Page 21 of Stronger Than Blood

Chapter nineteen

Rory

Mick came into the building just as I was about to toss the last bit of trash into the dumpster.

I’d already filled it to the brim, so until the people who traded them out came, we were done with work for the day.

“Hey, I didn’t expect you back so soon,” I said.

When Mick didn’t respond, I grew concerned. “Mick, are you okay?”

Mick shook his head. “Is your friend still here?”

“Madam Bellamy?” I asked, and when he nodded, I replied.

“No, she went back to the hotel to... well, to go over some research I did on your family and, um, I asked if she could help you with, you know… your unwanted visitor. I didn’t mean to step on your toes, but that guy was a monster.

” He nodded, but the color had leached from his face.

“Mick, you’re concerning me. Why don’t you come over to the hotel with me, and you can talk to her while I get cleaned up. ”

He didn’t resist but followed me out of the building. “Do you want to leave your truck here?” I asked. “I walked over.”

“Yeah, I could use the fresh air,” he said, and we walked toward the hotel. Church had clearly let out because people were all over the square even though everything except the restaurant was closed.

Mick was friendly but distant as people waved, and although it was clear more than a few wanted to stop and talk, he walked diligently toward the hotel.

I didn’t know Mick very well, but I hadn’t seen him like that before.

Usually, he went out of his way to be friendly.

More than a few townsfolk noticed the odd behavior and looked at me like they thought I might be the problem.

Although none of them gave me the stink eye, I could all but feel their protectiveness.

They certainly did love Mick, and that made me like the place even more.

It was clear that Mick was out, and I had more than a little interest in him that way.

People weren’t showing signs of being upset by it, as much as I felt that if I had upset him, more than a few might stand between us to protect him.

Cool, I thought. Even in Memphis, which had a very large gay community, I’d never felt like anyone cared about us like these people did him.

We got to the hotel, and I led Mick up to Madam’s room and knocked on the door, which she immediately opened. She would, of course, have known we were headed up to her room.

“Welcome,” she said, smiling until she caught sight of Mick’s face. “Is everything okay?” she asked, looking at me.

When I shrugged, she led Mick into the room and sat him in the chair across from the bed. “Mick, I can tell something has happened. Are you okay?”

He shook his head. “You… you said you can see ghosts. Are you… um, you’re really able to do that?” She nodded slowly but didn’t respond verbally. “So, can you stop them? Make them go away?”

She sighed and shook her head. “Sometimes, we can encourage them to cross over, but no, I’ve never been able to force a spirit to leave without them wanting to.”

Tears slid out of his eyes, and I moved toward him before Madam stopped me. “Mick, tell us what’s happened.”

“I’m being hunted.”

“Hunted or haunted?” I asked and got a pointed look from Madam.

Mick looked me in the eye and said, “I’m being hunted, and for some reason, he can move around now. I felt him in my apartment.”