Black Forest, Denver Cereal Volume 5 Read online

  BLACK FOREST

  Denver Cereal, Volume Five

  Claudia Hall Christian

  Cook Street Publishing

  Denver, CO

  Also by

  Claudia Hall Christian

  THE DENVER CEREAL SERIAL FICTION:

  The Denver Cereal

  Celia’s Puppies

  Cascade

  Cimarron

  Black Forest

  ALEX THE FEY THRILLER SERIES:

  The Fey

  Learning to Stand

  Who I am

  Lean on Me

  THE QUEEN OF COOL

  Originally published at DenverCereal.com :

  October 2010 — June 2011

  copyright © Claudia Hall Christian

  Licensed under the Creative Commons License:

  Attribution–NonCommercial–Share Alike 3.0

  Smashwords Edition Licensing Notes:

  Thank you for purchasing this ebook and welcome to Denver Cereal! You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to mashwords.com to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support

  ISBN (13 digits) : 978-1-938057-68-7

  Library of Congress : 2012930930 (print)

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  First edition © January, 2012

  Cook Street Publishing

  PO Box 18217

  Denver, CO 80218

  For those who’ve faced their demon and

  somehow, some way managed to retain possession

  of their whole big, beautiful, loving heart.

  Author’s note

  There are a number of stories that go with the Saint Jude storyline. Of course, finding the bones of the Lovers under the Castle chapel came to me the usual way – from the ether. I didn’t think a lot about it. After all, Delphie has always said she felt a press of souls when she was in the coal tunnels nearby. In some ways, finding the bones made great sense. And truthfully, it’s not uncommon to find the bodies of expired vagrants and runaways in the basements and cellars the old dilapidated mansions near Race and Colfax where the Castle lives. Plus, Denver Cereal has always had a Denver Police detective (Seth).

  I was having dinner with the Silent Partner and some friends around the time when Jacob found the bones. They wanted to know where the bones came from. What was the mystery behind them? I’d planned to let Seth deal with all of that somewhere off screen. After all, Denver Cereal is a romantic serial, not a murder mystery serial. But they were insistent and the ether spoke. A murder mystery was born.

  Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Five is another story. This chapter was published the week of Halloween, 2010. In some ways, this chapter is the ‘Halloween Special’ of Denver Cereal. Once this chapter existed, the story continued along the pathway of good vs. evil, demonic creatures, and other other-worldly events.

  For the record, I had planned to capture Saint Jude and put him on trial. I felt the families deserved that kind of closure. I was the only one who felt that way. The editorial team argued with me so much that I put it out to the Denver Cereal community at DenverCereal.com. I was out voted. Readers not only wanted Saint Jude to die, they wanted him to die in some horrible paranormal way in fitting with his crimes. You’ll have to let me know if what I came up with soothed your blood lust for this evil man.

  Once again, Brion Sausser did a bang up job with the cover.

  Thank you, Denver Cereal reader! Without you, Denver Cereal would not exist. I always say, Denver Cereal is a labor of love. Thank you for sharing yours with us.

  Janurary, 2012

  What’s happened so far?

  The Denver Cereal:

  In the Denver Cereal, we meet Jillian Roper when she pulls on her thigh high leather boots and crashes her abusive ex-husband Trevor’s engagement party. At the party, she meets the man of her dreams, Jacob Marlowe. Together, Jill and Jacob begin a crash course through grave injury and illness, to find love. Along the way, we meet Jacob’s movie star sister, Valerie, and learn of her struggles to have her own dreams and share a life with her husband Mike. Jill’s best friends, Sandy, Heather, and Tanesha, begin new courses in their life that take them to confront their greatest fears and deepest longings.

  Celia’s Puppies, Denver Cereal, Volume 2

  Jacob and Valerie’s mother, Celia, had a habit of helping lost people, called Celia’s Puppies. In this second Volume of the Denver Cereal, Celia’s puppies come to the forefront. We meet Jacob’s noble step-sister Honey, we learn more about Jacob’s ‘cousin’ Blane, and, via Oprah Winfrey, Valerie learns of Mike’s terrifying time away from her. In the middle, Trevor and his fiancé attempt to kidnap Jill’s daughter Katy and her best friend Paddie at a holiday party. The fiancé all but kills Honey. She is saved by her childhood sweetheart and Special Forces medic MJ and they reorient their lives and love. Jill and Jacob dance around getting married and, in the very end, they marry in an incredibly beautiful ceremony which includes every member of the Denver Cereal family. Of course, Sandy, Heather and Tanesha support, love and take steps forward toward their own happily ever afters.

  Cascade, Denver Cereal, Volume 3

  Peace comes to Denver Cereal, but demons from the past refuse to stay in the past. We learn of Sandy’s horrific childhood and her boyfriend Aden responds with violence. His violent act ends with Sandy getting shot by her pedophile father and Aden lands in jail. Jill, her mother, and father tell the story that was to never ever be told and her family begins to heal. With the help of Heather, now his wife, Blane confronts his past loves and battles Hepatitis C. Beloved Delphie must confront a demon from her past. When he arrives to kill her and everyone else, he meets what he could never expect. Delphie’s family battles for her. In the end, Jill bashes him with a hockey stick and Delphie survives a life threatening stroke.

  Cimarron, Denver Cereal, Volume 4

  In Cimarron, the characters of Denver Cereal grapple with the consequences of their actions to restart their lives. Aden heals and continues his jail sentence. Delphie has to come to terms with almost dying to start her life again. Valerie performs in her first action adventure and launches herself as a movie actress while Mike’s painting career flourishes. Jill and Jacob face their first true relationship challenge. Sandy holds everything together other to become gravely ill herself. Her child, Rachel, is born 2 months early. They fight their way through the problems to come together as a family. And just in time! Six pairs of human remains under the Castle Chapel draw everyone into a dark murder mystery.

  Black Forest begins in Sandy’s hospital room where we begin to see the mystery intertwine with our characters.

  Confused? You can download the Denver Cereal, Volume 1 from Smashwords or from our store at: CookStreetStore.com. You’ll find all Denver Cereal books in every electronic format and paperback at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and your local independent bookseller.

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY-FOUR

  Gilmore

  Sunday evening — 6:45 P.M.

  “I have this same Saint Jude pendant,” Aden Norsen said.

  It seemed as if all the oxygen had been sucked out of Sandy’s hospital room. Without thinking, Aden had just admitted to being connected to the serial child murderer, Saint Jude. Aden gasped for a breath.

  His children, Nash and Noelle, gawked at him. Sandy’s half-brother and sister, Charlie an
d Sissy, looked away as if they were embarrassed. Teddy Jakkman, Nash’s best-friend, pretended not to hear. Still sick with the infection that threatened her life, Sandy’s eyebrows furrowed with concern. The man who never liked him, Detective Seth O’Malley, his only in-law, looked as if he was going to arrest him.

  “What do you mean?” Seth’s voice was cop-trick neutral to cover his interest.

  “I have this same pendant,” Aden repeated. “I wore it every day. Never took it off. I used to say it was why I survived everything.”

  “Jeffy used to say the same thing,” Charlie said.

  “Is this your pendant?” Seth asked in the same eerie voice.

  “I don’t know how,” Aden said. “I saw the boy only that one time at the Castle. I was in meetings all day when he worked for us. He stopped by my office for his wages. I checked in with accounting to see how he did and then paid him. I saw him like… one minute. Two maximum.”

  “Jeffy wore that necklace since I first met him,” Charlie said.

  “Where is your necklace?” Seth asked.

  “I don’t have any idea. Our stuff is everywhere,” Aden said. “I sold the house when I was incarcerated in case the kids or Sandy needed the money. Sandy moved everything into storage. It must be there.”

  Turning to Sandy, Seth asked, “Do you remember this necklace?”

  Sandy took the package from him. She turned it over in her hand, played with the chain and held it away from her.

  “He used to wear something on a chain around his neck,” Sandy said. “I would see it when we worked out. I was never close enough to it to see what it was. The chain looks the same and the medallion is about the same size as what he wore.”

  “I stopped wearing it when Sandy and I started dating,” Aden said. “I took it off after seeing her at the hospital. You know, when Jake was in there. I figured if I was going to have a chance at having Sandy in my life, I wasn’t such a lost cause any more. Or something like that. Jake said something about it… told me to take it off or something. And… I took it off. I put it in a wooden box Nash and Noelle made for me. It has my pocket watches and…”

  “That box is at the Castle,” Sandy said. “Downstairs, in the storage room. We tried to put all the personal items where we’d be able to find them. Sorry, I forgot to tell you. Noelle and Nash know where it is. They about making the box for you.”

  “We can go get it right now.” Nervous, Aden jumped to his feet.

  “That’s all right, Aden.” Seth tried to reassure him with a smile. “We can go when you’re done here. I don’t mean to break up the party.”

  “Blane’s coming at seven,” Sandy said. “The nurse will be in to shoo everyone out.”

  Seth smiled to reassure Sandy.

  “I’m not hauling your husband off to prison,” Seth said.

  She lay back against the pillows. Her hands plucked at the blanket with worry.

  “I guess I’m wondering, Aden,” Seth said. “Where did you get it?”

  Aden opened his mouth and closed it. He shook his head slightly.

  “What happened?” Nash asked.

  “I don’t remember,” Aden said. “But you’re right. That’s the question isn’t it? Where did I get it? I…”

  His eyes drifted to the ceiling tiles. He jerked, shook his head, and looked around. Everyone in the room was looking at him. The nurse stuck her head in.

  “Time to go,” the nurse said.

  “Come on, kids,” Aden said. “I’ll take you back.”

  “But Dad,” Noelle said. “We want to see the necklace.”

  “You remember my necklace,” Aden said to Noelle. “You used to chew on the chain when you were a baby.”

  “I remember it. You always had it. All my life,” Nash said.

  “This is… big.” Noelle’s eyes were round with interest. “We have a clue to a murder investigation!”

  “It’s a mystery,” Teddy said.

  “We want to help,” Sissy said.

  “Why don’t you take the gang to the Castle?” Sandy asked. “I’m sure Seth will want the necklace for forensics or whatever. You can take them back after that.”

  “You’ll be all right?” Aden asked.

  “I’d like to see Rachel before we sleep,” Sandy said. “You and I can go when you get back.”

  Aden nodded.

  “We’ll drop by the nursery on our way,” Charlie said. “I think she’d like that.”

  “You’re talking for Rachel now?” Sissy asked.

  “Yeah, she likes me,” Charlie said.

  “She loves me,” Noelle said.

  The children began arguing all at once. Looking over their heads, Aden raised an eyebrow at Seth. He would tell him when they were alone. Seth nodded in understanding.

  “Let’s go,” Aden said. “Kiss Sandy good-bye.”

  One at a time, the children hugged and kissed Sandy. Uncomfortable, Teddy went last. He gave her a quick hug and she kissed his cheek. Still arguing over who Rachel loved the most, the kids made their noisy way out of the room. Aden kissed Sandy and followed them.

  “Well…” Seth said.

  “Seth, there’s no way he’s involved in these murders,” Sandy said. “He’s been in prison or working or…”

  “I know,” Seth said. “But it’s a lead. My gut says Aden’s going to help crack this case.”

  “You may have to get Delphie to get it out of him,” Sandy said. “He’s deeply ashamed of that time of his life. Doesn’t talk about it at all. Ever.”

  “I’ve had plenty of years like that,” Seth nodded.

  Blane stuck his head in Sandy’s room to see if it was clear. Seth waved him in.

  “I’ll see you, Sandy,” Seth hugged her and kissed her cheek.

  “Love you Seth,” Sandy

  Blushing, he smiled, gave a little wave and left the room. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked down the hall.

  For the first time, he felt like he had a real chance at solving this thing. The thought made him smile. He dropped by the cafeteria to pick up his forensics technician, Ava. She hugged him hello.

  “The cookies were a big hit,” Seth said. “Thanks for making them.”

  “You bet,” Ava said. “Rachel is adorable. Tiny.”

  “Thanks for waiting for me,” Seth smiled. “I’m not ashamed of you, it’s just… new.”

  “I understand,” Ava said.

  Putting his arm over her shoulder, they walked out of the hospital.

  “You seem oddly happy,” Ava said. “Are we…?”

  His phone rang.

  “O’Malley,” Seth said. “I’ll meet you at the station, Norsen. Yes, call me when you’re on your way.”

  He clicked off his phone.

  “We’re working,” she said.

  He nodded.

  “Got a lead?”

  He nodded.

  “Can I come?”

  “Sure,” Seth said. “But you’ll want to work too.”

  “Why?” Ava asked.

  “We have another pendant,” Seth said.

  “Ooohh, I like that!” She gave him a big smile. “With a chain?”

  Seth nodded and Ava clapped her hands like an excited child.

  “I have an interview,” Seth said.

  “I have a pendant,” Ava said. “When we’re done?”

  “Your choice.”

  “I really like this!” Ava smiled.

  “Thought you would,” he said.

  Smiling, they walked to his car.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Sunday night — 8:15 P.M.

  Seth turned the corner to find the elderly man whose presence called him to the front of the downtown Denver Police station. The man’s deep chocolate-colored skin contrasted with his cream colored cardigan sweater. He was tall, fit, and had the look of someone who was well cared for. Seth spied a weathered gold band on the man’s left hand.

  “Can I help you?” Seth asked the man.

  “I’m looki
ng for Aden Norsen,” the man said.

  “Why would that name mean anything to me?” Close to the man, Seth looked into his face. “Have we met before?”

  “I used to be a probation officer,” the man held his hand out for Seth to shake. “Bob Proctor. We met a few times when you were a street cop, Detective O’Malley. You were always with your partner… What was his name?”

  “I remember now.” Nodding, Seth shook Bob’s hand. “What do you want with this Norsen person?”

  “I’m his sponsor,” Bob said.

  “AA?” Seth’s eyebrows went up with surprise.

  Bob nodded.

  “Norsen’s not here yet,” Seth said. “He’s on his way from the hospital. He stopped off to see his daughter before helping his wife to bed. Norsen’s a good man?”

  “He’s a very good man,” Bob said.

  “How did you…?”

  “I was his probation officer,” Bob said. “I’ve been his sponsor for almost twenty years. I’ve known him since he was fifteen or sixteen.”

  Seth nodded.

  “Well, you may as well come back,” Seth said. “Would you like some coffee? Tea?”

  “No thank you.”

  “Sir?” The desk Sergeant yelled after them.

  Seth turned around to look at him.

  “Aden Norsen, sir.”

  Seth walked with Bob back to the front to get Aden. He stood back to watch the men greet each other. Bob hugged Aden. Each man spoke a few words into the other’s ear as they embraced. When they broke apart, Seth thought he saw the flash of a father and son bond between them. Then it was gone. Seth walked them through the police station to his office.