Of Blood and Monsters

by D. G. Swank

  “Oh, that’s right,” he said, shuffling through the stack. He slowly removed several photos and placed them directly in front of me. One wide shot of my parents together, lying on the asphalt, their clothes bloody from their gunshot wounds. The next two showed my parents’ faces in death. My mother’s anguish. My father’s disappointment that he’d failed to protect me. That he’d underestimated the Guardians.

  Tears flooded my eyes as I stared at them. They’d died for me. They’d died for nothing.

  “This is cruel and unnecessary,” my attorney said in disgust. “My client was ten years old when her parents were brutally murdered in front of her. Are you suggesting she plotted to kill them?”

  “Did she?” he asked. “Stranger things have happened.”

  My attorney got to her feet. “My client has been nothing but cooperative and compliant. Suggesting she had something to do with her parents’ murders is cruel. Mrs. Corden has chosen not to press charges, which means my client is no longer under arrest.” She turned to me, then said in a gentler tone, “You don’t have to answer anything else, Piper. We’re leaving.”

  Everything felt like it was in slow motion. I couldn’t pry my gaze from my parents’ faces. I couldn’t help feeling like I’d failed them.

  That’s nonsense, Piper, Abel said in a short tone. The Guardians were responsible for their deaths. Not you.

  Abel was right—of course he was right—but their faces…

  “I have one more photo to show you,” the detective said, his smug tone back. “Then we’ll be done.”

  I steeled myself, knowing what I was about to face.

  Detective Lawton pulled out another photo and placed it in front of me without commentary.

  Hudson’s naked body lay on the concrete floor. Thankfully, he was lying partially on his stomach, and the position provided him with some semblance of dignity in his death.

  “You don’t look all that surprised,” the detective said, sounding pleased with himself.

  I still didn’t say anything.

  “Do you know who this is?” he prodded.

  “Hudson,” I said, my voice breaking.

  “So you do know him,” the asshole said. “There was some question since he was naked and had no identification on him, but I recognized him from when I dropped by your house a couple of weeks ago.” He pointed to the corner of his eye with his fingertip. “I never forget a face, and apparently you have a thing for your lovers’ naked backs.” He grinned and winked.

  I stared up at him in disbelief. My best friend was dead—murdered—and he was making light of it.

  “Were you born a monster or did you become one?” I asked in disbelief.

  He laughed. “I’m no monster, Piper, but you definitely believe in them, don’t you? You truly believe demons walk the earth.” He paused. “In fact, you believe demons were responsible for all of these attacks, am I right?”

  My mouth gaped open in shock at his callousness.

  Do not answer him. He’s trying to entrap you.

  “Come on, Piper.” He paused. “May I call you Piper?”

  I shook my head. What was his game now? “You already have been.”

  “True enough.” He settled back in his seat. “Did you know your best friend was dead?”

  I took slow, steady breaths.

  “He was living with you, correct? Why didn’t you report that he was missing?”

  “Because I saw him just yesterday afternoon.”

  “Was he going somewhere last night? Meeting friends?”

  Tears were streaming down my cheeks. “I don’t know. We both went to our rooms to take naps in the early afternoon, and when I got up, he was gone.”

  “And when was that?”

  “Late. Maybe eight or nine.”

  “That’s quite a nap,” he said in a derogatory tone. “What did you do after that?”

  “I was with Kieran Abel.”

  “At your house?”

  “No,” I said, then lied. “We were at his house in the mountains.” I took a breath, trying to gather my wits about me, then went on the offensive. “Why didn’t you tell me about Hudson first? My attorney’s right; you’re cruel. What’s your game, Detective Lawson? Is this fun for you?”

  He leaned forward, staring into my face. “No, Piper. Murder isn’t fun.” He cocked his head. “Or is it?”

  “How would I know?”

  I heard my attorney’s shoes scuff slightly, like she was preparing to get up.

  “Did you even realize Mr. Maine was missing?” the detective asked. “Or were you busy screwing your multiple Tinder dates?”

  My attorney shot to her feet. “And with that, we’re done.”

  I got to my feet too and followed her around the table.

  Detective Lawson turned in his chair. “Do you really think your ex-boyfriend and the priest were attacked by bears? Or were they attacked by demons?”

  “Do not answer that,” my attorney said as she pounded on the door.

  The detective got to his feet and turned to face me. “You said you were sending a ghost to hell in that trashed kitchen. How did you know it wasn’t a demon?”

  I pressed my lips together.

  “Did you go to that warehouse to fight demons?” he asked. “Was your friend collateral damage?”

  I kept quiet as my attorney pounded on the door again. “We’re ready to leave, Detective.”

  “Sure, but give me just a few more moments.” He paused. “Isn’t it funny that these bear attacks started after the Lost Colony appeared? Didn’t your ghost business pick up around that same time?”

  My attorney turned to face him. “My client will not be answering any more questions,” she said. “So if you’re not holding her or arresting her for something outside the vandalism charges Mrs. Corden dropped, I strongly suggest you let us go.”

  “But Ms. Lancaster’s barely told me anything.” Detective Lawton watched us for a few more seconds, then sighed. “Let them out.”

  I heard the lock click and my attorney opened the door, waiting for me to walk out first. We were heading down the hall toward the door to the reception area when I sensed a ghost close by.

  Great.

  My attorney opened the door, and I saw Abel pop up from a chair, looking very much like he had the first night I’d met him in this exact same spot, only this time he looked concerned rather than cocky. Had he been worried the detective might arrest me? Or was it because of the ghost standing next to him? The young man who watched me with panic in his eyes.

  “I have more questions for you, Ms. Lancaster,” Detective Lawton called from the open doorway. “We need to schedule a time for you to come back in.”

  I ignored him as the ghostly young man approached me. “You’re her.”

  I started to walk past him, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me to a halt. “Please. Help me.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said under my breath. “I can’t.”

  “Please,” he begged. “I don’t want to be here anymore.”

  This situation was odd for me, and it wasn’t just because I was standing in the police department waiting area being observed by the detective who was sure I was a murderer. Ghosts didn’t usually seek out my help. Most of the time, I had to convince them they were ready to move on. It unnerved me that this one not only knew who I was but wanted my help.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, pulling free. “I can’t.”

  “Who are you talking to, Ms. Lancaster?” the detective asked in a smug tone while still standing in the doorway. He was several feet away, but still watching me closely.

  The ghost grabbed my arm again and held on tight. “Please,” he said. “I need you to tell my girlfriend I’m sorry and I didn’t mean it.”

  “Go tell her yourself,” I whispered.

  “I can’t leave the police station.” The ghost held up his hands, letting his long sleeves fall a few inches down his arms to reveal a pair of handcuffs. Had the handcuffs bound him t
o this place?

  “Piper,” Abel warned in a low tone. “We must leave. Now.”

  He was right, of course. The sooner I escaped Detective Lawton’s watchful eye the better, but I also couldn’t leave this man who was begging for my help.

  “What’s your name?” I whispered, casting the ghost a quick glance then pretending to talk to Abel.

  “Tyler Miller.”

  “And your girlfriend’s name?”

  “Piper.” Abel started to wrap an arm around my back, but I pushed him away.

  Relief filled Tyler’s eyes. “Vicki Daniels.”

  I was going to regret this, but it was too late to turn back now. “I need to know more. What did you say to her? And can you give me something specific to help her believe me?”

  Tears filled his eyes. “I told her I was sleeping with my boss, but it wasn’t true.” He rubbed his forehead with the heel of his palm. “She was jealous, and I was pissed and drunk and I told her that to piss her off. I left then, only I was stupid and crashed my car. They brought me in on a DUI, but I choked to death on vomit and died in my cell.”

  He looked over my shoulder, to where Detective Lawton was standing. “I was in bad shape, but not just ‘cause I’d been drinking. When they brought me in, I fell to the floor with handcuffs on and”—he gestured at the detective—“he kicked me in the ribs. Don’t trust that one.”

  I’d had no intention of trusting him before, but now…

  “I never got to tell her I was sorry,” Tyler said. “She still believes I cheated on her. Will you tell her?”

  “Yeah,” I said softly. “I’ll tell her. Are you ready to move on?” Part of me was scared to send him to the afterlife, lest the wrong door open for him. He’d died in a jail…his chances of a fiery afterlife were higher, but he was ready to move along.

  He nodded and a bright white light appeared in front of the receptionist’s window. He gave me a worried smile. “You promise you’ll tell her?”

  “Yes,” I said, my knees nearly buckling with my relief. “I promise.” Then I watched as he walked into the light and the bright vortex swallowed him whole.

  Abel grabbed my arm and started dragging me toward the exit.

  “Hold up there,” Detective Lawton said as he took several steps closer. “What was all of that?”

  Abel shot me a warning look, but I turned back to face the detective. “What was what?”

  “All that.” He waved his arm in a wide sweep. “Who were you talking to?”

  “She was talking to me,” Abel said in a tone so low it sounded like a warning.

  “Nooo…” the detective said, dragging out the word as a gleam filled his eyes. “She was talking to someone else.”

  “Piper’s officially done answering questions,” Abel said, tugging me to the door.

  The detective darted for the door and blocked our exit. “Were you talking to a ghost just then, Ms. Lancaster?”

  Abel shot me another warning look.

  “Ms. Lancaster, if you can’t be more cooperative, then I’ll be forced to hold you until you’re more willing to chat.”

  “You can’t be serious.” Abel’s mouth dropped open, and it would have been humorous if my freedom weren’t on the line.

  “I’m afraid I am,” the detective said in his arrogant tone.

  “On what grounds?”

  “All I need are my suspicions, Mr. Abel, and right now those are pretty high.”

  Abel turned to my attorney. “Mary.” Her name was said as an order.

  She finally jumped in, lifting her chin and somehow managing to look down on the man even though he was taller than her. “Detective, the charges against my client were dropped, but she agreed to cooperate. She was more than happy to answer questions, but you didn’t really ask questions, did you? You were intent on shocking and upsetting her. She would have been far more cooperative had you been less adversarial.”

  “Would your client like some milk and cookies and a bedtime story before she confesses?” he asked, his voice mimicking a small child.

  “My client would like to be treated respectfully and not be subjected to gruesome photos of incidents that have absolutely nothing to do with her.”

  The detective turned to me. “You’re a ghost hunter, right?”

  I almost didn’t answer, but it was on my website for anyone to see. “Not a hunter, per se.”

  “Oh, that’s right,” he said, snapping his fingers. “You call yourself a gentle ghost whisperer.”

  “That’s right,” I confirmed, earning another glare from Abel. I saw no reason to deny it. I saw no reason to deny it when I advertised the fact online.

  “And you purport to communicate with ghosts and spirits? People hire you to talk to them?”

  Why was he asking me all of this? I’d already admitted to it during both of my visits here. I had a very bad feeling, but I still found myself saying, “Yes.”

  I wouldn’t lie about something so easily proven.

  “Are the ghosts real, Ms. Lancaster, or are you making them up and committing fraud by charging people money to talk to them?” He grinned. “That’s right. I’ve done more looking into you. I know you charge now.”

  The first time I was here, I’d gotten out of the fraud allegation by telling him I didn’t charge for my services, but that strategy wasn’t really an option this time around. “And your point is?”

  “Either you’re tricking those poor grieving people into giving you money to ‘talk’”—he used air quotes—“to their loved ones, or you truly believe you are talking to dead people. Which is it?”

  “Detective…” my attorney said in a warning tone.

  The police officer turned to her with outstretched hands. “What? She has a website advertising that she talks to ghosts. Does she believe it or not? Why won’t she answer the question?”

  “I’m not a fraud,” I said. “I talk to ghosts. I help them with their unfinished business.”

  “Were you talking to a ghost just now?” he asked, his eyes glittering with malice.

  “Yes. His name was Tyler Miller and he died here. He’d been arrested on a DUI and choked on his own vomit.”

  For a second the detective’s expression froze, but then he said, “Anyone could have come up with his name. It’s a matter of public record.”

  “He said he was wearing handcuffs when you kicked him in the ribs.”

  The color leached out of his face, but then his eyes filled with rage. “Piper Lancaster,” he said as he drew out his handcuffs, “you’re under arrest.”

  Abel stepped in front of me and released a snarl. “What are the charges?”

  “No charges yet,” the detective said with a slimy grin. “But she’s an obvious flight risk. I can hold her for forty-eight hours until I get the charges nailed down.”

  “Detective Lawton,” my attorney said, her voice strained. “My client’s entire life is here in Asheville. She has a home, family, friends, a business…she’s no flight risk. There’s no need to hold her while you’re on your witch hunt.”

  “I disagree,” he said. “Ms. Lancaster is obviously deluded and a danger to herself and others. For all we know, her delusion got her friend Mr. Maine killed.”

  Abel’s body vibrated with rage. “She’s not deluded.”

  Detective Lawton’s eyebrows shot up in amusement. “And you’ve known her how long? Just a few weeks ago, you told me you were her Tinder date.”

  “Mr. Abel,” my attorney said, placing a hand on his arm. “Let me handle this.”

  “Then handle it!” he shouted.

  “I can arrest you too, Kieran Abel,” the detective said. “I’d love to. Just keep giving me a reason.”

  My attorney started arguing with him, so I took advantage of his distraction.

  “Abel,” I said in a calm voice even though I was panicking. I put a hand on his arm. “Abel, listen to me.”

  He jerked his gaze down to meet mine. He was furious and I wouldn’t put it
past him to physically attack the detective to keep me out of jail.

  “Abel, you can’t get arrested too. Have you talked to Deidre yet?”

  “No. She’s avoiding me.” His eyes hardened. “She’ll never work with me, Waboose, but she’ll work with you. Let me take you from this place.”

  “No. I can’t just leave.” A new thought hit me and I lowered my voice. “Oh my God. The demons are coming tonight.”

  “Yes. Which is why we need to go. You’re in danger if I leave you here.” I could see he was considering something drastic.

  “No, Abel. Don’t do anything stupid.”

  “Like leaving you here to face the demons alone and weaponless? That would be stupid.” He cast a dark glance at the detective. “I can kill him without even touching him.”

  They weren’t empty words. He could make the detective’s heart explode in his chest. “No. Don’t. I’m already under suspicion. You can’t be too.”

  Although the gate between the worlds had been opened, there was still a tenuous separation between them. My gut feeling was that we needed to maintain that as long as possible. No public use of power.

  “I’m not leaving you here, Waboose. You’ll be completely unprotected—weaponless, wardless… No.”

  “I’m sure you hired that hotshot attorney for more than just her pretty face.” The dark look he shot me suggested he wasn’t amused. “Use the legal system, Abel. You could break me out, but I’d be running from the law for God knows how long.”

  “Following human laws does me no good if you’re dead.”

  I didn’t respond because while his statement sounded callous, I knew he was worried because he cared about me, not because he needed me for his original purpose.

  “I’ll let this play out for now,” he said in a tight voice. “But if they keep you here past dark, I will walk right into this place and get you out, human laws be damned.” His eyes narrowed. “Do not think about arguing with me.”

  I forced a smile. “You like me.”

  I’d told him the same thing weeks ago, much to his aggravation.

  “I love you,” he said without hesitation. “I’ve waited hundreds of years for you, Waboose. I won’t lose you this way.”

  I stared at him in shock. Never in a million years would I have expected Kieran Abel to admit he loved me, but before I could respond, the detective ended his argument with my attorney and slapped a pair of handcuffs on my wrists. He pushed me out of the waiting room while he read me my rights again.