by Yvonne Heidt
How come doing the right thing hurt so badly?
Tiffany cleared her throat. “Shall we get started?”
Jordan thought about leaving but decided to stay and listen. Then she could put all of this away and behind her and get back to normal. It made her sad to realize that until this moment, she hadn’t realized what a crappy place it was to be.
“We have some interesting evidence from our investigation. It was very active that night, and we all had personal experiences and psychic impressions. First off, we caught slamming doors on the recorder in the basement.” She pushed Play.
Jordan’s attention sparked when she heard the metal crash, and she recalled the first time she kissed Sunny. Thirty seconds later, she heard it again and remembered how she fit between Sunny’s thighs.
“But,” Tiffany continued, “we didn’t get any video. The camera’s battery shut down.”
Jordan felt her cheeks heat. She wouldn’t have needed to see the video anyway. The memory of what she’d experienced that night was permanently embedded in her consciousness. It was compelling physical evidence. In spite of her reservations, she wanted to hear more.
“The next thing we caught was this, also in the basement.” Tiffany clicked her mouse.
“Is that a growl?” Steve paled. “That sounds wicked and absolutely terrifying.”
Jordan’s hair prickled on her arms. The sound was eerie. Hell, she hadn’t expected this. She’d been so wrapped up in Sunny and her own refusal to believe in the paranormal that she hadn’t been paying any real attention to what was going on. She had been so sure that there were logical explanations for everything.
When she heard the laughter of small children, she startled. “Where was that?” she asked.
“The courtyard.”
“Are they trapped here?” Steve asked.
“No. They talked with Sunny and told her they came to visit their grandfather, who used to live here. They didn’t die here, but he did.”
“Which apartment?”
Tiffany tapped the blueprint. “Here. In this building.”
“Is he still here?”
“We didn’t catch any trace of the grandfather. But that’s not unusual. Just because someone has the ability to communicate with spirits doesn’t mean that they all step forward to do so.”
“What about the washing machines?” Steve asked.
“That episode appears to be connected with this next piece of evidence.”
Tiffany clicked again. “This is the camera in Jordan’s apartment. We didn’t actually go in there to do a reading on the space because Jordan was gone, but it picked up some interesting audio.”
Get out, bitch.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Steve jumped out of his chair. “I’m moving.” He pointed at Jordan. “You are too.”
“It’s not done yet,” Tiffany said. “Listen.”
Kill her.
Jordan chilled to the bone. “Is there more?”
“More? You want more? We should go now,” he said.
“Steve, I want you to listen, okay?” Tiffany spoke in a soothing tone. “It’s gone now. Shade took care of it last week, remember?”
“What did she do?”
“What Shade does best. She kicked some ass. We don’t ask her for many details.”
“What the hell is it?” Jordan asked.
“After the investigation, we combed through the tapes and video, then I did some research.” Tiffany pulled out a folder from the stack. “I went to the library and found a newspaper article from nineteen fifty-four. Apparently, there was a murder-suicide in your apartment. According to the reporter, they found evidence suggesting the man was responsible for at least four other deaths. All five women were raped and strangled.”
“Jesus,” Jordan said. “What am I supposed to do with that?”
“How come we didn’t know that? I mean, we didn’t have any problems in that apartment before.”
“We can’t know for sure. The entity didn’t interact with us at the time. It could be that the recent remodel after the last tenant left woke it up, or the entity connected with Jordan for whatever reason. It could be a little of both.”
That dark voice felt connected to her? The thought was terrifying. Was that what Sunny was dealing with when she was around Jordan? She remembered her aggressive behavior toward her and felt mortified. It was all too much to take in.
She did know one thing. She was far too dangerous to be close to. Especially around Sunny.
Jordan got up and left without saying a word.
*
Sunny loaded her bag into the van and shut the door. Tonight’s investigation had been booked two months ago by the new owners of a dilapidated hotel. It had been a while since the team had worked such a large building, and she was excited to get going.
Jordan’s truck pulled up and parked across the street. Sunny tried to ignore the butterflies. What was it with Jordan and the push-me pull-you routine? Sunny didn’t want to keep justifying who and what she was anymore. It was exhausting her both spiritually and mentally. She’d spent restless nights since walking out of Jordan’s apartment thinking about Jordan’s hot skin against her own. She’d even cried at the feeling of emptiness inside when she realized they’d never be together. But she wasn’t going to give up who she was or deny her gift because Jordan refused to believe in anything outside her closed mind. Then why is she here? Sunny motioned to Shade and Tiffany that she’d be right back.
The driver’s window rolled down as she approached it. Determined to keep her cool, she sent her senses outward automatically, but hit the brick wall. Again. When she reached the truck, she let out a small cry of dismay. Jordan’s cheekbone was purple and swollen. “Jordan, what happened to you?” Sunny forgot her resolution to stay detached and cupped her cheek gently.
“You should see the other guy.”
“What? Never mind, get out of the truck.” Jordan stepped out and looked embarrassed. Sunny held her for a second before stepping away. “I only have a few minutes, but I want to hear about this.”
“What did you do to me?” Jordan looked defeated and lost. “I can’t think, I can’t eat, and sleep is impossible. I can’t do anything.”
“How is that my fault, Jordan?”
“I’m almost positive it’s all your talk about feelings and personal demons.”
“What happened?”
“This morning, I went to work and we got a tip on the kidnappers and rapists who hurt that girl. I got to the location and another unit already apprehended them, but they weren’t cuffed yet. One of the fucking punks had the nerve to ask why we were arresting him because the bitch liked what they did to her. Something inside me snapped. I actually felt it rip through me like a freight train. How dare he think he had the right to break her like that, as if she were nothing and didn’t matter?” Jordan’s voice cracked. “So, long story short, I beat the shit out of him and ended up on suspension.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Take it away.”
“What, Jordan? Take what away?”
“The shadows.”
Sunny was hurt. Jordan hadn’t come to apologize or ask for another chance. If she had said she missed her first or asked, instead of demanding she take them away, she would have been glad to help her. “I don’t have time right now. Make an appointment.”
“What? Wait. Where are you going?”
“Hamilton Hotel in Seattle.”
Jordan’s eyes widened. “You absolutely can’t go there.”
“Excuse me?” Sunny asked. She felt her temper start to rise.
“I mean, it’s dangerous. It’s full of junkies and it’s a major gang hideout.”
“The new owners called us. It’s been cleared out and it’s under renovation.” Sunny folded her arms across her chest and stood her ground. “It’s my job.”
“I said no. You can’t go.”
“I’m most certain that I can. And I don’t re
call asking for your permission, or needing it, for that matter.” Who the hell did she think she was ordering her like a child? “I’m pretty sure we’re still done here.”
Jordan grabbed her elbow when she tried to walk away.
“You’re hurting me. Let go.”
“I’m sorry.” She immediately loosened her grip. “Let me go with you. I know the neighborhood.”
Sunny shook her head. “Why on earth would you want to do that, Jordan? Why would you ask to go on an investigation? You don’t believe in ghosts, remember? You’re so close-minded, you’ll only hamper what it is I have to do, and I don’t have time to babysit a skeptic.”
“I can protect you,” Jordan said.
“Really? Because from where I’m standing, the only thing I’ve needed protection from lately is you.”
“But—”
“No buts, Jordan. I’ve opened myself up to negative energy several times, yet you refuse to deal with the shadows that keep us apart. I don’t know whether it’s ignorance on your part or fear that keeps you from believing in me, but every time you negate what I feel or believe, you break a piece of my heart. I’m not going to let you hurt me anymore.”
Sunny held her tears in check on the way back to the van. She had to keep it together for the job ahead, but she knew she would cry later.
*
Jordan wanted to run after Sunny, but the van was pulling away from the curb. The conversation hadn’t gone at all like she’d hoped. She tripped over her words, and nothing she wanted to say came out. But that didn’t really matter did it? The last thing she wanted to do was hurt her. She would have to follow her instead. Jordan couldn’t erase the pain she’d caused her, but she would protect her from the very real characters and criminals that she knew trolled the neighborhood she was headed to.
Jordan jumped back in her truck. She’d have to drive around to Seattle. It would take her extra time, but there was nowhere for her to hide on the ferry.
The gas light turned red, and Jordan swore before detouring to get more. She pushed the speed limit for the next hour in a race to get there before Sunny.
It was still light out when she exited the freeway and took a shortcut to the hotel. She knew these streets like the back of her hand. Garbage littered the alleys, and the powerful smell of old garbage and stale beer made her close her window.
Jordan parked a couple of blocks away, then jogged to the building. She needn’t have worried after all; new cyclone fences surrounded the property. Had it been so long, then? She searched her memory and felt a little shaky when she realized that she’d been shot only a few blocks away. So much had happened over the last year and a half.
“Jordan, is that you?”
The question startled her. She turned toward the man in the shadows beside the Dumpster. Her stomach tensed before she recognized him. “Liam?”
“How have you been?”
Jordan relaxed and held out her hand for him to shake. He was one of the few fellow officers who had showed support during the ugly internal investigation.
“I heard you were patrolling Bremerton on the other side of the water. What the hell are you doing back here?”
“Oh, you know,” Jordan said vaguely and pointed to the hotel.
“Are you moonlighting for the security detail?” Liam looked surprised. “I hadn’t heard.”
Jordan grasped at the explanation and nodded slightly. She wasn’t lying—exactly. She hadn’t been hired but came to protect Sunny. She wasn’t above playing semantics to accomplish that goal. “I’m late. Where do I check in?”
“They’re setting up in the lobby. I can radio you in.”
“No, thanks,” she said quickly. “Maybe I can sneak in the back?” She was disgusted at her wheedling tone, but would gladly lose a little dignity at this point.
Liam chuckled and winked, producing a key to the gate. “I never saw you.”
“Thanks, I owe you one.”
*
Sunny followed Shade, Tiffany, and the owners on their second tour of the hotel while intermittently checking her clipboard. “Okay, you said there was activity in the lobby. Has anything happened since we last talked?”
Eric Whitman glanced at his partner, Frank Story. “You can see how much progress has been made in this area.”
Construction debris littered the lobby of the once-grand hotel. Tools, sawdust, empty boxes, and fast food wrappers were strewn around half-finished projects. It looked the same to Sunny. “I’ll have to take your word for it.”
Frank laughed. “Eric has great vision. But me? Not so much.”
“I can see it,” Tiffany said. “How it was, I mean. Chestnut wood, brass mirrors, glass chandeliers. It’s quite lovely.”
Eric nodded. “And it will be again.”
“If we can keep a construction crew on site,” Frank muttered. “They keep quitting. We’re already hiring them out of Olympia.”
“What are they saying?”
“You know, the usual. Somebody is watching them, moving their equipment and tools, tapping them on the shoulders, whispers in the ear. That sort of stuff.”
“Have you experienced any of this?”
“I have,” Eric said. “But the weird thing is that I don’t feel threatened at all.”
Sunny smiled and tilted her head. “It’s because you talk to them.”
“How do you know that?” He looked surprised.
“We’ll get into that later. How about you, Frank? Any experiences lately?”
“Sometimes it’s stronger than others.” He pointed to the staircase. “But just last week, I actually saw someone coming down them. I knew it wasn’t Eric because I knew he was in our fifth-floor apartment.”
“This place is huge,” said Shade. “What made you decide to take it on? It must be costing you a fortune.”
“More,” Eric said. “Thank baby Jesus for Microsoft stock.”
“And Google,” Frank added.
“Let’s get back to the apparition. Did you see what he was wearing?”
“Top hat, turn-of-the-century suit, cane—oh, and a black mustache.”
Sunny wrote Frank’s description in her notes. It matched the dapper gentleman currently leaning against the banister watching them. Sunny reined in her senses and he vanished from her mind’s eye. She jotted the time in the margin.
The group started at the top of the hotel and worked their way down. Frank and Eric took the time to describe each of their personal encounters and those they heard secondhand. So far, the third floor showed the most activity.
The first and second floors and the basement were all still undergoing major renovation and continued to hold an abandoned feeling. Eric wouldn’t enter the basement at all, preferring instead to wait in the cavernous kitchen, and no amount of persuasion could convince him to join them.
“Those used to be the servants’ quarters over there that we have plans to turn into a state-of-the-art gym and spa. The last contractor had workers down here who claimed they heard crying and knocking in the walls, whispers, et cetera.”
“Have you?”
“I try not to come down here and never at night. But yes, I hear strange noises.” Frank led them to another large area with pipes sticking out of the walls. “Laundry facilities.” He held up a hand. “And the plumbers quit too. One of them said a pipe wrench flew across the room and stuck in the drywall.” Sunny continued to write while he talked.
Frank hesitated in front of the boiler room. “I hate it in here.”
“I don’t blame you,” Shade said.
He looked at her, clearly nervous. “I’ve heard unholy screaming coming from that room. Forgive me for not going in.” He backed away a few paces.
Shade turned to Sunny. “There are energy traces. Do you want me to look right now?”
Sunny shook her head. “No. Not right now. The clients are scared enough. Tiff?”
Tiffany reached out but stopped short of actually touching the door. “It’s—n
o, not without protection.”
Sunny could sense other trying to get her attention and closed her wall tighter. God, this place was full of unhappy spirits.
*
Jordan hugged the wall. If the door opened, she was ready to jump behind the furnace. Something tickled her nose, and she hoped she wasn’t going to sneeze.
She had just finished searching the basement for vagrants when she’d heard the group coming down the stairs. She ducked into the only room that looked like a hiding space, barely shutting the door behind her before they turned the corner.
There were no transients or junkies lurking in the shadows, and Jordan was glad for it because she had no idea what she would have done if there were. She was on suspension, lied about being security, and to top it off, was in possession of an unregistered firearm. What the hell was she thinking? The sound of voices grew fainter as the group moved away. Jordan let out a sigh of relief and counted to fifty before she crept out of the boiler room.
*
Sunny spread the floor plan on the reception desk they had set up as command central and marked where she wanted cameras placed.
Eric handed her the keys to the building. “We’re going to the Hilton. Here’s our cell numbers. Security is outside patrolling, but other than that, we aren’t expecting anyone tonight.” A look of concern crossed his face. “Are you girls going to be okay?”
“Maybe we should stay, Eric. We could—”
“We’re fine,” Shade interrupted. “It’s not our first rodeo.” She smiled to soften the harsh tone of her refusal. “Go on. Get out of here.”
“We got a hot tub,” Eric said.
“And booked a midnight massage with margaritas.”
“Yee-haw!” Tiffany knuckle-bumped Frank.
“We’ll see you in the morning,” Sunny said, shooing them to the entry. After she locked the glass door, she waved to the officer standing by the fence before returning to Tiffany and Shade to finish their game plan for the night. The building was much too large to work out of the back of the van, and Sunny wanted them all together on this investigation anyway.
