Barking, the dogs ran off obediently. Red threw himself onto the woman and plopped his weight down on her back while Hugo stood nearby on alert, watching for any attempt to escape.

  The woman screamed with rage. Mark secured her and put her hands in cuffs, dragging her to her feet.

  “Where’s Angela?” Jackson demanded.

  “You’ll never find her. I’ll die before I tell you. You can let the dogs chew me to bits, and I still won’t tell you. She’s going to die. That bitch is going to die. Who the hell finds someone in a tree? She’s a witch and a bitch, and she made my father die—”

  “Your father died,” Brodie said, “because he was trying to shank another prisoner, and someone jumped on him instead. Not to mention the number of people he killed with his drugs, right?”

  “You’ve brought it up a step, though. Killing your accomplices and clients with fentanyl if they stopped obeying or reneged on the money,” Jackson said. “Where. Is. Angela?” Jackson said again.

  “Slice me to ribbons. Oh, wait, you can’t. You’re cops,” Angela said.

  “We are agents,” Jackson said. “But you’re right. Of course, the dogs don’t really know they’re law enforcement. Patrick, these guys never swore an oath, did they?”

  “I don’t care. I’ll never tell you where she is. She is going to die. You’ll never find her!”

  “Well,” a strong, feminine voice said suddenly.

  It was Angela’s voice.

  And she walked into the small clearing by the tree, filthy and ragged but standing straight and apparently unharmed. She smiled at Jackson, seemed to stop herself from running to him, and addressed the woman he now knew to be Jennifer Tanner instead.

  “They’re not going to have to find me because I’m not lost anymore.”

  “But you will be dead!” another voice suddenly raged.

  Jackson swung around, at the ready. He’d known. He’d known because the man had said he was coming to the tomb and hadn’t. He’d been busy.

  Helping Debbie do whatever it was they’d done with Angela. She’d needed help. Just as she would have needed help getting the bodies into and hung in the crypt.

  Jefferson Moore had a gun. And he raised it, ready to fire.

  But Jackson had been in law enforcement for the majority of his adult life.

  And he was faster. He didn’t even have to kill the man, just shoot the gun out of his hand.

  Screaming and wailing, the man fell to the ground. Heedless of the dogs and the cuffs now binding her wrists, Jennifer Tanner crawled her way to him, sobbing, thanking God that he was alive, promising him they would get off and everything would be all right.

  “Well, go figure,” Patrick said. “I do believe we owe Mr. Robertson an apology. But in the weeks to come, we’ll have a lot of digging to do.”

  “We’ll get these guys out of here,” Mark told Jackson and Angela. He smiled at Angela and told her, “You need a bath.”

  “I do. And in the next few days, we’ll get on clearing out the tunnels. But tomorrow is Halloween. Trick-or-treat. Though I think Miss Tanner gets the trick this year. We get the treat.” She turned, and Jackson saw that the ghost of Colonel George Clayborn was with her. “Thanks to a little help from our good friend, Colonel Clayborn.”

  “She’s seeing a ghost. She’s nuts. She’s not right!” Jennifer Tanner raged.

  “Oh, get her out of here. Please,” Jackson said.

  “With pleasure. Thank you, Colonel Clayborn,” Mark said. He grabbed hold of the writer, Jefferson Moore, who was screaming that he needed medical help. Ragnar and the others followed, and the dogs obediently ran along.

  “I need to call Brodie quickly and tell him to let Robertson go. And then... well, Mark is right. You really need a bath. Still...”

  Jackson paused, looking at the ghost. “She is amazing, right?” he asked.

  “Special Agent Angela Hawkins Crow would have gotten out with or without me, but it was a pleasure to help. I know why I’m here. You will keep visiting and ask me for help when needed?” he asked.

  “Oh, sir. Yes, indeed,” Angela promised. “Those guys can do the paperwork. I’d love to go home and have a shower.”

  They bid the colonel goodnight and headed out. At the car, however, Jackson had to stop. He held her tightly for just a minute. He was so grateful to have her in his arms.

  She held him in return. They didn’t talk.

  They made it home just in time for the kids to be going to bed.

  They also informed Angela that she needed a bath. She laughed and agreed once more but added that she’d had to play a bit in the ground for her, Daddy, and the Krewe to catch the bad guys.

  “But we all get to do Halloween?” Corby asked excitedly, with Victoria echoing him.

  “You bet,” Angela promised.

  Dirty and all, she hugged her children and told Jackson that she’d get them to bed. They said goodnight to Mary, thanked her again, and assured her that the Halloween party the next day was on.

  Jackson felt his phone vibrating and headed into their bedroom to answer it. A few minutes later, Angela came in, and he told her about the conversation he’d just had with Patrick.

  “Mark, Colleen, and our wonderful Krewe members have been on paperwork duty, and Patrick had a very interesting conversation with Mr. Jefferson Moore. He discovered that it wasn’t the proclaimed architect who made the adjustments to the tomb, but a Robertson during the Civil War. He created the tunnel beneath the crypt that led to the forest as part of the Underground Railroad. When Debbie Nolan, as we knew her, lost her father, she set her mind on revenge. And using his drug business gave her an edge. She recruited followers to help her get the drugs out and make the money needed for her ruses, and when they got in the way, she used new recruits, strung out and desperate, to kill the people jeopardizing their livelihood. The victims, we’ll discover, were in on the sales—junkies. She used a lot of fentanyl to get rid of people who had outlived their usefulness, too. What she wanted in the end was to get to us. Starting with you. But... she wanted to punish the FBI in general. She was both sociopathic and a damned good actress.”

  She nodded. “So, they’ve done the paperwork?”

  “Well, they’re doing the paperwork. We’ll have a lot of pieces to finish up. But the way things seem to be going, we’ll have a lot of work tomorrow morning...”

  “And then Halloween. A good, fun one. Finally.”

  “You got it.”

  She smiled at him for a minute and then said, “Ick! All right! Shower! Hey, that’s the first time in my life several people have told me that I needed a bath.”

  “Well...”

  She smiled and bee-lined for the bathroom. Jackson gave her a minute and then joined her.

  At first, they smiled and ran soap over each other.

  He had to keep holding her.

  They finally made it into the bed and made love.

  And he held her throughout the night. Maybe they were lucky. Perhaps they knew how to appreciate the simple things like sleeping together. Because they knew how quickly it could all be taken away.

  Holding each other tight, they slept.

  And morning came.

  Jackson woke first, leaning up on an elbow just to watch her sleep.

  Her eyes opened, dazzling and beautiful.

  And he smiled.

  “Happy Halloween!” he said.

  She laughed. “Yes, Happy Halloween.”

  Epilogue

  Halloween

  Angela was delighted. For a moment, she simply closed her eyes and then reopened them.

  The world was full of light.

  Laughter and music surrounded her.

  Best of all, she was alive and well. She was with both her family and her extended family. And the world, as she had always known and appreciated it, was a beautiful place.

  And, remarkably, tonight they could celebrate.

  The Krewe Halloween party proved a big success. Everyone from every floor gathered in the largest conference room and the reception area. They tried to have something for each of the holidays, big or small. Many agents were away, working cases across the country and beyond, but whoever was in town and free was always welcome to join.

  That included Mary, who was there with her beloved nephew, Agent Axel Tiger.

  Adam and Jackson had decided from the first days of the Krewe that the concept of family would be important to the group.

  They’d ordered in a nice supply of food for tonight. Halloween, while not yet Thanksgiving, was still a good time for a main course of turkey. For the pescatarians, there was grilled salmon, the vegans had tofurky, and for the vegetarians, a pasta dish filled with vegetables.

  Everyone had been invited to bring their children, so there were plenty of candy bowls.

  Of course, Angela had also come up with treats of fruit snacks, apples, and mini-protein bars, a little healthier than the candy, but it was Halloween.

  A cake had been crafted to look like a Jack-o-lantern.

  However, there were no dangling skeletons or the like to be found around the office.

  They’d had a bit too much of the real thing recently.

  In unusual fashion for their son, Corby had opted to be a superhero this year rather than any kind of a ghoul or monster. Little Victoria was delighted to run around as a mermaid.

  Angela had decided to wear a Disney costume. One that allowed her to represent her favorite storybook character: Maleficent.

  Someone had teased Jackson about bringing out his father’s old ceremonial clothing, but he’d said it had just felt right.

  Will, who had been an actual magician and illusionist before joining the Krewe, returned to his roots. As Merlin, he spent much of the night entertaining the children and adults alike with his tricks.

  The night came to an end, and Jackson’s last speech for the event, as was customary, was his thank you to his team.

  He told them that it didn’t mean they had to go home. He just had to go home—that’s what happened when you had kids in the house.

  His words, as intended, were met with laughter, and then there were a bunch of goodbyes. In no time, they were finally out of there with the kids and then back at home. And though it took a bit—the kids had enjoyed a truly wonderful day at school, in the neighborhood, and at the party—they finally got Corby and Victoria to bed for the night.

  Then, it was time to be together.

  Sometimes, they talked about their cases.

  But not that night.

  Tonight was just for gratitude.

  “There’s nothing I love like a good fairy who can be the toughest woman in the universe as well,” Jackson said as he swept her into his arms. Her Maleficent horns fell to the floor, and the rest of their costumes soon followed.

  She had just one reply.

  “This is so much more comfortable than a bed of stone.”

  He smiled and pulled her more tightly against him.

  “My love, I would sleep with you anywhere. Then again, we did buy a good mattress.”

  She grinned, and they kissed.

  Soon, Halloween was history, and yet it was one to remember for both the fear and the wonder of the teamwork and training that let them all survive—and conquer.

  Then there was being with Jackson.

  Making love.

  And loving.

  * * * *

  Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Heather Graham, discover Haunted House, The Dead Heat of Summer, Blood Night, Haunted Be the Holidays, Hallow Be The Haunt, Crimson Twilight, When Irish Eyes Are Haunting, All Hallows Eve, and Blood on the Bayou.

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  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Nine

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  DRAGON UNBOUND by Donna Grant

  A Dragon Kings Novella

  NOTHING BUT INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  A Montgomery Ink: Fort Collins Novella

  THE MASTERMIND by Dylan Allen

  A Rivers Wilde Novella

  JUST ONE WISH by Carly Phillips

  A Kingston Family Novella

  BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by Skye Warren

  A Rochester Novella

  GOSSAMER IN THE DARKNESS by Kristen Ashley

  A Fantasyland Novella

  DELIGHTED by Lexi Blake

  A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  THE GRAVESIDE BAR AND GRILL by Darynda Jones

  A Charley Davidson Novella

  THE ANTI-FAN AND THE IDOL by Rachel Van Dyken

  A My Summer In Seoul Novella

  CHARMED BY YOU by J. Kenner

  A Stark Security Novella

  THE CLOSE-UP by Kennedy Ryan

  A Hollywood Renaissance Novella

  DESCEND TO DARKNESS by Heather Graham

  A Krewe of Hunters Novella

  BOND OF PASSION by Larissa Ione

  A Demonica Novella

  JUST WHAT I NEEDED by Kylie Scott

  A Stage Dive Novella

  THE SCRAMBLE by Kristen Proby

  A Single in Seattle Novella

  Also from Blue Box Press

  THE BAIT by C.W. Gortner and M.J. Rose

  THE FASHION ORPHANS by Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose

  TAKING THE LEAP by Kristen Ashley

  A River Rain Novel

  SAPPHIRE SUNSET by Christopher Rice writing as C. Travis Rice

  A Sapphire Cove Novel

  THE WAR OF TWO QUEENS by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  A Blood and Ash Novel

  THE MURDERS AT FLEAT HOUSE by Lucinda Riley

  THE HEIST by C.W. Gortner and M.J. Rose

  SAPPHIRE SPRING by Christopher Rice writing as C. Travis Rice

  A Sapphire Cove Novel

  MAKING THE MATCH by Kristen Ashley

  A River Rain Novel

  A LIGHT IN THE FLAME by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  A Flesh and Fire Novel

  Discover More Heather Graham

  Haunted House: A Krewe of Hunters Novella

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  Halloween! Strange things are going to happen and every year, while loving the holiday, members of the Krewe of Hunters also dread it.

  Something somewhere is bound to happen.

  And it does.

  Krewe member Jon Dickson’s fiancée Kylie Connelly is contacted by an old friend who has just moved to Salem, Massachusetts, when the unimaginable happens as the holiday approaches.

  Jenny Auger has just managed to buy the historic home of her dreams. But it comes with far more history than she ever imagined—the skeletal remains of seven victims interred in the old walls of the house years and years before—along with a threatening curse.

  And strange things are happening in the city. Bizarre attacks…murders that mimic days of old.

  With Halloween on the way.

  Kylie has a history with the city of Salem, and her strange talent for being within the minds of those under attack—first realized in the city—remains sharp.

  But the situation is far more dire than what they have discovered, with strange events and attacks occurring.

  And with all their talent for crime solving—with help from the living and the dead—it still remains to be seen if they can solve the murders of the past before Halloween, and the bloodbath that just might occur if the sins of a time gone by cannot be brought to light.

  * * * *

  The Dead Heat of Summer: A Krewe of Hunters Novella

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  Casey Nicholson has always been a little bit sensitive, and she puts it to use in her shop in Jackson Square, where she reads tarot cards and tea leaves. She’s not a medium, but she can read people well.

  When the ghost of Lena Marceau comes to her in the cemetery, shedding tears and begging for help, Casey’s at first terrified and then determined. Lena knows she was the victim of a malicious murder. Assumes her husband was, as well, and now fears that her daughter and sister are also in danger. And all over what she believes is someone’s quest to control Marceau Industries, the company left to Lena’s late husband.

  Casey isn’t sure how she can help Lena. She isn’t an investigator or with any arm of law enforcement. But when she receives a visit from a tall, dark and very handsome stranger—ironically an FBI agent—she realizes that she’s being drawn into a deadly game where she must discover the truth or possibly die trying.

  Special Agent Ryder McKinley of the Krewe of Hunters has his own strange connection to the case. Hoping to solve the mystery of his cousin’s death, he arrives at Casey’s shop during his hunt for answers and finds something wholly unexpected. He fears that Casey’s involvement puts her in danger, yet she’s already knee-deep in deadly waters. Unfortunately, there’s nothing to do but follow the leads and hope they don’t also fall prey to the vicious and very human evil hunting his family.

  * * * *

  Blood Night: A Krewe of Hunters Novella

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  Any member of the Krewe of Hunters is accustomed to the strange. And to conversing now and then with the dead.

  For Andre Rousseau and Cheyenne Donegal, an encounter with the deceased in a cemetery is certainly nothing new.

  But this year, Halloween is taking them across the pond—unofficially.

  Their experiences in life haven’t prepared them for what’s to come.

  Cheyenne’s distant cousin and dear friend Emily Donegal has called from London. Murder has come to her neighborhood, with bodies just outside Highgate Cemetery, drained of blood.