The Girl in the Wych Elm (XV)
Fidgeting with the salt and pepper shakers, Hollis slumped lower in the booth as he reminisced about the good times he had with Nicolai. “You were always a little peculiar when it came to your food palette, Nicolai.” He chuckled low, addressing the vacant space across from him. Fifteen years after Nicolai’s passing, Hollis still had the man’s signature order memorized like the number to his old landline. He called the meal the Nicolai Special. Sweet potato steak fries and a cup of spicy aioli, a flank steak cooked medium rare drizzled with warm garlic butter with a fried egg on the side, and a soda water at room temperature to wash it all down. Nicolai didn’t like cold drinks; he preferred them room temperature, which Hollis thought was bizarre. That unconventional side of Nicolai’s was what Hollis missed the most about his partner.
As the old detective continued reflecting on those halcyonic memories, his smile gradually faded. He wiped his draining nose on his sleeves fighting back against a surge of overwhelming grief. There weren’t enough words to describe just how much Hollis missed Nicolai terribly. He would have happily, without hesitation, traded his life for Nicolai’s if he had the chance. The only time Hollis reunited with Nicolai was in the dreaming world. He hated dreaming about his late partner because when he awakened, Hollis returned to a painful reality in a world without Nicolai.
“Remember that conversation we had about what we think happens after death? If there is an afterlife, I hope you’re in mine, Nicolai…” Hollis tore apart the napkin in his hands. “Just you and me, laughing, eating, sharing stories and jokes, having a great time until the sun comes up.” Except, morning would never arrive in Hollis’ afterlife. The night would go on. Endless. Forever. Hollis would never lose Nicolai ever again. He would never leave that space on the other side of the table. A peaceful eternity was all the weary Hollis desired.
“Pie?” The abrupt question stirred Hollis from his deep thoughts. He looked over at the speaker. A waitress with a round, chubby face and eyes that reminded him of an owl. Hollis thought her unnatural eyes were too large for her face and diminished her beauty. “Try a slice. You’ll like it.” The waitress claimed they made the best pies in the entire city. She winked down at him with a glowing grin on her face.
Hollis appreciated the offer yet declined. He wasn’t in the mood for pie-any pie. He had also never had much of a sweet tooth either. Had Nicolai been there, he would have called Hollis crazy for turning down pie and jumped at the waitress’ offer, while also throwing a few flirtatious compliments her way. “Thanks, but I’m not interested.” The depressed man just wanted to wallow away in his feelings. Alone.
The waitress was persistent, however. She pouted and stamped her foot over him declining. “Why not?” She crossed her arms, her bottom lip still poking out. “I saw you from across the way, looking gloom and down.” The waitress argued a slice of pie would make Hollis feel better. She then proceeded to fire off a list of all the pie flavors they offered. Her personal favorite, and got-to recommendation, was the strawberry crème pie. “Trust me.” Her pout morphed into a smile once again.
Hollis shook his head. He appreciated the waitress’ attempts at trying to make him feel better but no flavor of pie or amount of it would heal his agony and turmoil. “I lost someone close to me some years back and haven’t gotten over his death.” Hollis turned his attention on the window; it was drizzling outside. The dimly lit street was like a quiet graveyard. It was empty. No cars. No late-night pedestrians stumbling home. Nothing.
The waitress slid into the booth across from Hollis which startled him. “Let’s talk for a little bit.” She gazed into Hollis’ eyes, never once blinking. He found the behavior unsettling. The waitress leaned across the table. “What else is on your mind?” She tilted her head slowly, mimicking the movements of an owl he thought she resembled.
The idea of venting to someone about the problems that troubled him enticed Hollis, but the woman was unfortunately at work. He thought it selfish taking up her time when she had other customers that needed attending. “I’m certain someone else, besides a cranky old man, could enjoy that beautiful personality and glowing smile of yours.” The waitress threw her head back and chortled. The noise echoed through the dinner. Hollis looked at the woman dumbfounded. What was so funny?
“Friend, it’s just you and me here this evening.” She motioned around and behind her. The diner was dead as the street outside his window. Every booth and table was empty. At the mention of it, Hollis hadn’t seen any of the other workers around either. “Time is one thing I have an infinite amount of.” The woman’s gleeful expression became austere. She leaned onto the table again, that time resting her chin atop her clasped hands. “Now, tell me…what’s on your mind?” The waitress meant business.
Hollis’ restless fidgeting ceased and he sat up in his seat again. The tattered pieces of the napkin were brushed into a pile off to the side. “Fifteen years ago… I was detective. There… There was this incident that happened. My partner and a hostage, a seven-year-old schoolgirl, were fatal casualties. After I resigned, I got by doing freelance work.” He dragged the pads of his fingers down the table. Talking about Nicolai’s death caused Hollis physical pain as it did emotional and mental. His stomach would churn and twist into knots until he keeled over, which was why he always avoided the topic. But since the waitress obliged him, he laid everything bare on the table in front of them. Hollis told the waitress about Wysteria Graves and how she came to him because she needed a murder solved. He told her about Addy. How he tried to force her into leaving Wych Elm for her safety, but she wouldn’t yield. He told her about Ishmael and their run in with him and what happened to them. Hollis brought up the High Families, about the girl’s body found in the tree, how her death raised more questions than answers, and how the High Families were silencing people for asking about or investigating the body.
“I gave Wysteria my word I would do everything I could to solve this murder for her and bring her closure. I-I…” Hollis choked on his words getting them out. “I promised Addy I would save her… I would make Ishmael pay for what he did to us-did to her!” A frustrated Hollis balled his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. He was afraid. Afraid of breaking his promises to the people he gave them to. And that fear held him hostage like chains of bondage. “But these people…These High Families… They rule and control Wych Elm like tyrants. Their hold on the town is so tight that I can’t even pass a lone strand of thread through it.” Hollis teared up reliving the moment he and Addy almost lost their lives in the fire started by Ishmael and his men. “This mission is just another Pembroke Incident where I’m in way over my head, again.” Hollis, feeling defeated, believed history was repeating itself again.
The response Hollis received from the waitress after his moment of vulnerability made his jaw drop. “Call it quits and go home then.” She suggested without shame. Hollis’ baffled face was reflected in her owl-like eyes that remained fixated on him without broken contact. “I mean… you don’t really owe this Wysteria Graves woman anything. It was a request you accepted out of the kindness of your heart. If you can’t complete it, then she can find someone else who can. And this reckless Addy girl…you’re neither her father nor her white knight.” The once seemingly supportive and concerned woman had changed her mask on Hollis. The waitress brought her arms down to her sides. “Ask yourself this: is what I’m putting myself through worth my life?”
Throughout his stay in Wych Elm, Hollis had been blinded and driven by his sense of duty in fulfilling Wysteria’s request. He never once thought to stop and ask himself why he chose to remain in Wych Elm ignoring the dangers his task posed. He didn’t need Wysteria’s money that badly. Because the next time he and the Red Hound crossed paths, the sheriff would make certain he wouldn’t live to see another sunrise, even if he died in the process too. Then…the answer struck him when a glimpse of his great-uncle Matthias appeared in his mind. The waitress seeing the ray of hope in Hollis’ eyes surface out of the darkness, smiled with satisfaction. Hollis had found his answer.
“‘Because evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.’” Matthias had ingrained those words into Hollis’ mind since he was a child. He never allowed Hollis to forget them, even when he was losing against his long-term battle with alcoholism. Even when the atrocities endured from his forced attendance of an Indian Boarding School haunted him up until his death. Good would always triumph over evil if there were people willing to fight back against it.
The waitress applauded Hollis on reaching his personal enlightenment. “Have you ever played Jenga, sir?” The waitress asked, tracing invisible circles on the table’s surface.
Hollis was perplexed by the sudden shift in conversation but decided to humor the woman’s question. “Maybe once or twice as a kid but I thought it was kind of lackluster and only played it once with my cousins.”
A massive grin pulled across the woman’s face. “My parents, when I was a child, used to read me this book. Unfortunately, I can’t recall the title at this time, but I do remember the details of the story. It was about this brave knight in brilliant armor who defeats an evil wizard and his dragon, saving the world and marrying a princess at the end as reward for his bravery.” Hollis found himself even more confused by the conversation’s direction. Nevertheless, he continued listening to the waitress, anticipating some connection between all three topics. “Look.” The woman directed at a tower of Jenga blocks that had inexplicably appeared on the table before Hollis.
“Um…where did this come from?” Hollis asked, looking over how neat and sturdy the tower appeared. The waitress continued talking, acting as if he had never spoken.
“When I grew older, I realized something interesting. That not every story needs a brave knight in brilliant armor to save the day.” She reached for one of the blocks. “Sometimes…you just need to be that one person who removes the right block from the tower,” she removed one of the blocks causing the tower to collapse, “and it will crumble all on its own.” The waitress handed the block she pulled off to Hollis.
“I see…” He replied, examining the unremarkable object.
The owl-eyed waitress began drumming the table with her hands. “That being said, I wish you well on your journey to slay the dragon, Det. Hollis Alexander.” She told him with a whimsy smile. Hollis was taken aback hearing the waitress address him by his full name when he never told her during their entire conversation. “Oh! And when we meet again, you better try some of my pie when offered. ‘Kay?” She winked at him before everything went black.
Drenched with sweat, Hollis woke from his dream, yelping, immediately darting into an upright position. He recognized his plain bedroom in Juniper’s house. “Welcome back, Hollis. It’s wonderful to see you awake.” Juniper was beside his bed embroidering and keeping vigil over his recovery. “You’ve been asleep for about…three-and-a-half days now.” Despite Juniper’s monotone words, she was relieved Hollis had survived his injuries. Before he had the chance to ask, Juniper interrupted with an update on Addy’s condition.
Hollis clutched his charred shirt in anticipation for the worse. She’s dead. That dreadful statement echoed off the walls of his tortured mind. His stomach began churning and twisting like it did when he thought about Nicolai’s death.
“Addy’s alive.” At ease with the wonderful news, Hollis fell back on his pillow, exhaling. “The bullet only grazed her side.” Hollis was astonished to hear the wound turned out non-fatal. From where he laid on the ground, he was certain Ishmael had aimed for her stomach point blank.
Hollis shut his eyes. Thank you, God. He made sure to thanks his ancestors as well, believing they too helped in keeping Addy safe. His eyes opened again. “Where-where is she now?” Hollis turned on his side and faced Juniper, perching on his elbow.
With dark eyes remaining fixated on her embroidery, Juniper answered, “Stirring up dust around the house more than likely. She can never sit still for too long.” Hollis choked out a laugh at the shady comment. It was a painful, given his injuries, but a good pain, nonetheless. “So, Hollis, what now?” Juniper asked the old detective what his plan was moving forward after his unpleasant encounter with the Red Hound. The gloomy-faced woman paused her work and looked up at Hollis for the answer. He studied Juniper, noticing there was something different about her than the last time he saw her. The darkness that lived inside her eyes had waned some, he saw.
Hollis took a moment before giving his answer. He swung his legs over the bed and placed them flat on the cold hardwood floor. A cold shock ran up from his feet up to his neck which made him shiver. The cool sensation was, however, welcomed. Hollis’ skin was still hot to the touch. He braced himself and counted to three before standing. His weak legs were still strong enough to hold him. “I’m not leaving Wych Elm.” He told Juniper as he raised his head nobly. “I gave Wysteria my word and I don’t plan on breaking it.” A blazing fire of determination reignited inside Hollis. Before he left Wych Elm for good, he had one last date with Ishmael DeSanguis to make good on his promise.
“My, that smile looks good on you, Hollis. You wear it well.” Juniper complimented, wearing a dazzling smile of her own. He returned the comment she just gave him. Hollis, still a little weak and aching, hobbled over to the mirror for a look. He couldn’t recall the last time he had seen his own smile in a mirror. It was a bizarre sight. “I have-” The bedroom door opened. It was Addy carrying a bandaged Dahlia in the cup of her hands.
“Juniper, Dahlia’s splint isn’t holding well. I think…we need to…” The empty bed caught her attention first. She then looked over and saw Hollis standing in front of the mirror. Eyes immediately swelled with tears. Hollis was awake. Hollis was alive. Addy’s nervous system breathed a sigh of relief along with her. “Hollis…” She turned Dahlia over to Juniper and dove into Hollis’ arms sobbing. “I thought-I thought you weren’t going to wake up!” The anxious fear remained present in Addy’s words despite the opposite outcome. The hysterical woman held onto Hollis so tightly, she feared he would evaporate into the air if she let him go. “Thank…God…” Tearful words were muffled by her face pressed deep into his chest.
Hollis was a rigid man when it came to his emotions in public and in front of others. He never liked people seeing that side of him. Not because it made him vulnerable, but because that was how he always was. Nicolai’s death and cradling his dead body in his arms was the last time he cried in front of people. But as he held onto Addy, he couldn’t beat back his own wave of tears no matter how hard he fought. Addy had survived a violent experience. That itself warranted tears. “Yeah… thank God.” He said, stroking her head gently. Hollis was happier to see Addy than she was him. “Addy... I owe you an apology that’s long overdue.” Hollis regretted ever doubting Addy in the beginning when they first met. She was tough as she said she was, having survived the worst of Wych Elm thus far. Although injured physically, her spirit remained intact. Unbroken. Sadly, it was time for her to leave, regardless of how she felt about it. Moving forward, there would be greater perils he dreaded she wouldn’t be so lucky to survive.
“Hollis…” Addy looked up at him with stern eyes. Her tears began drying up. “I’m not going anywhere without you. We leave this place together.” Hollis reminded Addy of the promise she made to him. The one about leaving Wych Elm when asked if things became too dangerous for Hollis’ liking. Addy hadn’t forgotten. “Sorry to break it to you, Hollis, but I had my fingers crossed behind my back.” She waved her crossed fingers in the air, grinning.
The man’s eyebrows came together. His gentle smile turned downward into a disappointed frown. “This isn’t the time to be cracking jokes, Addy. I’m serious.” He grabbed the young woman by the shoulders, squeezing her. “You need to pack your things and leave Wych Elm. Now!” He beseeched with eyes riddled with fear over her wellbeing.
Addy, hardheaded as always, pushed Hollis away from her. He stumbled into the chifforobe’s mirror and cracked it. Juniper became annoyed. Not over the damaged mirror but over her guests once again at odds bickering. “No, Hollis! No, we’re not arguing about this again! You can’t make me leave, and you won’t!” She told him with a scowl. “We’re in this together. We’re a team now, and I’m not leaving you here by yourself!” Addy stubbornly shook her head. She didn’t care about the dangers. She didn’t even care about her own safety. Being with Hollis-remaining at Hollis’ side was all that mattered to her. “I can be useful to you!”
Hollis scrubbed his chin with two fingers. “If I were the Hollis from a few days ago, I would have argued otherwise.” His stance had changed, however. Addy was useful. Hollis admitted that without her annoying intervention, he doubted how far he would have gotten in his investigation without that recording Theo left her. But when it was all said and done, Addy’s life and safety were of greater importance. All he wanted to do was protect Addy, but she wouldn’t let him. Seeing her being assaulted, then shot and left bleeding out on the floor unable to reach her, took him back to the day Nicolai died. Hollis couldn’t have that. He couldn’t relive that horrific day again. “Addy, please just listen to me…” Hollis reached for her, but she backed away slapping his hand as she did.
“Your guests are quite lively, and rather noisy, for people who were just loitering at Death’s Door the other day.” Juniper remarked, or rather who they assumed was Juniper. It wasn’t her, but Willow. Their cadence was identical but there was a slight difference, barely noticeable if one weren’t paying attention. “They argue like a father and daughter.” Willow asked, looking down at Juniper in the rocking chair. She slipped in while Hollis and Addy were embroiled in their spat.
“That they do.” Juniper replied, pulling her needle through the cloth.
“I don’t see how you deal with it.”
“I tune them out.” A snip of thread.
“I see. Probably the best way to handle such noise.”
Addy and Hollis paused their bickering. The wide-eyed and wide-mouthed duo gawked at the women. First Wysteria and Juniper. Now it was Juniper and Willow. Were it not for Willow’s beauty mark above her right eye (Juniper’s was on her chin), Addy would have sworn they were the same person.
“Juniper, you-you have a twin sister?” Addy’s eyes darted back and forth between the two women. Both Juniper and Willow looked at one another with the same soft smile.
“We’re not twins.” They said in unison. The answer left Addy stunned like a stray punch to the face. She looked to Hollis, wondering what his thoughts on the pair and their answer was. Addy came to suspect they were just messing with her.
“Just-just take their answer at face value… Trust me…” Hollis was unnerved by the sudden appearance of a third Wysteria look-alike to the point he broke out in goosebumps. He came to believe there was something unnatural about the women’s family tree and its genetics. How could three women not directly related to one another as sisters all look like the same person? The more he lingered on it, the more creeped out he became. Hollis wondered if there were more Wysterias, Junipers, and Willows out there roaming Wych Elm.
“I dropped in to bring Juniper supplies. I’m glad I did too.” Willow told Hollis she had something for him. He looked at the woman sideways. They had just met in that moment. “Juniper informed me Wysteria came to you with a request. Hence, why you’ve come all this way out here.” A wide, unsettling grin. Hollis and Addy were perturbed seeing someone with Juniper’s face showing such an emotion. It felt uncanny. “It took some time, but I was able to locate something, I’m certain, will be useful to you.” Willow approached the bed. She removed from her bag what appeared to be a rolled-up map, plucked the rubberband, and laid it open across the bed.
Addy’s eyes became big as she looked over the map. “These are blueprints?” She ran her fingertips across the paper.
Willow nodded. “Yes. These are the blueprints to the Old Cahawba estate.”
“Old Cahawba? The mayor’s estate, correct?” Addy questioned, looking up at Willow.
The woman nodded again. “Correct. His and the Crimson Hightowers.”
Addy’s suspicious eyes narrowed on Willow. “How did you even get your hands on these?” She found Willow’s possession of them rather intriguing.
“In the library of West Eden, home to the Silver Hightowers.” She answered straight to the point.
“I’m sorry for the barrage of questions, Willow, but why would the Silver Hightowers have the blueprints to Old Cahawba of all buildings? They split off from the Crimson Hightowers, supposedly.”
“The blueprints were stolen after the split to be used in West Eden’s construction.” Willow made air quotations. “I’m sure there was an ulterior reason for why they were swiped. The blueprints were later stashed away in the library for safe keeping in case they were ever needed again. Although I’m certain they were eventually forgotten about until recently. Solomon had me and two others searching for them.”
Suddenly, everything clicked. Hollis rifled through his pockets for the slip of paper he found tied to Dahlia’s leg. Addy, curious, watched him. “What is it, Hollis?” She looked around his body trying to see what he had in his hands.
“The note finally makes sense!” Hollis showed Addy the slip of paper. “It was tied to Dahlia’s leg.”
“‘She’s under…the high tower.’” Addy read the note aloud. Her eyes jumped to the blueprints. “Old Cahawba! That’s where she is! She’s somewhere in the Old Cahawba estate!” Addy repeated louder, shaking Hollis by his shirt. “Wait!” She raised her hands. “How did Mercutio figure out where they took the body?” Her optimistic expression faded, becoming reflective. “I guess it doesn’t really matter at this point.” She said, dejected.
“When I searched around Mercutio’s apartment it was in disarray. Like he had left in a hurry, but no evidence that indicated he escaped the Red Hound or was killed by him either.” The truth behind Mercutio’s disappearance, the murders of his co-workers and their families came to light.
“Here’s my working theory.” Addy sat down on the bed looking up at Hollis. She crossed her legs. “Ishmael probably meant to kill Mercutio and probably only him, but the man skipped town. And I know-I know we don’t know if he actually got out of Wych Elm, but let’s just say he did for now. Anyways, as I was. Fearing Mercutio told his co-workers the body’s location, the Red Hound got rid of them to keep the secret from spreading further around town.” Hollis liked Addy’s working theory. It was compelling as it what plausible. “It seems like Mayor Hightower is our likely suspect in this girl’s murder. I mean…all the evidence is pointing towards him and only him.” Addy recounted on her fingers. “The girl’s body was found inside a tree next to his property which later fell onto his property. Mercutio, Theo and their co-workers were all fired and eventually killed by the Red Hound on orders by Alexander Hightower. The body’s being kept underneath his estate.” Addy was without a doubt certain Alexander was the culprit.
The damning evidence that made Alexander appear culpable aside, Hollis’ intuition said otherwise. He felt like it was still too soon to point the finger at the mayor alone. Then there was Solomon Hightower and him having Willow search for the blueprints. Why did the judge want his hands on that body? Hollis believed they were still missing a chunk of important information. He suspected things were bigger than just a girl’s murder alone. “Sometimes the simplest answer isn’t always the most likely one.” Hollis told Addy, scrubbing his face with his two fingers again. He spaced out for a few minutes before rejoining the conversation. “Willow, you said Solomon wanted you to find these, correct? Why bring them here? To me?”
Willow looked back at Juniper. “Because it’s time to give Wysteria some much deserved peace.” Juniper nodded at the statement. The response had the old detective baffled. He wanted further clarification but decided it was best not to ask. Given the cryptic natures of both Wysteria and Juniper, he figured he wouldn’t receive a concise answer from Willow either.
“Circling back to Solomon.” Hollis shifted to his left side. “What’s his reason behind getting his hands on that body so badly? Have you overheard anything?” A head shake no.
“Solomon runs a tight ship. He makes sure his secrets stay within his inner circle. We do what we’re told.”
Juniper chimed into the conversation with some thoughts. “The twin Hightower families despise each other and always have, which I’m sure you probably surmised given that there are two families. Both clans are cut from the same cloth, yet they’ve been actively trying to destroy the rival branch for over a century now. They each believe ‘Only one Hightower family can exist in Wych Elm.’” Juniper’s words, although insightful, only added another question onto the existing pile that needed answers.
If Solomon was trying to destroy their Crimson rivals and the body was the key to their downfall, what did Alexander have to do with the body? What was their connection? Hollis still didn’t believe the mayor was the sole person responsible for the girl’s death.
Willow asked for the slip of paper he showed Addy. “‘She’s under the high tower.’ This statement more than likely means the crypt. It’s the only sensible place they would store a dead body.” Willow told the room the crypt had long reached capacity and newly deceased Hightowers were no longer interred there. They were buried in the High Gardens Cemetery which was shared by both the Hightower families. “My recommendation: infiltrate the Old Cahawba estate on the night of the Summer Solstice Masquerade Ball.” Something about Willow’s unnatural black eyes pulled Hollis in like the dark tides of a black ocean. She unnerved him more compared to Juniper.
Addy tilted her head at Willow. “What’s this Summer Solstice Masquerade Ball about?” Juniper’s and Willow’s faces soured. The question rubbed them a wrong way. “Um… that’s okay. You-you don’t have to answer my question.” She apologized for upsetting the women. Hollis, on the other hand, thought her apology was unnecessary. They needed all the information they could get if they wanted their hands on the body.
“The masquerade… It’s an exclusive-and I mean exclusive social gathering hosted annually by the High Families.” Technically…the Hightowers were the planners, organizers, and hosts. The other families were merely expected to attend. The location of the masquerade alternated each year between Old Cahawba and West Eden. “This year it’s being held at the West Eden estate.” Willow informed. “The High Families are powerful but only inside this town and region. Their generational wealth was built off their connections with people more powerful than them.” The masquerade was for the elite. Regular citizens were not allowed to attend. “In reality…it’s just a cover for the High Families to conduct business and discuss their ventures by having all their sponsors in one place.” The more information Willow disclosed to them, the more Addy’s expression brightened. She had another juicy story at her feet. Watching the hungry look in the young journalist’s eyes made Hollis’ stomach cramp up.
“What type of business ventures? Illegal ones?” Addy closed the space between her and Willow. Any closer, Addy would have practically been in the woman’s clothes.
“The type of dealings that require a party for a cover.” Willow replied. Her expression turning to stone. Addy hounded her for more information only to be ignored. Either Willow didn’t have more to tell or just wasn’t interested in saying. Addy huffed loudly. She pulled out of Willow’s space, plopping down on her butt. “This is all I have, Det. Alexander. The rest is now up to you.” Hollis thanked Willow for her assistance, for risking her own safety aiding him in uncovering the truth. He prayed she remained safe from Solomon’s vengeance and never discovered her treachery.
“I owe you a massive debt, Willow, and intend on upholding my promise.”
“No need.” She replied, heading for the door. “I won’t be around to collect once this is all over.” A nebulous statement. Hollis asked Willow if she was leaving Wych Elm at some point like Juniper intended to. Willow didn’t answer. She only grinned with satisfaction. The mysterious woman looked back at Hollis. “When you see Wysteria again, give her my regards.” Hollis never encountered the young woman again.
“Look here, Hollis. There’s a tunnel under this specific mausoleum in the High Gardens cemetery that leads directly into the Old Cahawba crypt.” Addy’s only hope, when they sneaked into the crypt, was that the body hadn’t yet been disposed of. “This is such an unusual design. I mean, granted, there’s nothing remotely normal about these people.” The design seemed flawed. But given the two families’ longstanding beef with one another, it would have greatly benefitted Solomon if the blueprints had fallen into his hands.
Hollis swiped the blueprints from Addy. “Addy, you’re not coming with me.” He told the annoyed and disappointed woman she was staying in Juniper’s house. Retrieving the body was too risky. Too dangerous. “Alexander has more than likely been anticipating theft of the body for a while.” Addy could plead, cry, whine, and curse him all she wanted, but Hollis remained firm on his decision.
She hissed at him. “I never asked you to protect me, Hollis. That was a decision you made on your own. A decision youchose. You don’t dictate what I can and can’t do. Where I can and can’t go.” She snatched the blueprints back. He groaned out his frustration.
“Shit is getting real around here now.” Hollis rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand. “The next time we cross paths with Ishamel, which we most definitely will, you may not walk away unscathed this time. You may not walk away with your life was what Hollis truly wanted to say to her. Hollis gave Addy his word she would get her story, just not at the expense of her life. He tried his damnest hammering the point into Addy’s head, but the tenacious woman’s head was harder than it appeared. Addy stood her ground, unmoving.
Fed up with her stubbornness, Hollis snatched the blueprints away again and tore them to shreds. He memorized which mausoleum led into the crypt. Hollis threatened to handcuff Addy to a pipe in Juniper’s basement if she even thought about disobeying him.
Addy gnashed her teeth at Hollis. She scooped the shredded blueprints into her hand and threw them in his face as an act of defiance. “You can’t be serious! Really, Hollis? I should have never begged to work with you!” She stomped away into the corner fuming.
Hollis tensed from his forehead down to his feet. He was brimming with anger. “Without me, you wouldn’t have made it out of that fire! You wouldn’t have gotten this far!” It devastated Hollis to do it, but there was no more being nice about it. He told Addy the brash truth. “Addy, you’re a damn liability. That’s why you need to stay here with Juniper. Ishmael and his men would have never caught us had you stayed upstairs like I instructed it. Your impulsive recklessness nearly got us killed. Will get us killed! You’re not clever like you think you are!” Silence followed. Addy started shaking violently. She stomped up to Hollis and slapped him hard as she could without breaking her wrist. He could have dodged, could have blocked her attack, but Hollis didn’t. He felt the assault was deserved after the hurt he just spewed to her. Hollis needed the pain.
“If that’s how you really felt… If that’s how you really feel… Then you can go to Hell, Hollis!” Addy shrieked, startling Dahlia who began flapping her good wing frantically. Juniper brought the bird to her face and nuzzled her until she became calm again.
Addy threw her face into Hollis’ chest bawling. He wrapped his arms around Addy and cradled her. Hollis couldn’t blame Addy if she never forgave him for what he said. He was content with that outcome, even though it made his heart ache. The man just wanted her safe. He wanted to keep her safe. That meant protecting her from her own recklessness as well. Addy’s life had meaning which was why Hollis was okay with throwing away his own, so she didn’t need to.
“Please…let me come with you.” She whined like a child. “I can be of help to you. Let me be your lookout.” Having a second person would have been useful. Hollis couldn’t disagree with her on that, but Addy was too ambitious. Too hungry for that story. Leaving her behind was for the best.
“Addy…” Hollis called her name on a tired breath. “You remind me so much of my late sister, that if she were still alive today, you two without a doubt would have become good friends.” He chuckled, imagining the amount of headaches Addy and Holly would have caused between the two of them. He also wished Holly and Nicolai had gotten the opportunity to meet as well. They would have made an ideal couple, even though the idea of his partner dating his sister made his skin crawl a little. Like he did with Nicolai, Hollis seldom spoke about his sister and her untimely demise. But if it meant convincing Addy to stand down, it was necessary to tell her. “Holly was older than me by four years. I was sixteen when she and my parents were killed in a housefire.” The fire was started by a stalker who had been harassing Holly for over a year. He was also ten years her senior which made him want to spit. Hollis, unfortunately, was at school when the fire took place. His family’s cruel death pushed him into law enforcement. “We did everything right… At least I thought we did. And nothing was done about it. That restraining order didn’t do a damn thing. You want to know the insane part about it? I blamed myself for what happened to her.” Hollis revealed he had initially taken matters into his own hands when the law did little. He tracked the stalker down one evening and assaulted him with a crowbar.
Hollis intended to kill the stalker to bring his sister peace. The frightening incident had changed Holly. She rarely slept, lost a significant amount of weight, was paranoid and skeptical all the time, and constantly looking over her shoulder. All around unable to enjoy life anymore. Hollis just wanted his loving sister back. He wanted to return the light to her eyes, to her smile. The reason Hollis never killed the man was because the impact would have been a negative one rather than a positive. The thought of her brother taking someone’s life would have sent Holly spiraling further. “I should have killed him when I had the opportunity…” Hollis cried out in agony. His body tensing again, but not from anger, from the emotional devastation of hesitating to kill. “Then she would still be here.” Even if Holly never looked at Hollis the same way again, she would have been alive. “Everything about you reminds me so much of my sister to the point it hurts… You just have a different face. That’s why you can’t come with me. I can’t-I can’t let you. If something happens, and something will, it’s going to destroy what’s left of me.” Hollis had experienced more tragedies in one lifetime than most people should have. Addy’s death would have been the final broken chain that sent him plummeting down into an abyss he would never escape from.
Addy’s heart pulled and twisted in all directions listening to Hollis’ story. His family’s death, as well as the deaths of Nicolai and Karlee, explained so much of the old detective’s behaviors and attitudes. His suffering seemed perpetual. Which was why she felt like he needed her more than he realized. “I’m sorry you’ve gone through so much over the years, Hollis, but you have to stop burdening yourself with things that are-that were beyond your control.” Addy’s soft eyes met the hardness of Hollis’. His cheeks were wet and puffed up. She reached up and dried his face with her sleeve. “Part of being a good person-of being a hero is accepting the fact that you can’t save everyone, no matter how hard you try. You can’t weigh yourself down with the pain of that responsibility.” Addy begged Hollis one last time to rely on her. To let her shoulder some of that responsibility and pain so it wouldn’t weigh him down further. “I know you’re more than capable of doing this on your own, but having a partner watch your back will also help.” She said with a warm smile.
The words seemed to penetrate Hollis’ hard outer shell. She mentally crossed her fingers, hoping he would consider her suggestion. “Let me-let me reflect on it some more. I’ll let you know by end of next day.” Her shoulders sagged when she heard the words. Addy had hoped too soon. Hollis thinking on it didn’t even bring her a shred of optimism. “Excuse me.” Hollis stood. The mattress expanded without the combined weight of their bodies.
“You have clean clothes in the chifforobe.” Juniper informed, rocking in the chair while petting Dahlia. “You should have enough hot water left for a nice shower. Check the mirror’s cabinet for a razor and shaving cream.” A wide smile graced Hollis’ face. The debt he owed Juniper for her hospitality was immeasurable. If she asked him, Hollis would have proudly handed over one of his kidneys.
“Thanks, Juniper.” Hollis grabbed his fresh pair of clothes and headed for the bathroom.
Juniper placed her embroidery work to the side. She got up quietly, laid Dahlia gently in the seat of her rocking chair and closed the bedroom door behind Hollis. The energy of the room shifted, becoming heavy and ominous. Addy became apprehensive. They way Juniper stared at her with those darks eyes made her uncomfortable. The woman’s expression didn’t show it, but she was upset with Addy. “You know it’s unlikely Hollis will take you with him, Addy. His moral compass will never break, no matter how much you hound him over it. It’s best to abandon this foolish crusade now. Stop forcing Hollis into unwanted corners.” Juniper’s icy words made Addy’s body hair stand at attention. With every word of reprimand from Juniper’s lips, Addy found herself flinching. She suspected Juniper’s intentions at making her feel awful were to force her to reevaluate wanting to go with Hollis.
“Stop it, Juniper.” Addy said shakily. Tears started to clog her eyes once again.
“No. No, I won’t.” Juniper stepped forward. “You need to hear these words from someone other than Hollis.” Cold, dark eyes remained on Addy like buzzling spotlights.
“I’m not trying to hinder Hollis!” She cried out. Addy just wanted to re-pay the man for all he had done for her. That desire fueled her persistent actions.
Juniper scoffed, shaking her head, and cutting her eyes. “If you continue down this path like you are, you’ll only become another burden for Hollis to carry.” Addy squeaked when Juniper said those words to her. Her heart and thoughts began wavering. Adding to Hollis’ burdens was not what she wanted. Perhaps, her hostess made a compelling argument. Juniper walked up to the bed and sat down. Her delicate weight barely made a dent in the mattress’ surface. “Addy, answer me this. What’s really driving you?” Juniper didn’t believe a huge break in the world of journalism was the reason. She suspected from the start, there was a deeper reason.
Addy pressed her fists into the mattress. Teeth came together again, biting back an outburst. Her remorseful expression became anger. “I took general psychology back in college, Juniper. I know what you’re doing. What you’re trying to do.” She popped up from the bed. Juniper’s perception of Addy was indeed correct. She did have another ulterior motive, but it wasn’t Juniper’s business and never would be. “I’m going outside for a bit…” She stomped out of the bedroom and down the stairs into the garden. The fresh air of outside felt nicer than the suffocating air of Juniper’s dismal house. Addy migrated to the very Adirondack chair she came upon Hollis sunbathing in the morning she arrived at Juniper’s house. “Why does she even care so much? We’re not her friends. We’re just boarders.” Addy kicked the dirt.
“Juniper has a big heart, unlike the rest of us. She might not look like she does though.” Willow’s sudden reappearance nearly spooked Addy out of her seat. She had assumed Juniper’s relative was long gone after leaving the bedroom. “You and Hollis have come to mean the world to Juniper in such a short stretch of time, more than either of you realize. Juniper hasn’t stopped talking about either of you since you arrived to Wych Elm. And given that she’s never been a Chatty Kathy, that says a lot about the effect you’ve had on her.” Willow sauntered closer to Addy, hypnotizing the woman with dark eyes and seductive body movements. She reiterated Juniper’s words from earlier about Hollis not taking her when he goes for the body. “You’re an anchor, Addy. An anchor that will only pull Hollis further down into the depths, no matter how helpful you may be to him.” Addy’s mouth formed into a line.
“You and Juniper are family all right…” She stood, intending to return inside, but Willow blocked her path. She stifled an amused chuckle. The scene was familiar, except it was Willow instead of Hollis and their places were swapped.
Willow pulled out a dark teal and crimson two-toned envelope from the pocket inside her jacket. She waved the envelope in Addy’s face watching her eyes follow its movements in her hands. “This is for you specifically. That’s if you’re interested.” Willow told Addy that what she had was bigger than some girl’s body in a tree. It would, without a doubt, immortalize her place in the world of journalism like she wanted to be. “Here.” She slapped the envelope in Addy’s hands without waiting for her response.
Inside the envelope was an invitation addressed to Amerie Vishal. Addy couldn’t believe her eyes when she read the woman’s name. “Amerie Vishal. I know this name. She’s the wife to Rudra Vishal, the CEO of Red Canary Media Enterprises. His company owns three of the six major news stations in the country, amongst other business ventures.” The Vishals’ other business ventures included ownership of several prominent newspaper companies and popular digital media platforms. Addy nearly leapt out of her skin. Willow wasn’t exaggerating about the High Families’ connections to people more powerful and wealthy than them. She could only imagine the other prominent names on the High Families’ invitation list. “Why…did you swipe her invitation?” And why would Willow hand it over to Addy? Sure, she was a journalist, but Addy was still a novice with no name for herself. It made sense for a journalist with a reputation like Gail Weathers to have the invitation. “If I go, what answers will I find when I get there?” The question made Willow grimace.
“The true downfall of the High Families.” Willow told Addy the body in the Wych Elm was tied to the masquerade. “If you decide to attend, keep a low profile. Don’t bring any attention to yourself. And be mindful of the Red Hound.” She told Addy with serious eyes. Willow bid her one final farewell and left.
Juniper stood at the window dismayed, furious. Willow handed the Forbidden Fruit over to Addy, and for that, Juniper would never forgive her relative for the transgression. Sadly, the deed was solidified. There was no undoing what was done. Juniper continued watching Addy, helpless, and beating herself up over not predicting Willow’s course of action. Anxious and stomach acid churning nauseously, Juniper dreaded what was to come.
Author's Note: There will be another hiatus after chapter 16. Taking periodic breaks from one series to work on another prevents burnout.
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