The Trouble with Ghosts (Here Witchy Witchy Book 3) Read online

  When they had the basement sealed they must have sealed the window too. If I went back to the house I might have been able to spot where the window was covered up, depending on how good of a job was done. I moved the picture and looked at the next one. Just another angle of her body. I studied the background and other than the floor having carpet there was nothing there for me to be interested in.

  “Here’s your badge back. If you want an empty office, the third one down the hall on the left is empty. There’s a table you can spread out on.”

  I nodded and took my badge and folder. “Thanks, I shouldn’t be too long.”

  “Don’t worry hon, if you need extra time, I’ll stay a bit late.” She smiled at me and I bowed my head in thanks. I made my way to the office she spoke of, and found a big round conference table in the middle of the room with a couple of chairs scattered around it.

  I sat in the nearest chair and opened the folder again. I moved aside the notes and the pictures that I’d already gone through, saving the notes for later. If I could find what I needed in the pictures it’d give me a better visual than the words. The handwriting on the back of the photos had faded, eaten away by time. I pulled another one out and paused. There was a shot of the room I’d ventured into, the one with all the furniture moved. And where the space had been cleared stood a door.

  I jumped out of my chair and called Nick. Hope filled me as I looked down at the picture. I hadn’t seen a closet door in that room, so I highly doubted I was wrong. Nick answered on the third ring.

  “Social plans go bad?” He joked.

  “No, I think I found where the closed off basement is.” I looked at the picture and my hope was replaced with dread. “I can’t go into the house to find out.”

  “You’re right, I have to. You need to stay away from the house, roaming around outside might be okay.”

  “Might be? I was able to go into the backyard.” I muttered and put the photo down. “I’m going to sit here and comb through the file. I don’t think there’s much else we can learn since supernatural creatures weren’t really known then…”

  “Just our luck that the police shoved most of the cold case files to PIB, huh?” Nick chuckled. “You do that. I’ll go back tomorrow to check out the house. I’m working through the runes now, trying to decide why they weren’t welcoming to me, but were to you.”

  “If you go back tomorrow, take pictures if you can. I’ll see if I can help decipher them.” I set the picture aside and looked down at the next one. A vague blurry figure was in the background and I frowned. “You said they never caught the vampire, right?”

  “And I also said I don’t want you near those runes.” He grumbled. “But I’m glad you heard something I said. Why?”

  “Remember where the myth that vampires don’t show up in photographs came from?” I tried to will my eyes to bring the figure into focus, but of course it was the photo, not my eyes, that was the problem.

  “Some say it’s because they don’t have souls, but scientifically it’s because they moved too fast to be captured by old technology, so they showed up as blurs or just a vague outline. Many of them didn’t want their image captured to keep the secrecy, so they moved faster on purpose.”

  “Yeah, I think one of our cops captured the vampire on film.” I pressed my lips together. “It may be nothing, but it could be everything. I’ll see if I can get the lab here to enhance the photo and see if we can’t get it cleared.” It was a stretch for an old photo, but many of the people in the labs could work digital magic.

  “Abby, did you just crack the case with a photo?” His voice was light, but that feeling of dread started to claim my stomach again.

  “Possibly the vampire victim case, but we still have ten thumbs and part of a skeleton to figure out.” I reminded him, my voice didn’t match his tone as my eyes were locked on the image of the vampire. “I’ll call Levi tonight and ask him about the case.” I hung up without saying goodbye.

  I put that photo aside as well and started scanning through the notes. I found a list of detectives who worked on the case and made a note in my phone. I doubted any of them were still living, and if they were, they probably didn’t remember this case. I closed the folder and snatched the pictures from the table. I went back to the desk and smiled at the receptionist.

  “I hate to be a bother, but can you put in a request for your lab to enhance this photo,” I handed her the one with the blurry figure, “and copy this one for me?”

  “I’ll have to get it all approved.” She took the folder from me and the photos. “But I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thanks, just let them know that it’s connected to a current PIB case and they might be a little more willing.” I handed her the file back. “Thank you for working with me on such short notice.”

  She smiled and put a sticky note on the photo. “Of course. You have a good night. I’m sure we’ll be seeing you again.”

  I bowed my head. I’d probably be visiting several times over the case. I went out to my car and unlocked it. I hesitated for a moment. There was still daylight, I could go back to the house and look around. Or I could go back home, have a glass of wine and find my nerve about asking Levi about the victim…especially while Mario was in town.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  I was about half a wine bottle in before the sun went down. Osiris, named mainly because of his breed, Sphynx, lounged on my lap. He had a fine layer of hair over his body and black markings on his face, meaning he wasn’t show quality, but he was cuddly and loved me unconditionally. I scratched his ear and sighed. “I guess I should call Levi. Hmm?” The familiar buzz of alcohol moved through my brain as I took another sip of wine. I was a witch, the buzz would be gone quickly, but that’s why I had the bottle sitting on the table.

  Osiris meowed and stretched out before jumping off my lap. I took it as a sign that he agreed with me. I pulled out my phone and hit the speed dial for Levi. He answered within a couple of rings.

  “Did you blow up another car?”

  I frowned. “No, why? Is the news saying I did?”

  “No, I haven’t had a chance to check the news tonight, but you don’t normally call me unless something just blew up.” I couldn’t tell if there was relief in his voice or not. “Or if someone died. Did you kill someone?”

  “I haven’t killed anyone since Mina at the pack thing. So, no. I needed to talk to you about something that came up in my and Nick’s current case. It deals with a young vampire victim being kept in the basement. Early 1900s. Ring any bells?”

  He was silent on the phone for a moment. “Do you have any more information than that?”

  “I have what Nick and I were able to gather from the scene and the databases.” I glanced at the folder on the counter behind me. “You’re welcome to come take a look at it. Nick is determined to solve it alongside our other case.”

  “And your thoughts?” His voice lowered a little and I wondered if someone was listening, like Mario.

  I took a sip of wine. “I’m hoping that you’re not involved in it. That’s about as far as I’ve gotten concern wise. If we can solve it, great. We can send the executioner out for the vampire. If we can’t, it’s a case long cold. Nick says her ghost is at the house though.”

  “Nick can see ghosts?” There was a tone of worry in his voice that made me pause in my next sip.

  “He can talk and interact with them, yes. I didn’t know until today. That worry you? Don’t want a medium in your territory?”

  He muttered something that I couldn’t understand. “Levi…”

  “No, it doesn’t bother me. I just don’t like knowing that he was hiding an ability like that from people. He could have been useful long before now. I’ll be over there in a few minutes to look at the file.”

  I hadn’t really expected him to visit, but maybe he could help Nick and me with the case. “I’ll be here. Don’t spook my cat.” I hung up the phone and downed my glass of wine. I poured another one and Osir
is gave me a glare. “What? I don’t want to discuss murder without wine.”

  He meowed at me and then pranced away. I rolled my eyes and sipped my glass. Levi and Mario appeared in my living room and I didn’t even jump. I raised a brow at Mario. “I don’t remember inviting you along for this conversation.”

  “I don’t remember you specifically saying I needed to stay away either.” His accent rose goose bumps up my skin. “Anything that has to do with vampires in this territory is my concern right now, including this.”

  I took a big sip of wine and glanced at Levi, who gave me a one shoulder shrug. I swore I was going to make him explain all this when Mario left. “File is on the counter, I’ll fill you in after you look at it.” I filled my wine glass again and noted that I might need another bottle by the time this conversation was over. The picture of the blurred vampire wasn’t in the file since I didn’t have authorization to copy it. I was thankful because I wasn’t sure I trusted Mario with that information.

  Levi walked over to the counter, but Mario sat down on the other end of the couch. I glanced at the vampire. “I thought your concern was just the blood-starved vampires.”

  “Any vampire problem.” He stated again. “Should you be drinking another glass of wine?” His gaze went to the bottle.

  I smiled. “I’m a witch, I can have another half a bottle and be fine.” I swirled the liquid around and saw the way he watched me. “Jealous?”

  “Abigail.” Levi snapped and I glanced back at him. “Do not tease him.”

  I drank a sip. “I’m sorry, I won’t tease the big bad vampire. What do you make of the file?”

  “I know the case. I had just moved to the area.” He came and leaned against the arm of the couch, closest to me. “I don’t know who the vampire was though, if that’s the information Nick is after.”

  “I think it is. He’s pretty determined to solve that case as well. With it being a hundred years old, I’m not holding my breath.” I took another sip. “It’s pretty barbaric though. Not to mention we found other…” I glanced at Mario. “Evidence on the property that we’re still waiting to process.”

  Levi looked down at me. “You don’t have to go into details, I’m sure I can imagine what you found. Do we know why Nick is so bent on solving this crime too?”

  “Because a young woman’s life was cut short by vampires.” It made sense and it was the simplest explanation I could come up with. I studied the red liquid in the glass. “I’m curious myself, especially if her soul is not at rest because of what happened.” It made me wonder if there was more to the story. For someone to be turned into a poltergeist, a traumatic emotion-filled death had to happen. I had no doubt that her death was traumatic, but a strong emotion like hatred or even love needed to be felt. It also brought up the question of why there were so many poltergeists there.

  “You and Nick can pursue it, but there’s not a whole lot I can help you with unless you had a name or a face to go with the vampire.” Levi pushed off the couch and went back into the kitchen. Osiris hissed at him and ran off and I wondered what the cat had against the vampire.

  I took another sip of my wine. “I may have a picture, but I’m waiting on some red tape to clear.”

  “An actual photograph?” Mario raised a brow. “Vampires didn’t photograph then.”

  I looked at him and gave him a half drunk smile. “No, they ran from the cameras then, and left blurs and outlines behind. Technology is an amazing thing nowadays.” I frowned at my empty wine glass and reached for the bottle only to find nothing in it.

  I stood up to get the other bottle from the kitchen. Levi caught my wrist as I reached for it. “Something bothering you about this case?” His gaze went to the wine bottle and then to me.

  “There are a couple personal things that have sprung up that I really don’t feel like sharing with our guest.” I gently pulled my wrist and he let go. “I’ll share when he’s decided to leave or when I have to. Assuming Nick hasn’t shared yet.”

  “Nick does not speak to me often. The fact that you think he might have shared worries me.” Levi opened the bottle for me and poured me a glass. “I still owe you a birthday dinner. Alone.”

  I glanced at Mario who had turned to look at us. I started to say something but Osiris bolted up from downstairs and to the front door. He let out a shriek that made us all pause. Evil magic pressed against me and I gave Levi wide eyes. “Get my book.” I demanded. I sprinted to the door without thinking and threw it open. The world around me shook and I was thrown from the house with an unseen force.

  The ground bit into my body as I tumbled into the street, my arms over my head to protect it. My heart climbed my throat as I tried to recover my breath and hearing from the blast I hadn’t remembered. Levi and Mario were suddenly by my side, one with my book and one with my bag. Osiris was nowhere to be seen.

  I stood, trusting my weight to my shaky limbs. Levi grabbed me by the elbow to help steady me. My heart calmed a little bit, but I could feel the residue of a black spell sliding down my aura, making me feel like I was covered in mud. I looked back at my house, expecting it to be in flames. But what I saw wasn’t a house that was victim to an explosion or a bomb. It was collapsed, as if imploded. The ruins held evidence of a burn, but there was no smoke, no coals, nothing to indicate a fire.

  “Abigail?” Levi asked, his fingers digging into my elbow a little too much. I tried to take a step and my feet failed. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t focus; almost everything I owned was destroyed in the matter of a single spell. This wasn’t someone blowing up my car, this wasn’t a hex. This was a full spell aimed at killing me and destroying everything. It wasn’t even subtle. Osiris had felt it, that’s why he had run. He was trying to warn me.

  I collapsed as my body went numb and blackness ate at the corner of my vision. I closed my eyes, trying to push it away, and passed out.

  “Abigail?” Levi’s voice broke through the darkness.

  I forced my eyes to open, and instead of seeing the vampire’s face I saw Osiris’ slim face and little pointed teeth sticking out of his mouth. My fingers tangled in the grass below me and I let out a sigh of relief. If I was still outside; that meant I hadn’t been unconscious long enough for someone to send me to the hospital. Shock was not something that I wanted to be admitted for.

  “I’m okay. Just…shock.” I sat up slowly and looked at my house again. Gone, still gone. Just a pile of beams and wood. My stomach churned as the shock tried to manifest in a different way. “I’m not okay.” I said and pet Osiris. “This might be too much.”

  Mario knelt in front of me. “Do you think that this is related to your case?”

  Funny, that was normally Levi’s question. I tried to think of anything that would have linked this to the case. My normal default answer was yes, that it meant I was getting close to cracking a case, but this…there was no progress in the case that would have led to this. I was getting really tired of attacks on my life. But this…this was completely unrelated to work which made it scarier.

  “Abigail?” Mario prompted.

  I swallowed. “I don’t owe you an answer.” I stood again and snatched my bag and my cat off the ground. “I…I don’t want to deal with this tonight.” I could go stay with Levi, but that meant two hours in the car, that thankfully had survived the spell. Too much time to spend in my own head. Not to mention, I shouldn’t drive when in shock.

  “Mario is just trying to figure out if it’s related to Tomes.” Levi reminded me and I closed my eyes. I wasn’t going to yell at him.

  “I just lost fucking everything.” I kept my voice down. “Except for my car, my cat, my bag, and my book. I really don’t want to discuss who might be trying to kill me right now.”

  Levi knew the tone in my voice, it was the one that I used before I shot someone. He held his hands up. “Come to the mansion tonight—“

  “No.” I growled. “I’m not going to the mansion. I’m going to get a hotel room for the night.
I’ll deal with this tomorrow.” I glanced back at the house and took a deep breath. Osiris curled up on my shoulder, digging his claws just slightly into my skin. I scratched his head. “I guess we’re going to have to go back and get you another litter box and more food.” Sirens filled the silent night. It was just a matter of time before they made it to the house and I’d have to face a bunch of questions and people. EMTs would want to treat me for shock. I hung my head in defeat. Which of my neighbors had called the emergency crews whispering about the crazy witch’s house suddenly being destroyed?

  “I’ll take care of it.” Levi put a hand on my other shoulder. “Let me drive you to the hotel so I know you are safe. I don’t like how you look.”

  Which made me wish I had a mirror. “I’m pretty sure I’m still in shock.”

  “Your house just imploded, I think that’s a good reason to be in shock.” Mario bowed his head. “I’ll go back to the mansion and wait for Levi there.” He disappeared into the night. No cool trick, no wave of magic, just poof. Gone.

  Good, because I was tired of him. I didn’t think another bottle of wine was going to cure this night. “I’m pretty sure my phone was in the house…”

  “I’ll have a new phone to you by tomorrow.” Levi promised. It was the best I was going to get, unless I went to replace it now. Most of the things I needed were in my bag, except my big book of answers, which was tucked under Levi’s arm. The book had been passed down to me from my parents and held everything from my ancestry to potions and spells that would help me out. I’d started keeping the research of the Cult of Ra runes in the book, and now I found myself grateful for that.

  “Okay.” I took a few shaky steps towards the car and eyed it hesitantly. Did someone put a spell on that too? I glanced at the cat on my shoulder. His eyes were closed and a purr rumbled through his body. He remained that way the closer to the car I got. I took it as a sign that things were safe. I dug my keys out of my bag and tossed them at Levi. He caught them with one hand and unlocked the car.