Wicked Fog (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 6)

by Lily Harper Hart

  Jack made a face. “I don’t get squirrelly.”

  “You get squirrelly all of the time when Ivy is involved,” Brian said. “She got sick and heard someone talking. Did she see anyone?”

  “No,” Jack answered. “She said it was dark and then light. She heard the voice and woke up. She got violently ill and felt as if she was on fire.”

  “You know, it’s weird, but I’ve heard people who have been stabbed in the chest before describe the feeling as if they were caught in a fire and couldn’t get out,” Brian mused. “Maybe Ivy was somehow … I don’t know … empathically linked to Jeff that day.”

  “I’ve never considered that, but it’s an interesting idea,” Jack said. “That doesn’t explain the other stuff.”

  “Tell me about the other stuff.”

  “We were dream walking the other night and … something weird happened,” Jack said. “We went to a castle and were screwing around, but Ivy didn’t like it because the bear rug kept staring at her, so we were going to visit a beach. I left first.”

  “I’m not going to pretend to understand this sharing dreams thing you guys do,” Brian said. “I find it weird and invasive. If my wife knew what I dreamed about, she would divorce me.”

  “It’s not like that,” Jack said. “We’re somehow … cognizant … of what we’re doing. When I dream without her, they’re regular dreams. When I dream with her, we can control our environment.”

  “It’s still a little freaky,” Brian said. “Keep going, though. It’s freaky and fascinating at the same time.”

  “I left her and while she was waiting for me to call her to the new location, Jeff Johnson appeared,” Jack said. “She said his skin was gray and his neck was bent at an odd angle. Now, we haven’t told anyone what the coroner said about Jeff’s neck breaking because someone used a rope to hoist him up onto that cross. I didn’t tell Ivy that either. I still haven’t.”

  “Did Jeff speak to her?”

  “He just kept repeating that he didn’t want to die and Ivy tried to get away from him because she was scared,” Jack said. “She bolted awake and was shaking. I tried to calm her down and told her it was just a dream and not to overreact. I didn’t believe that, though, and she knew better the next morning.”

  “It sounds like she’s getting echoes from Jeff’s final moments,” Brian said. His face was serious and he showed no signs of making fun of Jack and his beliefs. “Maybe Jeff realized he was dying and that was his last thought.”

  “I can believe that,” Jack said. “That doesn’t explain the two most recent visions.”

  “Does one have something to do with what happened at the greenhouse yesterday?” Brian asked. “I knew you guys were acting funny for a reason other than your usual flirty banter.”

  “Yeah, she had another vision the day before yesterday,” Jack confirmed. “She went out to the fairy ring and she was sitting there when something kind of … popped into her head. She described it as if she was looking at herself from behind.”

  “But … how?”

  Jack shrugged. “She heard a noise from a tree and believes someone was watching her out there,” he said. “She got upset and ran. I happened to be out there looking for her because I brought lunch and she smacked into me while she was running.”

  “Did you see anyone following her?”

  “No, and she was so upset I didn’t want to leave her to look,” Jack replied. “Max took her out there yesterday, though – and that’s one of the reasons we were fighting – and he says that the leaves behind the tree were disturbed and it looked as if someone ran through them.”

  “So someone was out there,” Brian mused, rolling his neck until it cracked. “Someone was watching her and she managed to get into his head while he was doing it.”

  “We keep saying ‘he,’ but it very well could be a she,” Jack reminded him.

  “I still don’t think a woman could’ve hoisted Jeff’s body onto that cross,” Brian said. “Even with the added leverage of a rope, there’s just no way.”

  “I happen to agree with you,” Jack said. “I don’t want to rule out anyone, though. That could end up hurting Ivy if I’m not careful.”

  “I understand that,” Brian said. “What happened today?”

  “Ivy was in the greenhouse with Max and she kind of … lost time,” Jack said. “She saw herself approaching Don and stabbing him. That’s why she called me to check on him.”

  “So you knew going out there we might be dealing with an injured man. Is that what you’re saying?”

  “I couldn’t send an ambulance out there without visual proof,” Jack argued. “How would I have explained that?”

  “I’m not casting aspersions on you,” Brian said. “I’m just trying to understand what’s going on. There’s no way we can tell people Ivy had a vision and that’s why we headed out to Don’s house.”

  “I don’t want you to have to lie for me,” Jack said. “That’s not fair.”

  “I’m not lying for you,” Brian countered. “I’m lying for Ivy. She’s a good girl. She doesn’t need this getting out. It’s not her fault this is happening.”

  Jack was relieved, although he remained worried, too. “Why do you think it’s happening?”

  “I honestly don’t know,” Brian replied. “There have always been whispers about the women in her family. Felicity is pretty open about being a … witch … and stuff. Maybe there’s something in the family genes.”

  “Has Luna done anything like this?”

  “Luna is loony in her own way,” Brian said, his smile fond. “If she could do something like that, though, she would’ve told Ivy. I think Ivy is just special.”

  “Of course Ivy is special.”

  “Chill out, Romeo,” Brian said. “You know what I mean. If Ivy has somehow tapped into a killer, though, that might mean someone else is seeing through her eyes, too. Have you considered that?”

  Jack’s mouth went dry. “Um … no.”

  “I didn’t think so,” Brian said. “I think that’s a possibility. Why else would someone follow Ivy into the woods? Ivy isn’t alone, right?”

  “Max is with her.”

  “Keep it that way until we figure out what’s going on,” Brian said. “Right now, she’s going to give us a leg up on this investigation if we use her the correct way.”

  Jack didn’t like Brian’s choice of phrasing. “We’re not using my girlfriend.”

  “We might have to utilize her gift,” Brian countered. “You know we can’t rule that out. For now, we just need to get an update on Don and then see what the state boys find in that garage by way of evidence.”

  “Speaking of that, here comes Dr. Nesbitt.”

  Brian joined Jack at the edge of the lobby and waited for the tired looking physician to join them. Nesbitt didn’t look happy.

  “Is he dead?”

  “He’s alive, but he’s unconscious and has lost a lot of blood,” Nesbitt replied. “I considered sending him to the hospital in Traverse City, but they’re sending us supplies and a specialist instead. We don’t want to risk moving him.”

  “What’s his prognosis?”

  “I can’t say either way right now,” Nesbitt said. “He’s unconscious and that’s not going to change in the next twenty-four hours. We’re fixing up his wounds and getting blood into him.

  “He could live or he could die,” he continued. “I don’t have the answers you’re looking for.”

  “Well, keep us updated,” Brian said. “This is obviously tied to Jeff Johnson’s death. Moving from one victim to two means this entire community is going to be on edge.”

  “And just in time for Halloween, too,” Nesbitt said. “That will make things even worse.”

  “There’s no doubt about that. Keep us updated.”

  “You’ll be my first call if he wakes up,” Nesbitt said. “Trust me. I want this solved as much as you do. This clinic isn’t equipped for cases like this. I don’t want to lose a patient b
ecause we have a madman on the loose.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  Eighteen

  “You seem tense.”

  Felicity met Ivy and Max at the front door of the house. She read the stiff set of Max’s shoulders right away. When he called and requested she come to Ivy’s house to do a ritual cleansing, she was surprised. Max never showed any interest in her work and often pretended he didn’t understand her abilities and what she did for a living. He sounded so serious she didn’t hesitate to close down her shop for the afternoon and head over, though. One look at Ivy and Max told her she’d made the right decision.

  “It’s been a long day and it’s not even noon yet,” Max explained. “I need to run a few errands. Can you stay here with Ivy until Jack gets back?”

  “Of course, but I’m still not sure what’s going on,” Felicity replied.

  “Ivy will fill you in.” Max pulled Ivy in for a long hug before releasing her. “I’ll finish getting the greenhouse in order. You just worry about this.”

  “Thank you for everything, Max.” Ivy mustered a small smile. “You’re a great brother … even when you’re a butthead sometimes.”

  “I know,” Max said, ruffling her hair. “I’m going to get a T-shirt made up. The honeys love it when you’re a good brother.”

  Ivy playfully swatted his arm as she watched him head toward his truck in the driveway. She waited until he disappeared onto the road in front of her house before turning her full attention on her aunt. “You didn’t need to come. I think Max is being … overly dramatic.”

  “The fact that you’re saying that despite how pale you are tells me that’s not the case,” Felicity said, ushering Ivy inside. “Why don’t you fill me in for starters and we’ll go from there, huh?”

  Ivy mutely nodded.

  “I’ll make tea first,” Felicity suggested. “Everything is better with tea.”

  “That’s what Jack says about pie.”

  “Then maybe we’ll make a pie, too,” Felicity said. “Something tells me you have a lot going on. You can tell me while I do the heavy lifting on the pie. I always think better when my hands are busy.”

  “That sounds like a plan.”

  “SO, BASICALLY you’re telling me that you think you’ve managed to crawl into the head of a killer and see through his eyes.”

  Felicity was surprisingly calm when Ivy finished telling her story. Ivy was on her second glass of tea and Felicity was almost done filling the pie when the younger woman wrapped up the torrid tale.

  “I guess so,” Ivy said. “It sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud.”

  “I don’t think it’s ridiculous.”

  “Has it ever happened to you?”

  “No, but it did happen to my grandmother.” Felicity made the announcement in a calm manner, as if she was telling Ivy her great-grandmother made the best jam in five counties instead of the fact that she was psychic. “She hopped into quite a few heads, if you believe the stories, that is.”

  “I’ve never heard those stories,” Ivy said, knitting her eyebrows together. “All I ever heard about Great-Grandma is that she was mean and liked to boss around people. Mom says I remind her of Great-Grandma. I thought it was a compliment … until now.”

  Felicity snickered. “I think it is a compliment,” she said. “My grandmother was a wonderful woman. You’re a wonderful woman, too. This is simply a new … twist … in your story.”

  “Twist? It’s a lot worse than a twist.”

  “How so?”

  The question confused Ivy. “How can you ask that? I’m seeing through a killer’s eyes. Jack is going to lock me up in the nuthouse and run as far away as possible.”

  Felicity’s giggle was enough to set Ivy’s teeth on edge.

  “Jack is going to do nothing of the sort,” Felicity said. “He thinks you walk on water. This is just an addition to the magic you’ve already shown yourself to be in possession of.”

  Ivy was frustrated. “What magic?”

  “What magic?” Felicity made an exaggerated “well, duh” face. “Girl, you’ve been dream walking with your boyfriend for months. You saw a ghost. You’ve always been able to sense the emotions of others. Now you’re having psychic flashes. It’s hardly surprising.”

  “Maybe it’s not surprising to you, but it feels overwhelming to me,” Ivy argued. “I just want a normal life.”

  “Well, you’re not normal, so that’s an unreasonable wish,” Felicity said, adopting a pragmatic tone. “Why would you possibly want to be normal when you’re extraordinary?”

  “I don’t feel extraordinary.”

  “That’s because you’re mired in self-doubt and unsure how to proceed,” Felicity said. “The truth is, you’re intrigued by what’s happening. The worry you’re feeling has to do with Jack and your family. You think they’re going to turn their backs on you when they find out. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

  “Max couldn’t get away from me fast enough after what happened in the greenhouse,” Ivy said. “He’s afraid of me. He thinks I’m weird.”

  “He knows you’re weird and he doesn’t care because he’s weird, too,” Felicity corrected. “He loves you and he always will. He’s your best friend, in a way. Although Jack has kind of taken up that spot in your life, now that I think about it. Do Jack and Max get along?”

  The change in topics threw Ivy for a loop. “They get along fine. Max is annoying to everyone and Jack thinks it’s funny.”

  “That’s good,” Felicity said. “I was worried Max might be jealous of Jack taking up so much of your time.”

  “Max is just happy that Jack isn’t competing with him for women.”

  “That Max is a pip,” Felicity said, chuckling. “I can’t wait until he finds a woman to knock him on his ass. Your life got so much better when Jack did the same to you.”

  “I … really like … Jack,” Ivy said, her heart flipping. “He’s being so understanding now, but there’s no way he’ll be able to put up with this over the long haul. He’s going to crumble under the pressure. We both know it.”

  “I don’t know that. In fact, I think the opposite is true.”

  “I’m too weird,” Ivy said, her eyes filling with tears. “I’ll chase him away.”

  “Jack will never leave you,” Felicity said. “He’s too in love with you. You’ve made his life better and he knows it. You need to stop this. You’re not an insecure person.

  “Now, I understand that things changing so quickly has you in a tailspin,” she continued. “Once things settle down, you’ll realize you’re being ridiculous and accept Jack’s love. Until then, though, I’m here to offer you a little bit of help.”

  “And how are you going to do that?”

  “I’m going to cleanse this house and put up wards,” Felicity replied, not missing a beat. “That will allow you to keep getting in other people’s heads – especially the killer’s – but not let them follow you home.”

  “Can you really do that?”

  “I’m a witch, dear,” Felicity replied, winking. “I can do anything.”

  “Well, I’m up for trying anything,” Ivy said. “I’m scared.”

  “I know you are,” Felicity said, clucking sympathetically. “You’ll feel stronger in a few days. This is a lot to take in. I’m sure you’ll do it with aplomb, though.”

  “I think you’re giving me way too much credit.”

  “And I think you’re being a tad whiny, so we both have our crosses to bear,” Felicity said, her eyes twinkling. “Let’s put this pie in the oven and get started, shall we? I want to be done in a timely fashion so I can watch American Horror Story tonight.”

  “You watch American Horror Story?” Ivy was dumbfounded.

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, dear,” Felicity said. “Let’s make sure there’s a lot that no one else can inadvertently find out about you because of your leaky mind gaps, shall we? Protection in this instance is the most important thi
ng. You’ll see.”

  “HONEY, I’m home … and I brought you dinner.”

  Jack smiled as he walked into the house, stilling briefly when he saw Felicity standing next to the counter. He almost did a double take when he caught sight of the amiable woman, but managed to refrain.

  “Hello, Jack,” Felicity said, beaming at him. She’d been fond of him since the day they met – when she realized his chemistry with Ivy was off the charts and sensed a change in her only niece’s life trajectory – and she had no doubts about his fidelity and fortitude.

  “Hi, Felicity,” Jack said, lowering the bags of food he carried to the counter. “I didn’t know you would be here for dinner. I’m not sure I brought enough food, but I can run back to the diner and get more. What would you like?”

  “Oh, I’m not staying for dinner,” Felicity said, smiling. “I was here to help Ivy with a chore, but we’ve finished it.”

  “What chore?” Jack was understandably curious. “And where is Max?”

  “Max left several hours ago,” Ivy replied. “Before you get angry, he made Aunt Felicity promise to babysit me until you returned. He went back to the greenhouse to finish things up for me.”

  “Oh, well, I guess that’s okay,” Jack said, dropping a kiss on Ivy’s cheek. Her skin was cool – why he kept worrying about a return of her fever was beyond him – and she had some color to her face. “Tomorrow is the big day and I can’t wait to see the greenhouse.”

  “Yes, Ivy always goes all out,” Felicity said. “How was your day at work?”

  “Long.”

  Ivy lifted her blue eyes to Jack’s somber brown orbs. “Is Don dead?”

  “No, honey.”

  “Is he going to die?”

  Jack didn’t want to upset her, but he also vowed to tell her the truth. He had no intention of lying now. “Dr. Nesbitt doesn’t know,” he said. “He’s going to be unconscious at least for tonight. A specialist from Traverse City arrived about an hour after we got Don to the hospital. I simply don’t know.