The Heart Collector (Under Editing)

Chapter Thirty-Two: Watch

Fare and Novus sat in uncomfortable silence. They had eventually made their way out of the bathroom and back into the living room. Novus had long since returned the picture frame to its hiding place. While he had not given Fare an answer to her question, she suspected that her similarities to Claire was part of the reason that he has helped her and has continued to help her. Several emotions coursed through her and the most prominent one was uncertainty. Fare knew that he needed to continue to work with Novus to finish what she started, but she was unsure of if she even wanted to. While the idea of spending time in jail did not appeal to her, she began to think that it may be the easiest path out of this mess. Thoughts about running away became increasingly appealing the longer they sat in silence, but she realized that she would not being bringing justice to Kila and the others that have lost their lives.

Fare looked at Novus. He was a little worse for wear. The color in his cheeks became paler and she noticed the lines on his brow were more prominent. She chalked up his current state to the fact that he ripped off the scabs on his wounds that have only began to heal. Novus leaned forward as if he was going to say something to her, but the ringing of his cell phone redirected his attention.

He cleared his throat, "Snow."

She watched his brows furrow and his face morphed into confusion.

He made eye contact with her, "Okay, we'll be there in ten."

Novus hung up.

"What's going on?"

"Agatha's at the Thirteenth."

"What!"

Fare did not wait for Novus to catch up to her. She bolted to the front doors and made for Commodore Link's office only to be blocked by a large Lieutenant. She attempted to move around him, but he just continued to block her. She flashed her eyes, but Novus placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Easy Fare. Forest, if you don't mind."

The Truthfall nodded and gave a final glare at Fare before he stepped aside. Once the path was clear again, she barged in. She found Agatha sitting in a chair across from the Commodore's desk. She made a beeline to her and threw her arms around her. She then noticed that Link had his hands braced around a box on his desk. Fare looked at Agatha and noticed that her eyes were red rimmed.

"Aggie? Why are you here? What's going on?"

"Ms. Blackglade," The Commodore stepped in, "A piece of information has become known that you need to hear."

"Okay, but why is she here?"

"Fare," Agatha placed a hand on hers, "A box came to Petra's addressed to you."

"Okay, so why couldn't you forward it here? Aggie, its too dangerous here. Can't you just-."

Tears began to well up in her eyes. Fare cursed internally. She could handle a handful of things, but the sight of Agatha crying was not one of them. She hugged her and she looked at the Commodore. She knew that that box was the cause. She released Agatha and walked over to the desk. She thought that it was hair and nail clippings like it was before, but she was wrong. Out of everything that she had come across recently, its contents were what she least expected. There, in the center of the box, was a man's silver wrist watch. Her blood ran cold. The watch's face was cracked. The hands were frozen at two o'clock. Fare shakily reached in to pick up the watch. She hoped that it was not what she thought it was, but those hopes were dashed when she gently flipped it over. On the back was the engraving 'MW'. She closed her eyes and brought the watch to her chest.

"Michael." She whispered.

Commodore Link cleared his throat, "Ms. Blackglade, from your reaction I take it that you recognize this watch. Mrs. Woods explained to me its significance to your life, but I fail to understand its role now. Especially the photo that it was on top of."

Fare looked back in the box and realized that there was a photo as well. She was preoccupied with seeing that watch again she failed to noticed that there was something else. The picture was of a stone statue of a woman. Which one? She could only speculate because any engravings it had were covered by plant overgrowth.

"Fare?" Novus asked bringing her out of her stupor.

She cleared her throat, "Sorry. Yes, I recognize this watch. It belonged to Michael Woods. We thought that it fell to the depths of the lake they drug him from. As for the picture, I'm just as lost."

"Novus." The Commodore said.

Novus walked up and Fare handed him the photograph.

He took one look then immediately made eye-contact with Commodore Link, "Is that a statue of Lady Faina?"

"Lady Faina?" Fare questioned.

"Yes, I believe so Snow."

Novus turned to Fare, "I take it that you don't know much about the history of the Fae."

Fare crossed her arms and gave him a pointed-look.

He placed his hands out softly to placate her, "Okay, okay. Dumb question. Lady Faina was the elder Fae that helped create the foundation for the Laws and Treaties we have today with the humans. Several Fae towns have a statue to honor her."

"Does Meridia have a statue?" Fare asked.

Commodore Link nodded, "There is, but its not the one in the photograph. Ours is in the park across the street from the First Division. It is cleaned three times a month, so that the plant overgrowth never gets too out of hand."

Fare looked back and forth from the photograph to the watch. The wheels in her head were turning.

"If you're wondering about who sent the box," Commodore Link said, "I took the liberty to compare the handwriting to the first box that was sent. They are a match."

Fare nodded in acknowledge that she her him. That though had crossed her mind, but something else took ahold of the steering wheel. Something darker and one that she had suspected for a long time but never had the evidence to prove it.

"Fare?" Agatha said in a small voice.

She looked at her. She knew that she had the same idea but was too in shock that it was not voiced.

"What is it?" Novus asked.

"You said that several Fae towns had similar statues. Would it be possible for one to be outside of one?"

"What are you getting at Ms. Blackglade?"

Fare looked to Agatha for permission and had it when she nodded.

"The lake that Michael was discovered in was outside the town of Larkston and several miles from the nearest Fae town. The watch implies that the statue is at or near that lake."

"Does the lake have a name?" Novus asked.

Fare shook her head, "No. They never felt the need to name it."

"Why would the killer send this? Its almost like he wants us to catch him." Novus stated.

"I agreed Captain, but I have a feeling that that is only part of the full picture. He is baiting."

"Baiting?" Agatha said, "Baiting who?"

Commodore Link looked directly at Fare, "I believe its you Ms. Blackglade. It was addressed to you. It's obvious that you connection to this case has grown with every new piece of evidence discovered."

Fare did not contest to that fact and it made her uneasy. How much more would be uncovered?

"Well," Commodore Link sat in his chair, "The path ahead is clear. You two will go and locate this statue."

Fare gently placed the items back into the box and picked it up as Novus gently ushered Agatha towards the door.

"Oh, and Ms. Blackglade." He called.

Fare turned in the doorway.

"Don't forget. You have four days left."

She nodded and closed the door gently behind her.