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“Aubrey was his star assistant too. She won’t have gone too far,” he explained.
Clancy chuckled as he resumed typing. “I talked to Walt this morning and his future bride was in New York until last night. She’s teaching over in the botany department these days.”
“Is she?” Nox asked and smiled as he recalled the bright young woman. “Well done, Walt, and congratulations to the happy couple! Maybe Aubrey can give us some leads on who might be using yew to poison our suspects,” he mused out loud, but Clancy made a doubtful sound.
“See her because she’s a delightful girl, but common yew? You might look closer to home if you have questions about poisons,” he said, causing the ache behind Nox’s eyes to grow into a dull thud.
“Didn’t I warn you about this, Nelson?” He threw a disgusted wave at Clancy. “What if I paid for couples’ counseling?” he asked and Clancy raised his hands apologetically.
“I’ve just never understood how he can be so uncannily gifted when it comes to healing and curses. And yet, he couldn’t help your mother,” he added carefully, but Nox shot to his feet.
“Easy!” Nelson barked, putting a hand out to stop Nox.
“Take that back,” Nox demanded, pointing at Clancy. “I know how much you loved Mom and how much Dad meant to you, but Merlin could never betray either of them. Not any more than you could.”
That stopped Clancy short and he looked winded as he stood. “I think…” He slowly came around his desk. “I think you’d be surprised at what we’re capable of. Especially when it comes to those we love most.” He gathered Nox into a cautious hug, giving his anger a moment to settle. “I’m sorry. I know he loves you, but he’s too reckless and allows you to take too many risks.”
“Allows?” Nox leaned back, letting Clancy know how close he was to crossing the line again. “I’m an adult, Clance.”
“I know!” He cupped Nox’s cheek tenderly. His eyes shimmered with love and sadness as he kissed Nox’s forehead. “And we act like children, fighting over our favorite doll or toy soldier. But it’s because you’re so precious to us and because you’ve always been on your own, in a way. No matter how much we’ve sacrificed to protect you, we can’t carry that burden for you and you’ll have to fight your hardest battle alone.”
“Would you—!” Nox groaned as he gripped Clancy’s shoulders and eased him back. “I’m trying to solve a case at the moment. I appreciate your concern. Truly.” He gave Clancy an affectionate shake. “But I have a real life with real responsibilities. Help me find a killer and give Elsa Hansen’s family the justice they deserve.” Nox widened his eyes hopefully, willing Clancy to let it go.
“Fine,” Clancy said, sounding resigned. “I’ll send over everything I have by the end of the day. I’m always just a phone call away if you need anything else.”
“I know. Kiss Ingrid and the girls for me.” Nox turned, heading for the door, then paused. “There’s one other thing,” he said as he swung back to Clancy. “Julian said he came across the MacCrorys while doing research on the Tuath Dé for a paper for your class.”
Clancy nodded slowly. “He would have been one of many.”
“Exactly. How many of those kids met the MacCrorys and how is it you didn’t know there were hillbillies cosplaying as the Tuath Dé right under your nose? And why did it take so long for me to find out? No one I’ve ever talked to mentioned them and I’ve had a few students do papers on the Tuath Dé, but none of them found anything in New Castle as far as I know.”
Nelson’s neck craned as he watched Clancy from the door. “That’s a good question,” he said, his focus narrowing and honing in on Clancy. “Nox looked and I suspect he wasn’t supposed to know until they were ready. But what were you doing while Julian and who else knows were being brainwashed by this new Tuath Dé?”
“Well, I…” Clancy deflated onto the edge of his desk. “I suppose I don’t have an excuse. You hear whispers and see a line in a paper and that’s all they are, or maybe that’s all you hope they’ll be. I didn’t take it seriously because…” He chuckled wryly. “I didn’t think it could be more than some hillbillies who knew just enough about their ancestry but not enough about magick and the wider world to do any real harm.”
“Still, Clance…” Nox started, but Clancy threw up a hand, halting him.
“Be reasonable, Nox! Would you run into the woods every time you heard there were people worshiping old gods and the moon? Think of the Wiccans and all the wannabe warlocks. Do you know how often I hear rumors about some man who thinks he’s the antichrist? And there’s a reason why I stepped aside so you could carry that department. I’m swamped over here with cases and agents who wouldn’t know a tibia from a trombone, let alone whose native land they’re investigating in.”
“But this is us!” Nox whispered with a quick glance at the hall to make sure they weren’t heard. “You’d think this would have stood out.”
Clancy frowned. “Of course, it would and had. But after a handful of scares… I got complacent, I guess, and assumed they were nothing.”
Nelson snorted. “You wanted them to be nothing,” he accused and Clancy ducked his head.
“You might be right about that,” he conceded with a pained wince at Nox. “I never would have imagined anything like this was possible. Never. It was never—we were never—like that,” he whispered, his voice catching with emotion. “You were right. I’ve seen the evidence from New Castle and Sherwood’s house and their dogma was ugly and dark in ways that defiled all that the Tuath Dé and He loved.”
His guilt was thick and heavy as it rolled from him, matching the disappointment Nox felt whenever he took account of all the evil that had been done in the Dagda’s name.
“I know you’d never let anything like this happen.”
“No!” Clancy’s shredded gasp seared Nox. He shook his head and blocked his eyes, causing Nox to wonder at his shame. “But you should go,” he said, waving them off. “You’re right. All we can do now is give those girls and their families justice. Call me if there’s anything else I can do.”
“I will,” Nox said with a salute. He waited until they were in the elevator, on the way down. “What?” he asked, turning to Nelson. His usual general-purpose frown had intensified to a hard glower.
“This feud between the two of them...” He hit the emergency stop button with the side of his fist, cutting off the overhead light and causing the elevator to rock to a halt. Nelson planted his hand on the wall, scowling as he loomed closer. “It’s a distraction and it’s complicating everything.”
“You’re right,” Nox said, nodding jerkily, distracted by Nelson’s lips and the minty huffs of breath against his cheek and chin. “Can I just point out how hot that was and shame on you for making me want to blow you again in the Hoover Building, of all places,” he scolded and clicked his teeth at Nelson. “What do you suggest?”
