Rose for Rose: Book Two in the Angels' Mirror Series (28 page)

Of course he knew she was pregnant; he wasn’t going to expect her not to slip up and mention any of its side effects, was he?

Quickly grabbing the snacks and spoons, she carefully juggled them against her chest to make sure not to drop anything as she walked them to the table. “Speaking of which, I’ll be back with you in a moment, and then, I want to hear your story. Then, maybe I can understand. I mean, it’s really spooky to me, and it’s sad, but I…. I want to know…. Just none of the gory stuff, huh?”

Before Justice could answer, she scrambled to the restroom to relieve herself. By the time she got back, he was sitting at the booth stirring his drink. It smelled like black tea of some sort. And at her place, he’d set a glass of ice-cold water, which was already condensating onto the table. One of the yogurts was in front of each of their places, and the carrots and celery were opened.

“Alright,” she said, opening her yogurt. “So tell me about Miss Rosemary whatever her last name is, I forget.”

“Her name was… her name was Rosemary Jenkins. And it was the year 2002. Arthur had been in prison for a few years, and just been released a little while before she went missing. But even before she did, another woman in his life went missing as well: her name was Andrea. Andrea Juarez. And she was, apparently, Arthur’s ex-girlfriend. The one he’d gotten himself in some kind of trouble over that put him behind bars. I think it was four or five years… something like that. Anyway, I didn’t really know Andrea, but I knew who she was.”

Tears were beginning to form in the corners of Justice’s eyes as she watched him empty his pockets onto the table.

What’s that about
, she wondered briefly as the man took a couple bites of his yogurt and grabbed a celery stick before continuing.

Thunder sounded once more, and Eugenie shivered.

“She went to school with Rosemary, Midge and I… and my brother.” He paused a moment. “Um… you know Midge, right? Me’chelle’s sister? I know they don’t spend a lot of time together, with their schedules.”

Eugenie tried to think back to whether or not they’d actually met.

“Well, I’m not sure; but I know who she is. I guess I didn’t realize you knew her. Is she older, or younger than Me’chelle? I never did know…”

“Older, but only be about a year or so. Anyway,” he said, continuing, “Rosemary was my best friend at the time, and I’ll admit, I’d fallen for her, hard. But… I was such a shy guy – I mean, I still am, but… that was much more intense – I just never told her… I never got to tell her that I-”

“That you were in love with her,” she ventured softly, filling in for him where he left off.

The tears now spilled, a couple of them dropping onto the table. Justice munched a couple bites of his celery stick before answering.

“Yeah. I was in love with her. And really, to be honest, I don’t know if I ever really got over her. She’s why I got into computers and stuff, because I was so convinced that somehow, she was still… I mean, she couldn’t be dead! Now, I’m not sure at all,” he said, sighing.

Thunder and lightning interrupted their conversation again, and suddenly Justice scooted out of the booth. “Wait a minute! What am I saying? It’s a storm. It’s the anniversary of when they found… they found…” He turned around and headed back toward the mirror, squatted next to it, and sat down.

“Wait! I just remembered something! That bird in there… the one with the….We’ve got to release the birds, Eugenie, and fast. It’s the only way.”

What was he thinking?

This was crazy!

With a sigh, she opened one cage after another until all of them were flying around. If this was how things were going to be, she sure hoped Justice was going to help clean up. She had forgotten to release the tandem covering earlier in the evening and now, it would be too late. Some of the birds could get trapped inside and be hurt.

Silently sinking to the ground next to Justice, she glanced into the mirror. She could see movement, but not make out what was happening.

Justice whispered in her ear a few moments, and she nodded.

If this was really happening, she’d have to go along with it.

It might be the only way to save a life.

“See, Rosemary was my best friend…,” Justice said on the loud side before quickly tiptoeing to get his lighter from the table and come back.

A smile lit his face; it was a smile of hope.

Eugenie waited for her cue and said her lines; then, they watched, peering over the edge of the mirror every few moments.

Forty Two

Portland, Oregon… August 29, 2002

Arthur grabbed the last of the mirrors and carefully hoisted it above his head. Once he got it back, everything would be back in place. He carefully maneuvered himself down the stairs, making sure the mirror didn’t knock into anything.

As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he realized he could hear Rosemary and Andrea talking quietly in his room, where he’d returned them.

He should really stop and gag them after that whole screaming business, but he was so focused on what he was doing, what harm could a few more minutes do? They weren’t screaming now that he’d scared them enough, telling them it was their fault Dabney and Ken were both in comas.

Or at least, that’s what he told them.

Now that he knew his P.O. and the police wouldn’t be back anytime soon, he figured there was no reason to keep renting that other room when this would do just fine.
‘Sides
, he thought.
I got the advantage here since I know the place inside out and such.

“Ya’ll quit ya yammerin’,” he called as he set the mirror down. “If ya don’t want dem gags back on right quick, you shut yer traps right dis min’te,” he said a little louder, nearly stumbling into the wall. Thankfully he’d set the mirror down just in time.

He’d put the mirrors back in the same order they’d left in after he had his discussion with Rosemary. Andrea was useless to him now. Just a pregnant little…

No; he refused to resort to name calling.

Swearing was one thing, but names?

That was beneath him; his Mama raised him better than that. And he had promised God he’d work on things, so maybe this was a first step. Stop the names now, then work on the swearing thing, right?

When he entered the little room, Rosemary glared at him wearily. How he could have seen anything in her was beyond him now. She was nothing but skin and bones compared to when he’d first invited her over here.

Too bad she’d come on the wrong day; he hadn’t really wanted to hurt her, but he had no other choice. She’d found out he was hiding something, and there was no way he was going to let her go tellin’ anybody.

“Rosemary, now, I’s gonna take you inta da otha room a min’te an’ I want you ta stay calm. If you good, I might even let ya have a extra glass o’ water,” he said as he flipped on the light.

He took the knife from his waist and sliced through the ropes he’d tied her hands with so they were free from the rails and dragged her into the main part of the basement. She didn’t fight, and he was relieved.

But where to set her?

“Well, not much space in here lef’ ‘til I fix all dem mirrs back, so yous gonna have t’ stan dere next t’ dat one,” he said, pointing to the one that creeped him out the most; the one with an angel at the top of it.

Even though she hadn’t stood in several days, she was somehow able to, which actually surprised him. It showed she had more strength left than he thought.

Maybe he’d have to cut their portions a bit.

He’d beefed it up for the few days he was away from them, stopping in only once a day to keep from being followed or seem suspicious. He’d gone soft-hearted on them and let them each have a cup of Ramen along with their regular fare.

“See, Rosemary was my best friend,” he heard all of a sudden.

Where was that coming from? He knew that voice, didn’t he?

But how on…?

Rosemary slowly shifted her weight and now, was facing the mirror.

She’d have to wait; even if she tried to run, her feet were tied together well enough that she would fall quickly.

“Where ya at, man,” he called, turning around in a circle; trying to pinpoint where the voice came from. If anyone was down there, so help him, he’d…

“Where’s who at, Arthur,” Rosemary asked him softly. “We’re the only ones here… you, me, Andrea, and the baby.” Her voice was wavery, and she looked like she would faint if she stood much longer.

She wiped her brow with the back of her hand.

He grabbed her chair from the other room and thrust it behind her. “Sit,” he roared, pointing at her, his eyes narrowing into slits. “And don’t you be tryin’ no funny bu-ness, ‘cause I’ll shoot if ya try to run; not that you’d even get far,” he finished, pulling a handgun from his waist.

When she shuddered and shrunk back, he sniggered and started looking around the basement.

If he had to search every nook and cranny of the joint, he’d do it. Whoever that was, his voice was familiar, and besides that, they were a witness he couldn’t afford.

As he headed toward the last room where the pantry was, he heard the voice again.

“…and when they found… they found…”

There it was again! Where was it coming from, though?

Not the pantry, so he could rule that out.

It was closer to the stairs, maybe?

Man, do I be hearin’ things? Halluc’natin’? ‘Cause neither o’ them be actin’ like dey hear a thing. Or is dey jus’ actin’ stupid ta keep me off-guard?

“Stop yer talkin’ man, ‘less ya want me t’ get ya. I’m gonna fine ya, an’way, so mays well stop.” He whirled around again, took a few steps in each direction; came back to his original position.

As he came to a rest again, another voice piped up, this one female.

“So if this is the anniversary, you think she could…”

Now what? Ain’t never heard dat voice before… how they be in here, an’ I don’ see ‘em
, Arthur thought, his mind racing. And did he smell fresh-baked bread? Where was that coming from?

Nobody made bread at home anymore, did they?

“Yeah, I really do. I remember a lot about what happened, and it’s the only hope I really have left,” the man said again.

Man, he was losing it!

Now he was hearing women’s voices he’d never even met!

Or had he? He wasn’t sure at all anymore!

“Well, for her sake, I really hope she comes through…,” he heard the woman say.

Come through?

Who were they talking about now, and what was she going through?

Silently fingering the trigger on his gun, he glanced back to where he’d left Rosemary. She was looking into the mirror, her hands on both sides of it.

“Dat tting jus’ gone show ya how ugly ya be now, Rosemary, so best jus’ give up,” he said, laughing.

But then, suddenly, she was careening into it, as if off balance, and her head and shoulders went right through it!

What on…?

He was beside her in moments, his gun forgotten. He had to get her back, no matter the cost!

There was no way he was letting her get away.

But how was this even possible?

His heart raced, and without thinking, he clasped his hand around her foot as her body began to disappear more and more through the mirror.

“Not so fast, Rosemary. You ain’t goin’ nowheres.”

Forty Three

Wood Village, Oregon… August 29, 2013

“Hurry, grab her; help me pull her in carefully,” Justice said, setting the lighter down on the floor near his knee as a woman’s bedraggled head appeared through the mirror. With the chatter of birds, it was difficult to hear for sure what he was saying.

“Not so fast, Rosemary. You ain’t goin’ nowhere,” Eugenie heard coming through the mirror. “After all I done to keep ya here, ain’t gonna let no mirr’ swaller ya up; it ain’t goin’ down like dis fo’ me. It can’t.”

Whoever the speaker was seemed to be shouting at the top of his lungs.

Eugenie had to restrain herself to keep from covering her own ears, because this woman… she needed them, and there was no way that Eugenie was letting her go.

Not back to wherever she was before.

A shudder ran down her spine just thinking of what may have happened, and what they may be preventing. And as she repositioned her grip underneath the woman’s arm, and now, her torso, Eugenie said a quick prayer.

“You mine, Rosemary, and nothin’ doin’ wit ya dyin’ on me or excapin’ on me or… or disappearin’ true no stupid, ugly ol’ mirr,” the voice said again. It was rasping and raw; loud and desperate-sounding.

A shiver ran down Eugenie’s spine, and she thought she was going to puke.

A woman’s scream burst through the mirror, and the man told her she needed to be quiet. “Ain’ nothin’ concernin’ you, Girl,” the man said roughly. “So shut yo yap and lemme deal wit dis!”

Suddenly Eugenie heard a gasp as she and Justice hauled the woman fully into the room. She was big-boned but thin, and her long blonde hair looked like it hadn’t been washed in weeks.

There even looked like there was…

A smell came through the mirror with her that turned Eugenie’s stomach, but she kept pulling.

When they got the woman’s feet back through the second time, a dark, manicured hand was attached to one. The nails bit into the skin of one of the woman’s ankle, leaving a trail of blood behind as the foot slipped further from the hand.

“It ain’t goin’ down like dis fo’ me, Rosemary Jenkins. Ya ain’t dis’ppearin’ on me, no way, no how,” the voice said again.

This time it was even more demanding; there was a bitterness to it.

Unexpectedly, Eugenie heard a screeching and she turned, keeping her grip on Rosemary; Floy was coming straight at them. She ducked, and then, he passed through the mirror, wings wide and eyes intense.

She’d never seen him looking so upset before.

Justice grabbed his lighter and put it against the hand holding the woman’s foot, and Eugenie heard a scream. It was so chilling, it reminded her of a wounded cougar. The hand jerked back to the other side of the mirror, and the woman collapsed at their feet.

Something clattered to the floor, but Eugenie didn’t take the time to investigate; right now that was the least of her worries.

Quickly but tenderly picking the woman up, Justice struggled to stand, murmuring words of care and encouragement to her. Eugenie placed her hand on his back for added support, and soon, he was up. He walked toward the booth they’d been occupying, and lay the woman on the bench before coming to help Eugenie make her way over.

“I knew it,” he said triumphantly. “I knew you weren’t dead. Somehow, I knew you weren’t. But, um…,” he said, pausing, “Rosemary, I’d like you to meet Eugenie Jeffries. Eugenie, this is Rosemary Jenkins, and I think she needs some food, pronto.”

The woman nodded, barely discernably so, and gave them a wary half-smile. Eugenie watched as recognition dawned on the woman, and the smile she gave Justice was a bit more genuine.

“Thank you,” Rosemary whispered. “You saved my life…”

Justice beamed at the woman and nodded, then quickly moved the carrot and celery sticks off the table, setting them over at the next booth before returning. Eugenie took in the bedraggled, exhausted appearance of their new guest while simultaneously trying to stave off puking due to the smell.

What had the poor woman gone through? She didn’t even want to imagine!

“From the looks of her, that won’t help much,” Justice told her, redirecting her thoughts. “Too hard on her system. Any soup left over that you know of?”

He turned to her with pleading eyes, and she nodded.

“I… I think so. I’ll be right back. And Rosemary,” she said after a moment, “I’m… I’m so glad you’re alright now. You’re safe here, and even though I have no idea how I’ll explain the bird to my boss, even if he fires me, I’d rather trade a human life for a bird’s any time.”

Justice smiled at her. “If need be, I’ll buy him a new one. Whatever they are.”

“He’s a Green-Cheek Conure. No idea how much they cost, Justice. I don’t know a lot about them at all…,” Eugenie called over her shoulder as she walked to the kitchen. “Do you think we should maybe cover the mirror, or something?”

“Good point,” he called back.

When she’d returned with a bowl of ground lamb and vegetable soup for Rosemary, she noticed one of the tablecloths was covering the mirror. She sighed in relief as she set the bowl before the woman, who was now sitting up. Her feet were untied, as well, and her hair combed.

Justice had worked fast.

There was still an overwhelming stench, but the soup helped.

“Once you’ve eaten, if you’d like, I can help you clean up a little in the bathroom. Then, we’ll need to find somewhere for you to-”

“Already got that covered, thanks, Eugenie,” Justice said, interrupting her. “I texted my brother, and he’s on the way.”

He lifted the spoon to Rosemary’s lips then and began to feed her, and so Eugenie shrugged.

May as well try to re-cage the remaining birds now, before there were more issues.

One at a time, she called the larger birds to their cages, and with the exception of Leopold, they obeyed within minutes. “I’m Popeye the-”

“No, you don’t. Stop that, Leo. Be a good bird and-”

“Leo loves Clemy,” he called in response, sailing above her head into the kitchen. He glided onto the top of the external freezer and began to whistle.

“Now. Leopold, you don’t want to miss your dinner, do you,” she said, knowing he’d already eaten. With a squawk, he came flying back and into his cage.

“Feed Leo. Leo good bird,” he said as she closed the cage.

“In a few minutes. First, I have to get Mia and Malagasy in their cages, too,” she said. Was she really having this conversation with a bird? She smiled, turned around, and tried to locate the lovebirds.

“Come on, you two. Time for the cage,” she said. Maybe it hadn’t been so smart to release them with all the others. They always took the longest to corral.

She finally spotted them hiding in one of the bookshelves underneath Clementine’s cage.

At least they weren’t too far from their own home. Maybe she could coax them with some new newspaper for their cage.

Within minutes, she had located an old newspaper from the day before and begun to rip it. “Come on, you two. Mia; Malagasy, it’s time for some paper, and I know you like your paper.”

Mia peeked out at her and then turned toward the back of the bookshelf. Malagasy just eyed her warily, then ignored her as he began to preen his feathers.

“Okay, then, guys… guess I’ll have all the fun. By the time you come out, you want all this nice newspaper shredded too small for you to play with?” Though her words were a little harsh for the birds, she softened them by cooing at the pair.

Finally, Malagasy flew to her shoulder and watched more closely. Mia watched from the shelf. Eugenie kept ripping, and carefully walked to their cage, setting a few bits inside. Malagasy walked down her arm and into the cage while Mia went back into the air, watching a moment; landing on a table. After a few more rips, Eugenie added the rest of the paper to the bottom of the cage.

“Good boy, Malagasy,” she said, a coo in her voice. “I might just have to give you a snack for being so good.”

Moments later, Mia gingerly flew into her cage and Eugenie sighed in relief as she shut their door again. With a glance at the clock, she realized it was nearly nine thirty in the evening. They had been here more than three hours since Noah and Carolinia had left to walk home.

As she turned to sit down, there was a knock at the door. Who on earth would knock on a café door in the middle of the night?

“That must be Keith,” Justice said behind her. He walked to the door and waited for her to unlock it, allowing a familiar-looking man in.

Keith looked almost identical to Justice; maybe a few years his elder, it was difficult to tell, but Eugenie definitely noticed a family resemblance.

His eyes were darker, his skin a shade or two lighter, and he stood towering over them all, wearing a mint green polo and jeans with flip flops, despite the rain.

“Come on in, man. There’s someone here I’d like to re-introduce you to,” Justice said as the man shook out his umbrella and leaned it against the ordering desk. “Oh… and this is Eugenie; she works here. Mark Jeffries’ wife.”

Keith raised an eyebrow momentarily, then smiled. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Jeffries. I’m the big brother,” he said with a gentle laugh. The corners of his eyes crinkled and his cheeks held matching dimples.

Quietly turning back to his brother, he scanned the room until his eyes rested on Rosemary, who was now asleep in the booth where Justice had been feeding her.

“Is that who I think it is,” he said with a gasp. “I know you said this was a HUVA thing, but is this for real?”

Eugenie watched the brothers as their eyes met.

“I’m dead serious. This is for HUVA. It has to be, or she’s a goner all over again,” Justice said as he walked toward the woman. He gently sat next to her, and she didn’t awaken. Eugenie and Keith followed, sliding into the other side of the booth once Keith had retrieved the veggies from the other booth.

“So what’s the plan,” Keith asked quietly once he was settled. He grabbed a celery stick and began to munch as he listened to Justice’s idea.

This was crazier than what happened with Rose! What can I do,
Eugenie asked herself as she listened intently, her exhaustion suddenly evaporating.

Why, she couldn’t believe her ears!

This was… it was….

What on earth was
HUVA
?

And what did it have to do with all this other stuff they were talking about?