He didn’t feel like going back to an empty house, so he stopped at Gillian’s. Travis’s truck was in the driveway. Sam knocked twice and opened the door. He could hear voices in the kitchen.
Gillian smiled a welcome to him, but her eyes didn’t sparkle the way they usually did. She knew what had happened today. Sam gave her a hearty hug, holding her a little longer than usual.
Travis said, “I’m glad you’re here, man. We didn’t get any more evidence from the crime scene today than what was found at the Simpson farm. It waited for them.”
Sam frowned. “Like at Jade’s place?”
Travis nodded. “If I hadn’t known what to look for, I wouldn’t have noticed it. What kind of creature walks as comfortably on two legs as on four? You’re the vet. Help me out here.”
“Thanks, make me feel even more useless,” Sam complained. “I can’t figure out those footprints either. Gillian, have you felt anything?”
“I know that everyone is scared. I think there are people in town who would accept almost any explanation for the crimes. Everything I’ve felt just reinforces the impression that this thing is not human, and it’s sentient. Some people don’t want to admit there are things in this world we cannot always explain away.”
“You’d think living in New Crescent would have cured them of that kind of thinking.” Travis said with frustration.
Gillian squeezed his hand. “I can tell you this much. That thing is not a product of one of the Old Families. It’s not from here. I know that’s not much, but it’s all I’ve got right now.”
“I’ll take what I can get. Thanks.” He kissed her tenderly.
Sam was used to their public displays of affection and didn’t feel uncomfortable. He was happy for them both. “What are you telling people, Sheriff? That thing took down two full grown young women last night. Does that mean there’s no safety in numbers now?”
Gillian gasped as if she’d not thought of that. It looked like Travis had though. He said, “Gillian, I’ve been reluctant to ask you this, but I have no choice.”
She looked at him intently. Sam watched as Gillian and Travis communicated with each other without words. It was part of Gillian’s gift. She could connect with Travis on a level never known to most people. It was humbling to watch, and this time Sam felt a little intrusive.
“Of course I’ll do it.” For Sam’s benefit, she explained, “I’m going to talk with Allan Simpson’s son Henry. He saw that creature, but hasn’t been much good at describing it. If he’ll let me, I’m going to try to connect with his mind and perhaps see what he saw that morning.”
Travis looked very tense, and for the first time, Sam truly understood how he felt. Fear, admiration, gratitude and humility when combined in equal measure, created a very unique expression on a man’s face. Sam felt the same way about Jade’s involvement in this whole thing. God help them all.
* * * *
Snow fell overnight, as if aware that Jade had started to decorate for the season. When she woke in the morning she couldn’t help but smile at the winter wonderland that greeted her. When it came to snow, Jade was still a child. She loved it. She’d never grown to resent it even while clearing her car off or driving on treacherous roads. For Jade it was still a wonder. Rags was in full agreement. He ran around the yard celebrating the first snow. Jade couldn’t help but laugh. It was a good way to start the day.
At the clinic, she went first to the dog they’d operated on yesterday. He was awake, but looking pretty pathetic. For the first time since the surgery, Jade really communicated with him. He didn’t have a name that he could remember. Tentatively, she suggested the name Dodger to him. He liked it. He felt nauseated, and his stomach growled. He hadn’t eaten in a while, so Jade prepared him a supplement to help him regain his strength. She fed it to him a little at a time. He appreciated her kindness. He was a good dog who deserved a home. She happily gave him her heart.
He couldn’t remember much of what had happened, but he knew fear. Vaguely, he could remember houses and lawns. Jade wondered if someone was looking for him. Dodger couldn’t remember his family. He wasn’t a feral dog. He knew and loved humans. He’d seen that thing that had attacked the women. He’d already been caught in the trap and was forced to hear them die, knowing there was nothing he could do to save them. At first when he’d heard the noise, he’d hoped it heralded a rescue, but his sense of smell told him differently. It wasn’t human, but it wasn’t animal either. The women were killed quickly and efficiently. It had drunk their blood and ate their flesh, but wasn’t satisfied with the carnage. It wanted more, but Dodger didn’t know what it had needed so badly. Dodger started to get tired and Jade sat with him until he fell asleep. He was in REM sleep when she stood up and tended to the other patients.
Sam came in just before Jade walked out to the stables to check on the horses. Taking a deep breath, she took the coward’s way out and hated herself for it. She pretended the kiss had never happened.
“Dodger is sleeping, but he might need some pain meds when he wakes.” Sam looked confused, and feeling a little embarrassed, she shook her head and placed the palm of her hand to her forehead. “Sorry, I named the dog Dodger. He likes it, and it seems to suit him.”
Sam walked over to the sleeping dog and started to examine him. “Good name. I take it you’ve communicated with our patient already.”
“Yes. He doesn’t remember much, but he had nothing to do with it.” Jade told him about what she’d learned from Dodger.
When she was finished he nodded. “Good work, Jinx. I got an update from Travis and Gillian.” He told Jade that Gillian knew the creature was an outsider and that she was preparing to talk with Henry Simpson.
“That’s not going to be easy for her. I just got a second hand impression from Dodger and I don’t think I’ll eat lunch today.”
Sam frowned. “You’re eating lunch, Jinx. If I have to feed you myself, you’re having lunch today. You’re far too skinny. Missing one meal would toss you on the wind.”
She arched an eyebrow at him and smiled. Silently she thought of all the meals she’d missed lately because of her feelings for him. She wondered what he’d think if she told him. Jade liked honesty. If she felt something, she saw no reason to hide it. That conviction was most likely formed while living with her father, a man who never told the truth. She wasn’t sure he even knew how to tell the truth. Honesty meant something to Jade. Robert Adams’s blood ran through her veins, she’d had no choice in that matter, but she could choose to live her life with honesty and she did.
Jade smiled tentatively, held her right hand up and made her pledge. “I promise to eat a well balanced lunch.”
He smiled smugly. “You don’t have to promise me. Gillian’s invited us over so I know you’ll eat well today.”
She laughed. “Well then I guess I’d better get some work done. I was just heading out to the stables.”
“Max will be finished mucking out the stables by now, get him to help you put all the horses out in the paddock if they feel a little less frightened today. They usually like the snow.”
Just before she closed the door behind her, she said, “I like snow too.” She hummed,
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
.” as she walked to the barn.
The horses were all very happy to see her and they didn’t mind her choice of music, but they were anxious to get outside. The smell of snow was irresistible to them. They reveled in the change of seasons just like she did. There was no unexplained fear this morning, and Jade was relieved to know it. Maybe the town would get a reprieve. She shook her head. That was just wishful thinking. Dodger had indicated that the creature hadn’t been satisfied with its last kill. It wanted more. There was more to come and Jade had to brace herself for it. But at this moment, watching the horses as they frolicked in the newly fallen snow, Jade set aside her worries and enjoyed the show.
Jade was surprised to see Chase and Reggie at Gillian’s when she and Sam arrived for lunch. Gillian just smiled serenely and offered great tasting food. For the first time in a while, Jade ate well. While dining on a wide variety of salads and sandwiches, they talked about the Sinclairs’ upcoming Christmas party. Jade knew for sure she’d be called upon to sing
Blue Christmas
when Reggie told Gillian about the joke Travis had played on her so many years ago. Apparently, the whole town was eagerly awaiting her comeback performance after all these years. She groaned at the thought and grabbed her throat theatrically. Secretly, she was touched that so many people remembered her and looked forward to her pathetic contribution to their Christmas celebrations. She was determined to be a good sport about it.
Over coffee and dessert they talked about the murders. Reggie was the first to report. She took a large bite of cake and washed it down with a glass of milk. She’d given up coffee during her pregnancy. “Constance is a pain. She was so elusive that I had to threaten to start singing at her.” Everyone laughed.
Chase nodded. “No joke, she’s serious. Have you heard her sing since she got pregnant? She’s surprisingly tone deaf, but that doesn’t stop her from belting out show tunes.” He shook his head sadly. “It is most unfortunate.”
Ignoring her husband, Reggie continued. “Constance pleaded ignorance. According to her there have been no signs from beyond about something unnatural preying on New Crescent. She did however suggest that the creature could have been called by a powerful dark spell cast here in this world.”
Travis said, “Did she say that there was anyone in New Crescent who could cast such a spell?”
Reggie shrugged. “Not anymore, Chase and I saw to that. These days I guess Ernestine, Gillian and I could.”
“Not funny, Reg.” Sam said as he pushed the cake away from her. She threatened him with her fork, and he put the cake back.
“It’s true though. A person would have to be at least as powerful as a Guardian to control such a creature. Gillian, have you sensed a power like that?”
Gillian shook her head. “No, I haven’t. Not since Chase and Reggie cleaned out the library at Bennett House or I should say McCann House.” She looked at Reggie. “There’s no chance it’s coming from your place right?”
“The place is clean. Trust me. That’s something Constance wouldn’t be reticent about and I wouldn’t miss it either, my power is getting stronger every day. Make no mistake about it.” Reggie patted her tummy.
Gillian said, “I would think something that strong, within a five hundred mile radius of New Crescent, would be unmistakable to me too.”
“Could it be a group of people with combined power?” Sam asked.
“No.” Gillian’s voice was firm. “I can’t explain it, but conjuring like that would be impossible for me to miss. Nature’s delicate balance would have been skewed. Constance, Reggie and Ernestine would feel it too. As flighty as Constance can be sometimes, she was a Guardian and even
she
wouldn’t be cagey about a creature like this.”
Reggie asked, “so what does that leave us with?”
“Something created by man, my family in particular,” said Sam. “You’ve said all along that this thing was not created by Mother Nature so what does that tell us? Some kind of evil on earth hatched it. Who better than Daniels Pharmaceuticals?”
They were silent. No one wanted to speak about Sam’s parents. He had to do it.
And he did. “The first step is to confront my Dad. He’ll pat me on the head and tell me nothing, so I’ll have to throw my family name around his underlings at work. One of his minions is bound to be eager to impress the heir to the Daniels empire. People like my father don’t usually inspire loyalty.” He looked over at Jade. “Tomorrow’s Saturday, so it stands to reason that all the really keen, evil geeks will be working. The perfect time to get information.”
Jade said, “I’ll stop by the clinic and make sure all is well while you’re gone. Will you be home by the evening? I have plans.” Her words were met with silence. Reggie, Gillian, and Travis looked at the ceiling. Travis took a breath, pursed his lips and was about to whistle when Gillian gave him a cross look and a nudge.
Chase was surprised. “You have plans tomorrow night?”
Blushing, Jade said, “Yes. I’m going to dinner with Tom Weatherby.”
Chase was too busy being big brother to notice the pulse throbbing in Sam’s jaw, but Jade didn’t miss it.
“I didn’t know you knew Tom,” Chase said in an ominous tone.
Jade tried to be casual. “I met him through work. He seems like a nice guy.”
Chase looked around the room and when no one disputed her claim, he said, “Uh, well I guess all I can say is have a good time.”
With a smirk, Jade said, “Why don’t you get Reggie to talk to Constance? She’ll probably be able to give you a play by play of my date with Tom.”
For a second, Chase looked like he was actually considering Jade’s suggestion. Reggie put a hand on his thigh. “Down boy.”
Sam was silent.
Travis changed the subject. “Okay, Reggie, you’re going to lean on Constance, so to speak. Sam will infiltrate Dante’s seventh circle of hell, otherwise known as Daniels Pharmaceuticals, and Jade, you’ll go out on a date.” There was laughter and Travis raised his eyebrows at Sam. He continued, “No, sorry, just a joke. Jade will continue to communicate with our animal friends. I’ll check on my buddies at the FBI and the Smithsonian. Chase, you search the internet for other cases that may resemble this one, Reggie tells me you navigate the internet with ease.” He smiled fondly at his fiancé and held his hand out, palm up. “Gillian spoke to Henry Simpson this morning. We’ve waited for you guys to get here to talk about it.”