Whiskey Witches, F.J. Blooding [ap literature book list .TXT] 📗

Paige decided that there was too little being done. Yes, it was great that everyone was finally on the same page, that they understood her gift—kind of—and were willing to accept it—not really—but she needed to investigate.

Being a detective wasn’t about the high-speed car chases. There was actually very little running through backyards either. However, it did require a bit more than just sitting around staring at case files.

Paige talked to Fanny about setting Alma and Tru in another room. Apparently, the one right next to her was taken. She didn’t really care. Alma needed sleep. Tru had to set up for a paranormal investigation he’d lined up, which was another reason the overly pregnant Leslie had stayed at home with the kids.

Dexx closed the door to Paige’s room behind him. “So, where are we going?”

“We aren’t going anywhere.” Paige stashed the room key in her pocket.

“You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re going out there without me.”

“I’m not going to be possessed. My gift is mine.”

“Great. I’m excited. No. Really, I am.” His eyes dodged around the hallway. “So, where are we going?”

She continued toward the main staircase. Dexx was the kind of man who would do whatever he wanted no matter what anyone else said. Usually, she could respect the ever-lovin’ shit out of that, but at that moment, all she really wanted to do was strangle him.

The door to the room next to hers opened and Chief White stepped out, his shirt rumpled. He frowned at them both, his gaze unfocused.

“I thought you were going to wake me up in four.” Dexx clapped the man on the arm as he continued to walk past.

White grabbed Dexx’s arm.

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Figured you needed your beauty sleep. Besides, Alma got in, and I needed to catch her up.”

White’s tongue ran along his bottom lip, removing his hand from Dexx. “Is she okay?”

“Yeah. She’s fine.” Dexx bounced on the balls of his feet. “All’s right with the world.”

“Then what happened?”

“Miraculously cured.”

“And…the people after her?”

Paige spun on Dexx, pissed. “Are you freaking kidding me?”

His eyebrows crept up. “No?”

Her two worlds never met. She wanted the respect she gained in her profession. She couldn’t get that if her colleagues knew the details of the arcane side of her life. “You told him?”

“I wasn’t supposed to?”

“You know better!”

“Let’s take this discussion into my room.” White dragged her into his open door.

Dexx followed quickly.

This room was arranged similarly, but with a different color theme than Paige’s. She’d call this one the Peach Room.

“You owe me a night’s rental, Chief,” Fanny called as she hurried down the hall, her arms full of linens.

“I know, Fanny.” He shut the door.

Paige opened her mouth.

White held up his hand, his attention on the door. After a moment, he nodded, stepping further into the room. “Fanny’s the town gossip, so be careful what you say around her.”

“You tell me that now?” Dexx asked.

“What have you been saying to people?” Paige demanded.

Dexx’s expression went purposefully blank.

“Detective, I don’t know what your standard protocol is there, but let me assure you, I’m not your standard Chief of Police. I knew what I invited into my town when I called you in, and I was aware things could get pretty odd.”

She mouthed the word ‘odd’.

White perched on the arm of a chair. “Also, there’s the fact I saw the demon possessing you. That’s not something I can erase. Nothing but the truth is going to make any sense.”

Paige walked to the window seat. “So, you’re okay with this?”

“I have to be if I’m going to help solve this case. I’ve already had to relieve my own investigator from the case.”

Something Balnore had said when she’d been in the dream state suddenly clicked into place. “Lieutenant Mike Jones?”

“Yes. How do you know him?”

“I heard his name… somewhere else..”

White frowned at her.

“Did you check his alibis?”

White expelled a surprised breath. “Why?”

“Why’d you kick him off?”

“His best friend had been murdered. He and Ashley Fort were best friends since kindergarten, Detective. He was never a suspect.”

Paige fingered the window pane. “The connection to all the victims is a coven.”

He shook his head. “We don’t have a coven in St. Francisville.”

“Yes. You do. Or, at least, you did. Malika Moore led it.”

The chief’s expression dead-panned. “Malika? She’s Mike’s girlfriend.”

Paige didn’t ignore the fact White had dropped the lieutenant’s surname. They were close, probably friends. She waited for his blindness to dawn on him without further prodding.

“She owns the local magick shop.” His shoulders slumped as shock slackened his lips and eyes. “I didn’t think anything of it. It’s just candles and books and incense.”

“And you didn’t suspect her? Not once? You didn’t ask for her advice?”

“No.” A quiet dawning rose in White’s dark eyes. “Mike told me about you almost immediately.”

Dexx narrowed his eyes at Paige. “Where did you get the information about the coven?”

Paige drew her jaw to the side, trying to decide if Dexx was on her side before she spoke. “Balnore.”

“I was there when you summoned him.”

“But you weren’t when I dream-called him. Before I knew I could. Before I even knew what that was.”

His eyebrows shot up.

“Leave it, Dexx. Everything’s fine. Balnore has been keeping watch on the situation, so he shared his information. That’s all.”

“In a dream summoning.”

She rolled her lips inward, her mouth open.

“Hey, kids,” White interjected. “This isn’t helping the case You dream-called a demon. Isn’t that dangerous for you?”

Paige scratched her face where her hair tickled it. She ignored his question. “What did Mike show you that led you to believe you could call my chief and ask to borrow me?”

White gestured with one hand. “The Pilmner case in Texas. There were too many similarities for me to ignore. Files said you caught the guy, and Mike argued if we had any chance of catching our man, we needed your expertise.”

Paige dropped her gaze. “That’s too coincidental.”