“What were you guys fighting about?” Boone asked when Cooper was finished, hunkering down so he could stare Trent in the eye. The man looked glazed, as if he was coming down from a high, and Boone made a mental note to order a toxicology report in case drugs were at the heart of this fight.
“I don’t remember,” Trent replied dully. He seemed to be in his own little world. “I’m just not sure.”
“Well, you’d better get sure,” Boone barked. “You killed a man. In front of witnesses. You’re in big trouble.”
“But ... I didn’t even know him.” Trent looked lost as he glanced around for someone to take his side. Finally, his eyes landed on Hannah. “You saw. I was temporarily insane or something. I didn’t mean to do this. I ... someone forced me to do this.”
“Someone forced you to do it?” Cooper was incredulous. “How does that even work?”
“I don’t know.” Trent was on the verge of tears. “I didn’t do this on purpose, though. Why would I? I didn’t even know that guy. He was a stranger.”
“That was my next question,” Boone prodded. “Are you certain you don’t have a history with this guy? Is it possible you guys know each other from somewhere else and you planned this out?”
“I don’t know him,” Trent fired back. “I’ve never seen him before in my life.”
“You’re local,” Boone argued. “He was local, too. This isn’t a big area. I want you to be really clear on this. When you go in front of a judge, he’s going to have a lot more invasive questions than what I’ve been asking.”
“Judge?” Trent looked petrified at the thought. “Why would I go in front of a judge?”
“Because you killed a man,” Cooper replied. “You did this.” He gestured toward Rob’s body. “You were out of control, and that’s not even taking into account what you said to Hannah.”
“What did he say to Hannah?” Boone asked, curious despite himself.
Hannah finally stirred. “It doesn’t matter. The whole thing was a mess, from start to finish. There was no reason for anybody to be acting the way they were.”
Cooper shot her an unreadable look. “Maybe you should go inside, baby. You look like you need to sit down.”
“I’m fine,” Hannah replied dully.
“You’ve said that a few times now, but you look pretty far from fine.” Cooper felt helpless. He wanted to hold her, do anything to wipe that look off her face, but duty demanded he hold his ground until Boone had a handle on the situation.
“Actually, I’m going to take Hannah inside and get her a drink,” Boone said finally, thoughtful. “I want the rest of you to stay here. I won’t be inside for more than a few minutes. The coroner is on his way. Make sure you don’t touch the body while you’re waiting for him.”
“I’ll go with you,” Cooper offered, immediately moving to fall in step with the sheriff.
“No, you’re going to stay here,” Boone countered, his tone no-nonsense. “I need you to keep an eye on the scene ... and especially that guy.” He gestured toward Justin, who looked as if he was about to be sick. “I want to talk to Hannah alone.”
Cooper was flummoxed. “But ... why?”
“Because I said so.” Boone was at the end of his rope. “All of you need to stay out here. I won’t be gone for more than a few minutes. Hannah, you come with me.”
She acquiesced because there was nothing else to do. She didn’t meet Cooper’s gaze as Boone led her away, though. He was trying to support her from afar, but she was too far gone for that.
Honestly, how had this even happened? She couldn’t wrap her head around it.
3
Three
Boone had a calming presence and Hannah was thankful for it as she moved to the bar to pour two iced teas. Boone accepted the glass she provided, even though he hadn’t asked for it, and studied her still features as she sat.
“You seem shaken up,” he noted.
“I’m fine.” The response was obligatory, the words out of her mouth before she could think how they sounded.
“You’re obviously not fine.” He reached over and rested his hand on top of Hannah’s and waited for her to meet his gaze. For some reason, she tugged at every fatherly instinct he had. She was older than his daughter, and they didn’t really look alike, but there was something about the way they carried themselves that caused him to be protective. “I’m guessing you’ve never seen anyone die like that before.”
Hannah immediately started shaking her head. “That’s not true. I saw that woman jump from the top of the building a few weeks ago. That was ... horrible.”
“Yeah, but my understanding is that Cooper did his best to cover your face that night ... and you were still a safe distance away. This happened right in front of you.”
“It did but ... I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She let out a breath and offered up a rueful smile. “You probably think I’m a basket case. I think I might be one, too. It was just so ... surreal.”
“I’ve heard what happened from Cooper and there are a few things that bother me about the story. I want to hear what you saw.”
Hannah balked. “Cooper isn’t lying. That’s what happened.”
“Yes, but I saw your face when he was recounting the story. You were twitchy when he brought up certain aspects of it. I want to know what you think.”
“I think ... .” She trailed off and looked through the front window of the saloon. She could see Cooper as he stood and talked to Tyler. There was trouble on his face. “I think something magical happened.”
Boone shifted in his chair. He was familiar with the paranormal happenings at Casper Creek, and while he didn’t often insert himself into what was going on at the small town, he understood that some of the things that happened could never be spread to the general populace. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know how to explain it.” Hannah sipped her iced tea to lubricate her dry mouth and tried to organize her thoughts. “It’s just ... so weird. I mean, so freaking weird. Right before it happened, Cooper was being all romantic and we were trying to pick new bartenders. He wanted us to get through it so we could go upstairs and ... um ... eat dinner.”
Boone smirked. “You were going to eat dinner at five o’clock, huh? I didn’t realize you guys were suddenly senior citizens.”
The corners of her lips edged up. “We were going to hang out before dinner,” she clarified. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together.”
“Oh, I know. It used to be that Cooper had breakfast with me in town at least twice a week. He hasn’t shown up in two straight weeks. That’s because he prefers to have his breakfasts with you now.”
For some reason, a flash of guilt caused Hannah to start shaking her head. “I didn’t mean to monopolize all his time.”
“Honey, I’m not blaming you. Your relationship with Cooper is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.”
“Does he say that?” This time her smile was genuine.
“He doesn’t have to say it. I’ve known him for years. He lights up when your name is mentioned. Heck, he was doing it before you guys actually started dating. I knew this is where you would end up. You don’t have to apologize for making the man happy. What I’m concerned with is why you’re so unhappy.”
“I’m not unhappy.”
“I mean right now. In general, I know you’re happy, too. I’ve seen you two walking toward the creek together, swinging your hands like teenagers. It’s obvious you’re both happy. Right now, though, you’re shaken to your very core. Cooper can see it, too, and he’s confused.”
“That’s because I don’t think he realizes that something happened to him,” Hannah admitted, opting to take the bull by the horn ... so to speak. “I think there was a creature there, and I think it was controlling the men.”
“Just the men?”
She nodded and glanced around, as if she expected the dancing man to appear again. “I saw him during the fight. I was already starting to th
ink something terrible was about to happen, though. The men were fighting for no reason, and when Cooper got out there he started talking like ... someone else.”
Boone furrowed his brow. “Like gibberish?”
“No. Like ... he was about to erupt in a volcano of testosterone.”
“Huh.” Boone scratched his cheek. “That’s not like him. He’s usually calm in situations like that. He’s seen much worse overseas.”
“That’s why I was confused. He was basically ready to whip his ... you know ... out and measure it against the other guy’s and it only got worse when that Trent guy started saying sexual things about me. I would’ve ignored it, but Cooper was irate.”
“Well ... he’s protective of you,” Boone hedged. “He adores everything about you. It’s only natural he would want to stand up for you.”
“Yeah, but he was acting weird even before it happened. He’s usually not aggressive like that. I don’t know how to explain it but there was a moment I thought Cooper was going to start throwing punches.”
“Okay. That can’t be the only reason you’re upset, though.”
“No. I saw ... a man. That’s the creature I mentioned. It was a man … kind of.” She was babbling and she knew it, but she couldn’t stop herself. “At least it looked like a man. He was between the dry goods store and the post office. He was watching ... and laughing ... and dancing.”
“Dancing?” Boone’s eyebrows practically flew off his forehead. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either. I was about to point him out to Cooper, but then things got really tense. I suggested we separate the men, get one down the mountain and have the guy in the ticket office down there message when the coast was clear so we could send down the other.
“At first I thought Cooper was going to argue with me, maybe start a fight or something, but it was like he regained control of himself for a minute there and realized he was acting out of sorts,” she continued. “He agreed it was the right thing to do, and when I looked over at the man again, he seemed agitated. He’d stopped dancing.”
“I don’t understand what you’re getting at,” Boone admitted. “Are you saying this dancing man was a guest?”
“I don’t know. He was between the buildings. I think I’m the only one who saw him. The thing is, I was the only female out there, and I was the only one acting like myself.”
“So ... you think this man, or monster perhaps, could somehow influence the men.” Boone leaned back in his chair and exhaled heavily, thoughtful. “Do you know what kind of creature could do that?”
“No, but I’m like the dumbest woman in the world when it comes to paranormal stuff.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“You didn’t. I did. I don’t know what he was, but when Trent grabbed the gun to shoot Rob — and, honestly, there was no reason for any of it to happen because they didn’t even know what they were fighting about — I looked over at the man and he disappeared. Right in front of my eyes. Once the shooting was over, he left.”
“Like ... poof?”
“Yes.”
“Huh.” Boone lifted his head at the sound of footsteps on the wood. He wasn’t surprised to find Cooper joining the party. He knew it was only a matter of time before the security guru’s instincts kicked in and he checked on Hannah. “Did you see a guy between the dry goods store and the post office?”
Cooper was taken aback at the question. “I ... no. I wasn’t looking either. Did you see someone?” His gaze shifted to Hannah, who nodded.
She laid out the story again, in precise detail. Now that she’d told it once, it was easier for her to get the words out. She was terrified the men would assume she was imagining things, but both appeared appropriately concerned.
“What do you think we’re dealing with?” Boone asked Cooper when she was finished relating the story.
“I honestly don’t know,” Cooper said, grabbing Hannah’s hand and squeezing as he took a seat next to her. “It’s ... troublesome. I wish you would’ve said something to me while he was still there.”
“I didn’t want to distract you. I mean ... with everything going on, I thought that was the wrong move.”
“Okay.” He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm, forcing a smile for her benefit. “He’s gone now, although if he shows up again, I want you to tell me.”
Hannah nodded, but she was troubled by the prospect. “But what if he really is controlling the men? I know you don’t want to hear it — and I don’t want to say it — but you were acting different.”
Cooper’s initial instinct was to argue with the statement, but she was so serious he ultimately nodded. “I felt a little different,” he admitted after a beat. “I don’t know how to describe it but ... I was really angry. I was fine when we first walked out there and yet I was furious within a few seconds, really.”
“When did you first notice it?” Boone asked, turning clinical. He obviously wanted to get his head around what had happened so they could make sure it was a one-time occurrence.
“When Hannah stepped in front of Trent in an effort to protect me.” The smile Cooper shot his girlfriend was weak. “I was frustrated that you would put yourself in that position, but I was angry at the way Trent reacted to you. I was ready to beat the crap out of him if he even looked at you funny.”
“I would say that was an abnormal reaction, but I’m not sure it was,” Boone noted. “You’re the sort of guy who will throw punches to protect the honor of the woman you ... are with.”
“Yes,” Cooper agreed. “I would’ve done that, but we were nowhere near that point yet. He didn’t advance on Hannah. He was going after Rob, and me by extension, but she got in the way. When I asked her to move up to the porch, she essentially removed herself from the situation and all the anger that was building seemed to be between the three of us.”
“What about Tyler?” Boone queried. “He was out there with you. Do you think he was affected?”
“I ... don’t ... know.” Cooper flicked his eyes to Hannah. “He seemed largely the same to me. What do you think?”
Hannah cocked her head, considering. She hadn’t given much thought to Tyler. “He was mostly the same. I mean ... he wasn’t laughing or anything, like he normally would. He seemed concerned, though. He was more like me.”
“I wonder why,” Boone muttered, his face creased in concentration.
“Let’s ask.” Cooper gave Hannah’s hand another kiss and then got to his feet. He called for Tyler to join them over by the door and then immediately returned to his chair. Tyler’s expression was quizzical when he sat at the table.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
Boone caught him up quickly, explaining about the dancing man, and then asked how he felt during the altercation.
“Oh, um ... I was confused,” Tyler admitted. “I thought Cooper was acting out of sorts, too. I mean, he’s protective of Hannah and everything, but I seriously thought he was going to rip off that Trent guy’s head when he said something about Hannah’s boobs.”
Boone made a face. “I didn’t realize he got that graphic with the comments.” He made a tsking sound as he switched his gaze to Hannah. “You played that down a bit.”
Her cheeks burned. “It was embarrassing, but I’ve heard worse.”
“Yes, well, you never have to put up with that.” Boone was firm. “I’ve told my daughter, if a man — or boy, because she’s in high school and surrounded by hormonal perverts — ever says something like that to her, she’s supposed to tell me so I can beat the snot out of him. I’m not so sure that Cooper wasn’t right when he decided to go after the guy.”
“Except I could’ve just threatened him and left it at that,” Cooper offered. “I mean ... I wanted to kill him. In that moment, I would’ve been perfectly fine wrapping my hands around his neck and not stopping until he was dead.”
Hannah involuntarily shuddered at the distant look on his face. “You didn’t do that, tho
ugh.”
Cooper sent her a reassuring smile. “I didn’t. Part of me wonders if that’s because you were there, though. If you really did see someone, I have to believe that what happened was somehow manufactured.”
“But, Tyler, you’re saying you didn’t feel the same rage,” Boone prodded.
“I was angry on Hannah’s behalf,” Tyler countered. “I mean, if it came to it, I would’ve been right there beside Cooper protecting her honor.”
“But you didn’t want to kill anyone,” Boone argued. “That’s what I’m getting at.”
“I definitely didn’t want to kill anyone,” Tyler agreed. “I can’t say I was affected to that degree. To be fair, though, I only showed up at the tail end.”
“I was only there like two minutes before you,” Cooper argued.
“Yeah, but you were in here.” Tyler gestured toward the bar. “They were right outside, and the front doors are basically open on the top and the bottom. If some sort of magic was being wielded against the people on the street, it’s not hard to imagine that you were getting a dose of it before you even went out there.”
“Yeah, but ... I didn’t react until I got out there.” Cooper was determined to be hard on himself. “I acted like a complete jerk, just like Trent and Rob.”
“You were with Hannah inside, though,” Tyler pressed. “It was just the two of you, and your anger wasn’t directed at her on the street.”
“No, and she wasn’t affected by whatever was happening,” Boone added. “She noticed the others changing but was fine. She also saw the guy dancing in the alley. I’m thinking, whatever this was, only men were influenced ... and to commit violence against other men.”
The Monstrous Seven (A Hannah Hickok Witchy Mystery Book 4) Page 3