Page 80 of Marked By Shadows

He reached for me, pulling me into his arms and settling himself around me like there was no place he’d rather be. I really enjoyed his regard and hoped it stayed this way for a while. Before him, I had to admit I wasn’t a very touchy-feely person. There was something different in the way he held me, hugged me, and swept me into the warmth of his personal glow that made it all okay.

“Breakfast with the group, then off to play with fabric,” Alex reminded me, kissing my forehead and then my nose.

“I love fabric,” I sighed.

“I know where I rate,” he teased.

“Slightly above fabric,” I said.

“Mhmm,” he agreed lips meeting mine for a deeper kiss.

“This will not get us out the door,” I said into the kiss, his body pressed to mine. “You, thrown on the bed so I can have my way with you, but not out the door.”

He laughed and pulled away. “Okay, okay, let’s get this over with.” He reached for my hand and tugged us toward the door when someone knocked. We both stopped like deer in headlights. Was someone coming to get us? The crackle coating in the glass on the door made it impossible to make out whomever was standing outside. Alex opened the door.

Detective Manning stood there.

“Morning, Detective,” Alex greeted him.

“Morning. Do the two of you have a minute? I have a few follow-up questions I’d like to ask.” He waved at the house.

Alex and I stepped back in unison to let him in. The space suddenly felt very small. Three people was far too many for this tiny house. “We were just headed to breakfast before going to the convention,” Alex said. “How can we help?”

Detective Manning pulled out his notes. “When the two of you stopped for Joe, did you see anyone else out there?”

“No,” Alex said. I wasn’t sure how to answer without sounding crazy. Yes? A shadow? A monster of many faces?

“How about you, Mr. Richards?” Manning pressed. “Something spooked you, made you run. What did you see?”

“Just shadows,” I said, deciding to go with the basic truth. “Maybe reflections from the headlights. I don’t know what it was. It was why I stopped in the first place. I saw a shadow.”

“Joe in the road,” he confirmed.

“I guess.”

“You don’t sound very certain.”

I shrugged. “Shadows are shadows, right? Tricks of light and our vision? I’d think you’d get more answers from Joe at this point.”

“Any idea why he was out there?” Alex asked. “It was a bit of a drive away from the B&B where their phones were.”

“One phone. They had one on them. Notes from one of Miss Cartwright’s discussions online indicated they were seeking out ghost stories. Hunting for something called the ‘Rake,’ have you heard of it?”

“In legend, yes,” I said. “It’s a very thin looking man-like creature with long limbs and claws that began in rumor on reddit a few years ago, I believe.”

“Is that something you experience often in your ghost hunting tours?” Manning wondered.

“A Rake? Never. Not even the garden utensil type as we live in the Quarter of New Orleans,” I said. “Our tours are specific to New Orleans history. And since the Rake is a new monster, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of anything showing up in the Quarter. Never even done much research on it, though I think it pops up in the paranormal groups sometimes. Much like the Loch Ness monster does.”

“You said they were talking to someone online about it. Like from our tour group page on Facebook? If that was the case than Byrony was on there as an alias since she was blocked from the group,” Alex said.

“Why was she blocked?” Manning asked.

“Because she irritated the moderators. Why ask us? Doesn’t Joe have better answers?”

“Mr. Thomas has been very incoherent. He’s been remanded to medical custody for the time being.”

“In a mental ward?” Alex asked, obviously recognizing the comment for what it was. “Is he a danger to himself?”