Chapter 27
Pulling up to Mendez’s house, I cut the engine and give myself a moment to collect my thoughts. The entire way here, I’ve warred with myself over what I was going to say to Jayden.
He’s been through so much; he’s just as much a victim as Sol. And yet, I can’t get the images of him trying to stab her, chasing her, harming her out of my head. Even though it wasn’t really him, it’s difficult to wrap my mind around.
I hope seeing him will help me move past this, but either way, I owe it to him to check on him.
He only got dragged into this because of what a good friend he is to me.
He never would have been a target if he hadn’t been around, if Ivan hadn’t known that this was something he could exploit to his own benefit.
With a heavy sigh, I swing open the door and walk up the drive. I don’t even get a chance to knock before Ozzie opens it—the man stays on those security alerts.
“Hey. You finally came.” He opens the door wider, letting me in. “How are you holding up?”
“I saw her today, so much better.”
“You found her?”
“Summoned her.”
“Dammit, Thorne. You know taking big risks like that is dangerous by yourself.”
“I wasn’t going to wait any longer to see her. She wasn’t coming to me. Whatever happened after…she passed, she wasn’t able to find me. I couldn’t stand the idea of her being lost somewhere; you know how disorienting death can be for some people.”
“I understand why you did it, but it doesn’t mean it was smart.”
“Never claimed to be.” I shrug. “Where is he?”
“Guest room at the back.” He points down the hall.
“Is he angry?” I have to ask, unsure of what I’ll be walking into.
“Angry? Why would he be?” Mendez chuckles. “You guys are too much. He’s over here beating himself up, thinking you won’t ever want to speak to him again. I told him it wasn’t his fault and that you’d understand, but he won’t hear it.”
Knowing that my best friend is suffering eases my doubts. While the situation is complicated, the one thing I know is that Jayden is a good person who doesn’t deserve to be punished for something out of his control. With a double knock, I announce my presence at his door.
“Come in.”
“Hey,” I say as I step in and close the door behind me. I stand awkwardly off to the side, trying not to block the TV or get too close. “How are you doing?”
“I’ve been better,” he admits.
“Yeah, I bet.” A beat of uncomfortable silence. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this. I know all this must be really hard to process.”
“You’re apologizing to me?” Jayden leans his head back on the pillow, covering his face with his hands.
“Hawthorne, I almost killed the love of your life. I’m the one who should be pleading with you not to fucking hate me.
” His voice cracks, and that’s all it takes to crumble any remaining uncertainty between us.
I’m at his side, sitting on the edge of the bed, in seconds.
“Jay, he forced you to do that. You weren’t in your right mind…or in your mind at all, I guess. He was controlling all of your actions.” I grip his shoulder, attempting reassurance. “You can’t blame yourself for that. I don’t.”
“You don’t?”
“No. Truly. It’s unfair what happened to you. Yes, it was horrible to watch, but I know that you would never hurt her. I know that you would never hurt me like that.”
“All I want is for you to be happy.” He takes my hand in between his. “I promise. There’s nothing I want more than for things to go back to the way they were. You’re my number one. I can’t do this shit without you.”
“We’re good. Don’t worry, okay?”
He nods. “How is she?”
“Not well. But I’m taking care of it.”
“Let me help. It’s the least I can do. Please let me make this right.” He nearly falls over himself, even though he winces with every movement, his body worn from the toll of his possession.
“You’re in no place to do anything right now. But it means everything that you want to. It’s okay, I have a plan. I have it covered.”
“Hawthorne, don’t try and do this all by yourself. You’re going to get yourself killed.”
Frustration builds inside me. “So, what if I do? Honestly, what does it really matter? I’ve died once; I already move through the veil. Would it really be such a big deal?”
“You know the answer, Hawthorne. Yes, you’d still be around. But it wouldn’t be the same. You know that. We still have so many cases to work together, so many adventures to go on.” He squeezes my hand harder. “Don’t even fucking think of leaving me yet.”
“You’re worrying for no reason. Everything is going to be fine.” I stand, needing to distance myself from all this doubt. I’m going to do what I need to do, and nobody’s going to stop me. “There’s not much time. I need to go. I’ll see you soon though. Focus on getting back to yourself.”
“Hawthorne—” I don’t let him get another word in as I close the door behind me and follow the voices to find Mendez and Zoey.
“So?” I say by way of greeting.
“Hey.” Zoey wraps a single arm around me. “So, I can’t be one hundred percent sure until we find it, but I’m pretty confident that knife is the root of it, the connection to this house. Now that—”
Mendez shakes his head, cutting them off.
“You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me. I’m well aware that Sol is dead. I’m coping as best I can, given our circumstances, but the only way I’m going to be okay again is if we finish this.”
“What’s the plan then? You can’t search the entire property yourself. Who fucking knows where he hid that thing?” Ozzie pulls out a seat at the table and gets comfortable.
“I won’t need to. He’s going to tell me.”
“Not to insult your intelligence, but why the hell would he do that?” Zoey asks, almost laughing at the audacity.
“Well, for one thing, he’s not going to have a choice.”
“For fuck’s sake, Hawthorne,” Mendez sighs, tired of my shit. “Why do I feel like you’re about to do something dangerous, and worse, reckless?”
“Look, you don’t want to know the details.
You’re going to keep your hands clean, and I’m going to handle this.
” I already decided that I would be the only one putting their neck on the line like this.
It’s not just illegal. There are so many things that can go wrong.
Personally, I don’t give a fuck. I’m getting my girl back.
But I’m not letting my friends get more tangled up in this mess than they already are.
Besides, it’s always been about him versus me. Ivan’s problem is that he underestimated just how far I’d go for Sol. He’s about to find out.
I can’t fight the smile that sneaks into my expression, and Ozzie immediately clocks it.
“I don’t like that look, man. Please just tell me what you have planned. Let me help you keep your ass out of trouble.”
“Nope,” I say firmly, turning my back to them as I make for the door.
“When it’s done, you’ll hear from me. Until then, keep your distance.
” Stopping with my hand on the doorknob, I turn back.
“I mean it. You’ve been there for me in more ways than I can say, I need to do this on my own.
This asshole has hurt the people I love for the last time.
” Pulling him in for a quick hug and shake, I attempt to reassure him. “Just trust me.”
“I swear to god, you better be careful,” Mendez calls after me as I run down the drive back to my car.
I don’t make promises I can’t keep, so I give him a silent wave.
Back on the freeway, I continue north, eager to pay a visit to my favorite witch.
I don’t make it a habit to reopen cases, especially ones that are years old, but technically, this one never really closed. Pulling into the familiar suburban neighborhood, I park a few homes down from the green house that belongs to the Murphy family.
I was originally called here by the parents whose daughter had passed tragically. Rightfully, they suspected her spirit might be lingering…she was. But in a rare turn of events, Becca had actually found peace in the afterlife.
Theirs was the first case I’d taken—at least back then—where I’d found ghosts who were happier dead than alive. Where they’d managed to find love and a new beginning after being freed from the burdens of life as we know it.
It gave me hope. Because of that, they stuck with me.
I couldn’t resist the urge to check in on them, make sure they really did get their happily ever after.
One trip turned into two, turned into ten, and now we’re at the point that I’d consider them friends.
It’s unconventional, but what exactly is normal for someone who’s ghost-touched?
What better use of my ability to reach across the veil?
I’ll admit having to sneak onto the Murphys’ property makes me feel a little guilty.
You’d think I’d be over it, given all the times I’ve done it by now, but it never gets easier.
I do respect Becca’s wishes, though. I can’t say what I’d do in her place, but I do know that I’m grateful this will never be something I have to worry about.
Sol and I are set to live out our afterlives in carefree privacy—having the funds and the freedom to do whatever I want with it is an advantage I’ll never take for granted.
Knocking on the back window of the casita, I wait for one of them to notice me. Stasi signals for me to go to the front door.
“Hey?” Becca says it like it’s a question.
“Hey.” I step into the small space. “How are you two doing?”
“We’re fine. Just, you know, the usual.” She laughs, nervously tucking her long brown hair behind her ear.
It’s been a while since I’ve come by, but she looks happy. It’s always a relief to know that sometimes, these things work out.
“Good, good.” I buy myself a second to gather my thoughts. “Look, I know I said I wasn’t coming until next month, but I actually need your help. Witchy shit, to be specific.” I turn my attention to Stasi.