Evie looked at Addie, then at Nick. “I don’t think you’re trying to be funny, are you? You can really see him. All of them.”
“Yes, ma’am. I can see them all. Jacob wants you to know that Joel would never have touched you. He said that killing him for you was his greatest pleasure. He said that he loves you just as much today as he did when he first saw you coming out of the Grand Theater with that fop of a man you were supposed to marry.” Nick smiled. “Jacob said to tell you that the violets that he gave you still do not compare to the beauty of your eyes or the softness of your skin.”
She put her hand over her mouth to stop the sob that wanted to spill out. He really was here. Her one and only truest love was here. Evie asked Nick if she could speak to him and turned to her right to look for him.
“I love you. I have never loved anyone like I did you.” She felt his touch then, much like she had in the hotel the other night but had refused to believe it. Without turning to the others in the room, she spoke again. “You do this? You find ghosts and help them connect with their loved ones?”
“Something like that.” She turned to Steele and he smiled at her. “We’re here to help who wants us to in things that we can. We also assist the police or anyone that needs us, living or dead.”
“And Joel, he’s…are you going to tell me there is a problem with him?” Addie told her that he wanted her dead. “That’s not going to happen. He couldn’t have you when he was alive, and I’m certainly not going to let him touch you while he’s dead. Tell me what you need for me to do.”
“Tell us everything you can about the bastard.” Evie nodded and looked at Bentley, who left the room to return a few minutes later with two boxes. There were more and he went to get those as well.
“Everything you ever wanted to know about Joel Delaney. And there are also several boxes on Addie’s parents. I only ask that you let me help.” Nick said she was going to. “Good. Let’s get this going, shall we?”
Evie wasn’t sure what to believe or disbelieve, but her granddaughter was alive and happy, and that alone could make her believe just about anything.
Chapter 11
Joel moved through the yard. He wasn’t entirely sure why he was there, but when he’d thought of Addison this was where he’d ended up. The small cemetery had been so close to where he’d landed that he’d been terrified that he’d end up there forever. But the names on the pretty stones hadn’t said his name or that of Addison, and he did rest a bit better. A voice behind him made him turn, and he watched as the big man approached. For some reason, Joel wasn’t afraid but somewhat relieved.
“You’re that man. The one that’s been bothering Addie. You go on and get out of here. If you don’t, then I’m going to get Steele and he’ll make sure you never move around again.” Joel was sure that this man, this Steele person, was the one he’d been warned about. “Get yourself—”
“Don’t say it, please. I’m begging you to let me tell you something first.” The man put his hands down, but Joel wasn’t convinced that he wouldn’t finish what he’d started and zap him. “I’m here to tell Addison that…well among other things, that I’m sorry.”
“Why?” It was a good question. And one he’d been bouncing around in his head since leaving the house across the way. “You tell me or so help me….”
“I’ve been trying to find her. That’s true. I want her…wanted her as dead as me so that I could rule her. But I’ve seen some things…heard things that have made me realize that I’m not at all a very nice person.” The man told him to go on, he’d not argue with him. Joel laughed. “There was a time when I would have had you fired if you worked for me for that kind of talk. And if you were just a person I knew, then I’d just ruin you. Financially as well as any other way I could. But I’ve been wandering around here for the last few days just…is she all right? I mean, Addison, is she all right?”
“In love.” Joel felt his heart twist and his temper flare up, but he only nodded. It was no more than he deserved. “You said you wanted to say you were sorry. What for?”
“I don’t know how much time I have. I’m not at all good at this death stuff. But there is a woman…. Actually, there is a man and woman…Ellen Wooten, have you heard of her?” The man said he had. “She’s going to kill Addison for me. Well, not for me, but she thinks she can lure her there and…I don’t want her to die. Not like…not anymore. There’s a man too, Dane Glass. He has a stepson that he wants dead so he can make him suffer as he did. I did some research and I know who he is now too. But Glass, he told me that they knew each other, Addison and this stepson.”