Freaky Reapers (A Mystic Caravan Mystery Book 8)

by Amanda M. Lee

  “So you said. Twice now. What kind of revitalization? My understanding is that this place is practically abandoned now. I heard Max talking about it before we left Hemlock Cove yesterday.”

  My heart did a little somersault at the mention of Hemlock Cove. I’d been dubious when we first arrived in the small hamlet. I believed the town too small to contain the big personalities we traveled with. I’d been wrong. The town had even bigger personalities, and I’d found a sense of calm there that I hadn’t known in many other places. “We’ll have to go back for a visit one day. I liked it there.”

  “I agree.” His grin was flirty. “That’s the place we first said ‘I love you’ … without being able to blame it on a drunken slip, that is. It definitely deserves another visit. I think we should wait until just the two of us can go. It’s not that I’m not fond of our co-workers, but we sometimes need quiet time, and I think Hemlock Cove is the perfect place to be quiet.”

  “Good point. We’ll work in a visit when we can.”

  “We definitely will.” He slipped his arm around my shoulders and kissed my temple as he looked over the area. “So ... where should we set up?”

  The Michigan state fairgrounds differed from our other locations. The property housed numerous buildings, all of which were empty. I wasn’t sure positioning our trailers too close to those buildings was a good idea. “I think they sent a map with a spot circled on it,” I noted, moving to search my bag, which rested on the floor of the truck. “Let’s see what we’ve got.”

  While I rummaged for the map, my best friend Luke appeared at Kade’s side. His gaze was dubious as he looked at the neighborhood across the road, but he made a big show of shuttering his emotions when I focused on him.

  “This is nice,” he enthused. “I mean ... it’s really nice. I think it’s going to be a great visit.”

  I drew my eyebrows together. “You’re not just saying that because you think you’ll hurt my feelings if you tell the truth?”

  “Of course not.”

  I waited. I’d known Luke most of my adult life. I could tell when he was lying. More importantly, he knew I could tell.

  “Fine,” he said finally, blowing out a sigh. “It’s not good. I don’t like this place at all. I mean ... there’s a cemetery across the road.”

  “There is?” Kade craned his neck to look in the direction Luke gestured. He’d obviously missed that tidbit when we first pulled in. “You’re right. Eternal Sunshine Cemetery. Weird name for a cemetery, huh?”

  I’d heard worse. “People try to make death cheery, so they come up with ridiculous names,” I volunteered. “It doesn’t make anyone feel better about losing a loved one, but it makes the developers feel as if they’re doing something important. I think they should just be named things like ‘Plant Your Dead Here’ and be done with it.”

  “I can see your head is in a good place,” Luke drawled, shaking his head. “Are you anxious about being here?”

  “No.” It was an automatic answer and I pinned Kade with a pointed look to make sure he didn’t contradict me. “I’m not anxious in the least.”

  “She’s not,” Kade agreed. “She’s been calm and pleasant the entire drive.”

  Instead of being satisfied with the answer, Luke snorted. “Oh, please. I don’t know who you’re trying to fool with that load of crap. Who has known Poet longer than anyone?”

  “Max,” I answered without hesitation.

  Luke ignored my one-word answer. “That’s right. Me. I’m her best friend. I can just imagine how she was during the drive. Why do you think I insisted she ride with you?”

  Kade made an exaggerated face that caused me to chuckle. It felt good to laugh, which helped alleviate even more of the stress that I’d been carrying.

  “You didn’t insist on riding with me,” Kade countered. “You tried to trick her into riding with you. It was only six hours ago. Do you think I’ve forgotten that fast?”

  Luke’s stare was withering. “You’re imagining things. That’s not what happened at all.”

  My memory coincided with Kade’s, but I saw no reason to start an unnecessary fight. “It doesn’t matter,” I offered. “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me. Either of you.”

  “Did she tell you the story of the ruffians she used to live with down here?” Luke queried. “She told me the tale not long after we met. I still have nightmares.”

  “She told me how she met Max,” Kade volunteered. “That sounds like a mildly funny story. I bet he was surprised someone was ballsy enough to go against him in the magic department.”

  “I think that’s probably true,” Luke agreed. “When he returned to the circus grounds that night, he said he’d found a new performer and she would be joining us the next day. I didn’t find out until after the fact that Poet hadn’t agreed to anything of the sort … at least not yet. She told me a few weeks later and seemed in awe that Max was powerful enough to see the future.”

  I was sheepish when Kade slid his eyes to me. “At that point, I had no formal training when it came to magic. It was something I’d hid for a very long time. Max told me it was nothing to be ashamed of. He helped me learn thereafter ... something I’m profoundly grateful for.”

  “Me, too.” Kade squeezed me tight against his side. “I mean ... think about it. What are the odds that Max would be walking down the alley at the exact moment you were leaving it? What if you hadn’t tried to pick his pocket? He would’ve just carried on without talking to you. We never would’ve met.”

  I hadn’t looked about it that way before. “Life is a series of small events that lead to larger ones,” I noted. “It’s weird to think about, but there it is.”

  “It’s definitely weird to think about,” Kade agreed.

  We lapsed into silence for a moment, the three of us content just to stand there and think about what could’ve been. Then our resident lamia, Raven Marko, completely ruined the moment.

  “If you’re done lazing about, can we figure out what’s going on here?” she challenged, her long silver hair pulled back in a loose bun. She didn’t look happy. I wasn’t alarmed by her expression, though, because she never looked happy. “I would like to have the basic layout complete before dark. I don’t think this hellhole is the sort of place you want to run around in after dark.”

  I scowled. “We’re working on it,” I snapped. “Just ... hold your horses.”

  “Scales,” Luke corrected. “She has scales, not horses.”

  Raven ignored him. “Work faster,” she ordered. “I don’t have all day.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

  THE FESTIVAL ORGANIZER, Larry Wilcox, arrived and directed us to the location where we were supposed to set up. It was on a corner parcel that opened us up to danger from every direction. Generally we have woods on at least one side — sometimes even three — and that makes designing protection easy.

  That’s not how things would be on this trip.

  “Will this work for your needs?” Larry asked, his eyes bouncing around the group until they fell on Kade. He must’ve decided he was in charge, because he directed his full attention in Kade’s direction and puffed out his chest. “I was told this would be fine by some woman I talked to on the phone.”

  This was hardly the first time I’d been discarded as an authority figure. It grated all the same. “I was the woman you talked to on the phone,” I volunteered.

  “That’s lovely.” Larry’s smile was indulgent. “Are you his secretary?” He pointed at Kade.

  “No, I’m second-in-command at Mystic Caravan,” I replied, bristling. “I handle all the bookings.”

  “Does that put you in command?” Larry remained fixated on Kade, allowing Luke and I to make faces behind his back without risking notice.

  “I’m head of security,” Kade replied. “Poet is my boss.”

  “Really?” Larry appeared flabbergasted by the news. “That is ... interesting.”

  “Yes, because women in Detroit a
ren’t allowed positions of power,” Raven drawled, making a face. “This is the corner we’re staying in, right?” Her eyes were on me. “If so, I suggest putting the Midway on the Woodward side and clown row along Eight Mile. I’ve heard enough about that street, so I think that’s the best set-up for our particular needs.”

  I had to bite back a laugh. “This isn’t the same part of Eight Mile you saw in that Eminem movie,” I offered. “But I’m fine with that configuration. That will leave the entrance close to the parking lot, which is for the best.”

  “I agree.” Raven offered Larry a snide curtsy before slipping behind me. “We need to put the dreamcatcher up as soon as night falls,” she whispered so only I could hear. “This area isn’t safe ... for more reasons than one.”

  I knew what she was talking about. She was worried about crime from our human neighbors for a change rather than paranormal interlopers. The dreamcatcher was a magical net that drew in evil paranormals and humans alike. It helped protect us. Even though I wasn’t keen on her knee-jerk reaction regarding the area, I understood what she was saying. “Absolutely.” I smiled at her so Larry wouldn’t pick up on any strife. “Get the trailers up as soon as possible. Then we’ll have dinner and go from there.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain.” She saluted me and then cast some serious side eye in Larry’s direction. “Good day, sir.”

  I held it together despite Raven’s show, but Luke wasn’t as professional. His shoulders shook with silent laughter as Kade fixed the festival manager with a tight smile.

  “Is there anything else we need to know about the area?” Kade asked. “Do you have any specific requests?”

  “The area is fairly safe,” Larry replied, seemingly oblivious to the silent conversations sparking all around him. “Some of the local kids occasionally party in the cemetery. If you hear them in there, don’t hesitate to call the police.”

  “Of course,” Kade said congenially.

  “There isn’t a big transient population in the area. They seem to congregate in the Cass Corridor. If you see anyone who looks homeless you’re also supposed to call the police. We’re trying to keep this place clean.”

  I frowned. “How do you tell if someone is homeless just by looking at them?”

  “Oh, you can tell.” Larry’s nod was knowing. “If you can’t tell by sight alone, get close enough to smell them. Homeless people don’t shower. It’s horrible.”

  Sensing trouble, Kade moved his arm around my back. “We’ll keep an eye out,” he said, anchoring me tight to his side. “Is there anything else?”

  “Just know that I don’t want any carrying on,” Larry replied. “I don’t know if you guys do crazy rituals ... or have clowns running around willy-nilly ... but I would prefer you not draw attention from the neighbors or police. Can you handle that?”

  Kade’s smile never wavered. “I believe we can manage that.”

  “Great. Then we won’t have a problem.”

  I had serious doubts that was true, but I decided to keep them to myself. At least for now.

  DINNER WAS A CASUAL AFFAIR. We barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs, limiting side dishes to pasta and potato salad. Raven’s suggestion that we erect the dreamcatcher early had become a priority. In just a few hours, I’d noticed we were garnering unwanted attention from the people who lived in the area. That was on top of the group of men hanging at the corner across the road, resting their backs against the cemetery wall. They watched us with a mixture of fascination and enthusiasm. They didn’t look like the family-friendly-fun sort.

  “We need to go in small groups,” I announced as we gathered around the picnic tables after dinner. The dishes had been washed and put away. All that was left was securing our borders. “I don’t think anyone should be alone for this.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Naida groused. She was our water pixie and she was clearly agitated by the lack of lakes in our immediate area. “I’m not afraid of those little punks across the road.”

  “Well, that’s great for you,” I said. “But if you go alone you’ll draw attention. That’s another reason for the groups. We don’t want people asking what we’re doing. We simply want them to think we’re wandering around as couples or small groups of friends. It’s the easiest way to avoid detection.”

  “Poet is right,” Raven interjected. “We have to be careful not to draw attention. These neighborhoods are thick with dealers and druggies. I’m pretty sure those guys across the street are even worse. If they think we have something worth taking — even if it’s magic — they’ll come for us.

  “I’m not worried about them being able to harm us,” she continued. “We can easily take them. The thing is, I don’t want them to even try. Right now they think we’re circus freaks and they’re merely curious. We need to keep it that way.”

  “How do you want us to break up?” Dolph, our strongman, asked. He was somber and ready for action, which I appreciated.

  “You and Nixie take that way,” I ordered, gesturing toward one side of the parking lot. “Nellie, you and Naida take the other side of the parking lot. Make sure the wards are tight.”

  Nixie and Naida are sisters, but they are complete opposites in temperament. Nixie almost looked excited for a new adventure. As for Nellie, our bearded lady was really a male dwarf from another dimension. He simply enjoyed cross-dressing. He was also good with an ax. His appearance alone would be enough to dissuade looky-loos.

  “No problem.” Nellie nodded his approval.

  “Raven, you and Percival should take the Eight Mile corridor. Take Seth with you.”

  Raven made a face. “Why do I need an extra bodyguard?”

  “The corridor isn’t exactly safe,” I replied. “An attack could come from that direction. And no offense to Percival, but he won’t frighten anyone. Seth looks like a legitimate threat. You are the real threat, but I’d rather not throw out our magic if we can help it.”

  “Fine.” Raven looked resigned. “I guess that leaves you, Kade and Luke with the cemetery side.”

  “Yup. Kade and Luke should dissuade those idiots hanging on the corner from doing anything stupid. We need to work fast.”

  WE MADE AN INTERESTING THREESOME.

  Kade and Luke walked in front of me, carrying on inane conversation about Detroit sports teams and how bad they were. They acted as cover for me as I muttered curses and wards, and used my magic to draw an endless series of lines to form the dreamcatcher.

  Raven and I had designed it together. Along with Naida and Nixie, we erected it at every stop. It kept us safe and allowed us to fulfill our real purpose, which happened to be eradicating dangerous monsters. Nobody outside of our tight circle knew that.

  I worked fast. I was an old hand at working the magic. I could do it from memory. It seemed Naida, Nixie and Raven were doing the same, because I could see the ethereal lines of the dreamcatcher — only a paranormal being could recognize them — strengthening in record time.

  By the time I’d finished, I was tired. I’d expended a lot of magic in a short amount of time. I was ready for a good night’s sleep and some quiet time with Kade. When I lifted my head to tell them I was finished — opting to wait until they were done talking about the Red Wings’ former greatness — I was almost jolted out of my shoes when my gaze locked with that of a woman across the road.

  I wasn’t sure when she had arrived. It wasn’t even clear where she came from. I was, however, certain I’d met her before.

  “Tawny,” I muttered on an exhale, my mind briefly clouding. I couldn’t believe it was her. After all these years, all the miles I’d traveled, my past really had caught up with me. I wasn’t sure there ever was a true escape.

  3

  Three

  A blaring horn drew my attention to where the men were standing in front of the cemetery. Several of them were out in the middle of the road now, taunting cars as they passed and generally making a nuisance of themselves. When I turned back to where Tawny had stood, she was gone
.

  I spent a long time scanning the street to see if I could find her. It was possible she’d only changed her location. It was a fruitless endeavor. If she really had been there – and I was starting to have doubts – she was gone now.

  “Is something wrong?” Kade asked, rubbing his knuckles along my spine as he stared at the spot that had caught my attention. “Did you see something?”

  That was the question. “I thought I saw something,” I said finally. “I think my mind was playing tricks on me. There’s obviously nothing there.”

  He slid me a sidelong look. “Are you sure?”

  I forced a smile for his benefit. “Yeah. I might be a little haunted right now. It will pass.”

  He slipped his arm around my waist and tugged me to him. “I guess it’s good I like my women haunted.”

  His reaction was charming, and it allowed some of the agitation hanging over me to drop away. “I don’t understand why all men don’t chase after haunted women. They’re much more interesting.”

  He smacked a loud kiss against my lips as Luke rolled his eyes. “I agree. How about I take my interesting woman over to the fire and get comfortable for a few hours? I would like to keep my eyes on things for a little bit and put off going to bed. Just to be on the safe side, I mean.”

  He wouldn’t come right out and say it. That wasn’t his way. The neighborhood made him nervous. Sadly, I had news for him. Compared to the streets of certain Detroit neighborhoods – including the Cass Corridor – this area was actually peaceful. It felt relatively safe, too. That was the last thing he would want to hear, though, because he’d already convinced himself we were in a bad area.“A fire sounds great.” Briefly, my eyes flitted to Luke. He was still watching the men on the street. His expression was hard to read, but I felt waves of annoyance and suspicion washing off him. He wasn’t thrilled with the locals either. “Come on, Luke.” I kept my voice even as I grabbed his arm. I didn’t want him deciding he needed to play with our new friends. That would just get ugly. “Let’s have a fire. You can tell fun stories and eat s’mores.”