Ashes of Roses

by Melissa R. L. Simonin

  “Good point,” John acknowledged.

  “Delacroix had to be the one who hired Harry Price to get them,” Xander declared.

  “It makes the most sense, given what we know,” Miles agreed. “If that’s the case, I’d like to know how they became associated.”

  “This is international rather than national,” I mused. “Still, Jackson might be able to find an overlap between Harry Price, and one of the businesses Delacroix’s been involved in. I can’t see them running in the same social circles.”

  “I’ll let Jackson know what we’re looking for,” Miles replied, as he composed a message. “If he doesn’t have the resources to search for a connection, he’ll know someone who does.”

  “Also have him check for any links between Delacroix, Reginald Abernathy, and the three employees whose files were in his office safe,” I said.

  “Consider it done,” Miles replied, and did so. “A connection would greatly assist in a successful prosecution, should our assumptions prove to be correct.”

  “If he shows up tonight to pay off one of Abernathy’s employees, we’ll know they are,” I declared with satisfaction.

  “Right… about that,” Miles replied.

  He sounded hesitant, or maybe regretful. Like he had something to tell me, that he really wished he didn’t.

  My eyebrows knit.

  “What?”

  “Before searching for info on Harry Price, we undertook a recon of the grounds using the latest available satellite images,” Miles said.

  I slapped my hand to my forehead.

  “Don’t tell me. The lion in the topiary garden isn’t the only one at the manor.”

  “If you prefer not to hear it, then I won’t,” Miles replied. “However, there is more than one lion in the topiary garden.”

  “Oh my goodness!” I exclaimed in dismay.

  “How many?” Annette asked with concern.

  “Two, total,” John answered.

  I frowned slightly as I processed this latest bit of info, and decided it could be worse. It could also be better, but… it could be worse. It could be all the Red Lion pubs in the UK!

  “Hey man, my offer stands,” Xander declared, and Jenny shot her fiancé an appalled look. He noticed, and grimaced. He also put his arm around her.

  “Thanks, Xander,” Miles replied. “I appreciate the offer, but this is something we need to take care of ourselves.”

  “Only Miles and I will recognize Delacroix’s voice, and the guy on the phone in Reginald Abernathy’s office,” I said more for the sake of my worried friend, than her fiancé, the would-be volunteer.

  “There’s also Anika’s truth ability to consider,” Miles pointed out. “When two dishonest persons meet, chances are good that lies will be told.”

  “The topiary lions aren’t so far apart that one team can’t manage,” John reasoned. “Especially when that team has superpowers. Otherwise, I’d volunteer too.”

  “So would I,” Annette declared. “How exciting, and it should be safe enough, since Delacroix’s darkness-free.”

  I half-laughed, and everyone gave me a funny look. Except Miles.

  “There’s darkness around this guy?” Xander asked in surprise.

  “Since when?” John questioned.

  “Since he saw Miles at lunch today,” I replied.

  “Are you serious? Of course you are,” Jenny decided in alarm.

  “But why?” Annette wondered incredulously. “And you don’t even look phased by it!”

  “You do realize what that means, right?” Jenny worried.

  “Of course,” I answered. “But we also know Delacroix’s powerless to follow through. He’s been mostly entertaining, so far. He knows it, which he hates, and he knows Miles saw through his attempt to set us up, and it’s driving him wild wondering when he’s going to inform the Carlisles. Delacroix also sees Miles’ fortune and his connection to the Carlisles as the wildcard in his carefully crafted plans to weasel his way into the family via marriage, and Lady Carlisle, into indebtedness to him. He’s angry, unstable, and willing to do just about anything to ensure he gets what he believes is owed him.”

  “No matter how much darkness he’s got floating around, there’s no way this Delacroix can take you guys on and not end up regretting it,” Xander declared.

  “Be careful, anyway,” Jenny worried.

  “I can promise you, every precaution will be taken,” Miles assured her.

  “Miles is always on guard,” I said with confidence. “With his forcefields in place, even a bomb couldn’t touch him.”

  “Or us,” Miles added. “Not as long as you’re with me. Every second we’re at the manor, you will be.”

  Three of our friends seemed reassured. The fourth, not so much.

  “What is it?” I asked Jenny. She appeared even more concerned now, than she did just a minute ago.

  “Bombs, bullets, assaults—there’s no chance you’ll let something like that get by,” she acknowledged soberly. “But what do you allow to pass through your forcefields?”

  The look on John’s face said that now, he understood.

  “Food, and oxygen,” he answered.

  “That is a very good point,” Miles acknowledged seriously.

  “It is,” I frowned. Jenny wasn’t the only one concerned, now. “I’m tempted to have all our meals here, and skip those at the manor.”

  “No more than you guys’ve been eating there anyway, it shouldn’t be too hard to avoid,” Xander said dryly.

  “No kidding,” I replied. “The Carlisles may decide we’re capable of subsisting on nothing but air, by the time our visit is over!”

  We laughed at the thought, but our amusement was brief, and did little to dissolve the tension we now felt. Jenny’s observation was a sobering reminder that danger had more than one form, and the biggest potential threats were the ones we allowed to pass by our defenses.

  “Thank you, Jenny, for that observation,” Miles said. “We’re only as strong as our weakest access point, no matter how comical or inept the enemy may appear. We’ll take added precautions, and remain mindful of what we expose ourselves to directly.”

  “Speaking of directly, I’d say it’s about time we pinned a few people down, and demanded some answers,” I added with resolve. “The ball is tomorrow, and our time on the Isle of Camden is about up.”

  “Agreed,” Miles said. “After we locate the lion, identify the two men, and audit the meeting, that’s exactly what we’ll do.”

  Chapter 23

  “Good evening, Edward,” Miles greeted the footman manning the entry, as we left the stairs, and approached the door.

  “Good evening, Mr. Bannerman, Mrs. Bannerman,” Edward replied solemnly, but his expression was friendly, with a hint of curiosity. “You wish to go out, sir?”

  He had to wonder, since Miles wore an overcoat, and I was cloaked in a heavy, velvet wrap that fell past my knees, and included a hood. It was chilly here at the manor, but not so much as to necessitate such garb for a trip to the dining room.

  “Yes, I believe there’s still time for a brief walk in the garden, before dinner,” Miles replied.

  “Very good, sir,” Edward responded. “You’ll find some paths are lit, an there’s a full moon, I do believe. So long as the clouds remain elsewhere, you should see well enough. Though unless you’ve a torch an map, I’d advise leavin’ the maze for a time more brightly lit.”

  “A visit to the topiary garden is more what we had in mind for this evening,” Miles volunteered.

  “Very good, sir,” Edward approved. He swung the door wide, and we stepped out into the night.

  The air was cold, but still, so it wasn’t unpleasantly so. I pulled up my hood, anyway. The longer we were out, the more we’d feel the chill. Besides, I felt more stealthy this way.

  Miles silently led the way down the double staircase, across the path and past the fountain, to the eight foot tall hedge bordering the maze. Rather than enter the d
ark, disorienting labyrinth, we stuck to the outer wall.

  Several yards later, we reached the corner, and the road leading to and from the manor, which conveniently bordered the maze on one side. A several minute walk after that, we reached the end of the hedge wall. On our right, now stretched the topiary garden.

  The moon cast an otherworldly glow on the carefully sculpted evergreens dotting the smooth, grassy expanse. Whether or not the rounded hedges dividing the space served to separate the figures by theme, it would take more than a cursory glance in the moonlight to determine. Whether they did, or didn’t, had no bearing on our mission, since the guys’ research earlier in the day revealed the location of both lions. Since keeping a simultaneous eye on the two topiary felines was impossible without splitting up, our goal was to reach the best possible spot from which to access both. This, we intended to do without giving away our presence. With that view in mind, Miles stuck to the road, instead of entering the garden. It made sense that the guy who called the meeting would park in the lot on the opposite side of the maze, and that Delacroix—or whoever—would travel straight from the manor without looping around, as we were. As long as they did as expected… we wouldn’t run into either of them.

  Miles turned, and led the way off the road and onto the lawn, and into the moonlit shadow cast by a unicorn, its head held high, and its carefully manicured front hooves pawing the air. We paused there for a moment, as we scanned our surroundings for signs of movement, and listened intently for any hint of sound.

  All I could hear was the faraway ripple of the fountain, as water cascaded from tier to tier. As for motion, there was none. Not so much as a leaf, or blade of grass stirred in the still air.

  We quietly made our way to the next sculpted shrub, then a hedge, then another shrub. On our right, lion number one was now in view. It was large enough to conceal someone if they wanted to be, but if they did, they’d more likely hide on our side rather than the manor’s. If they arrived much earlier than ourselves, they’d also be likely to shiver violently, as the cold seeped in. I was beginning to feel it, myself. I’d personally prefer to keep moving, as opposed to standing in one place. Fortunately, that was the plan.

  We kept an eye on lion number one, as we made our way toward lion number two. There was no movement, no sound, and no reason to believe either man would arrive early like we did, just so they could wait for the other to show up. Still, I was glad to see neither of them had!

  Several more hedges and topiaries, a path, a grouping of benches encircling a tree, and finally, out from behind a very large bush in the shape of a giant, lion number two emerged. We continued for several more yards, then looked back to ensure there was no one waiting on the other side. There wasn’t, so we backtracked, keeping to the shadows as much as possible until lion number one was once again in sight.

  Still no one there, so we returned to lion number two, then one, then two, until my mind wandered, and I lost count. Our continued movement was cautious enough to do little to stir the blood, and I was beginning to feel the chill, when suddenly Miles stopped. I followed his gaze, and a thrill shot through me at the sight of the dark, hooded figure, hunched over and hugging himself against the cold, as he followed the path from the parking lot to none other than lion number two.

  I breathed a very slow, silent sigh of relief. There was no risk even a raised voice would get through Miles’ soundproof forcefield, but any sound we made would hinder our own efforts to hear. And so, we quietly observed the man as he approached. His bulky winter garb, compounded by the less than ideal lighting, left identifying him impossible. But he was there! We’d know who he was before the evening was done, and the other man, too. As long as he showed up.

  The guy standing by lion number two stomped his feet and slapped his arms, as he looked from side to side. He was most definitely waiting for someone, and wondering what was taking so long.

  Each time he turned to face the maze, we edged nearer. I’d hear any truths revealed from further away than this, but in order to identify the men and listen in on the words they exchanged, the closer we were, the better. Up to a point!

  Bit by bit, we made our way from one sculpted shrub to the next. The amount of overlap helped, as did his intense focus on staying warm, and watching for his partner’s arrival. He didn’t expect him to come from our direction, and that too, helped tremendously.

  The man paced briefly, then turned toward the maze again. We used that opportunity to take a few more stealthy steps, and reached the topiary giant, at last. This, was our goal all along. Ever since the guy arrived, anyway. It offered the best possible vantage point, short of joining him by the lion itself.

  His impatience was evident as he looked at his watch, muttered under his breath, paced, and stared in the direction of the manor once more. Then he stopped, and fumbled with his pocket. A moment later, and a flash of light appeared from the cell phone in his hand. He held it to his ear.

  “That’s not very bright, playin’ on my patience,” said the voice of the man in Abernathy’s office.

  He paused for a moment, then laughed sharply. He didn’t seem concerned with being overheard. He likely expected everyone was inside, preparing for dinner.

  “You must be bloomin’ jokin’,” the man snapped. “Or else invisible, or shrunk to no more’n an inch. I’m standin’ here by the lion, an have been, for longer than’s safe for one such as yourself.”

  The man gave a disgusted snort.

  “Maybe there’s another, an maybe there ain’t. What I know is I’m standin’ here with nothin’ to show for it but a case o’ frostbite,” he snapped irritably, then paused. I really wished I could hear both sides of the conversation. “Come to you, you say? You must be jokin’!”

  Another pause.

  “I’ve had no occasion to be,” he said, then there was silence for several seconds.

  “That was foolish now, wasn’t it?” he replied shortly, then turned and walked in the direction of the maze. “Don’t think I can be lost so easy. I’ll find my way alright, an I best find you there. Otherwise, I’ll feel it necessary to give the police a call. I’m half a mind to anyhow, there’s like to be a reward for handin’ over a murderer. It’d be in your best interest to make this worth my while…”

  His voice trailed off as he was lost from view, and now what! Follow him into the maze? Wait for him to come back out? Try and—

  Miles grabbed me by the hand, and rapidly led the way back in the direction of the first lion.

  “Listening in on the meeting is out,” Miles said. “But, we can still determine who’s responsible for orchestrating the poor construction. Whoever comes out of the maze on the way back inside the manor for dinner, is our guy.”

  “Unless he only claimed to be waiting by the first lion, and doesn’t intend to show,” I felt compelled to point out. “Or, if someone else is taking a late night stroll through the maze, but you’re probably right! Can we make it there before he conducts his business, and gets back inside?”

  “If we hurry,” Miles answered, and we were. I was plenty warm now!

  We reached the first lion, the knight, a dragon, the unicorn, and finally the road was in view. We slowed abruptly, and veered toward the corner of the maze. We cautiously looked around the hedge wall, toward the manor, just in time to see a dark figure disappear around the opposite end.

  We hurried our steps, and didn’t bother commenting. Instead, we focused our energy on winning the race back to the manor. Not that anyone else knew there was one!

  A faint breeze stirred, and I shivered as I wrapped my cloak more tightly about me.

  “Are you doing alright?” Miles asked in concern.

  “I’m fine,” I assured him, and then my heart nearly raced out of my chest at the sound of limbs crashing in the distance, waxy leaves rattling, scuffling, thrashing, more thrashing, a thud, a pause, then the pound of receding footsteps.

  We ran the rest of the way to the corner, and around it.

/>   “That did not sound good,” Miles said grimly, as we slowed briefly to take stock of our surroundings.

  The entrance to the maze loomed ominously on our left, and the fountain rippled softly on our right. Other than the gentle splash of water and my heart pounding in my ears, there was absolute silence.

  “No, it didn’t,” I agreed, and we unanimously headed for the maze. The possibility that someone might be injured, was more important than proving our theory. That, would have to wait.

  Unless we ran into Delacroix on his way out. Or found him lying inside, wounded, or worse.

  The stillness as we entered the dark tunnel was not encouraging. There was no stirring, no rustling, and no groaning to be heard.

  “If someone was hurt, how will we find them?” I said in dismay, as the moonlight dimly revealed two additional tunnels branching off in either direction. Miles ignored them, and stuck with the path we were on.

  “There’s a map of the maze on the manor’s website,” Miles answered, as he guided me to turn right, then left. “Judging by how far the second man could travel in the time between his reaching the corner, and our hearing what we did, plus the approximate direction and distance from where those sounds came from… then the location is somewhat predictable. I’d say it happened here, or…”

  “Here,” I pointed, as my blood chilled at the sight of the limp figure lying on the ground. The flashlight beam from Miles’ cellphone shone forth, lighting the face of Earnest Smith, Historic Restoration’s plasterer. I registered the utter stillness of his chest, the bulging, glazed, bloodshot eyes, and another chill washed over me. “Oh my goodness, is he…”

  Miles moved forward grimly, and shifted Earnest’s scarf to check for a pulse. He stopped at the sight of the narrow wire buried deep in the man’s throat. The skin was broken, and badly bruised, and—that’s all I’m going to say about that, and you’re welcome!

  Miles stood with a sigh of resignation, and tapped the screen of his phone. I heard the distant hum of Sir Edmund’s voice as he answered.