1 Grim Tidings (20 page)

“Can I get you anything?”

The minute I walked through the door of
Grimlock Manor my brothers were on me, offering to help me sit down, bringing me drinks and trying to force feed me finger sandwiches every time I turned around.

It was sweet – and annoying.

“I said I was fine,” I said.

“She looks cold,” Dad said from behind his desk. “One of you
get her a blanket.”

Cillian
immediately grabbed the afghan off the back of the couch he was sitting on and brought it toward me.

“I’m not cold,” I said.

“And that blanket is ugly,” Jerry said. He had insisted on coming to dinner. He said it was because he wanted to protect me, but it was far more likely he was uncomfortable being alone. At least he left the tennis racket at the condo.

Dad cleared his throat. “My mother knitted that blanket.”

Jerry looked momentarily flummoxed. “Well, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Dad waved him off. “She was a wonderful lady, though, and that blanket is a family heirloom.”

He thinks everything in this house is a family heirloom.

“Was she colorblind?” Jerry asked.

“Who?”

“Your mother.”

“No.” Now Dad was the one who looked confused.

“Well then, someone should have told her that orange and blue don’t make up a pleasant color pattern – even for a blanket.”

Dad pursed his lips and turned back to me. “You’re very lucky, young lady.”

“How did this become my fault?” I shifted, trying to flex my knee. It hurt. Braden was on his feet and moving a footstool in front of me, gently placing my leg on it, before I could even register his movement.

“You were the one that went out by yourself after dark,” Dad explained. “You’re obviously on the radar of whoever is amassing these wraiths. Try using your brain next time.”

“Hey!”

Redmond was angry. “Leave her alone,” he said. “It’s not like she could have guessed this would happen. Until now, we’ve only seen the wraiths when we were out collecting souls. How could she know they’d follow her home?”

“Well, since wraiths have only shown up on her jobs, it wasn’t that foregone of a conclusion,” Dad countered, “but we should have anticipated it.”

Huh, that was weird. I hadn’t even thought about that. Apparently, no one else in the room had put it together either.

“Wait, so you think that the wraiths are following
Aisling?” Cillian asked.

“Have the rest of you run into a wraith?”

Everyone shook their heads.

“Then we have to assume, for now at least, that they’re keyed into
Aisling somehow.”

“That’s not right,” Aidan said suddenly. “Addie was my charge.
Aisling just happened to be at the retirement home.”

“Yes, but she was originally on
Aisling’s list,” Dad pointed out. “I didn’t want to overtax her, though, so I gave her only one charge that day and assigned one of you to do the other as backup.”

Aidan’s face fell. “Yeah, and I traded
Cillian for it when Jerry called me all freaked out.”

Why do I feel like I’m being infantilized here? “Why would the wraiths only be sent out on my assignments?”

“Maybe because you’re new,” Braden said. “Maybe whoever is in charge thinks that a new reaper is an easy reaper?”

“See, I’m not the only one who thinks you’re easy,” Aidan teased, immediately regretting his words when my face fell. “I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t mean what?” Dad asked, clearly behind the gossip curve.

“Nothing,” I replied hurriedly.

“When I get my hands on Detective Dinglefritz, I’m going to wring his neck,” Redmond growled.

Clearly that nickname was catching on.

“Who is Detective Dinglefritz?” Dad asked.

Crap.

“Detective Taylor,” Braden supplied. “He’s on our list. He’s at the top now. He might be the only name on it for the foreseeable future actually.”

“He’s always been on my list,” Dad said. “Not that I’m complaining, but why are we especially mad at him now?”

I glared at Aidan. “Thanks.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“What is going on?” Dad asked.

“
Aisling had sex with Griffin – sorry, Detective Dinglefritz – and he bolted the next morning,” Jerry explained. “Sorry, Bug, this could take forever and you guys are terrible liars. It was going to come out eventually, and I’m hungry.”

I tried to swallow my upper lip when color started creeping up Dad’s neck. This wasn’t going to be good.

“What did you just say?”

“He said he and Aidan
are a couple now,” I said. What? If I’m going down I’m taking everyone else with me.

“Oh, nice,” Aidan exploded.

“Aisling,” Jerry chided. “That was not nice.”

“Congratulations,” Redmond offered, slapping Aidan on the back.

“It’s about time,” Braden agreed.

“Jerry is definitely a better choice than Detective
Dinglefritz,” Cillian added.

Dad held up his hand for silence. “We’ll get to Jerry and Aidan in a second,” he said. “I want to know – wait, I don’t want to know, but now I guess I have to know – what happened with Detective Taylor?”

I frowned. I was not talking about my sex life with my father. This is the man who found my birth control pills when I was a teenager and accused me of being on drugs. This couldn’t end well. I was just going to pretend this wasn’t happening. Is he still looking at me?

“Detective
Dinglefritz showed up at the apartment after that whole wraith thing at the retirement home,” Jerry explained. “I guess things got heated – in more ways than one – and then he bolted the next morning.”

Besides, I don’t have to say anything when I have Jerry the Mouth to do it for me.

Dad looked as though he was hoping for a hole to open up and swallow him. “I see.”

I glanced at Redmond, who was having trouble keeping a straight face. “This isn’t funny.”

“I agree,” he said after a beat. “I’m going to kill that guy. I’m laughing at Dad. I think he honestly thought you were still a virgin.”

“He didn’t think that,” I scoffed. “He just pretended that was the case. Why is it that when you guys get laid he gives you a pat on the back and an ‘
atta boy’ but when it happens to me the world suddenly ceases turning on its axis?”

“Because men are considered studs when they get some and women are considered sluts,” Redmond replied. “I don’t make the rules.”

“Who are all these women that these studs are getting laid with?”

Redmond shrugged.
“Sluts?”

“That seems really misogynistic.”

“That’s life.”

“Life sucks,” I said.

“And then you die.”

Everyone jumped when the doorbell rang.

“Are we expecting someone?” Braden asked.

“No,” Dad said. “Maybe it’s just a delivery. I ordered some books. Let’s get back to the conversation at hand.”

“Let’s not,” I argued.

“
Aisling, this is a serious issue.”

“Wait a second,” Aidan interrupted. “I don’t think this is fair.”

“I agree,” Cillian said. “I don’t think it’s fair to jump on Aisling.”

“Yeah,” Jerry said. “Detective
Dinglefritz already did that and look how that turned out.”

Dad’s face was now beet red. “Jerry, you’re a part of this family and I love you.”

“Thank you.” Jerry looked pleased.

“If you don’t shut your mouth, though … I can't be responsible for what I'm going to do to you.”

“What did I say?” Jerry turned to me, his eyes wide.

I leaned back on the couch, stretching my knee across the footstool. This night was turning into a mess. And since I was almost killed by two wraiths the night before, that was saying something.

“I want to get back to you … doing things with the cop,” Dad said, trying to pretend this was a normal conversation.

“What things?” Braden pressed.

“You’re not funny, young man,” Dad yelled.

“I just need clarification,” Braden said. “Were they knitting? Reading a good book? Playing Monopoly?”

“She’s your sister,” Redmond pointed out. “How much clarification do you need?”

Braden considered the question.
“Point taken. As far as I’m concerned, Aisling is sexless.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Thankfully, the conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. One of the maids – I think her name was Steffi – poked her head in. “There’s a police officer here.”

Uh-oh.

“Tell him we’re busy,” I ordered.

“No,” Dad said, his smile slight and grim. “By all means, show him in.”

No. No. No. It was too late, though. Griffin was already in the room and all four of my brothers were on their feet, their hands clenched into fists.

“Is this a bad time?” Griffin asked, refusing to look me in the eye.

“Oh, no,” Redmond said. “We’re really happy to see you, Detective
Dinglefritz.”

Oh, good. This will end well.

Griffin must have sensed he was walking into a room where he was the most unpopular occupant, but to his credit he didn’t turn and flee.

Dammit!

“I’m glad you’re all here,” he said, clearly nervous. “I have something I want to discuss with you.”

“Good,” Redmond agreed. “We have something to discuss with you, too.”

Griffin’s eyes finally found mine, even though my brothers were trying to build a wall between us with their bodies. The minute he caught sight of me his face moved from grim to
concerned. “What happened to you?”

“You happened to her,” Jerry said.

Griffin attempted to push his way between Braden and Redmond to get to me. “What are you guys doing? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine,” Redmond growled. “No thanks to you.”

Griffin looked momentarily taken aback. “What’s going on here?”

“Well, Detective
Dinglefritz, my sister was attacked outside her condominium last night,” Aidan said.

“By one of those things?
One of those things from Summer’s Dream?”

“It’s called a wraith,” I said.

“And she was attacked by two of them,” Aidan said. “If I hadn’t been there, she would be dead.”

“We all know you’re a hero,” Braden deadpanned. “This isn’t about you, though.”

“Are you all right?” Griffin ignored my brothers.

Concern was evident on his face, but I wasn’t feeling overly conciliatory. “I survived.”

“Her jacket was ruined,” Jerry said.

Redmond hit him in the arm. “You’re not helping. Go sit down.”

Jerry huffed. “Everyone in this family is mean, especially today.”

“That’s what happens when our sister is almost killed twice in two days,”
Cillian said.

“And it’s all Detective
Dinglefritz’s fault,” Aidan grumbled.

“How is it my fault? And why are you calling me that?”

“It seems to me you’ve earned it,” Dad said, speaking for the first time since Griffin walked into the room. His voice was so low it bordered on evil. I had to fight the urge to shudder.

“Listen,” Griffin said. “I understand you’re all worried that I’m going to spill your big family secret. I’m not going to.”

“Don’t act like it’s because you’re doing us some big favor,” Braden said. “You’re doing it because no one would believe you.”

“You’re right,” Griffin conceded. “I wouldn’t tell even if that wasn’t the case, though. I promise.”

“Forgive me if I find your promises empty,” Dad said.

Griffin’s gaze bounced around the room, not settling on any one face for too long. “I think I’m missing something. Does anyone want to enlighten me?”

Jerry’s hand shot up.

Griffin sighed. “Jerry, do you want to enlighten me?”

“Everyone knows you had sex with Aisling and then bolted the next morning,” he said. “They’re pissed.”

Man, I wish I still had some of those happy pills from the first wraith attack about now.

Griffin’s jaw tightened and he risked a look in my direction. “You told your father? Really?”

“No,” I shook my head, beyond embarrassment at this point. “I told Jerry and Aidan. Aidan told the rest of my brothers and … here we are.”

Griffin nodded his head, wrinkling his nose as he did. “Well, that makes perfect sense.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault,” I said. “I was upset. Aidan is the one with the big mouth.”

“Aidan is the one who saved you from being sucked dry by two wraiths on the front lawn last night,” Aidan reminded me. “Detective Dinglefritz here is the reason you were out pacing the front lawn, putting yourself in danger.”

“Thanks, I forgot.”

I’m going to wake up any second now. I just know it. This dream is even worse than the one where Great White sharks are living under my carpet trying to eat me.

“I think my relationship with
Aisling is between the two of us,” Griffin said. “That’s not why I’m here.”

“What relationship?” Jerry
asked, his hands on hips. “I don’t consider a one-night stand and morning-after jilting a relationship.”

“He has a point,” Aidan said. “And I was on your side, dude.”

“You’re a bad, bad man,” Jerry said.

This was getting out of hand.

“Detective Taylor, why don’t you have a seat,” Dad said.

Griffin looked unsure.

“Sit down, Detective Taylor.”

Griffin looked unhappy at being talked down to, but he did as he was told, opting for one of the wingback chairs in front of my father’s desk.

Dad turned his attention to everyone else in the room. “Boys, sit down.”

Redmond,
Cillian and Braden all shuffled to the couch I was sitting on, sandwiching me between them as they scrunched in. The message was clear: If Griffin wanted to get near me he would have to go through them.

Aidan settled on the other couch with Jerry, but he didn’t look happy about it. I think
, if I wasn’t so sore, he would have tried to settle on my lap to make the Grimlock wall complete.

“Detective Taylor, I’m not going to lie to you,” Dad said. “I’m not thrilled with what I’ve just heard about you.”

Griffin opened his mouth to speak but Dad silenced him with a look.

“Raising boys isn’t easy, but it’s certainly easier than raising a girl,” Dad continued. “One minute they’re rosy-cheeked little moppets with dolls and stuffed animals and your biggest concern is that they want to curl your hair and put makeup on you.”

“That was Aidan,” I protested.

Dad shot me a hard glare.

“Then, practically overnight, they turn into these giggling little phone-obsessed aliens in your house,” he said. “That’s when your worries begin. And why, you may be asking yourself? Because you know what dogs men are.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

“The last thing you want for your daughter is to get caught up with the kind of man who isn’t going to treat her right,” Dad went on. “At a certain point, though, you realize that no man is going to treat her right because it isn’t possible.”

“Does anyone know where he’s going with this?”
Cillian whispered.

“I think he’s saying we’re all dogs,” Redmond said.

“I got that,” Cillian said. “Why is he telling this to Detective Dinglefritz, though?”

Griffin shifted his eyes in our direction. His face was unreadable.

“I’m telling this to Detective Dinglefritz, I mean Detective Taylor, because I want him to be aware of where he stands in this family,” Dad said.

“Last time I checked, I’m not a part of your family,” Griffin said.

The jab hurt.

“Just be aware that if you hurt my daughter again, this family is going to bury you,” Dad said. “And we’re reapers, so we know how to hide a body. I want to make sure that you’re clear that when I say bury, I mean in the literal sense of the word.”

The chill in the room was unmistakable.

“Now, with that out of the way, what is it that you wanted to talk with us about?”

Griffin pulled his phone out of his pocket, fiddling with it for a second, and then handing it over to my father. Dad took the phone without saying a word and glanced down at the screen. His frown deepened. “What am I looking at?”

“It’s a symbol,” Griffin said. “It was found burned into Brian Harper’s body. We’ve had people researching the symbol, but we can’t find anyone who knows what it is. I figured since you guys seem to know a little bit about things that other people don’t know exist, you might be able to tell me what it is.”

“It looks familiar,” Dad admitted. “I’m just not sure. Cillian?”

Cillian
took the phone and looked at it, furrowing his brow. “This does look familiar.”

Cillian
handed the phone to Redmond so everyone could pass it around. When I finally saw it, I felt a stirring in my memory, even though I couldn’t quite hold on to the thread.

“It looks like a Celtic symbol, or Greek,” Braden said.

“I think it’s Greek,” Cillian agreed. “It’s got that little eye thing. I see that a lot in Greek mythology.”

We’re so scholarly sometimes.

“May I ask, how was it burned into the body?” Dad asked. “Was it a brand?”

Griffin shook his head. “The medical examiner says that if it were a brand there would be bits of skin missing when the brand was pulled away. So, no, it’s not a brand.”

“It looks as though this was on the victim’s shoulder,” Aidan said when he got a chance to look at the photo.

“Right above the heart,” Griffin said.

“Well, the question is, how did it get there?” Dad mused.

“Well, do those wraith things burn it there with their minds?” Griffin asked, searching the room for an answer and finally landing on me. “And if these wraiths can suck the life out of people, why are they stabbing them?”

That was a good question.

I shrugged. “We haven’t actually had a wraith problem until the last two weeks,” I said. “They’re supposed to be rare. Maybe someone else stabbed Brian Harper and they sucked his soul after the fact.”

“Why would they be here then?”

“That’s what we keep asking ourselves,” Braden sighed, shifting on the couch and jarring my knee. “Sorry,” he said, rubbing my shoulder. “I keep forgetting how banged up you are.”

Griffin frowned. “Should she be in the hospital?”

“And how do we explain that?” Aidan asked. “Oh, yeah, two ghouls jumped her in downtown Royal Oak?”

Griffin rubbed his jaw. “I guess you’re right. If you say she was mugged, then they would have called us and you would have had to file a false police report.”

Aidan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that’s why we didn’t do it.”

“I thought we didn’t take her to the hospital because we didn’t want Detective Dinglefritz showing up?” Jerry asked.

“Jerry,
it’s quiet time for you,” Dad admonished him.

Griffin got up from the chair and moved toward me, ignoring the rumbling emanating from Redmond’s chest. He knelt down in front of me, searching my eyes for a second. “Do you think you should go to the hospital? I’ll take you.”

“I’m fine,” I said. “It’s just a sore knee and a torn up elbow – and my face is a little bruised.”

“And that huge bruise on your ass,” Aidan said.

Redmond shot Aidan an incredulous look.

“What? I was there and she had to take her pants off so I could get a look at her knee,” Aidan protested. “It’s not as though I looked.”

“You obviously looked,” Redmond said. “She’s your sister.”

“Dude,” Braden muttered.

“Hey, you weren’t there,” Aidan said. “You didn’t see her two seconds from death and you didn’t shove a knife into the chest of two soul-sucking asshats to save her. Don’t judge me.”

“Leave him alone,” I said.

Griffin hadn’t moved. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

If I weren’t so angry with him, his concern would have touched me. “I’m fine.”

Griffin got back to his feet and turned. “So, what happens now?”

“Now?”
Dad looked nonplussed. “Now we have the same problem we had a week ago and no answers to solve it. The only thing we know is that Aisling and Aidan have managed to kill three of them and that, for some reason, they’re focusing on Aisling.”

Griffin’s eyebrows shot up. “What makes you say that?”

“Because they’ve only appeared on her jobs,” Braden said.

“None of the rest of you
have seen them?”

“No.”

“Well, then she can’t go out on any more jobs,” Griffin said.

“Since when are you the boss of me?”
I asked.

Griffin ignored me. “I’m not joking.”

“She’s right, you’re not in charge,” Dad said. “That being said, she’s not going out on any jobs until we know what’s going on here.”

My mouth opened to argue but, who am I kidding, I’m too sore to care.

“If the numbers we got from the club the other night are right, that means there are only four left,” Redmond said.

“We don’t know that, though,” Aidan said. “We just know that at least seven of them were sighted together. We have no idea whether that means there are only seven or at least seven.”

“They’re not the big worry either,” Cillian said. “Not that they’re not something to worry about.”

“No,” Dad agreed. “The big worry is whoever is controlling the wraith
s.”

“And we’re still thinking it’s a witch?” I asked.

“A witch?” Griffin’s face drained of color. “Now there are witches, too?”

“There are lots of things out there,” Jerry said. “Just go with it.”

“What makes you think a witch is behind this?” Griffin said, recovering slightly.