Lost Souls by J. Bishop (the giving tree read aloud txt) 📗

of us. She’s another good woman who deserves better than me. She’s moving back to Texas, may already be there.”

“What happens after you mend those fences?” asked Valerie. “You plan on returning to the Rangers?”

Trick grinned and Mason sighed. “You want to answer that?” asked Trick.

Mason gritted his teeth when he moved his shoulder. “I may have temporarily been affected by my injury and offered to share my office space with Trick, provided he plays by the rules.”

Daniels’ eyes widened and Rem dropped his jaw. “Are you serious?” asked Rem.

“Are you going to do paranormal work, too?” Marjorie asked Trick.

“Ah, no,” said Trick. “I’ll be sticking to the strictly normal side of things. I’ll handle the straight up stuff and Mason can handle the woo-woo side. We figured it might serve us well to broaden the business.” He sunk down in his seat. “Although, I think we’re going to have to change the name.”

“SCOPE stays,” said Mason. “You want to create your own agency and get your own name, that’s fine with me. But SCOPE is the sign on the wall. I get plenty of stuff that turns out to be just nosy neighbors or pesky lovers. You can handle all that.”

“Gee. I can hardly wait.” Trick pursed his lips. “Maybe I should consider creating my own name.”

“What about MNPI?” asked Valerie. “Monroe Non-Paranormal Investigations.”

“Or MINT,” said Marjorie. “Monroe Investigations of Nutty Terrestrials.”

“That one has potential,” said Rem with a smile, and he walked to the brick planter with his drink, and leaned against it. He kept an eye on J.P. in the yard who squealed as he pulled on a handful of grass.

“What about you Valerie,” asked Daniels. “You going back to Texas?”

Valerie dunked a chip in queso. “Maybe to visit my brother, but I actually live here. I moved after I left the military.”

“Isn’t that nice, Red?” asked Trick. “Maybe we’ll have the opportunity to work with the lovely Miss Vain again.” He smiled and reached for a chip. “I know how much she enjoys my company.” He bit into the chip and grinned.

“I think I’ve had as much of your company as I can handle,” said Valerie. “But I believe Mason, here, still owes me a drink.”

“I do,” said Mason. “Plus, a lot more.” He gestured at Trick. “Our butts might still be in the woods if it wasn’t for you.”

“Nah,” said Rem. “We’d have found you by now. You just wouldn’t be looking as pretty.”

“I’ll collect on that debt,” said Valerie. She sipped her margarita and eyed Mason. “Eventually.”

“Somehow, I don’t think she’s referring to me,” said Trick. “What a shame.”

Daniels chuckled. “You have your own agency, Valerie?”

Valerie picked up the conversation with Daniels while Mason stood and joined Rem beside the planter.

“How’s the shoulder?” asked Rem.

“Better,” said Mason. “I can move it now without crying.”

“That’s always a bonus,” said Rem.

After Valerie answered Daniels, she sat up and took another chip. “I know Mason’s background with the paranormal, but have you two ever had a paranormal encounter?” She looked at Rem and Daniels. “With your history, surely you’ve experienced a few strange things.”

“Other than Rem’s taste in clothing and bad jokes?” asked Daniels, trying the queso.

Rem’s face fell. “Go ahead, smart guy,” he said to Daniels. “Tell her about your grandad’s house and the lovely town of Dumont. Maybe she’ll want to visit.”

“The Lady of Black River,” said Marjorie, shaking her head. “Wait till you hear this, Valerie.”

Daniels took a sip of his margarita and launched into the story.

Mason listened for a bit, but his thoughts returned to Mikey. “You mind if I ask you something?” he asked Rem.

“No. What is it?” asked Rem.

“It’s about Mikey,” said Mason, noting she hadn’t returned. “You notice she’s a little quiet since what happened with Bradley? Hasn’t been herself?”

Rem raised a brow. “Yeah. I noticed. But that asshole almost strangled her to death. It’s not easy dealing with that kind of trauma. Especially when she was just getting past Victor and what he did.”

Mason was familiar with Rem’s own troubles after dealing with Victor and his followers, and Mikey had helped him cope. “Hell.” He held his head. “I should have considered that. She survives one madman and then has to face another.” He sighed. “You think I should leave it, and let her work through it? I’m not asking you to betray any confidences, but I know she talks to you, and she hasn’t said much to me.”

Rem studied his margarita. “My advice? Don’t let her wallow. I tried to hide from the world, and she got in my face and wouldn’t let me. Maybe she needs the same treatment. But not from me. From you.”

Mason considered that. “Is she mad at me? Does she blame me?”

Rem glanced over. “She’s mad at herself, Mason. Thinks she almost got you killed. She’s laying a guilt trip on herself so heavy it would weigh down an elephant. Granted, it’s only been a week, but it only took her a week to get onto me. That, and the nightmares, lack of sleep and flashbacks don’t help, so I’d say the sooner you can talk to her, the better.”

Mason made up his mind. “That’s all I needed to hear.” He put down his beer. “Thank you, Detective.”

“Anytime,” said Rem.

Mason left the backyard, while Daniels continued his story and Rem joined in. He entered the house and saw Mikey in the kitchen, pulling the enchiladas from the oven. “They’re ready,” she said.

Mason approached her. “We need to talk.”

Mikey put the oven mitts away. “What? Are you guys already out of queso? Jeez. I’ll get some more.”

“Never mind the queso, Mikey. And screw the enchiladas. What’s going on with you?”

She frowned. “Nothing’s going on. I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. You and I have barely spoken since everything happened.”

“You’ve been in the hospital, Mason and I’ve had a bit of a sore throat─”

“Don’t make light of it. You almost died.”

She stopped in mid-search of the utensil drawer. “So did you.”

“And that’s not your fault.”

Mikey straightened. “I