Sabine bit her lip as Beau tore into the hospital parking lot and screeched to a stop in front of the main entry. They both jumped out and ran past a startled nurse who yelled after them. It seemed by unspoken mutual decision they both decided the stairs were the best choice, because neither even slowed as they passed the elevator. Sabine skidded on the polished floor as they burst out of the stairwell and onto Mildred’s floor, but there was barely a pause before she picked up speed again and dashed down the hallway after Beau.
She saw him pull his gun from his waistband, and she pulled her own pistol from her purse and dropped the bag in the hallway. They rounded the last corner and burst into Mildred’s room, guns blazing and ready to do some serious damage.
“Good heavens!” Mildred looked at the doorway as they burst into the room.
It took less than a second for Sabine to take it all in—Martin, dead on Mildred’s bed, and Raissa standing over a white-faced Maryse, fanning her with a bedpan. She paused only long enough to click on the safety on her pistol, then rushed over to Mildred and wrapped her arms around the woman who had raised her and crushed her in a hug.
Mildred squeezed her back and rubbed her hands up and down Sabine’s back, just the way she used to do when Sabine was upset as a child. “It’s fine, honey. Everything’s going to be just fine.”
Sabine felt the tears surface and didn’t even bother to try holding them in as she released Mildred and looked her in the eyes. “This has been the single most horrifying and terrifying day of my entire life.”
“Tell me about it,” Maryse mumbled.
Sabine looked over at her best friend and smiled. “Should I even ask?”
Raissa shook her head. “No, but it’s worth a year of bribes later on.”
Mildred cocked her head to one side and studied Sabine for a moment. “When I called the police, they said you’d already dispatched them here. How did you know?”
Sabine blew out a breath. “I found a bunch of papers in Martin’s briefcase. They tied everything together. You were the one in danger all along, although I’m sure he would’ve come after me next. He was insane and obsessed with his quest.”
“Is he my brother?”
Sabine nodded. “I think so.”
“And you? Why did that man say you weren’t Adam’s child?”
“Because I’m not. Frances was my mother. Adam and his wife took me to save me from the Fortescues and oh, hell, it’s a long screwed-up story that I’d rather explain after a hot bath and at least ten hours of sleep.”
Mildred nodded and gave her another hug. “Of course, dear. What a shame. Like either of us cared about the Fortescues or their money.”
“You might have to start caring,” Sabine said.
“I’ll deal with that when William dies.”
Sabine glanced over at Beau, then looked back at Mildred. “You’re right. No use inviting trouble.”
“You’re one to talk.” Mildred glanced over at Beau, then back at Sabine, a smile on her face. “If you could have just seen the two of you, busting in here like something out of a movie.” She leaned close to Sabine and whispered, “The two of you together looked right.”
Sabine brushed a single tear from her face with the back of her hand. “Well, you always told me not to contradict my elders…”
Three hours later, Sabine crawled into her bed at the hotel, certain she was going to sleep for a week. Mildred was tucked in her bed at the hotel, absolutely refusing to stay in the hospital another minute. The hospital staff didn’t argue over the release, probably glad she was going and worried about being sued for letting killers have free access to the patients. Maryse was asleep on her couch, refusing to give up her patrol duties, especially after passing out on the job.
Mildred had given her statement to the Mudbug police and explained how Raissa walked in after the fact, but Sabine knew she was lying about that part. Once the dust had settled on all of this, Sabine was going to get the truth out of her. She turned off the lamp and pulled up the covers. She was just about to doze off when she heard the connecting door open.
“Sabine?” Beau whispered. “Are you asleep?”
“About two seconds from being.” She propped herself up on her elbow and looked over at him. “Did you get everything settled at the Big House of Horrors?” Beau had left for the Fortescue estate right after the police arrived at the hospital. Without a sane person in the mix, he was afraid the state police wouldn’t have any idea what to do with a murdering socialite, a dead husband, an insane daughter, the terrified housekeeper, and the body in the backyard. Sabine only prayed that Helena hadn’t decided to “help” while the police were there.
Beau walked over to the bed and sat next to her. “It’s a real mess over there. Even the state police were blown away by all of it. Catherine’s still tight-lipped, but Adelaide is singing like a bird. They had to sedate Frances again and cart her off to the hospital. I’m thinking she might need permanent care.”
Sabine’s mind flashed back to Frances, digging in the garden in the middle of a hurricane. The expression on her face was a mixture of so many things—fear, revulsion, horror, and not an ounce of sanity left. “After all that, it’s no wonder.”
Beau placed his hand on Sabine’s. “I’m afraid you don’t know everything. Hell, I’m starting to wonder if anyone does. That place was a regular house of horrors during Catherine’s reign.” He paused for a moment, the indecision on his face clear.
“What is it, Beau? There’s nothing that could shock me now.”
Beau nodded. “I know. And this isn’t shocking as much as it makes sense but is incredibly sad.” He took a deep breath and blew it out. “The police found another body in the backyard with William…an infant. I think Frances had twins.”
Sabine’s eyes clouded with tears. “Twins…yes, that would make sense, given the family history. I guess Adam couldn’t save the other baby.”
“I guess not. It’s all so tragic. I mean, obviously Catherine deserves no sympathy. She’s been evil from the beginning, but Frances’s mind eaten away by that horrible disease, William killed just because Catherine wanted more status and money than Lloyd would inherit, and Martin’s mother murdered and her babies stolen. Then Adam taking you and hiding from his family because he knew it was the only chance for you to live.” Beau squeezed Sabine’s hand. “Adam must have been an incredible man.”
Sabine brushed a tear from her cheek. “I think he was, and my mother…well, the woman I thought…oh, you know. I mean, she had to know what they were doing and she agreed to it to save me. They were still my parents in every sense of the word for as long as they lived.”
Beau nodded. “They loved you enough to die for you. I’d say that definitely makes them mom and dad.” Beau leaned down and wrapped his arms around Sabine. “I am so sorry, Sabine. I expected something bad when I took your case. That’s why I wanted to stick around even after we found your family. I didn’t want you working with someone inexperienced with these things.”
Sabine gave a single laugh. “You mean inexperienced with an evil grandmother, a crazy aunt, and a gun-toting ghost?”
Beau released Sabine a bit and pulled back enough to smile down at her. “The ghost was more than anyone would want to take. I gave her a ride back into Mudbug. She was in my truck and passed me a note. I had to stop at the convenience store and buy her a dozen hotdogs and a whole box of moon pies. I didn’t think the dead were supposed to be so expensive.”
Sabine smiled. “Helena sorta operates by her own set of rules.”
“Well, I never would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it, and I like to think I’m fairly open-minded. All the same, I’m glad she’s around.”
“Me, too,” Sabine said, “but don’t you dare ever tell her that.”
Beau laughed, and then his expression grew serious. “And what about me…have you given any more thought to having me around? I wouldn’t bill you for it, of course.”
Sabine sobered. “I don’t know. I’m drawn to you like I never have been to anyone else. I care about you, and more importantly, I respect and admire you, but I don’t even know what my own future holds. How can I ask you to live that way?”
“You mean one day at a time with you?” Beau placed his hands on both sides of her face and lowered his head, brushing her lips gently with his. He pulled back a bit and looked at her. “I love you, Sabine LeVeche. I don’t care if we have fifty years together or two weeks. What I do know is that I don’t want to live one more minute of either of our lives without you.”
Sabine’s heart pounded in her chest and tears filled her eyes. Everything around her seemed to blur, but Beau remained clear. It was a huge risk, but she knew she had to start living. It might be her last chance to do so. “I love you, Beau. God help us both. I don’t want to spend another minute without you in my life, either.”
Beau pulled her close to him and hugged her as if he would never let go. And the wonderful thing is that Sabine knew he wouldn’t.
“We’re going to do everything possible for you, Sabine,” Beau promised. “Even if it means extorting bone marrow from Frances.”
Sabine leaned back a bit and looked at him, her eyes filled with tears but her heart full of the love for this man who had put everything on the line to protect her. “That won’t be necessary. Mildred was tested last night in the hospital. She’s a match.”
Beau’s eyes lit up with the hope and promise that Sabine felt for the first time in a long time. He lowered his lips to hers and she melted into his embrace, hoping she had a long, long time to feel as good as she did right now.