Page 84 of Deadly Lineage
Dr. McCallister stomped into the room, nostrils flaring and eyes narrowed. “Someone explain this to me right now.” He pointed toward Bart’s body. “I just got a panicked call from my intern telling me you were desecrating Mr. Livingston’s body. I thought he was being dramatic, but now that I see the condition of the body, I’m inclined to believe him.”
“I think Bart’s body was already desecrated,” I mumbled while remembering the horrid feel of his tattered soul. The memory made me shiver violently. Franklin’s palm landed on my shoulder, grounding me as I snuggled into his jacket, burying my nose in the collar and inhaling his soothing sent.
McCallister’s head snapped my direction, eyes narrowed even further. I’d spoken low enough that I doubted evenFranklin had heard me. Evidently McCallister’s ears were sharper.
Pushing his shoulders back, McCallister slammed his index finger into the bridge of his nose. There were no glasses to readjust. “Everyone out,” he ordered.
“Dr. McCallister—”
“No, Captain Cicely. This is my morgue and my domain. I have the ultimate authority within these walls and if you wish to avoid an official complaint, I suggest you leave. Immediately.” McCallister’s strides were long and confident as he walked toward the corpse, snatching the sheet off the floor and tossing it over the body, covering Bart’s contorted figure.
I glanced at Franklin. While my eyebrows were raised, his were pinched.
No one moved. With a heavy sigh, I pushed my body out of the chair and said, “Sorry to disturb your workspace, Dr. McCallister.” I patted Franklin on his shoulder and said, “You think you can give me a ride home? If not, I can call Momma.”
Franklin’s attention immediately snapped my direction. His eyes softened and his facial muscles eased. “Let me see what I can do.”
I walked toward the door, Franklin’s hand on my elbow assured he followed. Thankfully, Captain Cicely and Detective Harrison followed suit. Soon enough we were outside the door to the morgue and safely beyond McCallister’s ire.
“My car’s in the visitor’s lot,” I said to no one in particular.
“That’s fine,” Captain Cicely answered. “I’ll let security know. It won’t hurt anything to stay there for a day or two. O’Hare can drive you home.”
“Thank you.” I stared down the hall, wondering if it had grown in length since I’d arrived. The long, linoleum floor seemed to go on forever, and my body was so damn tired. Thecandy helped, but it wasn’t enough. I needed to eat, sleep, eat again, and sleep for about three days—maybe four.
“Boone, I’m—”
“It’s okay,” I interrupted Captain Cicely, much like McCallister had just done. “I’m not upset. Well, I am, but I’ll get over it and I understand. I’d make the same decision if I were in your shoes.” Franklin grunted and I slapped his arm. “Don’t give her shit. You know she doesn’t have any other choice.”
Franklin mumbled something under his breath, and I chose to assume it was agreement. The farther we walked, the more I leaned against Franklin. By the time we got to his car, the man would be carrying me. Gaia, I’d been so against Pops flying to Mississippi. I had to admit that now I was relieved. Did that make me little more than a child, wishing for his father to save him from the monster in the closet? Maybe. Regardless, I was pretty much past caring at this point.
The suffocating humidity slammed into my lungs, making it difficult to breathe. That didn’t matter. The air was fresh, not recycled and cold. My limbs felt like ice and weighed just about as much. I could only hope my hometown heat would warm me.
“It is very small,” Aurelia said as she held Pops’s communication charm toward the ceiling. The tiny, aquamarine glint of crystal shimmered in the evening sunlight. The box of charms had been waiting on my front porch when Franklin had dragged my exhausted ass home earlier.
“Generally speaking, they don’t have to be large.”
“Hmm, if it were witch-made, I would not agree to such a thing.” Aurelia lowered her arm and the charm dangled from its leather cord. Pops had fashioned it into a bracelet. Aureliapromptly bent over and tied it around her ankle. She was slender enough and the cord long enough for it to work. I didn’t really care where she wore it. I was simply surprised she’d agreed.
“What will it do when activated?” she asked.
“A lot of things. Light up, jiggle, get hot—basically anything to get your attention.”
“And you will have the trigger?”
I held up my own charm. Pops had made mine with a longer string, one that went around my neck in a loose choker.
Aurelia cocked her head to the side, studying the stone. “It is a tracking mechanism too?”
I shrugged. “For some. Pops can scry for it. Franklin can’t. I’m not really sure about you.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “I do not need that to locate you.”
I blinked while contemplating those words. “No. I suppose you don’t.” Aurelia always found me—charm or no. The problem was we couldn’t contact or findher. At least, not all the time. If she wasn’t with me, then there was a good chance she was at Peaches’s orchard, but that wasn’t a guarantee. Peaches could always wish for her presence, but there was no guarantee we’d be able to reach Peaches in case of emergency. The pixie didn’t always have his phone on him. As long as Aurelia was willing, this was the best option. And amazingly enough, she appeared very willing.
Twisting her foot, Aurelia stared down at the charm. It posed an interesting contrast to her scuffed army boots.
“Janus would call me a fool,” Aurelia mused.
