To Seize a Wayward Spirit

by R. L. Naquin

  “I wish I knew your name. Eyeball Guy seems rude. I don’t know you, do I?”

  Again, he nodded once, paused, then nodded twice.

  “Dude, you really aren’t good at this game. You’re not giving me anything.” I took a moment to think of a good question. “Is someone after you?”

  Two nods.

  He needed my help, but no one was after him. He had a body, but he didn’t, and I didn’t know him, but maybe I did.

  I tilted my head to the side. “Are you dead?”

  The eye widened, and the facial features nodded repeatedly till I thought they might come apart from each other.

  “Finally. Something we can work with.”

  Two more nods.

  Before I could think of another question, someone knocked on my door. My ears popped, and my new acquaintance was gone. I groaned. “Who is it?”

  “Kam? It’s Ash. Are you okay? I heard you talking to someone.”

  I climbed off the squealing bed and opened the door to let her in. “I was talking to Eyeball Guy.”

  She frowned and closed the door behind her. “You were talking to an eyeball?”

  “Well, no. He had a nose and an ear this time. He sneezed on me.” I pulled out my hairbrush and sat on the edge of the bed to work out the tangles. “I think it was the steam from the shower.”

  Ash gaped at me. “It was in the shower with you?”

  “He turned around so I could put a towel on. He’s a very polite eyeball.”

  “Oh, well, that makes all the difference.” She paused for a moment. “Are you freaking crazy?”

  I nodded. “Probably.”

  “Tahm’s going to throw a fit.”

  “Tahm needs to chill.” I grunted and pulled at a knot in my hair. “Where is he?”

  “Playing some kind of poker.”

  I grunted. “I thought it was a $200 buy-in.”

  “It is.”

  “Mr. By-the-Rules is downstairs gambling away hundreds of dollars?”

  She smirked. “Who said he was losing?”

  I raised my eyebrows in surprise. My unwelcome fiancé had hidden depths.

  Who knew?

  Chapter Five

  I didn’t see the eyeball guy again that night or the next morning. Apparently, he only wanted to play twenty questions with me, and Ash had scared him off. I suspected it took a tremendous amount of energy to show himself to me. Since he’d had more parts the second time, I hoped he was working on his game so he could show more of himself next time.

  At least, I hoped there’d be a next time. I hated to leave such an intriguing mystery unsolved. And if someone needed my assistance, I didn’t want him to give up just because I was a bad guesser. If I’d thought it would help, I would have left out milk and cookies to encourage him, but so far he didn’t have a digestive tract. A gesture like that might actually frustrate him instead. I’d have to be patient and hope for the best.

  Breakfast was a lot quieter than dinner had been. The leprechauns, especially, were more subdued. From time to time Finn glanced around the table, stopped at Tahm, then ducked his head and focused on his food. Something had happened at the poker table last night, but Tahm wasn’t talking. Buzz shoved eggs into his mouth while scowling at the Popeye and Olive Oyl salt and pepper shakers. He never broke eye contact with Popeye until he and Finn finished eating and left the table.

  I glanced at Tahm as the leprechauns left. One side of his mouth was drawn up in a half smirk.

  He popped a last bite of crispy bacon into his mouth and wiped his lips with a napkin. “Whenever you two are ready to go, I’ll be out on the front porch waiting.” He scooted his chair from the table, rose, pushed it back and followed the leprechauns out the front door.

  Ash drained her glass of orange juice and smacked her lips. “What’s up with him?”

  “Beats me.” I dropped my napkin next to my empty plate. “You were with him longer than I was last night.”

  Neither of us had an answer.

  I scanned the table, and the few folks still eating looked away, except for the dryad. “It’s Kelli, right?” I smiled at her to put her at ease.

  She nodded and nestled her fingers deeper into her morning bowl of dirt. “That’s right.”

  “Any idea what those three are up to?”

  “You’ll have to ask your man.” She chuckled. “What happens on poker night stays on poker night.”

  “Every night is poker night here.” I grimaced and pushed away from the table.

  Ash stood and followed me to the door. “Except Thursdays.”

  “Sure.” I pushed the door open. “What happens on D&D night will haunt you forever.”

  * * *

  Tahm denied any dealings with the leprechauns, and continued to deny it all the way to Wendy the banshee’s apartment. By the time I climbed out of the truck, I was ready to let it go, even though I knew he was lying. I could feel it. And if Tahm wasn’t going to take my word for it that getting mixed up with leprechauns never turned out well, then he could deal with the consequences himself.

  I slammed the door a little harder than I’d meant to, and the truck rattled. “Fine. Nothing’s up. But I’ve dealt with leprechauns before. Something’s always up. If you get taken advantage of, don’t expect me to bail you out.” I headed for the stairs leading to the second floor of the apartment complex.

  Behind me, Tahm murmured something, and Ash answered. I couldn’t make out what they said, but I didn’t care. Being the team leader wasn’t the fun adventure I’d expected. The whole situation was awkward as hell. I hadn’t asked for Tahm to show up, and I certainly hadn’t asked to train him.

  Things were simpler when it was only Ash and me. Boys always complicated things.

  I stood in front of the door to Wendy’s apartment and took a deep breath, held it, then let it out. I had to let our team conflicts go. As the leader, it was up to me to lead. There were more pressing problems than whatever Tahm had going with the mafia.

  I rapped my knuckles against the door and waited. Wendy was dead, but she might have had a roommate. I didn’t want to barge in on anyone.

  Ash squinted through the window and tried to see something between the curtains. “It’s really dark in there.”

  “Maybe she lived alone.” I knocked again.

  “What if no one’s home?” Tahm stood a short distance away, hands clasped in front of him like a bodyguard. “I doubt the landlord is going to let us in.”

  “We’ll let ourselves in then.” I paused, listening, but didn’t hear anything. “You seeing anything, Ash?”

  She leaned in closer, and condensation bloomed on the glass from her breath. “Nothing.”

  I pushed my bracelets up my wrist and brushed my fingers over the stones imbedded in my skin. The door clicked, and I turned the knob. “That’s how we’re getting in.”

  Tahm gasped. “Are you crazy?”

  I slipped inside and held the door open as Ash followed. “Possibly, but I’ve never stayed in an institution long enough for a proper diagnosis. Are you in or out? I can’t leave the door open. Someone might see us.”

  He gave a furtive glance around, then rushed inside and closed the door. He kept his voice low, almost a whisper. “I can’t believe you wasted magic to unlock the door. We’re breaking and entering. There are other ways.”

  I raised an eyebrow at him. “I didn’t hear you making suggestions. This is how I did it. It’s done. Either help or stay out of the way.” I winced internally. I didn’t like talking to him like that. I didn’t like how he questioned everything I did, either. Most of all, I didn’t like how my stomach tied up in knots every time I caught myself staring at his full lips whenever he spoke.

  He grunted and glanced around. “I’ll check the rest of the apartment.” He disappeared down a dark hal
lway.

  Ash squeezed my shoulder. “He’s trying.”

  “I know.” I must’ve been overreacting if Ash was defending him. “I’ll check the kitchen. Look for anything that will tell us something about Wendy we don’t already know.”

  The kitchen was small, even for an apartment. But it was clean, which, in itself, was information about our banshee. The fridge was full of juice and fresh vegetables and salad dressings. I wrinkled my nose at all the healthy rabbit food and shut the door. In addition to taking care of her home, Wendy took care of herself.

  The kitchen table was covered in a blue cloth with ruffled edges, and two yellow placemats sat empty in front of matching chairs. In the center, a small vase held several blue carnations. One chair wasn’t quite pushed in all the way, so I slid it closer. If Wendy’s soul had come home after slipping away from us, the single chair out of place probably drove her batty.

  Nobody should have to spend their afterlife fretting over details like that.

  As if thinking about her was the same as calling out her name, Wendy herself popped into view directly in front of me.

  I took an involuntary step backward and swallowed the squeak of surprise lodged in my throat.

  She floated a few inches above the floor and wrung her hands. Her lips moved, but I couldn’t make out what she was trying to tell me.

  “I can’t hear you, hun. The dead are silent. Is there something you need me to see?”

  Wendy drew her transparent eyebrows together and waved me to follow her into the living room and down the hall the way Tahm had gone. She hesitated when she found him in her room peering into her bedside drawer, then pointed at the closet.

  I reached for the closet door and slid it open.

  “Oh, my gods.” Tahm’s voice from behind me was breathless. “You found her. Hold on. I’ll get her.” The floor creaked as he drew closer.

  I swung around. “No, wait!”

  Tahm came toward us with his ring pointed at Wendy. Wendy’s expression turned to panic. Before I could stop either of them, she went airborne and zoomed through the glass in her bedroom window.

  “Dammit!” I scowled at Tahm. “At any time, did you hear me say, ‘Get her!’?”

  He took a step back, confusion plastered across his face. “Well, no. I assumed...”

  I poked him in the chest, punctuating my words with light jabs while also trying to squelch the pleasure of feeling the solidness of his pectorals. “Quit thinking you know what’s best. Quit undermining me. I’m in charge.” I dropped my hand and closed my eyes. “Look. I’m trying not to be mad at you. But I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you have. I know more about reaping and chasing souls, which is why I’m the team leader.” I opened my eyes and looked into his.

  He nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  I softened my voice. “And I’ve seen a lot more of this world and dealt with a lot more of the Hidden than you have. I need you to trust me. If I say leprechauns are no good, I’m telling you that for a damn good reason.”

  His jaw tightened. “All right.” He shifted his feet and looked at the floor. “But isn’t it our entire job to collect these souls?”

  I blinked at him. “No. Our job is to do what’s right by those souls. If a soul has unfinished business, I’m going to make it my top priority to help her finish it. Think of it as a last wish. And if there’s a murderer still out there, we try everything we can to stop him or her from taking more lives.” I folded my arms across my chest. “Because it’s the right thing to do.”

  Ash stood in the doorway listening. When I glanced her way, she held out her hand. A lanyard dangled from one finger and swung back and forth.

  “What did you find, Ash?” I smoothed my hand over my hair and down my long ponytail. The motion helped me ease the tension in the rest of my body, almost like a reset button.

  “Wendy’s name tag. She works at the Craft Shack.” She crossed the room and handed it to me.

  I frowned and took the lanyard from her. It was purple with tiny flowers. The name tag hung from a hook at the bottom and was covered in raised globs of glitter. The purple plastic was engraved with the name of the store and Wendy’s name.

  “Why does this place sound familiar?” I turned the plastic over and didn’t find anything else.

  Tahm cleared his throat. “It was in the file we took from that Ziggy guy. Felicia’s file.”

  I thought back to my brief read of Felicia’s information. “Felicia worked at the Craft Shack, too.” Finally, something I could work with. “So, not only were they both involved in this cosplaying thing, they worked together as well.” For the first time since breakfast, my muscles relaxed and I felt like myself again.

  Ash poked her head into the closet. “What do you suppose she wanted you to see in here?”

  I moved the hangers across the rod, checking out Wendy’s clothes. Most were tees and jeans with the occasional skirt or sweater. Nothing particularly interesting. I rolled the door closed, then opened the other side.

  “Holy crap.” Ash stuck her hand in the closet and grabbed a fistful of satiny fabric.

  I sucked in a breath and touched the beautiful gown. “What is this?”

  Ash unhooked the hanger and pulled the dress free to get a better look. It was a pink-and-white frothy thing with an enormous hoop underneath it that caused it to swing back and forth when she tilted the hanger. In the center of the chest was a turquoise stone the size of my fist. She turned the dress around to show an oversize pink bow at the waist. A small plastic bag hung from the hanger and held a tall, thin crown encrusted with stones around the base and a pair of long white gloves.

  I wrinkled my nose. “Well, this is a little over-the-top and froufrou, even for me.”

  Ash’s eyes danced with excitement. “No, it’s perfect! It’s Princess Peach.”

  “I have no idea who that is.” I was usually pretty good with pop culture references, but this birthday cake of a dress wasn’t ringing any bells.

  Ash frowned at me. “Mario Brothers? ‘Our princess is in another castle?’ Anything? You’ve played video games. I know you have.”

  I shook my head and shrugged. “Sorry.” I was a little embarrassed. Somehow I’d missed playing Mario Brothers. “Now Zelda, I’d have recognized. I played the hell out of that in the eighties. But Mario Brothers never interested me.”

  She hung the dress back in the closet and rubbed her shoulder. It had to weigh a ton. “Well, trust me when I tell you it’s exactly right. Whoever made this is a genius.”

  “Was.” Tahm stood beside the open drawer of the bed stand, holding an unfolded piece of paper.

  I blinked. “Was what?”

  He waved the note at me. “Was a genius. It’s cosplay. Wendy made it herself.” He crossed the room and handed the paper to me.

  I closed the closet door and took a look at what Tahm had found. It was the same letter Felicia had received, dated two weeks ago. Wendy had been the next in line to be the Cosplay Guest of Honor at the convention. “Well, that’s interesting.”

  Ash stretched her neck to see what I was reading. “Oh, wow. Do you think it’s a coincidence?”

  I sighed. “In murder, these things never are.”

  * * *

  The Craft Shack was magnificent. I’d never felt so inspired to make All the Things. Yarn and glue and glitter and fabric. Scissors that cut fancy shapes without effort. Hot glue guns and fake flowers. Baskets and beads.

  I wanted to live there.

  I decided not to barge in and ask for the manager right away. Snooping around a little first seemed smarter and less likely to spook the employees into clamming up, so I had us split up. There was a strong possibility that not all the employees would be Hidden. Rule number one when working for the Hidden government was to always try not to scare the humans.

  Ta
hm broke off and went to the back of the store, and Ash stuck with me. She’d only been aware of the Hidden world and her place in it for a few months, and this was a business in which Hidden folks worked with the general public. That meant the Hidden would be wearing their human overlays and would be difficult to spot. Now would be a perfect opportunity to help my apprentice learn to glimpse the Hidden underneath in a controlled way.

  We wandered down the aisles, each row tempting me with something new. I ran my fingers over spools of satiny ribbon, imagining the bows I could tie. In the next aisle, racks and racks of tiny rhinestones flashed in the bright overhead light, and my mind shifted to jeweled ribbons worn as chokers and hair bands.

  All the times I’d worked in dive bars and laundromats, it had never occurred to me that a place like this could exist. I’d given up on my job hunts way too easily.

  In the third aisle we came to, a small woman with a wide face, glasses and a purple apron stood next to a cart filled with boxes of colored sand. I had no idea what they were for, but I wanted to open them all and run my fingers through them.

  I squinted and focused my eyes on the woman, and her entire countenance shimmered and reformed as a squat woman with skin of stone. I glanced at Ash and nodded.

  Ash’s face went still, and her eyes narrowed. She frowned and shook her head, then tried again.

  The woman must have felt someone looking at her. She turned toward us with a polite, expectant expression on her face. “Can I help you find something?”

  I stepped forward, smiling. “How many colors does this sand come in? It’s so pretty.”

  Clearly, all the colors were right there in front of me on the shelf, but I wanted Ash to have time to practice until she could see the woman in her natural Hidden shape. The vision would be brief, but Ash needed to learn how to control it. The boarding house was cool because it gave her the chance to see and speak with a lot of different types of Hidden. But they were inside. She didn’t get to practice this important skill.

  The aproned woman straightened and grinned. “Oh, they come in about fifty colors. We only carry a little over half. If there’s a color you need and you don’t see it, I’m happy to bring out the catalog and custom order it for you.”