Chapter Fifteen.
Mitch
His meetings were done, and he’d agreed to next season’s designs, which meant he was now free to stalk Frederick and Alexander.
Clifton’s son was a worse murderer than he was.
The Ceann-Feadhna had clearly been busy, as Clifton had died two days ago despite being in solitary confinement.
Mitch didn’t just want Frederick dead; he wanted him hurting, to see everything Frederick loved brought down.
His father and cousin had screwed up. While Mitch had been playing them, they’d moved against him.
Frederick clearly thought he was untouchable in threatening Jess and then attacking Diar.
He was about to discover what a mistake that was.
Diar was safe back at Bran Castle, and Mitch remained unaware of its location.
It was safer that way. Before Mitch had left, he’d gone to Lilith and asked for a spell.
Lilith had been reluctant to use it, but Mitch had insisted.
If he were captured, he could say nothing about the Uile-bheist. Mitch couldn’t even mention they were shifters with a human side.
Should Mitch be forced into trying to divulge information, if his will broke under torture, then as soon as he tried to speak, his brain would fry.
He pointed out how dangerous the knowledge they could shift would be.
Lilith hadn’t argued after that and cast the spell.
Now he was waiting. Frederick was at his golf club, and Mitch lingered in the bar, hidden behind a plant, watching for the police to arrive. Using his influence a little, Mitch had ensured that this arrest would be a public humiliation.
Mitch saw movement, and then several officers entered the clubhouse. Frederick was bigging it up loudly with his buddies. Mitch was going to enjoy this.
The officers spotted him and headed over.
“Frederick Weideman?” a constable asked.
Frederick turned around, and his eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”
“Are you Frederick Weideman?” the guy repeated, and Frederick inclined his head in acknowledgement.
“Why don’t we chat over there?” Frederick ordered, his words unmistakably a command. “No doubt they’re looking for a donation for the women and children’s fund,” he said cockily to his friends.
“Mr Frederick Weideman, you do not have to speak a word. But it could harm your defence if, when questioned, you do not mention something that you later rely on in court. Anything you do or say may be given in evidence,” the officer continued.
“What the hell is this about?” Frederick demanded as Mitch stood up. Frederick hadn’t seen him yet.
“We’re arresting you for the murders of Adelaide Mandelson, Claire Severn, and Tammy Snow.”
Gasps rang out at the names of a trio of missing socialites.
Adelaide disappeared seven years ago, Claire three years, and Tammy a year.
They’d all been ex-girlfriends of Frederick who’d pissed him off, and Frederick had killed them in temper.
Mitch knew where the bodies were buried and called in a tip-off.
DNA would send Frederick to jail for life. But Mitch was only beginning.
He’d tear down everything the prick held valuable. His status, money, reputation, and looks. As Frederick was carted off, Mitch appeared, and his cousin froze.
“You bastard! I’ll get even for this, Mitchum. Jess is dead, you hear me, gone!” Frederick ranted as people around him whispered.
“Add death threats, too, officer,” Mitch remarked calmly. He smiled widely as Frederick completely melted down, revealing his true self to everyone. A cruel, spiteful, nasty, selfish piece of work.
◆◆◆
“I don’t know if this works for me,” Mitch said a few days later as he peered into a mirror. “Mary Worth, Mary Worth, Mary Worth.”
Mary’s terrifying visage appeared, and smirked at Mitch.
“Would you like to come home?” she demanded.
“That would be nice,” he replied.
“What do I get?”
Mitch grinned. He held up a box of toffees. “I hear these are your favourites.”
Mary’s eyes grew wide, and she stretched out a hand. “Take it,” she instructed, and Mitch grasped it, and she yanked him through. His stomach rebelled again, but this time he’d not eaten all day. Mitch swallowed hard and shook his head.
“Does that get any easier?”
“Nope, gimmie!” Mary ordered, wriggling clawed fingers at him. Mitch laughed and handed over the box, and Mary winked at him. “Your friend is at the lake with Ness, as she now likes to be called. Thank God, as it saves us from the long version of her name.”
“Thanks. I’ll head down.”
“Mitch. We saw what you did to Frederick. Despite the charges and his face being all over the media, he was granted bail earlier today. It is good that you returned. I have been watching him and Alexander. They are planning to come after you.”
Mitch paused and turned to Mary. He chewed his lower lip. “It’s time to take the Weidemans down once and for all. Is there someone who’ll help?”
“In what way?” Mary asked.
“Empty bank accounts. No more fancy lawyers. Could we get all loans called in and rental agreements cancelled? I wish for them to be backpedalling and running. Alexander was warned and tried to screw me. I want the Sealgair Uilebheist to turn on them and take care of our problem for us.”
Mary stared until Mitch grew uncomfortable. “I know a couple of our siblings who’d love to destroy them. What about the information concerning them in the files?”
“Release it. Ensure it ends up in the hands of the CPS, the cops, Scotland Yard, the media, everywhere, Mary. Just one agency risks them covering up their crimes. Tear them down.”
“I’ll get right on that. I’ll also disclose how you ran off, have stayed away, and they’ve tried to kill you several times.
Some idiot will try to implicate you. In fact, I think we can hack the database and have you legally change your name to McQuoid at eighteen.
Go mate with Jess and don’t accept no for an answer.
I’ll take care of everything else,” Mary promised, her black eyes flashing with glee.
Mitch nodded and headed down the winding stairs of the tower.
He took the exit leading to the lake and grinned as he approached.
Half of the shifters were watching, amused and with good reason.
Diar was flying through the air, cackling with laughter.
Ness was catching him and then tossing him to Scylla, who was repeating Ness’s actions.
Mitch shook his head; only Diar would find that amusing.
Ness saw him and missed her catch, and Diar plummeted towards the water. Crap! That would hurt! Mitch winced, and then Uber-Merman exploded out of the lake and captured Diar in his tentacles. Dair yelped and bellowed happily, and Uber-Merman threw him back to Scylla.
“Diar’s crazy,” Ness said. She ducked her head when Mitch wiggled his finger for her to come closer. Mitch’s heart expanded at seeing Ness so happy, and he dropped a kiss right on her forehead. Those watching roared as Ness went cross-eyed, and Mitch grinned.
“Hey, baby,” he whispered, and Ness snorted in contentment. Mitch reached up and scratched between her eyes, and Ness curled up like a contented cat. He carefully walked up her back and nestled in the crook where her neck met her body.
“How long has Diar been playing?” Mitch murmured.
“About half an hour. Before that, he was water skiing with Merman hauling him along,” Ness rumbled.
Mitch chuckled. “Diar’s feeling better?”
“Yes. How was everything?”
“Well, I signed a new designer; she’s got the holiday vision I’m looking for. Her designs were great. I also approved next season’s line,” Mitch said.
“And found time to mess with Frederick,” Ness retorted, and Mitch laughed.
“That wasn’t work, love. That was fun!”
“Sure. What if they retaliate?” Ness questioned.
“They won’t. The Weidemans are about to send a message to the Sealgair Uilebheist. If the Ceann-Feadhna ignores it, the McDonald’s will be next until he pays attention,” Mitch said.
“What have you done?” Ness demanded.
“I asked Mary for help. I told her what I wanted, and she agreed. Mary was muttering about having some fun and payback when I left the tower,” Mitch responded. He grinned, quite happy with his decision.
“You let Mary loose on your family?” Lorelai/Medusa inquired, surprised.
“Yeah. She wanted to play, so I helped her along,” Mitch replied.
“Mary will destroy them,” Lorelai stated as the others stared, clearly listening in.
Mitch leaned forward. He wanted Lorelai and everyone to understand something.
“I don’t care if Mary rips their guts out and decapitates them.
It’s no more than they deserve. Luckily, there are no children right now.
My generation was the youngest, and the youngest of us is twenty-one and a stone-cold killer.
“If Mary wants to kill them all, so be it. It won’t bother me.
A message needs to be sent, and I intend to send the Ceann-Feadhna one.
If he comes for me or mine, the Sealgair Uilebheist will pay.
I won’t mess around. And in case anyone is wondering, my family are Jess and Diar, and hopefully you all one day.
“Trust isn’t given; it’s earned. And I hope you can see that I’m quite happy watching the Weidemans burn. I’m not one of them, haven’t been for a long time, and I honestly couldn’t care less about them. The Weideman family are not my people. You are.”
Hoping his point was made, Mitch turned around and watched Diar dive off Scylla’s head and into the water.
“Perfect ten, Diar!” Mitch called when he surfaced. Diar waved and swam in the direction of Scylla.
“Love you,” Ness rumbled.
“Not as much as I love you,” Mitch replied and petted her. A displaced Sealgair Uilebheist had finally found his home, and it was with those who’d once wanted him dead. How ironic.
Jess/Loch Ness Monster
“Diar doesn’t want to return,” she said as she and Mitch lay in bed.
“Can Diar stay here? Or in Refuge?” Mitch asked.