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“He didn’t have a chance.”
He smiled. “You’re a brave woman. I’m proud of you.”
“I didn’t feel so brave. All I knew was that I had to survive. I couldn’t take him on in strength, so I had to find a way of outwitting him.”
“How did you do it?”
“I loosened the bolts of the chandelier. I had to stand on a chair on the bed. The bolts were closed tightly, but I used one of the metal lids of a perfume bottle to unscrew them just enough for the weight of the chandelier to do the rest of the work. I also had help from a spirit.”
“A spirit?”
“I mentioned the name of a woman who appeared in the room before Godfrey got back. She gave me a strange message about watching over him. Somehow, I knew it would throw him off kilter enough for me to fight back.”
Cain appeared thoughtful. “What was her name?”
“Angelique.”
From his expression, it was clear he knew who she was.
“Who was she?”
“His first wife.”
“What?” she whisper-cried. “The one he tortured?”
“Yes.”
Alice shuddered. “I hope you find him and put an end to his life. Promise me.”
Cain took her hand again. “I promise, if it’s the last thing I do.”
She nodded. The knowledge that her father would avenge Ivan’s death gave her a sense of peace.
“Do you remember how you used to put me to sleep when I was little?” she said, needing the escape into nothingness, even if just for a short while. “You used to read to me from Shakespeare.”
He gave a faint smile. “I didn’t think you’d remember.”
She rolled her eyes. “Othello? Who wouldn’t remember?”
He chuckled. “You want me to read to you?”
“Will you?”
“You don’t have to ask.”
She motioned at the stack of books on her nightstand. “Take your pick.”
He brushed his fingers over the titles and paused on an unabridged bundle of fairytales by the Brothers Grimm. “You still read these vicious tales?”
“I love them.”
He smiled. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Turning the cover, he started reading.
As his deep voice filled the room, she lost track of the words and their meaning. Her thoughts were with Ivan and their moments together. She gave over to the pain and sadness. Soon, exhaustion claimed her. It had to be an aftereffect of the adrenaline wearing off. Finally, she drifted into a fitful sleep.
When she woke up later, the room was empty but thankfully not dark. Cain had left on the lamp on the nightstand. She got up, draped a shawl from the chair around her shoulders, and went downstairs.
Cain sat at the kitchen table. When he saw her, he lifted the pot in front of him. “Tea?”
She couldn’t bear the thought of food or even a warm drink. “No, thanks. Any news?”
“They haven’t found the body.”
“Where could it have gone?” She sat down and bit her lip. “He deserves a proper burial.”
“I don’t have an explanation, but we’ll keep looking.”
“What about Godfrey?” Just saying the name had bile push up in her throat.
“No sign of him. Maya found a hole blasted in a back wall of the drama stage.”
“That explains how he got out and possibly how whoever helped him, got in.” If she didn’t stay busy, grief would consume her. “I better call Johnny. How much does he know?”
“Nothing, and there’s no need to call. He called while you were sleeping. As far as he’s concerned, Ivan left just after you. No one knows where he is.”
“We’re just going to leave it like that without telling anyone he’s dead?”
“It’s best to keep this—my organization—out of the media. There’s more at stake than you, me, and Ivan.”
“What now?”
“By breach of contract, the show is off.”
“Poor Johnny must be going out of his mind.”
“I’m more concerned about you.”
“It feels as if I’m dying inside,” she said honestly. “But I know from experience it will get better.”
His smile turned sad. “Yes, it will.”
Hope filled her heart when she suddenly thought of something. “I can see the dead.”
“Alice.” His voice held a note of warning. “You’re alive. You can’t live for loving the dead.”
“Yet, you do.”
“That’s not why Ivan gave his life for you. Besides, he was going to block all the portals, making it impossible for any spirit to cross over into our world.”
The only thing that kept her going was the hope that he’d come to her in spirit as he’d come to her in life. If that was all she could get, she’d take it, and nobody was going to change her mind.
“What happens, now?” she asked. “How long will you stay?”
“As long as you need me. I can buy a house here to be closer to you.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Of course.” He poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward her. “You have to eat and drink something.”
“What about your job?”
“My team is scattered all over the world. Clelia and Josselin are in France. Lann and Kat live in Chile, and Sean and Asia settled in Colombia. Only Maya and Tim are left in New York. It won’t make a big difference if I work from here.”
