Chapter 46
FORTY-SIX
D AKOTA
By the next day, and with some help from Beatrix’s sister-in-law, Harper, we’ve narrowed down a few different relics we think could be related to the other two. We also received word back that Grant has arranged a truce of sorts, and Hudson and Rowan are headed back to Cincinnati this week. Grant apparently sent a package express mail because, shortly after dinner, Charlotte’s butler delivers it to my room with a card attached to the top.
I open it, and there’s handwriting I easily recognize as Grant’s.
Missing you. Thought these could keep you company until I can bring you home. Then we can try them together.
I reread it three more times to make sure I read it correctly. I’d given him the space and quiet Levi suggested, even when I worried it’d be the end of us. I was afraid to hope, but absence must make the heart grow fonder after all. I slice open the tape and open up the box to find it filled to the brim with new toys, replacements for the ones I lost in the explosion, and a few new ones too.
I got your package.
Thank you.
I hold my phone to my chest, waiting for his response. Hoping this means the man from before is slowly coming back to me.
THE DEVIL:
Did you like it?
I figured you needed replacements.
You assume I haven’t gotten them already.
I hope we’re talking about toys. With Charlotte’s influence, I can’t know for sure.
Good question. I’ve seen some of Finn’s teammates, and I think I have a newfound appreciation for hockey.
Glad to hear it.
But we both know none of them could handle you as well as me.
True.
I saw there were a few his and hers options. Does that mean you’re open to some of my ideas?
I figure I owe you after everything I’ve put you through.
You don’t owe me anything.
I’m the one who owes you, remember?
Not anymore. I figure after all this, we can wipe all the slates clean.
That said, I wouldn’t say no to a picture or two tonight.
I might be able to arrange that.
But I want one in return.
Think I can do that for you.
There’s a knock at the door, and I call for them to open it. Charlotte eases it open, and her eyebrow shoots up at the bright grin on my face and the box of toys in front of me.
“Do I want to ask?” She laughs, scanning the contents.
“He sent me a gift. I think he’s worried you’ll be a bad influence,” I muse.
“I’ll have to reassure him I’ve kept you well away from the hockey team, but I can’t say for sure if Hazel’s let you near the football players.”
“Maybe I should tell him I’m going to watch training camp. Then he might hurry up and get his ass out here.” I glance down at my phone when it lights with another message.
“Are you ready to go back to work? I found some more things while I was searching through a few of my older books.”
“Yes. I need to tell you about something I discovered earlier. Let me just finish talking to him, and I’ll be right there.”
“Oh. I can’t wait to hear. See you down there.” Her eyes light with the information before she takes off, quietly closing the door behind her.
THE DEVIL:
I should be up to my place by nine.
Turning in early in your old age?
That’s eleven for me. Kinda late here, but I’ll make it work. Maybe Charlotte will let me sleep in tomorrow.
Speaking of… I’m off to help Charlotte with research.
Ha. Who’s complaining about the time now?
Any luck? You two getting along?
We think we might be on to something, and we might have some help.
I love her.
When will you be out here?
As soon as I can. I’ll explain more tonight.
Talk to you then.
I send him a kissy face emoji and then tuck my phone back into my pocket before I take off to help Charlotte.
I take a seat at the large research table across from Charlotte. She’s got dozens of books spread out across the table and a laptop open in front of her as she looks back and forth between the page and screen.
“Did you find anything else out?” I ask as I skim the page she’s inspecting.
“Yes. That contact of Beatrix’s was helpful. She had some resources I hadn’t thought of and volunteered her help with anything else we might need.”
“Oh good. That’s reassuring. While I was working out this morning, I had a thought. Instead of my usual podcast, I did a search to see if the governor had done any—and he had. Quite a few, so I listened to one while I was working out and another when I was making lunch. They were both the kind where a group of guys sit around and shoot the shit, talking like they’ve got all the secrets to the universe.”
“I’m familiar.” She smirks at the way I roll my eyes.
“Anyway, he did a couple of them, and in one of them, they were talking about getting your DNA tested and ancestry stuff. He mentioned that he was a descendant of Charlemagne. They all got excited about it, and he went all in on his connection to him and how he thinks his DNA affects the way he thinks. I know I’ve heard the name before in history class—is it possible that it has a connection?”
Charlotte sits back, looking up to the ceiling like she’s sorting through the card catalog in her brain for information as she taps her manicured finger to her chin. Her eyes narrow, and she starts typing quickly into the computer before she looks back up at me.
“That’s what I thought. He was never beatified,” she murmurs as she scrolls down. “But he was considered. Lost out for all the murdering it looks like, but there’s a reliquary with his arm bone in it, another with his head. I’ll have to look deeper into this. I think it’s a good lead though.” She looks up and smiles at me.
“Happy to contribute something.” I offer up half a smile. I just want to help Grant and the rest of them solve this. If they know his motivations, they might be able to find a way to get ahead and stop him or at least leverage it against him.
“You should keep digging on it too. See what you can find—any other references the governor makes to things like that and any other information we can find about his ancestry. These bones are in Germany, in Aachen to be exact. It’s on the other side of the country from where Levi was looking, but I think we’re getting warmer.”
“All right. Do you have anything on your shelves?” I look to the massive wall of bookcases.
“I don’t think so, but check the database. You can use that laptop over there.”
“Perfect. Thank you!”
The two of us spend the rest of the evening pouring over all the information we can find, making notes and creating what looks like a murder board out of one of her walls, connecting all the bits of information we have and pinning them up to try to see if we can make sense of the picture it paints. When ten rolls around, I excuse myself to go upstairs. I want to take a quick shower, change into some cute pajamas, and get ready for my chat with Grant. It feels like it’s been an eternity since we saw each other last. I don’t want to look tired and frazzled and make him worry. So we say our goodnights, and she continues on without me.