Chapter 3 #2
“Yeah.” He turned to the passenger door as Gayle rested her forearms on the frame. She was Black, her hair cut short and her shoulders and arms evidence of her dedicated workout routine. “Hi, Gayle.”
She gave a single nod. “Demetrius.”
“Is there a problem?” he asked, turning back to Lucia.
“Well, the sheriff’s department got a call last night about someone dropping a mutilated body off at Eternal Rest cemetery.”
“Okay, wait—”
“Spooked the new security guard so much he quit today.”
“Well, that’s really too bad. Rich seemed nice. But they clearly did not properly train him for what—”
“So, you admit it?”
Demetrius laughed. “You know it was us. Who else would it be?”
“Okay, care to tell me about it?”
“Does it have to be here in a traffic stop?” He looked between them. “Can we go to Margie’s on your lunch break and talk about it?”
Lucia tipped her head to see past him. “What do you think, Deputy Walsh?”
“I wouldn’t say no to a salad. Soltero and Alberti just started patrol, so we could clock out for an hour.”
“Good point.” Lucia tapped the door frame a couple of times. “We’ll meet you there. Watch your speed.”
“Oh my God.” He started to put the window up, then leaned out and called, “I’m not paying for lunch!”
The lunch rush at Margie’s was just kicking off when they arrived.
Margie herself—today wearing bright blue eye shadow and a red-orange lipstick that made Demetrius think of clay pots—brought menus, silverware, and the usual iced tea for all three of them as they settled into the last booth against the side wall, Demetrius and Cody’s usual spot.
“Is this an informal questioning or a friendly lunch?” Margie asked, standing close to Demetrius’s side of the booth and peering at Lucia and Gayle over the tops of her reading glasses.
Demetrius’s ducked his head to hide his grin and released the grip he had on his knees.
“Just a lunch between friends, Margie,” Lucia replied.
“Mm hmm.” Margie didn’t appear convinced. “What can I get for everybody?”
They ordered, and Margie took the menus then headed for the kitchen.
“Why do I feel like the bad guys?” Gayle said. “Aren’t we the town protectors?”
“You’ll get used to it.” Lucia focused on Demetrius. “Tell us about last night.”
He explained about their client and how they checked out the abandoned house in Stone Hill she was suspicious about. Lucia’s expression shifted, flashing quickly from attentive to surprised before changing back.
“She should be telling the sheriff’s department,” Lucia interrupted.
Demetrius raised his eyebrows. “Really? Should she call the main phone number or 911?”
Lucia’s brows came together. “Fine. Continue.”
By the end of his explanation, Lucia was pinching the bridge of her nose, and Gayle could only stare and shake her head.
“So many broken laws,” Gayle muttered, sitting back as Margie delivered their food.
“Everything good here?” Margie looked at Demetrius.
“Everything’s fine, Margie, thank you.”
She tipped him a wink before shifting her attention to the deputies. “Anyone need anything else?”
They didn’t, and Margie left to greet some new arrivals.
“I didn’t know your mom worked here,” Lucia grumbled.
“She’s just protective,” Demetrius said.
Gayle was still shaking her head as she cut up her grilled chicken salad. Demetrius heard her say under her breath, “So many broken laws.”
“All right, fine, so many broken laws. What should we have done instead?”
“Called it in,” Lucia said.
“To who?”
“To the sheriff’s department.”
Demetrius crossed his arms. “Is everyone who works there qualified to respond to these kinds of cases?”
Gayle snorted then caught the glare Lucia aimed her way and took a bite of her salad.
“It’s safer than the two of you gallivanting around town with a corpse in the back of your truck,” Lucia said.
“Gallivanting?”
“I don’t think Pat or Marty are qualified,” Gayle said around her mouthful. Lucia stared at her. “What? They aren’t.”
“Has the sheriff’s department included anything about all of our special cases in the interview process or deputy training?” Demetrius asked.
“And send them all out of the room screaming?” Lucia said.
“Better finding out ahead of time whether or not they’re prepared rather than in the moment when people’s lives are at stake,” Demetrius said.
Gayle raised her eyebrows and pointed her fork at him. “This right here is exactly what I’ve been saying.” She bumped shoulders with Lucia. “And you too, though I know you won’t tell him that.”
“Guess there’s no need for me to tell him now.”
“I may or may not tell Cody you agreed with me.” Demetrius grinned and took another bite of his burger.
“Guess you’ll have to weigh that decision against whether you want an influx of parking tickets or not.
” Lucia dropped her hands into her lap as she looked at him.
The skin around her blue eyes was tight, the lines at the corners more pronounced.
When she spoke again, her tone was low and steady.
“I know it feels like all of this is falling on the two of you.”
“Us and the rest of the gang,” Demetrius added.
A quick pained expression flashed across Lucia’s face. “Don’t get me started on the rest of them. I want you to know I’m trying to make changes, real changes, within the department.”
“But?” Demetrius prompted after her voice faded out.
Lucia sighed. “But it’s not easy. Despite the multiple times we’ve faced down paranormal threats here and despite what we’ve learned about those fucking ley lines acting like a goddamn lighthouse to all things creepy and terrible, no one wants to fund my updated training program or interview process. ”
“Of course not,” Demetrius said. Even though his stomach had tightened, he forced himself to take another bite.
“So while I can appreciate what you’re doing, I also want you to keep me updated on anything you learn about the dark shit that goes on around here.”
“Clarabell is tracking everything in the spreadsheet,” Demetrius said. “We all get notified of updates.”
“And do you give her each update and rumor in real time?”
Demetrius made a face. “Fine. Point taken.”
Lucia continued. “I know you two will do whatever investigating or tromping around crime scenes and destroying evidence you want to do—”
“We really don’t…” Both deputies had raised eyebrows and flat stares.
He huffed and crossed his arms. “Fine, okay. Yes, we tend to go off on our own a bit.” Their expressions soured even more.
“All right, a lot. Are you happy? We go off on our own often and do many risky things. But it’s what we’ve gotten used to doing over the years because we were often blamed for awful murders around town. ”
“Sounds like both sides need to open up to each other a bit more,” Gayle said before taking the last bite of her salad and smiling as she chewed.
Demetrius and Lucia both had only finished half of their cheeseburgers. Margie approached with to-go containers and the bill, which she placed face down in front of Lucia.
“How was everything?” Margie asked.
“Really good,” Demetrius said, glancing at his unfinished meal. “I just had a big breakfast.”
“That’s fine.”
Lucia handed her the bill with some cash. “Thanks, Margie.”
“Thank you, Deputy Durant. All three of you be careful out there. We’ve got some more wide-eyed visitors in town—” She tipped her head toward a booth near the large window in front. “I’ve overheard them talking about trying to find the ley lines crossroad.”
“Great,” Lucia said with a sigh. “Let’s hope they don’t get themselves lost.”
“Or stir something up,” Demetrius said.
“Oh? Something going on here in town?” Margie asked.
“Nothing we know about for sure,” Demetrius said.
Rubbing the silver St. Christopher’s medal on a chain around her neck, Margie gave a nod. “We’ve been through some nasty business.”
“Yes, we have.” Lucia slid out of the booth, Gayle right behind her. “And we’re determined to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Keep in touch, Demetrius.”
“We will. You, too.”
Lucia nodded and turned for the door. Gayle told Margie it was good to see her, flashed a quick smile at Demetrius, then followed Lucia outside. Once they were gone, Margie sat in the booth across from him.
“Anything else I should know?”
“Not much to tell. We were checking out a house in Stone Hill for a client—”
“A monster-business client?”
Demetrius smiled. “Yeah.”
“Is that the first one?”
“Yeah.”
Margie looked impressed and reached over to momentarily to clasp his hand. “I’m so proud of you boys.”
“Aw, thanks.”
She waved a hand. “But never mind that, what did you find?
“A zombie.”
She leaned in closer. “Zombie?”
“Yeah. He was in pretty rough shape, so he’d probably been wandering in the woods since all that happened.”
“That was over a year ago.”
“I know.”
Margie stared across the diner at the counter running the length of the room. Several people sat on stools fixed to the floor, eating lunch on their own. “Just when we think we get a moment, something else crawls up out of the dark.”
“That’s why you’ve got the Critter Catchers.”
She smiled at him, and although it was genuine, it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “And we’re all grateful. Even the sheriff’s department, though they won’t ever tell you boys that.”
“Thanks, that means a lot.”
They both stood up, and he was surprised she pulled him into a hug. When she released him, she kept her hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes. “You both have been through so much. Be careful out there and watch each other’s backs.”
“We will. Thank you for the food and coming to my defense.”
“Happy to do it. Now go find that handsome husband of yours.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice.”