He wasn’t even sure that hecouldprove it.Unfortunately, he wasn’t a good person.He was lucky that Cyril had given him a chance at all.It was more than he’d expected, and he’d always be grateful for the time they’d had together.
He just hoped it wasn’t over yet.
* * * *
“I’M NOT SURE I LIKEthis,” John said as he looked around.
He’d been silent most of the drive there, which was weird because usually, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.It made Cyril nervous, but he had to ignore how he felt and focus on why he was here.
He stepped through the gates, John right behind him.He stayed silent as Cyril headed in the direction of the plot where he knew Melissa had been buried.He hoped to get there without anyone noticing him, but of course, he wasn’t that lucky.
“Mr.LeBlanc,” a man called out.
Cyril swore under his breath, then plastered a smile on his face and turned to face the man.“Mark, how’s Eleanor?”
Mark grinned.He kept his distance, but then, it was something everyone did.At least he wasn’t treating Cyril like a leper.He never had.
“She’s doing fine,” Mark said as he bounced on the balls of his feet.“Ready to pop, and she can’t wait.”
Cyril visited cemeteries so often that he usually got to know the people who worked there.He’d definitely gotten to know Mark, who, like John, couldn’t seem to be able to keep his mouth shut to save his life.That was how Cyril knew that Mark’s wife was pregnant with their first child.
“You’re here for another body?”Mark asked.
“I am.”For a moment, Cyril didn’t know what to say.He couldn’t exactly tell Mark that he was about to exhume and reanimate a dead girl without her family’s authorization.
“Well, I’ll see you later, then,” Mark said with a smile.“And tell Robbie to send me the paperwork.I haven’t received anything.”
“Of course.”
Cyril felt guilty about lying to Mark, and he was sure that Robbie would kick his ass when he found that he’d used him like that, but it didn’t matter right now.Cyril had what he was here for.He had access to Melissa and her grave.
He hooked a hand around John’s elbow and guided him toward the area where they needed to go.Thankfully, John waited until they were out of Mark’s sight to speak.
“It’s that easy for you?You pop up, and just like that, they let you in and allow you to dig holes?”
“I don’t dig holes anywhere.But yes, itisthat easy.These people are used to seeing me around.I visit this cemetery more than I visit my own mother.They know why I’m here, and they don’t want to be involved, so they keep their distance.”
“I wish I’d thought about doing the same,” John grumbled.
“You can still leave.I’m used to doing this stuff on my own.”
John squared his shoulders and straightened his back.“I’m not going anywhere.”
Cyril wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve this kind of devotion, but he was glad for it.
He didn’t even care that he’d have to dig alone.He hadn’t been lying when he said he was used to it.He did care about not being here on his own, though.What he was doing was wrong, but having John there distracted him enough that he could ignore it.He needed to reach Melissa and get answers.He was willing to do anything to obtain them, even though he hated it.
John insisted on helping with the digging, so they took turns.Cyril wanted to tell him to sit down and shut up, but when he tried telling John that it was okay and that he could do it on his own, John glared at him.It was an expression Cyril couldn’t remember ever seeing on the man’s face, so he knew that John was serious.As long as he didn’t exhaust himself, Cyril didn’t have a problem with John helping.
By the time they were done, they were sweaty, despite the fact that it was December.Cyril took a moment to breathe as he stared at the coffin.This was it.He almost had the answers he was seeking.
“This is kind of creepy,” John said.“But I can’t wait to see you do your thing.Why did we dig this person up, anyway?”
Cyril hadn’t told John what was going on with Vale.He wasn’t sure that doing so was a good idea, but John had been here for him, so why not?He was going to hear Cyril’s questions to Melissa, anyway.“I need to ask her about Vale.”
John’s expression was serious.“And his time with the Organization?”
“Yes.”
