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“And have you learned anything useful about Nox?” Clancy asked and reached to give a playful punch, but paused when he saw Nelson flinch. “What have you learned about Nox?”
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
“Easy!” Clancy laughed as he gripped Nelson’s arm. “Nox’s father and I were like brothers. I loved Lucas and swore I’d protect Nox and look after him like he was my own.”
Nelson gave him a wary look. “Protect Nox? From what?”
“Have you looked into Nox’s family? And his family’s history?”
“I have and he’s mentioned them. Why?”
Clancy’s lips pursed and he shook his head. “What are the odds he’s skipped over the scariest parts?” He asked with a hard sigh. “There’s a…curse on the MacIlwraith men and Lucas was deeply worried that it would take Nox, too. I swore I’d look out for Nox and stop him from growing up too fast. He’s always been in a hurry to do as much as he can as fast as he can. And he doesn’t always worry about the consequences because he doesn’t think he’ll be here for them. But I think this—you—could be good for him. If this case doesn’t destroy both of you.”
“That’s still a distinct possibility,” Nelson concurred, bowing his head appreciatively. “Just so we’re clear, why do you think this could destroy both of us? I know my head is on the chopping block, but Nox is the golden boy.”
“Not if he gets swept up in something nasty involving dead and missing young women,” Clancy argued.
“Why would he—?” Nelson started, then stopped. The more he learned, the more it seemed like the crime scene in New Castle was made for Nox. How long before someone else noticed and started asking questions?
“Have you met Merlin Oglethorpe?” Clancy asked carefully and checked around them to make sure they were still alone.
“Yeah. Short, bald, dresses like an Edwardian pimp, prone to assault… I haven’t made up my mind about him.”
Clancy cleared his throat pointedly. “I’ve done my best to discourage that relationship over the years, but Merlin’s always had a concerning hold on Nox. And no matter what I say or do, Nox just plugs his ears and tells me I’m wrong about him.”
“Wrong about what?” Nelson asked, tuning out everything else, honing in on Clancy.
“Do you know how Nox’s mother died?”
Nelson shook his head. “No. He said he lost her when he was young, but he didn’t say how.”
“Nox was twelve when Sorcha died.” Clancy looked away and swallowed hard. “She was an amazing woman and she was so good for Lucas. He was devastated after he lost her.
“How?”
“She…got sick. It was very odd. She and Lucas had waited until they were in their thirties until they had Nox, but they were both in excellent health for their ages. Then, shortly after Sorcha’s fortieth birthday, she started fading right before our eyes. Her memory, her appetite, her energy… The doctors tested her for everything and did everything they could but she would cough up blood and the pain was terrible.”
“I had no idea. Nox just said he’d lost both of his parents.”
Clancy’s eyes clouded as he shook his head. “He doesn’t talk about them often and he’s never asked the right questions about how they died.”
“What do you mean?” That caught Nelson’s attention. It wasn’t like Nox to leave a question unanswered unless it was about himself.
“There are still questions about how Lucas died as well, but I think Nox is afraid of what might come out about Merlin.”
That caused Nelson’s brows to jump. “What happened to Nox’s father?”
“No one really knows,” Clancy said archly. “Except Merlin. He was the only one there when Lucas accidentally ‘fell’ while they were out rockhounding for tourmaline and quartz.” He curled his fingers sarcastically and pulled a face. “I’ve never trusted that…boggart,” he said, his lip curling.
“He fell?” Nelson could not believe what he was hearing.
Clancy shook his head. “Lucas was an experienced climber. We cut our teeth on Yosemite when we were kids in college. But he wasn’t out to do any serious climbing that day. He was collecting crystals while Merlin stood under an umbrella and bossed him around. I don’t know how many times I went with them and I still regret not going. I had a cold, but Lucas would still be here if I hadn’t been a baby and got my ass off the sofa that day.”
“You don’t know that for certain.” Nelson took out his notepad and wrote Merlin’s and Lucas’s names. “And it may have been an accident. Merlin was a friend of Sorcha’s mother?” He verified dubiously, certain he’d misunderstood Nox, but Clancy nodded.
“I would not believe it if I hadn’t seen pictures of them for myself. He looked and dressed almost exactly the same and he’s never had hair.”
Nelson suddenly understood why Nox might not want to ask too many questions about Merlin. He wasn’t sure if he wanted an answer, but…he had to ask. “Do you have any idea how old he is?”
