Page 57 of Hold a Candle

“I-I have a headache,” Florence complained, holding her head in her hands.

They all stared uneasily into the darkness and Jamie agreed with Angus. Scotland was full of such legends and people’s experiences, his own included, that made him hesitate to go into those creepy dark woods. And itwasAll Hallow’s Eve, the one day of the year, according to legend, when the dead came back to visit their loved ones left behind. Some welcomed it, others dreaded it.

He was one who dreaded it.

Chapter 14

Pauley looked aroundat her companions. She could see the doubt and hesitation on all their faces. Jamie looked especially haunted for some reason. She knew something about All Hallow’s Eve was bothering him, but he hadn’t confided in her yet. Nervously, she chewed on a fingernail and stared into the darkness, wondering how much of her Gramma Caulfield’s tales had been true? She swore she could feel her grandmother’s influence at times, but nothing as spooky as what had happened tonight. Were they all hallucinating?

She strained to see anything among the trees and brush of the woods ahead of them. Was Florence right? Was Juice really dead? Or was he sitting in a tree somewhere waiting for another chance to take a shot at her son?

“Florence, Belton said there was a contract on Luca. Was Juice the hitman?” she asked.

Florence nodded weakly. “Aye, he was. He made me lure Leonard to the warehouse so he could kill him, and forced me to come up here with him because he didn’t have sniper training and he knew I did. I had no idea he was anything other than Detective Michael Anier before today, I swear,” she finished, sobbing.

“But he knew ye and Brodie were friends?” Pauley asked, ticking boxes.

“Aye. And he knew about Brodie’s alias, which no one but me at the station knew about. How, I don’t know, but I suspect he was brought in for a cleanup. Gravedigger is known for his willingness to do about anything,” she babbled on.

Pauley’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “And how would ye know this?”

Florence shot her a startled look and a red blush crept up her neck. “Common knowledge?” she replied with a touch of her old nasty attitude. “Don’t tell me ye have never heard of a hitman called Gravedigger?”

Of course, Pauley knew the name, but she grimaced and turned away from Florence. Taking out her cell phone, she dialed Mica’s number.

“Pauley, I can’t talk right now, Brodie’s been shot and I’m looking for Florence. Or Juice in case Juice knows where she is.”

“Mica...wait,” Pauley yelped into the phone. “I know Brodie’s been shot—Belton told us. All hell broke loose here at Neamh this evening and Florence and Juice came up here to kill Luca and Belton.”

“The hell ye say!”

“Aye, and now Florence says that she was forced to come up here, and that the Ghillie Dhu killed Juice in Kelly Woods. Florence looks as if she was hit by a lightning strike and will need a medical check-up. I’m going into Kelly Woods to find Juice in case she’s lying.”

“Cripes, Pauley, I’m headed yer way,” Mica shouted into the phone. “Dinna ye dare go into Kelly Woods alone, ye hear me?”

“I’m not waiting,” Pauley cried with determination. “If that man isn’t dead, he might come after Luca again, and I’ve no intention of letting him get anywhere near my son. If Florence is using the Ghillie Dhu to help the sleekit bastert get away, I’ll make him wish he was facing that vengeful fairy instead of me.”

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