Night Angel (Angel Haven)

by Miller, Annette

  “Are you feeling any better?” Karen jumped as Edna laid a hand on her shoulder. She hadn’t even heard her approach. “I believe everyone is heading for the dining room.”

  The cup clinked against the china saucer as Karen’s hands shook. “I’m sorry. I got lost in my own little world for a minute.”

  Edna grinned at her, giving her a little nudge. “Quite all right. I think we have the right solution. I can’t wait until after lunch when we make our revelation.”

  Karen thought about all the explanations Edna had given her in the basement. They all seemed to be plausible, but something about them sat sour with her. There were too many secrets, too many lies floating around. Karen was beginning to wish the weekend was over. Edna appeared so nice, so normal. For a brief moment, she wished she’d never accepted the invitation to come.

  ****

  The guests assembled in the drawing room after lunch. Bradford clapped his hands for their attention. “All right. It’s time to make our guesses and unmask the murderer. Who would like to go first?”

  Karen half listened as the guests made their suppositions. Her thoughts were on a certain southern man who was far from home and putting up with things he shouldn’t have to because a friend needed his help. Could she be that strong? She’d been through some pretty tough times in the past and had taken a few on the chin for her friends, but nothing like this. She wanted more time to talk to Randall. She just didn’t know how she was going to get it.

  Karen glanced at Edna out of the corner of her eye. Could the older woman be lying? But why? What reason did she have? Karen wished she was staying longer to get the answers she wanted.

  Edna nudged her, snapping her back to the current conversation. “We have the right answer, don’t we, Karen?”

  “What? Yes, we believe we have the correct solution.” At Edna’s nod, Karen stood up, revealing the bits of evidence they had. “We found this note in the dead man’s jacket, claiming he was to have a meeting with whoever killed him. There were muddy footprints on the floor the morning after the murder. We followed the trail around the house to the basement door. This morning, we found the victim’s brand of cigarettes and a button matching the butler’s uniform.” Karen paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Everything we found leads us to the conclusion that, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, the butler did it.”

  Jeffries stood in the corner of the room. He cleared his throat. “Egad, sir. I’ve been found out.”

  Bradford clapped and approached the two of them. He hugged Karen, holding her for a few extra heartbeats while the guests applauded them. “Very good, Karen,” he whispered. He stood back, keeping Karen’s hand trapped in his. “Congratulations, ladies. You’ve got the correct solution and will get the prize.”

  “What is it this time?” Edna’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

  “You will each get five thousand dollars in cash. Is that good enough for you, my dear Edna?” Bradford leaned down to kiss her cheek.

  “That’s lovely.”

  Karen’s eyes opened wide. “That’s awfully generous of you, but isn’t it a bit much?”

  “That’s a drop in the bucket for our Bradford,” Edna said.

  Bradford gave her a wink. “Trust me, Karen. If I’d miss it, I wouldn’t have offered it.”

  Karen waited for the shiver to run through her when Bradford said her name. Nothing. How could Randall affect her like that and not Bradford? Was her nighttime visitor right? Were she and Randall soul mates even though they’d barely spoken? Was there such a thing as love at first sight?

  “I want to thank you all for coming again this weekend,” Bradford was saying. “Next year should be even grander.”

  The group filed out, the guests disappearing into other rooms and upstairs to gather belongings.

  Bradford held Karen’s hand. “I’m glad you and Edna solved the mystery,” he said.

  Karen smiled at him. “I had a lot of fun doing it. Working with Edna was great.” Karen knew she ought to be flattered by Bradford’s attention to her, but one question nagged at her.

  Where was Randall?

  Chapter Five

  The afternoon sun sank behind the trees, giving the woods a warm glow as the guests said their goodbyes to their host. Karen stood on the porch next to Bradford, waiting for her turn to bid him farewell. Her gaze wandered across the grounds, trying to find Randall, but he was nowhere to be seen. Bradford kept a tight grip on her hand as she turned to him.

  “Thanks again for a wonderful weekend,” she said. “I hope you’ll have me back next year. I’m sorry I didn’t have time to see the gardens.”

  He walked her to her car and held the door open for her. “Actually, Karen, I was wondering if you’d like to stay for another couple of weeks. One weekend wasn’t nearly enough time to spend with you, and I’d like to get to know you better. We’d have enough time to see the entire estate.”

  Perfect. “I’d love to. I must confess, I didn’t really want to leave.”

  He swooped her into his arms. “Wonderful.” His eyes gleamed with excitement and something else. Karen felt like a mouse caught in the hypnotic gaze of a snake, and she forced herself not to shiver.

  She pulled away, trying to tactfully disengage herself from his embrace. “I have to go home to get some more things. I can be back tomorrow night, if that’s okay.”

  “Of course.” He opened her car door. “I miss you already.”

  ****

  Karen threw a couple more sweaters on the bed. The air was growing colder as November hovered on the horizon. “I’m going back, Misty.”

  Misty sat at Karen’s desk flipping a pencil. “To two men who both say the other is dangerous. Sounds like a lose-lose situation to me. So how long you planning on being there?”

  Karen shrugged. “Until I find out what’s going on.” She began folding the clothes she’d heaped on the bed and placing them in her suitcase.

  Misty frowned as she watched Karen fill her bag. “It’s a real education watching you pack. Everything is perfectly folded and fits exactly how you want it.”

  Karen shook her head. “It’s just a habit I got into when I traveled with Father. The outward expression must reflect the inner peace.”

  “Whatever.” Misty swiveled in the chair. “So, you’ve had some time to think. Is Randall making you forget about you know who?”

  Karen realized she hadn’t thought about the guy who dumped her for a while as Randall’s face formed in her mind’s eye. She saw Randall shirtless as he chopped wood, soaked to the skin from an October downpour, that thought dissolving into one of his striped back the last time she’d seen him.

  She grabbed her suitcase. “Maybe. I don’t know.” She walked down the main staircase, heading straight for the front door.

  Misty leaned over the railing. “I bet you dollars to doughnuts you end up with Randall before the week is out.”

  Karen turned around and stared at her friend. “You can’t know that.”

  “Sure I can. You’ve got ‘smitten’ written all over your face.” Misty ran down the steps. “Are you sure going back is the right thing to do?”

  “Yes.” She turned away, closing her eyes. “My instincts tell me this is more important than anything I’ve ever done before. I have to go.”

  Misty rolled her eyes. “After what I went through with Jack and his problems, believe me, I understand. If you need us...”

  “I’ll call.” Karen drew an X over her heart. “Promise.” She grabbed her bags, threw them in the back of her car and was off to find the answers she wanted.

  ****

  Karen pulled up to the front door of Bradford’s estate. “At least it’s not raining this time,” she muttered. She grabbed her bags from the back seat and climbed the few steps to the porch. The door opened and once again, the butler stood there.

  I swear this guy has got to be a psionic, she thought. “Hi, again. You look a lot better, Jeffries. Bradford told me
you were in the theater.” She noticed his hair was still thin, but more dark gray than white. His face was full, not sunken, and his skin, though a little pale, wasn’t dead white. “You’re really good with makeup.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Spraiker,” he said, giving her a small bow. “Mr. Troyington would like you to join him in the dining room. Dinner has just been served.”

  “Thank you.” She wondered how he’d made his voice sound so hollow before. It was deeper than she would’ve believed coming from such a thin man.

  He gestured to an area behind the door near the wall. “You may leave your bags here. They’ll be taken to your room. Mr. Troyington has put you in the same room you occupied this weekend.”

  “That’s fine.” Karen placed her bags on the floor and walked to the dining room. “Good evening.”

  Bradford jumped from his chair and hurried to her, grabbing her in a tight embrace. “I was hoping you’d get here for dinner.” He put his arm around her waist to lead her to the table. “Edna is also staying for some extra time. She wants to get to know you, too.” He leaned in to whisper, “I think she wants us to be a couple.”

  Karen cringed as his hand encircled her. Why can’t he keep his hands to himself? She laughed, not wanting to give a hint of her true thoughts. “She said as much over the weekend. I like Edna. She’s fun.”

  “She enjoys playing matchmaker. She’s been trying to get me married off for years.” Bradford smiled at her. “Maybe this time she’ll succeed.”

  “You never know what the future will bring.” Would she want to be Mrs. Bradford Troyington? It didn’t send thrills racing through her. Why? Because every time she tried to picture Bradford, all she could see was Randall.

  “Karen,” Edna called. She got up, hugging Karen. “It’s so nice you decided to come stay with us for a bit.”

  “I wanted to get to know Bradford better,” she said, sitting at his left as she’d done all weekend.

  Edna nodded, smiling her big secret smile at the two of them.

  “You get that look right off your face,” Bradford scolded.

  She shook her finger in front of his nose. “I don’t have a look. I just know a good match when I see one.”

  Karen smiled, sipping her wine. The two certainly bantered like old friends, but she didn’t feel completely at ease at the table. What’s wrong with me? she wondered. I can talk to a voice in a tree like we’re buddies and sitting here with normal people disquiets me. This is not the way to be calm and focused. Father would be upset.

  ****

  Karen opened the door to the balcony and walked to the rail. She inhaled deeply, the crisp October air filling her lungs and invigorating her. She had been waiting for this moment all evening. “Are you there?” she whispered, peering into the tree.

  “I’m here.”

  Karen breathed a sigh a relief, the tightness leaving her shoulders at the sound of his voice. “I was worried you’d think I’d left you. I’m glad you’ve come to see me.”

  “Why did you return?” he demanded. “You were out. You were safe. Why would you come back here?”

  Her eyes widened in surprise at the tone of his voice. “I promised to help, remember? And I also missed...” She stopped, clamping her teeth down on her lip. It was so hard not to mention Randall at every opportunity.

  Her confession diffused his anger. “You missed Randall.” The voice sounded amused. “You’re enamored of him even though the two of you are still strangers.”

  She braced her hands on the railing, leaning over as far as she could. “If you laugh at me, I swear I’ll jump into that tree and kick your mystical butt.”

  He chuckled. “An interesting thought. And in the light from your room, I can tell your cheeks are pink.”

  Why did she blush every time Randall’s name came up? What was wrong with her lately? Controlling her emotions was becoming a huge challenge. “I wanted to talk to you again. You’re the only person I can get straight answers from.”

  “What questions do you want answered?”

  Karen brought a chair out and placed it near the railing. “Is there such a thing as love at first sight?”

  Silence fell, stretching into long seconds before he answered. “The first question you ask is one of the hardest and yet, also one of the easiest. Many people say they believe in love at first sight but don’t. For a lot of people, it does happen. But I think you’re looking for what should be termed as true love. True love, contrary to what people say, is a rare occurrence. Often, all it takes is one look.”

  Karen crossed her arms, laying her head on them as they rested on the railing. “I’ve never really believed in love at first sight, though I do admit it could probably happen. I mean, I haven’t felt the same since Randall first looked in my car Friday night. Could something this powerful be between us? And so soon? It’s like a fairy tale.”

  He settled on a branch. “Fairy tales have more truth than people realize. For my people, love’s first kiss is the strongest act between two lovers. It can’t be wasted because it can never be reclaimed. Kissing others doesn’t really count. The power of true love only resonates with your soul mate.”

  “Really?” She paused and thought about that for a moment. “Is that why the big kiss always comes at the end of the story instead at the beginning or in the middle?”

  “Yes. A couple must get to know each other and start binding their souls. You must give the power of true love as much time as possible for it to truly be able to work its magic.”

  Karen remembered the look in Randall’s eyes when they spoke for those few precious moments as he’d been chopping wood. “Is Randall one of your people?”

  “Randall and I are more than just acquaintances.” He paused. “We’re brothers. So, yes, that makes him part of the fairy realm.” Leaves rustled as he moved closer.

  She turned her head to his voice, trying to make him out. “When he said my name, I went all gushy. Why?”

  “You’ve heard the tale of Rumpelstiltskin?” When she nodded, he continued, “That story was told to demonstrate the power of names. By saying your name, Randall has begun binding himself to you. He feels the pull between the two of you. As you’ve said his name more often, you’ve already started tying yourself to him.”

  “Is Randall my soul mate?” Goose bumps ran up and down her arms at the thought. Thinking of the two of them together had her blushing again.

  “We believe so, yes.” Again he paused. “If Troyington finds out, he won’t hesitate to kill you both.”

  Karen shook her head. “Bradford might be harsh, but murder? That’s kind of hard to believe.” She sat back, rubbing her eyes. “This really is like a fairy tale. There’s true love, a totally hot guy, and a villain.” She turned her gaze skyward. “Where’s the evil curse to do us in?”

  “I fear that is still ahead of you.” He sounded worried.

  “It’s a good thing I’ve got abilities of my own,” she mumbled.

  His voice was farther away. “What kind of abilities?”

  “I have skills in martial arts combat.” She chewed her lip. “There’s more, but I don’t know how you’ll take it.”

  He chuckled. “I’m a creature from the fairy world in contemporary upstate New York. There’s nothing you can me tell I can’t believe.”

  She took a deep breath, then rushed her words before she could change her mind. “I’m part of a paranormal team. We all have powers and unique abilities. I have lightning reflexes. I can deflect almost anything thrown at me and send them back at my attacker. I have regeneration. I can also bend peoples’ perceptions so they can’t see me.”

  “If you are this extraordinary, what are your friends like?” He sounded impressed.

  “One’s a telepath, one can go intangible, one’s from another dimension, one isn’t even human, one can change her shape into any natural animal on earth, and our team leader was genetically constructed from a DNA sample.” She paused. “We’re a pretty varied group.”r />
  “This is an important secret you trust me with,” he said quietly.

  “I feel in my gut I can trust you. Our telepath says we’ve got instincts for a reason. Use them.” Karen got up to sit on the rail, wanting to be closer to him. “Your turn. You got any secrets? I promise I can keep them.”

  She could sense him moving to the end of the branch. “I know.” He was quiet, then a large hand reached out to her from the leaves. Her eyes widened, and she involuntarily stumbled away from him. Her back hit the house, and she stopped, staring at the hand. She stepped back to the rail and hesitantly touched a finger to his palm.

  His hand dwarfed hers. His skin was purple and felt like rock, but still had some pliancy to it. His fingers looked longer due to the claws that curled from their ends. From the size of his hand and what she could see of his arm, she knew he had to top at least seven feet. “What are you?” she whispered.

  “To some, a creature of dreams, to others, a nightmare come true.” He started to pull his hand away, but Karen held it. “I don’t frighten you?”

  “No. Startled maybe, but not frightened.” She caressed the back of his hand, smiling when she heard him sigh. “Does Bradford know about you?”

  “Yes, and he’s not happy about my presence here. He tries to keep me contained at night, but he and his men are finding out it’s easier said than done.” He squeezed her hand. “You know why Randall is treated the way he is, don’t you?”

  She continued to hold his hand. “Bradford has the children, doesn’t he?” she said quietly.

  “Exactly. To keep me in line, Randall can’t show any signs of resisting Troyington or his men. If he does, the children will suffer. Troyington has made that point clear on several occasions. Every night, I come up with new ways to escape whatever cell he tries to put me in.”

  “But why?” Karen asked. “I don’t understand why he’d take children. What does he want with them?”

  “They aren’t human. They’re werewolf.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “I’m their guardian. I’m a gargoyle. My body is closer to human than those disfigured things on the sides of churches. My race are protectors. These children were taken from the northeast pack. Guardians from across the country were sent here to find them.”