“You know what?” Laura looked as if she was going to stand and I couldn’t help but wonder if she would actually travel the five feet to the back of the plane and physically attack Millie. Jack would step in at that point and Laura would likely lose her job. While I didn’t want anyone to go through a financial hardship — even Laura — I couldn’t deny the notion appealed to me.
“Sit down, Laura,” Chris ordered, his eyes flashing with impatience.
One look at him told Laura all she needed to know. He meant business.
“We don’t have time for this,” Chris insisted. “There are innocent women out there, probably being stalked, and it’s likely they’ve already been marked for death. We need to hit the ground running on this one. We don’t have time for tedious games.”
I shot a sheepish look toward Jack, embarrassed, but he was busy glaring at Laura. Apparently he didn’t care if his hatred was deemed tedious.
“The only thing we know for certain right now is that every woman in question appeared to have had sexual contact before her death, but there were no fluids left behind. There were no fingerprints of note. The front doors were locked and only the windows were open. That’s what we have to go on right now.”
“Then we’ll go from there,” Jack said, dragging his eyes from Laura. “We’ll figure it out, Chris. We always do. You can count on us.”
“I certainly hope so. I told my uncle that the personal relationships in this group weren’t a problem. I would appreciate it if you didn’t make a liar out of me.”
“We won’t,” Jack promised. “You have my word.”
Three
The hotel fronted Folly Beach, an absolutely beautiful spate of land that offered one of the best views I’d ever seen. The sun was high in the sky, the water crystal clear, and the grand pier I could see about a half-mile down the beach beckoned.
“Look at that.”
Jack moved to my side, his lips curving. “It’s cool. We’ll check it out when we have a few minutes of free time.”
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” I admitted. “The pier we saw in St. Petersburg was cool, but that is ... wow.”
“It’s very cool.”
When he didn’t expound, I slid my gaze to him. “Have you been here before?”
He nodded. “Quite a few times, actually. My grandmother was a fan of the area and she used to bring my cousins and me to Charleston at least once a year for a two-week vacation to give our parents a break. We stayed at the hotel down the way.”
“That’s amazing.”
“I take it you didn’t get to go on many vacations.”
“Not really. My parents were amazing, but they didn’t always have a lot of extra money. We weren’t poor, but our vacations usually consisted of trips to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to camp.”
“Ah.” His hand automatically moved to my back so he could lightly rub. “Well, you’re not in Minnesota any longer. With this gig, you’ll see a lot of the country.”
I could hardly wait.
The Legacy Foundation had rented the beach villa on the hotel property other than the individual rooms Chris had mentioned, something that was arranged while we were in the air. It boasted five rooms, three of which looked out at the beach, and Jack ensured we snagged one of those rooms. He carried our bags up the stairs and put them on the settee on the far side of the suite — we had our own private bathroom, which was a bonus — while I checked out the balcony.
“What do you think?” he asked from behind me.
“It smells great here,” I admitted, my enthusiasm getting the better of me. “I love the smell of the ocean.”
“I take it you want to end up someplace with beach access.”
I’d never really given much thought to where I might end up. For a long time, survival was the name of the game and I couldn’t see past my next meal. It seemed strange to suddenly be plunged into a world where I had options. “I like the beach. Who knows? I might find a spot I like even better.”
“You might,” he agreed, although he didn’t look convinced. “Folly Beach is a seafood town. I know you’re a big fan of shellfish. The main road is only a half mile that way. I figured we could break from the others and head in that direction once we’re finished with work for the day.”
There was nothing I liked more than an adventure, so I readily agreed. “That sounds good.” I turned to face him. “I can’t believe you requested a room together. Aren’t you worried that Chris might come to regret it?”
His smile was smug. “Why? Are you planning to be particularly loud?”
It took me a moment to grasp what he was insinuating. “Don’t be a pervert.” I lightly slapped his arm. “Now you’re not going to get any action because I won’t be able to think of anything but the others knowing what we’re doing.”
“I have news for you, Charlie; they’re well aware that we have sex.”
My cheeks burned and I could just picture the flush stealing over my face.
“You’re cute,” he teased, giving me a quick kiss. “As for the other stuff, we’ll worry about it later. Chris expects us to meet in the living room so he can dole out tasks.”
“Okay.” I closed the sliding glass door behind me as I returned to the room, arching an eyebrow when Jack immediately double-checked to make sure I’d locked it. “You’re really worked up about the possibility of an incubus, huh?”
The question obviously caught him off guard. He shrugged. “I don’t know. Until today I never really gave demons much thought. I always assumed they were myths, remnants of fairytales long since passed. I thought that about a lot of things.”
His eyes were contemplative when they snagged with mine. “You’ve changed things for me,” he continued. “You’ve widened the scope of my life. I’m pretty sure that’s a good thing. It’s a daunting thing, too. I don’t know how to handle myself in this brave new world.”
His honesty was raw, on the surface, and it made my heart roll. “I’m sorry if I ruined things for you.”
He immediately started shaking his head. “Don’t say that.” His tone was sharp, probably more so than he intended. “You’ve made my life better just by being.” As if to prove it, he pulled me in for a demanding hug. “You make me happy, Charlie.” His voice was barely a whisper. “Don’t think otherwise. We’re going to have things to overcome — all couples do — but what you are isn’t one of them. Please don’t think that.”
Tears pricked the back of my eyes. “Thank you for saying that.” My voice cracked and I felt like a ninny. “You’ve made my life better, too.”
He chuckled as he rubbed his hands over my back. “We’re still getting used to our new reality. It’s going to be okay.” He repeated those words regularly. They were becoming his mantra. “We’re going to be stronger going forward. I’m lagging right now because I didn’t want to see the truth about paranormal beings before you. Now I have no choice but to see. I will catch up.”
“You’re not lagging.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You’re perfect the way you are.”
“Yeah. You’re perfect, too.” He held on for a moment longer and then released me, offering up a lopsided grin that increased my heartbeat. “We’re kind of the schmaltz twins now, huh?”
“We definitely are.” I squeezed his hand and exhaled heavily. “We should probably get downstairs.” I started for the door and then pulled up short. “Just one thing. I know the demon thing is throwing you for a loop, but the woman on the roof, the one who warned us the zombies were coming before sending the fire — she was a demon.”
Whatever he was expecting, that wasn’t it. He was utterly flabbergasted as he stared. “What?”
I nodded. “She wasn’t the same kind of demon. Not all demons are bad. She was a crossroads demon, which I can explain in more detail later. I just didn’t want to give you the impression that it was still possible demons aren’t real. That’s not true. Whether this demon is real is another story. I don’t have an
answer for you.”
“And that’s why I want that door shut after dark every night.” He pointed toward the sliding glass door for emphasis. He didn’t appear angry as much as worried. “The victims look like you. I don’t want to frighten you — not ever — but if this creature picks up that we’re on his tail he’s probably going to be attracted to you. It’s important we don’t give him an opening to get to you.”
“Trust me. I have no interest in hooking up with a sex demon. I can barely handle you.”
He mustered a smile. “Let’s keep it that way, huh?”
“Absolutely.”
EVERYONE WAS GATHERED IN THE living room when we arrived. Laura sat in the middle of the couch, a move that felt purposeful because Jack and I had no choice but to separate on either side of her.
“Thank you for coming,” she drawled sarcastically.
Jack ignored her and focused on Chris. “So, what’s the plan?”
“A little background to start,” Chris replied, clapping his hands and then rubbing them briskly. “Charleston is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It’s been a hub of activity practically from the start. That means it has a rich mythology and history, two things that we can’t overlook.
“First, Charleston is known as the holy city because of all the churches,” he continued. “The bulk of the population is religious, so we need to be careful talking about demons. It could set certain people off.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Jack said dryly. “I don’t plan on using that word in front of anyone outside of this group. I doubt anyone else does either.”
“Oh, not me,” Laura countered. “I’m going to tell anyone who listens about the demon prowling the streets. I figure if I act like enough of a basket case that will garner some attention from you. I mean ... it worked for Charlie.”
He scorched her with a death glare. “Have you ever considered taking a vow of silence? I know you’re not a nun — half the East Coast can vouch for that — but it might be an interesting change.”
Millie chortled as Chris shook his head.
“The sniping needs to stop,” Chris ordered. “I get that tempers are running high given some of the things that have happened of late — and ninety percent of that is Laura’s fault because she keeps pushing the envelope — but we have to find a way to work together.”
Laura balked. “Ninety percent?”
“More like a hundred percent,” Jack muttered.
Sensing trouble, I attempted to re-direct the conversation. “The churches could actually appeal to the demon,” I offered. “From everything I’ve read, demons enjoy messing with symbols of faith and hope. Churches would definitely fall into that category.”
Chris beamed at me. “See. Charlie’s done her research. I’ve also been wondering if that’s a possibility.”
“Yes, Charlie is perfect,” Laura muttered under her breath.
“She is,” Jack agreed, blasé. “What else do you want us to know?”
“The South Carolina Ports Authority is one of the top ten container ports in the United States,” Chris replied, happy to unleash his mountain of trivia. “The authority is responsible for almost two hundred thousand jobs, which means people are coming and going in the city via the Atlantic Ocean every day.”
“You’re suggesting that our demon works on the ships,” Jack surmised, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s not a bad idea, but how do you plan on proving it?”
“I’m not suggesting anything of the sort,” Chris countered. “I’m merely considering it as a possibility. There’s a heavy transient population here. That means individuals — men in particular — come and go from Charleston regularly ... and they have money. I don’t know how we would go about checking those individuals, but I haven’t ruled out giving it a shot.”
“So ... what do you want to do?” Jack queried. “Do you suggest we head down to the port and start questioning random people?”
“No. But we’re going to need to split up.”
Laura’s hand shot into the air. “I think you should split up Charlie and Jack because they don’t seem to focus on work when they’re together. I’ll go with him and someone else can go with Charlie, just to make sure they do their jobs.”
Jack’s glare was pronounced, but Chris didn’t seem to notice.
“I’ve already divvied up the work assignments,” he said briskly. “Millie and Bernard are going to head to the port to look around. I don’t expect them to find anything, but I would like to know the lay of the land. Bernard, you have access to one of our good cameras. Please take some photos.”
Bernard nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely. We can do that.”
Chris smiled before turning to Hannah. “I’ve made arrangements for you to get in and see the most recent body. The Charleston County Coroner is expecting you. You probably won’t be able to do your own autopsy, but any insight you can give us into the cause of death will be of use.”
Hannah offered up a pretty smile meant only for him. She excelled in a scientific setting. “No problem.”
“I’m sending Laura with you,” he added.
Hannah’s smile slipped. “That’s really not necessary. I can handle the body on my own.”
“Nobody can run around on his or her own,” Chris countered. “Especially because we’re most likely dealing with an incubus, who will be attracted to the women. No one of the female persuasion is allowed to go anywhere alone.”
My mouth dropped open. “Wait a second ... .”
Jack shot me a quelling look. “I think that’s a fine idea,” he said pointedly. “We should definitely make that a rule while we’re in town.”
Of course he would think that. I wanted to argue the point, but it seemed a waste of breath. It was better to pick my battles, and this one was a losing proposition. “I have no problem sticking with a chaperone,” I said sweetly. “It sounds like a great time.”
“That’s good,” Chris noted. “You’ll be coming with Jack and me. The most recent victim, the one Hannah is going to see in the morgue, had an apartment about three miles from here. We’ll be heading there. I’ve secured permission to search the premises.”
I wanted to ask how, but it really didn’t matter. “That sounds like a good place to start,” I said. “Are we heading there now?”
Chris nodded. “Shortly. Does anyone have any questions about what they’re supposed to be doing?” he asked the group.
“I do,” Laura replied, her voice like grinding gears on a dying machine. “Why does Charlie get to go to the scene and I have to go to the morgue? I think our roles should be reversed. I’ve been with the group longer, after all. My instincts are sharper.”
Chris didn’t appear to agree. “Charlie’s instincts are infallible. She’s stumbled across more clues in her short tenure with us than you have over the course of the past few years. I want her with me.”
Jack’s smile was smug as he risked a glance at Laura. She looked as if she was about to melt down, but managed to hold it together.
“Okay then.” Chris clapped his hands. “Let’s get to work.”
SAVANNAH BILLINGS — SHE WAS CLEARLY named after the southern city — had been a neat freak. That was the first thing I noticed upon entering her apartment.
She didn’t have many decorations, only a few framed photographs on the tables scattered about the living room. There were no tchotchkes on the shelves or artwork on the walls. Everything was decorated in sterile colors. White, gray, beige. There wasn’t a splash of color to be found in the apartment, even in the closet.
“This is a nice place except for the way it makes me want to slit my wrists,” I commented as I sifted through the bills on the counter. There was nothing of interest, only the standard gas and electric bills that would never be paid. “Apparently she didn’t like color.”
Jack smirked as he glanced in my direction. He was going through Savannah’s iPad, which she’d failed to lock. “It’
s a little drab,” he agreed. “I notice you like a lot of color, whether everything matches or not.”
“I do love color,” I agreed. “As for everything matching ... sometimes I don’t really have a choice in the matter. I bought the couch because it was comfortable and in my price range. If I had unlimited funds and could go to a store and buy everything new, I guarantee my life would be color coordinated ... just not like this.”
He stared at me a moment, his expression unreadable, and then went back to his snooping. “I like your apartment. It’s comfortable, homey. This place doesn’t feel homey.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Chris agreed as he strolled out of the bedroom. “According to the police report, the bedroom sliding glass door was open. That means whoever entered somehow managed to fly to do it.”
Jack lifted his chin and frowned. “Fly? Can demons fly?”
The question was directed at me. “I have no idea,” I answered. “I’m guessing yes, but I’m not an expert.”
“They can totally fly,” Chris offered. “Trust me. I’ve researched this front and back. Demons can fly and they don’t need capes to do it.”
“Good to know,” Jack said dryly, shaking his head as he turned off the iPad and left it on the counter. “There’s nothing in her electronics. She was a real estate agent and had a variety of appointments lined up for later in the week. I can check those to see if any of the names hit on a search, but I don’t expect they will. She didn’t have a datebook in there, so I have no idea what she did in her free time.”
“I do,” I supplied, smirking when he shot me a sidelong look. “I do,” I repeated. “I know exactly what she did with her time.”
“Would you like to share with the class?” he prodded.
“Absolutely.” I bobbed my head and held up the Bible I’d found on the end table. “Charleston Church of the Divine. According to the inside jacket, she was a part of the fellowship ministry and went to at least three sermons a week.”
Jack frowned. “She went to church three times a week? I’m not religious, but that seems like a lot. Is it a lot?”
[Charlie Rhodes 06.0] The Incubus Impasse Page 4