The Spiritist

by Sabine A. Reed

  Cole clapped him on his shoulder with his free hand. “Don’t worry about it, dude. Just promise me you will keep an eye on my girl when I am not around. Just to make sure she is safe.”

  “Oh, yeah, of course.”

  “Ok, then I could do it the day after tomorrow. I will make a list of things you will need to purchase. Easy stuff. Most of it would be available in your own shop.”

  They all walked out of Witch Central. Aerilyn set up her security, relieved that he hadn’t changed the code.

  “Why don’t I walk you home? I closed my shop early today,” Phillip asked Selina.

  Selina tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Ok. Sure, thanks.”

  They walked off. Aerilyn eyed Cole.

  “What? What did I do?”

  “My girl? Free security system?” She shook her head. “Do you want everyone to say that you are so besotted over me that you’re doing favors for my friends?”

  “Besotted. I like that word.” Putting down the carrier, he reached for her hand, pulled her closer, and kissed her gently on the lips.

  Aerilyn savored the taste and the sweet male scent of his body pressed against hers. She liked how his lips traced a path down to her chin. Knight’s yowl forced them apart. “He is hungry,” she said.

  Cole picked up the carrier and they began walking back to her cabin. He still held her hand, and she let it be, enjoying the easy camaraderie. The air was cool, but not windy. A thick fog enveloped the mountains, but overhead, the sky was clear and cloudless. It was a beautiful evening. The sunlight was reduced to a soft, pale glow, and the night held many promises. She was looking forward to a scrumptious dinner and a night of lovemaking.

  Cole’s cell phone rang, jarring her out of reverie. He picked up. “Hi, Damon. Any news?”

  Aerilyn heard his conversation even as she waved to a few old friends and neighbors as they walked down the main street, hand in hand. News was going to spread like wildfire throughout the town that she was sweet on the outsider. Hmm! Well, she couldn’t have chosen better. Cole was sensitive, generous, strong, and caring. What else could a woman want? He appeared to take her gift lightly. He wasn’t awed by her talent or repulsed by what she did. And yet, fear gnawed at her heart. What if she gave him her heart, and he left?

  Would it break her? Could she take the risk of letting him hurt her in that manner?

  “Damn it!” He cut the call and shoved the phone back in his jacket pocket.

  “What happened?”

  “Mike Powell, the intruder who tried to shoot you, is not talking. His lawyers are claiming it was a robbery. He pulled the gun out to scare you while trying to escape the house. He thought the cabin was empty and came to steal stuff. Blah blah!”

  “So? He could get off relatively easy.”

  “He shot off two bullets. He is not going to get away with a simple slap on his wrist, but if we can’t connect him to James or Robin, we are back to square one.” Frustration echoed in his voice. “Damon has a lead from one of Thomas’s friends that he was real tight with a senior graduating student, Lacey, who went back to her home country Sri Lanka two weeks before his death. No one has heard from her since because, apparently, she is working in some remote area where there is no internet. This friend of Thomas’s had dropped by to see Lacey the night before she left, and guess what…”

  “Thomas was there.”

  “Exactly. He had come by to drop a folder that Lacey was supposed to take with her. That’s what he told his friend, but Damon thinks that the folder may contain photocopies of his notes and copies of pictures he took of Robin. He might have kept the originals with him and they were taken by Robin and James after his murder.”

  “Even if he had notes, they wouldn’t be enough to charge James or Robin.”

  Cole ran a hand through his hair. “What we need is a confession. And those aren’t easy to get.”

  “No, they aren’t.” An idea germinated in her mind, and Aerilyn mulled it over as they turned into the narrow lane off the main street.

  It might or might not work, but it may very well be the only thing that would give them a break in this case. If they didn’t wrap it up soon, the murderers might get away – and that she couldn’t allow.

  Chapter Twelve

  The night was dark and silent. Cole looked out the window into the valley below. The view from the restaurant was breathtaking, even at night. The deep gloom of the forest was broken by twinkling lights that marked the serpentine road that snaked through the mountains.

  But the view across from the table was even more spectacular. It amazed him that he could have found someone so heartbreakingly beautiful – and yet, what attracted him most was her exceptional mind, her empathy, and her kind heart.

  It didn’t hurt, of course, that dressed in a cream, long, silk dress, her hair tied carelessly back behind her head, she looked like a goddess. The goddess of love. Or lust. A deep ache of desire reared its head, ever present while in her company. He could never have enough of her. He would never be sated.

  She snapped a finger. “Hey, handsome. Are you ready to order?”

  Embarrassed, Cole realized the waiter was waiting for his reply. “Sorry. I will take the French onion soup, a cheese plate, and a steak au poivre with fresh asparagus.”

  “Thank you, sir.” The waiter collected the menus and left.

  “It’s a good location for a restaurant. Love the view.” Resting her elbow on the table, Aerilyn put a hand under her chin. “Lovely.”

  “Lovely,” he echoed. It was crazy. These feelings he had for her. He was besotted. If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought she had put a love spell on him. “Care to tell me why you’ve brought me here for this mystery date?”

  The waiter brought over their wine bottle, opened it, and poured for testing. After they approved, he poured and left the bottle.

  Aerilyn winded a lock of her hair around her finger. “Maybe I just wanted to seduce you?”

  “If that’s what you wanted, all you had to do was step out of that dress.”

  “Do men ever think of anything but sex?”

  “Only when they are dead.”

  She waved at the gorgeous view, her eyes deepening as took in the dark, silent forests and the black sky that twinkled with merry stars. “It’s a beautiful place. Can’t a girl bring a guy for a nice, romantic dinner without giving a reason?”

  The wine slid smoothly down his throat, even if her explanation didn’t. “Sure she can, but I sense an ulterior motive here.” He tapped his finger on the table, trying to read her expressions. She was up to something. He sensed the bubbling excitement as much as the efficient working of her mind as it toiled to put whatever plan she’d concocted into action.

  She leaned forward, slightly. “I am here to cast a spell on someone.”

  “Ah! And who is that unfortunate person?”

  “Don’t you want to know what kind of spell?”

  Cole leaned back, enjoying the casual banter. “Not a love spell, surely. Because that you have already cast on me.”

  “A love spell on you? Hmm! I thought I had better taste in men.”

  He thumped his hand on his heart. “Ouch! Straight through the heart.”

  She laughed. “You’re too easy.”

  “Yes, I am. And I give you full permission to take advantage of me. Don’t hold back at all.” He enjoyed seeing the smile on her face. Being with her was so comfortable, and yet so stimulating. Of course, he was all but burning with desire every time he came within a few feet of her…but that was neither here nor there.

  The waiter brought their soups. The food was more scrumptious than he had anticipated. “This is great. Not Leila’s diner great. More fancy.”

  “Yeah, I’ve never been here before. It’s a new restaurant. The chef trained in France.”

  “Ah!” He sensed a purpose for tonight’s choice of venue. “Do you know him?”

  She sipped her wine. “No, but I intend to.�
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  The restaurant was nearly full, each of the twelve tables occupied. On the far side sat a family of four, but most were couples. It appeared to be a popular choice in the town. A lone man sat at one table. He was staring at Aerilyn. Sensing his gaze perhaps, she looked at him and waved. He smiled and resumed eating.

  “You know him?”

  “Mr. Brown. His wife died two years ago. He was a client.”

  “I see.”

  The waiter whisked their empty bowls away and brought the appetizers. She’d ordered a warm camembert with wild mushroom. Cole tasted some at her behest. It was really exquisite. Used to fine cuisine, he couldn’t find any fault with it. The rest of the meal was just as excellent. He enjoyed the food as much as the company, and the relaxed ambiance.

  “Please give my compliments to the chef.” Aerilyn told the waiter when he brought their entrées. She gazed at him from under her eyelashes. “Any chance I can meet him in person? It would be nice to welcome him to the area.”

  “I will give the message, ma’am.”

  “I sense a nefarious purpose.” Cole put his finger on his temple and closed his eyes. “Ah! Could it be you want to steal his recipes?”

  “Maybe I just want to flirt with him?”

  He pursed his lips, enjoying the banter. She would reveal her motive soon enough. In the meantime he would be a fool not to take advantage of her mood and the environment. “I’ll just have to kill him then. Is there a good place where I can dump the body?”

  Aerilyn picked up her wine glass. “The ravine. I’ve put a few bodies there myself.”

  “Good. You can show me the location.”

  A tall, dark-haired man walked out of the kitchen and into the dining room. He surveyed the room and exchanged glances and waves with a few people. Threading his way through the tables, he made his way over to them. He had high cheekbones, hazel eyes and an aristocratic look about him.

  “Here comes my competitor,” whispered Cole as he drank his wine.

  Aerilyn looked up as the head chef of Delicious bore down on them. “Good evening.” His English was lightly accented. “I heard you wished to talk to me.”

  “Only to tell you that your food is the finest I’ve ever eaten.” She gave him her hand, and he kissed it gallantly. “My compliments.”

  “Thank you. I’ve never met you before. You’re…”

  “Aerilyn. Nice to meet you.”

  “The spiritist.” His eyes held an appreciative glimmer. “I’ve heard a lot about you. In fact, I even bought two pewter cups from your shop, but you were not in attendance that day.”

  “My fault. I’d dragged her to Chicago with me.” Cole thrust out his hand. It was better to lay claim before any need for bloodshed arose. “Cole Hudson.”

  “Jeremy Saul.” He shook hands. “I hope you enjoyed the food?”

  “It was better than any food that I’ve eaten in restaurants in Chicago,” Cole admitted. “In fact, I am surprised you set up shop here. You would be welcome in any hotel or restaurant in a big city.”

  “My mother was from here. She grew up in Alby, but moved to France with my father. He was French. This place is a tribute to her.” He waved his hand. “She died two years ago. Though she was happy in France, her heart was always here.”

  “What was her name? Perhaps my mother and grandmother knew her?”

  “Mary Kate Dolmain,” he said. “She lived in the same house that I am renting now. The third house on Fisher Street.”

  “Ah! You live next to Mrs. Becker?” Aerilyn took a sip from her wine, her eyes darting to his.

  Jeremy pulled a face. “You know that lady? She seems to have taken an intense dislike to me. Whenever I turn around, she is there glaring at me. If I can be honest, she scares me a little.”

  “Oh, don’t mind her. Mrs. Becker takes a dislike to all strangers. Give it oh, I don’t know…ten years and she will thaw.”

  “Ah! That long, huh!” Jeremy shook his head.

  Aerilyn put her glass down as she gazed at him. “She is quite set in her ways. But you know what? Surprisingly enough, if given the chance you would get along well with her. Her father was a world-famous chef. He worked in the Savoy in Paris fifty years ago.”

  He looked surprised. “Really? Wow! I apprenticed in the Savoy. What was his name?”

  “Charles Becker. As far as I can recall, Mrs. Becker has quite a few old recipe books of her father’s. Handwritten. I once helped her catalog them. It was a part-time job, you know, just a way for me to earn some extra cash. Three days worth of work, and the easiest hundred dollars that I ever made.”

  His eyes brightened with excitement. “His old recipe books? You don’t say? Really. It would be interesting to take a look at those recipes.”

  “Well, if you wish to try, let me tell you that she is partial to cheesecakes. Loves them.” Aerilyn smiled as she lifted her wine glass again. “But don’t tell her that I told you. She guards those recipes fiercely.”

  “Your name will not cross my lips.” Jeremy lifted her hand to his plant a kiss on it. His hand lingered for just a second longer than it should have but he let go. He nodded at Cole.

  “It was lovely to meet you, and well done with this place. It’s simply wonderful,” Aerilyn added.

  “Thank you.” Jeremy smiled. Cole could tell that his mind was already on the recipe books of an old Savoy chef. “It was nice to meet you. Do come by another time.” He went back to the kitchen again.

  Aerilyn sipped her wine, a look of great accomplishment on her face. “Hmm! That’s the face of a person who has eaten the cream. Let me see; Mrs. Becker didn’t like him. She told you to banish him, or something similarly sinister, and you came up with this strategy to enamor him with her.”

  “Your powers of deduction astound me, as always.” She raised her glass in a toast.

  Cole clinked glasses with her. “You’re a devious woman, Ms. Mathews. Quite devious, indeed.”

  “I think I am ready to order the dessert now.” Just then the phone rang. With a sigh of exasperation, she put her wine glass down and fished her phone out of her bejeweled bag. “Hi, Raymond.” An aghast expression swept across her face.

  Seeing her, Cole signaled the waiter to give their check. He didn’t need an astute sense of deduction to know that their date was going to be cut short. As he paid the bill, he was aware that Aerilyn was trying to soothe someone on the phone.

  “Shall we leave?” He stood as soon as she cut off her call.

  “The check?” The terror in her eyes sent a shiver down his back.

  “It’s already paid. Who was it?”

  “A friend. He needs me.” She practically ran out of the restaurant.

  Cole kept his gaze firmly on the road as he followed her directions through the narrow, winding road that led higher up into the mountains. On both sides, the trees loomed large, knit together in a thick, almost impenetrable wall. Not a soul stirred. They passed no other car. Not many people lived here, and yet, Aerilyn seemed sure of her destination. A few times they arrived at a crossroads but she guided him with confidence.

  Finally, they took a right turn into the bowels of the shadowy forest. The road turned into a dirt lane, and Cole was forced to reduce his speed. They came upon a black, iron gate that was open. A long driveway led to a massive, stone house. It was hard to see the exact shape of it, but Cole recognized balconies and buttresses that jutted out at odd angles before the car came to a stop outside the wooden door. A single light burned in an upstairs window. As soon as the car stopped, Aerilyn rushed out. The entrance door was unlocked. Cole followed her up the sweeping, circular staircase, barely registering the expensive artwork that adorned the walls.

  “Raymond?” she called and ran into the only room where there was light.

  A man, naked up to his waist, was sleeping on the massive, four poster bed that dominated the room. It was the biggest bedroom Cole had even seen. Tables lined the walls, each containing some object or another. A hug
e, wooden chest stood in the center of the room. Cole’s attention was distracted by the blood on the man’s torso. He wasn’t sleeping; he was unconscious.

  Aerilyn dropped down beside him on the bed. She touched the large brown and white patch that covered the right side of his chest and abdomen. It had a rough, leathery appearance. “Shit, damn it. He is hurt bad.”

  “Is he dead?” The nature of the injury indicated that it was a severe burn. Cole had seen a few in his line of work. The location of the wound and the appearance of the burn indicated that it was deep and extended far below the skin. From the looks of it, it wasn’t just his skin and muscles that were burned. The fire had penetrated deep into his organs. The man’s breathing was shallow, the color of his face white. He needed immediate medical attention.

  Had this man been attacked? If yes, how. And who was the assailant? Nothing in the room appeared out of order. The house was deserted. Cole took out his phone to call 911.

  She turned to glance at him. “Cole, I am going to heal Raymond, and I want you to promise not to interfere.”

  “What?” He was about to punch the numbers on his keypad.

  There was a determined look in her eyes, in the set of her jaws. “No matter what happens, just stay out of it.”

  “I was about to call 911.”

  Her voice was rock-steady. “By the time they arrive, it will be too late. There is only way to save him.”

  His pounded deep inside his chest. “Magic?”

  Rather than answer him, she turned her attention to Raymond. Cole watched, torn between the desire to comply with her wishes or call an ambulance in order to try to save the man’s life. In the end, the decision was taken out of his hands as Aerilyn called forth her magic. He felt the familiar chill that seemed to envelop a room whenever she called upon the spirits. He’d felt it when she called Thomas, and had felt it even more so in Simon’s apartment.

  The veil to the otherworld was breached.

  As he watched, the phone forgotten in his hand, a white fog came out of nowhere to settle on Raymond’s chest, right where his wound was. Aerilyn thrust her hands into the misty fog, and a sharp sound of pain escaped her lips. The phone clattered out of his hand and he lunged forward, intending to pull her away from that which caused the look of intense anguish on her face.