pulled up in front of the house and I showed him where the bag had been left, then unlocked the door and pointed to the bag on the foyer table. He first made sure the bag was wrapped up and secured, then dusted the area around the railing and the bench where it had been left. He pulled a few prints, I locked up the house, and we headed back. They had our prints on file, so they could see if there were any strange ones and run those. I left him to do his work and went up to report to the Commander.
“Commander?” I asked as I tapped on the door.
“Come in, Sin,” Grampa Walsh replied.
“I grabbed Benjamin to go get the bag and he dusted around the bench where it was left, and the porch railing. All of our prints are on file, so hopefully he can eliminate and come up with something.”
“Good work. Whomever left those muffins wasn’t playing around. There was enough silver dust in one muffin to probably kill your sister, and make you or I sick enough to wish we were dead. I don’t know for sure how it would’ve worked with you or Sid, but just assuming it was a shifter alone, it would’ve been bad.”
“Did anyone actually eat one?” I asked.
“Nico almost did. He’s bringing his two into the station. I just got a call from Remy and James that they’re bringing Micah in for questioning. They had just picked up Micah on the road back to Belle’s when Nico pulled up behind them. Seems like we kept Micah from suffering a few blows to the face.”
I snorted, but not in amusement. “I’d like to give Micah a few blows, if he’s the one behind this. I had even planned on bailing his ass out of trouble. Now, I don’t know if I really want to – but I might have to anyway.”
“What are you talking about?” Grampa asked.
“Nico came to apologize to Sid and I last evening, for how Micah had been acting, and for his believing Micah’s lies. He’s seen for himself that we’re not how Micah says we are, so he wanted to ask us to give him a chance. He also explained why they’re here, and what’s going on.”
Grampa gestured to the seat next to his desk and handed me a cup of coffee. “Have a seat and fill me in, Sin. Seems like there’s a whole lot going on that we need to know.”
By the time I had filled Grampa in on what Nico had told us last night, we were on our second cup of coffee and he had a notebook page filled with scribbles.
“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. I will pay off Damas Lamontaine and get him to sign an agreement that Micah’s debt is cleared and there is no more to be paid. I’ll also make a call about getting the house back and let Micah know he can either move back to New Orleans and his life there, or sell that house and set himself up in a new life. I know who Sid is talking about, with the woodworking shop. It’s Benny’s wife’s brother’s place. Maria’s brother, Alonzo, is an artist, but he is one of the most calm and steady shifters I have ever met. He’d be a good one for a young man to train up under. Let me get Micah figured out and then I’ll have a chat with Nico. I won’t send someone on a recommendation until I’ve had a chance to feel them out for myself.”
“That’s good advice, Grampa. But I’d like to watch while you question Micah, if that’s acceptable?”
“From the other side of the glass, yes. I don’t want him to think you or your sister have any connection to his being brought in or questioned. If he is the one behind it, and we don’t have enough to hold him, it just makes you bigger targets.”
“Understood, sir,” I replied and finished my coffee. “I’m going to go check on Sid if that’s okay? I’ll be down to watch in about ten minutes.”
“Good idea. Tell Sid she can watch too if she wants.”
“Thanks, Grampa,” I said as I left the office. I found Sid’s office, tapped on the door, and walked in without waiting for her to reply. That’s how I caught her and Nico mid-tongue twisting.
“Eww,” I muttered as I grinned.
Sid jerked back and shook her head at me. “Now you know how the rest of us feel when you and Mira are all over each other in public.” A hand lifted to smooth her hair and she blushed. “Did you have a reason to come barging into my office?”
Nico gave me a smile. “Hello, Sin. Apologies for not being able to keep my hands off your sister.”
He was slick, I had to give him that. I also wanted to punch him for saying that – and it wasn’t my place to defend my sister if she didn’t think she needed defending.
“Uh, yeah. Just came from Grampa’s office. I need to head down to interrogation. Was wondering if you wanted to join me? We’ve been invited to listen.”
Nico leaned over and kissed Sid’s cheek. “I’ll see you tonight, chere. I’m going to head out and spend some time in the forest. Have a good day, you two.”
I watched in silence as Nico left and then closed Sid’s door. “I told Grampa everything and he’s going to want to talk to Nico before anyone mentions him to Alonzo.”
“Why? Nico is wonderful,” Sid said with a dopey smile on her face.
“Uh, yeah. Anyway, you want to watch Grampa talk to Micah?”
“No, I think I’ll stay here and get some work done. Fill me in later?”
Now that was weird. Sid loved to study body language and interrogation techniques. “Sid.” She stared at the papers in front of her. “Sid. Sid, are you okay?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry, I was just thinking. What did you want me to do?”
“Are you sure you didn’t eat any of those muffins?” I asked her.
“Yeah, I’m sure. Grampa had a breakfast plate delivered to me and I ate that instead. Just distracted with my thoughts, is all.”
“Well, I’m going downstairs to watch Grampa talk to Micah from the other side of the glass. Why don’t you come with me?”
“Oh, yeah, that’d be great. Let’s go,” Sid said and got to her feet. She checked that her badge was on her belt and locked her office as we left.
“We’ve got to hurry. He’s probably already started,” I said.
“Well, why didn’t you say something when you first came in?”
“I did, but…never mind. Let’s go.” Something was really off with Sid. I’d have to keep an eye on her for sure because this distracted version of Sid was worrisome.
* * *
When we got into the room next to the interrogation room, Auntie Sett was in there. She looked at us, silently pointed to two chairs next to her, and then turned back to the room on the other side of the glass wall. Micah sat facing us and Grampa Walsh was pacing around the room. The room was well-lit and that light gave us enough illumination to find our seats. The speakers were on either side of the room, so we could hear the discussion perfectly.
“Just answer my questions, Mr. Harpur, and we can both get on with our day,” Grampa said.
“Am I under arrest?” Micah asked.
; “Not yet.”
“Then I’m leaving.”
“Not yet.”
“You can’t hold me if I’m not under arrest.”
“Yes, I can, on suspicion, for seventy-two hours. Which is what I’ve planned for you, if you refuse to answer my questions,” Grampa replied, voice calm.
“Suspicion of what?”
“Attempted murder,” Grampa said.
The tone of his voice sent a chill through me. This could’ve caused any of us to die or get sick. We’d been really lucky.
“I haven’t tried to kill anyone. I was at Belle’s all night. You can check my alibi.”
“What makes you think it was something that happened last night?”
“Because I’m here now and I wasn’t here yesterday?”
“Who is Damas Lamontaine?”
Micah paused, his tongue darted out to wet his lips. “I don’t know.”
There was his tell. Grampa latched onto that with a smile.
“Really? You don’t know the name of your own brother in law?”
“Ohh, that Damas Lamontaine. Yeah, he’s my brother in law, but he’s down in Louisiana.”
“Why would he be trying to reach you so badly that he’s called our station to see if we can find the…” Grampa paused and flipped open his little notebook to read, “…the broken and destitute man who had lost his wife and everything, and now had Damas’ nephew in some crazy scheme.”
“He said what about me? I’m not broken, and Nico is my son. You didn’t tell him I was up here, did you?”
“Mr. Harpur, it is not my department’s business to relay who is in town to people on the phone. But it did make us wonder what you were up to. So, here we are. Now, why would Damas Lamontaine be trying to track you down?”
Micah took a breath, then wet his lips again. “He is just worried about Nico. But it’s none of his business what Nico and I do. Nico is a grown-ass adult and can do what he wants. He wanted to come north with me.”
I muttered low, “Not what Nico told us, asshole.”
Sett shushed me and Sid glanced over before her gaze went back to the scene in front of us.
“Again, why is the head of the Loup Garou for the southern region, calling my office and asking about a witch?”
Micah started to fidget and I couldn’t stop the smile on my face. Grampa had him on the ropes now.
“His sister was my wife. When Richelle died from cancer, I lost myself for a month or two. I had borrowed money from Damas for Richelle’s care, but I didn’t think he’d really expect me to pay it back right away. I tried to make payments, but then I lost my work truck, then the house. Damas threatened to break my legs if I didn’t pay him back, and I can’t work if I’m all busted up. So, Nico and I, we ran north.”
“I see. And instead of looking for work and using the money you had to take care of your son – instead of helping out on your grandmother’s farm in gratitude for her giving you a roof over your head, you decided it was better for you to waste all of your money at Belle’s and lose yourself in a bottle?” Grampa was angry, but he still maintained his composure. I don’t think I could’ve done as well.
“Now, I know Alicia Fortin raised you better than that. I’ve seen the others she’s raised and, for the most part, they’re fine human beings. You, on the other hand, make me wonder how you managed to forget all she taught you.”
Micah looked ashamed – head bowed, hands twisted together.
“Now, Micah, I have heard you have a real gift with the Earth and can do wonderful things with plants. Why don’t you use your gift for good? You had a landscaping business in New Orleans, didn’t you?”
“I did, yes. But my truck and tools were repossessed.”
“Don’t you think Alicia might have some tools you could use?”
“Most likely, yes.”
“I’d suggest you leave here, get a ride back to the farm, and spend the next few days showing your Grandmother how much you appreciate all she’s doing for you and your son. If I hear that you’ve been at Belle’s anytime in the next month, or if I find you drunk and not working, you’re back in a cell. Got it?”
“Yes, sir. Understood, sir.” Micah took a breath, then looked up at Grampa. “You won’t tell Damas I’m here, will you? He will kill me. I’ll pay him back, but I borrowed fifty thousand and his interest has doubled the bill. It’ll take me some time.”
“I’ll take care of Damas Lamontaine,” Grampa said, then tapped a knuckle on the door.
Sett got to her feet and left the room. We watched her go into the interrogation room and look at Micah. “Let’s get you back to Ma’s, nephew.”
Micah got to his feet, paused to shake Grampa’s hand, then followed behind Sett. “Sett, could we stop at the corner store? I’d like to pick up something for her.”
Grampa interrupted just before the door closed. “Oh, Micah, one last thing. Do you happen to know where Damas was before he went to Louisiana?”
Micah paused, brow furrowed. “I think he said something about having come from up north, but he never said where. He’s been in the New Orleans area for a couple of centuries now.”
“Thank you, Micah.”
When the door closed, Grampa spoke. “You two meet me in my office. I have a suspicion I want to check out.”
I tapped twice on the glass to let him know we heard him, as Sid and I headed out.
* * *
Seated in Grampa’s office, Sid and I were quiet. We had a lot to think about.
Grampa came in, shut his door, and dropped into his chair with a heavy sigh. “Well, we still don’t know who planted those muffins – but I do have some information. Damas Lamontaine was born in Belle Cove. His family left the area when he was about six months old. The Lamontaine name had me wondering, and I had Tino checking the archives. Pascal Lamontaine grew up in Belle Cove. Pascal’s father, Pierre, and his two brothers, Philippe and Piers, came to the area in the 1600’s. They were some of the original founders of Belle Cove. Pascal and his family left when several families moved out in the late 1700’s to early 1800’s because of the growing number of witches and others settling here.”
“So, a hatred for witches makes sense. Nico told us that Damas would kill any of his bloodline that mated with a non-shifter,” I said.
“Do you think Damas sent someone after Micah and Nico – and planted the muffins to hurt them?” Sid said.
“I think that there’s a lot more going on here than we can see. Stay sharp, you two. Keep an eye on the farm, and your families. I’ll be spending a lot more time there myself,” Grampa said.
Chapter Seven
Sid
I called Nico when I got back to my office and canceled our evening plans. I wasn’t feeling up to being social. Instead, I called Mom and asked if she and Dad had plans. They did not, so I picked up a few things and made my way to the Boudreau Manor.
It was going to take some time for me to not internally cringe every time I pulled up in front of this house – but this time it wasn’t quite so bad. They’d changed so much already – it felt like a different place. The front formality had been softened with flowers and whimsical statues. The stark black shutters had been replaced with a creamy white and the trim had all been painted the same soft, clean hue. When I stepped inside, the differences were so apparent.
Mom came around the corner with a “Siddie!” and a hug, so I hugged her back and handed her some of the bags.
“Mom, this looks amazing. It doesn’t even feel like the same house.”
“Well, we put all of the historical portraits and crap into one room, in case we ever need them for anything, but this is our home and we wanted it to feel like us.”
Beautiful hardwood floors gleamed, and the few bits of furniture in the entry area were from more recent eras, mixed with finds from their global travels. Lighter colors, rich jewel tones, comfortable furnishings and airy bits of art filled each room that we passed through to get to the kitchen. Walls had been
taken down and arches opened the flow from space to space.
“What did you bring?” Mom asked.
“I brought stuff to make my shrimp and linguine with garlic bread and a salad. I have missed you and Dad, and needed a break from my life for a bit.”
Mom pulled a jug of her lemon tea out of the fridge and poured us each a glass. “Come sit and talk with me. I’ll help you make dinner after we talk.”
I sipped and immediately felt drawn back to those days when I’d have a problem at school or with my friends, and Mom would pour me some of her tea and we’d sit and work it out. I always felt better after talking to my mother, and now, I hoped, would be no exception.
“I slept with Nico,” I said.
“Oh. Well, was he mean to you afterwards or something?”
“No. He was very sweet. He set up the coffee pot before he left and brought in a bag of muffins that had been left on my porch table. We both assumed they were from Grandma, but it turns out they were not. I brought them to work to share with Grampa, and he smelled the powdered silver in them. I had not noticed it.” I paused for a moment and frowned. Something just clicked. “For some reason, neither did Nico.”
“How did your grandfather react?”
“Well, he was on the phone and I got coffee and sat down, served us each two muffins on plates – and unwrapped mine. That’s when he made me stop and put it down.”
“Well, maybe the powdered silver was on the paper cup the muffin was baked in?”
I let out a breath. “That makes sense. Thanks, Mom. Anyway…they brought Micah in for questioning and he told Grampa about how he was running from Damas Lamontaine, his brother in law, for a debt he’d not paid. They lost their house and his work truck and everything. Grampa had Sett bring him back to the farm. He was to talk to Grandma and figure out how he would best use his Earth gifts to help Grandma on the farm.”
“What about the muffins?”
