Bloodcircle - Chapter Nine
Jul. 7th, 2022 12:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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i_read_whatSo last time, our protagonists cleared the air, Escott told us who the likely murderer is, and Jack goaded Barrett into punching him in the face.
Interestingly, it looks like Jack's provocation of Barrett was one of the very few times that he and Escott are not in simpatico. Escott's even a little irked about the whole thing, and we learn that apparently vampires punch HARD.
Or Jack was still reeling over the earlier concussion, either way.
“This is getting to be a very bad habit with you,” he chided. “Are you the sort who goes in for self-punishment, or are you just naturally stupid?”
There was no reason to answer that one. “Where’s Barrett?”
“Halfway home by now. You provoked him into a fine temper by that last display.” He punched at my tender forehead with a dripping washcloth.
“Ow!”
“Serves you right. I was going to talk with him and get him to see reason, but you’ve effectively canceled that gambit.”
“So buy me a hair shirt.”
1) Escott, you know Jack by now. You've spent two books with the man. Di you really need to ask if he's a masochist?
2) For once, I actually think Escott is wrong. Not about the murderer, of course, his logic is sound. But I don't think he was going to have any luck with Barrett. Jack called it before: Barrett hadn't even processed the idea that Maureen might be dead. Now with the accusations against Laura, he was getting riled up and defensive. And that's not even getting into the way he and Escott tend to clash.
IF Barrett's going to accept Escott's conclusion, he'll need time to process it on his own.
3) That said, this really does underscore how well Jack and Escott do work together most of the time. This is a new experience for them. And I appreciate that Jack, for once, isn't feeling particularly guilty.
...I do think maybe he needs some therapy though.
Escott glanced at me. “Can you disappear for a moment?”
Why not? It was easy enough. No movement was required and therefore no real concentration; I was there one second and gone the next. The body with all its hurts was gone, gone, gone. Too bad I couldn’t do the same for the mind and its memories. It was tempting to stay this way forever; floating, formless, and insulated from all the ills caused by living, simple living.
...starting to get the feeling that Jack might not be okay. Someone ask Barrett if there's a such thing as a vampire therapist.
Failing that, someone go vampire up a therapist.
Okay, so the knock at the door is the hotel staff. Apparently Barrett was loud when he punched Jack and the neighbors complained. The staff seems nice enough to Escott though, as they think Jack is dead, and express their sympathy.
After the man leaves, Jack returns to form both literally and figuratively. He apologizes.
“Sorry about all this,” I said lamely.
He considered my own forlorn form, shrugged, and accepted the apology. “We’re both tired. Tell me, was that show pure temper, or had you a purpose in alienating the man?”
“It was temper, but I had some idea it was the only way to reach him, to get him to see her through our eyes.”
“There are subtler ways of doing it,” he pointed out.
“I’m not so good at that.”
“Evidently.”
I do love their banter. But I also like that Jack DID actually have a purpose in what he did besides self-punishment (though I agree with Escott that this was a reason too. Jack's been carrying a lot this book.) And I think he might even be right about Barrett here.
Barrett's a gentleman, in the old school sense. When his temper cools, he's going to feel bad about hitting an injured man. And that guilt/shame might lead him to think about things with a more open mind than he otherwise would. I don't think Jack is consciously that manipulative. But I think maybe subconsciously, Jack gets that.
I definitely think Escott does. Escott intends to give Barrett time to cool down. He thinks he won't skip town: it'd be an admission of guilt and would leave the girls undefended. Escott thinks Barrett has an honorable streak. I like this bit:
“You figure he’ll talk to Laura?”
He had a look in his eye that made me feel cold inside and out. “I am absolutely counting on it.”
“I’ll go out to the estate tomorrow and see what’s happened.”
“May I come along?”
“Yeah. I might need you to scrape me off the pavement again.”
I really do enjoy when the story reminds us that Escott is both a lot colder and more calculating than Jack.
Unfortunately, their plans go to hell the next evening, when Jack wakes up to the news that Emily Francher died. Some kind of fall down stairs. Escott wants to go to the funeral parlor to investigate. Or specifically, to have Jack investigate. (Escott himself would be a bit too memorable after everything.)
Actually, what Escott really wants to know is if there is any sign of resurrection or resuscitation. Jack seems a little squicked out by the prospect, which is interesting.
But yeah, he goes in. We get to see the business end of the funeral home and it sounds quite nice. But actually Escott miscalculated a little. The body at the home isn't Emily's but John Henry Banks. They go to the Francher estate instead.
Escott realizes that Emily probably left some very clear and specific instructions about body disposal, and they both want to speak to Barrett. And well, the timing of the death is awfully significant.
Jack is concerned that Barrett may decide to protect Laura:
“Protect her?”
“Not everyone is as justice minded as you, Charles. Like it or not, those two have become his family. A man will usually try to protect his family no matter what they’ve done. I’m just saying this as a warning. Barrett’s got a hell of a temper and it could… could get away from him.”
“As it has with you?”
I nodded, staring at the rush of gray shadows outside the window.
“Is that why you wanted to stop me last night?”
“Yeah, something like that. All I could see then was one big messy can of worms being dumped out.”
Jack's thinking about John Henry Banks. And Escott, human that he is, is vulnerable.
So the Francher estate seems to be hopping. Emily was very rich and had a lot of relatives. Jack doesn't see a lot of genuine concern. They also don't see Barrett or Laura. One well-wisher stops Jack claiming it's only family until the funeral. She turns out to be a second or third cousin by marriage, and claims they were very close years ago.
Okay, I mentioned the undercurrent of class conflict in this book and I love it here:
She turned her back on him to face me. “Anyway, you’ll have to go. It’s family only, as I said. The maid will show you out.” She waited expectantly with her hands neatly folded and her chin up and I struggled not to laugh in her face. Someone else did, loudly, and was immediately shushed. This made us the brief center of attention and my reluctant hostess went very pink, but held her ground.
Jack's a country boy at heart. The pointed social etiquette stuff is lost on him. He's not moving. And then one of the other relatives comes to his rescue. And I do enjoy Elrod's ability to do a lot with a walk on role:
“Why, Cousin Jules! I haven’t seen you since the war, how you’ve grown!” A younger woman in dark blue tugged hard and led me from the scene.
“Yeah… it’s been a while,” I loudly agreed.
Once out of immediate earshot she said, “Don’t mind her, Abigail is just your average inheritance vulture like the rest of us. Her trouble is that she pretends so hard she isn’t.”
“Thanks, Mrs., Miss…”
“Clarice Francher, Miss.” We shook hands. “I’m a vulture as well, but then I’m more honest about it.”
“How’s that?”
“I admit that I never liked Cousin Violet and hardly knew Emily. I’m here for appearance’ sake and so I can hear what people are saying about me behind my back.”
Hah, fair enough. Anyway, Jack identifies himself as "Jack Flynn" as "John R. Fleming" is officially dead. He identifies himself as a friend of Emily's secretary. And Clarice's reaction makes me think SHE thinks Jack is the gay boyfriend of Emily's giggolo.
This got me a second and much harder look. “Really? So the mystery man has a friend?”
Jack continues to press for details of the accident, and Clarice eventually does provide. The vultures bitch about the fact that the money will probably go to Laura or "that man". Clarice and Jack go to see Emily.
Emily looked like Banks, dead. She wore some kind of white gown and held a white rose to her breast. They’d done a good job on her makeup; if she’d sustained any facial injuries or scrapes, they were well hidden. I looked long and hard, because her face did appear younger than I remembered, but she was lying down, and that would make a difference in the pull of the skin against the bones beneath.
The fine lines were still there under the powder, though. The mortician’s artistry was simply undisturbed by movement or expression and gave only the illusion of youth. I touched her hand and said her name, but nothing happened.
She was cool, not cold; she’d been dead only a few hours. Her hand was still flexible. Rigor hadn’t yet set in, but that wasn’t unusual. It could occur anytime within ten hours of death starting in the jaw and neck, but I had absolutely no desire to test those areas.
I wonder if Maureen and Jack ever discussed what actually happens during the vampirism process. Jack wasn't surprised when it happened to him, but that doesn't mean they got into specifics.
Jack and Clarice share an odd moment of thoughtful bonding.
“You liked her, didn’t you?” asked Clarice.
I’d forgotten she’d been standing behind me and withdrew my hand from the casket. “I barely knew her, but I guess I did.”
“A lot of us can say the same thing. Maybe if we hadn’t been so blue nosed about that man she had…” She shrugged self-consciously.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t know, maybe she wouldn’t have been so alone in other ways.”
One day, Jack's inability to consciously address his own emotions will be his downfall, I think. He's obvious enough that this perfect stranger picks up on them. But not to himself. But I like the thoughtfulness here. It feels like a natural reaction to death.
Eventually Laura comes down:
A lowering of the general hubbub spread out from the center of the hall and heads swiveled toward a young woman descending the stairs. I didn’t know her at first, but then the last time I’d seen her she’d been naked. Now she wore a severe black dress, and her lush blond hair was parted in the middle and drawn back into a demure bun at the base of her neck. She wore no makeup; her tanned face was drained and her eyes red.
Bitchy cousin Abigail (the one who stopped Jack, and later was overheard saying nasty things) goes to comfort her, but Laura just stares blankly. Abigail is shooed away. But the vultures are still descending. There's lots of pushing at Laura about what will happen to the estate, but fortunately, the lawyer is also present and she directs them to him.
“Lawyers,” hissed a woman, and made it sound like a curse.
Heh.
Jack takes his own opportunity to say hello. And Abigail actually helps, because when she tries to dismiss Jack, she mentions that he had told Clarice that he was Barrett's friend. Laura hides it, but she is definitely interested. She's not about to foist him onto the lawyer.
Jack asks after Barrett, and Laura's answer is vague:
“Nothing to bother you about, you’re quite busy enough.” I was acutely conscious of all the curious eyes and cocked ears around us. “Is he around?” Her answer was slow, as if she interrupted her inner flow bf thought to remember my question. “No. Actually, I haven’t seen him all day. Sometimes his duties require him to leave on short notice.”
Jack doesn't like Barrett, but her easy answer bothers him. He asks if anyone told him about the accident. Laura suddenly goes blank and foists him onto the lawyer after all. Interesting. He ends up confronting the lawyer, and his quiet suggestion (out of earshot of the others) that Jonathan and Emily were lovers offends the lawyer enough that he's willing to speak privately. The chapter ends ominously, with Jack being surprised to see a figure hiding in the shadow of the overhanging roof.
Interestingly, it looks like Jack's provocation of Barrett was one of the very few times that he and Escott are not in simpatico. Escott's even a little irked about the whole thing, and we learn that apparently vampires punch HARD.
Or Jack was still reeling over the earlier concussion, either way.
“This is getting to be a very bad habit with you,” he chided. “Are you the sort who goes in for self-punishment, or are you just naturally stupid?”
There was no reason to answer that one. “Where’s Barrett?”
“Halfway home by now. You provoked him into a fine temper by that last display.” He punched at my tender forehead with a dripping washcloth.
“Ow!”
“Serves you right. I was going to talk with him and get him to see reason, but you’ve effectively canceled that gambit.”
“So buy me a hair shirt.”
1) Escott, you know Jack by now. You've spent two books with the man. Di you really need to ask if he's a masochist?
2) For once, I actually think Escott is wrong. Not about the murderer, of course, his logic is sound. But I don't think he was going to have any luck with Barrett. Jack called it before: Barrett hadn't even processed the idea that Maureen might be dead. Now with the accusations against Laura, he was getting riled up and defensive. And that's not even getting into the way he and Escott tend to clash.
IF Barrett's going to accept Escott's conclusion, he'll need time to process it on his own.
3) That said, this really does underscore how well Jack and Escott do work together most of the time. This is a new experience for them. And I appreciate that Jack, for once, isn't feeling particularly guilty.
...I do think maybe he needs some therapy though.
Escott glanced at me. “Can you disappear for a moment?”
Why not? It was easy enough. No movement was required and therefore no real concentration; I was there one second and gone the next. The body with all its hurts was gone, gone, gone. Too bad I couldn’t do the same for the mind and its memories. It was tempting to stay this way forever; floating, formless, and insulated from all the ills caused by living, simple living.
...starting to get the feeling that Jack might not be okay. Someone ask Barrett if there's a such thing as a vampire therapist.
Failing that, someone go vampire up a therapist.
Okay, so the knock at the door is the hotel staff. Apparently Barrett was loud when he punched Jack and the neighbors complained. The staff seems nice enough to Escott though, as they think Jack is dead, and express their sympathy.
After the man leaves, Jack returns to form both literally and figuratively. He apologizes.
“Sorry about all this,” I said lamely.
He considered my own forlorn form, shrugged, and accepted the apology. “We’re both tired. Tell me, was that show pure temper, or had you a purpose in alienating the man?”
“It was temper, but I had some idea it was the only way to reach him, to get him to see her through our eyes.”
“There are subtler ways of doing it,” he pointed out.
“I’m not so good at that.”
“Evidently.”
I do love their banter. But I also like that Jack DID actually have a purpose in what he did besides self-punishment (though I agree with Escott that this was a reason too. Jack's been carrying a lot this book.) And I think he might even be right about Barrett here.
Barrett's a gentleman, in the old school sense. When his temper cools, he's going to feel bad about hitting an injured man. And that guilt/shame might lead him to think about things with a more open mind than he otherwise would. I don't think Jack is consciously that manipulative. But I think maybe subconsciously, Jack gets that.
I definitely think Escott does. Escott intends to give Barrett time to cool down. He thinks he won't skip town: it'd be an admission of guilt and would leave the girls undefended. Escott thinks Barrett has an honorable streak. I like this bit:
“You figure he’ll talk to Laura?”
He had a look in his eye that made me feel cold inside and out. “I am absolutely counting on it.”
“I’ll go out to the estate tomorrow and see what’s happened.”
“May I come along?”
“Yeah. I might need you to scrape me off the pavement again.”
I really do enjoy when the story reminds us that Escott is both a lot colder and more calculating than Jack.
Unfortunately, their plans go to hell the next evening, when Jack wakes up to the news that Emily Francher died. Some kind of fall down stairs. Escott wants to go to the funeral parlor to investigate. Or specifically, to have Jack investigate. (Escott himself would be a bit too memorable after everything.)
Actually, what Escott really wants to know is if there is any sign of resurrection or resuscitation. Jack seems a little squicked out by the prospect, which is interesting.
But yeah, he goes in. We get to see the business end of the funeral home and it sounds quite nice. But actually Escott miscalculated a little. The body at the home isn't Emily's but John Henry Banks. They go to the Francher estate instead.
Escott realizes that Emily probably left some very clear and specific instructions about body disposal, and they both want to speak to Barrett. And well, the timing of the death is awfully significant.
Jack is concerned that Barrett may decide to protect Laura:
“Protect her?”
“Not everyone is as justice minded as you, Charles. Like it or not, those two have become his family. A man will usually try to protect his family no matter what they’ve done. I’m just saying this as a warning. Barrett’s got a hell of a temper and it could… could get away from him.”
“As it has with you?”
I nodded, staring at the rush of gray shadows outside the window.
“Is that why you wanted to stop me last night?”
“Yeah, something like that. All I could see then was one big messy can of worms being dumped out.”
Jack's thinking about John Henry Banks. And Escott, human that he is, is vulnerable.
So the Francher estate seems to be hopping. Emily was very rich and had a lot of relatives. Jack doesn't see a lot of genuine concern. They also don't see Barrett or Laura. One well-wisher stops Jack claiming it's only family until the funeral. She turns out to be a second or third cousin by marriage, and claims they were very close years ago.
Okay, I mentioned the undercurrent of class conflict in this book and I love it here:
She turned her back on him to face me. “Anyway, you’ll have to go. It’s family only, as I said. The maid will show you out.” She waited expectantly with her hands neatly folded and her chin up and I struggled not to laugh in her face. Someone else did, loudly, and was immediately shushed. This made us the brief center of attention and my reluctant hostess went very pink, but held her ground.
Jack's a country boy at heart. The pointed social etiquette stuff is lost on him. He's not moving. And then one of the other relatives comes to his rescue. And I do enjoy Elrod's ability to do a lot with a walk on role:
“Why, Cousin Jules! I haven’t seen you since the war, how you’ve grown!” A younger woman in dark blue tugged hard and led me from the scene.
“Yeah… it’s been a while,” I loudly agreed.
Once out of immediate earshot she said, “Don’t mind her, Abigail is just your average inheritance vulture like the rest of us. Her trouble is that she pretends so hard she isn’t.”
“Thanks, Mrs., Miss…”
“Clarice Francher, Miss.” We shook hands. “I’m a vulture as well, but then I’m more honest about it.”
“How’s that?”
“I admit that I never liked Cousin Violet and hardly knew Emily. I’m here for appearance’ sake and so I can hear what people are saying about me behind my back.”
Hah, fair enough. Anyway, Jack identifies himself as "Jack Flynn" as "John R. Fleming" is officially dead. He identifies himself as a friend of Emily's secretary. And Clarice's reaction makes me think SHE thinks Jack is the gay boyfriend of Emily's giggolo.
This got me a second and much harder look. “Really? So the mystery man has a friend?”
Jack continues to press for details of the accident, and Clarice eventually does provide. The vultures bitch about the fact that the money will probably go to Laura or "that man". Clarice and Jack go to see Emily.
Emily looked like Banks, dead. She wore some kind of white gown and held a white rose to her breast. They’d done a good job on her makeup; if she’d sustained any facial injuries or scrapes, they were well hidden. I looked long and hard, because her face did appear younger than I remembered, but she was lying down, and that would make a difference in the pull of the skin against the bones beneath.
The fine lines were still there under the powder, though. The mortician’s artistry was simply undisturbed by movement or expression and gave only the illusion of youth. I touched her hand and said her name, but nothing happened.
She was cool, not cold; she’d been dead only a few hours. Her hand was still flexible. Rigor hadn’t yet set in, but that wasn’t unusual. It could occur anytime within ten hours of death starting in the jaw and neck, but I had absolutely no desire to test those areas.
I wonder if Maureen and Jack ever discussed what actually happens during the vampirism process. Jack wasn't surprised when it happened to him, but that doesn't mean they got into specifics.
Jack and Clarice share an odd moment of thoughtful bonding.
“You liked her, didn’t you?” asked Clarice.
I’d forgotten she’d been standing behind me and withdrew my hand from the casket. “I barely knew her, but I guess I did.”
“A lot of us can say the same thing. Maybe if we hadn’t been so blue nosed about that man she had…” She shrugged self-consciously.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t know, maybe she wouldn’t have been so alone in other ways.”
One day, Jack's inability to consciously address his own emotions will be his downfall, I think. He's obvious enough that this perfect stranger picks up on them. But not to himself. But I like the thoughtfulness here. It feels like a natural reaction to death.
Eventually Laura comes down:
A lowering of the general hubbub spread out from the center of the hall and heads swiveled toward a young woman descending the stairs. I didn’t know her at first, but then the last time I’d seen her she’d been naked. Now she wore a severe black dress, and her lush blond hair was parted in the middle and drawn back into a demure bun at the base of her neck. She wore no makeup; her tanned face was drained and her eyes red.
Bitchy cousin Abigail (the one who stopped Jack, and later was overheard saying nasty things) goes to comfort her, but Laura just stares blankly. Abigail is shooed away. But the vultures are still descending. There's lots of pushing at Laura about what will happen to the estate, but fortunately, the lawyer is also present and she directs them to him.
“Lawyers,” hissed a woman, and made it sound like a curse.
Heh.
Jack takes his own opportunity to say hello. And Abigail actually helps, because when she tries to dismiss Jack, she mentions that he had told Clarice that he was Barrett's friend. Laura hides it, but she is definitely interested. She's not about to foist him onto the lawyer.
Jack asks after Barrett, and Laura's answer is vague:
“Nothing to bother you about, you’re quite busy enough.” I was acutely conscious of all the curious eyes and cocked ears around us. “Is he around?” Her answer was slow, as if she interrupted her inner flow bf thought to remember my question. “No. Actually, I haven’t seen him all day. Sometimes his duties require him to leave on short notice.”
Jack doesn't like Barrett, but her easy answer bothers him. He asks if anyone told him about the accident. Laura suddenly goes blank and foists him onto the lawyer after all. Interesting. He ends up confronting the lawyer, and his quiet suggestion (out of earshot of the others) that Jonathan and Emily were lovers offends the lawyer enough that he's willing to speak privately. The chapter ends ominously, with Jack being surprised to see a figure hiding in the shadow of the overhanging roof.