“Which part?” I asked, taking a sip of lemony-tequila, mind-numbing goodness.
“All of it.” She filled a couple of glasses and handed them to Cornelius and Reid.
“Thanks, Zo,” Reid said when he took his, purposely brushing her hand with his, which earned him a glare in return.
“Okay,” I said, pulling my legs up so that I was sitting cross-legged in my chair. “But Cornelius will have to help me with some of the first part.”
Keeping my voice low, I started with Rex walking into the office. By the time I made it to the Hellhole, Cooper had finished his soup. Cornelius took up the story reins and explained that he saw Rex and me fighting on the monitor and rushed over, but the back door was locked, so he had to run upstairs and grab his key. When he finally made it inside the office, he found Rex on the floor with the smoky devil hovering in the corner. The lidérc had rushed Cornelius, and he’d felt the drain immediately, experiencing the same heavy clamminess I’d initially felt. Then he’d used the trick his grandmother had taught him for locking away the evil spirits in his head. He ended his part of the tale with, “Its bloodlust for Violet was too strong to hold for long, though.”
“See,” I told Doc. “That’s why we have to kill it.”
Aunt Zoe paused with her wine glass halfway to her mouth. “Violet, you were lucky to escape with your life this time.”
“I have to persevere,” I said, trying to sound noble.
Harvey snorted. “That’s what you tell yourself right before giving up the ghost, girl.”
“What’s this ‘Kill it’ shit, Parker?” Cooper looked up from pouring himself a glass of lemonade. He must have to go back to work, or he’d be pouring from the whiskey bottle someone had set out.
“Count me in.” Natalie raised her glass of tequila to me.
Cooper frowned at her. “That’s a bad idea, Beals.”
Natalie took a sip from her glass. “I don’t remember asking for your opinion, Coop.”
He glared across the table at me.
What in the hell did I do?
“Cornelius,” I said, shaking off Cooper’s dirty look. “I’m going to need your help to pull this off.”
He stared down into his wine glass like he was reading tea leaves floating in it. “I’ll go into the dark with you, but I’m not sure the lidérc will have anything to do with me again. It wasted no time leaving me once it escaped my dungeon.”
“That’s because it wanted Violet.” Doc ran his finger down the side of his chilled beer bottle, leaving a trail in the dew. “She’ll need to go into the dark alone this time. You’ll be there only to help boost her onto the same plane as the lidérc.” He looked over at me with a troubled gaze, adding, “And to act as a lifeline in case she goes where I can’t.”
Cooper lowered his spoon, glancing back and forth between Doc and me. “You’re okay with this, Nyce?”
Doc lifted his beer. “We ran into Dominick outside,” he said in lieu of an answer and took a swallow.
“Outside where?” Reid asked.
I grimaced at Aunt Zoe. “He was waiting in the shadows near the front porch when Doc and I got here.”
She swore under her breath. “What did he want?”
“To give me the mirror back.”
“And to play games with Violet, as usual.” Doc downed another swallow of beer. “To answer your question, Coop, I’m not okay with this, but if she doesn’t kill the lidérc, Masterson could use it to force her hand in the future.”
“Use it how?” Harvey asked. “I got the impression it’s a wily critter with a mind of its own.”
“It’s a vengeful devil,” Doc said. “If released from its cage, the lidérc will come again for Violet.” His mouth tightened, fury narrowing his eyes. “And that son of a bitch Masterson knows exactly how to release it without risk to himself.”
“The threat needs to be eliminated while Dominick isn’t expecting it,” Natalie said.
We were on the same page. “Or the lidérc,” I added.
“Let’s get back to your story,” Aunt Zoe said, a scowl set deep on her face. “Did you run into anything in the Hellhole this time?”
I shook my head and returned to my trip to the courthouse basement, making it to the point when Prudence took over Harvey.
“But you remember being there?” Reid asked Harvey.
“Sure do. It was like someone else was drivin’, though. That ol’ dame is one tough nut. She shoved me aside like I hadn’t been pissin’ while standin’ upright for sixty-plus years.”
Natalie sat back. “Did she hurt you?”
“Nope.”
Pushing aside his empty bowl, Cooper asked, “Did you feel like you were suffocating?”
“Not even a smidgeon.” Harvey combed his fingers through his beard. “Sort of reminded me of being roped and tied while bein’ tickled with a feather.”
I grimaced, that image now burned into my gray matter.
“To tell you the truth, though,” he continued, “I’ve been a little jumpy ever since. Each time I hold my spout and tap my kidney, I feel like I’m being watched. And with my ornery prostate these days, ol’ Prudy has plenty of time to inspect my maple tree while we’re waitin’ for the syrup to drip.”
Doc and Reid laughed out loud.
Cooper’s cringe matched mine. “Christ, Uncle Willis. There are ladies present, you know.”
He blew a raspberry and waved off his nephew. “Sparky and Zoe know all about my plumbin’ issues, and Nat shared a camper with me, so this ain’t breaking news to her either.”
“He’s right.” Natalie patted Cooper’s arm. “Your uncle and I have an understanding when it comes to south side lemonade.”
Aunt Zoe snorted. “Natalie, your vocabulary never ceases to amaze me.”
She shrugged. Her hand was still on Cooper’s forearm, only her fingers were drawing circles on his skin. “I’m a sponge for R-rated vernacular.”
Cooper looked down at her fingers, his chest rising and falling visibly.
“Have you ever tried smiling while you urinate?” Cornelius chimed in, leaning his bony elbows on
