Page 9 of The Penitentiary (Ghost Seekers Inc. #1)

“They killed Kenny!” Callie whispered and shook herself. She turned big eyes on me. “Please don’t call them. I can’t imagine the Holy Terrors on an investigation.”

“If Sunny doesn’t say I’m cut, I’m calling Rooster,” I stated.

“Sunny, fucking admit that Levi is cut,” Callie shrieked. Damn, Callie was seriously terrified of the boys. With good reason, I silently admitted.

I bit back a laugh as Sunny’s face set, and he folded his arms. Sunny was going to dig his heels in.

“Rooster can’t send them; they’re at school,” Sunny stated, and I grinned.

“Yeah, but you’re filming during school vacations so Rooster can fly them out then!”

“Sunny! Admit it! They blew Kenny up, and they love her. They also put hair removal cream in her shampoo!” Callie freaked.

Behind the camera, Freddie laughed, and I guessed this would make the programme.

“Let’s put this into perspective. The kids were blowing up a decrepit barn. Kenny just found them and got caught in the crossfire. And as for going bald, that was Brax paying his brothers back for exploding Kenny. It was bad luck that Kenny used their shampoo,” Sunny said with a glare at me.

“And the time Troy drew a dick on Bear’s head in permanent marker?” Callie shrieked.

“Bear had pissed Troy off,” Sunny retorted.

“What about when we piss them off?” Callie cried.

“Shit, woman, you’re more scared of the Holy Terrors than what you encountered last night,” Sunny said incredulously.

“Too damn right, I’m too young to die,” Callie wailed, and Sunny chuckled and hauled her in close. He dropped a kiss on her nose and smiled.

“Babe, I’ll always protect you, even from my terrorist nephews,” Sunny promised.

“Gross! Mushy stuff,” I choked out, and Sunny flipped me the finger.

“Come on, asshole, let’s see what we can find,” Sunny growled.

“Yeah, we all know I’m more cut than you, old man,” I taunted.

Sunny spun so quickly that he startled me, and I stepped back. He yanked up his own tee. “Check it out and weep. You wish you’d be this fit at my age.”

Freddie whistled, and I had to admit, Sunny was impressive. Fuck. I think the asshole won that one.

Callie

“I’ve not seen anything, and we’ve had no activity here. And Jack’s saying the women’s cellblock is a bust too,” Freddie said after several hours.

“This is the downside to investigating,” Sunny murmured in an aside to Levi.

“Hanging around for ages and nothing to show for it? I can imagine,” Levi agreed.

“The last two nights were the exception, not the norm,” I explained. “The entire programme might be just based on them.”

“Would that matter?” Levi inquired.

“No. Because we’ve proved there is activity here. That’s what counts,” I replied.

“Madi’s enjoyed herself,” Levi said as Freddie walked away.

“Glad we could help. Levi, I’m sorry about what happened,” I murmured.

“It’s okay, Callie, and I’m happy for you and Sunny. You both deserve a family. But try not to turn him grey overnight,” Levi teased.

“We’ve discussed what will happen when the baby is here.”

“Will you quit?” Levi asked.

“No, we’re going to get a bigger RV and hire a nanny. Maybe even a tour bus somewhere in between the size of the RV and the crew’s one.”

“That’s good. If you quit, you’d be miserable. You’d make the most of the situation; that’s the type of person you are, but you’d always feel unfulfilled. And with your money, you and Sunny can do this until you’re old,” Levi said, and I nodded.

“Yes, we’ve even talked about schooling. We’re considering hiring a tutor, or Grandma suggested a boarding school, which I nixed. But we will be returning to spend all school vacations at home in Spearfish. We want the baby to know their cousins and extended family,” I explained, and Levi lit up.

“That’s amazing!” Levi exclaimed. “Were the quints happy?”

“They’re pleased.” I didn’t know what else to say. Things weren’t as strained as they once were, but we weren’t close. Sunny was my family, and so were my crew. I knew their little foibles. Jack detested grape jelly, for example, but I couldn’t tell you any of my siblings’ dislikes and hates.

I still sensed some lingering jealousy from Polly, which meant that although our situation had improved, it wasn’t great. Polly hated the fact that I was a household name for what she deemed the wrong reason.

“Give it time,” Levi murmured.

“Levi, they’ve had plenty of opportunity.

” I shook my head. “The truth is, I’m the black sheep, and I’ll never fit in there.

They love me but don’t accept or understand me.

That’s fine. This is where I’m comfortable, and I don’t regret anything.

Life is about living,” I said, and Levi nodded.

“Let’s go eat and then we’ll see what happens in the women’s wing! ”

Sunny

Someone was watching me. I could sense them, and it was making me very uneasy. I glanced over at Levi and saw he was experiencing the same sensations.

“You feel that?” I murmured.

“Yeah.”

“We’re being watched.”

“Are you sure it’s not just your imagination? Sunny, I don’t feel anything,” Callie said, turning to face us.

“Nah, babe. Levi and I are the least likely to get spooked for no reason,” I replied.

Callie snorted in disagreement but kept quiet.

“This is dire,” I murmured, looking at the cells and their peeling paint. Callie was wearing a facemask because of the possible dangers floating around in the air.

“It’s in the worst condition we’ve seen so far. Did the other cellblocks seem similar?” Callie asked.

“No. Maybe it’s because it’s the women’s wing?” Levi suggested. “Because I don’t know about anyone else, but I can almost taste the misery here.”

“It’s as though it seeped into the walls,” I agreed.

Callie was watching us closely. “What else do you sense?”

“An underlying current of anger as well as despair. It’s all around us. Don’t you feel it?” Levi inquired.

“No, everything appears perfectly normal,” Callie replied, and I frowned. The grief was almost crushing, and yet neither Callie nor Freddie seemed affected.

“Maybe it’s because they’re men?” Freddie suggested, and Callie turned to her.

“Huh?”

“Men would have sentenced the women imprisoned here. Could their spirits blame Levi and Sunny for their circumstances? Not every female jailed was guilty,” Freddie said.

Callie considered her suggestion. “That’s possible. Let me get the voice recorder out. You guys ask questions, and I’ll stay quiet.”

“Hi, I’m Sunny. I’m here to talk to you,” I began.

Levi jumped as we heard a whimper.

I checked him before continuing. “Can you tell me your name? Why were you here? Did you have a family? Children?”

I took pauses between my questions, enough time for something to answer, and Callie played the audio back. We stared at each other in surprise as an agonised scream erupted from the voice recorder.

“What the hell was that?” Levi demanded.

Callie pursed her lips and hit play again.

“Edith.” The name floated in the air.

“Her name is Edith,” Callie said, hitting pause once more. We all nodded, and Callie started the recording again.

“Mary.”

“Jayne.”

“Elizabeth.”

“Caroline.”

The names poured out, and we all stared at one another, stunned. “What the hell?” Callie murmured.

“Murder.” “Poisoned him.”

“Beaten.”

“Lied. He lied.”

“Holy crap,” Levi gasped and then stiffened.

“Brother?”

“Someone just grabbed my dick!”