The Inner Shadow (A Project Specter Mystery Book 3) Read online

"Can you fast-forward to a few moments before the explosion?” he asked.

  Jaime didn’t answer. She tapped the screen and tapped it again. “This is about a minute before it happens.”

  Sally ran out of the diner and across the street before a bright ball of fire blinded the camera.

  “Was that Sally?” Jaime asked.

  Noah scratched his chin and nodded.

  “Sorry, there’s nothing more to go on,” Jaime said.

  “Are there any other cameras?” Noah asked.

  “They’re everywhere, but this one had the best view of the diner,” Jaime said.

  Noah’s phone vibrated on the table. He glanced at the screen.

  “Girlfriend?” Jaime asked.

  “I’m married to the job,” Noah said, picking up the phone to read a text message. “Shit.”

  “What is it?” Jaime asked.

  “A suspect in a recent murder was just found dead in his cell,” Noah said.

  “I’m sorry. I’m shocked at the rash of violent crimes recently,” Jaime said.

  “Yeah. We usually see these in the heat of summer, not near the holiday season,” Noah said. “There’s something even more weird about these cases. None of the people have had a criminal record.”

  “Are they domestics?” Jaime asked.

  “Not a one of them. It’s acts of violence from what appears to be complete strangers,” Noah said.

  Jaime glanced at the iPad, paused on a shot right after the explosion.

  “I have to go,” Noah said.

  Jaime closed the video. “Of course.”

  Noah took one last sip of coffee, stood, and smiled at Jaime before turning away.

  “Hey,” Jaimie said. “Thanks for the coffee. I hope we can catch up again under better circumstances.”

  Noah stopped and looked back at Jaime. He thought about asking her why she didn’t let him know she was back in Cleveland. But patience. He waved and left the coffee shop.

  Three

  Mason Atkins sipped green tea as he watched the sun duck behind a line of pine trees. He combed through his white beard with his finger as he enjoyed nature’s beauty. Mason relished in these peaceful times. They were becoming fewer as the Darkness grew stronger. Darkness was around everyone and for over fifty years Mason had been protecting the unsuspecting world from its evil imprint. He took a seat in a rocking chair, removed his tattered Chicago Cubs baseball cap and let the cool wind blow through his long, stringy white hair. He closed his eyes.

  “It’s a little too late for a nap, isn’t it? You’ll be up all night again.”

  “Can’t an old man grab a little shut-eye whenever he wants it, Debbie? I think I’ve earned it.” Mason winked and took another sip of tea before closing his eyes again.

  Debbie Collier had also been protecting the world from Darkness. Not as long as Mason, but she had been on the front lines of many more battles than him. And it was taking its toll on her. Debbie guarded her positive energy with every power she had developed over the years. But Darkness had slowly been chipping away at her soul.

  “I won’t tell if you don’t,” she said. “I think I’ll even join you this time.” Debbie sat in a rocking chair next to Mason, kicked off her shoes, and closed her eyes.

  “Is Lanky giving you trouble again?” Mason asked.

  Debbie laughed. “He never lets me forget why I divorced him.”

  Max “Lanky” Preston was a former priest who nearly died in a car accident months earlier. He was on the road to recovery, but that road was long and had a lot of sharp curves. He was just beginning to use his leg again after nearly losing it in the wreck. Lanky’s mind wasn’t as sharp as before, but that wasn’t because of the accident. Darkness made itself known to him. It penetrated his soul and though it was gone, the residue was still present, not unlike embers from an extinguished fire. It didn’t come as a surprise to Lanky. He was used to fighting Darkness as well.

  “He can be stubborn,” Mason said. “Speaking of stubborn, Don is toying with the idea of building the museum again.”

  “Absolutely not,” Debbie said. She sat up and faced Mason. “He’s lucky he didn’t bring the end of the world when the last one burned to the ground.”

  Don McDowell was Mason’s oldest friend. Don once ran The Museum of the Unexplained until a demon unleashed hell and woke every bit of evil hibernating behind the wooden doors. Debbie was right. Don was lucky he hadn’t turned the world over to evil when Darkness seeped out. Fortunately, Lanky was there to bind the evil before it escaped.

  Well… most of it.

  Mason, Debbie, Lanky, and Don were part of a small group that knew the universe’s darkest secrets and pledged to protect unsuspecting souls from falling under evil’s spell. The group was called Project Specter.

  “I’ve told him it’s not a good idea,” Mason said.

  “It’s the worst idea ever,” Debbie said.

  “What’s the worst idea ever?” Don asked, stepping out onto the deck.

  “Resurrecting the museum. I forbid it,” Debbie said.

  “Tell me how you really feel about it,” Don said.

  “Be careful, Don, she’ll witch you,” Mason said.

  Don’s phone vibrated. He reached for it with his left hand. The prosthetic didn’t fit into his pocket. Even though it had been close to two years, Don had yet to get used to losing his left hand in the fire at the museum. The phone vibrated again. Mason and Debbie watched as Don tried to pull the phone from his pocket.

  “How did you even get it in that pocket?” Debbie asked.

  “It had to have been magic, my dear witch,” Mason said, chuckling between sips of tea.

  Don finally got the phone with his right hand. There were three text messages. He read the first one.

  TERRENCE AND I WILL BE THERE AT 10 TOMORROW.

  Don smiled.

  “What is it?” Mason asked.

  “We get to welcome Kim and Terrence into the group in the morning,” Don said.

  “I still can’t believe Terrence agreed to join,” Debbie said. “He’s such a scaredy cat.”

  Terrence Simms and Kim Strode were detectives in Charlotte, North Carolina, until several cases made them question the way the world worked. They had witnessed Darkness first hand and realized there were things not of this world that needed to be kept under arrest. Terrence was a little more reluctant to accept their new roles than Kim. But recently, Darkness crossed into his personal space. That was enough for Terrence to join the fight full time.

  “I think Kim and Terrence will be excellent additions to our team,” Mason said.

  Don’s smile faded when he read the second and third messages. They were from an ally in Cleveland who suspected Darkness was to blame for a series of murders.

  “I hope you’re rested up,” Don said. “It looks like we’ll be heading to Ohio soon.”

  “What’s going on?” Mason said with boyish enthusiasm. Even the hint of a case excited him. Almost as much as fast food.

  “Not sure yet. I’m waiting on more info, but strange things are happening in Cleveland,” Don said.

  “Aren’t they always?” Debbie asked.

  “Good point,” Don said. “But it looks like there’s a rash of violence from people who aren’t known for being violent.”

  “Could it be from the Browns constantly losing?” Mason asked. A smile widened across his face, shaking his beard.

  “I highly doubt that’s the cause,” Don said.

  “Well, you guys are going to have to figure this one out without me. I’m not leaving Lanky yet,” Debbie said.

  “Oh, is love in the air again?” Don asked.

  Debbie stood up, glared at Don, bumped into him, and went back into the house.

  “Was it something I said?” Don asked.

  “Be careful, old friend. She can turn you into a toad or maybe even a turd,” Mason said. He sipped tea again and turned his attention back to nature just in time to see a hummingbird hover near a
feeder.

  “I can’t believe you told her about the museum,” Don said.

  “It’s a terrible idea. And I know you will not listen to me,” Mason said.

  Don’s phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen.

  LOU’S DINER EXPLODED EARLIER. I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

  Don thought back to the explosion at the museum. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  “I know I’m right,” Mason said.

  Don chuckled. He wasn’t referring to Mason’s objections to the museum. The diner explosion probably was a product of what was happening in Cleveland. He put the phone in his right pocket this time. “Rest up. I have a feeling we’re in for a humdinger of a case.”

  Four

  Lanky Preston watched two squirrels chase each other from tree to tree. A dull ache in his calf reminded him he may never run again. He didn’t let the pain get him down. Lanky was thankful he didn’t lose his leg after the crash. He had listened to Don’s stories about phantom limbs. Lanky didn’t want to have an itch he couldn’t scratch on a leg that didn’t exist.

  He rocked back in the chair, inhaled the cool air, and enjoyed the burn as it filled his lungs. It would have been easy for Lanky to harden his heart and hate the world. But that wasn’t his character. Lanky knew what he was getting into when he fought Darkness.

  He watched Debbie pour a cup of tea.

  Lanky also knew what he was getting into when he married Debbie Collier. Many would say a marriage between a priest and a witch would never work, but Lanky ignored the odds.

  The majority was right. It didn’t work.

  Lanky didn’t regret one moment of his life with Debbie. They remained a team within Project Specter, even if Debbie gave off the impression she hated her ex-husband.

  That changed after the accident that nearly robbed Lanky of his life. It was easy for Debbie to dislike Lanky while he was alive, but the fear of him being gone made her face the truth. She wasn’t mad at Lanky. She was angry with herself for the marriage failing. More importantly, she was angry with herself for still loving Lanky.

  “How’s your headache today?” she asked, taking a seat beside Lanky.

  The headaches weren’t directly related to the crash. They were a product of a demon infiltrating Lanky’s mind. The residue would be with him for a while. He hoped not for the rest of his life. Lanky had faced many demons since joining Project Specter, but had never been violated by one like Murmur.

  “Better today,” Lanky said. “I’m not getting my hopes up yet, though.”

  “Keep the faith. It’ll get weaker as the days go by,” Debbie said.

  “You know, I’m really sorry for not understanding how these things affected you when we were married,” Lanky said.

  Debbie sipped the tea and smiled. “Is that you talking or a demon?”

  “Don’t even joke about that. I never feared a demon could do that to me,” Lanky said.

  “Confronting them automatically opens us up to their powers. I’m just glad you’re here today,” Debbie said.

  “That almost sounds sincere,” Lanky said.

  “I have to admit, when I thought you were gone, I got a little teary-eyed,” Debbie said.

  “I’m glad I’m still here too,” Lanky said.

  He stood up. The ache in his calf turned into a piercing pain that shot down to his ankle. Lanky tried to hide it, but his face deceived him.

  “I take it the leg isn’t any better,” Debbie said.

  “Not yet.”

  Lanky held onto a railing and took each step carefully as he walked into the backyard. The squirrels sensed him getting too close and ran up a massive oak tree.

  Debbie followed Lanky down the stairs. She slowed her pace to stay with him as he struggled across the yard.

  “I really took this for granted before the wreck,” Lanky said. “I can’t tell you the last time I stopped to enjoy Mother Nature before this.”

  Debbie smiled. “Mother Nature is pretty good to us. We’re not deserving of her.”

  Lanky glimpsed worry in Debbie’s eyes. Her beauty almost let it slip by, but he had known her long enough to sense when something was bothering her.

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  “What do you mean?” Debbie asked.

  Lanky stopped walking and stared at her. “I saw the look.”

  Debbie stared back.

  “Not THAT look. The worried look,” Lanky said.

  “It’s nothing. Terrence and Kim are coming in the morning,” Debbie said.

  “That’s great. You and Kim are getting along now, right?”

  “Yeah. But, how are you going to handle seeing her?” Debbie asked.

  “I like Kim,” Lanky said.

  “But this is the first time you’re seeing her since the crash,” Debbie said.

  “Kim didn’t cause the accident. I knew what I was signing up for when I joined this circus,” Lanky said.

  He smiled. Debbie felt a comfort she had lost a long time ago. She felt safe with Lanky. The feeling was rare. It was hard to feel safe when each day involved fighting something that wanted to bring despair to the world.

  “When you’re better, I don’t want you to do this any longer,” Debbie said.

  “Do what? Walk the yard? I’m afraid my CrossFit days may be over. I’m not getting any younger. I need my exercise.”

  “You know what I mean, Max,” Debbie said.

  “Uh oh, you’re using my real name. This must be serious,” Lanky said.

  Debbie didn’t hide the annoyance in her green eyes.

  “Look, you know I can’t give this up. Fighting Darkness is part of my life now,” Lanky said.

  “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I don’t want to lose you,” Debbie said.

  “If I didn’t know better, Debbie Collier, I’d think you like me,” Lanky said.

  Debbie rolled her eyes. “Now, I remember why I don’t.”

  Lanky laughed.

  “Ah, are my old eyes deceiving me? It looks like you two are getting along,” Mason said, taking each stair to the backyard gingerly.

  Don passed him. “I just received this.” He handed his phone to Debbie.

  “A diner explosion in Cleveland? Does this have anything to do with the cases you’ve been looking into?” she asked.

  “If I were a betting man, I’d say yes,” Don said.

  Mason caught up to them. “Well, I am a betting man. I’ve seen the video. I’m convinced dark forces are at work in Cleveland.”

  “There’s video?” Debbie asked.

  Don swiped his finger across the phone. Surveillance video of the diner played. Debbie gasped when the explosion caught her off guard.

  “Could it be a gas leak?” Lanky asked.

  “None were reported in the area. And the fire department found no signs of a leak,” Don said.

  “Maybe someone took a bomb in there,” Lanky said.

  “It’s possible, but with all the random acts of violence by people with no criminal history, it’s smart to think it’s not a coincidence,” Don said.

  “What’s the plan?” Lanky asked.

  “We’re meeting Kim and Terrence in the morning for breakfast to map out a plan,” Don said.

  “Not McDonald’s, right?” Debbie looked at Mason.

  “I haven’t had an Egg McMuffin in three weeks,” Mason said.

  Debbie smiled.

  “We’re meeting at Sunny-Side Up at 10:30. You coming?” Don asked.

  Debbie glanced at Lanky. He wasn’t ready to go back in the field. She knew if he went to breakfast it would make Lanky want to go to war with Darkness.

  “I think it’s best if I sit this meeting out,” Debbie said.

  Lanky knew she was doing it for him. “Breakfast can’t hurt,” he said.

  Debbie opened her mouth to respond, but caught herself. She shook her head. There was another reason she didn’t want Lanky going to breakfast. Debbie didn’t
completely believe Lanky when he said he looked forward to seeing Kim. In all the years Debbie spent living with Lanky, a demon never affected him like Murmur.

  Murmur was a powerful demon. Outside of Lilith, it was possibly the strongest demon Project Specter ever encountered. And Kim introduced it to the group. Debbie needed to protect Lanky from Darkness while he was in a vulnerable state, but she also wanted to keep him from Kim to protect his mind. The residue hanging on had a tie to Kim. It was rare, but Debbie knew of instances where a demon reinvested itself in someone after being expelled. She didn’t want to take that chance with Lanky.

  “Someone needs to stay with him.” Debbie pointed at Lanky.

  “I heard the doctor tell me I couldn’t run. I must have missed the part about not having bacon and eggs, too,” Lanky said.

  “She’s right, Lanky. You need to heal. If you get too involved in the details of this case, you know you’re going to want to be a part of it. That’s too dangerous, right now,” Don said.

  “You’re being the breakfast police,” Lanky said.

  “Welcome to my world, Lanky,” Mason said.

  Five

  “I’m kind of surprised you showed up this morning,” Kim Strode said, flipping through a news timeline on her phone.

  “I’m not the type to ghost someone,” Terrence Simms said. A smile overtook his face. He was proud of the joke.

  Kim matched Terrence’s smile. “You’re taking this paranormal thing a lot better these days.”

  “I figure if I can’t avoid it, I might as well fight it… and have fun doing it,” Terrence said.

  Kim’s smile widened. “Well, aren’t you a new Terrence Simms?”

  “How’s Sam handling this change?” Terrence asked.

  Kim’s father, Sam Strode, was a retired homicide detective. Sam didn’t like that Kim and Terrence retired from the force to “bust ghosts,” as he called it. Sam thought Kim was one hell of a detective and the city needed her, but as time passed and the news sank in, Sam realized it was the right call. He had his share of run-ins with the paranormal through the years although he really didn’t know what it was or the extent of its presence in our world until he was part of a curse that saw him being haunted by a demon in the form of a murdered child a few years earlier.