Familiar Spirits (Twilight Hollow Witchy Cozy Mysteries Book 1)

by Sara Christene

  “Bye sis.”

  I hung up and put my cell phone in my pocket, then took a look in the mirror. My jeans were dark enough to not show the grass stains, but my sweater didn’t fare quite as well. I leaned forward, tugging a dried leaf from my hair.

  When I was as presentable as I was going to get, I went out into the tavern.

  The tavern was a long rectangle, the bar on one side and tables on the other. At the back were pool tables and dart boards. Though it was only 5 o’clock, the dark glass and dimmed lighting put the tavern in perpetual twilight. People were already getting loud, some voices slurred. Max sat reading a menu at a table near the bar.

  I approached and sat down, taking up the other menu. When the server came, I ordered a burger and an IPA. Max ordered fish and chips and the same beer as me.

  We handed off our menus, and I was about to speak when I noticed a woman staring at us from the bar. I’d seen her around town a few times, and I thought her name was Mary.

  Max followed my gaze. “Why is that woman staring at me?”

  I realized that she was, in fact, staring at Max. It only looked like she was staring at us both because she had to look past me to see him. “I have no idea, but I think we’re about to find out.”

  She had slid down from her bar stool to march toward us. She was small, probably only 5’2” with boots that made her look taller. The crimson blouse she wore was perfect for her dark eyes and hair, and her pale skin. She seemed in her late thirties, though with her thick makeup it was hard to tell.

  She stopped in front of our table with her hands on her hips and looked down at Max. “You Neil’s cousin?”

  He frowned. “Yes?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Neil owed me five weeks backpay when someone bumped him off. I’d say it’s his family’s responsibility to make good on his debts.”

  I cleared my throat to get her attention. “You worked for Neil?”

  When those dark eyes landed on me I regretted speaking. “Yeah, I answered phones and did the billing at the auto shop. What’s it to you?”

  “Can you think of anyone who would have wanted to hurt him?”

  “Addy,” Max warned.

  She looked back and forth between the two of us. “Sure, I can think of people who would want to hurt him. Me, for one, seeing as he owed me. His ex-wife, he was always running around on her. And his brother Desmond. He came into the shop real angry the day before Neil died.”

  Max and I locked gazes. Hadn’t Desmond just told us he hadn’t seen his brother in months?

  “What about my money?” she pressed. “Tammy says I can work tables here, but it’ll take a while for me to save up enough for rent. I support my daughter on my own, and I’d rather she not be homeless.”

  “How much does he owe you?” I asked.

  “Ten bucks an hour, twenty hours a week, for five weeks.”

  I wrinkled my nose. Leave it to Neil to pay her under minimum wage when she had a daughter to support. He was probably paying her under the table too.

  Max handed her a business card. “I’m visiting Neil’s dad tomorrow. I’m sure he and I can figure something out for you.”

  She took the card, seeming a little stunned he had actually agreed to help her. “Well . . . thanks then. I’m Mary by the way.” She looked the card over again. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Hey Mary?” I asked before she could walk back to the bar.

  She pursed her lips. “Yes?”

  “Do you have any idea why Desmond was so upset with Neil?”

  She shook her head. “No idea, though I know Neil was real upset with him too.”

  “Do you know the names of any other women he was seeing beside Sasha?”

  She shrugged. “I figured that was none of my business. He hit on me a time or two, but my ex set him straight.”

  I lifted a brow. “Your ex?”

  “My boyfriend then, my ex now. Blake Monroe.” She looked to Max. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  I watched her as she walked back to the bar, but I could feel Max staring at me. “What happened to not asking questions about Neil?”

  I turned and gave him innocent eyes. “But it was such a good opportunity. Look at all we learned.”

  The server came back with our drinks, placed a frosted glass in front of each of us, then retreated.

  Max rubbed a hand across his face and shook his head. “What am I going to do with you?”

  I drained half my beer in three gulps, then set down my glass. “Well first, I think you’re going to buy me another drink.”

  The alcohol washed away the rest of my jitters, replacing them with excitement. Desmond had lied about seeing his brother, and Mary had just confirmed that Blake Monroe was a meaningful suspect.

  Max sighed. “At least promise you’ll take me with you when you question Desmond and Blake Monroe.”

  I grinned. “As long as you take me with you tomorrow to see Ike.”

  He shook his head and smiled as the server delivered our food. The burger smelled heavenly after a long day of only muffins for sustenance. As soon as the server was gone, I lifted it and took a bite. Divine.

  Max watched me. “You’re making that look like the best burger you’ve ever eaten.”

  I swallowed the bite then set the burger down. “Do you ever stop and think about just how amazing food is? How we can make so many different flavors, and how those flavors can actually inspire emotions?”

  He looked down at his fish and chips. “You know, I’ve never actually thought of it that way.”

  “It’s the whole reason I opened my cafe. I love that cozy feeling that tea and coffee can provide, and I wanted to do that for other people too. You don’t have to be a brain surgeon or a politician to make a difference in the world.”

  He ate a fry, chewing slow and thoughtful, then shrugged. “I’ve got nothing. Not half as good as your muffins.”

  Smiling, I took another sip of my half-empty beer, then turned at the sound of the door opening. In walked Logan White, and he did not look happy.

  He quickly spotted us and approached our table. “You’re not answering your phone.”

  My brows knit together. I leaned to one side and pulled my phone out of my back pocket. Sure enough, three missed calls. “Sorry, I couldn’t hear it over the noise.” I waved one hand toward the bar, which was slowly filling up. “How did you find us?”

  Logan remained standing, though there was a free chair. “I went by your house. Your sister told me where you were. She also mentioned that someone broke into your house the other night.”

  My mouth twisted. Curse Callie and her big mouth. “I don’t know that someone broke in. I probably just didn’t shut the door all the way. Nothing was missing.”

  Finally, he pulled out the third chair and sat. He leaned forward across the open space on the table and lowered his voice, “Addy, someone tried to kill you today. You need to take these things more seriously.”

  I would have told him that I was taking it seriously, and that I had made my sisters ward every door and window in my house, but I was pretty sure he already thought I was a nut. I didn’t need to further those suspicions.

  I lifted my hands in surrender. “Alright, you win. I’ll be careful.”

  “I’ll be placing an officer to watch your house tonight, just in case.”

  I batted my eyelashes. “If that will make you feel better, detective, I’ll take it.”

  “And I’ll be driving you home as soon as you finish your meal.”

  Now that made me frown. “I’m sure Max won’t mind dropping me off.”

  Logan lowered his chin. “Have you considered the fact that being around you is dangerous to him?”

  “Now wait—” Max began.

  I rubbed my brow, then shook my head at Max, realizing I’d been foolish. “He’s totally right. I’m sorry, I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

  “Addy, it’s fine, I can take care of myself.”

  I loo
ked down at my burger. Suddenly it didn’t seem so appetizing. “No, no one can protect themselves from the type of person who would hit a detective and a civilian with a truck just to get them out of the way.”

  Max opened his mouth, but no further argument came out.

  I felt awful. I was okay with risking my life, but not with risking Max’s. I turned to Logan. “You can drive me home.”

  “She sees reason, what a surprise.”

  I glared. “Don’t push it.” I waved the server over, then asked for a box for my food. I turned to Max. “I’ve got cash for my half.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, it’s on me.”

  Logan watched the exchange silently. Once the server had returned and my food was boxed up, Logan and I stood.

  “Call me tomorrow?” I said hopefully to Max.

  “Of course.”

  We said our goodbyes and left. I had a feeling I would no longer be joining Max to visit Ike. Even if he was still okay with it, what if me being around him really did risk his life? I was already in this thing, but Max didn’t have to be.

  Of course, visiting Ike on my own wasn’t out of the question. If he lived out near my mom, I could just happen by on the way to visit her.

  Though that meant I should probably actually visit her, and that meant traveling through the creepy woods there and back. Even worse, my mom would know something was up, and she would make me tell her. Once I told her, she’d try to convince me to stay with her, but that was an issue where I would put my foot down. My mom had only ever tried to protect me, to shield me since my magic was so weak, but I had a familiar now. I was a real witch, and I could take care of myself.

  Chapter Twelve

  I sat in Logan’s unmarked car with my boxed up burger in my lap. His attention was on the road, though we were only going about twenty miles per hour. I could have cut the tension with a knife. The sun was beginning to set, casting the neighborhood in shades of pink and orange.

  I jumped when Logan finally spoke. “I’m assuming it’s no coincidence you ended up at the same tavern Neil frequented.”

  I gnawed my lower lip. “There aren’t many places to get a good burger in town.”

  He laughed and shook his head, relaxing his shoulders a bit. “You may as well tell me what you learned.”

  I lifted a brow. “Oh really? You want my help?”

  “Another perspective on the case is welcome, especially when you’ve already paid the price of endangering yourself.”

  I rolled my eyes. “The woman who worked for Neil recognized Max tonight. She claimed Neil owed her five weeks of pay. She also claimed that Neil hit on her before, and that her boyfriend at the time, Blake Monroe, set him straight. Which is odd, considering Sasha told me Blake had been involved in one of Neil’s money-making schemes. Then there’s Desmond. He told us he hadn’t seen Neil in months, but Mary said Desmond had come to the shop to argue with Neil shortly before his death.”

  “Does this Mary have a last name?”

  I stared at him for a moment, trying to judge his expression, then smiled. “Could it be I have discovered information you didn’t already know?”

  “Legally Neil had no employees. He must have been paying Mary under the table, so no, I didn’t know she existed.”

  “He was also paying her below minimum wage. She’s supposed to call Max tomorrow, I’m sure he could get her information for you.”

  We pulled up to my house. Logan shut off the engine. “I’ll wait out here until the officer arrives.”

  I stared at him. “You know, you’re not very good at saying thank you.”

  His smile was a brief flicker in the growing darkness. “Neither are you, Ms. O’Shea.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “You may as well come in until the officer arrives. If you don’t, Luna will just come back out here and drag you by the collar.”

  Now it was his turn to stare. “Seriously?”

  “Seriously. And haven’t you heard, it’s bad luck to cross Luna O’Shea. Now let’s go.” I lifted my boxed up burger from my lap and opened the door.

  The chilly night air clamped around me as we exited the car, and I realized I’d left my coat in Max’s Jeep. We walked up the driveway and went through the unlocked front door to find Callie and Luna curled up on the couch with a massive bowl of popcorn between them. Spooky was curled up on the other side of Luna. A rom-com played on my small TV.

  My sisters looked up, both with green clay face masks and braids in their hair.

  “Why hello again, detective,” Callie said, not embarrassed in the least.

  Luna stretched out her sweatpants-clad legs, crossing her ankles on top of the coffee table. “I see you’ve found our delinquent sister.”

  I locked the door behind us, shaking my head. “Let’s go into the kitchen.”

  Grinning from ear to ear, Logan followed me as I led the way. Spooky hopped off the couch as we passed, trotting into the kitchen just ahead of me.

  I put a kettle on while Logan walked around a small dining area. He looked down at one kitchen windowsill, running his finger across it to pick up a few flakes of scattered herbs. He observed them thoughtfully.

  “Tea or coffee?” I asked, hoping to distract him.

  He dusted the herbs off his fingertips, then turned to me with a raised brow. “Isn’t it too late for coffee?”

  “Only if you’re a foolish mortal.”

  He laughed. “Coffee it is then.”

  Spooky had hopped up on the table to examine our new guest. Logan reached out a tentative hand, which Spooky sniffed, then rubbed his nose against.

  Shaking my head, I turned my attention to the coffee. I ground fresh beans, then measured the grinds into a French press.

  I had just poured the hot water when Spooky hissed. I whipped around, worried he was trying to claw Logan, but he was looking out the dark window.

  Logan peered with him. “Stay here, Addy. I think I see something outside.”

  Goosebumps prickled up my skin as an uneasy feeling clenched my gut. I heard my sisters whispering in the other room before hurrying into the kitchen.

  “Addy,” Callie said, her voice low with warning.

  “I know.” I walked toward Logan. “You’re going to have to trust me, detective, but we need to stay in the house.”

  Spooky had arched his back and was spitting at the window. The frame started shaking.

  Logan drew his gun and stepped back. “Everyone, behind me!”

  Spooky hopped down from the table and hurried back to me, almost as if he had understood Logan’s words. I picked him up, then looked to my sisters standing on either side of me in their ridiculous face masks.

  I felt a surge of dark power, then the window shattered, raining glass into the kitchen. Logan stood with his gun pointed at a white transparent shape floating through the window.

  I swallowed a lump in my throat. It was a ghost, but ghosts weren’t supposed to be this powerful. Especially the ghost of a mundane man like Neil Howard.

  Logan seemed frozen, but he didn’t back down. He pointed his gun at the ghost. “Don’t take another step.”

  Neil’s white spectral form leered at the detective, then looked past him to me. “Time to pay for my death, little witch.”

  My eyes flew wide. Why was he looking at me when he said that? He floated past Logan, who followed him with his gun, but there was nothing to shoot at. The ghost was entirely incorporeal.

  I put Spooky down and took both my sister’s hands. The moment the cat curled around my leg, magic flowed through me. We began to chant.

  Neil stopped moving toward us, raising his hands to push against the invisible barrier we had formed.

  Logan stepped back toward the broken window, watching us with wide eyes, his gun forgotten in his hand.

  We continued to chant, an old ritual to banish angry spirits.

  Neil started shrieking. He pushed against the barrier, his transparent features contorted with rag
e.

  An unearthly wind kicked up, pushing him back. He slowly lost his hold on the mundane world. In my mind, it was like prying his fingers up one by one.

  A magical breeze picked up locks of my hair as we continued our chant. The wind gave a sudden gust, carrying what remained of Neil’s spectral form back out the window.

  The wind died down.

  My hands clasped in either of my sisters’ trembled. “How did the ghost just do that? How did he get past the wards?”

  “That wasn’t a normal ghost,” Luna said. “Something dark was giving it power.”

  Callie dropped my hand. “I think we have a more pressing problem, ladies.”

  Logan was staring at us, his gun lowered, but not put away. His bronze skin had gone three shades paler. He shook his head as his eyes landed solely on me. “What did I just see?”

  I swallowed a lump in my throat. “An elaborate prank?”

  He shook his head, glancing at the broken window before taking a step toward us. “That thing. That thing looked like the ghost of Neil Howard.”

  I glanced at each of my sisters. Luna chewed her lip, and Callie shrugged. I looked back to Logan. “I’m not quite sure what to tell you, detective.”

  “Why did that thing think you needed to pay for Neil’s murder?”

  I took a deep, steadying breath. “I don’t know.”

  A knock at the front door interrupted us.

  Logan glanced that way, then put his gun up. “We are not done talking about this.” He went to answer the door.

  As soon as he was gone, I turned toward my sisters. “What was that? What should we do?”

  Callie took my hand and squeezed it. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to convince him that his eyes were just playing tricks on him.”

  I didn’t think so either, but that meant I would have to tell him the truth, at least in part. He’d probably try to have me committed. I heard him in the other room telling his officer everything was fine, and to wait outside.

  The door shut, and I went to meet him in the living room with Spooky following at my heels. Logan and I both looked at each other, and I just wasn’t sure what to say.

  He glanced at my sisters as they came to stand in the kitchen doorway, then back to me. “Alright, Ms. O’Shea, I think it’s time you told me everything, from the beginning.”