by Clare Revell
Ben tapped her on the arm and she looked up and smiled. “These pictures are good. Did you take them?”
Nate nodded, sitting next to her. “I did and thank you.”
“You should sell some of them. This one is wonderful.” She pointed to a sunset over the lake. Two swans sat in the foreground, their beaks touching, an orange glow surrounding them and the water rippling beside their bodies.
He cringed with embarrassment. “I just happened to be there. Anyone could have taken it.”
“Not everyone would have captured the essence of the moment. You have a talent.”
Heat rose in his cheeks. No one had praised his work in a long time. “Thank you.”
Adeline flicked a few more pages. “Wow, look at all those bluebells. Where’s this?”
“Christmas Common. Vianne loves the bluebells, we go every year. I have an album just with her and the flowers.” He took a deep breath, not wanting to spoil the moment, but needing to broach the subject of the phone call.
Putting a hand on the book, he closed it gently. “Adeline, I need to talk to you.”
“You look serious. What’s up?”
“The phone call during dinner was Dane. We’ve got, well not a lead exactly, but a connection between all the victims.”
“Should you be telling me this? After all I’m one of your witnesses, remember.”
“I know you’re officially a witness, and I discussed the point with Dane. Fact is, we both agree you need to know. So you can take precautions.”
Adeline caught her breath. “What kind of precautions? Are you saying the Herbalist knows who I am?”
“Nothing like that. I just want you to be extra vigilant, that’s all.” He took a deep breath, looking at her intently. He made sure he spoke carefully, not wanting her to misinterpret any of his words. “We just had it confirmed that the Herbalist is only targeting disabled people. Deaf, lame, short-sighted and so on. In fact anything that deviates from the norm.”
He could almost see the bristles rising as Adeline straightened. Ben leapt off her lap and stood guard next to her. He wasn’t sure if he imagined the bared teeth or whether Ben actually did it momentarily.
Indignation colored her voice, and fire shot from her eyes. “Are you saying I’m disabled?”
Nate backtracked, annoyed with himself, trying to think of a better word. “No, I’m not saying that at all.”
“Then what are you saying, Sergeant?” Her use of his title indicated he’d crossed a line.
“You know what I mean.”
Anger creased her face, spilling over into her hand gestures and voice. “No, I don’t. I’m not disabled or disadvantaged. I’m deaf. You said earlier it didn’t matter, or was that a lie? Something you tell all your witnesses just to keep them happy? Something to calm them down, stop them crying.”
“Disabled was the wrong word, I accept that.”
“Would you prefer deformed or crippled or maimed?”
Nate turned away.
Her anger was blistering, but fully justified.
Lord, help me find a way to calm her, explain properly.
“Don’t you do that. You know I can’t hear you if you turn your face away.” Adeline moved and stood in front of him. Her eyes glittered, and she rapidly signed at him, not saying a word. He knew from the vehemence of her movements that she was angry, no, way more than angry, she was furious with him.
Nate didn’t understand any of what she was trying to tell him. She may as well have been speaking Portuguese or Russian for all the difference it made. Frustrated at the communication gap, he reached out and grabbed her hands. As he did so, something almost electrical passed between them. He looked at her, holding her gaze, and moved closer to her. Before he realized what he was doing, he leaned in, and his lips brushed against hers.
Her mouth was soft under his and her body molded against him as if they were made for each other. He looked at her, but she had her eyes closed.
He slid a hand into her hair, and placed the other on small of her back, holding her close as he kissed her.
****
Adeline parted her lips slightly, giving him control as he deepened the kiss. Her arms slid around Nate’s neck and she leaned against his firm body. Her eyes closed, leaving her fully immersed in his touch and taste. She could taste the coffee and a hint of the herbs from dinner. Ripples of pleasure ran through her, radiating outwards until all that mattered was Nate and the feelings he sent spiraling through her.
The simple touch warmed her completely, lighting a fire within she wasn’t sure would ever go out. All she knew was that she didn’t want it to. She kissed him back, eager to take what he offered, to give back as much as she took.
The kiss went on forever, until just as she thought she’d never breathe again, he pulled away. Adeline opened her eyes. His hands slid to her shoulders, her skin burning under his touch. Adeline held his gaze, still able to feel him on her lips. “Do you kiss everyone you argue with?”
“Not usually.” He held her gaze as he ran a finger slowly over her swollen lips. “You didn’t seem to object.”
“I’ve never been kissed before.”
“Seriously? I’d never have known.”
She held his gaze, not daring to hope he meant anything by the kiss “Never…being ‘disabled’ tends to scare men off.”
“I’m sorry I said that. It was unforgivable. I feel horrible.”
“So you should. But I’ll forgive you if you promise not to do it again.”
“I promise.” Nate hugged her, and she leaned against him, marveling at the warmth a simple hug could give. She could stay in his arms forever, if only it were possible.
After a long moment she pulled back to smile at him.
Nate smiled back. “You’re amazing.”
“I don’t think so. I’ve never been called that before. I’ve been called lots of other things, but not that.”
His fingers caressed her face. “Well, I think so.”
Adeline closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, one hand pressed against the firmness of his chest, the other resting on his throat. She could feel his heart beating under her fingers, the rise and fall of his breathing. Standing there she felt safe and…she hesitated to say loved. She knew she cared for him. Cared very much what happened to him and about him, but was it love or was it just the emotions of the moment making her head spin.
Vibration under her fingers made her open her eyes. She focused on his lips just as they finished moving.
“…care.”
“I didn’t catch that, I’m sorry.”
“No problem. I said, you need to take care out there.”
“Why? And don’t give me any more of that disabled rubbish. Ben takes wonderful care of me, and I’ve been doing this since I was five.”
“I don’t want anything happening to my niece’s favorite dolly doctor.”
A sinking feeling settled in her stomach. She was reading too much into this after all. She looked down. “I see.”
Gentle fingers lifted her face. A smile teased the corner of his lips, lighting his eyes. They shone with an inner beauty she hadn’t noticed before. “But more because I care about what happens to you.”
“I care about you, too.”
He smiled properly. “I’m glad.”
She glanced at the clock above the mantelpiece. “It’s getting late. I should go.”
“Let me call you a cab.”
“No, I can walk. Ben needs a walk before bed, anyway.”
“Then I insist you call me as soon as you get home. I won’t sleep tonight unless I know you’re safe.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Good. Stay here and I’ll get your coat.”
Adeline slid into her coat. “Thank you for dinner. Are you sure you won’t join us on Wednesday? Or am I still just a witness?”
“You’re more than just a witness,” Nate said. “But I still won’t finish before seven.”
“That’s fine. Vianne can have a snack after school, and we’ll eat with you.”
“I’d like that very much.”
“Then it’s a date.” Adeline paused, as the realization of what she said sunk in.
“Just dinner is fine. And don’t forget to call when you get in.” He made no reference to her slip.
“I won’t.” She headed down the road; her heart in her boots by Ben’s trotting paws. She was a fool.
5
Wednesday came quickly, and having buried herself in fixing broken toys all day long, Adeline finished work as soon as Vianne arrived after school. She was glad of the change of pace.
Perhaps this would call a halt to the images running through her mind’s eye ever since she jerked awake at three AM with a nightmare. “Hey, ready to go?”
Vianne looked at her. “Now? Can’t I visit with some of the dolls first?”
“We need to get home and put the meat in the oven.” Adeline clipped on Ben’s lead. She straightened to find Vianne scowling at her. “What’s that face for?”
“I want to read to the dollies.” Vianne stamped her foot for added emphasis.
“I want, doesn’t get.”
“That’s what Uncle Nate says all the time.” She folded her arms across her chest, bottom lip sticking out.
“Then it must be true.” Adeline looked at the frowning child. This wasn’t a great start. If she didn’t leave now, the meat would either be as tough as old boots or not cooked at all. “Do you know how to make Yorkshire puddings?”
“No.”
“Want to learn?”
Vianne’s face brightened. “Really? I’m not allowed to cook at home. It’s ‘too dangerous.’” She put quote marks around the last two words, rolling her eyes as she spoke.
“Especially the way I do it.” Adeline laughed. “I’ll teach you, and we won’t tell him ‘til after he’s eaten.”
“Cool.” Vianne beamed at her. “So what are we waiting for?”
****
By the time Ben told Adeline there was someone at the door at seven fifteen, the kitchen no longer resembled the bomb site it had been all afternoon. The flour had been cleared off the surfaces and floor, batter wiped from the cupboard doors and Vianne’s face. She even picked the remnants of the egg shell from the sugar bowl.
She opened the door and let Nate in out of the rain. “Hey.”
“Hey. Something smells good.” Nate entered the house, shedding his wet coat.
“Thank you.” She took the coat and hung it on the free standing coat rack set in one corner of the hallway. “This is soaked.”
Nate nodded. “I was outside all afternoon at a crime scene. Uniformed officers got the call this morning, and we spent the afternoon talking to the neighbors in the hope of finding something useful.”
Adeline held his gaze. Sorrow filled his eyes again, this time seeming to permeate to his soul. She should have called him, but one thing after another had come up and… “The Herbalist?”
“Yeah. He made sure this one died. She was only fifteen.” He took a deep breath, raw emotion crossing his face. “It doesn’t matter how many of these I do, I never become immune to it.”
“Was there an herb cutting in one of her pockets?”
Nate’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, there was. How did you—?”
“And it matches the name of the road.” She closed her eyes, and then stared unwavering at him. “Toadflax.”
Nate took a deep breath, and suddenly looked beyond her. His face changed in an instant from a concerned frown into a broad smile. “Hey, pumpkin. How was your day?” He moved past her and swung Vianne into his arms.
Adeline moved into the kitchen to check on the food. He was right. This conversation was not one to be had in front of a child. She glanced down at Ben. “I know what you’re thinking, but I’m not running to him every time I have a nightmare or one of those vision things. He’s the detective. He can put the pieces together all by himself without my rubbish interpretation. And don’t tell me that makes me accountable. Or guilty by association.”
Ben cocked his head at her and put a paw over his nose. Adeline screwed her nose up at him. “Ack, get over it. I’ve put one and one together and made five.”
He knocked her foot and looked behind her.
Her stomach dropped into her slippers as she saw Nate standing there. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she hoped he’d assume it was heat from the stove causing the blush and nothing more.
****
“What makes five?” Nate asked, as he followed Vianne into the kitchen.
“Two plus three, silly,” Vianne giggled as she sat at the table.
Adeline was covering something, but the question was what? Had she known about the latest murder and not told him?
“Five thousand. We’ve made enough to feed the five thousand, so I hope you’re hungry.”
“We?”
“Vianne stirred the gravy and crumbled in the Oxo cubes. That’s the most important job.”
“I also made the Yorkshire puddings,” Vianne added, bouncing on her chair. “Or I helped to. I wasn’t allowed to put them in the hot fat, but I beat the mixture.”
Nate’s stomach growled and he was grateful Adeline couldn’t hear it. Breakfast was hours ago, and he’d worked through lunch. Rather, lunch still sat on his desk, a paltry two bites taken from the sausage roll he’d bought from the canteen. “Can I do anything?”
“No, just sit down and wait patiently. It won’t be long.”
Nate perched on a chair by the table, watching Adeline as she moved around the kitchen, half listening to Vianne rabbiting on about her day at school. The other part of his mind, the cop part that never switched off, went over and over Adeline’s words. There was only one way she could know about the herbs left on the victims. Unless she knew the killer, and he doubted that.
Adeline brought over the first dishes, her eyes clouded with sorrow, as she took in the plaster still adorning his face. “How’s your nose?”
“Sore, but a lot less painful than it has been. I should be able to lose this plaster thing soon, hopefully.”
“Your eyes look better. Have you considered make-up to hide the bruises?”
Nate looked aghast at her. “I’m a bloke. Blokes do not wear make-up.”
“Sure they do. Actors and news readers do it all the time. I can show you how to use just a little foundation to hide it.”
“It’s fine. Thank you all the same.”
Vianne tugged Adeline’s arm to get her attention. “He thinks it’s manly to have bruises,” she said. “Improves his street cred, or so Uncle Dane says, and makes the bad guys a-feared of him when he’s playing bad cop.”
Adeline laughed.
Nate frowned. “When you two have quite finished teasing me…”
Vianne hugged him. “We have.”
He wiggled her nose and then tickled her, making her squeal with laughter. “And I’ll have you know that I’m the good cop. Uncle Dane is the bad cop.”
“Uh huh,” she squealed, trying to get away.
Nate let her go. “Yes, uh huh, he is.”
“Dinner’s ready.” Adeline turned to Vianne. “Run upstairs, and wash your hands.”
Vianne nodded and ran from the room. Nate moved over to Adeline and touched her arm. He held her gaze, needing to get her to open up to him. It worked with the criminals if he did it long enough. As did the silent treatment—although good cop-bad cop in tandem with Dane was far more effective.
“I should dish up.”
“I know. First I need to know something. How did you know the Herbalist puts herbs in the victim’s pockets?”
“I just do.”
He tightened his grip a little as she tried to pull away. “It’s important, Adeline. No one knows that except Dane, the Guv, me, and the coroner. It’s not even in the files in case it gets leaked to the press.”
“I saw it,” she said finally looking him in the eye. “Last night. I dreamed
the whole thing. Saw him stalk her and kill her. He put the herbs in her pocket. They were in a small clear plastic bag. One of those self-sealing ones.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?” Nate’s voice rose automatically, anger and frustration filling him. “You have my number, you could have called me. You should have called me.”
Adeline signed jerkily as she spoke. “I’m sure you’d love me ringing you every time I have a nightmare. Especially at three in the morning.”
“If it’s a dream that concerns the Herbalist, then yes, I do want you ringing me, no matter what time of night it is. We might have gotten to her in time.”
Adeline shook her head, her eyes glistening. “She didn’t stand a chance. No one does. And you know something? She didn’t have one of your ‘disabilities’ like all the others did. He didn’t kill her because she was deaf or short sighted or—”
Nate narrowed his eyes, his stomach twisting at her use of the word. “Then why?”
“Ask him when you catch him.”
“I’m asking you. You can’t just drop something like that on me and leave it at that.”
Adeline turned her face away.
Nate waited impatiently. He could just turn her face back towards him, but it would be better for both of them if he didn’t. He tapped his foot, desperate for the information. It seemed an eternity before she turned back to face him. “Well? How was she different?”
Adeline’s voice trembled as she spoke. He’d wondered if she was capable of raw emotion in her voice, and she was. “You need to interview her father. The herbalist was saving her from him.”
****
Approaching Nate’s house two days later, Adeline consulted Ben. “Are we doing the right thing? Just dropping around unannounced like this? What if they’re out?”
Ben regarded her with deep, soulful eyes. He must be the epitome of puppy dog eyes because she could never resist him.
