“Oh, I find nothing about this amusing,” Caley grumbled. “I’m trying to stay calm.” Her eyes bulged out of her head, so she wasn’t doing a very good job of it. “But you get a note telling you your life is in danger and to get out, and you slept here last night?”
Even now it sounded as insane as it had last night. Gretchen had voiced the very same concerns, but only one truth mattered. “As much as I want to leave—and trust me, I do—I can’t.”
“Because of Kipp?” Caley asked.
I nodded, giving her no wiggle room to argue. “Wayde has the answer to save Kipp—for that reason alone, I’m staying put. Besides, while it seems that someone is trying to protect me, how can we believe it’s actually that?”
“Meaning?” Zach asked.
Gretchen sighed. “What if the killer is sending us the note because they want us to leave?”
Zach agreed with a nod. “It could be a way to push you out easily. Hoping it’d spook you enough to return to Memphis.”
I snorted. “Well, they’re wrong. I’m not leaving until I get that damn book to fix Kipp. Anyhow, it’s sad what’s happened to Alexander and for me to leave him like this when I’m the only one who can see him seems harsh.”
Caley rolled her eyes. “Now you’re having guilt over another ghost?”
“What am I to do, Caley?” I implored. “I can’t want one ghost to be okay and not want it for the others. What kind of selfish bitch would that make me?”
She hesitated. “But what if all this gets you killed? Have you even thought of that? How dangerous it all is.”
“How can I not think of that?” I blasted back, fluffing the pillow at my back to lean against it. “As it stands right now, there’s no motive for Alexander’s death.” I gave her a long look. “None at all. Sure, maybe once we close in on a suspect it would get more dangerous, but honestly, at this point I’m thinking the case won’t get solved.”
“She’s right,” Gretchen agreed. “Even if we help Alexander become stronger, I doubt he’ll be able to tell us anything about his death. From what Tess has learned from him, he doesn’t know who did this to him.”
“Which means,” I continued. “We’ll be running in circles trying to look for a suspect who right now is totally out of reach.”
Zach considered me a moment. “How do you want to handle this, then?”
With little options, only one plan stood out. “I think it’s best to continue on like we have. Find a way to get Alexander to be a friggin’ normal ghost and see if anything comes of that.” I paused, staring into Zach’s warm eyes. “But more than anything, I think we need to save Kipp on our own.” I looked at Gretchen, hating to insult her and hoping it came out gently. “As much as you trust these people, I don’t. Whatever the note means and whom it’s from, it’s warning enough we need to act.”
“So, find the Lux?” she asked.
I gave a firm nod. “I’ll do what I can to help Alexander. Really, I will. But my priority at the moment is to get that book. If I could solve his death, I would, but what if I can’t? Then where will I be?”
Her expression darkened, and I continued, “Exactly. In the same place I am now, only I’m missing Kipp more than ever. I think our best plan is to strengthen Alexander so he can talk to us. See if he knows where the book is. I mean, he was the leader of this group, he has to know, right?”
“I’d imagine he would,” Gretchen said, but behind that acknowledgment, I sensed her sadness that she, and I, suspected Alexander’s murder was unsolvable.
I quickly took her hands, loathing I didn’t have a quick fix to all this. “We never know, in the Lux, there might be a spell to force Alexander to cross over. Maybe we can help him that way, or something.”
She squeezed my hands in return, smiling softly. “You’re right—the Lux might be our answer.” The sadness cleared from her eyes. “I, too, suspect whoever is behind this won’t be easily found. My only concern is not leaving Alexander in the condition he’s in right now.”
“So…” Zach interjected, looking at Gretchen. “How do you strengthen this ghost?”
Frustration etched into her features. “I have a few spells that could work, but it’s nothing I’ve ever done before. I think we need to run them by Alexander. Out of anyone, he’ll know which one will work for him.”
Zach nodded, then to me he asked, “Do you plan on talking to him today?”
“As soon as he shows up.” I gestured toward Gretchen. “She suspects it’s more of a wait-for-him type of thing, because of his…um…condition.”
Zach shook his head in disbelief and proved that, even though he believed me, the ghost stuff still shocked him. “Let me handle the investigation on my end for Alexander’s death. Max dug a little here in Louisiana and as far as the police are concerned, the case has run cold.” He said to Gretchen, “Give me the names of everyone here, plus anyone who you know was close to Alexander, and we’ll get Max to check ‘em out.”
I curled my lip. “Max will check them out?”
Zach pushed off the bed, reaching into his pocket, and took out his cell phone. “He’s here, as is Eddie.”
My eyes widened. “Here in the house?”
He shook his head. “I thought too many of us would only raise suspicions, so they’re staying at a hotel.”
I swallowed past the emotion tightening my throat. “You all came here—to help me?”
“Of course we did.” He cupped my shoulder. “Not only do we want to keep you safe, but Kipp is our family. We want him back as much as you do. If we help you now it will hurry this along, get the answers you need and this can finally end.”
I shut my eyes, willing myself not to burst into tears. At this rate, a serious mental breakdown loomed from my raw emotions. But as I’d done so many times, I shoved my needs away and opened my eyes to Zach. “How is Kipp doing? You know, at home.”
“Brandon hasn’t left his side at the hospital.” Zach’s voice roughened. “I think he’s waiting for Kipp to wake up.”
Meaning, Zach kept Kipp’s brother informed about our happenings. It surprised me that Brandon believed me enough he waited. Funny how not long ago, I went through hell getting these men to accept my abilities. Now, it shifted to everyone trusting that I could actually save Kipp.
My throat closed in, chest tightened, and I had to force my voice out. “It’s good he’s waiting there.”
Zach smiled softly with a quick nod before sadness swept through his eyes, crinkling the corners. “How was Kipp when you saw him?”
Sometimes I forgot I wasn’t the only one missing Kipp. Now, I couldn’t see anything else but Zach’s pain. They were partners, best friends, and had been roommates; Zach’s misery was bare in his expression. “He’s okay.”
“But you still don’t know why he’s staying there?” Caley asked.
I shook my head, fighting back the tears welling in my eyes. “To keep us safe, whatever that means.”
Zach dialed numbers on his cell phone. “Are you going to try and contact him again?”
“She shouldn’t,” Gretchen interjected.
His fingers paused over his phone and when he glanced up at Gretchen, she continued, “I allowed her to go there once because I thought it would help. But using magic always has a consequence.” She pursed her lips, then to me said, “Just as you’ve learned with the binding spell. Until we know what the consequence is about traveling into the Netherworld, I don’t think it’s wise to go there again.”
I hated the thought of not seeing Kipp again, but… “She’s got a point. Playing around with mystical things without any knowledge of the recourse doesn’t seem like the best choice.” As I said it, though, a thought rose. “But Nettie appeared to travel there and come back.”
Gretchen gave me a pointed look. “How do you know that? We’ve only read one passage in her diary. Do you really want to trust Wayde’s word on what exactly happened to her?”
Good point.
“Which me
ans,” Zach interjected. “You need to get Nettie’s diary to find out if she suffered anything from going there.”
I nodded. “You know, even when Wayde showed me the diary, there was something he wanted to hide. What if that’s what he’s hiding; that going there might be dangerous.”
“All these maybe’s and what if’s…and no answers,” Caley mumbled.
I snorted. “Welcome to my world.”
Chapter Fifteen
The day had come and gone, and nothing eventful happened. I’d done the binding spell with Wayde, and he sealed his promise that he did, in fact, know of a way that could put Kipp back in his body. And I had to promise I’d do whatever I could to help with Alexander until I couldn’t possibly help any longer.
Caley and Zach stayed for a while, mainly to visit over breakfast. After that, they returned to the hotel with Max and Eddie to investigate all the names of members close to Alexander that Gretchen knew of, including those staying at the house.
Lunchtime had been the highlight of my day. Amelia had done herself proud with her homemade beef soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Then after I took an incredibly long shower later that day, she’d prepared a pot roast and potatoes for dinner. My stomach hadn’t been so happy in a very long time.
I’d gone out to the swamp every half hour to see if Alexander arrived—and even spent a good two hours sitting out there waiting—but he never showed up. And that had nothing to do with the daytime. Spirits were as active during the daylight hours as they were at night and I preferred seeing them in the afternoon sun. It made things much less spooky.
Gretchen had figured, as did I, Alexander needed time to recoup, and we both figured by nightfall he’d arrive again. Which was why I now stood at the edge of the stinky swamp again, waiting for that damn orb to show itself.
The night was warm and a breeze fluttered through the air, rustling my hair. I tucked it behind my ears, keeping the horribly crunchy strands away from my face. My headache had lessened some, but still created a slight ache in my temple and I rubbed at the mild throb. “Is he ever going to show up?”
“I don’t know.” Gretchen settled on the ground, sitting cross-legged and using her flashlight to scan the swamp. The beam spread over the tall plants and lit up the dark, murky water.
I joined her and the grass was slightly damp, but it beat standing around. My exhausted body still hadn’t recuperated completely. Perhaps after dealing with the Hannah Reid case, the demon, going into the Netherworld, and now this, my body had enough. But my heart and head ran the show now. “Do you think Zach and the others will discover anything incriminating about anyone?”
Angling my flashlight toward Gretchen, I saw her shrug. “Possibly, but even with that information, I’m not sure how it will help us. Knowing someone is a criminal isn’t proof they murdered Alexander.”
“True.” I sighed, turning my light toward a croaking bullfrog sitting atop a lily pad, which paid no attention to me. “But, at least it’ll give us an idea who to focus on. I can’t imagine anyone going from no criminal record to murder.”
She snorted softly. “Anyone has the capability to murder if put in the situation where they have no choice.”
Wasn’t that true enough? I never thought I’d kill someone, and still didn’t know how I felt that I took Brody’s life during the Hannah Reid case, except to know that if I hadn’t, I would’ve been dead myself. That’s where I left it.
Do or die.
I nearly confirmed her right, but goose bumps swept over my skin, then I spotted something at the edge of the swamp taking my already unstable mood and sending it spiraling downward. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away,” I spat at the two ghosts.
“Oh, they’re back again,” Gretchen mused.
I didn’t find anything about this laughable. I’d been doing nothing all damn day and now they had come to pester me. I swore it was built into their ghostly bodies to annoy Tess at all inappropriate times until she agreed to help.
The older gentleman, who now I suspected was part of the Glasgow family, approached Gretchen and me, with the younger ghost in tow. His dark eyes were full of suspicion, crinkling and creating more wrinkles at the corners. “We have noticed that Victoria is missing.”
His crankiness made no sense. “Err...that would be because she asked me to save her and I did.”
He skipped a stepped, coming to a direct halt, a frown marring his aged face. “She’s crossed over?”
Why was he looking at me as if I’d done something wrong? And lowering his tone as if chastising me? “Ah, yeah, it was really kinda sweet—”
He closed the distance between us and folded his arms. “Don’t even think about doing that to me. I don’t want to leave. Got it?”
I gawked at him for a few seconds, unable to do anything else before I said, “Do you honestly think I have a problem with the idea of not helping you when I’ve done nothing but asked you to stay away from me?”
His eyes narrowed “I’m making myself perfectly clear. I’m happy in this state and I don’t want you interfering.”
“I have no intention of doing anything to you,” I said through clenched teeth. I nearly sent him away, but I quickly reminded myself of a mistake I’d made last night. “Before you go, tell me, did you know Nettie Glasgow?”
He shook his head, even if his gaze remained cautious. “No, I’m not part of the Glasgow family. I live in a house that way.” He pointed to the far side of the swamp. “But come around here because of the others that stay at the house.”
Which included the ghost standing by the edge of the swamp being entirely silent near the cotton grass. I liked Sammy. When this mess was over and Kipp was saved, I’d do my best to help that ghost, because he actually listened to what I said. “Well, good. You won’t be a problem then and you won’t mind me saying go away.”
Like a snap to my fingers, they winked out of existence and I stared at the grass where they had stood. “Can you believe that he seriously just gave me hell for helping Victoria?”
“That’s funny.” Gretchen snickered.
“No, it really isn’t.” The breeze swept over my skin, making me shiver and warming the coldness away from me the ghosts had caused.
She regarded me with a tilt of her head, the flashlight below lighting up her chin. “What did the other ghost want?” At my shrug, since I didn’t give two craps about asking Sammy, she added, “You know, you could find out.”
“Hell, no; that will mean being sucked into another guilt trip.” I firmed my voice, especially considering it had happened with Victoria. Sad stories were always my weakness. “I have enough guilt and trouble on my hands. He’s going to have to wait in the line of ghosts needing to be saved.”
“You’re right; he can wait,” she agreed.
Before I could say anything more on the subject, a flash of light caught my eye and once again, goose bumps rose on my skin. Perhaps now, after going into the Netherworld, the sensation was more obvious than ever, because it seemed colder and sharper. I glanced to the side, noticing the orb again. “Oh, Alexander’s coming.”
Exactly as before, the orb danced around in the night sky before it lowered to the grass, forming a shape until, once again, Alexander stood before me in his odd ghostly form. He smiled at me and then sat down on the grass, so I spun slightly to sit in front of him.
“Hi,” I said.
He inclined his head, telling me we still had the exact same problem as before, and I was seriously in no mood for a game of charades. But one thing I realized more than anything, from what Wayde told me and from my earlier conversation with Alexander, was this man knew all about what I needed to know. “Did you want to meet me because of Nettie?”
Alexander nodded.
“Because you knew I could do what she could?”
He tapped his nose, indicating right answer.
While that was interesting in itself and I wished I could ask him why, I knew he’d never be able to answer. A thousan
d questions ran through my mind. Some demanding answers. Others building frustration, knowing I’d never get them. “Did you want to teach me about her?” At his nod, I pondered, then went on, “Because you wanted me to know more of what I could do?”
He shook his head and even in his see-through form, his eyes looked troubled. Which brought forth a thought I couldn’t push away, especially since Kipp had implied the same thing. “To warn me of something?”
Gretchen scooted along the grass to settle in next to me. “Warn you?”
Alexander nodded.
“Warn me of what, is the question,” I grumbled. “But dammit, he can’t answer.” I rubbed my face, considering all this, which got me nowhere, so I lowered my hands. “We need to find another way to talk to you. Not only do I need answers for what you’re talking about now, but how am I going to help you if you can’t answer?”
His eyes became sad, his lips pursing.
Gretchen’s arm brushed mine, and when I looked at her, her brows were furrowed. She drew in a long breath, and then said to Alexander—or to the spot he sat, even if she couldn’t see him, “I found a strengthening spell last night, but I’m not sure how long it would last. It could be mere minutes, which wouldn’t get us any further than we are now.”
Alexander’s head cocked, as he regarded me, and then his eyes widened. He pointed to himself before his finger aimed at me.
“Not this again,” I muttered, then to Gretchen I said, “He’s pointing at himself and then to me.”
Her eyes searched mine before she looked at Alexander. “Are you trying to tell us a way to fix your current state?”
At his nod, I said, “Yes.”
Again, he pointed at himself, dragging his finger from his head all the way to his stomach, and then at me.
Once I explained the action to Gretchen, her eyebrows drew together and she nibbled her lip. “I had come across a solution last night and I have a feeling this might be what he’s suggesting.” Her expression twisted. “I think he might be asking to come into your body.”
Mystically Bound (Frostbite, Book Three) Page 10