A Touch of Death Read online

  Great. Now she had to survive three more demons before taking on the Prince of Darkness. That couldn’t be harder than going up against the Devil himself, could it?

  * * *

  The sun was peaking over the horizon when Jael and Death appeared back in her condo. Though the night had been mostly enjoyable for her, to say the least, she couldn’t help but wonder what happened in her absence.

  “I should call Cleg to see if there was another…” The word ‘murder’ pressed on her tongue until it was heavy and her mouth was dry.

  “Open your senses.” She looked at him, not understanding what that had to do with calling Cleg. “He’s downstairs.”

  “Very well. Do you want to come with me?”

  He sat the spirit box on the table and held his arm out to her. “Let’s be on our way, kochanie.”

  She took his arm with a warm smile. He was truly a gentleman, one she had sought after for a long time. I was looking in all the wrong places. My handsome gentleman wasn’t among the living, but Death himself.

  A second later she was standing just beside the coffee table in Cleg’s apartment. Her brother was at the dining room table, going over the files of the case, no doubt looking for the missing piece of the puzzle that would be the key to catching the Pishacha before he killed again. Dark circles had returned to haunt his eyes. Had he gotten any sleep?

  “Cleg?” She kept her voice low, trying not to startle him.

  He looked up from the papers. “I’m getting the impression you won’t be using the door often now that you have discovered your abilities. Why didn’t I get a handy ability like yours? Instead, when I want to disappear and appear at will, the sickening smell of sulfur surrounds me, along with the flames of Hell.”

  “If it were up to me, I’d be a normal woman. No abilities, demons after me, or any of this.” The only regret she’d have if she could give it all up would be losing Death. Not that she should linger on it since there was no chance she could give it up, and she wasn’t completely sure she would if it meant losing him. She had people to protect that counted on her, and demons to eliminate. “Was there another tonight?”

  “No.” Cleg dragged his hand across his face. “It’s the first night since this started there wasn’t a murder. At least we haven’t found one yet. I’ve been sitting here by the phone all night waiting. It hit the eleven o’clock news. Captain’s got major manpower out there watching, trying to keep the town safe. Something seems off to me. I don’t think the Pishacha stopped because of news coverage, so why no activity tonight?”

  Not that she wasn’t grateful for the lapse in his routine, but she was wondering the same thing. Something in her gut told her the change meant the next one would be worse. “That’s the million dollar question.”

  “What are you doing here anyway?”

  “We just returned from Nightscape and I wanted to see if there were any developments. There’s been no new spirits but sometimes that doesn’t mean anything. Some cling to their bodies like a lifeline until it’s buried.” She stepped closer to the table to look at the files. Before she could get a good look at most of it, Cleg began to gather it up.

  “You don’t need to see this stuff.” The protectiveness was clear in his voice.

  “I don’t need to be protected, and there might be some insight I have that you haven’t seen yet. Let me help.” Cleg had always been protective of her, sheltering her when he could. No girl could ask for a better brother than Cleg. They were a team, one for all and all for one.

  Lucifer might take him away from me. The thought of Lucifer made her look at Cleg. Taking in everything about him, not just the features they shared or the ones from their mother. She was searching for any clues as to how much of their father he had within him.

  He left the stuff on the table, but eyed her with interest. “You’ve just returned from nightscape? Does that mean…?”

  “The spirit box is upstairs. We’ll be ready with it,” Death replied while Jael read one of the reports.

  “I was speaking of the prophecy.”

  The breath rushed from her lungs, every muscle in her body frozen. He knew. “I…I think we should focus on the case.” In the middle of a murder investigation she didn’t want to discuss this, especially not if it was going to create problems.

  “Jael, always the worrier.” Cleg laid his hand over hers. “I’ve known since I’ve found out that you would eventually take Mom’s place as the Grim Reaper. Just now when you appeared I knew it was you the prophecy spoke of. I can see the change in you, the power in you would have me doubting myself if I was an enemy. I also know that this change of status will put you in more danger than before. It also means you will go up against Lucifer.”

  Death came up behind her chair and laid his hand on her shoulder. “On my honor, I will protect her.”

  “I don’t doubt that.” Cleg shook his head. “Lucifer will not give up, he’ll send everything at you in order to preserve his own skin.”

  “I know, and no matter what happens, you mustn’t get involved,” Jael said.

  “What?” Cleg pushed back from the table, his eyes wide as if she’d dumped cold water over his head.

  “Getting involved will only make you a target as well. As the heir to Hell it could make things extremely difficult for you.” Jael leaned forward, no longer interested in the files that were scattered across the table. “You need to think of what will happen once Lucifer is abolished, interfering with what he does to me won’t help you when things are over.”

  “You are my twin, the other half of me. There’s no chance I won’t be by your side. I never asked to be the heir.”

  Part of her rejoiced at Cleg’s statement. To hear nothing would come between them was heavenly. She couldn’t be foolish enough to believe that their father would do everything in his power to divide them and he might succeed. What they needed to do was think of the larger picture, the best way to get out of this without too much physical and emotional pain.

  Chapter Ten

  Two hours later and after more cups of coffee than Jael could count, she finally finished looking over the files, M.E. reports, and crime scene photos. They were no closer to a clue as to where the Pishacha was holed up at or who the next victim would be.

  “We should get some rest, tonight he might attack and we need to be ready.” Cleg’s cell phone rang. “I need to take this, it’s the Captain.”

  Death laid a hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “He’s right. You should sleep, your body has been though a lot. Exhaustion will creep up on you and we need you ready if the Pishacha attacks.”

  “Later, there’s got to be something we’re missing.” She shuffled back through the files, trying to find the reports for the latest victim.

  “We’ve gone over them, you’ve questioned the women, there’s nothing another look through the reports are going to produce. Being immortal doesn’t mean you don’t need sleep.” He rubbed her shoulders, easing the tension away. “Over the centuries you will begin to need less, but right now you still need the sleep of a human, or at least nearly.”

  Cleg returned before she could let her exhaustion force her to agree with Death. “After hearing about the last victim, the sketch artist drove in early and is waiting for us at the station. Sleep will have to wait.”

  “Very well.” Jael stood, stretching out her muscles. “At least if there’s an image, maybe the other officers can be on the lookout. Release it to the media and the Pishacha will only change forms leaving us back at square one.”

  “The Captain agreed it will not be released. The artist has been told you saw the man when Maddie was murdered. It will explain why you have information that no one else does. Only the Captain and I know the truth, and I’d like to keep it that way.” Cleg grabbed his gun and shoulder holster off the table and slipped it back on.

  Jael looked down at herself. The blue jeans and cream sweater were not going to cut it for the Montana cold. “My coat is u
pstairs.”

  Death glanced at her, magic coating the air until a warm winter coat of brown suede appeared on her shoulders, falling mid-thigh. It was beautiful. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Let’s do this so you can get some sleep before night falls.” Death wrapped his arm around her back, his fingers resting just along her hip bone.

  Cleg paused before slipping on his own jacket. “I doubt I could get you to leave her side, but if you’re to accompany her, cloak yourself so no one besides us can see you. The Captain is a Hellhound, he would see you for sure, and you wouldn’t be able to stay with her.”

  Death nodded. “No one will know I’m there but yourself and Jael.”

  “I’ve done some research on Hellhounds and I’ve found nothing of them being able to appear human. Also why is he here instead of in Hell or guarding one of the entrances to the world of the dead, like a graveyard?” Jael inquired before Cleg could open the door. If any of the condo residents were around, she didn’t want them overhearing the conversation.

  “Captain Henningsen has a taint of human blood running through him. It allows him to shift at will. He’s hiding from Lucifer, so if you see our father don’t mention it.” Cleg turned the doorknob but didn’t open it. “Before you ask, he’s in hiding because Lucifer wants him dead. His father gained the ability to shift by killing a demon, and he used that to find a woman to satisfy his needs. Lucifer took it as an insult, killing the father, and now there’s a blood price on Henningsen’s head.”

  “Last question, I swear.” She gave Cleg a quick smile and dove right in before he could stop her. “Being the heir to Hell, he’s okay working with you? Isn’t he concerned that you’ll tell Lucifer where he is?”

  “Henningsen saved my ass. I was still green, just on the police force when there was a shootout with a suspect after a bank robbery the county over. I would have died that day―if it’s even possible―if it hadn’t been for Henningsen. From then on, he took me under his wing, and it’s the reason I’ve made Lead Detective at such a young age. So no there’s no chance I’d inform Lucifer, and if he ever found out I’d fight for Henningsen as he did for me.” Cleg opened the door and stepped into the hall before she could say anything else.

  She remembered that shoot out well. Their mother was a wreck with worry since both Cleg and Jael were on duty, each of them at the scene. Phone calls from Ann went unanswered until things were done. Jael even remembered the very moment where Henningsen pushed Cleg out of the way, just as bullets came flying toward them. Putting the pieces together she figured Henningsen must have some foresight into the future.

  * * *

  Jael let the cold fresh air blow over her and through her hair, letting it take away the stress of the last hour. While the officers went through shift change, she stood there trying to relax.

  Sitting with a sketch artist had seemed so simple when she agreed to it, but it was anything but. Coming into more of her abilities had forced her to relive the experiences the women suffered at the hands of the demon as she described him to the artist. Maddie’s spirit had been there to provide details Jael might have forgotten or missed, and to confirm the final sketch, even though after they started she realized it was unnecessary thanks to Jael’s newest curse. She tried to let the horrors go, but they clung to her like a wet blanket, tearing at her heart and soul. The images would forever be burned into her memory as if she suffered through them herself.

  “Jael?”

  A familiar voiced distracted her. She opened her eyes to find the perfect Gemma standing beside her. “Hi, Gemma, what are you doing here?”

  “Working on a case involving a car thief.” She pushed her shoulder briefcase up a little higher. “I wanted to talk to you, do you have a few minutes? We could grab a cup of coffee.”

  “Sure, but I can’t stay long.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Death shake his head. He wanted her to get some rest before nightfall and Jael had already had more than enough caffeine.

  She led the way down Spring Avenue, the main street in Crystal Falls, to the town’s only coffee house, Morning Joy. It was the perfect play on words since coffee was the morning joy and Joy was the owner’s name. Morning Joy was a cozy little café where everyone knew one another. The coffee and food was good, but the atmosphere and conversation drew in a lot of customers.

  “Jaz mentioned you saw the killer.” Gemma whispered as they entered the coffee house.

  Gemma knew Jael’s secret, and in time she’d have to tell Jaz too. Gemma wasn’t thrilled on keeping it from Jaz to begin with, and now that Jaz and Cleg were working together on cases it would eventually come out. Better now than later when it could cause hard feelings.

  Jael waited until they ordered their coffee and made their way to a quiet corner before saying anything. “The victims’ spirits came to me, it’s how I was able to describe the killer. Cleg told Henningsen so he’d agree for me to sit with the artist, but Jaz doesn’t know yet. I guess he’s been told the same story the artist got.”

  Gemma sat there sipping her coffee. “Are you going to tell Jaz the truth?”

  She ignored her coffee, suddenly uninterested. The thought of telling Jaz made her ill. Jaz was too logical to just accept it, she’d have to prove it to him before he’d believe it, and even then he might still have doubts. “I’ll have to but right now there’s more important things for them to deal with. Once this is over I’ll have you both over for dinner and tell him. Okay?”

  “Good. I hated keeping it from Jaz. Married couples shouldn’t keep secrets.”

  “Shall I point out that you’re not married yet.” Gemma and Jaz had been engaged for almost a year, but no wedding date had been set. Right after he proposed she had been promoted to ADA, and it hadn’t been a good time for a wedding and honeymoon. “When are you two going to start thinking about a date again?”

  “Soon.” Gemma took another sip of her coffee and looked around the café. “You said before spirits are all around us. Are there any here?”

  “Two.”

  “There are?” Gemma nearly dropped her coffee as she looked around again as if she could see them.

  “That young man.” Jael nodded to the man working on his laptop by the window, the coffee long forgotten. “His father is sitting across from him, telling him he needs to enjoy life more, not work it away like he did. To take a long weekend and enjoy his wife and son, that kids grow up too quickly. He doesn’t understand why his son can’t hear him.”

  “Will you help him?”

  Jael nodded. “When he’s ready he’ll see my light and come to me.” Jael looked at Joy, standing behind the counter with the usual friendly smile. Looking at her, no one would know there was a deep hidden pain she carried. “Joy’s twin, Grace, is standing beside her. The coffee shop was their dream, but Grace passed away from cancer before the place opened. Her sister was the one who came up with the name, but for Joy the place is truly her sister’s. Have you read building’s dedication outside?”

  “No. What does it say?”

  “May Grace always reside here and in my heart.” Jael looked at Joy again with the knowledge that Grace would never leave her sister. She’d remain an earthbound spirit until Joy drew her last breath. “No one even knew because Joy is a transplant to Crystal Falls. She moved here seeking peace after Grace’s death.”

  Gemma’s gaze was now on Joy, her lips curved into a frown. “Is there something you can do for her?”

  “No, Grace refuses to leave Joy.” Silence settled over them while Gemma finished her coffee. Jael was too tired to make small talk. She wanted to crawl into bed, preferably with Death, to cuddle and sleep before the shit hit the fan again.

  Gemma finished her coffee and sat it on the table before them. “I should get back to the office. You promise to tell Jaz when this is all over?”

  “You have my word, though I don’t know if he’ll believe me.” Jael made a mental list of things she didn’t want to do but
would eventually have to, and nodded.

  “Great.” That cheered Gemma up considerably. “Stay safe, leave the criminal chasing to the police.”

  “I have no plans to go after him myself.” Even as the words came out of her mouth she knew they weren’t completely true. If she had an idea where the Pishacha was, she’d go if it meant saving another woman. What was one little Pishacha? According to Cleg and Death, he was nothing compared to what Lucifer would send next.

  After Gemma left, Jael sat there for a moment mustering the energy to get up. Death stood watching her as if he’d like to lift her into his arms and carry her away. “You’re exhausted. Let’s get you away from people and I’ll teleport you home.”

  She pulled her cell phone from her pocket and held it to her ear so that if anyone saw her talking they wouldn’t think she was talking to herself. “These spirits I see wherever I go…what am I supposed to do about them? I can’t just pretend I don’t notice, and I feel awful they’re stuck here. Can I help them?”

  “As you told Gemma, when they are ready they will come to you. Until then there is nothing you can do. You can’t force them to cross over if they don’t want to.”

  “So I’m to do nothing about him.” She nodded to the man with the laptop and the spirit of his father. “Does he even know he’s…”

  “Deceased?” He shook his head. “No. He had a heart attack five weeks ago.”

  “Five weeks?” So much time had passed, and the spirit didn’t know he was dead.

  “Time travels differently for spirits. They don’t realize how much time has passed.”

  A young girl entered the café with her mother, waving happily to the woman behind the counter. At first Jael thought the girl was waving at Joy. It wasn’t until she looked and found Joy had her back to the door, preparing a coffee, that Jael realized she was watching someone else.