Chapter Three #2
Yeah, she wasn’t going there. For now, she wanted out of that room, and away from the painting of herself on the wall. The room had gotten chilly, and from past experiences, that told her something she didn’t like to think about.
Ghosts.
She’d dealt with Trey a few too many times when he opted to find her, haunt her phone, and her home.
She.
Was.
Gone.
“Huh. It looks heavy. Got milk?” she asked, eating another cookie as she was planning her escape.
Graham nodded.
“In the fridge.”
And there was her exit strategy.
With that, she walked out, not wanting to deal with the painting or the issue with it looking like her. Instead, she was being a big, fat chicken and running for her damn life.
When she was gone, Graham kept his voice low.
“That wouldn’t fall off the wall. We installed that. It was on a rail. It can’t fall off. That’s impossible unless the hardware broke behind it, Laddie.”
Oh, Michael knew since Graham had handed it up to him, and he’d put it on that rail himself. He’d triple checked it, and there was no freaking way.
Add that to what he saw earlier...
“We have a problem,” he whispered.
His husband lifted a brow.
“What?”
That’s when Michael told him.
“She wanted to see the grounds. I showed her and she was focused on the lake. She was DRAWN to it. In fact, she pointed in its direction, when she could have gone anywhere.”
Uh-oh.
“When we got down there, a mist was rolling in, and it felt…off. It got cold, like it is in here now.”
Yeah, now, he was worried.
“Off?”
Michael nodded.
“Worse, we walked away, and I looked back. When I did, the lake was bubbling in that one single spot. YOU KNOW THE SPOT that I’m talking about, too.”
Oh, he did.
That wasn’t good.
Not.
At.
All.
“Bubbling?”
Michael nodded.
“And now, the painting falls off the rail, the painting of Ceit, who LOOKS like Elizabeth, or vice versa? This can’t be good.
I don’t think the calm is going to last long,” he admitted.
“I’m beginning to think what we believed to be the final, insignificant part of the mystery is actually more than that. ”
Oh, Jesus.
“So, it’s not done?”
His gut said no. It looked as if his husband had jinxed them by saying it was misfortunate that Elizabeth hadn’t been here to help.
Instead, he just shook his head.
Well, shit.
Graham had been enjoying the quiet around here, and the satisfaction of thinking they solved the entire thing, minus the painting.
“What do we do?” he asked.
Honestly, Michael didn’t know. That was a damn good question.
“Let’s wait and see what happens, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that she shows up, and it kicks back up. Something is way off here, and I have a sick feeling we’re going to have to deal with that too.”
Graham closed his eyes.
“And here, Laddie, I was getting accustomed to not having to be worried about the shit hitting the fan.”
Him too.
“We have to figure this out. If she finds out it’s about to blow up, and start again, she might leave. She isn’t safe out there, and if she’s distracted…”
Graham got it.
“So, I guess this leg of the journey is on us.”
Yeah, he believed so.
Then again, what choice did they have to handle this? It was their home, after all.
“Let’s go keep an eye on her,” Michael stated. “Just in case.”
That worked for him.
Following out of the room, they found Elizabeth at the island, and she was having cookies and milk. Joining her, Michael poured himself a glass and ate a cookie.
“I’m going to get fat,” Elizabeth stated, eating another cookie. “These are good.”
Graham smiled.
Until they figured out what all of this meant, or if it meant anything at all, they were going to fake it until they made it. The less they let on with her, the better.
They were worried about her mental status after that last brutal case. It was best not to burden her with this and distract her. Hopefully, that would work.
“Well, Mom, consider yourself being fed cookies. I make a mean Cranachan, and a shortbread you’ll die for.”
Michael stared at him like he was out of his mind.
Seriously? he mouthed. THAT’S THE PHRASE?
Graham tried not to laugh. It wasn’t like he’d planned on any of this kicking back up again, but he was smart enough to know one thing.
That part of the castle, the one closest to the crypt, was feeling chilly—and not because of the weather.
Been there.
Done that.
Elizabeth didn’t react, and they weren’t sure if that was intentional or she didn’t put two and two together with what he’d just said about ‘to die for’.
“Well, feed me. I’m not saying no to dessert,” she admitted. “Trust and believe that.”
Michael laughed.
“I mean, it’s dessert. I’m in. Apparently, I get that from her, too,” he admitted. “I do love a sweet treat.”
She patted him on the leg and then yawned. She was three days past exhausted, and would kill for a soft, warm bed to cuddle up in and hide.
Glancing at her watch, she had to do the math since she’d not changed it for the time. It was heading toward eight, and she needed some downtime.
“Is there any way a girl could see her room?” she asked. “I’m running on fumes. I didn’t sleep the last three days, and I only catnapped on the flight here.”
Both men nodded.
It was probably for the best that she went to bed. She’d not be bothered by any antics if they kicked up again. All they could hope was the castle stayed quiet.
Would it?
They had no idea.
The place had a mind of its own.
Unfortunately.
“I’ll show you,” Michael offered. “I think you’ll enjoy the bed in there.”
That worked for her.
Since she appeared to be done eating, Graham put the remaining cookies in the cookie jar on the counter. It was a cheerful cow with a crazy grin.
“In case you get hungry or need more sugar,” he said, showing her where they would be. “Help yourself. I’ll make sure more appear tomorrow.”
Oh, well, that sounded like the best part of her stay here, other than seeing her sons.
Who didn’t like a magical refilling cookie jar?
Who didn’t like a cookie?
Many times, she’d sneak out of bed, waking Ethan, and she’d find him following her to the kitchen for a midnight snack. Wyler made a mean cookie.
Then, that sorrow hit like a punch to the chest.
Man.
She missed him.
“Thank you,” she said, trying not to get emotional, since her leaving had been her choice.
At her words, he smiled.
“It’s a pleasure, Mom. Sweet dreams, and we’ll see you in the morning.”
That worked for her.
Holding out his hand, Michael offered to escort her upstairs.
“Gabby left some things here,” he said. “Sometimes, she and Finn stick around for dinner, board games, and a sleepover. That mountain down to the town is treacherous in the fog or bad weather.”
Oh, she bet.
“Maybe there’s something you can sleep in until we go shopping tomorrow.”
She wasn’t above sleeping naked. A girl had to do what a girl had to do.
“All I want is a hot shower and bed,” she admitted. “I feel like I haven’t had either in so long that I can’t even recall the last time I went horizontal. Vertical sleeping is for the birds.
Well, they had both of those things, and she was definitely going to be able to utilize all the luxuries that Callen and Chris had done here with Elizabeth in mind.
Heading up the tower stairs, they got to the doorway that was marked ‘Master’s Quarters’, and she came to a stop to read the metal plate on the wall beside it.
Immediately, she laughed.
“Let me guess. Callen?” she asked. “Because he’s absolutely going there in a very old castle who once had a master.”
She wasn’t wrong.
Not.
Even.
Close.
“How did you know? That seems so unlike him,” Michael joked. “He’s always of pure mind and intent.”
That was funny since he was absolutely the most perverted, and lecherous of them all. Once you got him going, he was an out-of-control ride to kinky bedlam.
Yeah…
She missed him too.
Pushing the door in, he made sure Elizabeth knew where he’d be in case she needed him at all during the night—no matter what the reason.
“Graham and I will be over there,” he said, pointing to the next doorway over. “You know, in case something comes up. Security will lock the place down, and alarms will go off if anyone opens the doors or windows. Maybe don’t do that, so I don’t have a heart attack.”
She snorted.
“I can do that. Do I get to know the code?” she asked, “or am I locked down like at home in this gilded cage?”
He didn’t hesitate to tell her. If she was running from being a prisoner, she deserved to have some freedom—and trust.
“It’s your anniversary with Chris, the one in Colombia, not in the US. He insisted you’d know that, and since it’s not public knowledge, it wasn’t easily hacked.”
Oh, she knew what it was. On top of that, she wasn’t planning on going anywhere.
That was for damn sure.
“Thanks, Saint Michael. I love you,” she said, checking out the room. There was a fire going, and the MASSIVE bed looked so inviting.
He didn’t hesitate to share his feelings, too.
“I love you too, Mom, and I’m so happy you came here to see me. This is the best gift I could have gotten.”
Yeah, her too.
“See you in the morning,” he offered. “We can go shopping and then go for a ride. MacBeth is waiting for you,” he offered.
Yeah, she couldn’t wait.
That sounded like a good day in her world. Elizabeth couldn’t remember the last time she’d had downtime. Hopefully, this recharged her batteries, and she could find herself again.
“I’ll put some clothing on the bed while you’re in the shower.”
She appreciated that.
“I have some clean t-shirts if Gabby didn’t leave anything to sleep in. You’re more than welcome to borrow mine. I don’t mind.”
At his sweet offering, she smiled.
“Thank you, Michael. That’s perfect. Like I said, I’m easy to accommodate.”
She honestly was.
When he blew her a kiss, and she returned the favor, he backed out of the room to give her privacy.
When he was gone, Elizabeth went into the bathroom and it was definitely a Callen-designed place. The walls were stone, and showering was like being outside in a cave. That was absolutely his vibe.