Mack's Perfectly Ghastly Homecoming (Mack's Marvelous Manifestations Book 2)

by AJ Sherwood

  Mack must have read the pout on my face, as he leaned up to kiss me softly. “Really, I’m not convinced she’ll show. I’m just going to get to know Eli better and play with her a bit. We’ll probably join you in a few hours. Go fix a wall.”

  “Well, when you put it like that, I don’t have a leg to stand on. Okay, but call me if something comes up, okay?”

  “Of course, mon cher.”

  I left the experts to it, snagged Quinn, and off we went to Opelousas. Of course, we had to stop and get the supplies first, but once we made it to Edmée’s house, she had the door open and ready for us. A bright smile stretched from ear to ear as she waved in greeting.

  “Brandon! Thanks so much for coming back to help us with this. And this must be Quinn?”

  “That’s me,” Quinn returned, one hand already full of tools.

  Edmée took the free one and shook it firmly. “Enchanté, Quinn. Come in, come in. I made a big pot of chili, you stop and eat when you’re hungry. I’ll try to keep Cali out of your hair.”

  Reminded, I reached back into the car and brought out the wooden stable I’d found at the hardware store. A local craftsman made toys for kids and apparently sold them all over the city. Before Cali’s room had become a mess, I’d noticed she’d mostly played with toy horses. I figured a stable was a better bet than a dollhouse.

  Edmée’s eyes fell to the white stable in my hands with its painted green roof and stable doors and her jaw dropped. “Brandon, that’s gorgeous! But you didn’t have to buy her anything.”

  “Nah, it’s fine. Think of me as an honorary uncle. I basically am one.”

  Edmée didn’t get a chance for another word of protest before her four-year-old popped out of the doorway. Spying me, she lit up and ran to me as fast as her little legs could carry her. “Brandon, Brandon!”

  “Hey, sweetie.” I ducked down onto my haunches so she could get a good look. “I got you a stable for your horses. What do you think?”

  Her hands roved over it, her apple-green eyes wide with wonder. “Pretty.”

  Seemed like I’d done a good job shopping. “Want me to carry it into the living room? You can play with it there while we fix your wall.”

  Cali nodded, eyes still transfixed on the stable. “Horsies too?”

  “Absolutely.” I wished I’d gotten a picture of her face. Mack was going to be sorry he’d missed this.

  It took more than a few minutes to get the little girl settled with her stable and horses, and the room cleared enough and under a drop cloth so we didn’t get sheetrock dust over everything. Mack and I’d made such an irregular mess of the sheetrock we had to first cut the hole square so we could patch it.

  “She’s adorable,” Quinn noted as we used chalk lines to square the area off.

  “Who, Cali? Yeah, cute as a button. You can see why we were so angry when the ghost was terrifying her every night. She’s only four, for god’s sake.”

  “Yeah, any case involving a kid is always rough on the feels. I’m glad our division’s policy is kids’ cases first but man, we take an emotional beating sometimes.” Quinn shot me a look before putting the chalk line back. “The hero worship afterwards is nice too.”

  I laughed, as he wasn’t wrong.

  We rigged up a temporary table between two buckets so Quinn could cut the sheetrock. Putting the saw down, he paused and gave me another look so masked I couldn’t begin to guess what he was thinking.

  “Brandon. I know we’ve talked a little about you working cases steadily with us. After watching how you and Mack coordinated with us so well, I want to say this again: know we’re all very serious about it. Work with us?”

  How many times had someone blithely assured him yes, working with him was fine, only to back out later? How many times had he been burned, that he’d be this insecure even after we’d both given him a yes? Too many times was the only possible answer.

  I took in a breath, reining in my temper, before I answered him. “Quinn, Mack and I really enjoy working with you. I mean this with all sincerity: please call us. We’d love to work with you again.”

  That was the right answer. He grinned and looked a second away from hugging me. “Okay. We definitely will.”

  I wasn’t the sort to let almost-hugs happen. I hauled him in and gave him one of those manly, one-armed back-slap hugs. He was beyond pleased and grinned at me. Seriously, this man. He didn’t know it yet, but we were going to be good friends. “Let me in on what kind of cases you’ve handled,” I suggested. Not only because I rather needed to know what to brace for, but also because I wanted to show I truly was interested. “Mack said it’s the cases no one else can handle, but that doesn’t tell me much.”

  “Well, Eli’s not really a demon hunter. That’s a different part of the division. She handles cases more like this one, with the malevolent. Things that are too powerful for a regular medium to handle. Sometimes it’s a case where there’s just too many ghosts for any one person, so she needs a second exorcist to help. Or a medium who can exorcise. Mack said he can, but it takes something out of him. How bad?”

  “He’s really still learning his limits on that. It wasn’t until he went into training with the FBI that he even tried to exorcise. I mean, an exorcism, from what he tells me, is brute force. You’re literally scattering the ghost into atoms. Passing is so much easier because he’s guiding them through, not scattering them to bits. Most of the time he negotiates the ghost into passing on their own, and he guides it. The one time he forced a manifestation and then forced a passing, he was a zombie later that night. So, I’d say he could probably exorcise one or two before he’s done. And then need at least a day to recover.”

  “That’s pretty amazing for a medium. Just that much will be a huge boon to Eli. Hell, if he can just hold a ghost long enough for her to get to it, that’ll be enough to help.”

  I held the sheetrock in place as Quinn screwed it in, the two of us talking nuts and bolts the whole time. I learned more about exorcists in a half hour than I ever had during my training course. Turned out exorcists were more than just the power hitters in the division—they were brute force all around. They might technically know how to coax a ghost into passing, like a medium, but it was hard for them to hold the power steady for long intervals of time to make it achievable. Their power levels were too large. Exorcism was more of a wham-bam approach, quick and brutal. A medium’s power was the opposite—perfect for finesse and long power projects, but not strong enough for exorcisms usually.

  It was really nice, this camaraderie. Being able to talk shop with a colleague was something I sorely missed from the early days of being SWAT. It was nice to think I could have this again.

  We had the room cleaned up, the mud drying—it would have to sit for twenty-four hours before we could sand and paint—and were heading for lunch when I heard the front door open again and Mack’s voice greeting the girls in the living room.

  Stepping out of the hallway, I said, “Hey, love. Done already at the dorm?”

  “We shouldn’t be,” Mack returned wryly. “But the students learned we’d exorcised the bad ghost and were willing to pitch in and clean up so they could reclaim their rooms. Eli and I found the good ghost and helped her pass on. She was more than ready after what had happened.”

  “We’d have been back sooner, but I had to write a quick report of how useless Delaney is,” Eli pitched in. She was already cross-legged next to Cali and examining the stable. “This is way cool, Brandon. I understand you bought it?”

  “Local carpenter makes them, sells them at hardware stores. I was just lucky enough to stumble across it.” I was glad to hear the students were willing to return to the dorm. I was under the impression the kids just wanted to get stuff out. “I haven’t seen Delaney since it all went down. Where did he go, anyway?”

  “Got on the first plane out,” Eli reported, tone as dry as a martini. “And that makes him officially done. My super, your super, and his super are all absolutely fed u
p and have officially washed their hands of him.”

  “Good. Guy wasn’t someone I wanted at my back.”

  Quinn scooted past me to join in the conversation. “So does that mean you don’t need us back down there?”

  “All that’s left is replacing the windows, and we can’t do anything about that.” Eli shrugged. “Might have to still smooth a few ruffled feathers with the president. He dropped by to see how things were going, and he’s still a little rattled.”

  “Man looked like he was eligible for burial in twenty-four hours,” Mack pitched in, already in the kitchen. “He was that sheet white and shaky. But then, confronting something that overturns your beliefs will do that to a man.”

  “Booker?” Quinn asked his wife.

  “Taking advantage of having a bathtub to himself, so he’s at the hotel soaking.” Eli shook her head, amused. “And watching The Witcher, if you want to know the truth of it.”

  Mack breathed in deep, like a bloodhound scenting the air. “Edmée, is that your famous chili I smell? Where is it?”

  “In the crockpot,” Edmée answered in exasperation. “Some mighty hunter you are.”

  “Hey, you say that, but hunters only notice if something moves,” he shot back. “It’s not moving, so thereby, I can’t see it.”

  Eli cackled. “The logic is flawless! Explains a lot about you, Quinn.”

  Quinn shot her an exasperated glare.

  Edmée, perhaps wisely, decided not to trust Mack with putting lunch on the table. She went in and helped dish it all up, putting things out. I wrangled the four-year-old away from her new toy long enough to get her hands washed and her into her booster seat.

  I ate through a bowl before I knew what had happened and had to go back for seconds just so I could properly appreciate the taste. Edmée seemed pleased we all enjoyed it. Not to mention she’d made a huge pot of it. Between Quinn and I, there wouldn’t be much left.

  “Miss E.” Cali pointed to Eli’s mechanical arm, resting on the table. “Why’s your arm like that?”

  Edmée looked appalled her daughter had asked.

  Eli didn’t even blink. “I donated it for science. Got this instead. Cool, huh?”

  Cali nodded agreement and went back to her chili.

  It amused me that even though she didn’t understand half of that, Cali accepted the arm should be as it was, because Eli said so. Kids, man. I could see it embarrassed Edmée though so I changed subjects. “So with the friendly ghost already sent on her way, is there anything left for us to do?”

  “No,” Eli said, sprinkling more cheese over her chili. “I think we’re pretty much done aside from writing the after-incident report. We can’t linger here for long, there’s other cases to handle. We don’t have a particular assignment yet, but I have no doubt by the time we fly home, another one will be in the works. Speaking of, can you two drive us back to the airport tomorrow? Flight’s at two.”

  “Sure,” I agreed easily.

  “This whole case has been a bit of a hot mess express,” Eli noted to Quinn. “But it’s been rather fun, too.”

  “That it has,” Mack agreed. “So the next time you want to play, make sure to invite us, okay?”

  A gamine grin crossed Eli’s face. “Sure, you betcha.”

  Epilogue

  The party was at full swing at Jon and Donovan’s house. It was ostensibly to celebrate me bonding with Mack—at least the banner over the front windows said as much. I think it also paired up with Jon’s mom’s divorce party, as that was finalized now. I understood they were still going to court to separate the finances and get that sorted, but of course her ex would make some part of this process hell. Lauren was just glad to not be married to him anymore.

  With the weather its usual mercurial, rainy self, indoors was the perfect place to have a party. Food seemed to just keep coming from the kitchen, someone had Alexa playing music. For once, my sister Sammy had managed to get away from all of her commitments and join in.

  Sammy brought me an ice-cold beer as she settled into the love seat next to me. “Ooh, thanks, sis.”

  “This is my bribe so I can grill you,” she informed me. Of us all, Sam looked the most like dad. She had his nose, his eyes, and a more streamlined version of his bone structure. It made her look strong and elegant, like a predator cat, instead of pretty. Really, it suited her personality. My sister was not a delicate little flower.

  I eyed her sideways as I sipped my beer. This was going to be good.

  “You’re being careful during sex, right?”

  “Sis, we’re both FBI,” I answered patiently. “We get routinely tested. Yes, we use condoms, but we don’t actually need to.” In fact, I was considering getting Mack to ditch those soon.

  “That’s not what I meant, genius. I mean, you’re twice his size. Don’t break him.”

  Mack snickered behind me, I could hear him. I had warned him my sister has no filter on her mouth whatsoever.

  “Don’t worry, Sam,” he caroled brightly, coming over to join us. “He’s only knocked me into a window once.”

  I gave him a forlorn look. “You’re never going to let me live that down.”

  “Never,” he assured me cheerfully even as he made himself comfortable on my lap.

  Sam was trying to keep a stern look on her face, but her eyes danced, giving the game away. “I just knew I should have warned you earlier. You’re such a lug.”

  Being a mature adult, I stuck my tongue out at her.

  Sam returned the gesture promptly.

  “I love your family,” Mack snickered even as he stole some of my beer. “Fortunately, it seems my mom does too. She’s a lot more relaxed about us living up here now that she’s met all of you.”

  That did seem to be true. Even at this moment, she was sitting next to my father and chatting amiably, her hands gesturing. It was cute to see her getting along with them so well. Mack had flown her up yesterday, and she’d stay through till Tuesday, when she’d drive back down. He’d also snuck some money to her so she could buy a few new clothes, I think. I knew better than to ask as money and obligations were still touchy subjects with him.

  Sam paused with her own beer halfway to her lips. “You’re really going to live in Nashville?”

  Shaking my head, I corrected, “Murfreesboro.”

  “It’s a fine balance.” Mack pitched in on the explanation. “We need something close to an airport, if we have to fly out in a hurry. Our boss requested we stay towards the southern US, as most of the other mediums live either in New England or on the West Coast. We wanted to stay close enough to see family and have someone on hand to check mail, water plants, that kind of thing.”

  “Nashville housing is insane,” I continued. “No way we can buy in this market. Murfreesboro hasn’t quite lost its head yet, and it’s only thirty minutes away, so we’re buying there.”

  Sam’s eyebrows rose sharply. “You’re buying a house and moving in together? Who moved faster, you or Donovan?”

  “He did,” I said promptly.

  Donovan clearly heard me even in the kitchen as he called back, “DID NOT!”

  “Did too!” I yelled. “You bonded with Jon in three weeks!”

  “Oh and you waited a whole three months to move in together,” he snarked back.

  Yeah, I kept getting flack about that. I looked at the man in my arms, this sweet, loveable man with his curly hair and light freckles kissing his nose, and saw all of the love and adoration I felt for him reflecting back at me. There was not a speck of doubt in my mind I’d chosen the right man to be with. “What can I say? When it’s right, it’s right.”

  “True, ma moitié.” Mack leaned in and kissed me softly, lips lingering. “Very, very true.”

  The phone of course chose that moment to ring. Mack leant sideways into me to give him the necessary leverage to pull it out of his pocket. His eyebrows arched a little as he saw who was calling and he swiped accept and put it on speaker before holding it between u
s.

  Oh. Eli was calling. Well, this was going to be good.

  “Hey, Mack!” Eli greeted cheerfully.

  “Hey, Eli,” Mack returned in kind. “What trouble have you found now?”

  “Oh, I’ve got a doozy. Thing is, I’m pretty sure that if I were to bite, I would not be able to chew, much less swallow. I could really use some backup on this one, and since you and Brandon are my favorite people….” She trailed off suggestively.

  I shared a glance with Mack. If Eli was calling us, it would definitely not be an easy case. But those three were friends, and I didn’t want to leave them in the lurch. I gave Mack a nod, showing that I was game to go.

  Mack nodded back at me. “Where are we going, Eli?”

  “Scotland,” she purred.

  Glossary

  Tongan phrases:

  ‘Alu ā ­ē – Goodbye (to the person going)

  ‘Io – Yes

  ‘Io, M­ālō e tau mo eni – Response to “thanks for coming”

  ‘Oku ikai te u ilo – I don’t know

  Fakamolemole! – Forgive me!

  Fanongo lelei – Listen carefully

  Fanongo p­ē – Just listen!

  F­ēf­ē hake? – How are you?

  Hū mai – Come in.

  Kamata – Begin

  Kātaki – Please, excuse me

  Ke – You

  Ko au – Response when someone calls for you

  Ko e ha ­ē – What is that?

  Ko ia! – That’s it!

  Ku – I

  Mahino – Understand

  Mālō ‘aupito – Thanks very much.

  M­ālō e lava mai – Thanks for coming.

  M­ālō e lelei! – Hello (common greeting)

  Mou nofo ā ­ē – Goodbye (to several people staying)

  Mou ō ā ­ē – Goodbye (to several people going)

  Na’a ke ha’u? – Did you come?

  Na’a ke kai? – Did you eat?

  Nofo ā ­ē – Goodbye (to the person staying)

  Sai p­ē – Just fine!