The tower : A New start

Practice makes perfect

“Girl-lee, where are you?” The Butcher rasped somewhere behind her. Sapphire ran down the narrow hall. She knew he would find her and he would kill her. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. “Girl-lee come out and play-ay” He called out once more sending her heart into overdrive. “Ju-lie, I see you.” Sapphire sobbed and skidded around a corner. Thud! Then silence and darkness.

Groggily, she felt around and slowly she began to focus. What!? How'd I get on the floor? She thought then moaned at the pain she was now experiencing in her posterior. Glancing around, Sapphire realized where she was and why she'd slept in the hall. She bit back another moan as she remembered the Marshals and Alex were sleeping yet. They'd stayed out of concern for her and because it was late when the police had finished last night. Sapphire sat quietly listening hoping she didn't wake anyone. The soft snores she heard reassured her that all was well, her guests were still sleeping.

With a sigh, Sapphire started to get up, but a slight noise at the end of the hall closest to the kitchen had her freezing once more. She slowly raised her gaze and looked. Alex stood at the door to the kitchen watching her. His hair was tousled from sleep and he was wearing nothing but a pair of blue boxers. Her eyes roamed up his stomach and over his bare, yet very muscular chest, the scars didn't even detract from his raw beauty. D*** if the man wasn't built, she thought. She licked her lips and her gaze traveled upward taking in his chiseled jaw and aristocratic nose before meeting his amazing blue-gray eyes.

Alex flash a crooked grin and started up the hall. It took only a few steps before he was standing in front of her. He offered his hand still grinning. “You OK?” he asked.

Sapphire grinned back and took his offered hand. “Yeah, just wounded my pride and bruised my bum. I'll live.” She answered earning a chuckle from Alex. For a moment they both seemed lost just staring at each other, then Sapphire broke the spell as she picked up her blankets and pillow. Then she grabbed her laptop and phone, checking them for damage from her trip off the lounge onto her posterior. No damage.

She glanced at the time on her phone and winced. Six am. “Sorry for the early wake up call.” She said in apology.

“No problem. How bout some coffee?” Alex said as they headed into the kitchen.

“Sounds great.” Sapphire agreed. The kitchen looked like a combo kitchen, art studio, and office when she entered it. She ambled over to the painting and studied it for a few minutes. “This is beautiful.” she said with awe in her voice, “you're very talented.”

“Thanks.” Alex blushed at the compliment, “I use painting mostly as therapy when I am feeling down.”

“Well, I love it.” She smiled. Sapphire decided not to mention that he'd be big in the art world if he displayed his art in galleries. She figured that should be his choice. The painting he was working on in her kitchen was of the house, the courtyard specifically. She noticed he included the changes she was making. Just looking at the painting made her want to stroll in the courtyard, pick some flowers and then relax at the picnic table sipping a mint julep or wine while enjoying the afternoon sun and a tasty grilled steak meal.

Alex watched Sapphire admire his painting while he put the kettle on for coffee and set the saucers, cups, and coffee makings on the table. His computer sat across from hers. They could work together if she was alright with it and may be he could show her his home in the tower. It wasn't much. The main floor was the kitchen, living room and bed room combined. The second floor was his office and art studio and the third floor was a look out or what was referred to as a widows walk. He had a couple of cushioned chairs in there so he could relax and take in the view. He also kept a telescope to watch the stars, although it often came in handy to help keep an eye on the house and property.

Sapphire walked over to collect the kettle when it whistled. “ I hope you don't mind that I brought some of my painting gear with. It helps me relax so I can sleep.” Alex said.

“No, I don't mind. I often sketch when I can't sleep, that or write. Everyone needs something to take their minds off problems every now and then. By the way the rest of the benches for the courtyard should be arriving today if you want to see them. I've got all the walk way tiles that needed replaced fixed so we can install the benches today. A work crew will be here next Tuesday to install the fountain I ordered and the picnic area with a grill and bar.” Sapphire informed Alex while she poured the coffee.

“That's great. I'd love to help install the benches. That shouldn't take too long.” Alex agreed enthusiastically, “I'd like to show you my place, too. That is if you are alright with it. I've got a widows walk with a beautiful view.”

“I'd like that.” Sapphire said happily as they sat sipping their coffee, “If you wanna work down here today you can. I'll be putting some major time working on my article today since I'm behind and it's due on the day after tomorrow.”

“I'd like that as long as you're good with it.” Alex said already setting up his lap top, “I do make calls every so often. If it bothers you just say so and I'll go else where.”

Sapphire nodded, “When I get in to the zone as I call it while I'm working there's not much that gets to me. Deacon calls it hyper focused. He says it's nearly impossible to get my attention once I get going. He calls me the Focus Queen because it took them both a hour to get me out of work so we could continue our trip.” Alex smirked at the words Focus Queen and the thoughts that crept in at those words innocent though they were. Unfortunately, his thoughts were anything but pure at the moment because what guy wouldn't want a girl to focus solely on him and the attentions she lavished on him.

Alex gave himself a mental kick. That was not appropriate thoughts for a landlord to have about his tenant. Sheesh, if she knew she's kick his arse back into the tower and that'd be that. No more of her wonderful company. Although with the hungry gaze she devoured him with earlier this morning, Alex had wondered if she;d act on those obvious thoughts he read in her mind. Giving himself another mental kick, he groaned, God he was a p*****t.

Sapphire smiled as she glanced up from her work. “Hey, I'm probably just as perverted with the things I was thinking when I saw you in nothing but your pajama pants earlier. So we are two perverts of a feather.” she chuckled at her little joke as she connected with him mind to mind.

Alex laughed, “Well at least we can admit it. You're getting better at this especially initiating contact and conversation.” he responded to her via their connection.

“Like you and my parents always told me practice makes perfect.” she said, “Check this out.” Sapphire focused on the sugar bowl and the lid lifted itself off the bowl and settled on the the table beside it. Then the spoon rose off the table and dipped into the sugar bowl. It lifted out now full of sugar and then deposited the sugar into the cup of coffee Sapphire had just poured herself. The spoon deposited three teaspoons into the cup stirred it and then settled back onto the table.

“That's great. You're getting the hang of it.” Alex cheered through their mental connection pride in his voice.

“Unfortunately, I discovered a new talent a few days ago when I tried a pizza I had gotten with Jalapenos on it. Lord! My mouth was on fire. I was thinking I need water. Water! And the next thing I know water shot out of the sink faucet straight into my face. I was soaked to the bone and when I checked the faucet I couldn't figure out how it happened. I must have called the water somehow. I made a note to self : watch what you're thinking it might just happen in the least expected way.” she sighed as she finished her tale.

Alex's shoulders were shaking with silent laughter, “You called water without trying. Man, I wished I”d been there to see your face. That would have been priceless.” He laughed once more before sobering, “That's awesome. From what I was told fire elements are common; water elements not so much. Earth and air elements are fairly common like fire. It has to do with genes or something like that. Not many water elements born I suppose.” He explained.

By this time, Sapphire was chuckling a bit about her tale. “I read some where in the papers you lent me so I could learn about my heritage that Celestials were amongst those arrested, tortured and executed as witches during the witch hunts in Europe and other places. It said that after the witch hunts there has been no known accounting of the number of Celestials still living. No one knows just how many families there are, nor is there any records of Celestial births. So therefore no one knows what elemental talents still survive.” She shared what she'd learned.

“That would explain why Celestials are so secretive today. I certainly wouldn't want to be discovered , and killed for what I can do.” Alex said with a shake of his head. Sapphire nodded in agreement.

They both worked quietly for a while. Sapphire wrote and edited her article while Alex placed calls and conducted trades and other business. A loud noise filled the room suddenly. Growl, groan. Both of them looked up surprised. Then Sapphire started laughing, “Guess I'm hungry.”

“Me, too.” Alex agreed still chuckling, “What shall we fix for breakfast?”

Sapphire could hear the other two men stirring, “How about sausage gravy, biscuits, hash browns, and eggs with coffee?” She suggested.

“Sounds good.” Alex agreed. Alex peeled and shredded the potatoes for the hash browns while Sapphire chopped onions to go in with them. Once done with that, Alex combined them in a bowl and heated a frying pan and added the vegetable oil. He added the hash brown mixture to the pan and began to fry them. Sapphire on the other hand mixed the biscuit dough and formed biscuits which she placed on a greased pan. The finished biscuits went onto the oven to bake and Sapphire turned her attention to the sausage which she browned and added three to four tablespoons of flour to, followed by two cups of water and a cup of milk. She brought that to a boil and stirred it. Alex had finished the hash browns by now and set them aside covered to keep them warm.

He checked the biscuits and then proceeded to work on the eggs. He cracked a dozen eggs into a bowl added a cup of milk and salt and pepper. Then he heated a pan and melted some butter in it. When the butter was hot, Alex poured the eggs into the pan and began to cook them. Meanwhile, the gravy was just about ready. Sapphire put it on low heat and pulled the biscuits out of the oven. They were a beautiful golden brown. She placed the pan of biscuits on the counter on a towel to cool .and checked the gravy. It was ready. By now the kitchen smelled delicious. Sapphire cleared the laptops off the table and set it. Next she started another pot of coffee and began setting the food on the table. The biscuits she placed in a bread basket. Alex followed with the eggs he just finished cooking.

A few minutes later, the Marshals joined them at the table. Mace grabbed the pot and began pouring the coffee for everyone. Then settled at the table and joined the others in eating. Deacon swallowed a bite, “This is delicious! You two did a fabulous job with breakfast.”

“Yeah,” Mace agreed, “Thanks for breakfast.” Deacon nodded his thanks since he already had another bite of food stuffed into his mouth.

“You're welcome.” Both Sapphire and Alex replied in between stuffing their own faces. Wow, Sapphire thought, who'd have thought all the crazy stuff happening around here would encourage the appetite, but it did.

They spent the rest of time devouring the meal as of they hadn't eaten in a while, which they really hadn't eaten since about five or six pm the day before so it had been awhile anyway. After they ate, Mace and Deacon cleared the table, loaded the dishwasher, and turned it on. Sapphire tried to tell them they didn't have to, but Mace and Deacon insisted citing the fact that she and Alex made breakfast and since they ate what was made they should have to do the cleaning. It was only fair. That was one argument she couldn't win so she let them do the cleaning. Then they headed back to the bed and breakfast to check in with headquarters and the Sheriff.

Once Mace and Deacon left, Alex helped clear up the cot in the living room and take the bedding to the basement where they loaded it into the washer and started it. Then they put the lounge back into the library and Sapphire made her bed with the blankets and pillows she'd used when she slept on the lounge. Once the lounge was in order, they got back to work.

Sapphire was still working at two pm when the security system intercom buzzed. She hurried to check it and found the delivery truck with benches had arrived. She buzzed them in and turned off security system so she could go out and direct the unload. Alex joined her a few minutes later.

“These are beautiful.”Alex said in appreciation as he looked them over, “The entire courtyard is looking amazing almost like it did when I first bought this place.”

Sapphire blushed at the praise, “Thanks, I had hoped you'd like it.”

They unloaded twelve new benches and placed them where the old ones had stood. The old benches were thrown into a dumpster, Sapphire had rented which sat just outside the courtyard The whole project took several hours because many of the old benches were broken into pieces and they had to put the new ones together. One of the workmen came around the corner from the side of the courtyard that ran up the side of the house by her bed room. “Ma'am. You need to see this.” He said looking nervous.

Sapphire followed him back and on the wall across from her room was spray painted in a bright blood red the words: I found you, girl-lee. Her freshly potted plans had been uprooted so the words could be read clearly from her bedroom window. Sapphire gave a cry of dismay and fear that was loud enough for Alex and the other work men to hear. They rushed around the house to where Sapphire and another workman stood. Alex turned his gaze to what they were staring at and then at Sapphire. “S** of a B****!” He swore loudly adding a few more words to his tirade. He yanked out his phone and called Sheriff Irish.

“Sheriff Irish here,” The Sheriff answered on the second ring.

“ he has been back .again.” Alex said fury fueling him now, “The B****** left a spray painted message this time and uprooted a number of very expensive plants to be certain it was noticed.”

“What!? We picked up the man who delivered the package and made the phone call. What the f*** is going on?” Sheriff Irish exclaimed in dismay.

“He must have hired someone else to do the spray painting for him.” Alex surmised.

“No one leaves, I'll be there in a few minutes. I want to talk to everyone who was there when it was found.” The Sheriff ordered and then disconnected.

Alex informed the workmen and delivery drivers they needed to stay till the Sheriff and his men finished questioning everyone. Sapphire just stood staring at destruction. “I paid a fortune for these plants, not to mention the cost of the paint and the time I spent working out here. What is the matter that big B******? Isn't it enough that I have to put up with his harassment in the form of disgusting packages and phone calls and so on. This, this...” She trailed off throwing her hands up in disgust then she kicked one of the dead bushes which smacked the planter showering the area with dirt. Anyone could see she was pissed; the workmen gave her room as she walked by Alex followed behind.

Sapphire stormed into the kitchen, filled the tea kettle with water and sat it on the stove with a thump and a splash of water. She turned the burner on and fetched the tea bags, cups, sugar, milk, and spoons.

After she placed those on the table, she got out a plate of fudge cookies and placed it on the table, too. Just then the Sheriff arrived. Alex and the workman showed the sheriff and his men the damage. They questioned everyone, took fingerprints from everyone present and fingerprinted the scene. Officers collected evidence like paint scrapings and samples from the uprooted plants. They even found a partial print in dried spray paint on the tiles.

The Sheriff then sat down across the table from Sapphire. “I need to ask you a few questions. Are you up to answering them?” he asked gently.

Sapphire glanced at him her eyes flashing in anger, “I am. I want this B****** caught. I'll help any way I can.”

Sheriff Irish nodded. “Did you hear any thing last night before or after you went to bed?” He asked.

“No, just that sound I heard before I saw that mask. Of course I was so spooked I slept on the chaise lounge from the library I moved into the hall.” she replied.

“What about this morning when you got up? Did you hear anything then?”

“Unless you count my screams from a nightmare, no. It's been pretty quiet today.”

Sheriff Irish was quiet for a minute then he glanced at Alex, “What about you? Did you hear anything this morning or last night?” he asked.

“At about three am, I heard a soft thud and went to check the house. Sapphire was asleep and so were the Marshals. It was rather late when you left last night and Sapphire offered to let the sleep here instead of waking Mrs. Englade at the Boarding house where they are staying. I didn't know the pass code for Sapphire's security system so I couldn't check the courtyard. I went out my door and checked around the outside of the house but I didn't find anything.” Alex answered.

“Mace was the one who checked the courtyard when the mask was found last night. I need to talk to him again. Maybe he saw or heard something besides just the mask.” Sheriff Irish said more to himself.

Then he looked at Sapphire again, “It would really help if I knew more about whats going on honey. I know that there has to be a reason you have two US Marshals guarding you.” He prompted.

“I would explain, but it would put a lot of people in danger if I did. Besides The Marshals said they'd let you in on everything when they got the OK from their boss. I'm sorry.” Sapphire answered.

Mace and Deacon arrived just then and Alex let them in. The three men entered the kitchen as Sapphire finished speaking.

“What happened?” Mace asked the Sheriff.

“Someone spray painted a threat on the courtyard wall and demolished her potted plants there so it could be seen from her bedroom window. I checked and you can see it clearly. She said it wasn't there earlier when she was in the room to dress and make her bed. But it is possible she didn't notice it at that time. Right?” Sheriff Irish looked at Sapphire.

“Yes, that's true. I didn't really look out my window. I was paying attention to what I was doing.” she answered.

The Sheriff looked directly at Mace, “Last night when you checked the courtyard, did you see anything besides the mask out of the ordinary or hear anything for that matter?”

Mace was quiet a moment, “The Planter had been force fully shoved against the window so the mask could be held in place. Whoever moved it had to be strong. How we didn't hear it moving I don't know unless this place is sound proofed. I noticed a shadow on the wall opposite her window but when I checked I didn't find anything but the bush. Although, I suppose in the dark with only a small flashlight I could have missed something.”

The Sheriff scribbled some notes and then turned to Deacon, “What about you when you checked the window. Did you see or hear anything?”

“Nothing except what I thought was Mace or a Bush moving in the breeze? It was muffled so I couldn't be certain. other than Maces light it was pitch black outside the window..” Deacon replied, “I didn't hear or see anything this morning either.”

Mace spoke up, “Could it have happened at the same time as the mask incident and no one saw because of the dark?”

Sheriff Irish nodded, “It possible. Did you see or hear anything this morning?”

“No.” Mace answered. They were all quiet, lost in thought until the Sheriff stirred.

“I'll be in contact.” He said then looked at Mace and Deacon added, “I'd like you two to please come down to my office. I had a little chat with your boss, this morning. We need to talk.” With that he left.

“Call us if you need anything.” Mace said and Deacon nodded. They then followed the sheriff out.

Sapphire saw the workmen paid and sent them off as well as the delivery man, then she locked the doors and set the security system.

“We'll finish the benches later.” She said apologetically to Alex who wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“Of course. Don't worry about the repairs and the plants I'll cover it all.” He assured her and they sat down at the table for another cup of tea and the fudge cookies.