“And I don’t want to.”
“Fine,” Faith said, feeling a strange tugging at her heart. “So, sit, and instead of us trying to chat and wipe out a lifetime of pain, why don’t you tell me about this case Shawn wangled you into?”
“No.”
“Why not?” Faith noticed that Carey wasn’t making any attempt to leave. “You’re a cop. Certainly you’ve had to talk to people you hate. If I piss you off, you have a gun. You could just shoot me.”
“Don’t tempt me.” Carey removed her jacket and sat on the sofa. “So, you ordering that pizza or what?”
* * *
“Excuse me.” Carey stifled a belch and took another swig from her beer. “That’s everything,” she concluded after replaying the day’s events. “Brian and Captain Mallory went back to the station to review the files. When I got there, we decided to set up a little stakeout. The three of us huddled together in the captain’s Wrangler and watched the building.”
“I spent more than a few nights like that when I was a reporter.” Faith opened another bottle of Heineken. “So, did Maynard take his trash out? I just love trash. It’s fair game. No subpoenas, no cops getting pissed, and no violating some scumbag’s civil rights.”
“Hey, I am the cops,” Carey said. “But you’re right. Discarded items are legally fair game. Maynard snuck down to the dumpster and buried a single trash bag at the bottom. Which is why I made Brian climb into the dumpster.”
“Let me guess what was inside,” Faith said eagerly. “An old letterman jacket, just like Shawn described, with a large, dark stain on it.”
“Several medium-sized stains, but you get the idea. We bagged it, tagged it, and rushed it to the lab. Brian and the captain are going to contact Hester’s mother in the morning, and we’re going to try for a reverse DNA match. It isn’t as strong as a DNA match, but if the samples are good enough, it will prove that the blood belongs to someone in Sophie’s family.”
“That’s one approach,” Faith said.
“What?”
“I was just thinking,” Faith said slowly. “Moms never throw anything out. I’ll bet your mother’s refrigerator door is loaded with crap about you.”
“What’s your point?”
“Just I know my mom has boxes full of my crap. School papers, doodles, baby teeth, locks of hair, and stuff like that. I would imagine that these things mean a lot to a mother, more so if they survive their child.”
“And chock full of DNA. The hair won’t do any good. No follicles, so no DNA.” Carey flipped open her cell phone. “Yo, Brian,” she said. “It’s your ever-loving ex-wife. When you talk to Hester’s mother, ask if she saved any of Hester’s baby teeth?” She paused for a moment.
Faith busied herself with cleaning up the mess from their impromptu meal. “Thanks for the suggestion,” Carey said when Faith returned from the kitchen. “Tell me about Whispering Pines?”
Faith let out a sigh of relief that Carey wasn’t bolting. She offered her another beer and sat down beside her.
“It was a freak show,” Faith said in an unsteady tone. “Shawn wasn’t the original psychic assigned to the case, Milo was. He’s a major dufus, but he went screaming from the house. Everyone thought I had driven him out, but I didn’t. It was the kitchen. Milo’s gift is touching things and seeing the past. He made the mistake of touching the kitchen, and bolted like a fat, sweaty bunny rabbit. Chickenshit.”
“What happened when Shawn arrived?” Carey peeled the label from her beer bottle.
“Oh, she loved the place. All that spooky energy.” Faith snickered. “Until I got bitch-slapped in the kitchen. Then all hell broke loose. I can still hear that voice calling me a sinner. Freaking creepy,” she added with a shiver.
“We were left alone in the house, which had already been wired with cameras and sound equipment. Neither of us wanted to go back into the kitchen. We decided we would bunk upstairs. Then it started, not just bumps in the night, it was a full show. I followed Shawn back into the kitchen. I could see them, kind of. Shawn saw it all, the murders, everything, and she just went into shock. I couldn’t open the doors or windows. We were trapped. I managed to get her upstairs, and we just waited for the sunrise. The equipment had cut out long before that, but some of it was captured on film. That’s it.”
“That’s it?” Carey pressed.
“Hey, buy the book.” Faith laughed. “Well, there’s more, but that’s none of your business.”
“Fair enough,” Carey said, apparently realizing what Faith was discreetly omitting. “I should be going.”
“How long were you married?” Faith asked in an attempt to delay Carey’s departure.
“Look,” Carey said. “I meant what I said. We’re not going to get all warm and fuzzy. I appreciate Shawn’s help, and it was nice to share a pizza and not dwell on how much I hate you, but it doesn’t change anything.”
“I don’t do warm and fuzzy,” Faith said dryly. “But it is nice to know that we’ll be able to work together during Whispering Pines.”
“I still might shoot you,” Carey quipped as she stood.
“So long as you don’t shove me into the kitchen,” Faith replied earnestly. “I had to sell my soul to have Althea add an amendment in my contract stating that I didn’t have to go in there.”
“Because you got slapped?” Carey snickered.
“Not just slapped, it attacked us. Whatever’s lurking in that house has a real hard-on for homos. Look what happened to Anna and Catherine.”
“There were police reports that Captain Stratton beat Anna,” Carey said. “A couple of staff members complained. Nothing was ever done since the old man owned most of the town.”
“Some things never change,” Faith said grimly. “Shawn’s convinced the bodies are in the house, but where?”
“That’s the million dollar question isn’t it?” Carey slipped on her coat.
“Hey, were you two throwing a party without me?” Shawn staggered into the living room.
“Feeling better?” Faith asked, instantly rushing to Shawn’s side.
“So-so,” Shawn grumbled.
“I was just leaving,” Carey said. “Faith can fill you in on what we found. I’ll see you in a couple weeks.”
“How did it go?” Shawn asked once Carey had departed and Faith guided her back into her bedroom.
“She didn’t shoot me.” Faith tucked Shawn back into bed before slipping beneath the covers and cradling the weary woman in her arms.
Chapter 46
Edinburgh, Scotland
2005
“This weather sucks,” Faith grumbled as they trudged up to the quaint inn.
“Welcome to Scotland,” Shawn said wearily.
“I still think we should have backed out. You don’t look like you’re feeling any better,” Faith said as they stepped inside the cozy inn.
“I’m fine,” Shawn snapped. “Sorry,” she said, only to have Faith shrug in response. “We’re with Sunny Hill,” she informed the desk clerk. “Williams and Charles.”
“Yes, Room Three. Do you need help with your bags?” the man asked with a heavy brogue.
“Oh, we’re sharing again.” Shawn sighed. “No, we’re fine.” She accepted the keys to the room.
“Just up the staircase, to the right,” the clerk told them.
“It’s not uncommon for us to share.” Faith was disturbed by the way Shawn seemed disappointed with the room assignment. “We used to have to bunk together long before we got along. If it bothers you, I could see if there’s another room available,” she said. “Of course, I don’t understand why it would bother you, since I just spent a week in your apartment. In the same bed, for the end of my visit.”
“I just…” Shawn hesitated. “There’s something.”
“Fine, I’ll ask for another room,” Faith said, confused by Shawn’s sudden interest in having space. When they stepped into the small room, she noted it was very cozy and had only one bed. “And that would b
e the problem you sensed?”
Shawn peered at the bed for a moment. Faith felt her ire growing as she tried to juggle the luggage. She narrowed her eyes, watching Shawn’s gaze dart around the room. “Just a ghost,” Shawn said. “Well, put the luggage down so we can unpack.”
“Anything for you, princess,” Faith snarled, tossing the bags on the bed. “Thank heavens you shipped your equipment so we could travel light. So that was it? A ghost, not the tiny bed we’ll be sharing?”
“Yes,” Shawn said. “Jilted lover, I’m sensing, late fourteenth century. She’s displeased when couples share this room.”
“We’re not a couple,” Faith noted grimly. “I am curious as to why Althea booked us in such a cozy room, not that I’m complaining. Just how displeased does our entity get? I’m not looking forward to being woken up at all hours of the night. Jet lag sucks enough without one of your little friends messing with me.”
“Why are they my friends?” Shawn asked, pushing past Faith.
“Because you seem to attract them.” Faith watched Shawn carefully unpacking their bags. “I can do my own.”
“You’re a slob. And for the record, I don’t attract spirits, they’re all around us. I’m just a better listener. Donald.”
“Who?” Faith was itching to stop Shawn from touching her belongings.
“That was his name. The one who fled the night before the wedding,” Shawn said calmly, as if she were reading an article in the Sunday paper and not peeking into the past. “I can’t get a sense on her name. What time do we have to meet with Althea?”
“We have a couple of hours.” Faith checked her watch, which she had reset after the airplane had landed. Shawn refolded the last of Faith’s clothing. “I hate it when you do that.”
“Fine, walk around with wrinkled clothing.” Shawn stored the clothing in the antique dresser. “I’m going to try to catch a quick nap.”
“Want company?” Faith suggested eagerly, already setting the alarm on her watch.
“Yeah.” Shawn yawned, kicked off her shoes, and climbed onto the bed.
Faith curled up next to Shawn, cradling her in her arms and quickly drifting off to sleep. What seemed like only a few moments later, the persistent beeping from her watch awakened her. She cleared her throat, licking her lips as she glared at her watch. Her eyes widened with horror when she spied the petite redhead looming at the foot of the bed.
“Holy shit,” she bellowed. She sprang from the bed, jostling Shawn’s body in the process. She was shivering, the room felt cold, and then the mysterious redhead vanished. Shawn looked up at her with confusion.
“Sorry,” Faith choked out. “We had company.”
“Oh.” Shawn yawned and combed her fingers through her hair in an effort to tame her unruly locks. “Did she do anything?”
“No. She was just looking at us.”
“Okay.” Shawn shrugged. “I’m going to take a shower. If you’re afraid, you can join me.”
“I’m not afraid,” Faith said. Shawn snickered, gathered up her toiletries, and ducked into the bathroom.
“I’m not!” she repeated loudly, hearing Shawn laughing from behind the bathroom door. She paced back and forth, muttering under her breath that Shawn had dared accuse her of being frightened. After pacing for a few moments, reality dawned on her, and she halted her movements.
“Wait, did I just turn down a chance to take a shower with Shawn? Dumb ass,” she muttered upon realizing that her bravado might have clouded her judgment. She quickly began to shed her clothing. She knocked timidly on the door. “Shawn, I take it back, I am afraid. Crap,” she said when Shawn emerged from the bathroom wrapped in the towel.
“Too late.” Shawn laughed, her hazel eyes slowly gazing up and down Faith’s naked body.
“What did you do, just look at the water?” Faith planted her hands firmly on her hips.
“I took a very quick shower.” Shawn’s eyes darkened ever so slightly. “The water pressure sucks, and since I was alone, I didn’t dally. Now, go freshen up, we have a meeting.”
“You suck.” Faith stomped into the tiny washroom.
* * *
The meeting took place in the dining room of the hotel. Faith always hated these pre-shoot meetings that could drag on for hours, since everyone had an opinion on how things should proceed. What do we need to talk about? We go set up, shoot, and hopefully something entertaining will happen. She scowled.
“Huh?” she said, realizing that Althea was addressing her. Faith had zoned out over an hour ago, becoming more focused with playing with the ice in her scotch than actually listening to what was going on around her.
“I said, is there anything you’d like to add?” Althea glared over at her.
“No,” Faith said casually, praying that this meant that the tedious meeting was about to end. Thankfully, it did break up, most of the crew wandering off to get some sleep or hit the bar.
“Could you at least pretend to listen during these meetings?” Althea carried her drink around the table and sat down next to Faith.
“Why? It never changes.”
“That’s a bit presumptuous.”
“Speaking of being presumptuous,” Faith said tersely, “what’s with my room assignment?”
“I thought the two of you were getting along,” Althea said. “Don’t tell me you’re fighting again? Frankly, I don’t have the strength to deal with it.”
“No,” Faith said. “We’re fine, but a single? That’s a little pushy.”
“What?” Althea shook her head. “I specifically had my assistant request a double.”
“Trust me, it’s a single, very cozy space, not even enough room for a cot,” Faith said, amused by Althea’s look of shock.
“I’ll have Esmeralda fix the problem right away.” Althea snatched up her ever-present cell phone.
“Don’t bother.” Faith laughed.
“Really?”
“Not what you’re thinking,” she added. “We’re getting along, but we’re not getting along, if you get my drift. Bunking together won’t be a problem. Heck, Shawn even found a ghost, so she’s ecstatic, and no, we didn’t take any pictures.”
“A ghost?” Althea asked brightly.
“Yeah, some chick who got dumped back in the fourteenth century.” Faith yawned. “Scared the bejesus out of me. I swear, hanging around with Shawn just attracts them. When I first started doing this crap, I didn’t believe. Now I can’t turn around without bumping into some bizarre specter. It can be a little nerve-racking at times.”
“It’s a part of what we work with,” Althea said, taking a sip of her drink. “Speaking of business, the Whispering Pines shoot is going to include a police investigator from New York.”
“I know.” Faith snickered.
“Unbelievable as it may seem, she doesn’t like you. Which tells me the two of you have met before. Promise me you’ll play nice.”
“Oh, I’ll play nice.”
“I mean it, Faith. Whatever you did to piss this woman off, forget about it,” Althea said sternly. “She’s done some very interesting work that will add a lot to the finished product. So no playing any of your pranks or trying to scare her.”
“I wouldn’t dream of annoying my sister,” Faith said in a cocky manner.
Althea choked on her drink. “Your what? But she’s so nice.”
“Hey,” Faith said. “So am I.”
“Right.” Althea laughed heartily.
“Fine, she’s my half-sister, which is why she isn’t so fond of me. Satisfied? We did talk in New York when I was visiting Shawn. I think things in Stewart will go smoothly.”
“I hope so. I know how me and my sister get along. Sometimes we’re glued at the hip, and other times we’re ready to claw each other’s eyes out.”
“Maybe it’s a good thing we grew up in separate households,” Faith noted thoughtfully.
“So you spent time with Shawn in New York?” Althea asked.
“Yes,” Fai
th said with a crooked smile. “And no, we’re not back together. Oh, but she did solve a murder case from the fifties. Personally, I would have settled for shopping, but Shawn has a way of attracting these things.”
“A murder?”
“Yeah. She got Jessica, I mean, Carey, involved, so you can ask her all about it. Knowing you, you’ll get another special out of it.”
“Do you have any idea how hot shows with psychic detectives are right now?” Althea said. “Never mind, one shoot at a time. I need to get some rest. Good night.”
“Good night.” Faith waved good-bye. “Connor,” she greeted her old friend when he took the seat next to her.
“Charles.” He smiled warmly. “Not hitting the bar? I was looking forward to a round or two before we have to start working. Or when you hopped the fence into spooky world, did you give up on hoisting a few?”
“I wrote the truth,” she said. “Have you ever known me to lie?”
“Only to that barmaid in the shit hole back in Glasgow.” He nudged her with his elbow.
“Oh, she was hot.” Faith smiled at the memory of the beautiful redhead she had seduced a few years ago, after Connor had struck out with the lady. “I have time for a pint, but only one. Shawn isn’t feeling well.”
“I thought the two of you were on the outs,” he said as they strolled into the bar. “Two pints,” he ordered. “I don’t understand you. First, all this nonsense about seeing ghosts, and now you’re acting like a married lady. Whatever happened to the Charlie I once knew?”
“I grew up.” She took a sip of her ale. “I know that on most of these little treks you and I have only seen and heard people who claim to see and hear things. What I experienced at Whispering Pines was the real deal. Not just a house settling, or the wind. I’m talking bitch-slapping, misty apparitions. As for Shawn and me, well, that all depends on what day you ask.”
“Hey, don’t get me wrong, love.” He chuckled. “I’ve been happily married for over twenty-three years.”
“And you and Sara haven’t lived together for over what? Seventeen years?”
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