Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
Erasmus
I’m not sure when I fell asleep. Given how shitty I’d slept last night, it was no wonder my eyes slipped closed when my head hit the couch pillow. Thank Gaia for Loretta’s healing potion. I could feel the warmth of its healing effects along my neck and back. The shooting pain was gone, leaving a dull ache I could live with, or at least sleep through.
My dreams were peaceful, or at the very least, unmemorable. I woke to the feel of fingers carding through my hair, the gentle brush of nails along my scalp. At first, I thought it was Momma, but her fingers were far more delicate. With a contented sigh, I whispered, “Franklin.”
“The one and only,” Franklin answered with a kiss to the top of my head.
Eyes still closed, I blindly reached forward. Franklin’s fingers intertwined with mine and I pulled his hand close. Given the angle, he had to be sitting on the coffee table. With a yawn, I finally opened my eyelids enough to peek at the man sitting across from me. “Is it evening already?” I asked. The clouds had settled back in, and the room was shrouded in pale shadows.
“Not yet. It’s just after one p.m.,” Franklin answered.
“One? Why are you home?” I sat up, only wincing slightly at the movement. Loretta’s potion still had a ways to go, but I already felt so much better.
“How are you feeling?” Franklin asked instead of answering my question.
“Much better.” I rubbed the back of my neck as I sat upright. “Loretta stopped by earlier.”
Franklin’s eyebrows shot skyward. “Captain Loretta Cicely?”
“One and the same. She was kind enough to bring me a couple of healing charms. Well, more like healing potions. I drank the first one and it’s already doing its thing. I’ll take the second tomorrow.”
Franklin’s quick inhale distracted from his suddenly glassy eyes. “I considered asking her, but I wasn’t sure. I knew you were in worse pain than you wanted to let on and I promised myself that if you weren’t feeling better by tonight that I’d find a way to force you to go to the doctor.”
“Trust me, if it weren’t for Loretta’s potion, there wouldn’t have been a lot of force required. I’d already figured out that I was being a stubborn fool and needed more than that innate stubbornness to heal,” I finished with a sheepish grin.
Franklin released my fingers and eased back, a light chuckle falling from his lips. While the laughter wasn’t forced, it highlighted just how tired he appeared. The last twenty-four hours had been stressful, and worry was a heavy weight to cart around.
“Hey.” I reached forward, resting my palm on Franklin’s thigh. “I’m going to be fine. Probably better than fine by the time Loretta’s healing potion gets done with me. It’s not specific, and according to your generous captain, it seeks out inflammation and repairs the cause. My joints are going to be singing Loretta’s praises too.” I offered a crooked grin that Franklin returned in kind.
“At this rate, I’m going to need to add another fruit basket to my list.”
“Got a lot of others to thank?”
Franklin grunted. “Yes, and that list is growing.”
“That’s not a bad problem to have.”
“Not saying it is. Only that I’ve had too many situations where assistance has been needed. I’m glad it’s been there, just not happy regarding the necessity.”
“Ah. I get it.” I nodded and was pleased that it didn’t increase my discomfort. Franklin’s smile slipped from his face and his eyes turned downcast. Something more was going on. “What is it?” I coaxed.
Franklin’s deep inhale lifted his shoulders and his exhale rounded them, pulling down into himself. “I just gave a death notification to the family of a seventeen-year-old boy. He was the John Doe I told you about.”
“You were able to get an ID?”
Franklin gave a heavy nod. “We were.” He proceeded to tell me as much about the case as he could. Franklin could get away with giving me more information than the average layperson since Captain Cicely contracted me to help now and again. I sat there, listening to the sad tale.
“Come here,” I said while patting the cushion beside me. Franklin didn’t require telling twice. Easing down beside me, Franklin leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling. Resting my head on his shoulder, I snuggled in close. “I’m so sorry you had to do that.”
“I know you are, and I appreciate it. Most don’t realize this is the hardest part of the job. Not just for me. Nearly everyone in law enforcement will tell you the same thing.”
We sat there, lights off and dim light surrounding us. The house was peaceful. Franklin’s inhales made his chest rise and fall, slightly shifting my head as his body moved.
“Do you know how he was killed?” I asked, keeping my voice soft.
“How, yes. Why, no. Toxicology came back. Our victim’s body was loaded with heroin. I don’t know if his murder was drug related or not.”
I laid my hand on Franklin’s chest, my fingers toying with a button. “Do you want me to bring his soul back? I can ask him what happened, see if he remembers anything useful.”
Franklin inhaled, raising his chest. “Thank you for the offer, but I think we’ll use that as a last resort. The body’s already been autopsied.” I cringed. “Also, as much heroin as he had in his system, I’m not sure it will do a lot of good.”
Franklin wasn’t wrong. I’d brought souls back before that were high when they died. While they didn’t carry that high with them, their mental state at the time of their death wasn’t very conducive to remembering specific or accurate details.
“Okay. I understand. Just know the offer’s on the table.”
Bending is head, Franklin kissed my temple. “And I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that.”
We sat there, basking in the silence and each other’s warmth. The clock in the kitchen ticked, the sound loud in my otherwise silent house. After a few moments, I asked, “When do you have to go back to work?”
“Soon,” Franklin vaguely answered but made no effort to leave. His fingers continued caressing my shoulder. “I heard from Detective Cardoza,” Franklin said, his voice tight.
“Did the find the person who ran me off the road?”
“No, but the vehicle’s been located.” Franklin filled me in on the disappointing story. “He sent me the video from the rental car company. Feel like seeing if you recognize the person?”
“Why not? It’s not like I’ve got anything better to do besides sit here and allow Loretta’s potion time to work.” Curious, I shifted and sat up straighter. I immediately missed Franklin’s warmth along my side but kept our thighs touching, unwilling to completely shift away.
Pulling out his phone, Franklin brought up his e-mail and opened the file. Huddled together, we watched the video. “Play it again,” I said and this time, Franklin magnified the person at the desk. I made Franklin play the video a third time, hoping something would click in my brain. Nothing did. “I hate to say this, but I can’t make a positive ID. I can think of a lot of clients that have had long, brown hair, but beyond that, nothing specific stands out.” It didn’t help that there wasn’t a good view of the person’s face or that they wore a baseball cap.
“Cardoza believes it’s a woman. Given the mannerisms, I’d agree,” Franklin said.
My lips twisted as my eyes scrunched with memory. “That fits. I can’t tell you a lot about the person who shot at me. They had a mask covering most of their face with only the eyes visible. What I can say is that I got a feminine impression. I wouldn’t stake my life on that though.”
“Understandable,” Franklin agreed while pocketing his phone. “We aren’t even certain the person in the video is human.”
My lips quirked into a smirk. “Well, I think we can rule out a pixie, troll, ogre, dwarf, or brownie.” There were other species in there too. “Too short to be a fairy. Could be a were.” In their humanoid form, weres were nearly impossible for any of the nonmagical to distinguish from human.
“All true.” Franklin’s smile was weak and barely lit his eyes, but it was a start.
An idea hit me. I’d need Momma’s help, but it would be worth it. Franklin needed a pick-me-up and I was feeling well enough to deliver. He stayed for another ten, maybe fifteen minutes. Long enough for me to relate Aurelia’s latest, uncomfortable visit.
I waited for Franklin’s SUV to head back down the drive, waving at him as he drove away. Once he was out of sight, I called Momma. Thankfully, she answered after the second ring.
“Erasmus, honey, how are you feeling?” Momma’s words were tinged with worry.
“Much better. Listen, I know this is short notice, but are you free this afternoon?”
“I’m closing on a house at two, but after that I should be free. Why? What do you need?”
It wasn’t exactly what I needed; it was what Franklin needed. “A ride and to do a little shopping.”
Momma’s grin bled into her voice. “You know I’m always up for a little shopping. I’ll call you when I finish work. See you soon.”
Momma ended the call, and I immediately went into planning mode. I also made a trip to the attic, carefully pulling down boxes. Loretta told me to take it easy. While decorating for Winter Solstice wasn’t exactly strenuous, it wasn’t lounging the couch either. Regardless, I’d take my chances. By the time Franklin got home tonight, the house would be festive and bright.