Mercy (The Guardians Series 1)

by Wendy Saunders

  ‘I see,’ she repeated carefully, ‘Miss West?’

  ‘It’s true Mayor,’ Olivia answered in resignation, ‘Chief Walcott has treated me like a criminal from the moment I stumbled across Adam Miller’s body. I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, I wasn’t even alone I had one of his own officers with me and a friend.’

  ‘Jake Gilbert and his sister Louisa Linden,’ the mayor replied, ‘I’ve read the reports Miss West. I do like to know what’s going on in my town, particularly when my residents start turning up dead.’

  Olivia nodded. ‘Do you know about the murders back in ‘94?’

  ‘I do,’ she replied after a moment, ‘I’m a bit surprised you do its not common knowledge. The original murders were handled very discreetly so as to not cause a panic. Not very many people have connected them to what is happening now.’

  ‘Chief Walcott took great delight in blindsiding me with them when he was questioning me about Brody Walker’s disappearance, right before he basically insinuated my father was responsible for the murders.’

  ‘I am aware of Chief Walcott’s theory.’ Mayor Burnett answered carefully.

  ‘Look,’ Olivia rubbed her forehead tiredly, ‘I can’t tell you what the truth is. I was only eight years old when he killed my mom. When I think about him I see him through the eyes of a child. I never would have thought he’d ever be capable of what he did to my mom or my grandmother, so I can’t tell you whether or not he was capable of the other murders. Turns out I never knew him at all.’

  ‘I do understand that,’ she replied sympathetically.

  ‘But Chief Walcott doesn’t,’ Olivia sighed in frustration. ‘It is becoming an obsession for him. He genuinely believes that my father is a serial killer and that I am his protégé, nothing I say or do will convince him otherwise. I want to make a life for myself here. I love the Stick House, it’s a reminder of some of the best parts of my childhood and as my mom’s childhood home, in a way it’s like being close to her again. But what Chief Walcott is doing to me simply because he has a grudge against my father is not right and it’s not fair. Not only that, he is putting lives at risk by fixating on me and not catching the real culprit.’

  ‘Very well,’ Mayor Burnett nodded, ‘I will review the situation thoroughly and if I find it is true that Chief Walcott has acted in a way contrary to the oath he took as Chief of Police he will be reprimanded in a fitting manner. I can only apologise for the situation you have been placed in and assure you I will take this matter very seriously.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Olivia blew out a relieved breath.

  ‘Well,’ Erica stood and dusted off her skirt, ‘I really need to be getting back to my next client.’

  ‘You go then,’ Mayor Burnett waved absently at Erica, ‘you can leave Miss West with me for a while.’

  Erica paused regarding her with an appraising gaze before turning to Olivia.

  Olivia nodded slowly.

  ‘Well, alright then,’ Erica stood and straightened her skirt, ‘Olivia, call me if you need anything.’

  ‘I will,’ she replied.

  ‘Tell your mother and father I still expect them for dinner on Sunday. You can come too if you want and you can bring Deputy Gilbert with you,’ her mouth curved at the corner.

  ‘Jake?’ Erica’s eyes widened, ‘we’re not, I mean…’

  ‘Like I said Erica,’ she replied in amusement, ‘I like to know what’s going on in my town.’

  ‘We’ll see,’ Erica mumbled as her cheeks flushed pink, ‘I’ll see you later.’

  Mayor Burnett smiled as she watched her flustered goddaughter exit the room hastily.

  ‘Well then Olivia,’ she rose gracefully from the chair, ‘may I call you Olivia?’

  ‘Uh sure,’ she replied carefully.

  ‘Would you like some tea? It’s such a cold damp day,’

  ‘That would be nice,’ Olivia answered studying the immaculate looking woman as she rounded the desk and picked up the phone.

  ‘Audrey would you be so good as to have Helen bring in a tray of tea for us.’

  Seemingly satisfied with the response she placed the phone gently back in its cradle and returned to her seat opposite Olivia.

  ‘I just thought that this seemed like a perfect opportunity for us to get to know each other a little better,’ the older woman told her, ‘I understand you’re an historian?’

  ‘That’s right,’ Olivia replied relaxing her tightly coiled muscles a fraction, ‘I’m also an author.’

  ‘Historical reference books?’

  ‘That’s right,’ Olivia nodded, ‘but recently I’ve started a new project which is primarily aimed at middle school children.’

  ‘I see,’ the mayor tilted her head curiously, ‘what made you decide to start writing for children?’

  ‘When I was a kid, my father,’ Olivia paused for a moment and frowned, ‘he had this way of making history come alive for me; I guess I just wanted to pass that on.’

  ‘It’s alright you know,’ Mayor Burnett spoke softly.

  ‘What is?’

  ‘Remembering the man you knew,’ she replied sympathetically.

  ‘But none of it was real,’ Olivia shook her head.

  ‘Are you sure about that?’

  Silence filled the room as Olivia held her gaze, pondering her words. Mayor Burnett looked up as the stillness was broken by a small polite knock at the door.

  ‘Come in,’ she called out.

  The door opened and a small slightly dumpy woman in a tidy skirt and sensible shoes strode purposefully into the room carrying a tray that seemed way to large for her arms.

  ‘Mayor,’ she greeted her and set the tray down on the coffee table in front of them, ‘Can I get you anything else?’

  ‘No thank you Helen,’ she smiled genuinely, ‘that will be all, just make sure Audrey doesn’t overdo it.’

  She nodded in agreement and disappeared, quietly and efficiently.

  ‘You know, I never knew my mother,’ she began quietly as she began to pour the tea into two dainty china cups, ‘she died giving birth to me.’

  ‘Were you raised by your father then?’ Olivia asked curiously, taking the offered tea cup.

  ‘Heavens no,’ she chuckled ‘and thank God for it. He didn’t take my mother’s death too well, he liked the drink. I was practically raised by my brothers until I was nine years old and my father drank himself to death. After that I came to Mercy and was adopted by the Burnetts, a lovely couple who were unable to have children of their own.’

  ‘What happened to your brothers?

  ‘Oh,’ she took a sip from her tea, her eyes a little sad and wistful, ‘they’ve been gone a long time.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Olivia replied quietly.

  ‘The point I’m trying to make Olivia,’ she set her cup down on the table, ‘is that we are more than those we come from. Don’t let all the bad parts of the past drown out the good. I know it’s being thrown in your face at the moment but it will pass. Whether your father is guilty or not, it doesn’t change the man he was when he was with you. If you want to treasure those moments then do and don’t feel guilty about it.’

  There was something about her, about those dark eyes that seemed familiar but Olivia just couldn’t place it. Suddenly uncomfortable she stood abruptly.

  ‘Mayor Burnett, I appreciate the tea but I really should be going now.’

  The Mayor stood, calmly watching Olivia with understanding. She reached into her pocket and withdrew an elegant business card handing it to her.

  ‘I do hope that if you have any more problems you will come to me, my door is always open.’

  ‘Uh thanks,’ Olivia took the card and shoved it into her coat pocket, ‘it was nice to meet you Mayor Burnett.’

  ‘You too Olivia,’ she replied softly watching Olivia dart nervously out the door.

  Olivia hurried out of the building and stepped out into a do
wnpour. Pulling her hood up and ducking her head, she made her way down the sidewalk back towards Main Street. Narrowly avoiding a deep puddle she crossed the road and paused. Something in the shop front caught her eye and an idea suddenly formed in her mind as she looked up at the sign on the front of the building. Impulsively she grasped the door handle and headed in.

  ‘Theo,’ Olivia called as she stumbled through the door holding awkwardly onto a large wooden frame and several overflowing bags.

  ‘Good God what have you been up to?’ He wandered into the hallway taking in her appearance.

  Kicking off her boots she blew her wet hair out of her face and smiled at him.

  ‘Come and help me,’

  ‘What is all this? he asked curiously as he lifted the wooden frame and a couple of the bags.

  ‘A present,’ she grinned grabbing the last couple of bags and heading into the dining room, leaving him to follow behind her.

  ‘A present?’ he repeated, as he watched her pulling out items and setting them on the dining table, ‘for...?’

  ‘For you,’ she replied unpacking more stuff.

  ‘You got me a present?’ he picked up a tube and turned it over in his hands, ‘what is all this stuff?’

  ‘Art supplies,’ she pursed her lips thoughtfully as she scanned her purchases strewn across the huge old table, ‘hmmm, maybe I got a little carried away, no wonder the clerk looked so happy.’

  ‘These are for drawing pictures?’

  ‘Not just drawing,’ she smiled happily, ‘I know that while you were at Riverside they gave you watercolours to use, but that was like one step up from the kids stuff. This is the good stuff, you’ve got oil paints, that’s what all those tubes are, I also got you your own set of water colours, pencils, pens, charcoals, pastels. I figured you’d probably want to try different mediums find which one suits you. There’s some more stuff in the car, there’s an easel over there for you. I thought this room has pretty good light so we can move the table out the way and you can use it as a makeshift studio.’

  He watched her with fathomless eyes as she chatted away.

  ‘I also got you some books, there a couple on techniques and some on the greatest artists of the twentieth century. You probably don’t have a clue who Monet or Van Gogh are.’

  Her voice suddenly trailed off as she realised he hadn’t said anything.

  ‘Why?’ he asked quietly.

  ‘Because you have a gift,’ she shrugged, ‘and you should be given the chance to explore it, if for no other reason than it makes you happy.’

  He continued to watch her silently.

  She shifted uncomfortably twisted her hands.

  ‘Um, if you don’t like them it’s okay, I can take them back,’

  He reached out and grasped her coat tugging her closer while she watched him warily. She opened her mouth to say something else when his lips suddenly found hers.

  Wrapping his arms around her he took her under. His fingers tangled in the wet ropes of her hair, fisting the locks gently and tugging her head back so he could plunge his tongue deeper.

  Olivia tugged at his sweater pulling him closer while he worked at her mouth with skill and determination. She felt him draw down the zipper on her coat and push it off her shoulders leaving it to pile in a wet heap on the floor.

  ‘You know,’ he breathed against her mouth punctuating every few words with devastating kisses, ‘we should get you out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold.’

  ‘We definitely should,’ she agreed pulling him out into the hallway towards the stairs.

  He tugged her sweater up and over her head dropping it behind him as she backed up the first step with her lips still attached to his. Sliding his hands underneath her shirt he stroked her skin.

  Yanking his sweater over his head along with his t-shirt she ran her hands down his chest, tracing the ridges and ripples, scraping her nails over his nipples..

  ‘Dammit Livy I want to be inside you,’ he breathed against her lips.

  ‘Bed,’ she panted taking his mouth again.

  They backed up the stairs touching every bare inch of flesh they could. Her shirt tore and buttons clattered harmlessly down the staircase while he pulled the cup of her bra down and took her nipple in his mouth.

  Her legs folded under her and they both stumbled and fell back onto the steps. Popping open the buttons on his jeans she reached in and wrapped her hand around him stroking him firmly.

  He growled and tore his mouth away from her nipple; pulling open her jeans he jerked them down her thighs, causing her to lose her grip on him. He pulled one of her legs free; spreading her underneath him he yanked her panties to the side and plunged his fingers into the deep wet heat of her.

  She cried out and arched her back, wrapping her hands around the spindles on the banister she could do nothing but ride out the hot bright waves of intense pleasure as he made her climax brutally. Before she could come down from the high he picked her up and stumbled up the last couple of stairs to the upper landing intent on getting her into their bed.

  Olivia wrapped her legs around him tightly still trailing one leg of the jeans she was now half wearing, she threaded her hands into the dark silky locks of his hair and tugged. Biting down on his lower lip she plunged her tongue back into his mouth and he just simply couldn’t take anymore. He pressed her against the wall outside their room and ripped her panties away; shoving his boxers out of the way he plunged inside her in one deep thrust.

  Her head banged back against the wall as she let out a deep gasp of pleasure.

  He buried his face in her neck and rode her hard. Her back thudded against the wall, knocking an ugly picture of a vase of daisies loose to clatter harmlessly to the floor. They were beyond noticing anything but each other. A writhing mass of moans and gasps they took all they could.

  The pressure built and suddenly Olivia cried out and clamped down hard as her climax ripped through her. Theo could do nothing but follow her, coming hard deep inside her.

  They stood panting hard, their hearts pounding foreheads pressed together.

  ‘I love my present,’ Theo breathed against Olivia’s mouth.

  A light delighted laugh erupted from her.

  ‘You know,’ she cradled his face and smiled, ‘one of these days we might actually make it to a bed.’

  Chapter 18.

  Theo had managed to get them both to the bathroom and after cleaning himself up he’d left Olivia to take a shower and get changed into some dry clothes. He scooped up her clothes from the stairs and dumped them in the laundry hamper before disappearing back into the dining room. He flicked through the book on great artists of the twentieth century marvelling at the works of Monet, Picasso and Klimt. Putting the book aside to look at later he leafed through the book on techniques, stopping at the section on oil painting. Propping it open on the table he picked up one of the tubes and unscrewed it. Squeezing a little of the paint out onto his fingertips he rubbed them together familiarising himself with the consistency and texture. Smiling to himself he settled himself at the table to explore his gift.

  Olivia padded down the stairs, the house was so quiet. Wondering where Theo was she headed towards the library but paused by the dining room and smiled. Theo had managed to find one of the small canvases she’d bought and was trying his hand at painting. She winced slightly at the splotches of paint on the rug and the table, but what the hell; he seemed completely lost in his own little world. Deciding not to disturb him she crept past the doorway and headed into the library.

  Seeing the stack of books Theo had been reading through the night before, she headed over to the desk to put them away. As she gathered up the pile she took her time, scanning through all the books that had been accumulated by her family over the centuries. Some of the books were so tatty they looked as if they might fall apart if she breathed on them; others were crisp new paperback novels. She smiled to herself, such an eclectic coll
ection which suited her just fine.

  Deciding she should probably call Mags as she’d been dodging her calls for days she pulled out her phone and started to scroll through to her number, but before she could hit connect something caught her eye, just under the corner of the desk. Bending down she realised one of the books must have toppled off the pile and fallen down the back of the desk. Shoving the phone back into the pocket of her jeans she reached down the gap and nudged it closer with her fingertips until she could grasp the corner more firmly.

  Drawing it up slowly so she didn’t lose her grip she straightened. Dismissing it as unimportant she closed the book intending to put it back on the shelf, but as the pages flicked past she caught a glimpse of an illustration which looked familiar. Flipping back through the pages she found the picture she’d seen, her mouth falling open as she read briefly through the text accompanying it.

  ‘Theo,’ she called out loudly.

  After a few moments he wandered casually into the room. She tried not to grimace when she noticed him wiping the paint from his hands with one of her guest towels which had been folded neatly in the laundry room.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, noting the expression on her face.

  ‘Look,’ she handed him the book.

  His eyes widened slightly in surprise.

  ‘This is it exactly; this is the seal I remember Nathaniel wearing around his neck.’