“Mary is a good woman. A heart of gold. You tell her for me, she needs anything in taking these children in, I’m there for her. If anyone of them folks she brings to your home needs a reference, I’ll stand up and give them my oath that if Mary picks them, they’re good people.”
Ben told him he’d be there at two. That gave Mary an hour to get there and for the kids to find something to do in the back end of the castle. It might be the perfect time, Duncan thought, to have some cake and ice cream.
By the time he explained to the birds and their mates what was going down, he could tell that not only was Mercy pissed off about it, but Judith looked like she wanted to hunt the woman down right now and end her life. Duncan didn’t dare tell her everything Ben had told him. Ms. Holloway would never make it to her next breath if he did that.
Ben had unearthed a mass grave in the back of the home. He’d been able to find it thanks to him being a wolf. The others with him, the officers, had been sickened by the find and had wanted to come along with him when he arrested Hanna Holloway.
At a quarter till two, Mary showed up with not just other people, but gifts they’d brought with them as well. Six families were with the children when Judith herded them to the big dining room for make your own sundaes. Duncan had never been so nervous in his life as he was at this moment.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Duncan asked Ms. Holloway what she meant. “I told you when I agreed to this hair-brained idea of yours that they weren’t to have too many gifts and that they were not to open them until I approved it. You’ve got them running like wild animals around here, and I won’t have it. I’ve a good mind to just pack them all up and take them back with me.”
“You go ahead and try it. I’m sure that my family will keep you from touching a one of those children. Not to mention, I don’t understand why the gifts couldn’t be opened. Perhaps you can explain to me why I had to let them open the gifts, then take them away until they were ready to leave.” Someone tugged on his shirt, and he turned to find Abe there. “Hello, son. Are you missing the ice—?”
“Do not give that brat any ice cream.” Abe grabbed his arm and hid behind him. “Don’t you dare try and pit this man against me, Abe. You’re not supposed to be here anyway. You’re just lucky that we’re here, or I’d show you what it means when you try and outsmart me. I’d show you in a moment what it means to you when I give you an order.”
Turning his back to the woman, he knelt down in front of Abe. He wasn’t a tall child, Duncan realized then. Hugging him to him, Duncan whispered in his ear to go and find his wife and tell her to come to him. After Abe left, it was all Duncan could do to hold onto his temper.
“You ever speak to him like that again, and there will be no finding your body. I’m not making a threat to you, but a promise. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever why he can’t be here as well.” He heard Judith coming toward them. She was still talking to Abe, he supposed, telling him she was glad he loved ice cream as much as she did. “I’m going to go and have some ice cream with the children. Despite what you’re trying to do to them to spoil their fun, they’re having a great time. My wife will deal with you.”
Duncan kissed Judith when she came into the hall where he was. He told her, so that Ms. Holloway could hear him, that he’d had enough, and his temper was getting the better of him. When she smiled back at him, Duncan thought he’d not want to be Ms. Holloway right now. Judith was going to eat her for lunch.
~*~
Judith just stared at the woman in front of her. There was something so very evil about her that she was surprised she’d not seen it before now. Crossing her arms over her ample chest didn’t improve the woman’s looks one bit. In fact, Judith laughed at her.
“You’re not going to impress me with your show of anger. I’ve eaten far worse than you when I was just a bird. Though now that I think on it, you are less than the worms and other disgusting creatures that held their people in slavery as king to their realm.” She’d confused her, and Judith was fine with that. “I’m a bird, Hanna. A large bird of prey that will most assuredly take you apart if you even try to touch one of these children again.”
“You think so, do you? Well, I’m in charge of the little monsters, and I will be gathering them up right now to take them back.” When she tried to move around her, Judith blocked her way. “How about if I call the police and have them come and arrest you? I’m sure you and that fancy man you have would just love having you taken away in cuffs.”
Judith handed Hanna her cell phone. “Go ahead. Give them a call. I’m sure they might have a few words for you too. By the way, the police are at the home now. They’ve found your little video recording room.” Hanna stiffened, and her face paled to a deathly white. “The mass grave too. It’s being excavated as we speak. Also, and this is what I find the most disturbing about you, you’ve been selling off
