Each of us found a dry place to settle in with our cell phone and list of names. Taking a deep breath I reached out and squeezed Cal’s hand, our eyes meeting for just a moment, reassuring each other everything would be okay, but the reality was that things may never be okay again. The storm was coming. I had less than two weeks to prepare for the bombardment of angry spirits who threatened to drive me insane, or worse, on Samhain, and a madman, probably a werewolf, was hunting the members of Calvin’s pack. Cal, my friends and I were needed to stop the loss of more life. I felt a cold sliver of fear. We were running short on days before Samhain and couldn’t tackle more than one problem at a time. I hoped that we found this killer soon so we could get back to working on solving my predicament. Thunder rolled in the distance, lightning flashed, and rain began drumming hard against the cabin roof.
Not usually a good sign.
Bad omens and bitter portents. It was going to be a long night.
Chapter 4
October 21
st
Maine
It was the beginning of a new day. The storm had cleared and the sun was shining in a cloudless sky. Rain and high winds had torn freshly turned autumn leaves from the trees and the newly carpeted lawn resembled an orange, brown, and red patchwork quilt. I reached my hand to the glass pane of my bedroom window and let the cold seep into the pads of my fingers.
Fall had always been my favorite time of year. A time for candy apples, cool breezes, and curling up with a good book. The chill of the glass pane was a reminder that soon it would be time to huddle inside our homes for the long Maine winter. I always longed for those first few weeks of winter snow when everything outside is blanketed in white, a hushed silence descends, and we all feel safe in the comfort of our warm hearths and homes.
As I pulled my hand away from the window I set bells jangling on their string. I had placed them across my window a few weeks ago when I was worried about the retribution of an old lady I suspected of murdering her husband. Grace hadn’t sought revenge, I don’t think she ever became aware of my role in helping her husband’s spirit find peace, but the bells remained. I often felt as though someone was watching me and now there was a murderer on the loose. I shivered and turned from the window. I don’t think I’ll ever feel safe in my home again.
Well that’s positive thinking Yuki. Way to start the day.
If I was going to feel gloomy I might as well get ready for school. I grabbed my backpack and, with a sigh, began loading it up with notebooks, pens, and our lists from last night. Pulling on arm warmers and wrapping a scarf around my neck I surveyed my room. What else would I need to survive a day of high school? Removing my phone from its charger I slipped it into my coat pocket. Glancing back, I decided to bring the charger as well. I wasn’t sure when I’d be home next. Heading down the stairs to the front door, I turned sharply to the left, my bag swinging wide, and made a quick detour to the kitchen. Opening the pantry door I scanned the shelves for food. This could be another
very
long day.
I ran to the front door when I heard a truck horn beep once in the driveway.
Cal.
My heart swelled and my stomach began dancing a tango. I zipped up my backpack, checked the locks, and went to face the one wonderful part of my day.
I couldn’t help the grin that stretched across my face as I climbed up into Calvin’s truck. I knew we had things to be worried about and it probably was somehow taboo to be so incredibly happy, if only for this brief moment, when people were frightened and a man’s family was so freshly mourning his loss. The logical part of my brain thought about these things, and even tried to school my face into a mask of solemnity, but my heart had other plans. As I leaned in close to Cal I could see the marks of worry and lack of sleep in the lines of his face and the dark bruised circles beneath his eyes, but as I smiled at him his eyes shone with an inner light and his lips curled up in a breathtaking grin.
“Morning Princess,” Cal said as his warm lips brushed mine. His hands cupped the back of my head and I reached up to lace my fingers behind his neck. I closed my eyes as we kissed, floating in my own little world of happy.
As we pressed closer together, I felt the heavy iron cross I was wearing press hard against my chest just as Calvin mumbled, “Ouch!”
“Sorry,” I said, trying to refocus.
“And this is for?” Calvin asked, lifting the offending cross.
“Spirits, demons, creatures of the night,” I answered. “Why? It didn’t burn you did it?” I asked teasingly.
“I fear I have passed your test,” Cal answered, raising his hands to his chest in mock horror. “Whatever shall the other night creatures think?”
“You totally just lost your monster street cred,” I said.
“I thought you were going to wear your safety pin shirt every day,” Cal said. “Where’s your lucky chain mail?”
“I can’t wear it
every
day,” I answered. “I have to wash it occasionally. Otherwise it would be gross. I don’t want to smell like a boy.”
“Boys everywhere take offense to that,” Cal said, grinning.
“They can get in line,” I said. I laughed and, shifting my cross pendant to the side, leaned in for another kiss before we had to drive to school and leave our cocoon of laughter and sunlight.
*****
The school day dragged and lunchtime couldn’t come soon enough. The events of the previous day weighed on my mind and my backpack seemed to grow heavier as I hauled it through the halls between each class.
Maybe I shouldn’t have brought that five pound bag of trail mix.
I tried to summon a bit of enthusiasm as, lifting my bag higher on my shoulder, I walked to the cafeteria trying not to drag my booted feet. My pace quickened as I smelled the glorious aroma of warm brownies.
“Someone’s baking brownies!” I exclaimed as I sat across from Emma at the lunch table.
“If that’s a euphemism for bodily functions, it is so not funny,” Emma said, crossing her arms.
“Dude, don’t you smell that?” I asked. “It’s making me hungry.”
“Well, if they
are
making brownies I won’t be able to eat them anyway,” Emma said with a sigh. “It’s not like they’d bother to make them vegan.”
“How do you make them vegan?” I asked suddenly curious. “Don’t you need eggs and butter?”
“No way,” Emma answered. “You just use applesauce instead. No embryonic chickens or dairy products necessary.”
I suddenly didn’t feel much like eating brownies. Fortunately for me whoever was doing the baking must have left them in the oven too long and the smell of burning brownies diminished my urge for chocolate. “Smells like you won’t be tempted by the evil death brownies after all,” I said, wrinkling my nose. “Not unless you like them extra crispy.”
“What’s extra crispy?” Cal asked as he slid into the seat beside me.
“Burnt brownies,” I answered. “Can’t you smell them?”
“Yuki, my sense of smell is pretty amazing and all I smell is chop suey and gym socks,” Cal said.
Spending lunch with my friends was turning into a great diet plan.
“It’s probably just one of her ghost buddies,” Emma said, looking over at Calvin.
Son of a dung beetle.
“Not again,” I groaned, putting my head in my hands.
“At least it doesn’t smell like vinegar,” Emma said encouragingly.
Oh yeah, what an improvement. Burning brownies smell just super. I was in Hell and someone had been thoughtful enough to bring the brownie mix.
Fantastic.
“I wonder…,” Cal mumbled quietly, looking thoughtful.
“You wonder what?” I asked. “If you’re wondering why I, of all people, have to be haunted by smell impressions, don’t strain your brain. I have that market cornered.”
Cal blinked and looked back and forth between me and Emma. “Did that make any sense?” he asked. I kicked him playfully under the table which seemed to jog his memory. “I was wondering if this smell impression could belong to the ghost of Gavin Sanders. He just died and may be attached to you because of your involvement with the case.”
“And it’s not like Maine is a hotbed of violent crime,” Emma added.
Emma and Cal were probably right. It was entirely possible Gavin’s spirit had found me. I was a total ghost magnet, much to my chagrin. There was no real evidence though to my new haunt’s identity. Until I had more details, I wasn’t ruling anything out. Looks like I was going to have to put some of my newly learned research skills to work.
“So what’s the plan for after school?” I asked. “Anyone up for some research at the library?”
Emma’s eyes lit up at the mention of research, but then she sighed looking a bit deflated. “I have a shift at the veterinary clinic today, but I can drop you off on my way to work and join you guys later if you’re still doing research.” She started to cheer up again at the prospect of hitting the stacks after work. Emma was a total research addict.
“I was going to meet up with Simon and check out the woods where they found Gavin,” Cal said. “Last night’s storm probably erased any evidence, but I’d still like to get a look at the location. Maybe there’s something about the place that Simon missed.”
I was suddenly very excited at the prospect of doing research
inside
the library. Cal was the outdoorsy one, not me, and I could totally skip sniffing around the spot where someone died.
Where a man was murdered.
“Perfect,” I said, smiling. “Emma can drop me off at the library and meet back up with me after her shift ends.”
Emma looked at me and nodded excitedly. “I am so there,” she said. “I’ll even sneak us in some soy lattes. Just be sure to get us the third floor study area.”
“Are you sure you don’t need me?” Cal asked. “I feel bad taking off with Simon, but I keep worrying he may have missed something or that there might be something in the woods I’m meant to see.” He looked at me worriedly and I melted.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “Emma and I can handle the research.”
“Girl power, yo,” Emma said, knocking her knuckles to mine.
“I give up,” Cal said, laughing.
“Just promise to be careful,” I said to Cal, squeezing his hand and pushing my leg playfully against his.
“Always am,” he said, grinning.
“Promise?” I asked.
“I promise,” Cal answered. Brushing my hair back behind my ear, he leaned closer and whispered, “I love you.”
I forgot all about spirits and haunting and werewolf murderers and melted into a puddle of contentment.
I love you too Calvin Miller.
Chapter 5
Emma dropped me off at the library after school as promised. She waved as she pulled away in her mom’s minivan. Her car was being detailed in an effort to remove the dirt and blood stains from Homecoming night. I had given her the money I had saved from my birthday, but I still felt guilty. She said it was no big deal. Her mom was even pitching in since Emma had told her we had rescued an injured dog and transported it in the backseat of her car. It wasn’t a total lie. We
had
transported a canine, but ours had bigger teeth and claws than the average dog and, oh yeah, happened to be my boyfriend.
The smell of burning brownies suddenly engulfed me and I turned to walk up the damp, leaf covered steps of the library. Nothing like an unquiet spirit haunting me as a personal motivator.
As I reached the top step, I heard the call of a crow,
caw caw
, and the flutter of wings. Feeling the hair on the back of my neck stand up and my scalp prickle, I nonchalantly tossed my scarf over one shoulder and turned to look behind me. I thought I saw movement, but as my eyes scanned the sidewalk and street below I could find nothing out of place. Great, now I’m jumping at every flicker of shadow.
Thanks a lot crow dude.
Turning again to the library entrance I reached for the door, but it was already swinging outwards. I quickly jumped back and was glad for my non skid boots or I would have slipped on the wet steps. I still had to grab hold of the metal railing to keep my balance so I didn’t see the jerk pushing past, but I grumbled “excuse me” to his retreating back. Some people were just beyond rude.
Let’s try this again.
This time when I cautiously reached for the door there were no crow alerts or crazy stampedes. I walked into the hushed silence of the library and set off to secure a cubicle in the third floor study area.
*****
Two hours of research had turned up zilch on any burning brownie death connections. I had scoured the local obituaries and news stories, online and microfiche, for reports of dead bakers or someone murdered for their inheritance to a brownie empire. I even looked for articles on home and restaurant fires, but there was nothing involving fatalities. The smell of burning brownies, for the moment, seemed to be a dead end.
Har, har, har.
I turned my attention to information on how to ward off evil spirits. I found some promising titles listed and went in search of a librarian. Emma was the queen of research, but I was still learning and wasn’t too proud to ask for help. When I approached the desk on the first floor I was greeted by an overly perky girl with frizzy red hair and a painfully frozen smile.
At least she’s trying to be friendly
, I thought as I showed her my list,
unlike some people
. I was still mad about the guy who nearly knocked me down the library steps.
“You’re in luck!” said the girl. “I can help you find most of these. Spirit wards and werewolf wards must be popular this time of year. Halloween and all.”
I stood stunned for a moment before I could remember how to speak. “Someone was interested in werewolf wards?” I asked. My voice broke, but the girl didn’t seem to notice.
“We just had a guy in here earlier asking for all of our books on werewolf wards,” she said. “When you asked for these books on spirit wards the very same day I figured it was for some kind of Halloween project.”
“Uh, yeah,” I said. “Did he check any books out?”
Please, please, please.
If he checked books out there would be a paper trail. There would be a name.