Whiskey Witches - F.J. Blooding (novels to read in english txt) 📗
- Author: F.J. Blooding
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She knew next to nothing about demons.
You don’t? her own voice asked in a snide tone.
No. “I don’t know. But that’s what the killer is trying to raise.”
“Okay.” White flagged down the officer stationed outside the door. “Extend the perimeter. I don’t want anyone inside that shack unless it’s absolutely necessary. When Dr. McCormik gets here, help get the body moved as quickly as possible and then shut down the area.”
The officer nodded.
The other one stepped through the door.
“Clark, please take Detective Whiskey’s keys and take her car back to the Rose Inn. We’ll follow.”
“Yes, Chief.” Clark turned, a tight smile on his face as he held out his hand for the keys.
She fished them out of her pocket and handed them over.
“Let’s get you to the inn.” White walked briskly around the front of the car.
Paige sat down and shut the door. Chief White was handling the idea of her having visions really well. A little too well? Was there such a thing? What would he get out of playing along? No. He’d been spooked before. His mother’d had visions. He’d been brought up with the idea.
He could make a good ally.
Finally.
That voice. Her voice. Paige didn’t understand what was going on.
White started the car, glancing at her in concern. “You’re sure you don’t want to go to the clinic.”
“I’m sure.”
“And you’re going to be okay if we just go back to the inn?”
She wasn’t sure, but she didn’t know what else to do. She closed her eyes.
The car stopped. The engine cut off.
Paige opened her eyes, blinking in surprise at a large, white plantation house. A sign in the front read, “Rose Inn.” This was a much nicer plantation. Her car waited in another parking spaces.
“We’re here.”
When had she fallen asleep? She nodded dully and fumbled for the door handle.
“You don’t look good.”
Bile rose to her mouth. A wave of dizziness assaulted her. She just needed to get to her bed. Wherever that was. She got out of the car, doubling over, her hands on her knees.
The driver side door slammed shut. Gravel crunched. She pulled herself upright using the open car door.
She heard things as if she was in a tunnel. She opened her eyes, but didn’t see…anything. No plantation. No sunshine. No trees, for that matter. Just…darkness.
“Whiskey, are you okay?”
“Chief White,” she said, her voice miles away. “Maybe I should—.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Don’t kn—”
“Paige,” a familiar voice called.
“Dexx? What are you doing—” She stopped, unable to continue. She held out her hand, grabbing only air as she fell.
Fell.
Fell.
What are you doing here? the deep, British-sounding voice asked.
“Dexx.” Paige’s head wobbled on her neck. She hadn’t fallen to the ground like she thought she had. She remained partially upright, though how? Hands held her up, pressed against her ribs, dug into her arm. “Something’s—”
A vessel?
“No.” Her voice shook.
A force pushed against her mind, searching for a chink in her soul, for a way in.
“Shit.” Dexx’s rough hands gripped her tighter, almost painfully, but a cleaner pain than the one in her head. “Help me get her inside.”
“I need to take her to the—”
Paige’s head fall back. A guttural roar sliced its way from her throat. Holy shit.
That couldn’t have been her voice. Couldn’t…have…
“Now,” Dexx demanded. His expression softened as he looked at her. “Damn it, Paige. What the fuck did you let in?”
“Who are you?” the cop asked.
Dexx spared the cop a glance. From the look of things, Leslie had been right to call him in. It looked like he’d arrived in the knick of time. “Fanny!”
“Yeah?” she shouted back as she opened the door.
While he’d waited for Paige to show up at the inn, he’d flirted with the inn owner. Great gal. Quite the gab and without a doubt the local gossip. “Grab my bag out of the dining room.”
Alarm slashed across Fanny’s round face. “What’s goin’ on?”
“Just grab the bag, and put it in my room.” He was going to kill Leslie and Alma.
The cop stopped him on the second-floor landing with an iron grip on his arm.
Dexx stared at the cop. Hard. They didn’t have time for this shit.
“You will answer the question.”
“Dexx. Colt. Demon hunter.”
The cop didn’t even flinch.
Huh. “This needs to be handled. Right now.”
As if on cue, Paige’s eyes shot open. The rich, nut-brown had been replaced by pure black. A grimace twitched across her face. “This vessel belongs to me.”
The words might have come from Paige’s mouth, but the voice had too many layers to be human. And it had an accent that Paige didn’t have.
The cop’s eyes widened. However, to the man’s credit, that was the only reaction.
“Her room is upstairs. Help me.”
“She just drove in from the airport.”
“And you made a reservation for her.” Dexx took her shoulders. “I just took the liberty of checking in for her. Would you bring her bags?”
“Fanny wouldn’t let just anyone check in for her.”
“I know. She’s a good girl.” Would he just fucking hurry up?
The cop raised his eyebrows and grabbed Paige’s bags.
Finally. Dexx hoisted her up and carried her like a child. “I’m her fiancé. Came to surprise her.” Wasn’t a complete lie. He had come to surprise her. Thank goodness he had, too. The demon didn’t have full possession of Paige’s body. Odd. She was fighting it. Maybe it couldn’t get a full toe-hold. Maybe they had some time, had half a chance.
Fanny led the way down the corridor to the right and opened the third door on the left.
“Thanks, Fanny,” Dexx grunted.
“Chief White,” she said, her voice hitched. “What in the name of the Lord is goin’ on?”
Chief of police, huh? Dexx dumped Paige on a chair. “Nothin’s goin’ on, Fanny,” Dexx said, adopting a slight twang to soften his words. He needed Fanny to relax. Needed everyone to calm down.
Fanny crossed herself.
He took his duffle from her arms.
“Look, Fanny,” Chief White said, taking her arm and leading her out of the room. “We just came from a crime scene. She came into contact with something down there.”
“Shouldn’t she be at the clinic, then?”
“With Dr. McCormick dealing with the body?”
Her eyes widened. “So, it is true.”
Chief White nodded, his eyes closed for a moment. “Now, be a bless and don’t tell anyone about it.”
“It was Eddie, wasn’t it?”
The chief gripped the door with one hand and sighed. “It was.”
“It was them witches, Chief. You know that same as I do.”
“We don’t.”
“His store was goin’ belly up, and with his wife pregnant.”
Whoa. Now, that was a connection worth noting. “You think he could have sold his soul?”
“To the devil?” Fanny’s grey eyes lit. “Yes. Yes, I do. That man was crazed tryin’ to find a way to unload that store. He went to see them witches several times.”
Chief White glanced at Dexx and shook his head, his lips tight as if to say, ‘Don’t rile her.’
Yeah. Okay. Whatever. Best lead. Witches. The Whiskeys, he knew. Good people, witches. Most of them, anyway. But others?
Some others weren’t as nice. At least, not the ones he’d come into contact with.
“What about her?” Fanny asked, glancing at Paige.
“She’ll be fine. Bring some lemonade?” Chief White closed the door firmly in the woman’s face.
“Thanks for that.” Usually, when the police got involved, the situation turned into a gagglefuck.
“Don’t thank me yet.” Dexx stared at Paige, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “What’s the plan?”
That guy had a seriously level head. Dexx didn’t know whether to be concerned or grateful. He dumped the contents of his bag on the bed. Holy water. Demon knife. Salt rounds—those weren’t
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