The Returned

by Bishop O'Connell

  “Not really,” Caitlin said and filled everyone in on their conversation.

  “Do you think she knows something but isn’t telling?” Wraith asked.

  “They do keep their secrets here,” Henry said.

  Edward shrugged. “I get the feeling she’s as interested in stopping this as we are. We weren’t asking for secrets of the trade—we were asking for tips of who could do it. From what she said, no one in the larger community could pull this off.”

  “But you said they were being influenced by something else,” Henry said.

  “And they’d show signs of that,” Edward said. “Small stuff at first: short temper, prone to violence, things like that. In time, the change would be so severe you couldn’t help but notice.”

  “Unless they were short-tempered and prone to violence beforehand,” Wraith said.

  “I don’t think someone like that would be welcome,” Edward said. “And if they were, Mama Toups would probably have told us about them right away, if she and the others hadn’t already confronted the person.”

  “So no obvious suspects,” Henry said.

  “Not really,” Caitlin said, then turned to Wraith. “We did meet your friend though, and her family.”

  “What?” Wraith asked and wanted to kick herself. She never should’ve gone out of contact like that. “She was supposed to call me if anything happened.”

  “Nothing really did,” Caitlin said. “We just went to the original crime scene.”

  “That’s a rough neighborhood,” Henry said.

  “Turns out,” Edward said, “sticking out worked to our advantage.”

  “What happened?” Wraith asked.

  “One and some of his lackeys showed up,” Caitlin said. “But before he could pull anything, Joker and her brother showed up with some friends.”

  “Her brother?” Wraith asked.

  “Joker?” Henry asked.

  “Rugarou street kid I met,” Wraith asked.

  “You make friends quick.”

  Wraith smiled and batted her eyes. “I’m very charming.”

  “The point is,” Edward said, “it was a dead end. I thought maybe I could find some traces of magic or something there, but the First House had cleansed the place and warded it.”

  “Joe—Joker’s brother—was going to ask around about any of the gangs involved,” Caitlin said. “See if anyone can use magic.”

  “This is all still a lot to take in,” Henry said.

  “Did either of you get anything?” Edward asked Henry and Wraith.

  “Ladies first,” Henry said.

  Wraith told them about meeting Ellie and her trip to the base. “I think I’ve got a way in,” she said. “I don’t know if the charm will work, but it should.”

  “You’re saying there’s a ward around the whole base?” Edward asked.

  Wraith nodded. “A good one too, but like I said, I think I’ve got it cracked.”

  “No way are you breaking into a military base,” Caitlin said. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “I don’t care,” Wraith said. “I have to find out who they are and why they’re doing what they’re doing.”

  “Caitlin is right,” Edward said. “It’s too risky. If you get caught—”

  “I’ll break out again,” Wraith said.

  “Again?” Henry asked.

  Wraith nodded and took another drink. “When I was working on the charm, I had a memory come back to me. They had me and tried to do to me what they did to Ellie.”

  No one said anything.

  “I appreciate your concern,” Wraith said and stirred the ice in her glass. “I know it’s risky, but it’s something I have to do. We have no idea how many people they’ve done that to, or why.” She nodded at Edward. “Who’s to say they won’t grab you one day after work? Or haven’t already and you just don’t remember?”

  Edward and Caitlin shared a look, and Wraith knew they were thinking about Fiona.

  “Don’t get me wrong,” Wraith said. “If they did ever grab you, I’d find you and get you out, but—”

  “We can’t talk you out of it, can we?” Caitlin asked.

  Wraith shook her head.

  “Will you at least promise us you’ll be very careful?” Caitlin said.

  “I promise,” Wraith said and smiled.

  “Well,” Henry said, “I did find something.”

  Everyone looked at him.

  “Have a thing for dramatic reveals?” Wraith asked.

  “I looked through the old files,” Henry said, ignoring Wraith. “Taking into account all I’ve learned today.” He shook his head. “Turns out all three gangs have been on the receiving end of a vengeful attack by a recently departed. The first, second, and last victims were the Midnight Boys, the third and fifth were the Royal Skeleton Brigade, the fourth and sixth were the Scarlet Enigmas.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense,” Wraith said. “Why would a gang target themselves?”

  “They wouldn’t,” Edward said.

  “Could they have made a mistake?” Caitlin asked. “Intended the spell for one person but messed up or missed and hit their own?”

  “That’s some seriously messed-up friendly fire,” Wraith said.

  “Indeed,” Henry said.

  Edward shook his head. “That doesn’t feel right either. This isn’t just bringing someone back. This is bringing them back then sending them to slaughter their former friends.”

  “More like their family,” Wraith said.

  “Exactly my point,” Edward said. “Assuming anything of the person remained, you’d have to overcome their loyalty to the victims.”

  “The attacks are a statement,” Caitlin said. “Sending one of their own after them, it says you can’t trust anyone.”

  “The old stories make zombies out to be mindless servants,” Henry said. “I don’t know how much of the person who was is still there when they return.”

  “Are there any stories of people fighting against it?” Wraith asked.

  Henry nodded. “Sure. Even some where the zombie kills the sorcerer that bound them to get free.”

  “So maybe not so mindless?” Caitlin asked.

  Henry shrugged. “There aren’t many with that outcome. There’s a reason that zombies are creatures of horror. But even so, they’re just stories and legends. There’s no telling how much truth there is to it.”

  Wraith laughed.

  “Did I say something funny?” Henry asked.

  “It’s just that in my experience, stories and legend tend to be born from actual events,” Wraith said. “They might get exaggerated over time, or the truth might be obscured because people couldn’t explain it, but it still happened.”

  “I’m still kind of new to this,” Henry said.

  Wraith saw Caitlin and Edward share a look. It didn’t even occur to her that they were probably in a very similar situation when Fiona had been taken.

  “So we’re back where we started,” Henry said.

  “No,” Edward said. “Based on what you said, I think we can rule the gangs out of the suspect pool.”

  “So what next?” Henry asked.

  “For you?” Wraith said. “My vote is nothing.”

  “Excuse me?” Henry said.

  “No offense,” Wraith said. “It’s just you’re kind of in over your head. It seems like you’ve done all you can. There’s no need to keep yourself on the number men’s radar if you don’t need to be.”

  “I’m with Wraith,” Caitlin said.

  “Me too,” Edward agreed.

  “So I’m just supposed to walk away?” Henry asked. “After everything I’ve seen, everything I’ve learned, you expect me to go back to my life as if nothing happened?”

  “Hell no,” Wraith said. “Who could do that?”

  “But your involvement with this is over,” Edward said. “I can’t in good conscience let you put yourself at risk anymore, or Hannah. You’ve helped all you can.”

  “Time to
hand off to a specialist,” Henry said. “That’s what you’re saying.”

  Edward nodded.

  “I don’t like it,” Henry said.

  “You don’t have to,” Wraith said. “It sucks, but there’s nothing more you can do to help. Honestly, Doc, you’d kind of be in the way at this point.”

  “I would’ve worded it a little more delicately,” Edward said, “but she’s not wrong.”

  “And if something comes up and you need my help later?” Henry asked.

  “You’ll be called back into active duty,” Wraith said.

  “So I’m in the reserves, then?” Henry asked.

  “Pretty much,” Wraith said and smiled, but the analogy made her stomach twist a little, and she found herself thinking about the base.

  “I think we need to step away from this for a little while,” Edward said, then looked at Wraith. “All of us.”

  Wraith stuck her tongue out.

  “Are you two related?” Edward asked Caitlin and Wraith.

  Wraith glanced at Caitlin’s curly red hair then at Edward. “Yeah, because we look so much alike.”

  “I think Edward is right,” Caitlin said and gave Wraith a reproachful look. “Let’s take the rest of the day off and come at this with a clear head tomorrow.”

  Henry glanced at his watch. “I suppose there’s still some time for you two to salvage part of the day and enjoy your honeymoon.”

  “You mean there’s more to New Orleans than crime scenes and the coroner’s office?” Caitlin asked.

  “We do have some other sites,” Henry said. “I can recommend some places for good music.”

  “He made reservations for dinner,” Caitlin said.

  “In that case,” Henry said, “I will end my protests at being dealt out if you two promise to enjoy some time together.”

  “Deal,” Edward said.

  Caitlin nodded.

  “I’m going to go and thank Joker,” Wraith said and turned to Henry. “Any suggestion of good places for food to bring them?”

  “Johnny’s po-boys,” Henry said. “I’m partial to fried shrimp myself, but the roast beef is good too. Just make sure you get it dressed.”

  “Yeah, naked sandwiches suck,” Wraith said and got up. “I’m off to deliver some food and take a nap before conducting some espionage.”

  “Do you have to word it like that?” Caitlin said.

  “Oh, is siesta better?” Wraith asked.

  “No one likes a smart-ass,” Caitlin said.

  “Have a nice dinner,” Wraith said, then turned to Henry. “See you later, Doc.”

  Everyone made their good-byes and departed. After taking Henry’s advice, Wraith took her po-boys and, using the tracker app on her phone, found Joker playing with Benji, Bones, and Matchbook on a corner. When they ended their song, she stepped up and opened her mouth to say hi.

  “Hey, darling!” Joker said and threw her arms around her. “Everything good? You get your stuff handled?”

  “Yeah,” Wraith said. “And thanks for stepping in with my friends.”

  “Ain’t no thing,” Joker said through a broad smile. “It was kind of cool to send the number men running scared for a change.”

  “You stalking me, chere?” Benji asked as he stepped up.

  “Please,” Joker said. “She’s here for me.”

  “Well,” Bones said, “us two chopped livers will just hang back away from the cool kids.”

  “Actually, I was hoping I’d find you all,” Wraith said and held up the bag. “I brought you something to eat. I was told Johnny’s was a good place for—”

  The sandwiches were snatched out of her hand in quick order.

  “Um,” Wraith said, “I guess so. I got three shrimp and two roast beef.”

  “I call a shrimp,” Bones said.

  “Same,” Matchbook said.

  “I guess we carnivores will take the beef,” Benji said, taking one sandwich and handing another to Joker.

  “There’s an extra,” Bones said.

  Joker smacked his head, then handed the sandwich to Wraith. “Dummy, she got one for herself.”

  “Sorry, my bad.”

  Wraith waved it away and joined them to eat on the sidewalk. They talked, drank (water), and just enjoyed the sublime pleasure of good food with friends. When Joker asked how Wraith had found her so quickly, Wraith diverted the question by asking Benji if he had a cell and, if so, could she have the number. After some hoots from Matchbook—who got another smack from Joker—Benji gave Wraith his number and a wink.

  Wraith spent another hour or so hanging out with her new friends before begging off. She found an alcove, stepped through the universal junction point back to her safe house, then fell onto the couch. Before drifting off, she checked on Edward and Caitlin via her tracking app and set a warning to alert her if they went outside the Quarter, just in case.

  That done, she closed her eyes and tried to get a little sleep before her big night.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “We need to leave soon if we’re going to make it to the restaurant on time,” Edward said.

  Caitlin could hear him pacing the hotel room. His near obsession with being punctual and tidy was at times amusing. This wasn’t one of those times. “Don’t you dare push me into a stereotype,” she said as she put on her mascara.

  “I’m not really pushing you,” Edward said. “As much as observing—”

  “You know this hotel room has a couch, right?”

  “Have you seen the view from this window?” Edward said.

  Caitlin laughed and gave herself one last look in the mirror. Today was a really good hair day, which always made her smile. She adjusted the dress and smiled a little more; the dark green lacey dress looked really good.

  “Okay, I’m ready,” she said as she stepped out of the bathroom.

  Edward checked his watch as he turned. “We’ve got time to walk if you—”

  Caitlin felt her cheeks flush at his openmouthed stare.

  “You look incredible,” he said after a long while.

  She walked over, adjusted his tie, and gave him a kiss. “You look pretty good yourself. I’ve always liked how you look in a suit.”

  Edward offered his arm. “Shall we away?”

  Caitlin took it, and they made their way to the elevator.

  “Reservation for Huntington,” Edward said.

  The maître d led them to a quiet booth at the back of the dimly lit restaurant, passing a waiter singing some opera song Caitlin didn’t know. Edward slid in next to her, and they took their menus.

  “Would you like some wine to start?” the maître d asked.

  “Bottle of Riesling?” Caitlin asked Edward.

  “Sounds great.”

  “Very good,” the tuxedoed man said and departed.

  “What do you think?” Edward asked.

  “You did good,” Caitlin said and opened the menu. Everything on the menu sounded delicious, and Italian was her favorite.

  Soon the wine came, and they toasted before drinking. It was wonderful, nicely sweet but not overly so. She took another drink, then looked around the room, admiring the brick walls and the singing waiters. Without thinking about it, she pressed closer to Edward and reached over to take his hand.

  “This is perfect, thank you,” she said.

  “I hope it’s enough to forget about the events of the day,” he said. “At least for a little while.” He shook his head. “I really am sorry. I had this planned as a nice getaway for us. Just the two of us, you know? Enjoy some good times, romantic meals and walks, but—”

  Caitlin took his hand. “This is more like us anyways.”

  They shared a comfortable silence for a while, just drinking in the wine and ambiance. They ordered and enjoyed their food over easy conversation. For the next couple of hours, they smiled, laughed, and briefly forgot about all the darkness of the day. In all, it was as perfect an evening as Caitlin could’ve hoped for, finished with a delicious
tiramisu. When dinner was done, they walked the Quarter, passing over Bourbon Street for the quieter Royal, which wasn’t quiet but wasn’t packed with drunken revelers. They came across a group of musicians near Saint Louis Cathedral, and Caitlin recognized the mandolin player as Joker. Edward did too, and they left a twenty for each band member in the hat before finding a quiet spot for Caitlin to call and talk to Fiona before she went to bed.

  “Hi, Mommy!” Fiona said. “I miss you and Daddy.”

  Caitlin felt her heart twinge. Edward, sensing it, came over and put his arm around her.

  “We miss you too, peanut,” Caitlin said. “How was the aquarium?”

  “We saw turtles, and I asked how old they were, but they didn’t answer me.”

  “Did you see Nemo?” Caitlin asked.

  “No,” Fiona said. “I looked, but we couldn’t find him. We saw penguins though, and a sea lion, and a big snake!”

  “Wow, that sounds like a really good time.”

  “It was. The seals kept barking at Nana though.” Fiona laughed. “She started barking back. She was being really silly. Oh, and Taid bought me a penguin, but she’s just a stuffed one.”

  “You got a friend for Paddy? What’s his name?”

  “It’s a she, Mommy,” Fiona said in an exasperated tone. “Her name in Penny.”

  Caitlin pressed herself closer to Edward and wiped her eyes. “Daddy wants to say hello.”

  She passed the phone to Edward and fought back the urge to drive to the airport and fly home then and there. It wasn’t easy being away from Fiona. Sure, it was nothing like the night Fiona had been trapped in Tír na nÓg, but it was still hard. Her brain drifted back to the crime scene today, and she wondered about the innocent victims and their families; she couldn’t imagine their pain. Just the thought of losing Fiona or Edward made her sick, and losing them like that? Well, she’d probably find a way to raise some of the bastards from the dead herself to—

  “Oh my God,” she whispered. “That’s it.”

  Edward gave her a questioning look.

  She shook her head.

  When he’d finished talking to Fiona, Caitlin took the phone back and talked with Fiona some more. Every time the conversation started to end, she found another question to ask to keep it going. She didn’t want to hang up.