"Trix, don't-" I whipped my head toward him and glared. He held up his hands, one of which held the folder.
I leaned my right ear against the door and strained my werewolf hearing. The voices on the other side died away. I heard the soft shuffle of fuzzy slippers on hard floor and jumped back a moment before the door swung open.
Mr. Aude stood in the doorway. A frown covered his austere lips. His eyes broached us. "Yes? May I help you?"
I smiled and nodded. "Yes, we'd like to speak with Mrs. Aude."
He pursed his lips. "She's not available for any more police interviews right now."
I glanced past him and into the cottage. A shadow in the living room shifted. "That's all right, we're not cops."
He closed the door halfway and blocked my view. "Then you will understand if I tell you we would like to be left in peace."
"But we'd just like to-"
"Not at this time," he insisted. He made to shut the door the rest of the way. I placed my palm against the door and stopped it. "What are you doing? Let go at once!"
"Was that willow tree your favorite spot?" I called out.
Aude pushed against me. "I said leave us-"
"Wait, Connor." Bertha appeared from the living room. Her eyes were red from crying. "How do you know that?"
"We found something you wrote to Bill," I told her. My eyes flickered to Aude. "Something we'd like to talk to you about alone."
She walked up to her husband and set her hand on his shoulder. "I'll speak to them." Aude pursed his lips, but swung open the door and moved to the side. We stepped inside and Bertha gestured to the living room. "If you would please come in and have a seat."
Connor frowned at us and strode outside. He slammed the door hard behind himself.
Bertha winced and turned to us. "Now you can understand why I wished to shield my husband from this horrible mess. He is a very private man, and while he accepts visitations he doesn't like personal scandal."
"Hopefully with your help we can solve this thing fast," I told her.
She smiled and bowed her head. "I hope that, as well. If you would follow me."
We followed our hostess into the parlor and took a seat on the couch. She sat opposite us on the edge of one of the chairs. "Now what was it you found?"
Orion opened the folder and handed her the note. "This."
Bertha's eyes widened as she read the letter. She looked up at us and blinked. "How did you find this?"
Orion held up the folder. "It was in his citizen folder we got from the Librarian."
Bertha furrowed her brow. "It couldn't have been. I checked that folder myself before the file was moved from active to inactive. No one else has touched it since then. The Librarian would have told me."
I arched an eyebrow. "Did he tell you we'd touched it?"
She nodded. "He did."
"Is that why you were at the graveyard?" I questioned her.
Bertha closed her eyes and shook her head. "No. I always make sure my memorial for Bill is a few days before Halloween. The kids like to be there that night, you know."
"And you didn't want anyone to see you," Orion finished for her.
She nodded. "Yes. I didn't want to answer any awkward questions."
"Is that the tree where you two were supposed to meet?" I asked her.
She looked down at the note and sighed. "It was. I. . .I wanted to tell him that my father had given permission for us to marry."
Orion and I glanced at each other. "The ring?" he guessed.
I nodded. "The ring."
Bertha sat up straight and clasped her hands together. "Ring? What ring? Please tell me."
I returned my attention to her and pursed my lips. "I think I saw a silver ring on the ring finger of the skeleton."
Tears welled up in Bertha's eyes. She turned her face away and closed her eyes. The droplets of water streamed down her face, but her voice was firm. "I've known it for so long, and yet here I am crying." She gave off a bitter chuckle and shook her head. "Have I really been keeping hope that all this time it wasn't Bill visiting me in my dreams, pleading with me to help him?"
I arched my eyebrow. "Come again?"
Bertha swallowed and looked to us. "I am what's called clairvoyant. It's a gift from my mother's side, but my abilities are very weak." She took a deep breath and sighed. "But once a year for the last sixty-five years Bill has visited my dreams on the day he disappeared."
"What happens in the dream?" Orion asked her.
She shook her head. "Nothing. He appears and tries to speak to me, but I don't hear anything. Then I wake up."
I held up the envelope. "If Bill is visiting you then why'd you send us the tickets?"
Bertha tilted her head to one side and smiled at me. "I've been watching and listening to your exploits since you arrived. It reminded me so much of when Bill first came. He had a difficult time adjusting, as well, and was thoroughly amazed by the people who inhabited the area. I thought perhaps you of all people would be able to connect with him and learn what his spirit wants."
My eyes flickered to Orion. "The connection became a little too personal. He's inside Orion."
Bertha's eyes widened and she whipped her head to my mate. "Is this. . .is he really inside you?"
Orion nodded. "Yeah, but he's not happy about it. He nearly removed my own soul trying to get out himself."
Bertha started back. "Remove your soul. . .you mean kill you?"
"That's the gist we were getting from Madam Bentley," I agreed.
Bertha furrowed her brow and shook her head. "But Bill would never have killed anyone."
I frowned and glanced at Bertha. "You said you gave us the tickets so I could speak with him?"
Bertha nodded. "Yes. From what I heard you reminded me of him very much, and when I saw you in the drugstore yesterday I just knew you could reach him."
Orion studied my face. "What are you thinking?"
I leaned back and cupped my chin in my hand. "I'm thinking that Bill isn't too thrilled to be in your body. From what Bertha's telling us he'd be more comfortable in mine."
Orion grinned. "A guy after my own heart." I glared at him, and so did Bertha. He shrank in his seat and sheepishly grinned. "Sorry. . ."
"Now the question is how do we transfer him?" I mused.
"Can't Madam Bentley move his spirit?" Bertha suggested.
I shook my head. "No, she's still too weak, at least until tonight and Bill might not wait much longer after sunset to try another jailbreak."
Orion winced and rubbed his throat. "That is going to give me one hell of a sore throat."
Bertha raised her hand. "Perhaps I can help."
CHAPTER 16
I arched an eyebrow. "Help how?"
She smiled. "I may not have as much talent as Madam Bentley to call forth spirits, but I do have a personal connection with the one inside Orion. Personal connections make the spirits travel easier."
"Just like a good drink," Orion quipped.
I glared at him. "This is serious. Bill could try to get out of Bertha, too, and with Bentley out of commission we'll be in trouble."
Bertha shook her head. "Oh, I won't be transferring Bill's spirit into myself, at least not permanently. He will flow through me to another."
I frowned. "Then who-" She looked me over. My mouth dropped open and I pointed at myself. "Me?" I squeaked. She nodded. I leaned back and shook my head. "Hell no. I'm allergic to trouble."
Orion grinned. "If you were that allergic you would have died by now."
I glared at him out of the corners of my eyes. "Yeah, right after I met you. Anyway-" I returned my attention to Bertha, "-why don't you take him? He knows you."
She pursed her lips. "That's true, but I-well, I think our emotions might be too much for both of us. Besides, as you said, I will be here in case something should go wrong."
I pursed my lips. "What assurances do I have that Bill will like me any more than Orion?"
Bertha shook he
r head. "None, save what I've told you."
I glanced at Orion. He had dark shadows under his eyes, and his skin was pale. My shoulders slumped and a sigh escaped my lips. "All right." I faced Bertha. "How soon can we do this?"
She smiled. "Right now, if you want to."
I snorted. "Never would be a good time, but let's get this over with."
Bertha nodded and stood. "Let me get a few things from my room." She left the room.
I started back and whipped my head to the left when Orion slipped his hand over mine. His dark eyes studied my face. "You're sure you want to do this?" he whispered.
I shrugged. "Do we have a choice."
"There's always a choice."
I snorted and plucked his hand off of mine. "Not when it's cake or death, and we're all out of cake."
"We could risk it until evening," he suggested.
I crossed my arms and glared at him. "Are you questioning my authority as head reporter in this investigation."
"I'm questioning your sanity," he argued.
I waved my hand. "You obviously haven't met my mother. Insanity runs in our family."
He smiled. "I haven't met your mom, but I'd like to."
"After the possessions are over," I scolded him as Bertha returned. In her hands were two matching small glass orbs.
She shuffled past Orion and scooted her way between us on the couch. I nodded at her items. "What are those for?"
"Clear glass aids in the transfer," she explained as she held the balls in either hand. One hovered in front of Orion and the other was in front of me. "Put your palms on the top of the glass and close your eyes." We did as she asked. Her soothing voice broke through the darkness. "Take slow, deep breaths and relax. This will only take a moment. If it works, that is."
I frowned. "And if it doesn't?"
"Then we may all die."
My eyes flew open just as the orbs exploded with a near-blinding white light. The balls illuminated the room and at the same time reflected it.
Orion whipped his head back. His face scrunched up in pain and his mouth opened in a soundless scream. I saw the familiar blue and yellow lights glow inside his mouth. One stretched toward his lips and the yellow light was pushed before it.
Bertha shut her eyes and frowned. "Not that way, Bill."
Her hands glowed with the same pulsing light as the orbs. The blue light hesitated for a moment before it slipped back down his throat followed eagerly by the yellow light. I watched the blue glow flow through Orion's shoulder and down to his hand that was placed atop the ball. The light slipped through his fingers into the orb where it hesitated.
"Go on," Bertha whispered.
The blue light flowed up into her arm and across her chest. I instinctively tried to pull away my hand as it approached my orb, but my fingers were stuck.
Bertha peeked open her right eye and frowned. "Remain calm. This won't hurt at all."
The blue light sank into my orb and touched my fingers. It had an icy cold touch that made me shiver as it slipped inside of me. I gasped and closed my eyes as the cold sank into my body. A fleeting feeling of melancholy and anger filled me with a strange mix of despondent rage.
Then it was gone, and it was over.
Bertha removed her hands from the orbs. The glow disappeared and I felt the orb's hold on me vanish. I opened my eyes and drew my hand against my chest.
Orion hurried over to me and grasped my other hand. He studied my face. "Are you okay?"
I swallowed and nodded. "Y-yeah, just a little cold."
He pursed his lips. "It's worse during the night."
I cringed. "Oh goody."
Bertha turned in her seat so she faced us. "Can you make a connection with Bill?" she asked me.
I shrugged. "I don't even know how."
"Close your eyes and focus on the coldest spot in your body. Try to touch it with your mind," she instructed me.
I snorted and closed my eyes. "All right, but being a reporter my cold heart my get in the way."
Orion squeezed my hand. "I'll be here to keep it warm."
I smiled. "Flatterer."
"Focus," Bertha insisted.
I sighed. "All right, one sec." I squeezed my eyes as I focused on the coldest spot inside of me.
By some coincidence it did lay over my heart like a wet blanket in a pile of dry clothes. I focused my attention on that blanket. The cold twitched, and I heard a faint echo of a voice, but that was it.
I relaxed my body and shook my head as I opened my eyes. "No-can-do. He's not talking."
Bertha nodded. "I understand. It's a great strain for a spirit to speak during the day, and I'm sure the transfer took a great deal of energy on his part, as well."
Orion grasped my shoulders. "How about we go home? We could use a nap, too."
"A long one," I agreed as he helped me stand.
Bertha led us to the door and opened the entrance. "Whatever happens, please keep me informed."
I nodded. "We will."
Orion furrowed his brow and glanced at our hostess. "There's one thing I wanted to ask you. How'd you get tickets to Madam Bentley's seance?"
Bertha's face fell and she sighed. "The. . .the night Bill disappeared he wanted me to go with him to the seance. I felt intimidated by Madam Bentley's powers, and refused to go with him. He-" she pursed her lips and turned her face away from us, "-he threw the tickets on the ground and left. " A bitter smile slipped onto her lips. "I picked them up and kept them hoping he'd come back to take me."
"But her seance isn't on Halloween," I pointed out.
She cleared her throat and nodded. "That's true, but when she first started all those years ago the seance was on Halloween. Not many people attended because of the competing parties, so that's why it's now held before Halloween."
Orion smiled and bowed his head to her. "Thanks."
We turned away and walked down the path. The weak sun did little to warm my cold heart. We reached the side of the church and I glanced over my shoulder at the cottage. Bertha stood in the doorway. Her head was bent and her body shook.
It didn't take a reporter's instinct to know she was crying.
CHAPTER 17
We got back into Orion's car and drove home. After a full twenty-four hours awake I shuffled up the stairs with Orion's help and collapsed face-first on the bed. Orion stood over me beside the bed.
"You're sure you're okay?" he asked me.
"Hmghmhm."
He blinked at me. "What?"
I turned my face so my right cheek rested on the covers and glared up at him. "I said I'm fine and that you really need to stop asking that."
He furrowed his brow and cupped his chin in one hand. "I don't think that's what you said."
I rolled my eyes and turned my face away from him. "What I'm going to do is kill you if you don't let me rest like the dead."
I felt the bed shift as he sat down. His voice was soft and low. "That's what I'm worried about."
I returned my face to his direction and arched an eyebrow. "What?"
He set his arms on his legs and leaned forward facing the door. His expression was troubled. "Like you said before, that ghost could refuse you and try to get out."
I sighed. "But we have Bertha to help us, and there's always Bentley."
He looked ahead and pursed his lips. "I don't think she'd be willing to do that."
I rolled onto my stomach and raised myself onto my arms. A sly grin slid onto my lips. "I think for Troy she'd take the ghost herself. What's with her admiration for him, anyway?"
He sighed. "You're probably not going to believe this-"
"I'm a reporter. I doubt everything," I pointed out.
"-but Troy's probably the most powerful creature in the hollow."
I arched an eyebrow. "What kind of creature is he?"
Orion shrugged. "I don't know. That's why I said he's probably the most powerful creature. I've never seen him and Mab go one-on-one in a duel of strength."
&nb
sp; "Physical or metaphysical?" I asked him.
He chuckled. "Both, but I'd like to see him try to beat Mab in her cat form."
"Yeah, gives an old meaning to the words 'cat fight,'" I quipped. I frowned as a thought struck me. "How long has Troy been around here, anyway?"
"Longer than anyone else except maybe the Librarian," Orion told me. He twisted around to look at me. "Why?"
I sat up and crossed my legs. "That note we found in the folder. We found it after Troy browsed through it. Or at least he had a hold of it for a little while."
Orion closed his eyes and smiled. "I wouldn't put it past Troy to help us, and this would be his style. He doesn't like the direction approach."
"Like Mab," I added. I snorted and ran my hand through my hair. "Maybe those two are married and we're the marriage counselors trying to get them to work together again."
Orion shuddered. "Can I switch jobs?"
I laughed and draped my arms over his shoulders. "Nope. You're stuck with the job, and me."
My mate set his hand on one of mine and pecked a teasing kiss on my lips. "I suppose I can live with that."
A yawn nearly dislocated my jaws. "And I'll sleep on that, and we'll see what Mr. Mallory wants to tell us when I wake up."
He grinned. "I'll second that motion."
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to the bed. I nuzzled against his chest and closed my eyes. His warm body guided me into sleep.
Phones. Hideous abominations of technological advance. They were the destroyers of sleep and relaxing vacations.
And they also make for really weird intrusions into dreams about pink elephants.
The bed shifted. I creaked open my eyes and watched Orion pull his cell phone out of his pocket.
"Hello?" he answered. He listened for a moment and his expression darkened. "I see. And you want us down there right now?" He glanced at me. I shook my head. "All right. We'll be right there." He hung up. I glared at him. "That was Ambigo."
"I don't care if it was God calling for help with his toaster oven, I'm not getting up," I snapped.
"He said it's important."
"Don't care."
"The skeleton's disappeared."
I blinked at him. "Come again?"
Orion stood and looked down at me with pursed lips. "The skeleton you found this morning has disappeared from the morgue."
I glanced at my watch. It was four in the afternoon. "How could they lose a skeleton that fast?"
He shrugged. "I guess we'll find out."
Orion and I made the trip to the morgue. The human meat locker was located in a small building beside the police station and behind their patrol parking garage. The main entrance and their own parking lot was accessed via the alley behind the police station. Orion pulled up to the dingy gray stucco building with its flat roof and bland front door. It was starting to get dark when he shut off the engine.