Inheritance

Chapter 2: Jack (Part 2)

"Right," Jack said, "in fact, other than the burn marks at the guy's wrist, he looks to be in perfect health and pretty physically fit."

"Okay. Well," Blaine scrubbed his face with his hand. "It's in the queue and I have your statement. I'll keep you posted. And let me know if I'm going to get flooded with more magical deaths. This is a hell of a jurisdiction nightmare, but I'll figure it out. It is about time someone in Sweet Grass is brought in the loop, anyway."

"Will do." Jack stood up, taking Zephyr and putting her in his duster pocket. Blaine shook both their hands and they left the police station. Fortunatus shifted back into the trunk. As he drove towards home, Jack called Aunt Rose. The phone rang twice and then he heard her whispery voice.

"Hello, dear."

"Hey Aunt Rose, how'd you know it was me?"

"I have the magic of the evil eye and the mirror of Sinora..."

"You also have caller ID, right?"

"Yes, child," he heard the smile in her voice.

"Aunt Rose, I have a question."

"Let me get Stan."

"Um...not for him. It's for you. Or, I am not sure he'll want to know."

Jack explained about the body for the second time that morning as he drove home. A sudden whim took him, and he exited the main road heading not for home but for a small cemetery.

"So, as you can see, I need Ronan's number."

"Yes, I do see. You do not believe I, or Olive, could answer your questions about the body?"

"Probably, but not fully, and with Olive expecting and you have Stan to take care of, I just didn't want to bother you. Besides I wanna check Ronan out for myself."

Rose laughed. "Dear boy, a murder by magic is no small thing, especially when it provokes a wiznit trance. But you are right, this area of magic belongs to the SoulReader. He will hear them calling out. Olive will be able to see the remains of what killed the boy, but she cannot talk with his soul. She cannot see it in the same way Ronan can."

"So you'll give me his number?"

"Yes. Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

Knowing Fortunatus listened to the conversation, Jack called out the numbers as Rose gave them to him. The vampire would remember them. Jack said his good-byes as he pulled into a quiet cemetery and parked in front of a tiny white church hidden behind a massive sycamore tree. He climbed out of his car and tapped the trunk.

"Be right back."

Headstone after headstone covered a gentle green hill. A few trees here and there shed remaining leaves like tears over the graves. Jack went through the gate and walked around to his left and up over the hill, picking his way around other peoples' loved ones. At the top of the hill, he looked down and saw his family exactly where his heart promised he would see them. Olive bent awkwardly down to touch the ground bringing just the right seasonal mix of flowers to the beautiful plants around a set of graves. Looking down at it from the top of the hill, the small plot appeared to have captured a bright rainbow and puddled it in the middle of cold, gray stones of the dead. Jack hurried down to join them as Zephyr climbed out of his pocket, flew up to his shoulder, and grabbed his ear to keep her balance.

"Hey Dad, Mom," Jack said as he walked up.

Olive, with Crow's help, straightened up and gave him a big hug.

"Missed you," she said.

He returned the hug. Crow shook his hand and squeezed his shoulder.

"You smell of death, police stations, and Fortunatus."