Jack A Grim Reaper Romance (7 page)

His sweetness forgotten, she narrowed her eyes in suspicion, less than keen on the idea. “In what capacity? As a friend or as chancellor?”

“Does it matter? It’s all the same, is it not?” When he brushed her lips in a kiss, she pulled back, refusing to be distracted and charmed.

“You know full well it’s not the same thing.”

He shrugged. “It makes no difference to me how you think of it—friend or chancellor, it’s all the same in the end, love.”

“It’s a pity you think so.”

With a strong arm around her waist, he pulled her in close, pressing their bodies together so she could not escape the passion that sparked between them.

“Then how about I accompany you as your lover?” He nuzzled her nose with his, and then bit her lip, drawing stunned stares and whispers from passersby.

His words made her heart race, though her head told her to keep her distance. “I guess I’ll not deny you that claim. For now.”

***

With her reaps finished, Lilly leaned against Mason, wrapped in his arms as his carriage took them to their next destination. Having stayed apart the last few days and with few distractions, she was happy to have Mason’s company once more.

“Where are we going? You’ve yet to tell me what all this is about.”

“There’s still no sign of Jack, and the Elders are growing impatient.” Mason pulled her tight against him, brushing his cheek against hers. “I want you to come with me to Jack’s home. You may notice something that got missed when I went through there the first time.”

When Mason’s carriage pulled to a stop, Lilly sighed, dread creeping into her gut. Jack was so terribly private, and she could not imagine invading his quarters. She followed Mason as they entered Jack’s home, the servants sent to their rooms so they’d be out of the way.

He led her to the sitting room, but as Lilly glanced around, she was hit with a flood of memories. How many times had she and Jack sat by the fire, wrapped in each other’s arms after a long day? He’d been a comfort to her, always so tender and sweet.

Yet now was not the time to get sentimental. Pushing away all the intimate moments rattling around in her head, she steeled herself for dealing with the business at hand.

“What exactly are we looking for, Mason? I doubt he’ll be leaving a bloody knife out in the open for us.”

Mason wandered around the sitting room, running his hands over the wood paneling, his eyes squinting in observation as he bent forward for a closer look. “I’m not sure, but I’m hoping you’ll know it when you see it. Look for something that doesn’t quite fit or make sense.”

“Well, I doubt he’d keep anything of importance in the sitting room.”

“Perhaps not, but sometimes things are best hidden in plain view.” Mason righted himself. “Where would you like to start our investigation? You know Jack best. If he wanted to hide something, where would he put it?”

Lilly let out a ragged breath, dread filling her. “His sleeping chambers.”

“Let’s have a look, then.”

With each step up to the second floor, Lilly fought the urge to turn and run out the door. To be in his most private rooms, prying and going through his things—would Jack ever forgive her for her betrayal? And alongside Mason, no less. It only made matters worse.

She paused over the threshold of Jack’s room, not wanting to enter, but Mason gently took her hand and pulled her in. Her face flushed, and it felt as if she could no longer take a full breath. One quick glance around the room left her trying to escape the onslaught of intimate memories.

Though it had been a few years since they parted, to be in his sleeping chambers brought it all back to the present, as if barely a week had passed. She had tried so hard to make it work between them, and this brought it all back.

“Lilly…” Mason stepped to her side and cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. “I know this isn’t easy for you, but you need to be strong—for the two of us. For make no mistake, love. You won’t be the only one under scrutiny.”

“I don’t understand, Mason.” She gave him a good look, and saw not only weariness, but the lines of stress marring his face. He looked like he had not slept a decent night’s sleep since this all started, and it made her worry. “What is it?”

“You know the Elders don’t trust you, certainly not with a matter of such importance.” Mason ran a rough hand through his hair, his eyes refusing to meet hers for a moment. And then when they did, she wished he’d look away. Mason took her hand and brought it to his lips, but the gesture, sweet as it was, made her worry even more.

“What aren’t you telling me, Mason?”

“I vouched for you.” He twined his fingers with hers. “It was the perfect opportunity for you to regain the trust of the Elders, for they’ll not let you stop reaping if they don’t think you trustworthy.”

Lilly groaned. “Why would you do such a thing? Damn it, Mason.”

Letting go of her hand he cupped her face, his skin hot against hers, his touch tender. “It’s the only way if you have any hope of moving on from reaping. Is it not what you want?”

Her shoulders sagged as she thought of the consequences. “Yes, but not at the expense of your own relationship with the Elders—especially when I’m still not convinced of Jack’s guilt. I don’t want to be responsible for causing you problems.”

When Mason pulled her close, she rested her head on his shoulder, her emotions a tumult.

“You won’t cause any problems if you fully cooperate. I know this is hard on you, but neither of us have a choice now. As for Jack, he cannot blame you for helping with the investigation if you had no other option but to do so.”

Lilly took a deep breath, her head filling with Mason’s scent—male with a hint of wool and smoke. She held onto it until her lungs burned, and then let it out in a ragged sigh. “I guess it’s a lie I’m willing to believe for now.”

“It’ll be worth it in the end, if you can move into a position you enjoy. You might then be willing to take full advantage of this life.”

“I’ll do what I can to help you, but I still do not think I’ll be of much use.” Lilly pulled herself out of Mason’s arms, his warmth lingering upon her skin as if it were kissed by sunlight. She glanced around not certain what she was looking for, and thought it all an exercise in futility. “Certainly the Elders must have better ways of tracking Jack.”

“Unfortunately, Jack’s mastered certain skills which make that difficult for us. Mason shook his head, his mouth pursed in frustration. “We suspect he’s long planned on leaving this life and would not want to be found. We have trackers, but he’s managed to avoid detection.”

“Is it even possible for one to mask their whereabouts against a tracker? If it were so easy a thing to accomplish, you’d have half your reapers missing.” Could she leave this life once and for all? She’d never thought it an option.

“It’s not an easy skill to develop, and even more difficult to master, but Jack’s always been far more accomplished than most, and he’s now using it to his advantage. He’s intelligent and talented enough, despite being a fool.”

“A fool indeed, considering the mess he’s currently in.”

Lilly wondered how long he’d been planning his escape. He had likely started to develop the skills he’d need to avoid being tracked before their relations started—and yet he’d never said a word. Perhaps she was the fool here.

Would he have told her when the time came for him to leave? Or would he have vanished without a word, leaving her to wonder what became of him? Years together and not once did he hint at his plans.

Mason ran a hand down her arm, as if sensing the betrayal and hurt she felt. “He was never worthy of your affections, Lilly.”

She shrugged his hand off, not wanting to be touched. It was more proof that she could no longer trust her own judgment, and it left her feeling uneasy and unsettled. She needed to regain some control, needed to think of herself, and Jack be damned.

Jack knew how much she hated being a reaper and yet he never mentioned his plans to get away from it all. Well, if he was only going to look out for himself, then she’d do the same.

“If I help, will you make sure I can move on from being a reaper? Even if we don’t catch Jack?” Though she got the words out, her body was stiff with emotions too close to the surface.

“You have my word that I’ll do all I can to make it possible.”

“You’ll excuse my saying so, but it doesn’t sound like a guaranteed thing, Mason.”

He sighed and shook his head. “I will not lie to you, love. You know what the Elders are like. Nothing’s guaranteed, but I’ll do my damndest to use whatever means I have to influence them. It’s your only chance, aye?”

“Fine.” She was annoyed and frustrated, but concentrated on the prize at hand and how to accomplish it. She’d need to prove Jack’s role in the murders—innocent or guilty.

Mason wandered about the room. She needed some space and he was smart enough to give it to her. “Look for anything that’s different from your time together or anything that doesn’t quite fit.”

“Have you not already looked around? It’s been a week since the murder.”

His laugh eased some of the tension she was holding onto. “You’re the only one who would have the audacity to question me.”

It had been rather of bold of her, but she did not care. “Well, then?”

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, a smile on his lips and his eyes aflame with such energy and passion, she had to look away.

“I had a cursory look around when the murder first occurred, but there were other more promising leads. Pierce came through here also, but he had little luck finding anything. Still, it’s worth having a look around, especially since you’re here.”

“I’m surprised I have yet to see Pierce since this all started. You must be working him hard.”

It had been a while since Lilly had last seen Mason’s lieutenant, her relationship with him a peculiar one. Pierce seemed to tolerate her for Mason’s sake, but she knew he’d rather have Mason all to himself. Still, they’d developed enough of a friendship. She liked his wry sense of humor and the fact that he always kept Mason honest, calling him to task if need be.

“I’m afraid there’s no rest for any of us until this is over.”

Resigning herself, Lilly took in all the small details of the room, trying to remember if anything had changed. Compared to most homes, this one was relatively sparse and for the most part utilitarian, void of frills and frivolity—just like Jack. She noted the mantel above the fireplace; a small clock, a candle stick, and a painting of a hunt scene, hanging on the wall.

His favorite chair, a dresser, and a tall wardrobe were all just as she remembered them. She thought of pulling open the drawers, but despite everything, she still couldn’t bring herself to rifle through his things. Not that Mason had any qualms.

While Mason went through the wardrobe, Lilly went to the nightstand by the bed on the side Jack slept. A picture of Jack and his family sat there in a gilded frame. It was not one she’d seen before, and she could not help but pick it up to take a closer look. Jack stood by his wife’s side—a pretty young woman with dark locks—and a young boy no older than three. Even though Jack’s appearance was altered from the one she knew, there was no mistaking the soul behind the eyes.

She knew that leaving behind a child could break one’s heart, and Jack had been a devoted father. It must have been difficult to watch their lives change drastically for the worse and not be able to do a thing about it.

She pushed her melancholy away, for it’d be too easy for it to overtake her. Turning to the matter at hand for distraction, she pulled open the drawer to the nightstand, knowing Jack used it nightly for putting away his personal effects. It contained few items. A pair of keys, an old pipe with a small tin of tobacco, and a silver fob watch she had not seen before. The pipe was one Jack used often, the scent so familiar.

She picked up the watch, the silver cold and heavy in her hand, the surface elaborately engraved. Depressing the button at the top, the front of the watch popped open to reveal a mother of pearl face, and an inscription on the inside of the cover.

For showing me the world’s wonders.

It was an expensive gift, though nothing compared to the world’s wonders, Lilly mused. She wondered who gave it to Jack. Perhaps it was from his wife before he passed, though it showed few signs of wear.

She opened the tin of tobacco and was surprised to find a ring—one that once adorned her finger. The silver band was dotted with sapphires and had been a gift from Jack. She had insisted on returning it to him when they parted, not wanting to keep such an expensive gift. He’d not been happy about taking it back, but she’d been adamant.

It was odd that he would have it stashed with his tobacco, since it was something he used regularly and the ring could easily get lost. Trying not to give it much thought or credence, she returned the tin and pipe to its place with a sigh. Grabbing the keys and watch since they might be important, she went to Mason’s side.

He was crouched down before the wardrobe, banging on the sides and bottom, as he looked over his shoulder at her. “Have you had any luck?”

“Nothing much, though short of finding a bloody knife, I have no idea what I’m looking for.”