The Guardians Complete Series 1 Box Set: Contains Mercy, The Ferryman, Crossroads, Witchfinder, Infernum

by Wendy Saunders

  She leaned over and pressed the intercom.

  ‘Jacqueline, I’ll be going out for a while, bump my next client back an hour. Use my lunch hour if you have to, but if that’s not convenient for them, reschedule.’

  Olivia barely heard the mumbled response as Erica pulled her purse out of her desk drawer and stood abruptly. Straightening her skirt, she slipped on a smart beige raincoat, moving with frightening ease and elegance on her tall skinny heels.

  ‘Where are we going?’ Olivia stood and followed her from the room.

  ‘You’ll see,’ Erica replied easily. ‘We might as well walk, it’s not far.’

  They stepped out into the crisp November air and Olivia looked up at the heavy gray clouds moving in.

  ‘It looks like it’s going to rain,’ she noted.

  ‘That’s November in Massachusetts for you,’ Erica shrugged, her red hair tumbling over her shoulder, and catching in the wind.

  ‘Are you sure you don’t want to drive?’ Olivia asked.

  ‘It’s not worth it,’ Erica crossed the road giving Olivia no choice but to follow; ‘it really is just around the corner.’

  She wasn’t kidding. They walked a couple of blocks, turned left, and suddenly Olivia could see a large cream colored building surrounded by neatly manicured lawns.

  ‘The town offices,’ she murmured, ‘who exactly are we going to see?’

  ‘The Mayor,’ Erica replied easily.

  ‘The Mayor?’ Olivia stopped dead, causing Erica to pause and glance back.

  ‘Come on, it’s going to start pouring down any moment,’ Erica pulled a small compact umbrella from her purse as the first fat droplets of rain began to fall.

  ‘Erica,’ Olivia pulled up the hood of her jacket. ‘We can’t just show up and expect to see the Mayor, don’t you need an appointment or something?’

  ‘She’ll see me, don’t worry,’ Erica hurried along the sidewalk, and up the steps to the front entrance.

  ‘How can you be so sure?’

  ‘Because, she’s my godmother,’ Erica grinned, holding the door open.

  Erica followed Olivia through the door, shaking out her umbrella, before dropping it carelessly into the holder near the entrance.

  Leading Olivia, she navigated through the offices with ease, as she made her way up to the second level and stopped in front of a neat desk. A heavily pregnant woman with honey blonde hair looked up and smiled.

  ‘Hey Erica.’

  ‘Audrey,’ Erica smiled back, ‘you look like you’re about to pop.’

  ‘Nope,’ she laughed delightedly as she leaned back in her chair and rubbed her swollen belly, ‘still got about two months to go,’

  ‘Seriously?’ Erica’s brow rose in surprise, ‘you sure you’ve only got the one in there?’

  ‘I hope so,’ she chuckled, looking over Erica’s shoulder at Olivia with interest. ‘What brings you by?’

  ‘I was hoping to see Mayor Burnett; does she have a moment?’

  ‘Take a seat and I’ll see if we can squeeze you in,’ she replied.

  Olivia and Erica took a seat nearby on a plush sofa, a stylish cream color with dark green stripes. Olivia watched with interest as Audrey pushed back from her seat and hauled herself awkwardly to her feet before disappearing through a door behind her desk.

  ‘Awww, she’s got a waddle,’ Erica laughed.

  ‘You two know each other well?’

  ‘We went to school together,’ she replied, ‘she got married last spring. This is her first baby.’

  Olivia nodded.

  ‘So the Mayor’s your godmother then?’

  ‘Yes,’ Erica answered, ‘known her all my life. I want you to know you can trust her. Although she was the one who appointed Walcott as Chief of Police, she is fair. She’ll take this situation very seriously.’

  ‘I hope so,’ Olivia replied with a heavy breath. ‘The last thing I need is someone else in authority after my head on a plate.’

  ‘It’ll be fine,’ she patted Olivia’s hand reassuringly, ‘trust me.’

  ‘Well, it seems to be your lucky day,’ Audrey reappeared. ‘Her next appointment had a minor fender bender out on South Ridge road and has been delayed. She can fit you in now.’

  ‘Thanks, we appreciate it,’ Erica nodded as she rose from the sofa, beckoning for Olivia to follow her.

  The Mayor’s office was elegant and yet homely, that was the first thing Olivia noticed. The second thing was the woman herself as she rose from behind the antique walnut desk to greet Erica warmly. She had to be in her fifties but the woman didn’t look a day over forty. Her warm dark brown hair shone in a sassy jaw length bob and her face held a few faint lines, just the odd one at the corner of her eyes. She embraced Erica warmly before absently smoothing her peach colored pant suit and turning her curious brown eyes on Olivia.

  ‘This is Olivia West,’ Erica introduced, ‘she’s a client and a friend. Olivia this is Tammy Burnett.’

  ‘Mayor Burnett,’ Olivia held out her hand, fervently hoping it wasn’t too clammy with nerves.

  ‘Miss West,’ Mayor Burnett took her hand shaking it lightly. ‘I seem to be hearing your name a lot lately.’

  ‘I’ll bet,’ Olivia murmured.

  ‘Please.’

  She indicated they take a seat on a curved, pearl grey couch and waited until they were seated before settling herself daintily on a matching chair.

  ‘Now what exactly can I do for you?’

  ‘It’s a bit of a delicate situation,’ Erica began in a crisp businesslike manner. ‘I’m actually here in a formal capacity. The truth is, we’re here to make a complaint against Chief Walcott.’

  ‘I see,’ Mayor Burnett’s eyes narrowed and her lips pursed thoughtfully. ‘Please continue.’

  ‘Olivia had nothing to do with the murders, she didn’t know either victim personally, and had only met both of them once in passing. There is no physical evidence or motive tying her to either victim and although the remains were discovered in the woods, they were not on her property.

  Yet Chief Walcott has pursued her with extreme prejudice and is making life intolerable for her. She is trying to start a new life for herself in Mercy, but Chief Walcott continues to spread unfounded accusations about her. He has had her followed every time she leaves her property, an appalling misuse of police resources, and he has accosted her in public, threatening to arrest her without substantial cause to do so. She has been extremely tolerant up to a point, but this is too much. He either needs to leave her alone or we will have no choice but to sue.’

  ‘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 deputies with me, as well as 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 as it’s 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 killer.’

  ‘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 apologize 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,’ Mayor Burnett called out to her. ‘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, ‘he’s not, I mean, we’re not…’

  ‘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 hastily exit the room.

  ‘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 a 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 too 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,’ Mayor Burnett 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 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 now.’

  ‘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 downpour. Pulling her hood up and ducking her head, she made her way down the sidewalk back toward Main Street. Narrowly avoiding a deep puddle she crossed the road and paused. Something in the shop front caught her eye. She looked up at the sign on the front of the building and an idea suddenly formed in her mind. Impulsively she grasped the door handle and headed in.

  ‘Theo?’ Olivia called, stumbling through the door holding awkwardly on to a large wooden frame and several overflowing bags.

  ‘Good God what have you been up to?’ he took in her appearance as he wandered into the hallway.

  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, lifting the wooden frame.

  ‘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 answered absently, as she scanned her purchases stre
wn 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. ‘I know that while you were at Riverside they gave you watercolors to use, but that was like one step up from the kids’ stuff. This is the good stuff, you’ve got oil paints and acrylics, that’s what all those tubes are. I also got you your own set of water colors, pencils, pens, charcoals, and 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. 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, his eyes unreadable as she chatted away.

  ‘I also got you some books. There are 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 realized 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, and 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 speak, but 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.’