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“I lost Julian a long time ago. I don’t know who that twisted soul was. He’s not my son,” he declared with a firm shake of his head. The tremble in his lip and the shimmer in his eyes tugged at Nox’s sympathy and he wished there were answers or a way to help Howard make sense of his son’s actions.
“He regretted it all and only thought of you,” Nox said. That was the essence of their last meeting and all that mattered to Julian. And it was all that would matter to Howard in the coming days.
Nelson cleared his throat awkwardly. “I’m very sorry for your loss, sir. But can you think of anyone Julian might have spent time with when he was away from the shop or that he could have mentioned that might be connected with this?” Nelson asked Howard.
He shook his head slowly. “No. Not that I had even an inkling that Julian was connected with this.”
“No new friends?” Nelson attempted, earning a bitter chuckle from Howard.
“He wouldn’t have gone down that road if he had other hobbies or was better at making new friends, I dare say.”
“Good point,” Nox conceded with a wince at Nelson. He was applying sound investigative logic to his questions and was anxious to find Julian’s killer. But Howard was in a sensitive, defensive place and needed a softer touch. “We know this has been one shock after another for you,” he said, taking Howard’s hands and leading him to the sofa so they could sit.
“Every time I think that there couldn’t possibly be anything worse and that this nightmare must be coming to an end, some new horror is revealed.”
“I feel the same way,” Nox said in a low, drowsy murmur, seeking out and softening as much of Howard’s heartache as he could with love and hope. “It won’t hurt like this forever. It will take a little time, but one day you’ll be able to breathe without that tightness in your chest and that pained howl clogging your throat.”
Howard allowed Nox to pull him close. “You feel it too!” He sniffled as he rested his head on Nox’s shoulder. “First, we lost Elsa. Then, it was all those girls from our literacy league. Then, it was Julian’s fault and now he’s dead.”
“I know,” Nox said as he stroked Howard’s hair and rocked them. “But we think Julian did all of this because he was under someone else’s influence.”
“Was it one of those horrible MacCrorys?” Howard guessed and Nox shook his head.
“No. Julian told us there was someone else and that this person was smarter and more dangerous.”
“And you think this person is the one who poisoned Julian and the MacCrorys?”
Nelson lowered into one of the armchairs, opposite Howard. “We do.”
“I see…” Howard made a thoughtful sound. “Perhaps this is justice,” he said and Nox shushed him.
“Don’t say that. I know you’re hurt and you’re so mad at Julian and you blame the MacCrorys, but justice would have been them living long enough to help us find answers. Justice would have come with them accepting full responsibility and paying the consequences for their crimes.”
“I don’t understand what justice is worth if it can’t bring Elsa back or undo any of the damage done to our lives,” Howard replied.
Nox sighed as he patted Howard’s hand, still rocking him. “No. There’s no undoing any of that. But you can’t heal and rebuild—not you or those poor girls—until you have answers and you know that everyone responsible has been found and held accountable.”
Howard leaned back, nodding at Nox and Nelson. “I want you to find everyone responsible.” His back straightened and Nox was so proud of Howard’s bravery and determination.
“You have my word,” Nelson rumbled and bowed his head.
“And you think Julian was under someone else’s influence?” Howard asked Nox, sounding hopeful.
“He told us as much and we believed him,” Nox added, giving Howard an encouraging squeeze. The old man spluttered as he looked from Nelson to Nox.
“Why didn’t he give you the bastard’s name, then?”
Nox gestured for him to calm down. “He was protecting you. He was afraid this man would want revenge if he learned that Julian had betrayed him.”
Howard spit out a curse. “To hell with that monster. What else can he take from me?”
“Your life,” Nelson said simply, his steady, unwavering stare conveying how unacceptable that would be.
There was a small, but defiant snort from Howard. “I have no life left, but I’d like to see him get what’s coming to him before I go.”
Nelson offered a half smile as he opened his notebook. “Let’s see what we can do about that.” He tipped his chin at Nox. “What about the Badb? Maybe Howard’s seen someone or heard Julian talking about a guy who was really into battle crows.”
“Right,” Nox said, giving himself a flick on the temple and beaming at Nelson. “Mind like a steel trap,” he told Howard, not hiding how much he adored Nelson’s quick intellect. He might not have as much charm as an opener, but once he warmed up and understood what tricks worked best with a witness, Nelson was damn near unstoppable. “Can you recall seeing or hearing of anyone who worships the Badb Catha or wears a crow as his symbol?”
