Cain clutched my hair, pulling as if he could drag me from his mind.

  Taliyah hadn’t moved any closer, her hands up in the air, palms forward, and there was a look of absolute panic on her mug.

  “Cain, there was an accident and… and you died,” she said, real slow like. “Do you remember?”

  “What?” My voice came out wrong, too harsh and flat. “That’s ridiculous.” He turned to move my neck and took stock of everything around him. “I’m in my house!”

  “I know,” Taliyah continued. “But only because we brought you back.”

  “No,” he said and shook my noggin.

  Afraid so, champ, I answered him in thought, before wondering if he could actually hear me. You’re now a ghostie, but it ain’t so bad, trust me, I speak from experience.

  I could sympathize; finding out you’re a spook was no walk in the park. But I was also getting pretty tired of Cain taking his shock out on my body so I might not have been as tactful as I coulda been.

  “No, no this isn’t… possible,” he insisted as he continued to shake my noggin and the definite feeling of panic welled up within me. “I... I need to get out of here.”

  Cain leaped away from the wall and stumbled toward the door. The thought of what trouble he could get us into while staggering around Haven Hollow at night and in our current condition rattled me enough that I was able to seize control of my hands.

  I slipped the ring off.

  Cain and I split apart in a wash of cold air, and I was in control of my body again.

  I took a really deep inhale and then sank to my knees, breathing hard. Pain radiated through me from every point where he’d slammed my body into the furniture in his house. I definitely wasn’t no fan of being jerked around like a marionette.

  “Cain?” Taliyah asked as she bent down beside me, placing her hand on my back.

  Cain staggered forward, separate from me, and I got my first look at him in his apparition form.

  He was tall with long legs, and his broad shoulders filled out the starched uniform he’d probably died in. His hair was sandy, going a bit gray at the temples. Other than that, and a few lines on his forehead, there weren’t many signs of the age he’d been when he died, but I’d guess he was somewhere in his forties, maybe early fifties. Clear, cold blue peepers locked onto me, so wide from shock, the whites were showing all the way around the irises.

  He actually looked a lot like Poppy’s boyfriend Marty, which made some kinda sense when I thought about it, on account of the two of them being cousins. Cain’s jaw was squarer, his schnoz a little thinner than Marty’s, but really, they could have passed for brothers.

  I forced myself to stop staring and pretended to be professional. But really, in my defense, no one had mentioned that the former Chief Morgan was a definite Oliver Twist.

  “Jeez Louise.” I blew my bangs off my forehead and rubbed at my stinging scalp.

  “Is he…” Taliyah glanced around the room, her forehead wrinkled in distress, before looking back to me. “Is he still here?”

  “Yep, he sure is.” I waggled the ring in her direction. “I just took this off so he’d stop crashing me into things. We can try again when he’s calmed down a little.”

  Cain, in his spook form that Taliyah couldn’t see, backed away from us, still shaking his head. He managed to step halfway through the overturned table before noticing what he’d just done and jerked back in surprise.

  “What the…” He passed his arm through the wood, waving it back and forth, his yap working silently.

  Then he stepped out of the table and tried to sit in one of the chairs. I winced as he fell through it and landed on the floor. I knew he wouldn’t be hurt, but I remembered those first days being a ghostie. They weren’t exactly easy. At least Cain wouldn’t have to figure it out on his own, though. He was lucky he had me.

  “Taliyah,” he said as he apparently noticed her. “What’s happening to me?”

  But, of course, she couldn’t hear him, just as she couldn’t see him. So I answered for her.

  “You’re dead.”

  He shook his head. “I… I can’t be! I’m here—talking to you.”

  “Right… and drifting through all your furniture.”

  “Is he…” Taliyah started as she looked at me. “Is he… okay?”

  “Well, he’s stunned,” I answered with a cock of my noggin. “But that’s to be expected.”

  “Who are you?” he demanded.

  “I’m Darla,” I answered, figuring I’d skip my last name part because Lorcan didn’t have the best reputation in town and in this case, I thought it better to keep that part of my identity concealed.

  “She’s a medium, Cain,” Taliyah called out, looking all around the room, because she didn’t realize her brother was standing right in front of her. “I hired her to help me with an important case.”

  Still sitting on the floor, Cain looked between Taliyah and me. His brows were furrowed, but he seemed calmer, if no less confused.

  “What the hell blazes is going on?”

  My cheeks puffed up as I blew out a breath. “Where to start?”

  I dragged my chair around so I could face Cain when I sat, and I waved my hand at Taliyah to do the same. This would likely be a long conversation, might as well get comfortable.

  Cain looked a little disgruntled when the chairs supported us, but he didn’t comment.

  “Alright, here’s the skinny.” I crossed my gams, one foot bobbing in the air as I spoke. “I’m real sorry to have to tell you this, Mr. Morgan, but you’re a spook.”

  He looked at me like Marilyn Monroe’s head had just popped up next to mine.

  “What are you talking about?”

  I shrugged. “You died in the line of duty, saving Haven Hollow from a demon, and we called you back so you could help us solve a case, like Taliyah just mentioned.”

  Taliyah shot me a look, turning her body to face the direction I’d been speaking in. She was more or less pointed at Cain as she addressed him. “Cain, do you remember a man named Dev? It was back a few months ago that you were investigating a case and you… well, you were stabbed.”

  “And the fella that stabbed you, Dev, well, he was actually a demon,” I added, for good measure.

  Cain had gotten back to his feet while Taliyah recounted the story of his untimely death. As he listened, he paced in long strides from wall to window and back again and glowing white all the while. He ran his hands down his face, muttering to himself.

  “I don’t remember any of that. Just a white-hot flash of pain, then nothing.”

  “Yep, that’s not unusual,” I responded.

  I didn’t remember the exact moment of my own death, either. Though it’d been pretty obvious from the bullet hole in my forehead, which I’d unfortunately had to deal with my entire afterlife. (Thank the Lord I didn’t have to deal with it now.) I didn’t know why the final seconds of life got wiped away, maybe it was some sort of kindness from the universe. “Try not to think about it too hard.”

  Cain raised an eyebrow, unimpressed with my pep talk. Sheesh, guess that’s what I got for trying to make things easier for him. What a grump.

  “Why am I here?” he said, zeroing in on me.

  Focus on the job, I told myself. The intensity in that blue-eyed stare had me a little flustered.

  “He wants to know why we brought him back so maybe you should tell him again,” I said to Taliyah, clearing my pipes as I looked at her for the answer, all the while trying to hide my reaction to him. In all honesty, distracted by my jitters about pulling off my first summoning, I hadn’t paid as much attention as I should have to all the things Taliyah had mentioned about the case details. No need to let anyone know that, though. Besides, it was Taliyah’s case, so she could explain it.

  Taliyah took a deep breath and visibly pulled the mantle of Haven Hollow’s chief of police around herself like armor. “It’s one of the cases you closed in Portland, Cain. Judas Irwin.”

  “What about it?” I felt Cain’s energy shift as his attention narrowed onto Taliyah, focusing like a flashlight beam. Nothing else in the room existed, including me and the fact that he’d stopped pacing with part of his hip inside the entertainment unit.

  There was a drawn-out moment of silence before I remembered Taliyah couldn’t hear him, and I repeated his question.

  “There’s been two more murders, here in Haven Hollow, just this week,” she answered, her peepers searching the space ‘cause she couldn’t see him. “Same M.O.”

  The pacing started again, slower. “Irwin’s still locked up?” I relayed the message.

  Taliyah nodded. “As far as I can tell, without visiting him myself, yes.”

  My head swiveled back and forth like I was watching a tennis match, chiming in to repeat Cain’s comments. Otherwise, it was like I wasn’t even in the room. They discussed the case details and established the task at hand with such rapid-fire efficiency, I could see why they’d both made good chiefs of police.

  Cain raked a hand back through his sandy hair. “It must be a copycat if Irwin is still behind bars.”

  “Right,” Taliyah agreed. “As soon as you’re ready, I want to take you to the scene of the most recent murder which happened just this morning.” Then she looked at me. “Does he need some… time to get… settled?”

  “I’ve had all the time I can take,” he barked back and appeared real put-out. “Let’s head there now.”

  I didn’t repeat his comment, though.

  After a moment, Cain looked at me, holding his hands up in a silent question.

  Taliyah was holding it together, but I could see the tightness at the corner of her peepers. I couldn’t imagine everything she’d been through, but the wariness was there on her face. Cain might not need some time, but she did.

  And so did I.

  Wrestling with Cain had left me limper than a sock-darning party.

  I looked pointedly at the grumpy spook’s sister and then back at him before giving him a little head shake, hoping he’d understand. Turning to Taliyah, with as comforting a smile as I could dredge up, I said, “We’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

  Cain looked disgruntled, but he couldn’t do much without me acting like his mouth-piece.

  Chapter Nine

  “Absolutely not.”

  I turned away from my closet, my favorite periwinkle skirt in hand, to face the scowling spook standing beside my bed. I hadn’t known what else to do, so I’d taken Cain with me back to the duplex, where I was hoping to relax for the next two hours, before we were due back to see Taliyah at the crime scene. “What’s wrong with it?”

  Libby had made the skirt. She was a whiz with a sewing machine and delighted in making all kindsa clothing. Not all of her designs were swell, just ‘cause her tastes were stuffier than mine, but, boy, did I love the skirt. It was made outta this real satiny material and swished around my gams every time I walked.

  It was beyond a dream not to be stuck in that same drop-waisted, pink silk dress I’d died in. In fact, as soon as I became real again, I’d gotten rid of that number quick as I could.

  But, getting back to the ghost of Cain Morgan…

  There was just something creepy about someone drifting around your house, literally in this case. And it weren’t like Cain was some kind, ol’ grandma just checking in. He was… well, he seemed to have a beef with everyone and everything. I’d been so exhausted after the summoning, I’d decided to lay down for a bit but slumber didn’t come to me easy—I’d jerked awake with every sound. Finally, I got up to turn the tele on in the living room, partially to drown out any noise and partially to give Cain something to do other than roll around the house, brooding like a thundery little rain cloud.

  Some java helped once I got up, but I still didn’t feel ready for what I knew I was about to walk into. I’d thought to give myself a little confidence by wearing my favorite duds, but that wasn’t looking like a very likely outcome no more.

  “We’re going to a crime scene,” Cain barked as he floated there, glowering at me with his arms crossed against his chest. “Not a nightclub.”

  “No one would wear this to a speakeasy, champ.” I rolled my peepers and tried to keep my irritation to myself. In general, Darla Rowe ain’t one o’ them dames that gets real cross with everyone all the time. Truth is, I’m a real easy-going moll, but Cain Morgan had already got into my craw and then some.

  Hangers clacked as I shoved clothing around in my closet, pulling out a black and white patterned sundress with a matching cardigan. It was more somber than my usual taste, but seemed appropriate considering the circumstances. “Better?”

  Cain’s brows pulled down, his arms crossed more tightly over his broad chest. “You understand people are dead and there’s a killer on the loose, right? This isn’t one of your garden club outings.”

  I wasn’t too sure what he was prattling on about, but whatever it was, I thought it meant he wasn’t right fond o’ the dress, so I put it right back into my closet, already fed up with him and his very bad mood. Then I turned to face him and planted my arms on my hips like folks did on the tele when they were upset. “Okay, Mr. Grundy, what do you suggest?”

  “Would pants be too much to ask for? I’m the one who’s going to be walking around in them. And nobody wears petticoats to a crime scene.”

  “Sorry, I’m fresh outta copper uniforms,” I mumbled as I pawed through my closet again. Trousers might be too much to ask, come to think about it. I liked skirts and dresses, so my duds tended to skew that direction. Finally, my hand fell on a hotsy-totsy blouse and slacks combination Wanda had gifted me—they were both infused with a charm to help keep one’s kisser from running, something I’d needed extra help with in the early days.

  I held the outfit up for approval.

  If anything, Cain’s expression got darker. “That’s the best you can do?”

  “Yes.” My voice was tart as lemonade. “And if this goes on any longer, we’re gonna be late meeting Taliyah. So, either quit beating your gums, or I’m gonna put on the frilliest, laciest dress I have with three layers of petticoats… and pearls.”

  Cain gritted his teeth hard enough that the memory of muscles jumped in his jaw. “Fine.”

  Finally.

  I flapped my hand at him. “Now scoot, so I can change.”

  He spun on his heel and stalked out.

  It was shaping up to be a great day.

  ***

  A huge crowd of people pressed themselves up against the police barriers at the house on Mulberry Way.

  I’d never understood why death and destruction turned into a spectator’s sport. You’d have thought it was the match for the championship belt by the number of people watching. Everyone was snapping photos or filming with their phones. So much for Taliyah trying to keep things under wraps.

  Maybe it was because this wasn’t the kinda thing that happened often in a place like Haven Hollow.

  Vultures, Cain grumbled in my head as we made our way up the sidewalk toward the front of the house where Taliyah waited for us. I was slightly surprised that Cain hadn’t asked me one question about myself—you’d think he’d want to know more about the vessel housing him, but he only discussed the case. It was almost as though paying strict attention to his job as lawman set him at ease.

  You can’t blame them, I thought back as clearly as I could. They’re scared, so naturally, they wanna know what’s going on.

  What they’re doing is hindering a police investigation. Cain’s frustration rolled through me. If they’d all just stay away, we wouldn’t have to waste man power on crowd control. Not to mention, they’re feeding the killer’s ego with all this attention.

  I suppose.

  There were dozens of people, and a good portion of them were staring at us. Well, me, anyway. I doubted any of them could see Cain riding around in my mental passenger seat.

  Once upon a time, I’d have reveled in that attention. All eyes on me on the silver screen, that was what I’d wanted, what I’d worked towards, what I’d dreamed about. After a century of being literally invisible, I didn’t feel the same. Now, don’t get me wrong, I was grateful to be able to talk to people again, to have friends, a life. But it could also be overwhelming.

  I rubbed my fingers soothingly over Cain’s class ring, where it sat on my thumb. He hadn’t been happy about the whole “possession” thing, but I believed he was starting to get used to it. We’d made a quick agreement that he’d only possess me when we were investigating a crime scene (and owing to the fact that the killer was still on the loose, we both imagined there would be more crime scenes than just this one).

  That was fine by me. Walking around, sharing my body with Cain, still made me feel like I was one wrong move from splitting apart at the seams. There was just so much of him, his personality, his focus. I felt squished in my own self.

  Movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I turned to spot Steamboat pressed up against the sawhorse barrier on the sidewalk, watching the house and chatting with the people standing beside her. She turned as I walked by, and our eyes met.

  I tried not to groan ‘cause the last thing I wanted to do was interact with the Lens Louise and her nonstop conversation ‘bout nothing.

  With her here, the story of my visit and why I was there would be all over town by sunset. It wasn’t exactly a secret, but that didn’t mean I wanted to be fodder for the gossip mills, neither. I was already the fluky and a strange newcomer in the magical community, and I didn’t wanna be on anyone’s radar in the non-magical world.

  The wind sucker waved at me and with little choice in the matter, I gave her a bitty finger wave back, pretending not to be bothered with her nonstop static.

  When her attention drifted back to the house, I shook my head and muttered to myself, “What a funny bird.”

  This isn’t a social call, Cain growled like a grumpy bear. I have work to do.

  It was a struggle not to roll my eyes. Are you always this much of a charmer, or am I just lucky?

  Taliyah met us at the door with a nod of greeting. The tightness around her eyes hadn’t faded at all, but she’d wrapped herself in an armor of cool professionalism. She handed me a white jumpsuit.