Floats the Dark Shadow (41 page)

Chapter Thirty-Five

And when Night across the air

Shall her solemn shadow fling,

Touching voice of our despair,

Long the nightingale shall sing
.

~ Paul Verlaine

KICKING, biting, Theo struggled fiercely against the man dragging her away from the chapel. He gave a cry as she got her teeth into his hand, but didn’t let go. Gripping her with bruising strength, he pulled her into the dense darkness of the oaks.

“The whelp bites,” he said as another figure emerged from the thick shadows. The second man grabbed her arm, slid a thick wire over her wrist and jerked it tight. She gasped at the searing pain.

“You are under arrest.” His voice was low and thick with disgust. “Do not raise the alarm and you will not be harmed.”

The police. Sagging with relief, she nodded agreement. The first man opened his smothering grip. Drawing a quick breath, she whispered hurriedly, “You’re wrong about me. I’m Theodora Faraday. I sent Inspecteur Devaux the warning that this Black Mass was happening.”

“
Merde!
A woman!” the man who’d grabbed her hissed.

“You sent a warning?” the second man asked. “Then why are you here?”

“In case you didn’t get it.”

She could almost hear him thinking in the silence. “When did you send it?”

“An hour ago, I think.” Her sense of time was warped. “You got here very quickly.”

“We were already here an hour ago. We were only waiting for it to be midnight.”

“Oh.” Theo felt foolish. Michel had his own sources, as he had often pointed out. “I thought Vipèrine kidnapped Ninette. I wanted to save her. I could not leave it to chance.”

“But you’re a woman,” the first man said, flummoxed. “What could you do?”

Theo seethed with exasperation. “I thought France celebrated the brave heroines of the revolution. Surely you know we aren’t all helpless?”

He tilted his head back to look down his nose at her. “You are a silly, reckless creature.”

She glared at him. He had not discovered her Colt and she wasn’t about to reveal his mistake. To the other officer, she said, “I didn’t see Ninette inside the chapel. She may be down the stairs that are near the doors when you enter.”

“Inspecteur Devaux has found her already.”

“Oh!” Theo lit with joy. “Is she safe?”

“Alive and not obviously injured.” He held up a hand, stopping her questions, but he did release her wrist from the
ligote
. “I am Inspecteur Ganet. I remember you did the painting of the girl in the bakery. But now we are going to raid the church. Stand over there and stay out of trouble, please.”

“Yes, I will,” she promised, rubbing her stinging wrist.

“Wait, mademoiselle. Can you tell me how many people are inside?”

“Thirty or less.”

He nodded as if that was what he expected. “And their leader?”

“When I left, Vipèrine was standing by the altar.”

“Thank you.” He nodded curtly, then moved forward and gestured to his men to move out from their hiding places. At his command, they swarmed into the chapel. Keeping her promise, Theo stayed under the oak as the clamor broke loose inside. Her whole body tingled with relief, with elation, blood fizzing through her veins like fine champagne. The strange effects of the drugged smoke were waning, but her senses remained heightened. The night smelled of wet grass and damp earth. Rain pattered lightly on the leaves, an elusive music. She heard the sound of carriage wheels and horses’ hooves clattering on cobblestones. Looking back toward the house, she glimpsed a Black Maria pulling up in the courtyard. Moving forward a little, she looked around for Ninette but didn’t see anyone keeping watch over her. Theo needed to make sure Ninette was all right before she left. She needed to see Vipèrine in custody.

Soon enough the police emerged from the chapel, dragging the participants down the path toward the waiting Black Marias. Some were cursing or screeching, some weeping. Others were mute, their faces desolate. Turning back toward the chapel, Theo saw someone under a tree, watching the ongoing drama. It was too dark to make out his face, but from his height, his build, she thought it might be Paul Noret. She could not have missed him inside. Had he come late and was now hiding, watching, afraid to be noticed? He must have sensed her gaze, for he turned and looked directly at her. Pale hair gleamed in the night and she knew it was Paul. He glowered as if she were scum. Confused, a little frightened, Theo wrestled with her questions.

“
Va te faire foutre
!
Fils de pute
. Bouffe ta merde, flic!”
Fuck you. Son of a whore. Eat shit. The raw curses erupted from Vipèrine as Inspecteur Ganet dragged him from the chapel, his wrists locked in
menottes
. He raised his arms and rattled the handcuffs. “
Brûle en enfer, salaud!”

You’re the one who’ll burn in hell,
Theo thought as he came past her. A streak of movement caught her eye, and she saw Paul walk forward from his hiding place. Why was he coming forward now? And then she saw the gun in his hand. She saw the hatred in his eyes as he raised it to point at his target.

“Vipèrine!” he cried. Startled, Ganet and the Satanist turned toward him.

“Paul, stop!” She had her own gun in her hand then, without thought, pointing it at him. He spared her a glance of loathing but did not stop. His weapon was aimed at Vipèrine’s heart. Shooting an unarmed man would be murder. In the sudden quiet following her shout, she heard the hammer click on his weapon.

She shot him in the leg.

Paul screamed. His gun fired harmlessly into the air and he dropped to the ground. Theo ran toward him, crying out as he lifted the gun to fire again. The police pulled Vipèrine out of sight behind a Black Maria. She dropped to her knees beside him, yanking the gun from his hand and tossing it aside.

“Are you one of them?” Paul yelled at her, flinging his arm toward the prisoners being shoved into the police carriages. “One of those creatures?”

“No, no, I came to try and rescue Ninette.”

“My daughter!” He began to sob. “My daughter.”

Theo was stunned. She didn’t resist when the police seized her, dragging her away from Paul. They picked up the gun she had tossed aside and took her Colt away, too. Paul was not courting the delicate Ninette, he was her father. He needed to know she was safe, so she cried out, “Paul, they found her! They found Ninette!”

He turned to her, hope lighting his face. “Unharmed?”

“I think she is safe. Inspecteur Devaux knows.” Theo looked up to see if Ninette had been brought up from below. “Ninette is his daughter,” she repeated to the
flic
holding her, in case he had not heard. “Please let him see her.”

“That is not Monsieur Pommier,” the man said stupidly.

“Perhaps not, but I believe Ninette is his child,” Theo said, still finding it hard to fathom. He must have still been a student himself…seduced by the voluptuous Madame Pommier amid the yeasty aroma of baking bread. Ninette had her mother’s dark eyes, but she was slim as a fawn.

“I must see her!” Paul struggled to rise, but the police held him down. A doctor carrying a bag came forward and bent down to exam his leg. He took a pad of gauze from the bag and pressed it to the wound. Paul stopped resisting and began to weep again. “I’ve been out searching the brothels.”

“What’s happening?”

Theo recognized Michel’s voice and started toward it, but one of the
flics
gripped her tightly. “I know him!” she snapped.

She saw Michel then, handing a weak but alive Ninette to Inspecteur Ganet. The surge of relief was so intense she felt giddy, her knees weak. She almost laughed as the
flic’s
grip tightened more, keeping her on her feet. She saw Ganet point to Paul and then to her. As she watched, Ganet carried Ninette toward Paul, bundled in a blanket. The poor girl didn’t seem very aware, which was probably better if her parentage was to remain a secret. But Paul would know she was uninjured.

If Ninette discovered the truth, would she feel as betrayed as Theo had?

Michel stalked over to her, fury blazing in his eyes. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Trying to find proof against Vipèrine!” Theo glared back, defiant. If she hadn’t come, the police might have killed Paul.

“You are ridiculously reckless.” Michel stared at her balefully. His voice grew colder, tighter. “How did you find out about this? Why didn’t you inform me?”

“I sent you a warning.”

“I didn’t get it.”

“Then you will find it on your return. I can hardly lie about it.” Looking at the officers holding her, she asked, “Are you going to arrest me?”

“Release her,” Michel said. The man did so instantly.

“Load the prisoners into the wagons,” he ordered.

“Theo! Theo, don’t believe them.” It was Averill’s voice calling out to her. “I swear I tried to rescue her.”

“Averill!” Theo spun around, staring in disbelief as Rambert dragged Averill forward, his wrist bound with a
ligote
. He was leading him to the Black Maria. She felt blasted by shock. “No!”

She rushed past Michel, only to be grabbed again by one of his men. “Let me go!” She twisted in his grip, but his hands tightened. She stamped hard on his foot and broke free, rushing toward Averill. Another one of the guards grabbed her and slapped her face.

“Don’t hurt her! She’s not one of them.”

Averill’s cry overlapped Michel’s barked order. “Stop that!”

Stricken, the guard obeyed at once. But when Michel took hold of her, his grip was just as hard. “You should not be here.”

Averill said something to Paul as he was led past. Paul turned, still holding Ninette tightly and spat at his feet. Averill turned back toward Theo, his eyes full of desolation. The police dragged him forward and shoved him into the Black Maria.

She turned on Michel. “He’s innocent! It was Vipèrine.”

“We found him about to bring the girl upstairs for the ceremony. They are in league together.”

“No!” Tears ran down her face, grief and fury mixed. “No. He was trying to save her.”

“Perhaps,” Michel allowed but his face was hard. He summoned Inspecteur Ganet who’d been standing beside Paul and Ninette. “You will have one of the happier duties, returning Ninette to her parents.”

Ganet smiled at that. “It will good to bring her home.”

Glancing at Theo, Michel added, “She lives near the Pommiers. Escort her home on the way there. Rogier can accompany you. Have him take her to a carriage now.”

Theo started to protest but subsided. She would not be allowed to go with Averill, or to speak to him tonight. Trembling with frustration, she watched Ganet go to get the other officer. She must think of some way to help. As if reading her mind, Michel said, “Please, do not tell the Pommiers what you believe or even what you know. Not until we have had an opportunity to question them. I cannot stop you if you are bent upon it, but it will do more harm than good. The situation is too ambiguous.”

Anger flashed, bright scarlet that seemed to scream in her blood. Theo fought to control her raging temper. “Won’t you slant your questions to prove what you believe?”