Chapter Seven #2
As Oliver struggled with Gwen’s trunk, Felipe poked his head into the stable.
It was empty and looked like it had been for some time.
The whole place had an air of weariness, and the wall of trees looming on the other side of the road didn’t help.
The forest behind the inn seemed no different from the orange and red leaved trees and eternal pines they had passed through for the past two hours, yet Felipe was certain he felt something watching from the trees across the road.
His free hand slid to the knife tucked into his belt.
Just because he couldn’t see anything, didn’t mean it wasn’t there.
Ushering Oliver and Gwen into the inn ahead of him, Felipe looked into the woods and thought he caught a flash of white, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
Stepping into the inn behind Oliver, Felipe feared it was deserted too, but as his eyes roamed over the front room a second time, he noticed a stout, white, middle aged man perched on a stool behind the front desk.
He read the paper with a pipe dangling from the corner of his mouth and a monocle clenched in front of his left eye.
His face was round and ruddy, making him appear youthful, even though his once dark blonde hair was now streaked with salt and pepper strands.
The moment the door closed behind them, he set the paper aside and dropped the reading glass back into his pocket in a smooth, practiced motion.
“Welcome to the Allen Inn. How may I help you folks?” the man asked, his voice harsh from years of tobacco smoke.
“Mr. Allen, I presume? We’re investigators with the New York Paranormal Society. I’m Inspector Galvan,” Felipe began, shaking Mr. Allen’s hand.
As the man’s blue eyes widened, Felipe noticed the skin around the eye that had held the monocle was pink and strained with old scars.
Propped behind the counter within reach was a well-used wooden cane along with a large, brindle dog who sat curled by his feet.
While Mr. Allen gave the impression of being larger than he appeared, he was an inch or two shorter than Felipe when he stood and probably a decade older.
Gesturing behind him, Felipe continued, “This is Dr. Barlow, our society’s medical examiner, and Miss Jones, one of our librarians. She’s come to aid us in our investigation and record our findings.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you, though I wish it were under better circumstances.
I’m Lewis Allen.” The man shook his head and let out a nervous chuckle.
“You probably already knew that since I’m the one who wrote to the society in the first place.
My apologies if I seem befuddled, but I wasn’t expecting three of you. ”
“I thought the society sent a telegram letting you know we would be arriving today,” Oliver said tightly from behind Gwen’s trunk.
“They did, but unfortunately, they didn’t say there were three of you.
We only have two rooms available. The others aren’t fit for habitation, and I assumed, like the last bunch, there would only be two of you.
One of you might be able to stay in town with Mrs. Fleming or someone could sleep in the parlor. ”
“We don’t mind sharing a room,” Felipe replied, nodding to Oliver.
“If you’re sure?” When Oliver murmured in agreement, Mr. Allen let out a relieved puff of breath.
“All right, then, here are your room keys. Do you mind finding the rooms yourselves? My leg is acting up today after too many trips up and down the stairs. Your rooms are on the upper floor. The room with the larger bed is the second on the right, and the other room is directly across from it. The outhouse is behind the stable, and there’s a water pump in the kitchen.
Dinner is served at six every night, and we can discuss breakfast and give you the tour once you get settled. Just holler if you need anything.”
The stairs squeaked as they filed up the narrow stairs to the second floor.
The room Felipe found behind the second door was cozy and clean, even if the furniture was worn.
As far as hotel rooms went on cases, it was a decent one.
When Felipe set his and Oliver’s valises down, Gwen levitated Oliver’s gladstone over Felipe’s head and onto the dresser.
“Little help here?” Oliver peeped from the hall. Gwen ran to unlock her door, opening it in time for Oliver to stumble in and set the trunk down in front of the single bed with a stifled grunt. Shaking out his arms, Oliver drew in a tremulous breath. “Gwen, what did you pack? Bricks?”
“No, just my clothes, some books, a few stakes of different wood and a mallet, just in case, and... actually, there is one brick, but some believe a well-placed brick can stop a vampire. Don’t look at me like that. I can smell what’s in your gladstone.”
“What’s in the gladstone?” Felipe asked, fearing he already knew the answer.
“Cheese and jerky.”
“And all the equipment I might need for an impromptu autopsy,” Oliver added.
“I’m sure you both overpacked, but before we get too far, a few more ground rules,” Felipe said quietly.
“Don’t unpack everything in case we need to make a hasty exit.
Essentials only, everything else as necessary.
And do not go off anywhere without telling someone else, even to the outhouse.
We can’t afford to lose sight of each other. Got it?”
“Yes,” Oliver and Gwen replied in unison.
“Good, now, let’s get unpacked and cleaned up as quickly as possible. I want to talk to Mr. Allen and get the lay of the land before it gets too dark.”
Leaving Gwen to deal with her belongings, Felipe fell back into the familiar routine of unpacking his valise in a strange place.
He hated how after nine months, it felt like he never stopped taking these sorts of cases.
He wasn’t sure Gwen and Oliver could fully understand how dangerous cases were that took them far from the protection of the society.
If anything went wrong, there would be no one there to save them.
Going on a case with Oliver added a layer of fear he hadn’t felt with his previous investigative partners, but Gwen being there made it so much worse.
She was Oliver’s oldest friend and had grown to be an integral part of Felipe’s life.
He had caught a glimpse of what losing them both could be like back in January, and he couldn’t do it again.
Felipe’s hands stilled on a box of ammunition. If anything happened to either of them, he would never forgive himself.