Flamed Out, page 23
“Not planning to hurt the kid. Just rough up the woman. Put more marks on her.”
“Is the nullifier on her?”
“Forgot it. I barely beat them here.”
“You idiot. She’s a strong telepath. Her family is likely on the way.”
I poured more energy into my spear in Althea. She cried out and wavered until she wasn’t there. I thrilled at the victory. One tormentor down, one to go.
“Mom?” Grey yelled.
My family was on the way. Meanwhile, I fired off energy spears at his heart.
Though my strength faded quickly, I kept pulsing energy into his heart until the door opened.
~*~
Quig ripped the duct tape off my mouth, turned, and dove onto Grey. I stopped pulsing supercharged energy into Grey’s heart and struggled to sit up.
Quig got in several good punches, then Grey fell hard, banging his head on the floor. He didn’t move again.
Then Quig’s arms encircled me.
“Am I dreaming?” I asked.
He softened his voice so that only I could hear him. “Not a dream, love. You’re safe now. Neither Althea nor her son will hurt you ever again.”
“What happened to her?”
“Sage asked the cops to check here every few hours, so they were already in the area when you said you were coming to Herbert’s place. They rushed here and the place next door to neutralize any threats. Both the woman and her son must have had bad hearts.”
I could feel my eyes rounding. My energy spear had killed Althea? I didn’t know what to make of that.
“How do you know that without doing an autopsy?”
“I just do.” Quig kissed my brow.
~*~
Ten minutes later, Detective Nowry arrived. “Lucky for you I was in the area. My timing couldn’t be better, and I need Tabby’s statement while it’s fresh in her mind.”
After Nowry turned on his recorder and made a note of my name, the time, and the day, he nodded at me. “Begin.”
I cleared my throat. “Althea Morgan kidnapped me yesterday. She expected me to bear her grandchildren once I gave birth to my baby. She and her son are crazy as sprayed roaches. They locked me in a cell in an abandoned industrial complex nearby. When Grey came this evening, I escaped through the swamp. Intuition guided me here. I thought I was fleeing to safety. But he anticipated my route and grabbed me. Then he bound me with tape and threatened me. He pinched my nose shut saying he controlled everything about me, even when I breathed. I thought he’d kill me.”
Shivers raced down my spine, despite the August heat. “Grey bragged that he owned me. He bit my shoulder and kicked my thigh. Then he clutched his chest and collapsed. I hope he’s dead.”
Nowry cleared his throat. “He is. Not a mark on him either. You know anything about that?”
“I didn’t touch him. If I could’ve walloped him, I would’ve. What about Althea?” I continued, moving the conversation along. “She kidnapped me and killed Rosemont. She snuck into our apartment and took me captive. She’s bad news for sure.”
“She’s dead. Our team found a gold candlestick in a cabin nearby where she was hiding. Forensics will swab it for DNA. If genetic material from Rosemont and Althea is present, we will list her as Rosemont’s killer as well as your kidnapper. Anything else?”
“No. That’s it. I want to sleep for three days.”
“Once the forensic team processes you, and they take your clothes into evidence, you’re free to go.”
Ugh. Much as I hated the delay, I knew it was standard procedure. The police needed solid proof of crimes. “Be sure to swab where Grey bit my shoulder.”
“We will.”
When they finished with me, I took my second-ever shower at Herbert’s house. I dressed quickly in the clean clothes Sage and Quig brought. I looked at Quig. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
The next day before work, Auntie O and Frankie, along with Sage, Larry, Gerard, and Eve gathered in our apartment.
“Catch us up,” Eve said. “Tabby was missing for a day and now she’s home. What happened in between?”
With Quig at my side, I felt strong enough to tell the horror story again.
“A cat rescued you?” Gerard said, once I finished. “Cool.”
“Violet was awesome. She tripped Grey on the steps and brought me his keys.”
“Cats rule!” Sage pumped a fist in the air.
“I don’t get it. Althea had the head spot on the council,” Larry said. “Why’d she kidnap you?”
“She claimed I was causing her grief,” I said. “While I did nothing to her, she was a suspect in Rosemont’s murder. Sage and I staked out her home two days ago. Althea found out and became incensed. She entered this apartment wearing an invisibility cloak, then took total control of my body.”
“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” Quig said. “I can’t believe I inadvertently let her in. All that money I spent on security, and she beat it.”
“We kept trying to find you,” Sage said. “It wasn’t going well. Then, we saw your phone on the floor, reviewed your search results, and saw those properties Rosemont owned. We had decided to check the locations one-by one-when you messaged me.”
“Was that industrial site on the list?”
“Yeah, but we would have checked it last. I’m glad you escaped when you did.”
“Me too. Althea said she’d keep me pregnant the rest of my life. Said she’d auction off my womb.”
“She had some nerve to even consider such a thing,” Auntie O fumed. “Frankie and I found her collapsed in that abandoned cabin. They say she suffered a fatal heart attack. She apparently had a congenital heart condition that her son, Grey, also inherited, so stress killed both of them.”
I translated between the lines. I’d killed Althea and Grey with energy spears. It was either kill them or live the rest of my life in captivity. I’d done what was needed to survive.
“Was the skeleton in Rosemont’s wall Kimmy?” I asked, hoping no one dwelt on the so-called inherited heart condition coincidence.
“Yes.”
My head turned toward Quig. “You’re certain?”
“Absolutely, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Althea was jealous of her, flew at her in a rage, shot her, and dumped Kimmy’s body on Rosemont’s doorstep.”
I blinked for a few moments, unsure of what I could say. Did he have inside information? “That solution seems a stretch, but it ties everything together nicely.”
“The important thing,” Sage said, “is that those suckers will never bother us again.”
“Will the Paranormal Council come after me?” I asked.
“No.” This from Larry. “They are moving forward with a clean slate for everyone.”
I heaved in a sigh of relief.
Quig kept a firm grip on my hand. “With Rosemont and Althea gone, the average age of council members is lower. Newer, more contemporary policies will be enacted. The long-overdue updating of the ruling body’s charter will finally occur.”
“Thanks so much for the rescue,” I added with a nod toward the people who’d saved me. “Anyone seen Violet?”
“Nobody has seen her today that I know of,” Larry said. “But, she’ll turn up.”
“Shouldn’t we be concerned about her wellbeing?” Sage asked. “She’s quite a clever cat. She’s welcome to live with us if she doesn’t want to stay with Herbert.”
Eve’s eyes twinkled with delight. “Herbert and Sharmila may have something to say about that.”
“Let’s return to the council,” I said. “Who’s on it? Is it too soon to know?”
“Not too soon. I accepted a seat,” Larry said.
Sage’s eyebrows rose to her hairline. “You did? First I’ve heard of it.”
“You knew I wanted it before they ran the power test at the club. When they called me last night to join without testing, I couldn’t refuse. Council service runs in my family.”
Sage narrowed her eyes. “You’re not training any young girls, are you? Because I draw the line at that. We’re a couple now. A committed couple.”
“No. Training is already suspended and pending review. Which brings me to a question I’ve long wanted to ask you. We are a committed couple, Sage.” Larry knelt in front of my sister. “I’ve loved you for years, Sage Winslow. You are the woman I want to spend my life with. Will you marry me?”
Sage blinked but remained silent.
Answer him, Sage! I shouted through the twin-link.
Where’s the champagne and fancy dinner? she groused. Where’s my engagement ring?
Give him a chance. He’s smart, and he’s crazy about you.
“Sage?” Larry asked. “You’re killing me. Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” Sage said softly. “I will.”
Larry drew a ring from his pocket. “This was my mother’s. It’s a moonstone with diamonds on each side. I’d be honored if you’d wear it. But if you don’t like it, I will buy any ring of your choice.”
Sage reached for it eagerly. “I love it.”
They kissed, and we congratulated them.
“Our family has a lot to celebrate today.” I glanced up at Quig. “Want to do the honors?”
Quig nodded, his somber expression revealing nothing. “Last night when Tabby was being cleared by medical personnel, they ran a sonogram to check on the baby.”
“Don’t stop there,” Sage shrieked. “Tell us what they found.”
Quig drew me into his lap and hugged me. “We’re having twins. Too soon to know the gender.”
“I knew it,” Sage whooped. “They’ll grow up here on Bristol Street, same as we did.”
Happiness bathed me all over. “That’s the plan.”
“When I spoke to Herbert earlier, “ Quig said, “he announced he is staying on the council. He also shared his good news. Sharmila agreed to marry him. They will have a private ceremony because she’s expecting a child.”
“Goody for her,” Sage said. “That means they still need one more person for our ruling body. They better not be thinking of the Winslow twins.”
“I’ve heard the news about this,” Auntie O said with a sly grin following. “Our Eve was tapped for a leadership role, and she agreed. The council will be strong and powerful with these young talents.”
Eve blushed. “It’s true. The best way to effect change is from the inside.”
A knock sounded on the door. Auntie O answered it and waved Detective Nowry inside.
“Looks like a party in here,” Nowry said, crossing the room and handing me an envelope.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Your payment from the captain. You solved the case and more. Althea killed Rosemont. She kept a journal in her house that revealed everything.”
I tried to return the packet to no avail. “I don’t want this money.”
“If you have an issue with the amount, take it up with Haynes.”
“I’m not his employee.”
“He knows you’re freelance, and he won’t tap you for every case. Only the ones we can’t get a handle on. You have the special knack for getting to the bottom of things, Tabby.”
“Yes, she does,” Auntie O said proudly.
“Can’t stay. I’m in the midst of reopening at least a dozen missing persons cases.”
“What?” I thought hard for a moment. “Is this related to the package you found in Rosemont’s house?”
“Yes, it is. Thanks to your intuition, some families might be getting answers soon. You didn’t hear it from me, but Rosemont might have been a serial rapist and possibly a serial killer.” With that, Nowry grabbed a handful of cookies and departed.
“Wow.” I glanced at Sage. “We had a hand in that.”
Sage crowed. “Rosemont’s life won’t be remembered as picture perfect anymore.”
Everyone started talking at once. I heard them, though their voices faded against all the thoughts running in circles in my head. First off, I was very glad they’d found proof linking Althea to the murder. And Rosemont got his comeuppance too.
I glanced at my happy family, thinking back to the beginning of this case. Back to when the winged lion winked at me. The universe had sent me a message that whatever came my way, I could handle it. Working together, my family had done that and more.
Auntie O and Frankie had settled matters with his family, Sage and Larry were engaged, and Quig and I were expecting twins, much to our delight. His parents would be super pumped by the news. Gerard and Eve were now our family by choice.
When Mom died, I wasn’t sure where I belonged. Now I knew the answer.
I belonged with my blended family.
~*~
Clouds filled the sky over Bonaventure Cemetery. Sage and I, along with our guys, had brought a picnic lunch to our grandparents’ plot. They were unique in that they were both felled by the same assassin’s bullet.
I loved the feel of this historic cemetery. Centuries old oaks flanked the shady lanes, and their branches full of Spanish moss gave the place an ethereal feel. This graveyard was the resting place of many of the city’s movers and shakers through time.
The Ghost Dog ran up to my side and mugged me as usual. His chilling presence didn’t give me goosebumps. Instead I felt right at home.
As usual, we began with the ritual blessing for Dwayne and Rosemary, as well as Mom’s cremains, which we’d brought with us.
After lighting a tea candle and placing it on the headstone, I knelt beside my twin as she spoke the honorary words in a reverent voice. “In the name of the heavens and earth and all the directions, we share our love for Rosemary, Dwayne, and Marjoram. May their ways of spreading peace and joy be reflected in us as we make our spiritual journeys. Grant them a sacred rest, peace, and radiance until the new day dawns. So be it.”
“I don’t know about the rest of you,” Larry said, “But I’m starved. Let’s dive into those sandwiches.”
“Oh yeah,” Quig said. “Bring on those shrimp po’boys and chips.”
Three days had passed since the showdown at Herbert’s home by the river. Quig and I had spent most of the time together and tried to find a routine, but it was hard to accomplish because so much had happened.
My energy spears had taken out Althea and most likely Grey as well. I hadn’t come to terms with killing those two people, although their official death certificates said they’d died of heart attacks.
“You haven’t eaten a bite, Tabs,” Sage said. You okay?”
“Yeah. Still trying to process what happened. I should have listened to you when you said Althea was the killer. I naively thought any mom couldn’t kill. But I was wrong. So wrong.” I dropped my voice. “I killed two people. I’m the next family assassin.”
“Oh no you don’t,” Sage whispered back. “You don’t get to have all the fun and notoriety. I would’ve done the exact same thing in your place. You are not a bad person.”
My lips pressed together. “My head accepts that, but not my heart.”
“Get over it. You did what you had to do.”
“It will be different now. We’ve tried to go back to normal but it isn’t working.”
“Our old normal is gone because we no longer fear the council or the paranormal community.”
“Good point. Mom would be proud of us. We’re making money with the shop, we’re in stable relationships, and babies will be born next year.”
“Pretty much the trifecta every parent hopes for.”
“I’m glad our kids will grow up together on Bristol Street. We did all right, so they should too.”
Feeling much better, I showered each person present with love and good energy. Our future glittered bright with promise.
We’d taken everything the schemers on the council had thrown at us and beat them at their games. Plus, the word had spread far and wide that Mom and Auntie O had raised strong, stable talents without the benefit of training. Hope and new life was spreading like wildfire through our paranormal community.
Best of all, nobody with a grain of sense would ever mess with the Winslow twins again.
About the Author
Valona Jones is a pen name for Southern author Maggie Toussaint. She writes mystery, suspense, and dystopian fiction. Her work won three Silver Falchion Awards, the Readers’ Choice Award, and the EPIC Award. She’s published thirty novels as well as several short stories and novellas. Maggie is a member of Mystery Writers of America—Southeast Chapter, and the Sisters in Crime Guppy Chapter. Maggie and her husband live in coastal Georgia where live oaks and heritage cast long shadows. Her website is https://maggietoussaint.com
Author’s Note
Thank you for coming along on this wonderful journey with me. I hope you’ve enjoyed this fictional visit to Savannah, GA. In writing A Magic Candle Shop Mysteries, it has been my honor to show you the area through the eyes and senses of my paranormal amateur sleuth, Tabby Winslow Quigsly. Speaking of Tabby and her twin sister Sage, I have long been fascinated with twins. We have a set of twins in my father’s line: his grandfather was a twin. As far as I know, twins didn’t follow down through “our” twin’s descendants.
Remember, you can always help authors out by leaving online reviews about our books. No need for anything lengthy or in-depth. Honest reviews are needed, and they make a difference to the author and to other readers.
More Books by
Maggie Toussaint
Thanks for reading Flamed Out. A complete list of my works of fiction follows.
A Magic Candle Shop Mystery Series, paranormal cozy mysteries
Snuffed Out (writing as Valona Jones)
In the Wick of Time (writing as Valona Jones)
Tallowed Ground (writing as Valona Jones)
Candle With Care (writing as Valona Jones)
Flamed Out (writing as Valona Jones)
Seafood Caper Mystery series, culinary cozies
Seas the Day
Spawning Suspicion
Shrimply Dead
Dreamwalker Mystery series, paranormal mysteries
