“It’s a happy day Carl, there’s going to be a wedding,” McNab informs him with a sarcasm that only I can hear.
“Really?” Carl looks at me and eyes the ring on my finger. “What the fuck did I miss?” I hear Carl’s voice in my head.
“Yup! That’s right, there’s going to be a union.” McNab heads for the back bedroom.
Carl stops him. “No seriously, what did I miss?”
“You missed me saying ‘yes’ to the man I love.” I stand, heading for the bathroom. “Okay then. I’ll go take a shower. Should we call my dad?”
“No, just us.” Eli cuts a look to McNab. “No one else.”
Before leaving I plant a long passionate kiss on Eli. I’m trying to feel excited even though it feels wrong with everything that’s happening. “I’ll be back.”
When I pass McNab, who’s all but blocking the hallway, he says, dripping with disapproval, “I guess congratulations are in order for the blushing bride.”
“Thank you, McNab.” Careful not to make contact with him or Carl I move past them into the bedroom, then into the bathroom. I close the door behind me and stand in front of the mirror with my arms locked on the counter to hold me up.
What the fuck am I doing? I can’t get married today. I love Eli and want to be with him, but the timing doesn’t feel right. How can I get married when I don’t even know if I’ll end up in jail soon or not? Jesus Christ.
The smell of sulfur fills the bathroom and I see a black hole that I know leads to the void. I don’t want to avoid the bonds of matrimony that bad. The hole closes up.
“So, this is your big day.” The Specter’s voice fills the room. “Going to become Mrs. Walker.”
“Yes I am.” I answer with as much irritation in my voice as though I were talking to McNab, who by the way I’d like to throw down a well right about now.
“Is this what you really want?” His greasy voice invades more than just the room and I’m trying not to choke on the terror. “Is he really the man for you?”
“You need to leave,” I tell him, turning on the shower while trying to draw on my strength and focus to blow him out of the room again.
“We can still be together.” His oily grin haunts me as I remember what he’s looked like standing over the bodies of his victims. He floats down behind me. I see him in the mirror. “You’ll always be mine, whether you are Mrs. Walker or not.”
“Never.” I’m still trying to muster my inner strength.
“If you have a change of heart before you’re little union, I’ll consider sparing this one, unlike Mr. Testosterone. It was a shame how he went.” He plays with a smoky beard, deep in thought. “I didn’t even get to enjoy it.”
My eyes close in anger and the boiling rage of being so out of control of everything that’s happening causes me to snap. I feel a shockwave of energy burst from my core and when I open my eyes I see the Specter and the curtains are on fire. “Shit.” I grab a towel from the rack and bat at the curtains until the flames subside.
The Specter dissipates, leaving a residue behind. The smoke coming from the curtains is enough to set off the fire alarm and Eli appears in the doorway with a fire extinguisher. McNab and Carl aren’t far behind coming to make sure I’m okay.
“It’s all good,” I say with a crooked smile. “Carl?”
“Yes darlin’?” He looks at me as though he knows what happened.
“I think we need to work on my delivery.” I roll my eyes.
“Yes, I think we do. All in good time.” He seems almost proud of his student. I hope he is.
“What happened?” Eli’s still standing at the ready with the extinguisher.
“I’ll explain later, I just want a shower now.” I close the door and find the solace of being alone in the bathroom.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Who's the Boss
Carl
McNab takes me by the arm of my jacket, clearly irritated, and drags me to the back bedroom. “Pitch, Quag, Wes. Out.”
They all scurry from the room without question. McNab closes the door and he is infuriated and coming apart at the seams. “What the fuck is going on, Carl?”
“McNab, you need to calm down.” I put my hand on his shoulder.
He shrugs me off. “No Carl, I don’t need you ‘calming me down.’” He paces nervously before he starts speaking again. “I leave and all hell breaks loose? We’ve got three more bodies, Miranda is still an issue, the Specter crashed a school bus full of children into a restaurant trying to kill you and now there’s a wedding?”
“Yes, I think you’ve hit all the high points.” I sit down in the desk chair. “It’s more of a civil union rather than a wedding though, there is a difference.” I put my finger on my chin because I’m honestly just as irritated with him as he is with me. “Oh, I’m pretty sure this ‘union’ is all your doing.”
“How could you let all of this happen? I was only gone a few days.” He’s not calming down.
“You need to find your center. If you lose it right now I’m afraid that’s a cat we’ll never get back in the bag.” I try to soothe him with my voice.
He inhales some cleansing breaths. “Start from the beginning.”
“As you know, Nigel was one of the victims. But it only looked like the Specter, it wasn’t him. Then there were two cops.” I start listing the dead.
McNab gasps. “Cops? Really? Jesus, this is going to make a witch hunt look like an Easter egg hunt.” He rolls his eyes and plops down on the bed.
“Yeah and Shay knew one of the cops. We haven’t told her yet, she’ll find out soon enough.”
“I haven’t had a spare moment with Harry, Miranda’s been very careful not to leave his side. That woman is evil incarnate. I haven’t been able to find who else she’s working with, but there’s definitely someone.” I wait for his commentary which never comes. “I’m hoping to get Harry alone soon, but last night after the school bus incident I wasn’t able to reach him. I went over there this morning and he wasn’t home.” I raise my eyebrows.
McNab gets a look on his face like he might vomit. “You don’t think Miranda would resort to…” He can’t bring himself to say it.
“I do think she would, the question is how long has Harry been lonely?”
McNab shudders. “Fucking humans. Disgusting really.”
“And you know more about the wedding than I do, so why don’t you tell me what happened.” I wait for him to start to speak.
“That was a poor play on my part; I wanted her to realize that she’s using Eli as a placeholder for Aiden.” He holds his head in his hands.
“Poor play is an understatement. What does it matter?” I question. “All you’ve done is driven her toward Eli rather than away. She’s got a lot happening right now and she’s making serious strides with her power.” This he won’t be happy about.
“You couldn’t keep her under wraps? What the hell, Carl?” He runs his fingers through his hair and reaches into a pocket on his cargo pants. “Has she been wearing the pendant?”
“Yes, but it doesn’t matter. Between her own natural ability and what the Specter has dredged up she’s gaining strength. I think there’s a lot more to that girl than either of us thought,” I warn.
He blows out a breath and rubs the charm between his fingers that he took from his pocket. He’s hunched over slightly on the bed, clearly having difficulty finding calm. The stress is getting to him in a profound way; his back is teeming with the muscle spasms that are raging out of control. I stand from the chair and lay my hands on him. He doesn’t resist. “McNab, I need you to calm down. It’s going to be okay.”
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him this upset. He needs to work on his control and meditation. “Tell me about Aiden, were you able to find him?”
“Fuck, Carl, I’m trying to calm down,” he says, still hanging his head.
“That’s not an answer.”
“No, I didn’t find him. I’m pretty sure he’
s gone. No one has seen him for weeks and his tracker hasn’t moved.” He shakes his head in disbelief. “I’ve never lost one before.”
“I have faith in Aiden. If things get too dire for her, I know he’ll come.” I try to reassure McNab.
“Well, shit’s pretty bad right now and where the hell is he? I mean, no calls, no emails or texts. Does he give a shit about her at all?” He’s calming down, but now he’s just feeling sadness for Shay.
“Yes, he just doesn’t know how.” I pause for a minute so I can segue into the next topic. “Now, about the school bus.”
“What about it?” he asks, leaning up and shaking my hand off his shoulder.
“I don’t think the Specter was after me,” I tell him.
“Really Carl, he was just practicing?” His tone is sarcastic.
“No, I think he was gunning for Bailey.”
“Bailey? I thought you said he wasn’t any kind of threat.”
“That’s the thing, Bailey can not only block me, but he can make it so that I can’t tell that he is.”
He looks at me in disbelief. “What is he?”
“Aside from a serious threat? I don’t know. But I’m going to get to the bottom of it,” I assure him.
“Well, we’ve got a wedding to stop. I might as well change into some clean cargo pants.” McNab stands and starts digging through his travel bag.
“Yeah, well, we aren’t invited. So it may be tough stopping it.”
“No, we can’t stop it, but Harry can. I’m going to Miranda’s hotel, you go to Harry’s. Call me if you find anything. And for Christ’s sake, we have to stop this. She’ll be miserable,” he says, heading for the door.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Goin' to the Chapel
Shay
The ring casts an amazing rainbow of color and sparkles every time the light hits it. It didn’t take more than the short car ride to the courthouse to convince me that this is the right thing. Eli and I are getting married anyway, we might as well make it sooner rather than later. It’s one of life’s inevitabilities. I’m even okay with having the wedding later when things calm down. I’m excited to know that I’m going to be Mrs. Elijah Walker. I look over at Eli all starry-eyed. He affords me a glance as we pull into the parking lot.
“I love you,” I proclaim, looking into those beautiful sapphire eyes of his.
“I love you too.” He pulls the parking brake and looks over at me with a glint in his eye. “Are you ready?”
“You bet I am!” My enthusiasm is one hundred percent real.
“You know you don’t have to do this, that we can wait if you really want,” he offers.
“No, I’m ready. I don’t know why we would wait. I’m only going to love you more tomorrow.” A satisfied smile rises to my lips.
“Okay, then. Let’s go make an honest woman out of you.” He grins, grasping my hand.
We step out of the car and he wraps his arm around me. “So, I know we’re putting off the wedding, but please tell me we’re going to have the honeymoon.”
“Where do you want to go? The sky's the limit.” He waves his hand in the air.
“Anywhere you are.” I smile at him and he squeezes my shoulder.
“Mountains, beach, you name it, I’ll make it happen for you.” A lewd grin rises to his lips. “I’ll make lots of things happen for you.”
“Eli!” I can’t help but blush at his naughty implications. “I like it. Just so long as it’s just us.”
“Kansas?” he asks.
“Kansas?” I’m wondering what he’s thinking with that.
“No one would ever suspect that we went to Kansas. We might actually get a few days alone,” he reasons and it makes sense.
“It could work.” I think about it for a minute. “Actually, I like the idea.”
“Well that’s too bad since I booked us two tickets to Anchorage. We leave tomorrow morning.” Excitement dances in his eyes.
“Oh Eli, I’ve always—” He cuts me off.
“Wanted to go to Alaska, I know.” He’s very pleased with himself.
I walk up the steps knowing that when I walk back down I’ll be Mrs. Walker; a new name, a new woman, a new life. I’m ready. I squeeze his hand and lean my head on his shoulder. “I love you.”
He opens the doors for me and we walk in together. He’s walked through these doors a thousand times, and I’ve been here more than most, but only because I’ve met Dad and Eli here many times. I am amazed at the incredible architecture. I’ve never noticed it before. The beautifully carved marble with angels that look down upon us from the ceiling as though guarding this place from evil.
It’s ironic really when you consider how much evil has walked in and out of those doors. People literally getting away with murder, it used to really bother Dad. We get through security and head for the office where we will get our marriage license.
“You okay?” Eli asks as we go into the Clerk of Courts office.
“I’m great.”
We take a number and a seat, waiting to be called. My license, birth certificate and social security card are getting crinkled and damp being clutched tightly in my hand. I was sure to bring everything they asked for on the website. I didn’t want anything to hold us up.
The woman at the window on the end calls out, “Forty-two, come to window six.”
We approach the window and I’m holding onto Eli for dear life afraid that if I let go this might not happen. “Good morning,” I offer with a little too much enthusiasm.
“Well good morning. Mr. Walker, how are you?”
“Hey there, Lizbeth.” Eli grins and I look up at him with a questioning gaze.
“I remember when Eli was still interning and did all the footwork for the DA’s office.” We slide our paperwork under the slot.
After she examines it, she says, “It is a good morning. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Eli and I say in unison.
She stamps our paperwork. “So when is the big day?”
“Today.” Eli beams with pride.
“Wow, which judge are you going to see?” she asks.
“I was going to see if Judge Sterry is in court this morning.”
She looks at Eli with an expression that says Judge Sterry rarely spends time in court in the morning. “It’s ten thirty, I’m sure he’s still in his office.”
“Excellent, thanks so much Lizbeth. Take care.” We leave her window and I’m feeling giddier than ever.
We head up the grand marble steps to the second floor.
“Mr. Walker?” A voice calls from across the atrium.
Eli turns and sees a woman. “Sharron?”
She makes it to where we are standing and I recognize her from the DA’s office. There’s a panicked look on her face. I’m not liking this. She looks at me, her eyes filled with remorse. “Hey Eli. I’ve been trying to call your phone.”
“I’ve got it turned off.” He blushes. “It’s kind of a big day.” He squeezes me in and holds up our marriage license.
She offers a half-hearted smile. “That’s wonderful, but, well, I’m trying to—”
“Shayleigh!” My dad’s voice booms from below.
“Dad?” I look over the railing.
He runs up the stairs, reaching the top winded. “Shayleigh, what the hell are you doing?” he demands.
“I’m getting married,” I answer simply and nuzzle into Eli.
“Married? What are you thinking? You can’t get married.” Dad is outraged.
“Why can’t I get married?” I’m experiencing a little outrage of my own. “I’m a grown woman, they even let me sign the paperwork without parental consent.” The tension between Dad and me has been ratcheting up.
“Honey, marriage is something you don’t want to take lightly. Not something you should do on a whim.” Miranda inserts her two cents, and honestly, I’d like to insert my fist in her narrow face.
“If I want shit from you I’ll squeeze your head.�
�� There’s fire in my eyes just from having to hear the sound of her voice. She’s got Dad wrapped around her finger and I don’t like it one bit, but now she’s trying to tell me what to do? “Oh fuck this.”
“Shayleigh,” Dad reprimands.
“I’m getting married today with or without your blessing.” I shake my head. “You’ve always wanted me to be with Eli, I thought this would make you happy.”
“Harry, listen. We’re going to have a wedding after everything dies down.” He rests his hand on Dad’s shoulder. “We want to be together.”
Dad turns to me, brushing Eli’s hand off his shoulder. “You can’t do this, you haven’t thought it through. I would like you to take some time. The judge will still be here tomorrow, next week, next month.”
“Dad, I don’t need to wait. I love Eli, we’re meant to be together. I’m not sure where this is coming from.” I pause for effect, looking the bitch in the face then back to Dad. “But you’ve always given Eli your blessing. Nothing’s changed.”
Dad grabs me by the wrist. “We’re getting out of here now.”
My vision starts to close in on me and angry heat is coursing through my entire body. Eli takes a step back from me and Dad lets go of my wrist. In my mind I hear Carl’s voice. “Darlin’, I need you to calm down. Just breathe and calm down.”
I look around and find him and McNab standing at the bottom of the stairs, unmoving. “What the hell, Carl?”
“Look down at your hands.” His voice wafts through my mind. I obey and see there are sparks, actual sparks coming from my hands. They are small and hardly noticeable, but they are there. In a panic I clench my fists in hopes that the sparks will stop. I’m dead scared at what the hell that was and Miranda is looking at me with a knowing smile on her face. I’m smart enough to know that isn’t good.
Carl and McNab run up the stairs. “You okay, kid?” McNab asks in his cool tone.
Somehow I nod through my bewilderment. Everyone is looking at me, even people I don’t know. Apparently I’ve drawn quite the crowd. I’d like to shrink into a ball and disappear right now.
“That wouldn’t be wise,” Carl says out loud as if I could actually dematerialize. “Just focus on staying calm.”
INK: Abstraction Page 23
