Drop Dead Demons (38 page)

“I’m fine,” I assured him, the pain gone, then I glared at Eros, or…the teacher—gads, this was confusing—who had recovered. “Is there a point to this visit other than causing trouble?”

“Apologies.” Eros spoke with what seemed like grave sincerity. “I meant no offense. And I take none. You are quite right about my maternal parentage. It is her deeds about which I am here to warn you. Aphrodite is almost done gathering her reinforcements for the siege upon Gossamer Falls. She will arrive in two days time.”

The teacher’s eyes turned normal and she blinked, confused, steadying herself with a hand to the desk.

“What happened? Is everything okay?” she asked.

I caught Tristan’s eye and said what we were both thinking.

“Not by a long shot.” 

Matthias sent a message he’d meet me at his house. So after school, more than a little nervous, I started driving to a fun-filled afternoon with a Hex Boy who hated me and his bloodthirsty godfather with a death wish who planned to use real bullets to jumpstart me into fighting shape in less than two days when a demon goddess planned to unleash a demon army. Or kill me trying. Who wouldn’t be thrilled?

I steered around the last of many curves to Matthias’s remote, high-on-the-mountain location and upon arrival was sure I’d made a wrong turn somewhere because…

I expected Matthias’s house to be loaded with cobwebs, dripping with bones of his victims, and generally covered in creepy. Probably because I figured it would match his pathological morose, glum, and downright nasty temperament.

I was wrong.

Surrounded by wildflowers and fruit trees, the two-story log cabin was compact, neat, and downright quaint. It was stained pale blond with hunter green shutters and had a covered porch that wrapped around the entire first floor, which boasted pieces of colorful outdoor furniture cushioned with bright floral prints. Bird feeders hung from the eaves where small winged creatures flitted about, including a lone hummingbird that sipped red liquid from a giant, hanging plastic flower, sunlight glistening off a kaleidoscope of iridescence feathers. From the weathered stone chimney, smoke curled a lazy trail heavenward.  

I was wrong because I’d forgotten a very important aspect of the Aussie’s life. The man who was standing on the porch. Even though he wasn’t supposed to be here.

It was easy to appreciate Sheriff Payne’s forty-something gorgeous exterior. He stood almost six-three, broad shouldered, square jaw, hazel brown eyes, and a million dollar smile. Honestly, ladies in town practically lined up to confess to crimes just so they could be interrogated by Sheriff Hunk and have a chance at a strip search. 

But while the smile could light up a room — and the female population’s libido — he socialized only with the Hex Boys’ families. And the gold wedding band he wore kept would-be suitors at bay. 

He ran a tight law enforcement ship, seemed to have a sixth sense, and consequently, what little crime ever nested itself in Gossamer Falls was quickly solved and shut down. 

I gripped the Maserati’s wheel, instinct screaming for me to pull a fast one-eighty and book it out of here. The boys had made it clear I wasn’t supposed to talk to him. But it was too late for a great escape because seeing me, he bounded down the steps, delivering that high-voltage smile, slapped the hood of the car, and motioned for me to pull next to his SUV. My door opened before I shifted into park.  

“Well, this day just turned into a right beaut! Welcome!”

And that heavy Australian accent only added to his charm. How could he be dangerous?

I smiled and waved, which in Sheriff Aussie language must have meant pull me into a bone crushing hug. Then he held me at arm’s length, his look suddenly ominous.

“I know why you’re here,” he said gravely. “And I’ve got to say, this is a serious offense.”

Crap, he was already on to me. I was going away. To the slammer. A deep dark dungeony slammer. I readied to make a run for it.

His face lit up. “A serious offense that you didn’t come sooner!” He squeezed my arms. “Look at you, then. Color in your cheeks, sparkle in your eye. Is that for a certain young man?”

“Uh…”

“You are here to see Matthias, right?”

“Yeah, but—”

“I knew it!” He stepped back and shook a knowing finger. “I could tell something was up in the girl department. I am the sheriff after all. Hot-diggity. But where are my manners? Come in, come in.” He led me onto the porch, babbling away as he ushered me into the house. 

I gazed wistfully over my shoulder, looking for a way out without raising any red flags. If the guys had just
told
me why I should steer clear. Idiots.  

“I’m out of practice.” Sheriff Payne laughed and squeezed my elbow. “We rarely get visitors. Partly my fault. It’s hard to be social and be sheriff. Never know who you might have to arrest, right? Matthias should be home soon. Can I get you some tea? No, I bet you’re a lemonade gal. I make it myself. From our own tree. Sit. I’ll get you a glass.”

So far so good. He was so chatty, I wouldn’t even need to talk.

He pulled out a chair at the pine table in the kitchen which opened up from the living room and offered a stunning view of the valley and shimmering lake below. The house was full of plaids and flannel, leather furniture and general guy appeal, although tidy and clean, with a few feminine touches like floral pillows and lace curtains. The walls were lined with shelves, all stuffed to the brim with books on top of books. The fire in the stone hearth warded off the coming evening chill. 

How could the Angry Aussie ever be angry surrounded by this?

A blur of slobbering fangs and claws flew out of nowhere and attacked me. I screamed.

“Sadie, off!” At the sheriff’s command, the demon sat.

I could still see its fangs.

And tongue.

Because it was smiling. Tail wagging a solid
thump-thump
against the wall, and admittedly, the look was friendly.

“You have a German Shepherd?”

Sheriff Payne scratched behind the dog’s ears. “Belgian Malinois. She’s French. Oo-la-la. Retired police dog, but,” he touched the tip of her nose, “her sniffer still works like a champ. Doesn’t it gorgeous.” He ruffled her fur. “Don’t like dogs?”

“I have a cat.”

“Oh. Don’t worry, she’ll figure it out.”

Sadie lay down, dropping her chin on her paws, soft brown eyes tracking my every move. Each time I glanced her way, the bushy tail swept the floor, but she stayed put.

The sheriff set my tall glass of lemonade down on an actual lace doily. He sat across from me as I took a sip. Definitely homemade and yummylicous.

He smiled. “So how long have you and Matthias been going out?”

The lemonade spewed from my mouth. And nose.

Not so yummy.

“Whoa!” Sheriff Payne jerked back then jumped up to get some napkins—actual linen. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. I’m so used to interrogating, I tend to get right to the point.”

Sadie’s head had come up in the commotion, but it dropped back down. Tail sweeping with vigor.

I cleared my throat and patted my chin dry. “You didn’t scare me. It’s just…I’m sorry.” This was awkward. “Matthias and I aren’t dating.”

“Oh.” He sat back, his face thoughtful, shadowed with disappointment. “I was sure he had someone. But…you sure?”

I snorted, then did my best to cover it with a strangled cough. “Very sure.”

“So much for my detective skills.” He drummed his fingers on the table.

“Not that he isn’t really handsome.” I felt bad now and wanted to make it up to him. How could I go wrong complimenting his son?

“He is quite the looker.” The sheriff had a faraway look. “Gets that from his mum.”

Maybe some, but not all, Sheriff Hot Stuff.

“And he’s so charming.”

Who said that? Me? Oh, brother. Talk about a stretch. But the reference to his wife had the sheriff looking all melancholy.

“I mean he’s just so gallant and suave.” Now I couldn’t shut up. “All the girls at school are dying to go out with him.” That had some truth to it. “He’s probably just trying to decide, you know, which one of the many ladies to date.” That didn’t.

I looked up from playing with my napkin. Sheriff Payne was giving me an odd look.

“You think Matthias is charming?”

“Sure!” I used over-the-top enthusiasm to cover the lie. Matthias so owed me for this whopper. “And generous and…gosh , I could go on and on. Just a ray of sunshine in everyone’s day.” At least Selena probably thought so. The sheriff still looked strange so I asked, “Is something wrong?”

“Not at all.” He shook his head, but his expression morphed. The faraway look and melancholy vanished as he focused on me. I suddenly felt like a new-found species being studied by the mad scientist.

And knew I’d made some sort of terrible mistake.

I squirmed, started to rise. “Maybe I should go.”

“No, please.” The sheriff laid a hand on my wrist. The touch was light, so why did it feel like a shackle? I sat back down. His mega-watt smile was back. “Matthias should be here any minute. Why did you say you wanted to see him?” He settled back in his seat, arms crossed, eyes appraising.

Okay, definitely felt like I’d waded into quicksand.

“I didn’t. Say.” I fiddled with my napkin. Sipped lemonade.

He kept quiet, his expression genial, but both he and Sadie watched me closely.

Probably some interrogation technique. Stay quiet so the perp — that would be me — spilled her guts. The silence was a big open chasm that I had an overwhelming desire to fill. I pinched my mouth shut and looked around for a distraction.

“Oh, look.” I jumped to my feet and grabbed a picture off one of those old library cabinets. The ones with lots of mini drawers that held index cards. “Is that Matthias? He looks so young. And who’s—” Now, looking at the others in the photo, I didn’t know what to say.

An eight- or nine-year-old Matthias with shaggy waves of hair tousled by the wind stood between a younger Sheriff Payne and a dark-haired woman. Who knew dark and morose Matthias could look so giddy and carefree with a brilliant smile that rivaled his dad’s and the dimples in full force.

The woman had Matthias’s eyes, blue so pale they stuttered into gray. She wore old-fashioned horn-rimmed glasses on a pretty face full of soft angles, and her wavy hair pulled into a severe, short ponytail.

On Matthias’s shoulders perched a young girl, maybe five, whose arms were wrapped around the necks of the two adults. She’d been caught mid-laugh, eyes squinted nearly shut, mouth open in an ear-to-ear grin. She had the woman’s round face, but her hair was straight and fawn brown like the sheriff’s.

He walked over and stood next to me.

“That’s Tilly, my wife, Matthias’s mum, and Bindi, his sister. We were at the park near our old house on Sidney Harbor.” He pointed. “There’s the Harbor Bridge and the Sidney Opera House.”

My fingers trailed over the glass. “What a beautiful family,” I said softly. “And so happy.”

“Thank you,” he nodded. “Yes, it was devastating when we lost them.”  

My stomach churned like it was tumbling shards of ice. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to…” Remind you of the most horrible time in your life? Nice, Aurora. 

“No worries. Lots of good times to remember.” With a delicate touch, the sheriff placed the picture on the cabinet and flashed a bitter smile. “Matthias wasn’t always so…dark. He was a sweet boy. Always laughing. Pulling practical jokes.”

Yeah, that one didn’t track. But one thing was for sure. This happy, adorable, giddy boy did not kill his family.

“Adored his mum and sister,” the sheriff continued. “I’m glad he spends time with Selena. Bindi wasn’t much older than her when…things happened, so it’s good for him.” 

“Selena adores her BFF, Matty,” I smiled. “When he’s with her he’s like a different person. All sweetness and light. Hardly recognizable.” 

“I thought you said he was charming?”

I looked away from his wry grin. “Oh, he’s, uh,
painfully
charming.”

“Nice save,” Sheriff Payne chuckled then his brow knitted. “Selena calls him Matty? Unbelievable.”

“Is that bad?”

“No,” he said quickly, but that melancholy look was back. “It’s just…that’s what we called him.  But once his mum and Bindi were gone, he insisted on Matthias. The fact that he lets you—” 

“Oh, no. Only the rest of my family gets that privilege. If I did it, he’d have my head.” I grinned. “In the most charming way possible, of course.”

“Of course,” he grinned back. “But either way, it’s a good sign. So make yourself at home. I’ll be outside. You can wait in his room. Upstairs, second door on your right. Give us a shout if you need anything.”

He pulled me into a quick hug and headed out. Sadie padded over to nuzzle her cold, wet nose in my palm then trotted after him. 

I looked around. “Okay, that was somewhat…unusual.” I let out a long breath and wiggled my shoulders to release the tension. “But you did good, Aurora. Whatever they were worried about, wasn’t an issue. It’s all good.”

I gave myself a mental pat on the back and noticed the staircase.

Matthias wouldn’t want me going into this room. Nope, breaching his private inner sanctum would be considered totally off limits. He’d freak.

I looked left. And right. Then bolted up the stairs two at a time, raced down the hall, and skidded into his open doorway. 

That’s when things got downright weird.