Page 34 of Ghostmaker

“Name it,” Jude demanded. He was going to rip this asshole limb from limb once Ronan and Fitz holstered their guns.

“Jude,” Cope warned. “He’s not going to ask for something as simple as your wallet or pin number.”

“Don’t be so pedestrian, Cope. I don’t need money. I told you, I want revenge. I want to make more ghosts. I want the tools you and your husband possess. It seems that the three of you were somehow able to bumble around and figure out I was behind Alice Strickland’s murder. Same goes for Paul Shea and Cindy Walsh. I have to say, hurling that harpoon at her was exquisite. I felt like a character in a Melville novel. Be that as it may, it’s becoming harder and harder to do my job. To take other people’s revenge as my own. Cameras are everywhere nowadays, but I have a way around that. Well, Cope does, anyway.”

“Are you really this predictable?” Jude asked. His anxiety ratcheted up with every second Ronan had the gun pointed at his head. “You want Cope’s death spell so that you can kill people from afar. Stop their hearts cold from a distance. That way there’s no link back to you. No DNA. No trace evidence. No fingerprints. No one would ever be able to say you were even in the same room with the victim.”

“Yes, I want the spell. The Deveraux coven is more powerful than you could possibly imagine. With that spell and your own special gifts, Jude, you and I could rule the world together.”

“No, thanks, Darth Vader. I’ve got a family to go home to. I couldn’t give two fucks about power or revenge. All I want is for you to get the hell out of Salem. I won’t arrest you for killing Shea and Walsh.” Jude unhooked his Salem Police badge from his chain and dropped it on the floor. “I won’t arrest you for Alice Strickland’s murder either.” He yanked the Cambridge Police badge free and let it tumble out of his hand. “Pack up your circus and get the hell out of town. Glamour Ronan, Fitz, and Cope to forget you, forget your name, forget everything we’ve investigated over the last few days. Walk away, Crawford. Survive and thrive somewhere else.”

As Jude spoke, West roared, sounding like a lion in pain. “You killed my mother!” He charged toward Crawford.

“Ronan, now!” Crawford shouted.

Pivoting forward, Ronan aimed his gun at West and pulled the trigger. Blood exploded from his left thigh. West crumpled to the floor, screaming in agony.

Jude charged Ronan, who still held the gun in front of him. Just as Jude was about to grab him from behind, Ronan swung around and leveled the gun at Jude’s face. “Drop the gun, Ronan. You’re stronger than this. You’re my best friend. My brother. Don’t let this asshole ruin everything we’ve built together. Please, Ronan. For Everly. For Ezra. For Ten. Drop the gun.”

Ronan’s right hand began to shake. His blue eyes, dead and glassy, began to focus again. He blinked several times and looked at his arm with the gun pointed at Jude. “Sweet Jesus.” He dropped the gun and hit his knees. “I almost killed you Jude. I almost fucking shot you.”

Jude reached down for Ronan’s hand when a shot rang out. Fire sizzled through the left side of his body. He raised his right hand to his chest and it came away bloody. “Jesus, Fitz.” Jude collapsed to the floor.

Fitzgibbon’s gun was still pointed at Jude. He knew he was losing blood fast and didn’t have the time to mess around trying to talk sense into Fitz. He took a deep breath and pulled a long dormant weapon out of his arsenal. “Niʼníłtłáád!” Jude roared. He’d promised Cope he’d never use his Navajo weapon word again, but it was a matter of life and death. There would hopefully be time to apologize to Cope later.

Fitzgibbon’s arm jerked back and he dropped the gun as if it were hot. “Jesus Christ, Jude!”

Crawford scrambled across the floor to grab Fitz’s weapon. He raised it, pointing it at Cope this time.

“Do it, Cope,” Jude urged. His hand was on his own weapon, but there was no way he’d be able to use it before Crawford got off a shot. Not to mention the fact that he was growing weaker with every second that passed. He wasn’t going to stay conscious for much longer. “Tell the kids I love them.”

“Put the gun down, Crawford. Do not make me do this.” Cope stood tall.

“You don’t have the fucking guts!” Crawford challenged.

“Don’t I?” Cope asked. He looked down at Jude and set a hand over his heart. "Coeur battant!” Cope shouted.

“Coeur silencieux!” Cope and Jude said together. “Mort du coeur!”

“Nooooo!” Crawford shouted, clutching his chest. He melted to the floor. His rage filled eyes slowly lost focus and closed.

“Fitz, call 911!” Ronan shouted. He knelt down beside Jude, pressing his hand over the bullet wound. “Stay with me, Jude. Stay with me! Help’s coming.”

Jude locked eyes with Ronan. “Take care of Cope, and Wolf, and Lizzie. Tell Everly how much I love her. She taught me how to love for the first time in my life. Make sure she knows this isn’t her fault.” Jude had so much more to say. So much more to do. As his vision started to dim, Jude felt a peace he’d never experienced before come over him like a warm winter blanket. Then there was only darkness.

EPILOGUE

Cope

Three days later…

Cope felt numb. The earth continued to spin on its axis, while his world crashed and burned. It was day three of Jude’s hospital stay. Ronan had been with Jude from the moment he’d come out of surgery. He had slept in the hospital and was taking elephant baths in the bathroom sink. He’d stayed when Cope had to leave.

Ten and Jace were helping with the kids. They were spending the nights at Ten’s house, and Jace came over in the mornings to help everyone get ready for school. Wolf understood what was happening with Jude, but Lizzie simply thought her Dada was at work.

Jude had been shot in the upper left side of his chest. The bullet had nicked his heart and had required emergency surgery that lasted nearly eight hours. He’d been in the ICU ever since in a medically induced coma to give his body more time to heal. Thankfully, he hadn’t needed to be put on a ventilator. After Jude had been taken off the sedation meds, hope was high that he would wake up within the next twenty-four hours.

Over the last few days, Jude had been visited by most of the members of the Salem Police Department. The officers and detectives stopped by at all hours of the day and some even stood guard outside Jude’s room. Cisco Jackson had also been a near constant visitor, stopping by at least twice per day. Ten brought the kids by after school. Everly wanted to stay at the hospital with Jude and Ronan and had to be carried out of his room every night. Ronan had done what Jude asked and gave Everly the message he had for her. As far as Cope could tell, it only served to make Everly more determined to stay by his side.