Jack A Grim Reaper Romance (32 page)

“Yet his energy is there, and we do see him cut the women and mutilate their bodies. My question is why aren’t we seeing the deaths themselves?”

Corwin bristled and Mason resisted the urge to punch him. “This is no conversation for a lady.”

It was Lilly who put a stop to it. “Corwin, as much as I appreciate your concern, I’ll have to ask you to leave if you cannot keep from interrupting. I’m a reaper, not some sheltered child, and it’s of the utmost importance that we get this mess sorted out.”

Mason could have kissed her just then. It was about time the bloody man realized he was no longer dealing with the girl he was once betrothed to.

Corwin looked pained, his face lined with shock and hurt as he mumbled an apology. Mason wished Lilly would just cut all ties, but instead guilt marred her pretty face for being abrupt with Corwin, giving his hand a squeeze to ease tensions between them.

Doing his best to ignore the tightness in his chest, Mason got back to the matter at hand. “Lilly… do you think it’s because you cannot bear to see him take a life? I’ll understand if this is the case, but it’s important I know, either way.”

“I suppose it could be, but if that were the case, then I’d rather not see any of it.” She sighed. “Like today, I suppose.”

She was right. She’d been unable to recreate either of the two murders that had just occurred. Yet with every other one, she’d recreated the gruesome scenes—other than the murder itself. There must be a reason why that part was missing.

“What if…” He let out a ragged sigh, knowing it had to be said. “What if Jack’s not the murderer?”

Pierce shook his head and balked. “Have you not seen him hack the women to bits? Surely he must be responsible.” Pierce looked over his notes. “What happened to the letter that was sent? It seems an odd coincidence that the letter would be signed
Jack
.”

Mason waved it away. “The letter was peculiar and his energy wasn’t found on the paper.”

“The energy could have dissipated by the time we got the letter, Mason.” Pierce ran a hand through his hair, making him look like he’d just rolled out of bed after a long night of getting up to no good. Pierce then went to the table with all their papers and handed her the letter. “Lilly, what do you think of the handwriting and the wording? Could it be Jack?”

She took the letter and looked it over once more. “Like I told Mason, the handwriting is similar, but it doesn’t quite feel like his. The same with the wording. I could not say either way.”

Pierce took the letter back. “And
why
send the letter to the police? Is he trying to taunt us?”

Lilly shook her head, a frown upon full pouty lips. “He was never one to taunt or be so bold, but as much as I’d like to think him innocent, we’ve seen him tear the women up, and his energy has been at each murder. Is there any way a reaper could disguise his energy as another’s? Could it be Nelson?”

“I wouldn’t put it past him if he were capable of such a feat, but as far as I know, only the Elders would be able to manage such a thing.” Mason could not imagine any of the Elders committing such crimes. And to what purpose?

“Is he not sharing Amara’s bed? Perhaps she’s helped him disguise himself or alter his energy.”

“Though I’m sure Nelson would have no qualms with it, I cannot imagine Amara risking everything for Nelson. There has to be something else.” Jack had to be linked to this somehow. “Other than you, was Jack ever close to anyone?”

Lilly glanced at Corwin for just a moment, but it didn’t take her long to answer. “Other than his family, I don’t think so—not in life or death. He never mentioned having any close friends, however, I cannot say I know him as well as I thought I did. I’d never have thought him capable of such gruesome acts.”

The distress Mason saw in her eyes told him that she truly had not suspected Jack. But again, before he could pursue anything further, Corwin interrupted his thoughts.

“Were ye with the man long? It pains me to think ye may have come to harm. He’s obviously a madman.”

“We were together for a few years, but I’ll say it again.” She looked around the room at everyone there to make sure her point was made clear. “He was perfectly sane when we were together, and never showed any signs that he’d be capable of such brutality. Never. If anything, I’d say the opposite was true. He was always kind and tender. I’m not saying he didn’t have problems he was dealing with, but he never lashed out—not even with a harsh word.”

He tried not to think of her with Jack, so he forced his mind back to the investigation. “Something feels off and I think it’s because he’s
not
killing these women. I think you’ve been right all along, love.”

She looked up him, her brow furrowed with concern. “But if it’s not Jack, then who?”

“I wish I knew, love.”

Chapter Thirty-One

October 1, 1888

Postcard sent to the Central News Agency

I was not codding dear old Boss when I gave you the tip, you'll hear about Saucy Jacky's work tomorrow double event this time number one squealed a bit couldn't finish straight off. ha not the time to get ears for police. thanks for keeping last letter back till I got to work again.

Jack the Ripper

***

October 16, 1888

Letter sent to George Lusk, President of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, along with half a kidney preserved in wine.

From hell.

Mr Lusk,
Sor

I send you half the Kidne I took from one woman and prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nise. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer

signed
Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk

Chapter Thirty-Two

November 8, 1888

Lilly leaned back against Mason as he nipped at her shoulder, a shiver of need traveling down her spine. Days had passed since the last of the murders, and life returned to some sense of normalcy. “Keep that up and I won’t get to any of my reaps today.”

Mason groaned while his lips continued their exploration. “I’ll need to speak to Damon again about having them reassigned.” He spun her around and covered her mouth in a greedy kiss.

“And what about changing my position? You said I might be able to deliver souls instead of reap them.” She didn’t want to pressure him when he already had so much to deal with, but felt she had to ask.

“Aye, love. I’ll see what can be done, though I still worry about you wandering through London, when Stefan, Jack or Nelson can turn up at any moment. Perhaps instead we could make use of the fact that you leave little trace. You could stop reaping and come work with me on investigations.”

“Have you lost your mind?” It was the only logical explanation, for how could he think an arrangement like that could work.

“Aye. Maybe.” He kissed her again, but she slipped away from him, knowing she’d be nothing but tempted to fall back into bed with him. “At the very least, I’d not have to worry about you.”

“Like Corwin promised you, he doesn’t leave my side. There are few other options if I still have to go on reaps.” Corwin now accompanied her on all her reaps so she could teach him what she knew about being a reaper. Though Mason clearly hated the arrangement, there were few he trusted enough to keep her safe.

“What if Nelson crosses your path? What will your Viking do to protect you then?” His eyebrows shot up in question, his expression bland as a baby’s custard.

“My dear Viking would lay down his life for me, so do not question his dedication. By all means, if you’d rather spend your days following me around, feel free to do so.”

“My dear, you know I’d be happy to do just that if I weren’t busy tracking down your murderous ex-lover.” He leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Pierce and I have yet another appointment tonight with the Elders, so it’s likely I won’t be home until late.”

Dire as the situation now was, the Elders were demanding regular reports on Mason’s progress. Mason was still hunting for Jack, and though he had found a few more of Jack’s hiding holes, there was seldom anything more of importance. Certainly nothing that would lead to Jack’s capture, and nowhere near enough to keep the Elders from hounding Mason. She did not want to think of what the Elders might do if they lost all patience with the situation, for she knew too well what they were capable of when angered.

“Mason…”

She didn’t want to bother him with her worries, but every time he mentioned the Elders, she thought of the pain he’d endured to keep her safe. It was still fresh on her mind, as were the night terrors that still plagued him since his punishment. She knew he’d sacrificed a lot for her, and it made her wonder if there was a real chance things could indeed work out between them.

He wrapped his arm around her and cradled her against him, before kissing the top of her head. “Do not worry, my love. No harm will come to me.”

There was little conviction in his voice, and she knew not even he believed his own words. Having been around for ages, the Elders were fickle and moody, and the murders were making them even more testy than usual.

She squeezed her eyes shut and leaned against him, breathing in his scent to help calm her fears. It took her a moment more, but she was finally able to compose herself.

“Please be safe.” She then kissed him as if it were their very last kiss, and left to start her day.

She took the carriage to her home where Corwin was waiting for her. He climbed into the carriage with a smile on his face, leaving Lilly to curse the fact that her stomach still fluttered at the mere sight of him. “Are you ready then? It feels like it’s going to be a busy day.”

“Aye, lass. Let’s be on our way then.” Corwin settled by her side. Though he didn’t pull her close, he did drape his arm across the back of the seat, so the first bump in the road had her landing in his arms.

She glanced up at him with a scolding frown. “You did that on purpose.”

He’d yet to let her go, their bodies pressed against each other in the most inappropriate fashion. Her heart raced despite feeling guilty that he still had such an effect on her.

“My love, there’s naught to be done for the bumps in the road.” He kissed the tip of her nose, and settled her against his side, clearly no intention of letting her go.

She shook her head, trying to find the strength to pull away and failing. “Corwin, you know what you mean to me, but… I’m married.”

“Do ye think I could ever forget that ye’re not mine?” He looked away as if mulling something over. “Do ye not find it odd that the moment I’m back in yer life, he finds a reason to marry ye?”

“He did it to keep me safe. There was no other option.” She shifted out of his arms, annoyed.

“Can ye know that for sure? Who’s to say there wasna another option?” He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “I’m not trying to upset ye, love, but it feels like an awful coincidence.”

“How can you say that? You saw the results of his punishment. He was broken and battered. Do you really think he’d endure all that just to keep me from you?” She’d never argued with Corwin before, and it upset her.

“No, love. Not to keep you from me.” He touched her cheek, his fingers just a little rough against her skin. “However, I do think he’d endure every hell imaginable if it meant ye’d be his and he wouldna lose ye.”

She started to protest that they were the same thing, and then realized that they were completely different, even if the end result was the same. “He’d not do such a thing, Corwin.”

“Ye know him best, aye?” He brought her hand to his lips, his stubble tickling her skin. “Forgive me if I upset ye. It wasna my intention.”

She nodded and sat back in her seat, but with the words already spoken, they niggled their way into her thoughts to fester. Before she could give it any more thought, they pulled to a stop near the location of her first reap. Corwin helped her out of the carriage, though she found herself unable to look at him.

He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm as she guided them in the direction she was being pulled. It was still early and the roads were bustling with people and the sounds of business, the air rich with the scents of London—some good, some she could do without.

The conversation in the carriage had soured her mood, and it was only made worse by delivering someone to their death—in this case a worker in his twenties, still vibrant in his youth.

When she looked at Corwin, it was only for the briefest of moments, her manners and tone clipped and to the point. “I think it’s best if you give this one a try.”

“Lilly, I canna stand ye being angry with me.” Hopeful eyes searched hers, but she could not bear to look at him, even if it wasn’t his fault.