Page 3 of Unhallowed Murder (A Paranormal Halloween #2)

Chapter Three

Josef heard the voice before he zeroed in on the young female tiger broadcasting so loudly.

I need assistance. Please let me know you hear me. I need assistance. Please let me know you hear me.

It came over and over, as if a mantra, and it was a tiny bit louder with every iteration.

Answer her. She’s police. Abbott’s voice came into his head, over the tiger. His Master believed one can never make too many friends in high places.

I hear you, tigress. What do you need? He could see her thoughts — he knew what she needed, but there was no need in making her uncomfortable. She’d be happier if she had to tell him.

She breathed in relief. I’m with the Sheriff’s Office, here with human friends. There’s a dead body, but there’s no way I can point it out. Do you think you can make an employee notice the extra zombie and investigate, and then scream and carry on when he or she discovers it?

Josef scanned brains until he found someone who’d fit the bill. A young woman returning from the bathroom and headed back to the maze. He put the suggestion into her head to notice it hadn’t been there before, and then to duck under the crime scene tape to check it out.

I have done so. She’s returning from the restroom. Give her a few minutes.

Can you look in her memories? Was the victim there last night?

She was not in the display last night. I checked her memory of how it looked when she arrived today at four, and your victim was there. They opened at noon. Let me find someone who arrived then.

It didn’t take long for Josef to find the man in charge of security. He’d noted the victim was an addition, but had assumed someone had decided the display needed more. He hadn’t checked — but he was human and had no reason to.

Your victim was in the diorama at noon when they opened.

The tigress slowed and turned to watch an employee climb the hill, her eyes sharp.

As soon as the young woman screamed in horror, the Lieutenant stepped into action, showing her badge and identifying herself as a detective.

The property’s security personnel followed her orders without question, and when uniformed deputies arrived, they did as well .

Everyone did as she said. Without hesitation. The young tiger female might be small, and dressed in a ludicrous blue skintight costume, but she exuded authority, power, and control.

“I’m going to stay with her and see if I can be of further assistance,” Josef told the rest of his group. “I’ll arrange for a car to be brought, so I can leave when I wish. Enjoy your evening.”

Abbott accepted the keys when offered, and he gave Josef a curious look, which Josef ignored.

He’d gotten involved, and he wasn’t ready to walk away yet.

Or, that’s what he kept telling himself.

He was certain it had nothing to do with the way he could see the Lieutenant’s muscles flexing and moving under the snug costume, much as a tiger’s muscles — nor with her confident command of so many people.

No . He’d gotten involved and now he was part of it. He wasn’t ready to leave.

He texted one of the coterie’s wolves with orders to bring his F-PACE, a charcoal dress shirt for him, and size three women’s jeans along with a suitable lightweight pullover shirt.

Abbott kept a closet full of new clothes in a variety of sizes because…

well , because they were a house full of vampires.

The old ones rarely made a mess, but some of the young vampires were still learning, and accidents happened occasionally.

Josef wanted his F-PACE because it seemed fitting to drive a tiger around in a Jaguar, but he didn’t think she’d be impressed with a sports car. She was far too practical.

The sexy, competent Lieutenant noticed him standing in the shadows, but didn’t say anything. He’d suggested to everyone else that he belonged, but as of yet, hadn’t put any suggestions into her head.

Right off the bat, the Lieutenant ordered crime scene people, extra lights, a better photographer, and arranged for the employees to be taken to the barn while guests were asked to leave.

She requested more uniformed officers as well, to help get everyone off the property safely.

A Detective Carter arrived — a large, imposing, heavily muscled African-American man — and the two worked seamlessly together.

A quick dip into Carter’s head told Josef the detective respected his Lieutenant and her expertise immensely — and her authority, so long as she didn’t needlessly put herself in danger.

The male detective was human and didn’t know the Lieutenant Detective was a tiger, so he didn’t understand some of her decisions.

Lieutenant Veronica Woods handed jobs out, gave orders, and had the crime scene efficiently organized soon after taking it over.

Twice, she made a call to someone with a higher rank to apprise them of the situation, but not to ask what to do — merely to let them know what was happening, and that they needed to get the PR team engaged because she was certain social media would be buzzing.

Josef never allowed himself to get involved with someone younger than five hundred years old, and had kept to his rule for well over a millennium.

But this young woman fascinated him.

Her friends had known that once someone had found the body, they’d lost her for the night. She didn’t even apologize, just told them to be safe and assured them she’d find another ride back to her car.

Josef intended to be that ride.

He listened to her thoughts, and discovered they were as disciplined as the rest of her. She had a map in her head of what needed to be done and who she trusted to handle each item. When the medical examiner finally arrived, Josef noted this man was the first to comment on her Halloween costume.

“The Blue Power Ranger? Really? I’d expect you to be in nothing less than Red.”

The Lieutenant chuckled. “My friends doled out colors based on skin tone and what looked good on us, not on personality.” She looked to the dead body. “I’m guessing the gunshot to the forehead killed her, but I’m not qualified to say that officially.”

“Got it in one, Lieutenant. The darkness around her eyes appears to be makeup, like maybe she had makeup on and someone tried to wipe it, but made a mess. Same with the redness around her mouth. The bruising around the wrists is real — I’ll verify later, but it looks as if someone zip-tied them.

Probably goes without saying, but she wasn’t killed here. ”

“No. Did she start in the dress, or did they put her in it? It fits in well enough with the zombie motif. Maybe she was already wearing it, and they ripped it in a few places? It’s a casual fall outfit, not terribly dressy, especially with the cardigan over it.

” The Lieutenant looked at the dead woman’s feet.

“One shoe. We’ll need to look for the other.

A nice, sensible shoe, dressed for comfort and looks.

” She sighed. “The hair mussed and draped over part of her face hides the bullet hole. Can you give me time of death yet?”

He shook his head. “She’s been dead more than… twelve hours. Possibly eighteen. I assume you want me on this right away and it can’t wait until morning?”

“I’m sorry. You’re in a costume, too, but this is already all over social media, and our bosses would like this closed fast, if we can.”

Paying visitors were still being shepherded out, but most were in their cars, snarled in traffic.

The only people close to the crime scene were police personnel — the employees were still sequestered in the barn.

Still, a telephoto lens from the parking area would be able to get a nice shot, and she’d reminded her people of this several times.

Josef, of course, still watched from fifteen feet away, standing in the shadows. None of her people seemed to notice him, so she let him stay. Josef couldn’t pick up on her reasoning, but didn’t dig to find out.

While her thoughts stilled and she took in the scene once again, he addressed her telepathically.

I realize one of your people offered to take you back to the station, but I can give you a ride.

You have your own lie detector skills, but I can offer to let you know what people are thinking when you question them, if you’ll let me ride along.

As you can tell by your people’s reaction to me here, I can easily make them accept my presence.

What will I owe you ?

I make no demands or requests.

I can’t have you beside me when I interview people. You can make the people present accept your presence, but not the people who might see you in pictures or video later. If you can remain in the background and help, I’ll accept your offer. Tell me your name, please?

I am Josef.

Well, Josef, I’m going to interview the security guards and the people who were here during the day today, preparing for the big night. I’m hoping we’ll have an ID on her by the time we finish, in which case I’ll go to her home and see what I can learn about her from her things.

She turned to Detective Carter. “Josef will drive me when I’m ready to leave.

Please look the scene over once the body is removed to be sure we have all the evidence we need.

I know the crime scene techs did, but…” She sighed, and refrained from pointing out they’d missed bits and pieces in the past. “If we get an ID, I’ll let you know so you can meet me at the victim’s house. ”

“You shouldn’t go alone, Ma’am.”

“I’ll stay outside and wait for backup if I sense anything amiss.”

With Josef letting her know what each employee knew as they were brought to her, she spent a minimal amount of time interviewing the staff before dismissing them and thanking them for their cooperation.

No one knew who the victim was. All were horrified a dead body had been so close and they hadn’t known.

The fact it was Halloween seemed to make it even more perverse to them .

She talked to the manager last, and asked him about any no-show employees. She received two names, got their addresses, and nodded to Josef as she walked out.

As soon as they were both in the vehicle and the doors were closed, she told him, “Thank you for your help. I don’t understand why you’ve stayed, but I appreciate the offer to continue helping.”

“Your people respect you.”

“Goes both ways. What do I need to know about you? I’d like to know more than a first name.”

“I am head of security for The Abbott. Did you recognize him in our group?”

“I did not. I know my own leader as well as the Amakhosi, and I’ve had occasion to deal with the Wolf Alpha. I’ve also been made aware of the leadership of the RTMC, but only because of my job. That’s the extent of my knowledge of the supernatural power structure.”

“Most people do not get along with Martin.”

Her thoughts agreed with him, but she said, “Martin has his own reasons for the way he chooses to lead.”

Josef’s respect for her went even higher, though he hadn’t thought it possible. She didn’t like the tiger alpha either, but she wouldn’t speak ill of him. This woman had more valor and honor than any of the recently-born he’d met this century.

“You’re going to question the two men who didn’t make it to work?” He knew she was, but he wanted an excuse to hear her voice .

“Someone knew when they’d be able to get the body into the diorama without being seen. My people are still going over video, but I don’t expect them to see much from it.”

Her phone rang, and she answered with, “What do you have, Corey?”

Josef could easily hear both sides of the conversation.

“We got a hit on her fingerprints, since she works for the post office. Her name’s Wendy Abrams. Bad news — the FBI flagged the case as theirs.”

“Send me her address anyway, as well as the name and number of the FBI agent on the flag, please.” Within moments, she had him on the phone. “Agent Graham, this is Lieutenant Woods, HCSO. How is it you think Wendy Abrams’ murder is a federal case?”

“I was already working a crime involving the victim, regarding her employment through the postal service. Her death doesn’t end my obligation to solve her case.”

Josef observed her thoughts while Lieutenant Veronica Woods analyzed the FBI agent’s voice and attitude, and then formed a strategy — all in a split second.

“There are things the Feds can do better than the local Sheriff’s Office, but I can do other tasks better than you.

My guess is that when I find the murderer, it’ll solve your crime.

I’d like to suggest we work together. I can search her home while you question her supervisor and coworkers, and then we’ll meet, compare notes, and figure out whether we can continue to move forward together.

” She took a breath. “ Assuming of course, there’s a record of your conversations with them. ”

A twenty second pause, where the Lieutenant assumed he was looking her up, and she felt confident he’d agree to her proposal once he saw her solve rates.

“I believe we can make that work, Lieutenant. Full disclosure on both sides.”

“And if our superiors order us not to disclose something, we’ll let the other know we’re being constrained by using the word pineapple in a sentence.”

He sighed. “Agreed. You’ve worked with us before?”

“Something like that. Is eight a.m. okay for a meeting? My murder room or yours?”

“I’ll bring my people to you. There’ll be three of us. Make it eight thirty.”

“I look forward to meeting you in person, Agent Graham. In the meantime, can you give me the short version of why you were investigating Miss Abrams?”

“She’d informed her superiors of an attempt to bribe her, and we were looking into it. She didn’t have much information about the male who called her. He’d used a burner phone, but since he knew her personal cell number, the assumption was that the suspect either knew her or someone close to her.”

She thanked him again and disconnected.

“I don’t suppose you can tell if someone’s lying over the phone?”

Josef hedged. His Master preferred not to let other shapeshifters know the limitations of his top people’s powers. “Sometimes. I wasn’t trying with your FBI agent, but since I haven’t met him and I don’t know where he is, it would’ve been iffy.”