Chapter 3
Motherfucker.
Can I go back to bed and pretend I’m not home?
Maybe they’ll leave. Maybe they’ll think the rift is some sort of sun flare playing tricks on their eyes.
People look for a rational explanation for things even when what’s “rational” is even more of a stretch of the imagination than a supernatural reasoning.
And if Jared is there…dammit. I grab a pair of sweatpants from the floor that either Tom or Gil left a few days ago and quickly put them on. I throw on an oversized Philadelphia Police Department T-shirt and go downstairs, not caring that my hair is a ratty mess or that I’m not wearing a bra.
I shoot back the deadbolt and open the front door, expecting Robert and Jared, not a whole fucking crowd of people.
Robert’s at the front and center, standing next to a pretty blonde who I’m guessing is his wife.
She’s holding a tray of chocolate chip cookies and has a big smile on her face that disappears when she sees me.
“Morning, Detective,” Robert says. “We heard about what happened and wanted to thank you.”
So many fucking things have happened in the last twenty-four hours. “I was just doing my job,” I say, knowing there could only be one they’re referring to.
“We thought you might not feel up to coming to the party tonight,” the blonde says. “So we thought we’d bring a bit of the party to you.”
Party? What—oh right. Robert’s hosting a big Memorial Day party at his house tonight for all the neighbors in this little stretch of town.
“Keri’s chocolate chip cookies are to die for.” Robert smiles at his wife, who extends the plate to me. A woman behind her has what looks like a casserole, and the two other women next to her have bowls of something as well. The polite thing to do is invite them in. Stepping aside, I wave my arm.
“Come on in, and thank you. You guys didn’t have to do that.”
“We know,” Robert says, stepping in. Jared’s right behind him, looking both annoyed and curious.
I’m still not sure if I can’t stand the kid or admire his determination.
Everyone comes inside, collectively admiring the house after they introduce themselves.
It’s ostentatious and impressive and though I haven’t done anything to it since I inherited it, I’m proud to call this place my home.
“We all feel a little safer knowing you’re down the road,” Keri says, looking around.
I just smile and take the plate of cookies from her, wondering where to put them. The kitchen? Set them down on the coffee table and offer beverages? I don’t entertain like this.
“I do what I can,” I say, deciding the kitchen is best. There are three other dishes and they all look like they need to be refrigerated. “Do you want anything to drink?” I have a fully stocked fridge, so I have options at least. The guys eat a lot of food once they wake up.
“Oh, no thank you,” Keri says. “We don’t want to impose.”
I turn, giving her a polite smile, and cross the threshold into the kitchen.
Right away I see ingredients for a spell laid out on the table, along with a note from Jac.
To the others, it probably looks like I was getting ready to make a weird soup, and I grab the note, glancing down as I fold it in half.
I’m only able to read the first line, and see that Jac got things out in case I need to do a banishing spell. I slip the note into the nearest drawer, which houses my silverware, and turn back to my guests with a fake smile on my face.
“Thanks again for coming over. That’s really, uh, neighborly of you.”
“That’s how we are around here,” the woman who introduced herself as Cora says. She’s holding a container of baked spaghetti that smells so good.
“It’s different.” I take the food from her and try to find a place in the fridge for it. “Different but nice. I used to live right downtown.”
“Closer to work, right?” Robert leans against the counter, looking at Jared, who’s edging out of the kitchen.
“Yeah. I’m quite a ways out now. But this place grew on me, and even though it more than doubled my commute, I’m staying.”
“I’d stay too,” a pretty woman with dark hair says. I think her name is Tiana. Shit. I don’t remember. I’m good at remembering details, but I didn’t really pay attention when they introduced themselves. “It’s a gorgeous house. I’ve admired it since I was a kid.”
It hits me that these people grew up here on the outskirts of town, driving by this old house on a daily basis. They might know a thing or two about my great aunt Mary who used to live here. Maybe I can get some answers after all.
I take a casserole from her, and as soon as I put it on the counter, a long bang comes from the living room.
Everyone jumps and my heart leaps out of my chest. Not because I’m scared, but because there are strangers standing in my kitchen and I might very well have to fight a demon.
I curl my fingers into my palms, feeling heat rush through my hands, and step out of the kitchen.
A book is lying on the floor in the living room, not far from the doors that lead to the library. I don’t need to pick it up to know what it is. I’d recognize that book anywhere because it means so much to me.
Emma.
It was my mother’s favorite, and it’s really fucking strange how just a second after I thought about asking someone other than her for answers about my family, the book flew out of the library.
“Old houses settle,” Robert says, and the others nod. Yeah, they settle as loud as books being thrown.
“Nah, it’s just the ghosts.” I turn around, waving my hand in the air. Everyone laughs.
“I used to be scared of this place,” Woman Number Three confesses. Should I feel bad about forgetting their names? Because I don’t. “But it’s so pretty.”
“It still needs some work. I can give you a little tour, if you’d like. I haven’t done much to it since I’ve moved in. I’ve been busy with work.”
“I’d say so.” Keri eagerly steps forward. “You’ve caught two serial killers, and I still just can’t believe there were two in our city.”
There was actually only one, the psycho who thought he was doing God’s work by killing anyone with an interest in witchcraft. The other “killer” was a group of vampires.
“It’s my job.” I make my way into the living room, picking up the book and darting my gaze around the house.
Is my mother here again? Hasan couldn’t see her…
would my guests be able to? “This is the living room,” I start.
“I think the windows are all original. I really don’t know much about the house. ”
“It looks original.” Robert moves to the floor-to-ceiling windows, inspecting the craftsmanship. He teaches history at a local university, and his area of expertise is the time period this house was built.
I smooth out my hair and show everyone the library next, peering in first to make sure my dead mother isn’t hanging around.
She’s not, and I’m a little disappointed.
Everyone files in, impressed with the fancy shelves and ornate fireplace.
I stand aside, watching them gush over the house, and realize Jared is still in the kitchen.
I slip out unnoticed and find him in the kitchen, opening the drawer where I hid the note from Jac.
“Seriously?” I lean against the wall, crossing my arms. Jared jumps.
“Something weird is going on here,” he spits out, eyes wide.
“No shit. You’re going through my cabinets.”
“Rosemary, basil, garlic, and St. John’s Wort.” He points to the herbs on the counter. “Those are used to repel evil.”
“I’m making soup.”
“Then what’s with the note you hid?”
He’s observant, and fuck, I admire it about him. “It’s from my boyfriend. He wrote about some very X-rated things he’s going to do to me when he gets home.”
Jared makes a face of disgust. “Sure it is.”
I cross my arms, looking Jared up and down. Things between us can either go two ways: he can continue to annoy the shit out of me and go on living his life shamed by his parents for his interest in the paranormal, or I could throw him a bone and look at him more like a mentor case.
“What if something weird was going on?” I push off the wall, crossing the room and opening the drawer. I take out Jac’s note. “What would you do about it?”
Jared swallows hard, Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “I…I don’t know.” He blinks rapidly, trying to find his resolve. “But I’d do something. I don’t trust you.”
“You shouldn’t,” I tell him, and look down at Jacques’s note, quickly reading it.
Ace-
I laid out a few herbs you might need for a banishing spell. Remember, just because she looks like your mother doesn’t mean she is. Demons can take on many forms. Be smart.
Love,
J
I take a deep breath and thrust the note forward. Jared takes it, eyes widening. I watch him read the note once, twice, three times. He looks up, fear in his eyes.
“How do I know this is true?”
“You don’t.” I take the note back from him and fold it in half again, sliding it back into the drawer. “You have no reason to believe anything about me or what goes on in this house.”
I step back, watching him think. This kid would lose in a game of poker, that’s for sure. He blinks rapidly and looks back up at me.
“Who are you?”
“Someone you don’t want on your bad side,” I say with just the right amount of attitude. “Kidding. But not really. Pissing me off could definitely lead to consequences.”
“I don’t…why…who…”
“Calm down. Thinking that hard might hurt your little brain.”
“Fuck you.”
I smile. “That’s better.” I make sure the others are still in the library.
“Look, kid. You’ve been a pain in the ass, but you remind me of me in a way.
Pushy and stubborn, unable to ignore a bad feeling.
Like you said, something weird is going on, and I don’t have time to waste dealing with you nosing around. ”
Jared gives me a blank stare.
“So stay out of my shit, okay?”
He blinks and his head bobs up and down, but I don’t think he’s comprehending anything.