He didn’t.
“Jaden, how are you doing on the reliquary?” Liam asked.
“I think I might have it pinned down to the time and place,” she said. “There are some markings on the bottom. I went in a few wrong directions, but I think it’s French,” she said excitedly. “And, if I’m right, it might hold a fragment of the remnants of Joan of Arc.”
“What?” Kelsey gasped.
“Don’t go getting excited. There are a few more tests to perform, and for a real assessment, you’re going to need at least one other expert. But it’s fascinating,” Jaden said.
“We know people who are experts, of course,” Ted said. “But you might want to bring in an independent, as well. Someone from one of the world’s major universities, someone specializing in Roman Catholic history, relics and symbolism.”
“Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. To ash,” Liam said.
“Even burning at the stake allows for bone fragments,” Jaden said.
“So, Cutter was holding a reliquary that might have contained the bones of a highly regarded saint?” Kelsey asked.
“Thought by many to be exceptionally holy, to place the possessor in a position to combat evil,” Jaden said.
“I think that the Church has gone beyond that kind of thought process,” Kelsey said, puzzled. “I mean, such relics might be honored, as we honor our dead…or bow to a cross, but to actually believe that a reliquary could ward off evil? I don’t know about that.”
“I didn’t say that the Catholic Church had such a belief or doctrine,” Jaden said. “I believe that there are people out there who might believe it.”
“Everything is in belief, isn’t it?” Ted asked, and shrugged.
“If it is what I think it is, it’s worth a small fortune,” Jaden said.
“If it is what you think it is, I’ll find a way to give it to the Catholic Church,” Kelsey said.
Jaden laughed. “I honestly don’t believe that God will smite you for selling it.”
Kelsey shook her head. “You don’t understand. I don’t need the money. I don’t need to be incredibly wealthy. I like working. I will have a nest egg to fall back on, certainly, even if I send everything that Cutter wanted in specific places exactly where he wanted it all to go. He didn’t collect for the wealth of it—he collected because he loved history and the objects that taught history. He was like one of the last great adventurers.”
She felt Liam watching her then, and felt the warmth of the small smile that had crept onto his features.
And then, at last, he noted that she was tired.
“We’d better get going. Big day tomorrow,” he said softly.
She nodded. They rose, and she hugged Jaden and Ted, thanking them. “Wow. I appreciate all that you’ve done on this.”
Jaden laughed. “Are you kidding? I love this! Can’t wait to just see more and more of what is in that house!”
Ted said the same.
They parted ways.
Kelsey thought that she might fall asleep as they walked through the darkness toward the house.
She held Liam’s hand, and leaned against him.
They hit the little spit of land leading out to the house.
She felt a sense of cold and fear sweeping over her as they did so, and she wondered why.
Then she realized that the odd and wretched odor was coming to her again.
The scent of death.
She was imagining it. She had it set in her mind. She had to stop, get control of her thoughts and her emotions.
But it wasn’t in her mind.
“Lord, that is strong! There has to be a big animal dead on this property somewhere,” Liam said, pausing.
“You smell it, too?” she asked.
“Big-time. The closer we get to the house, the stronger the smell is,” he said.
He caught her hand, and they walked faster. He paused, breathing in and grimacing.
“It’s not—it’s not in the house, is it?” she asked.
“I don’t think so, but let’s see what’s going on.”
He kept her hand in his as they walked up the steps to the porch. She opened the door, and they stepped in.
He stood in the entry and shook his head.
“It’s outside,” he said.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I’ll go out and look,” he told her.
She didn’t know why, but she didn’t want him out in the night. She had to admit to feeling squeamish. She didn’t want to find the dead thing.
And she didn’t want to be left alone.
“No,” she said, her fingers tightening around his. “No, please, let’s find out what it is in the morning. Please.”
“Kelsey, I can get a flashlight and find out what it is,” he said.
“I know you can. I don’t want you to. Please. It’s not in the house. It’s not in the house at all. Please wait until the morning.”