To Bedevil A Beauty (Southern Sanctuary - Book 5)

by Jane Cousins

  It all came back to Gerard Bannon. Sitting at his desk later that afternoon Ramsey compared the file Cam McKenzie had compiled on Gerry alongside the one he’d prepared on Robert Granger. It was funny, Ramsey contemplated a recent photo of Granger. Over two years in prison hadn’t appeared to harden the man or impacted him adversely, if anything Granger looked softer and weaker than when he’d gone in.

  Gerry, a hardened, mentally unbalanced ex-cop, seemed to be an unlikely ally. In fact the two, according to their prison files, shared no activities or work details. Other than the fact that Gerry’s cell was located next door to Granger, there was no other link. Okay, so what had Gerard said when he’d been talking to Berry? Something about listening to Granger tell stories every night about his ‘witchy’ good luck charm wife. But still, why would Gerard be sucked into joining forces with Granger? Why would he be willing to head to the Southern Sanctuary after they broke out of jail just because of a few rambling stories about an ex-wife with peculiarly good luck at choosing winning horses?

  Granger didn’t strike him as that charismatic or capable of manipulating someone of Gerard’s shaky mental balance. Damn, he pushed Gerry’s file away, his eyes falling on the file beneath it. One of the other - still at large - escapees, Morris Tidewater, forty-two counts of fraud. So why hadn’t Tidewater jumped on the bandwagon? A safety in numbers kind of thing? Ramsey scanned Tidewater’s information, no shared activities and his cell was located at the end of the block, a fair distance from Granger’s cell, so when the prison flooded and that wall had crumbled Tidewater had set out on his own path.

  That just left Previn Carlyle, shyster, master manipulator and Granger’s cell mate. He and Granger had shared library class and kitchen clean up together. Ramsey’s eyes flicked down to Carlyle’s internet search history. That witch connection again, hmm, it was half a world away and historically notable, but why would someone like Previn Carlyle be researching it when his earlier searches all revolved around the law and ways to decrease his sentence? “Why Salem?”

  “What was that Chief?”

  He’d barely muttered the words, Maureen’s hearing was better than any submarine sonar.

  “I was wondering, what’s so significant about the Salem witch trials?”

  Maureen’s head popped around the corner. Petite, with a ready smile, Maureen was the epicentre of the police station, not to mention he was beginning to think supernaturally gifted when it came to knowing what was going on in this town. “I suppose you could say that Salem was the early germination of the Southern Sanctuary.”

  Ramsey quirked an eyebrow upwards for a brief second. Maureen needed no further encouragement.

  “Many with magic in their veins fled to the New World settlements hoping to find a safe haven to raise their families, where they could better protect their secrets from overly attentive neighbours and inquisitive clergy. Unfortunately, the harsh environment and close living of settlement life in the initial years made that an almost impossible dream. Mistakes were made, others became suspicious and accusations were cast. Before things could spiral too far out of control several families banded together and left Salem…”

  “The Brights, the Dunsts, the Bennetts…” Ramsey reeled off a few of the names he knew.

  Maureen smiled. “Those and a few others. They headed North, hoping to find a place to settle. According to our family records they stopped in several new locations, met, mingled and sometimes married local indigenous Indians and while some chose to stay, the Group, as a whole, kept moving. Eventually they found their way by ship to this big, new, promised land.”

  “But Australia wasn’t discovered yet! The first settlers didn’t arrive until 1788.” Ramsey shook his head in denial.

  Maureen beamed a smile his way, giving him a cheeky wink. “We were here first. Just one more secret I’m afraid you’re going to have to keep Chief.”

  Ramsey collapsed back in his chair. Magic was real. Now he was supposed to believe that the Southern Sanctuary had been settled eighty to ninety years earlier than the history books said? Pushing his own astonishment aside, Ramsey glanced back down at Previn Carlyle’s file… so just why was Robert Granger’s cellmate so interested in Salem? How would Carlyle even know to look at Salem? Following a hunch, Ramsey called up a local telephone directory, skimming through it he noted down four random names. Typing those names into his computer he pushed the button for search and what do you know… Salem came up. Damn, just what did it mean? Had Granger been getting his cellmate to do some research for him?

  Looking up he found Maureen once more in his office, her cell phone in her hand, a strange look on her face.

  “What?”

  “They’ve just arrested Robert Granger…”

  “Good.” Ramsey stood to pick up his coat, he had a hundred or so questions he wanted to ask their new prisoner.

  “No Chief, you don’t understand. He was apprehended at a small airstrip just outside of Alice Springs.”

  Alice Springs? Ramsey froze, that was several thousand miles away. Granger must have been travelling from the moment his plan had gone snafu and his buddy Gerry Bannon started taking pot shots at him and accidentally hit Berry. Damn, the locals there would be transporting Granger directly back to New South Wales, he’d never get his hands on him now.

  Still, something didn’t sit right. Shit, who was he kidding, none of this sit right. Then another thought pushed everything aside, Berry would be moving out. God damn it. Hold on, maybe there was a way to stall. Keep the information from Berry so… he looked over at Maureen, her cell phone still clutched in her hand. Shit, who was he kidding? The whole town knew by now that Granger was re-captured. Double damn, what else could possibly go wrong?

  He no sooner had that thought when his desk phone rang.

  Maureen eyed the phone, her dark eyes dilating for a split second. “That will be the NSW police wanting to arrange Mr Bannon’s transportation.”

  Ramsey frowned… oh she meant Gerard, Gerry boy. Reluctantly he picked up the phone, now it looked like he was about to lose the last person he had physical access too who could have told him why the hell Robert Granger wanted Berry back in his life so badly.

  Shit, he wanted to hit something, someone. Most of all he didn’t want to walk back into his apartment tonight and find Berry gone. He couldn’t force Berry to talk to him but once she was out of his apartment, any chance he had of convincing her to change her mind zeroed out. Bloody hell, what was he going to do with himself with Berry out of his life?

  * * *

  Bloody hell, what was she going to do with herself with Ramsey officially out of her life?

  Berry felt weird walking across the town square without a police escort. She’d ducked out of work half an hour early after hearing the news from Marion, who heard it on fast track from her sister Maureen. It was official, Robert had been captured. Upon first hearing the news she’d frozen, damn, she no longer had an excuse to linger at Ramsey’s apartment… no, she didn’t mean to think that, she meant to think - yeah… she could have her life back.

  Ugh, but what sort of life was she going to have without Ramsey in it?

  A question she’d been wrestling with ever since Ramsey had shared the news that it was Great-Aunt Alma pulling the strings that had resulted in his presence here at the Sanctuary. Conniving, manipulative, deceitful, scheming, tricky, wily… Alma. Everyone knew her methods were low down and sneaky. Of course, the other thing everyone knew about Alma’s match making skills was that she was never wrong… Goddess damn her.

  Except in this particular case Berry assured herself, as she ducked down Kestrel laneway, nodding and waving at a few family members in the distance, refusing to be distracted from her mission. All she needed to do was gather all her stuff together and get out of Ramsey Hughes’ apartment faster than fast. Heavens, why had she let Jo-Jo unpack her things? Well, there would be no time for folding or rolling. She would just grab everything up in big armfuls and stuff it into her
suitcase. There’d be plenty of time for ironing in the long, lonely nights she had ahead of her.

  She turned left onto Beach road, striding passed all the shops and cafes just short of a run. Problem was, once her bags were packed, how was she going to leave? She didn’t have a car anymore. Who could she call? Eli? Fraser? Nell? Someone who wouldn’t ask a lot of questions… well that left her with absolutely no options… ohh, except for Hadleigh. Though there was a high probability that Hadleigh was off killing something, damn. Fine, she’d call a taxi or catch a bus if she couldn’t get hold of her cousin.

  No way was she spending any more time than she had too under the same roof as Ramsey Hughes. She needed distance from the man. There’d be no more heated grey eyed looks, sexy - I know all your erogenous zones – smiles, or knee-weakening, flirty little compliments. No… means no. She would be strong, she would not weaken. Sworn off men… for life! Maybe she should get a t-shirt made. Hah, like she could afford to have a t-shirt made.

  By the time she reached Ramsey’s apartment block there was no denying she was running, which was a lucky happenstance as she breezed past Gaia, loitering outside on the pavement, before her desperate cousin had even figured out she was there. Her fingers dancing over the keypad in a quick rhythm as she shoved the door open with her shoulder and then slammed it shut before Gaia had a chance to speak.

  Woes betide Gaia if she was still out there when Berry left. In her foul mood in all likelihood she’d tear strips off her desperate to spawn cousin. She was so distracted by her troubles; Ramsey, Alma, Gaia, no car, no money, the fact that she’d never be having sex again… because let’s face it, after Ramsey, why bother with second best? It wasn’t until she’d barged into her bedroom and was instantly enveloped in a cloud of Shalimar, Chanel no.5 and White Diamonds that she realised her Great-Great-Aunts had somehow managed to breach the apartment’s defences and had invaded her room.

  If their cats could do it, why was she so surprised to find her Aunts not far behind? They descended upon her in a tidal wave of affection.

  “Berry darling, you poor, poor girl.” Adelaide pushed her sisters aside, encompassing Berry in a bone crushing hug.

  Daphne snatched Berry up next, almost smothering her in a swathe of jewelled scarves, one of her long dangly earrings hitting Berry on the nose. “Angel, we are here for you.”

  “Um…” Berry fighting to breathe, managed to turn her head. “Thanks?”

  “Oh sweetie.” Margot grabbed Berry from her sister, dragging her in close, under her White Diamonds was the familiar smell of vanilla and chocolate. “You can do so much better.”

  Berry frowned, what the… huh? “I can?”

  Margot didn’t like her hesitancy and hugged her even tighter. “Trust in yourself, you can and you will.” Margot stated with absolute finality.

  Still unsure about what was going on, but in the interests of being able to breathe freely, Berry managed a more confident. “I will.”

  This response seemed to please Margot who finally let go. Stumbling back a few steps Berry eyed her sad eyed, smiling bravely - seemingly for her benefit - Aunts. Goddess, what family drama was going on now? Then she noticed her luggage by the side of the bed… all packed.

  “You packed for me?”

  “You shouldn’t have to stay under this roof with that man, one more minute than you have to.” Adelaide declared dramatically, her sisters chuffing their agreement.

  Hmm, she knew why she had to get away but why were her Aunts suddenly no longer on the Chief Hughes’ bandwagon… unless they were still mad about the speeding fines? “It has been very kind of him to let me stay here… for protection.” Berry didn’t want her Aunts to dislike Ramsey or plot any physical or magical revenge on him for his actions.

  “Yes, yes.” Daphne clapped her hands dismissively. “Come along Berry, you need to get changed before we leave.”

  That’s when Berry noticed the long sleeved black evening dress lying on the bed, ropes of jet black beads sparkling under the light. “Ummm, why do I have to change?” All she intended to do was go home to Tally’s place and mope and brood with a big mug of generic brand, watery hot chocolate for consolation.

  “For the party, silly.” Daphne beamed her way.

  “Perfect place to meet a man.” Adelaide scooped up the dress and some silky scraps of underwear, thrusting them at Berry.

  “You did promise.” Margot, the sturdiest of the three sister grabbed her by the shoulders, gently steering her towards the bathroom.

  Berry wanted to protest. Wanted to question what the hell was going on. But it was three against one, and when united together for a common cause, the sisters were like a force of nature. They seemed as eager as she was to leave Ramsey’s apartment, maybe if she just went along with their plan she’d find an opportunity to sneak away.

  Thirty minutes later she was in the back seat of Adelaide’s white Mercedes, with Margot at her side, sending her pitying looks. For the tenth time in only a few minutes Margot reached over to pat her hand encouragingly. “You look beautiful darling.” Margot leaned forward slightly to speak to her two sisters situated in the front of the car. “Doesn’t she look beautiful?”

  There might have been a unanimous agreement in the car that she looked beautiful but Berry was too lost in her own thoughts to process them. She felt over-dressed and stretched-thin. She’d gone and done it, with her Aunts help. She’d left Ramsey’s apartment for good. She pressed her spine harder against the seat, grinding the ropes of jet black beads that decorated the back of her cocktail dress into her skin, she would not cry… she would not cry. Sightlessly she stared out the window at the darkening twilight. They were on the road headed for Reverie Valley and an art show opening. That much she knew and she could have cared less. Suddenly though her ears pricked up, something Adelaide, who was driving, had said. Something about someone being… wrong?

  Thankfully Margot, who could be a little hard of hearing, asked her sister to repeat what she’d said.

  Adelaide huffed out an annoyed sigh and raised her voice. “In all the years I’ve known her… I’m just saying, I’ve never known her to be wrong before.”

  “Perhaps she’s losing her touch?” Daphne put forward her opinion.

  Berry wondered who they could be talking about, her Aunts after such a long time in each other’s company often spoke in their own shorthand kind of language.

  “Oh, don’t let her hear you say that.” Margot chuckled, hitting Daphne gently on the back of the shoulder.

  “Well someone just might have to. If she was wrong about this… about Berry… then she’s no good to the Sanctuary anymore is she? And I’m saying that with love.”

  “Of course we love her.” Margot strained forward even further. “She’s family, will always be family, but that still leaves the question doesn’t it?”

  Adelaide was the one to pose it out loud. “Just how could Alma have been so wrong about Berry and Ramsey Hughes?”

  Berry bit down on her bottom lip to stop herself from gasping out loud. Her mind was whirling, her gut clenched uncomfortably tight as Adelaide’s statement sunk in and shook her world. Ramsey Hughes was not the man for her… Alma really had been wrong!

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Wait! What? It was one thing for her to refuse to submit to Great-Aunt Alma’s match making machinations. It was another thing entirely to hear that her Aunt had made a genuine mistake in trying to match her and Ramsey together.

  “How do you know?” Heavens, why couldn’t she have kept her mouth shut?

  “Sweetie?” Margot looked at her questioningly.

  “How can you be sure that Alma got it wrong?”

  “Well.” Margot shifted uncomfortably in her seat, even in the dim light there was a guilty look on her face. The sudden absolute quiet in the car was another dead giveaway.

  “What did the three of you do?” Berry fought hard to keep her tone reasonable and polite. What had her interfering relatives done no
w? What havoc, what chaos had they wrought that would eventually rebound back on to her?

  “Nothing…”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

  “You see it’s like this…” Daphne turned in the passenger seat to look back at Berry, ignoring the glares her sisters were sending her way. “We were just trying to help things along.”

  “Daphne.” Adelaide warned.

  “Don’t you Daphne me. We all agreed things were going too slowly. Anyone watching them interact could see it, barely talking, let alone making eye contact. They had such potential in the court room; we all saw the flirting and then… nothing.”

  Oh Goddess. “What did you do?” Berry needed to know and she needed to know now. Had they hurt Ramsey?

  “We each went to see him today.” Margot admitted softly, hazel brown eyes full of sympathy.

  “And?”

  “We just thought he needed a little nudge, that’s all.” Adelaide defended.

  Berry wanted to scream, instead she dug her fingernails into the palms of her hands. “And?”

  “I’m sorry, Berry.” Daphne gave her sad puppy dog eyes of sympathy. “So sorry. He drank Adelaide’s coffee… nothing. He wore my cufflinks… nothing. And he ate one of Margot’s cookies… nothing.”

  Oh Goddess, oh Goddess, no. Berry felt colour flood her face, she desperately wanted to curl up in ball of embarrassment. “What magic did you use?”

  Margot patted Berry’s hand again. “Love… we used love.”

  Berry closed her eyes, leaning sideways, resting her forehead against the cool of the window. So it was true, Alma had been wrong. For the first time in her long illustrious career her Aunt had made a mistake. So why didn’t she want to crow about it? Why didn’t she want to hunt Alma down and do a victory shimmy and blow a raspberry in her Aunt’s face? Why did her chest hurt? Why did she feel so hollow?