Chapter 1

[Two months following Masquerade—Java Point Central, 8th and Madison, New York]

Following its four month frosty grip across the metro area, Winter had finally retreated to the north. The flowers began to sprout. The birds returned to sing their tunes and build their nests. People slowed down relatively speaking to enjoy the sights so to speak.

And in a certain café, a certain couple relaxed and watched it all….

Jo sipped contentedly on her latte and leaned back. Just an hour earlier, she and Henry had put another murderer behind bars. They received yet another commendation from Reece for their work….

…and that was before the New York State Coroner Board surprised Henry with the 'ME of the Year Award'.

About time he got that recognition! He's only the best coroner we have. Period. She rolled her eyes at how Reginald Escardo at the 69th thought he walked on water in that regard. So he doesn't get it. Henry should've had it all those other years anyway! She sipped again on her drink as her partner returned with a couple of huge cinnamon rolls encrusted with the brown spice and glazed over with warm sugary goodness. "Sure they're big enough?"

Henry shrugged. "I would never want to shortchange you, Jo. Heaven help me if I did."

She cut into the warm treat with her fork and sampled a bite. "You've got that right but this time you hit the mark. Mmm!" She smirked at him. "You definitely know the better places around town."

"Enough experience, I'd imagine," he noted effectively deflecting her praise.

"You'd better be getting more of that positive attitude too," she insisted. She'd helped him throw out his death apparatus a month earlier and helped Abe to get Henry out of his dungeon more often now. Granted she didn't mind him writing in his journal however she did exact a promise from her boyfriend not to be making anatomical notes off the clock.

"Yes. Yes." He watched as Nocturne covered the sky with her dark shawl and glittering stars. "I wish you'd let me take you out."

"Henry, you don't need to impress me with big gifts or fancy dinners, okay? It's okay," she assured him. She touched her new necklace. "This in itself was very sweet. Besides I want to surprise you myself." She smirked and leaned back in the chair while chewing on another bite of cinnamon roll.

He quirked an eyebrow. "Really? Now whatever is brewing in that head of yours?"

"For me to know and you to find out. Let's get back to the shop and let Abe know what's going on. Okay?" She finished her drink and headed for the counter. "I'm going to get two to-go boxes. Don't want us filling up on these."

Henry admittedly was intrigued. As he boxed his own treat and followed her out the café's front door, his mind began sifting through the layers of this latest mystery….

[Abe's Antiques—twenty minutes later]

Even as the night deepened across the Big Apple, Abe studied his ledger and surveyed the shop. The week had treated him and the shop well. Sales had boomed. Several estate auctions had padded his inventory. Hell he'd even had a date with a lady he'd met online….

…and that wasn't counting how Henry and Jo continued to drift together…..

Abe scribbled a few notes in his ledger and nodded contentedly to himself. He hadn't seen Henry as much over the previous few months. Not that he minded of course. He approved of the older man's more frequent dinner dates, duck feedings and general time spent outside of work with a certain detective.

Henry hadn't that happy since Abigail's passing….

Whatever you're doing, Jo, keep it up. Damn. Didn't think anyone could make Henry see the sun again. He closed the book just as the doorbell chimed again. "'Evening! Be with you in just a minute."

"Of course, Mr. Morgan. I'll consider your fine inventory in the meantime," a strong female voice concurred.

He slid the ledger into the counter's center drawer and looked up at the latest visitor. "Yes? What can I…?" He considered her carefully. For some reason, her face strummed Memoria's harp. He'd seen her before in a picture but couldn't quite place it.

"Something the matter, Monsieur?" Clarise inquired. She of course had easily tracked Henry to this store through her own connections.

"Forgive me. I'm experiencing déjà vu. It's silly since we just met," he apologized.

"Perhaps Henri has mentioned me? I am a very old friend. Dr. Clarise LaMontaigne," she introduced herself while extending her right hand.

"Pleasure. Henry doesn't have many friends who just…drop…by, Dr. LaMontaigne. I trust when you say old you're not just talking in the mortal sense," he replied while shaking her hand. "Might I offer you some coffee or tea? I was just going to put some on."

"Merci but non. I am fine. Is Henri expected back soon? I have a message for him," she wondered.

"He is out with a lady at the moment. Maybe I can take a message? Is there somewhere he can reach you?" he informed her.

She glanced around at the décor guardedly. "If you do not mind, I would like to wait." Her eyes narrowed. "Besides others approach including our gifted doctor and…." She smiled. "Interesting."

At that moment, Henry held the door open for Jo allowing her into the shop. "…shall just take a single moment and we shall be on our way…."

"I don't want to miss your surprise, Henry. Besides it seems Abe has a customer," Jo supposed.

"Non, Mademoiselle. I am here to speak with Henri," Clarise clarified as she turned to face the partners. "Bon soir, mes Ami."

Henry stared for a minute. Granted he knew that since he and the former nun were both immortals that there was a chance they'd meet again. "Sister Clarise?"

"Oui. It is good to see you are still well and your mind is as sharp as ever, Henri." Clarise considered Jo. "You told me you were the only one of your kind. Who is your companion?"

"Detective Jo Martinez of the NYPD and recent addition to the immortal ranks. And you are?" Jo introduced herself guardedly.

"Remember when I told you about the duel in New Orleans and being rescued by the nun later?" Henry reminded her. "Clarise is the very same nun and woman who did so."

Jo suppressed the urge to draw her pistol or badger the visitor with a thousand questions. "That would make you as old as Henry."

"I am much older, Detective. I am 431 years old. As with Henri, I have lived many lives and passed through several identities. I watch my friends and enemies with care. Such is the nature of my visit this evening. Perhaps we can speak a moment?" Clarise offered.

"We're kind of late for something," Jo pointed out.

Henry shook off his partner. "I have a moment, Clarise. Perhaps we can follow up if you will be in the area?"

"That is acceptable. Henri, be watchful. In two days' time, the Cloisters will have their gala for the Vendee grimoire. Perhaps you have heard?" Clarise noted.

"You mean the book with all of the heebie-jeebie magic stuff? That's nonsense," Jo denied.

"I do not believe either in its supposed power, Clarise. However you know something?" Henry added.

"The book's legends are truth. It has belonged to several members of my family. I have seen its evil firsthand as have my fellow speakers. Oui. I am on the panel. So are Alexandre Donnelly and David Dubois. Alexandre sends his regards, Henri. He is hoping that you will attend. Perhaps you might bring Mme. Martinez and Abraham as well? I will leave passes at the door with our compliments," Clarise invited.

"And Mr. Dubois? I fear he might not wish to see me," Henry worried. In his mind's eye, he dimly recalled running into said-man as a teenager under very adverse conditions to say the least.

"Professor Dubois recalls your role in getting him out of there safely, Henri. Nicolas wishes for you both to meet once more," Clarise assured him.

That comment intrigued Jo. "Wait. You know that guy?"

"Nicolas is the one who brought me into the immortal ranks as you put it. Oui. I do not care for what he did to me. At least I am free to serve God as I can in this darkness." Clarise considered her watch. "But you both do not wish to be late for your appointment. As I said, please attend our affair. Be watchful. Others are here in the city who do not look upon you with as much kindness as I do. Au revoir, mes Ami." With that she departed from the store and into the Manhattan night.

"What the Hell?" Jo rushed out of the store and surveyed the street to no avail. "Where'd she go? She just vanished."

"Clarise does that, Jo," Henry noted sagely.

"You're not surprised? Of course you aren't! Henry!" Jo protested.

"I'm with her, Henry. Who or what was that? And she really knows the schooner guy?" Abe pressed.

Henry raised his hands. "As she said, yes, she is an immortal. And yes she knows as you called him 'the schooner guy'. I've never heard him referred to in quite that way. Rest assured that she was here on our behalf. She warned us of an impending threat. And then she invited us to a rather exclusive event at the Cloisters. I've been reading about it for months personally."

"And this Dubois? That must have been some meeting. You hesitated," Abe assessed.

Henry exhaled deeply and rubbed his forehead. "It was quite a scene. I'd rather not go into it right now. Let me get washed and then, Jo, we'll head for dinner. I'm suddenly building quite an appetite." He disappeared into the backroom.

She quirked an eyebrow at Abe. "Is it me or is he hiding something?"

Abe sighed. "From what I understand, Jo, Henry stepped into the middle of a lynch mob. With the help of a young girl, he gave Dubois, his mother and brother a chance to get the Hell out of that town." He shook his head. "Who would've thought in the late twentieth century we'd still get that kind of vigilantism?"

"And Henry just stepped away?" Jo supposed.

"No. As I said earlier, I'd rather not talk about it," Henry declared while trying not to be overly curt about the situation. "If there are two experts on that tome, it would be Dubois and Clarise…and that's not counting academic research. Now your surprise if you would?"

"Okay. I'm in the mood for that. I'm not mad at you, Henry. I just want to know what's going on," she assured him.

"That goes for me too," Abe affirmed.

Jo ushered Henry out the door while trying to gentle the moment back into the former mood with a warm smile for his benefit. She knew it wasn't his fault that the old secrets and life kept coming back to bite them….

Up to that point, it had been indirectly. But it seemed that was about to change….

As they drove away, Abe locked his door and put up the closed sign. As he did so he could've sworn a shadow shifted in the alley across the street. When he looked again, it was gone. Weird. Maybe that lady was right. We'd best be careful. What the Hell have you uncorked, Henry?