We move to the final cave scene. In puzzlement, I stare at the scene before us. Clearly shown is an indentation in the soft mud by the water’s edge, where the witch kneeled. The pressure from her knees, legs, and handprint is clearly marked.
“Please tell me that’s from getting rid of the blood,” I snarl as bile rises in my mouth to greet me.
“Dirty bitch,” snarls Jasmine in distaste.
“Fucking hell, how perverse can she be?” Victor mutters in disgust. “Unless it’s from draining the bodies?” A note of hope laces his voice, and I hope he’s right.
“We’ve got a handprint,” adds Kheda with a triumphant smile. “I’ll get a forensics team to meet us, and hopefully she has left us DNA…” He quickly leaves the sitting room to make his phone call. We listen unashamedly to the one sided conversation.
“Hey, Jimmy, it’s Kheda. Can you meet me in half an hour at the cave where we found the bodies please? Only bring members of your team you completely trust.” A pause as Jimmy replies. “Can you bring a cast mold as well?” A pause. “Thanks, we’ll see you then and be safe.”
Gathering the pictures, I put them face down in a corner of the room. I notice the relief flashing across Kheda’s features, when he spots the pictures in the corner of the room.
“Shall we go if everyone’s ready?” he asks.
“I need to go to the toilet first.” I raise my hand as if I’m back in school asking permission.
“I’d better go too, or I’ll need to go when we get there,” Jasmine agrees.
“Right, if it’s okay with everyone we’ll go in one car, so we’ll be together,” Kheda informs us to which everyone readily agrees.
We hurry upstairs, and I hear Kheda go to the downstairs toilet. Five minutes later, we pile into Kheda’s car. Jasmine and I in the back, while Victor sits in the passenger seat, and Kheda drives.
He zips down my lane, over East Bridge, through the streets till we arrive at Hunters Park, where he stops the car and we all climb out. After Kheda locks up, we hurry toward the cave, duck under the yellow police tape, and carry on to the mouth of the cave, where four police CSI techs are waiting for us.
Kheda greets Jimmy. At only five feet five inches with a slight build, he is a small man with neat close-cropped blond hair, sharp features with lots of angles, and pale blue intelligent eyes. Anyone underestimating him would be a fool, I decide as Kheda introduces us to each other. His handshake is firm, with just enough pressure to show his restrained strength. The other three techs grunt their hellos.
Chapter 21
We enter the cave, passing where the bodies had been displayed. It’s creepy the way there’s no sign of the horror that recently happened here, until we reach the cave where the two vampires and the male werewolf had died. A trace of the male vampire’s ashes remains. We need to collect them before we leave. I can’t stand the thought of leaving any part of him behind, in this cave of death and misery. Finally, we reach the end cave with the stream. We guide the forensics team to the area where the witch had knelt, quickly and efficiently Jimmy makes casts of the imprints in the ground.
“What was the person doing here?” A puzzled frown crinkles his forehead as he stares at the area he’s casting. I notice his face pale, turn slightly green, and guess his brain is giving him an answer he couldn’t contemplate with his knowledge of what had happened.
He turns to us in obvious need of a logical, decent answer, but our grim faces tell him everything he doesn’t want to know.
“Can you test the ground in case there are any bodily fluids please?” I ask.
Blanching, Jimmy gives me a grim nod, instructs a technician to test the area, and another to collect the vampire’s ashes from the other cave. Once samples, ashes, and the dried cast are collected, he nods goodbye and leaves. We follow them, all of us delighted to leave, and head for the car and the hospital.
When we arrive, we go inside and down to the morgue. During this whole process, none of us has said a single word. After all what is there to say? Once the samples come back, our suspicions will be confirmed or put to rest.
“A word of warning, don’t give the doctor any reaction. He will try and get one, especially from you two,” Kheda informs us nodding toward Jasmine and me. “Whatever you do, don’t react. He has a sadistic streak toward women…”
“We won’t give him one, so let’s just get this over with, but thanks for the heads-up, Kheda,” I reply, silence descending once more as we contemplate what we know and are about to find out. The doors slide open, and we clamber out heading for the door with mortuary above it.
Entering we meet Dr. Sam McKenzie, a fifty-year-old, five-foot, gray-haired man almost half as round as he was tall. His bushy gray eyebrows seem to have a life of their own. They rise and fall with every word and expression. His rosy cheeks remind me of Santa’s, and his navy blue eyes sparkle in excitement. If anyone were to describe him, they would probably call him a jolly little man.
“All victims died from exsanguination. The sadistic person mauled and played with them!” he exclaims, while watching Jasmine and me for any sign of weakness.
If Kheda had not warned us this doctor liked seeing people squirm, it wouldn’t have taken us long to realize it. His disappointment in our lack of a reaction is obvious, as he tries making us squirm in discomfort by throwing off the sheets covering the female vampire and the male werewolf, fully exposing them, as he watches with bated breath for any reaction. Petulance flickers across his face as his hopes go unrealized.
“The werewolf had extensive bruising on his torso, buttocks, and thighs. The female vampire was impaled with a stake, and her breasts and thighs as you can see show bruising from being roughly handled. Her jaw was forced into this position by being dislocated and both her eyelids were removed. For obvious reasons the stake has been left in her. Apparently there was a male vampire who turned to ashes when removed. Is this true?” He looks highly peeved at our lack of reactions.
“Yes, he was attached to the same stake that was inserted in the female,” Kheda informs him.
“I would have like to have examined him,” mutters Dr. Sam in annoyance. “Anyway, moving along, next we have the female werewolf.” Again he throws off the sheet covering the body while he watches us.
“She was punched and kicked as well as sliced, and she was alive during the stitching of her mouth, and the removal of her intestines. There is also bruising on her arm from being positioned in a beckoning position. She would have been in immense pain as she died.” His satisfaction evident, he moves to the next two tables.
“The werewolf was killed in the usual fashion The Protectors use, no added bruising, or damage except for the bruising on the arm again. The witch shows the same arm bruising as the young male werewolf and female werewolf, but she also has bruising on her ribs where she’d been punched,” Dr. Sam finishes.
“Anything else?” Kheda asks.
“Why, isn’t it enough?” demands Dr. Sam.
“It’s plenty, thank you, doctor,” Kheda replies, gesturing for us to precede him from the morgue.
“Oh, one more thing, before you leave, detective. Whoever bruised the male werewolf and female vampire from the cave, didn’t bruise the other three,” Dr. Sam adds with immense satisfaction, as finally, he receives a reaction from us even if it is just thoughtful puzzlement.
In silence we leave, retracing our steps into the elevator, and up to the main entrance. Exiting the hospital, we go back to the car and climb in.
“Wow, you were not kidding, were you?”
“No, sadly I wasn’t,” Kheda replies with a shake of his head. “So where shall we go next?”
“I could do with a coffee, and maybe a light snack,” I answer. “I think we should visit places the killer would probably work. Any place where witches, werewolves, vampires, and other supernaturals gather and associate with each other. Victor and Kheda, both of you should write a list of places that meet the criteria. We can visit them,
and hopefully identify the witch we’re after.”
“Okay, we should go straight to Cynthia’s Café, down on Carling Street. This way we’re killing two birds with one stone. They do great coffee, and it’s a safe haven for all species,” Victor replies, rubbing his chin. Kheda grunts his agreement and starts the car and drives out of the hospital, onto Sterling Road, left onto Carter Street, and the first right onto Carling Street where he pulls into the first available parking spot at Cynthia’s Café.
****
Exiting the car, we go straight into the café. My taste buds spring to life, and my mouth waters in anticipation of the promise in the heavenly smell of the freshly brewed coffee greeting us. I’m surprised how busy it is. Almost every table’s full, and there’s a large queue waiting to order. Everyone’s talking loudly as if competing in a “who can talk the loudest competition.”
Victor asks Jasmine and me to grab a table, while he and Kheda order. Jasmine requests a latte and I request a much needed mocha. We snag a table in the farthest corner, so we can watch everyone. I’m surprised at the number of witches, vampires, werewolves, and the odd zombie happily mixing with each other, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. Wonderful to see, but, why aren’t there more killings?
As I puzzle over this question, I spot a young couple, a female werewolf, and a male vampire discreetly holding hands under a table. They’re sitting a few tables away. That’s when I finally make the connection; it’s only couples from different species that are killed. That’s why places like this are safe for interspecies interaction. As long as you’re not in a relationship, like my parents were. Like the two teens obviously are. Just like Victor and me.
Catching Jasmine’s eye, I point them out as unobtrusively as possible. Jasmine raises an eyebrow at me as if to say “you can bloody well talk,” to which I roll my eyes at her and huff out a breath of impatience. In a room full of supernaturals even a whisper can be heard. Silently I watch the couple out of the corner of my eye, while scanning to see if anyone else is.
Spotting a counter assistant watching us, I recognize her as the woman from my grandmother’s shop. I wonder how she is. Maybe I’ll phone her later. My grandmother, not the woman behind the counter.
A young werewolf walking in heads straight toward the young couple, and hisses, “Cut it out,” to them. He’s trying to be quiet, but in a room full of supernaturals everyone hears and turns to look. Jasmine’s eyes widen, as she finally realizes why I’d tried to get her attention about them earlier. They practically wore “next victim” tattoos on their foreheads.
The werewolf joining them wasn’t helping matters either, until finally he figures out he has everyone’s attention. Maybe it’s the sudden silence that clues him in, or the fact everyone, and I do mean everyone, is watching! He glares at everyone in annoyance before storming out. An uneasy silence descends upon the customers and staff.
In mortification, the young couple collect their things and knock over their table and chairs in their haste to leave, causing further commotion as the cups and plates smash onto the floor.
With a stammered apology, they rush out of the café as if their lives depend on getting as far away as possible. Sadly, if the killer is amongst us, distance probably won’t matter. Everyone starts talking at once, the sudden volume deafening.
Victor and Kheda weave their way toward us, carrying our much needed coffee and some scones with jam and cream. One of the women behind the counter tidies up the broken crockery and rights the table and chairs. We eat and drink in complete silence, as we covertly watch to see if anyone follows the young couple.
****
As the arms of the clock above the counter land on half past twelve, the afternoon staff enter and the morning leave. I notice Kheda and Victor eyeing each other and Jasmine’s sudden stillness. We’re all wondering the same thing. Is one of the departing staff members the killer? Scrambling out of the café, we pile into the deserted street. In frustration, we go to the Clothes Express shop just in case the teenagers have gone there.
“I can’t believe how stupid the boy was, calling attention to the couple like that!” I fume.
“They should be able to go out together without fear,” Kheda growls at me.
“I know, Kheda, so don’t get testy with me,” I snarl back.
“Enough already, don’t be taking your frustrations out on each other. It’s not helping, and we all want them to be safe, and for them and anyone else to be able to freely date without fear of death,” Jasmine sooths.
Sighing, I mutter an apology toward Kheda, and he mutters something back at me, I think an apology, but to be honest I’m beyond caring. All I want is to spirit the three kids somewhere safe where no one will hurt them.
We search the clothes shop and then head toward the college. There’s no sign of them, but we find out they attend there which is a bonus. Kheda leaves word for them to stick together, and contact him the moment they get in. We retrieve Kheda’s car and go home.
“Does anyone have a map of the town?” I yell making everyone jump at my sudden and unexpected volume, as I jump out of the car.
“I might have a map in the car,” Kheda replies.
“Get it please, and meet me in the sitting room,” I demand as I rush toward the front door, unlock it, and run upstairs taking them two at a time. I grab a white candle, lighter, and my pendant before scurrying from my room and hurrying downstairs.
****
Kheda triumphantly unfolds an old map of Paradise Falls on the floor. I give him a big smile as I sit in front of the map. Centering myself, I light the candle. Dangling my pendant loosely from my fingers, I ask a simple “yes” question.
“Is my name Candi?” The pendant swings madly around clockwise. “Stop.” It comes to a shuddering halt. “Am I male?” To which everyone snickers, and the pendant swings madly counterclockwise. So now I have my yes-no directions. Thinking of the images of the three teenagers, I ask, “Are the three teenagers still together?” The pendant jumps to life and swings counterclockwise, then clockwise.
“What the hell does it mean?” Kheda demands in befuddlement.
“Are the female werewolf and male vampire still together?” The pendant swings clockwise. “Okay, so the young lovers are still together. Is the male werewolf near the young couple?” The pendant quivers on the spot and slowly starts swinging counterclockwise. “Are they all walking?” Clockwise. “Are they near the college?” Madly swinging clockwise. “Has any of them entered the college?” The pendant carries on swinging clockwise, and Kheda’s phone rings, frightening all of us.
Answering the phone and covering the mouth piece, Kheda informs us it’s the young werewolf. Jasmine and Kheda leave to go and get him. Victor tells them he’ll phone when we find the couple as they hurry to Kheda’s car and drive off.
“Are the young couple near the campus?” Clockwise. “Are they going into the campus?” Counterclockwise.
“Fuck, it means no, doesn’t it?” demands Victor in frustration, as he starts pacing.
“Are they going to the diner?” Counterclockwise. “What else is around there?” The pendant shudders to a stop. “Victor, what else is around the college?”
“Umm, there’s an all-night pharmacy, a pack bar, but they would be stupid to go there, a garage, and student houses...”
“Are they at the student houses?” The pendant springs to life and swirls madly clockwise. As it swirls over the map, it closes in over the student houses and stops. I quickly send up a thank you to the universe, blow out the candle, fish out my phone, and gather the map.
Speed dialing Kheda, I mutter, “Come on, come on,” as Victor rushes me out of the sitting room, and the house. He locks the door and hurries us both to my car. Removing my keys from my pocket, I toss them to him. Finally Jasmine answers Kheda’s phone, and I inform her where the couple is and that we’re on our way.
“Meet us there once you have the boy,” I add hanging up. Victor speeds down
my drive and through town to the student houses. Screeching to a stop, we jump out causing more attention than I like. Some students turn to glare at us, and I accost one of them. “Have you seen a young couple enter any of these houses?”
“What of it?” The grungy-looking teen werewolf shrugs, as suspicion and intelligence shines in his blue eyes.
“Please, we’re here to help them,” I quietly beseech, pointing to Victor who’s knocking on doors.
The teenager’s eyes widen when he realizes Victor’s a vampire, and with me. The tension seeps from his scrawny body. “Yeah, they went into the third house, the one with the green door. They’ve been in there only about five minutes.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize you were trying to help; the last time a witch was here looking for people we never saw the boy again,” explains the young man.
“Thank you. Can you describe the witch to me please?” I beg, delighted we have such a lead.
Thinking hard, the teenager shakes his head in denial. “She was female. Nothing stood out to remember her, I’m sorry.”
“Who was the teenager she took?”
“Jeremy McKnight. He was a friend of mine and a werewolf.”
“Is he dating anyone of a different species, and if so, what’s her name, please?”
“Her name’s Tina Jameson, and she’s a witch. She was around earlier. I saw her in class. When she’s not in class, she just wanders around, trying to find Jeremy. No one knows what happened to him. He just disappeared.”
“Did the witch take him, or how did he disappear?”
“Nah. She came around looking for Jeremy and Tina, said they’d left something in the coffee shop she works in, and she wanted to return it. So Jeremy, who was leaving on a camping trip, decided to swing by and get it before going. It was the last time anyone saw him. He never made it to the camping site.”
“Any chance you have a picture of Tina?” I ask hopefully.
“Yeah, I have one of Jeremy, Tina, and me on my phone. If you give me your number, I’ll send it to you, if you like?”
Double Magick in the Falls Page 17