by Devin Hanson
In the distance, I heard sirens going by on the highway. Backup was finally here. “Can you walk?”
Ores tried standing and his face went pale. “Eh.”
“All right. I’m going to get help.” I got up and found his rifle and brought it back to him. “Don’t fall asleep. I’ll only be a few minutes.”
“Be careful, Alex.”
I gripped him on the shoulder. “Hang in there, Ores. Don’t make me break my promise to May.”
Ores features were tight with pain. “Hurry.”
The entrance to the refinery wasn’t far, a few minutes away at most. I ignored my pounding headache and sprinted down the road, the rain lashing at my face. Three minutes there, three minutes back with a policeman and a medical kit. Ores could last that long.
He fucking better.
Chapter Twenty-Four
I picked at a bowl of cereal, watching Grim eat. My headache had gradually lessened over the last several days, and now was just a lingering ache behind my eyes. I had received a text message from Ores earlier that morning. He was released from the hospital and heading home. It was the first piece of good news I had had in days.
“So, what are we going to do now, Grim?”
Grim flicked his tail and otherwise ignored me.
“Don’t give me that attitude.”
A knock sounded at the door and Grim looked up for a moment before returning to his food.
“What? That’s it? You’re a lousy guard animal, you know?”
I looked down at myself and shrugged. Whoever it was, they would have to be satisfied with my PJs. I walked over to the front door and hauled it open. Sam stood on the porch.
“Hey, Alex, I—”
“No.” I shut the door in his face and threw the deadbolt.
“Alex,” Sam called through the door, “will you just let me talk for a second?”
“Go away, Sam.”
“I just wanted to say thank you, and that I’m sorry.”
“Apology not accepted.”
“Come on, Alex. Things are changing at the precinct. We need you. I need you.”
“I have a boyfriend.”
Sam made a frustrated sound. “That’s not what I meant.” There was a pause, and for a moment I thought he had given up and gone away. My sudden feeling of regret came as a surprise to me. “Wait, you have a boyfriend? Really? But I thought… I mean, that’s great!”
I flipped the deadbolt and pulled the door open a few inches. “You’re trying too hard. Why are you here, Sam? Truly.”
Sam held up a hand and placed the other over his heart. “Just to check up on you. Scout’s honor.”
I squinted at him. “You were never a boy scout.”
“I might’ve been.”
“I doubt that.” I opened the door the rest of the way. “How’s Lara?”
“Busy. Can I come in?”
“If you must.” I went back to the kitchen and my softening bowl of cereal.
Sam followed me and leaned on the island across from me. Grim looked at him for a few moments, then went back to eating.
“Let me start with an apology. It was totally fucked that we weren’t able to help you.”
I wagged my spoon at him. “No. You could have. You chose not to.”
He grimaced, then shrugged. “Okay. You’re right. I could have surrendered my badge and gone with you. Is that what you wanted me to do?”
I took another bite of cereal. “I don’t know, Sam. I could have been killed. Ores almost died. Would you have been able to help? Maybe. But don’t put your decisions on me.”
Sam sighed. “If it makes a difference, I don’t think we’ll run into that particular situation again.”
“Yeah? Why not?”
He gave me an awkward grin. “I’ve been reassigned.”
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “You’re not a homicide detective anymore? After all that you still lost your job?”
“Not exactly. I’ve been promoted. Well. Same rank, but new department. The DSI. Department of Special Investigations. We have a whole unit now, Alex. Lara’s in charge, that’s why she isn’t here groveling with me.”
“Is that what you’re doing? Groveling?” I dropped my spoon back into the remains of my cereal. “What are you going to be investigating?”
Sam nodded, excited. “All the weird shit that nobody will admit is happening. The supernatural crimes that happen in Los Angeles.”
I scoffed and nudged my bowl over to Grim. He abandoned his kibble immediately and started scarfing down the cereal. “What makes you think you’ll be able to do anything?”
“After the captain got the report about all the bodies you discovered, he recognized that things were beyond what the scope of traditional police work could encompass. The DSI was Lara’s idea.”
“Huh. And what do you want from me, then?”
“Alex, we can’t do this without you. We’d be stumbling around in the dark, tripping over things we couldn’t even explain. You’re vital to our success.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know, Sam. You left me to die. I like you, but that’s not a business arrangement I can accept.”
“I knew you would say that, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here, a new contract.”
I took it from him reluctantly and flipped through it. There was new language in it that I had never seen in a civilian contract before. “I don’t understand. I’m not a cop, and I have no interest in being one.”
“No, not a cop. A partner. We, the police force, will be contractually obligated to provide you any assistance you need while you are engaged in official business.”
I grabbed the contract back and read it more thoroughly. Sam wasn’t kidding. This document would put my PI business as an officially recognized partner of the DSI. Not the police force as a whole, but the resources of the DSI would be at my disposal while on approved assignments.
“I don’t know, Sam.” I tossed the contract back onto the island. “The supernatural world doesn’t respond well to police intervention. You try throwing these people in jail for breaking human laws, you’re going to have a riot on your hands. I’m not going to be a part of that.”
“The DSI has leeway in prosecution options,” Sam argued. “We didn’t press charges on your friend Ores for shooting dead people in the head with an illegal rifle.”
I frowned. “Sam, that sounded awfully close to a threat.”
“It wasn’t. I’m just pointing out that our mission is to keep the peace, not put people behind bars.”
“Yeah? And how long until Internal Affairs wonders why you have discharged weapons on duty but no arrests made?” I pushed the contract across the island to Sam. “Bureaucracy and my world don’t mix. I appreciate the gesture, but the DSI will never succeed. Not in the long run.”
“The captain will cover us from IA,” Sam pleaded. “This city needs us.”
“And what happens when the captain retires? Or he gets busted for criminal conspiracy? I appreciate his vote of confidence, but even he can be investigated for corruption. No.”
Sam set his jaw. “We’re going forward with this, with or without you. I trust you, Alex. I wouldn’t want anyone else but you as our partner. There are others who can provide your information, but you and I both know they would be second-tier.”
I folded my arms. “I get it. You have good intentions. But I can’t participate.”
His shoulders slumped a little. “Okay. I understand. I don’t like it, but I won’t pressure you. If you change your mind, though, the offer will stay open.”
“Okay.”
Sam met my eyes, and for a moment I thought he was going to try to convince me again, but he dropped his gaze and collected the contract. He nodded to himself and turned to go. “Oh! Finances was going to send it through the mail, but I told them I’d just deliver it in person.” He drew an envelope from his pocket and handed it over.
I pulled it open and checked the invoice. Sam had put in f
or my current rates, double what they had been in October. It was more money than I had ever had at one time in my life, but it still felt like it wasn’t enough.
“Thanks.”
“All right. Take care, Alex.”
Sam left, and I stood there, leaning against the island, for what seemed like an hour. My phone rang, startling me out of my spinning thoughts. I checked the caller ID, then answered. “Ryan, how’s it going?”
“I’m at the airport.”
I blinked. “Oh? What are you doing there?”
“Flying out.”
I hurried over to the room where Ryan had been sleeping. His clothes and belongings had all been cleaned out. “You’re leaving.”
“Sorry, Alex. I’m not great at goodbyes.”
“But…” We had plans to go out to dinner tonight and finally take a few hours to actually catch up. After that crazy day at the refinery, we hadn’t had an opportunity to talk. One or the other of us had always been busy.
“Something came up. The Chapter cut my vacation short and I had to leave.”
I swallowed back my disappointment. “Oh. Nothing bad, I hope?”
“No, good news, actually! All the signs are pointing to the vampires giving up on invading Los Angeles.”
“Really?”
“For now, at least. That ghoul went missing, apparently. It’s causing a furor overseas. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”
“Who, me?” The only person who knew that I had killed the ghoul for certain was Ores, and he had sworn not to tell anyone. The last thing I needed was word getting out that I knew the secret to killing ghouls. Other ghouls would come from all over the world to make sure I took the secret to the grave, and as soon as possible. “No, like I told you. The ghoul disappeared after I put down its vessels. Maybe it died of shame, getting beat by a girl.”
Ryan snorted. “Anything is possible, right? Well, now that things seem to be settling down in LA, the Chapter wants me in New England. Something about a wendigo sighting.”
“Oh. Well, stay safe.”
“You too. I’ll keep in touch, Alex.”
“You still owe me a beer or two. I’m holding you to that.”
He laughed. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
My phone beeped and I pulled it away from my ear. I had a second call coming in. “I got someone on the other line. Call me when you land?”
“Yeah, maybe. I’ll see you around, Alex. I’m glad I had a chance to meet you.”
“Same.”
He hung up and I sighed, then reluctantly answered the other call. “This is Alex.”
“The, uh, private investigations Alexandra?” The voice was female, her tone nervous.
“Yes, I run Ascher Investigations. How can I help you?”
“A friend of mine referred me to you. She said you were trustworthy and could help with, ah, unique problems.”
“Of course,” I assured her. “Who was your friend?”
“May. She said you partnered with her husband?”
My eyebrows went up. I certainly hadn’t expected to get a glowing review from May of all people. “Oh, yeah, okay. You are aware of my rates? I’m not cheap.”
“I can pay,” she assured me hurriedly. “My husband is missing. There doesn’t seem to be anyone else in this city who can help. Please, please help me.”
I headed to my bedroom for a change of clothes. “Let’s meet somewhere and talk it over,” I suggested soothingly. “Do you like croissants?”
So much for being bored.
LA is a huge city. There was an enormous supernatural community here, and with them came the weird and wild. Sam and the DSI would help with some of it, but it would take a long time for the new unit to recover from centuries of distrust in the law. If they even could. Handling the rest of it would come down to people like me. The supernatural community would need someone they could turn to in times of need.
Word was getting out. Alexandra Ascher was open for business.
Authors Note
Thank you for reading Shadow of the Ghoul! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
If you did enjoy the book, please take a few minutes and write a review. You would make this author a very happy man. My website, http://devinhanson.com will have the latest news and a blog about writing. Sign up for the newsletter there to get free books and access extra content. I promise I won’t spam you.
Until next time,
Devin Hanson
About the Author
Devin Hanson was born in Beaverton, Oregon. After a childhood spent programming computers and playing Dungeons and Dragons, Devin’s career took a random turn to counseling. It was during his years as a counselor that he developed his insight into the human condition and renewed his interest in writing. Currently, Devin works as a web developer, spending his free time creating tales of fantasy and science fiction. For his sins, Devin resides in Los Angeles, California.
You can check out his website here: https://www.devinhanson.com
Also by Devin Hanson
The Dragon Speaker Series
Rune Scale
Rune Song
Rune Master
The Speaker’s Son
The Cleric Scribe
The Speaker’s Son
Immortal Archives
The December Protocol
The Matriarch Manifesto
Halfblood Legacy
The Halfblood’s Hoard
Shadow of the Ghoul
Wylde Fire
Lilin’s Wrath
Fate of the Magi
The Tome of the Magi
The Fractured Tower
Short Stories
The Enceladus Incident
The Last Friday
The Wraiths of Rivia
Other Works from Hudson Indie Ink
Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Stephanie Hudson
Sloane Murphy
Xen Randell
Sci-fi/Fantasy
Brandon Ellis
Crime/Action
Blake Hudson
Mike Gomes
Contemporary Romance
Gemma Weir