Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
Franklin
The remains lying within the box on the table were…sparse. I’d seen more in an urn with cremains. I wasn’t certain which bones survived the fire that consumed Thomas Speedler’s body. All I knew was that there weren’t many. “That’s all that’s left?” I asked. Maybe there were more elsewhere, and they’d only brought out a few for Boone to make contact with.
“That’s it,” Cardoza responded.
“That must have been one hell of an inferno.” I stared at the charred remains. A simple bonfire wouldn’t be enough to break a body down to these small bits. It took a fuck-ton of heat and time.
“The report mentions there was barely anything left of the vehicle they were found within,” Cardoza answered.
“That’s pretty fucking suspicious in its own right.” I’d seen a lot of homicides and this sang that tune.
Cardoza agreed. “There were many questions at the time. Unfortunately, nothing could be proven on our end, but McMahon’s insurance company didn’t need the kind of proof a police investigation requires. They could explore avenues we legally could not.”
Boone smiled. “Until I stepped in.”
I managed to keep my groan internal this time. While, yes, I was very proud of the man standing beside me, his continued knack for sticking his necromancer nose places others didn’t want was worrisome. It placed Boone at risk. Today was simply another reminder of that haunting fact.
Cardoza nodded. “Necromancer Boone is correct. While his testimony alone will not be enough in a court of law, his word is enough to reopen a police investigation. I’ve listened to the recording Mr. Jimenez has. Unfortunately, recordings can be tampered with. An officer of the law needs to be present to launch an official inquiry.”
I knew what that meant, why Boone needed to come back to St. Tammany Parish. Typically, this wouldn’t be all that taxing. However, Boone had been through a lot today. I didn’t want him pushing himself again. “This can wait,” I told Boone. “We can always come back when you’ve had time to rest and recover.” And it would be we . I wasn’t about to let Boone out of my sight.
“It’s okay,” Boone answered, just as I knew he would. “I’d rather get this over with.”
“What about the Meeker case?” I asked.
Boone waved me off. “I did cancel that one. I already contacted Janet. She was very understanding.”
I was glad to hear that. I’d need to check with Captain Cicely and find a time I could accompany Boone to that appointment. Again, I wasn’t letting him out of my sight.
Shifting his head from side to side and stretching his neck, I caught the slight wince and asked, “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Boone’s soft smile appeared more apologetic than reassuring. “My neck hurts. I activated one of Pops’s pain charms earlier, but it’s wearing off.” Before I could say more, Boone placed his hand on my chest, his big, green eyes stared up at me. Damn, I could get lost in those eyes. They were so clear, so fucking honest. Boone would be shit at playing poker. The man’s eyes betrayed every single thought, including his love and affection for me.
“I promise I’ll let you know if I think I need to go to the hospital,” Boone said. With a wince, he pulled away. “I’d rather not if we don’t have to. A lot of medical staff don’t exactly like treating me.”
Anger flared, tightening my chest. “They refuse to treat you?”
Boone started to shake his head but must have thought better of it. “I didn’t say that. But it’s pretty clear they don’t like touching me and…examining me. It’s awkward,” he added with a shrug.
Inhaling, I attempted to scrub the anger from my soul. It was a fruitless endeavor. Medical professionals should fucking know better.
“Momma found a doctor that doesn’t mind and who’s respectful. If it gets too bad, I’ll give her a call. She’s a GP, but it would be a start.”
Rubbing a hand between Boone’s shoulder blades, I offered what support I could and answered, “Whatever makes you the most comfortable.”
“Thanks, Franklin.” Boone’s grateful grin made my heart skip a beat. That grin slipped as he turned his attention back to the meager remains. Eyes slipping closed, Boone said, “Thomas Martin Speedler, I call your soul back to your body.”
I’d seen this song and dance before—with an intact corpse and nothing more than a pile of ash. I’d never seen it with a few bits and pieces of bones. Those fragments rattled around in their box, vibrating like there was an earthquake only they could feel. Those fragments became quiescent again right before a voice said, “Necromancer, why did you bring me back again?”
“Fucking hell,” Cardoza muttered and when I glanced his direction, sweat glistened across his ashen brow. Eyes wide, Cardoza’s gaze flicked around the room, looking for the source of the voice.
“You won’t find anyone,” I said, trying to help so Boone could concentrate. “I’ve seen this before. Don’t ask me how, but Boone is channeling enough of his necromancer mojo into Speedler’s soul that he can speak.”
Cardoza swallowed hard enough for me to see his Adam’s apple bob. With a firm nod, Cardoza spoke with the only other living person in the room, an officer he’d pulled in to visually and auditorily record the situation. “You getting this, Maze?”
Officer Maze’s mouth slipped open, closing before any words escaped. Trying again, his voice was scratchy when Maze finally answered, “Recording.”
That brief answer was good enough for Cardoza and he turned his attention back to Boone.
“Feel free to ask your questions,” Boone said.
Cardoza still appeared puzzled and finally said, “I don’t know where to look.”
Boone waved a hand toward the remains. “He’s hanging around his bones. I don’t have enough to work with to make Thomas Speedler visible.”
“Voice is enough,” Cardoza answered.
Boone said, “Thomas Speedler, this is Detective Emmanuel Cardoza. He would like to ask you—”
“Detective!” That singular word was a mix of relief and excitement. “Is he here to investigate my death?”
“He is,” Boone answered. “Remember what we discussed last time. I will know if you attempt to lie. Doing so is not in the best interest of your soul. I can and will force you to tell the truth.”
“Why would I lie?” Speedler asked, genuinely confused. “I want that fucker to pay.”
Cardoza’s voice was surprisingly calm when he asked, “And what fucker would that be?”
Speedler’s words came out more a growl than human. “Titus McMahon.”
Cardoza stepped closer and said, “Tell me everything, from the beginning.”
Speedler didn’t skimp on details and when Cardoza needed clarification, Speedler was all too happy to provide it. The interview lasted nearly two hours. I could see Boone flagging toward the end and continuously shoved candy at him. I took that two-hour window to text Warlock Holland, letting him know I had eyes on his son and that Boone did appear to be relatively unharmed. I also texted his momma and later, Captain Cicely. Turns out, I had taken a brief second to let her know I was headed out. I hadn’t given many details, only screamed that Boone was in trouble and took off like a bat out of hell. She’d left two voicemails and three texts asking me to contact her with information. I figured I was on Captain Cicely’s shit list. Not because I’d left to take care of Boone, but because I’d been late updating her on the situation. Looks like I’d need to purchase two fruit baskets.
Cardoza promised to keep me in the loop, and I promised him the same. While this wasn’t my jurisdiction, like hell I’d sit back and trust someone else to investigate. Cardoza seemed on the up-and-up. Neither Becks nor I had been able to dig up any dirt on the man. Regardless, I still planned on investigating. I knew without a doubt that Captain Cicely would back me up.
Boone wasn’t shaking when we left, but his shoulders were slumped and he kept rubbing the back of his neck. When I asked if he was out of pain charms, Boone grimaced and said he needed to know how bad the situation was and if he really needed to make an appointment with the doctor he’d told me about earlier. While I didn’t like him in pain, I understood. Holland’s pain charms were useful, but they could mask a deeper problem.
Boone thanked me when I helped him into my SUV, making sure he was buckled in before closing his door. Climbing into the driver’s seat, I started the vehicle and backed out of the parking lot.
“Food?” I asked.
“That would be wonderful,” Boone answered as he leaned his head back into the passenger’s seat, eyes slipping closed.
“Sit down or drive-thru?”
Boone’s nose cutely wrinkled. “Drive-thru,” he answered. “I don’t want to have to sit in a restaurant. Honestly, I just want to get home.” With a heavy sigh, Boone shifted his head so he could look at me. “They’re keeping my car. Cardoza called it evidence.”
“Not surprising,” I answered while pulling out on the street, headed for the I-10 E exit.
“I have no idea when I’ll get it back or what condition it’s in.” Boone blew out an exasperated breath. “I need to call my insurance company.”
“You don’t sound too excited about that.”
“Is anyone ever excited? And if they are, then I think they’ve got more screws loose than me.”
I patted Boone’s leg. “Babe, your loose screws are damn attractive.”
Choking on a laugh, Boone’s eyes sparkled with happy tears when he looked at me. “Was that supposed to be romantic?”
“Eh…” I teetered my hand back and forth. “Not my finest moment, but in my defense, there wasn’t much to work with.”
Boone’s chuckles softened and he leaned his head back against his seat. “Man, today really turned into a clusterfuck.”
“Can’t disagree.”
“The only way it could have been worse was if Aurelia popped up.”
I could think of something a hell of a lot worse—Boone dying. That thought gutted me and nearly made me swerve. I didn’t know what I’d do if I lost the man sitting beside me. Attempting to ignore the pain stabbing my heart, I said, “Do you think Aurelia doesn’t know when you’re in trouble? Or do you think she simply ignores it sometimes?”
Boone started to answer but closed his mouth, taking more time to consider his answer. “I think she doesn’t know. But not because she’s necessarily concerned. Aurelia’s bored. She would have considered this a break from the monotony. She’ll probably be sad she missed it, if only because it would have been interesting .”
I didn’t like how much I agreed with Boone. “Call me crazy, but I don’t think Aurelia feeling bored is a good omen.”
“Not gonna call you crazy for that. Maybe something else down the line, but not that,” Boone teased.
We discussed Aurelia for a little longer but quickly ran out of material. Honestly, neither one of us knew what to say when it came to the djinn and her latest pet.
Boone’s phone rang and I recognized Holland’s ringtone. “You better answer that,” I said. “I texted your father an update earlier, but he’ll want to hear from you directly.”
With a heavy sigh, Boone answered his phone. Attempting to give him some privacy, I tuned out their conversation and retreated to the heavy thoughts weighing down my brain. Who in the hell had attacked Boone? My soon-to-be fiancé was right. There were too many possible names on that list to find comfort.
Did it really have to do with the McMahon case? Or did it have something to do with Boone’s interest in finding his necromancer brethren? Given Huxley’s interest in Boone as a commodity and his concerns I wasn’t capable enough to protect him (a thought I was also currently wresting with), I found it difficult to believe Huxley was behind it. But what about the Warlock Council? They might have capitulated, but that didn’t mean they were happy about it.
I thought back to the nature of the attack. A vehicle and human-made gun were involved. On the surface, that wasn’t a warlock’s style. Then again, what better way to deviate attention elsewhere? It would be a clever move. No, the Warlock Council couldn’t be dismissed out of hand.
And then there were his other clients. Brendon Devonshire came to mind. He was just enough of a self-righteous prick to try something like this. I’d never had the displeasure of meeting the man, but Boone’s comments regarding him certainly hadn’t endeared his personality. Bringing back Devonshire’s stepbrother Cody Stevens hadn’t gone exactly as he’d planned. Brendon Devonshire had left Cody Stevens’s graveside penniless, humiliated, and chasing the girlfriend Stevens revealed he’d cheated on.
Humans had murdered for less.
And those were just the cases I knew of. Boone didn’t tell me the details of every one of them, and there were a litany of clients he’d done business with prior to our getting together. Fuck, the possibilities were endless.
“You look stressed,” Boone said, making me realize his conversation with Warlock Holland was finished.
I rubbed my hand over my face and eyes. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” A couple of beers and claiming Boone’s welcoming ass would do wonders for my soul.
Boone’s hand landed on my thigh. It was his left one. Glancing down, seeing his naked ring finger, I made a mental priority to put a ring on that finger ASAP. I just had to find the right one. Tapping the steering wheel, my brain veered into potentially dangerous waters. Boone’s ring needed to be perfect, but perfect came in a lot of different iterations. Keeping Boone safe was top priority. It sounded silly, thinking a ring might be able to help with that, but that was if one didn’t consider who Boone’s father was.
Boone’s stomach grumbled and when I peeked his direction, his cheeks were tinged pink. “Sorry,” he foolishly apologized.
“I saw a sign for an exit with a lot of food choices. It should be coming up in less than a mile.”
“Sounds good. Gaia, I think at this point, I’d eat just about anything.”
That wasn’t true. While I wouldn’t call Boone picky, he didn’t have a stomach made of steel either. Maneuvering into the right-hand lane, I took the exit. Boone hummed as he stared at the signs, his face lighting up when he saw a Dairy Queen. “Ice cream,” Boone groaned. “Maybe we can eat in the car and then get some ice cream after.”
“Whatever you want,” I answered, speaking the absolute truth. If I lived to be a hundred, I would never tire of attempting to give Erasmus Boone anything and everything he wanted. It was amazing how soul soothing that thought was. It was as if my life’s purpose came into focus when Boone came into my life. Funny how a man that could return the dead had taught me how to live.