Entombed Read online

  “Can you help us catch him?” Before he’d even stopped speaking, the whiskey was sloshing against the sides of the bottle.

  “Wait—if she knows who he is, shouldn’t we be asking her about specific people?” Iris asked.

  The saucer rocked.

  “I don’t understand.” Iris looked from the saucer to the bottle.

  “Remember Elliot telling us that this case was our kind of weird?” Marin asked Jack. “Maybe it’s less about who and more about what.”

  The whiskey sloshed violently in the bottle.

  “Another ghost?” Abi asked.

  The saucer jiggled.

  “Is it human at all?” Marin asked. A gentle slosh was the response. “It has a human form.” More sloshing liquid. “Lycan? Dragon?”

  The saucer jiggled for both.

  “Golem?” Jack asked. The saucer jiggled. “We could go on guessing and still not come up with an answer before our time with her runs out. Let’s try to narrow the field and then we can do some research on our own.”

  “You mean, I can do some research,” Marin muttered. “All right—why take the heart and liver?”

  “Does it eat the heart?” Abi asked. The whiskey sloshed violently. “The liver?” The saucer tipped drunkenly.

  “Eats the heart, takes the liver, can have a human form…” Tentatively, Abi said, “Skinwalker?”

  The whiskey swished gently.

  “Sort of a skinwalker?” Iris looked even more confused. “How can something be sort of a skinwalker?”

  “Is this creature from around here?” Marin asked.

  The saucer thudded down on the table with a vicious crack.

  “Okay, Grandma Abi. We got it: a foreign nasty.” Jack turned to Marin. “Anything coming to mind?”

  “My dad’s the walking encyclopedia, not me.”

  A hopeful look crossing her face, Iris asked, “Can you call him?”

  “No. He’s on sabbatical—somewhere.” Marin pulled out her phone. “But I can use the internet. Someone go through the continents before Grandma Abi runs out of juice.”

  Jack started to list them. “North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia— Whoa!” Jack grabbed the bottle. The liquid had sloshed so violently that the bottle started to tilt. Holding the bottle, he said, “Asia.”

  Again, the liquid swirled.

  “How’s that internet search going?” Jack asked.

  “Just a second…” As Marin scrolled on her phone, the saucer jiggled. “How about kitsune?” Marin glanced up and met Jack’s skeptical gaze. “What, Jack? How many kitsune have you met?”

  “None, but do you see one eating the heart of a human?”

  “Guys?” Iris waved her hand at them. “Ask again. She didn’t respond.”

  “Kitsune?” Marin asked, but neither the saucer nor whiskey moved. “Grandma Abi? Are you still here?”

  When there was no response, Iris said, “I guess she’s gone. How long does it usually take for a ghost to recharge?”

  Jack watched as all four of them looked around the table, hoping someone had some idea. But no one seemed to know. “Was there anything else besides a kitsune?”

  “Asia is too broad,” Marin said. “It would be better to search by country or use some cultural reference or specific detail to narrow it down.”

  “Consuming a human heart isn’t specific enough?” Iris’s nostrils flared as she asked.

  “I didn’t actually put that in. I figured the myths wouldn’t reflect reality that closely, but…” Marin tapped on her phone as she spoke. “Look at that. Consumes heart and liver—which would be a natural false assumption to make if both were taken. Although it would be interesting to know what exactly this thing is doing with livers besides eating them…or delivering them to innocent mediums.” Marin read silently for a few seconds, then said, “This might be it. Anyone know what an aswang is?”

  Chapter Eight

  No surprise that neither Iris nor Abi had knowledge of some predatory monster that wasn’t even from their area. Disappointing, but not surprising.

  As Iris shook her head, Jack couldn’t help notice how fragile she looked. The woman had only recently been told that she was a medium and hadn’t had time to learn what that meant—except that she was more susceptible to being possessed by dead people. Add to that the Big Reveal moment—which she’d handled exceptionally well, but there had to have been at least some surprise. And then the human organ in her pantry.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?” Jack asked her.

  “She’s tougher than she looks,” Abi replied. But she also put her arm around her friend’s shoulders.

  “I’m good.” Iris smiled at Jack. “Really. You have no idea how much of a relief it is to find out my visitor over the last few weeks has been Grandma Abi. I was freaking out on the drive over here. Don’t get me wrong. I’d rather be all alone inside in my head, whether I’m awake for it or not. But at least I know Abi’s grandmother is a good person. Was a good person.”

  Jack again had a strong desire to put her mind at ease. Those open, warm, welcoming—psychic medium—attributes were sneaky. He’d have to remember she had that effect on him. “I have a friend who’s in contact with her ghostly ancestor. They have a good relationship. So I don’t think there’s anything about being a ghost that would necessarily change a person’s character.”

  “I have a good feeling about her, so I think you’re right.”

  “She’s my grandmother,” Abi said. “So I’m predisposed to trust her. But if it helps, it’s completely in character for her to fight her way back from the great beyond to save us all from some great evil.”

  “Sounds like a cool lady.” Marin pushed her chair back from the table and stood up. “We need to head out to meet with our client.”

  “We’ll keep an out for my grandmother.” Abi stood, but waved Iris back into her seat. “I’ll show them out and be right back.”

  Iris nodded. “If I don’t fall asleep before then, maybe we can do dinner. I’m incredibly tired all of a sudden.”

  Abi gave her a last smile and then ushered Marin and Jack back toward the front door.

  Marin paused in the doorway. “Thank you for—”

  “No. I appreciate your help. My grandmother made it clear that she has concerns for the safety of the community and doesn’t think local law enforcement is up to the task.” Abi crossed her arms. “Since we don’t know how long it will be before she can appear again, do you have a contact number where I can reach you?”

  Jack gave her a business card and the name of the hotel where they were staying.

  Her eyebrows inched up. “Nice.”

  “Our client’s choice,” Jack said. “When she does make another appearance, can you make a note of her answers?” Abi nodded, then Jack added, “And you’ll ask about aswang?”

  “And kitsune and any other creature I can think of until we get a positive answer. I’ll also see if I can get more information about her specific concerns.” She hunched in on herself, like she’d suddenly caught a chill. “She must have come a long way to say her piece…” She pressed her lips together. “Finding this creature and preventing it from hurting anyone else must be incredibly important.”

  “We’ll find a way.” Jack tried not to cringe. That sounded suspiciously like a promise.

  She gave a quick nod of acknowledgment and then shut the door.

  When they got back to the car, Marin held out her hand. “Keys.”

  Jack handed them over without a second thought.

  Once they were following the GPS-plotted route back to the hotel, Marin said, “What is up with you?”

  “You’re the one who said she has a welcoming aura.”

  “I said she might.”

  “Well, I think I’m proof.”

  “Right, or maybe…” Marin choked, snorted, then laughed.

  “What do you find so entertaining?”

  “Jack, is it possible you’re in love? Or w
hatever passes for love with you—in lust, maybe?”

  “I’m so glad you find my susceptibility to one of our sources so amusing. And no, I don’t want to screw her, date her, or procreate with her. Give me a break.”

  “Huh.”

  “I reveal a vulnerability and you leap to the conclusion that I’m subconsciously trying to score. Something’s wrong with this equation, and it’s not me.”

  Marin didn’t immediately respond.

  Jack studied her face. She looked…uncomfortable. “Do you have a thing for her?”

  Marin shot him an annoyed look. “No. I might have…” She pursed her lips. “I might have love on the brain.”

  It took a few seconds for what she’d said to sink in. Probably because the badass redhead who was part-time bodyguard, part-time investigator, and part-time shop clerk had never entered his mind as a romantic interest. Well, not never. But not after the first ten minutes he’d met her. She was a dragon. And could kick his ass. Times twenty. And her dad—

  “Jesus, Jack. Forget I said anything.”

  Good plan. He could definitely do that. Absolutely. Wipe it from his mind as if it had never been.

  “Jack, you idiot, not you.”

  “Oh, thank God.” The words escaped him in a rush.

  “Could your ego be any bigger?”

  There was no good answer to that question. “So about the aswang, you wanna recap for me? Never mind. I’ll look it up.” He pulled his phone out with every intent of doing exactly that, but could feel her creepy dragon stare on the side of his neck. He knew he’d regret it, but he looked up.

  She was giving him a squinty, disappointed look.

  He closed his eyes, steeled himself, and then said, “Would you like to talk about it?”

  “It’s Harry.”

  Who was Harry? If he asked, he’d fall even deeper into the pit of personal conversation. Then again, he’d already opened that door.

  She gave him a look. “Harry the healer? You do remember him?”

  “Oh, that Harry. Hey, I like him.”

  Her lips curved into a sly smile. “So do I.”

  And then he had visions of good-natured, likable Harry and his scaly partner going at it. “Please stop. I need to bleach my brain now. Kitsunes, aswangs, anything else, but no more of that.”

  “No way a kitsune is involved with these murders. It’s counter to the culture, to the type of magic they have. I don’t see it.”

  Jack hadn’t ever met a kitsune, but he’d heard of them. The question was, had he heard of the myth or the actual kitsune? “Some kind of fox shifter, right?”

  “Superficially. But kitsune are like dragons: their animal and human selves are not mutually exclusive.”

  “I still don’t understand how an elephant-sized scaly dragon is sitting in the driver’s seat right now, when I’m looking at an annoying red-headed woman who likes to overshare. Where does the big scaly you go when the less big, not-scaly you is here?”

  “I’ve explained this before…” Marin sighed. “I choose which part of myself you see. Which part interacts on a physical plane with this world, but I’m still both dragon and woman at the same time. I’m not a human with some magical ability, using my magic to shift, like a Lycan. It’s not a question of having magic—I am magic.”

  “Sure; got it.” But he wasn’t sure he understood any better this time than last. “And you’re saying kitsune are the same.”

  “Sort of. It’s more spiritual and less planes of existence. But the important part is that killing these people would put an indelible stain on one’s spirit. No kitsune is going to harm its sprit, a much more tangible thing for them, over a little bit of human heart meat.”

  “Humans are on their dietary restriction list? That’s comforting.”

  “Jesus, Jack. They’re part human. Kitsune aren’t cannibals.”

  How was he supposed to know? Fox, human, spirit… It sounded like they were confused over exactly what they were, so no wonder he was, too.

  “Cannibalism is frowned upon in most magical cultures, as a general rule.” Marin shook her head. “GPS has us back in five minutes. Are we telling Elliot everything?”

  “Wait a second. Cannibals exist; I know that. Are you saying in magical circles it’s especially taboo?”

  “I guess. Why?”

  “Because that makes our killer either not human or especially grotesque.” He leaned back in his seat. “And yes, we tell Elliot everything.”

  After a brief pause, Marin said, “If you’re not deeply attracted to the fragile and sweet Iris, then your reaction to her has to be related to her medium talents. Which means keep an eye out that you don’t do something idiotic.”

  “Like sleep with her?”

  “Good luck with that. No, I meant like letting it impact your decision making.”

  “Why didn’t you feel it?” Jack asked. “You didn’t like her.”

  “At first. I didn’t like her at first.” Marin glanced at the GPS and then shut it off as it began speaking. “I might have felt those same things, but more strongly than you.”

  Jack huffed out a chuckle. “That’s rich. Do you set the Girl Scouts that come to your door on fire, and push down little old ladies in the street?”

  “Give me a break. Who was actually nice to our grieving client this morning? That would be me, you angry knucklehead.” Marin shrugged. “It’s just hard to swallow when something is being shoved down your throat. And I didn’t realize initially; it was a reflex.” She pulled into the hotel parking lot.

  “I’ll remember this conversation when I’m considering whether to get you a birthday present. And since warm, fuzzy feelings should not be shoved down your throat, perhaps a cactus is in order.”

  “Smartass. What do you think the chances are we can get autopsy reports on the victims?”

  Jack felt the familiar pinch in his neck as a certain IPPC power player came to mind. “I think our odds are crap without asking Harrington.” Then he brightened as he realized his client was ridiculously wealthy. “Time to see how bribable the locals are.”

  Chapter Nine

  “Bribery?” Elliot looked dismayed by the question. “What do I look like, a drug lord?”

  He’d been waiting in the lobby of the hotel when Jack and Marin arrived, and eager for an update. He’d been shaken by the discovery of Lila’s body on his property and his subsequent questioning by the police, and had barely made it up to their room before he started to hyperventilate. It had taken several minutes before Jack had been able to bring up autopsy reports.

  “No, seriously, you don’t think I’m involved with anything illegal down here, do you?” Elliot looked suspiciously short of breath.

  “No, definitely not,” Marin said as she hustled to the minibar. “Drink?”

  Nodding, Elliot sat down on the edge of Marin’s bed.

  Jack knew the bribery angle had been a long shot—but a guy could hope. Once Elliot was sipping on a sugary soda, Jack asked, “How about local contacts who might be able to get their hands on the reports?”

  “I don’t really see who… Wait, maybe a journalist?” Elliot pulled his phone out. After scrolling through his contacts for a few seconds, he said, “Yeah. Here it is. I wasn’t sure I’d still have it. We only went out a few times.” Looking up at Jack, he said, “You want me to call her? She’s a food and travel blogger, but she hangs out with a bunch of writers. She might know someone.”

  “How long ago were you going out?” Jack asked. The guy was supposed to be so in love with his girlfriend that he’d moved heaven and earth—or at least paid a ton of money—to get specialists to find her…and he was dating other women?

  Elliot shrugged. “Two, three months, maybe? Then I met Lila.”

  That’s right. Their client was spending a small fortune to first find and now discover the killer of a woman he’d known less than three months. Easy to forget when observing his behavior. If he didn’t know Elliot, he’d suspect that he w
as involved with her death and trying to stay ahead of the cops. But Jack did know him, and Elliot really was that nice of a guy.

  Jack thought of the cash. Then he thought of the liver left so conspicuously in Iris’s pantry. A niggling thought emerged from the depths of his brain. “Yeah, call her. See what she can do. Marin?” He motioned for her to follow him into the other bedroom.

  Once they were in the other room and Jack could hear Elliot speaking to his blogger contact, he said, “What if that liver wasn’t left in Iris’s pantry, but in a place where you and I were likely to stumble on it?”

  “No. The car was parked a short walk away.” Marin glanced around the room. “Our hotel room wouldn’t be that difficult to break into. I don’t think so. Why do you say that? Especially given the fact Iris has been channeling Grandma Abi for at least as long as the murders have been going on, and Grandma Abi has information on the killer. She seems the natural target.”

  “Possibly. But why wait until we’re there, inside the shop, to place it? You know it had to be placed while we were there, given the freshness of the blood.”

  Marin groaned. “Damn. And it’s probably not Lila’s liver, given the timeline. She’d have already been dead. That liver was from a fresh victim.” She closed her eyes. When she opened them, she said, “The liver was in front of a jar of dragon’s blood.”

  “What?”

  Marin shook her head. “It’s not actual blood, just a resin. A red, plant-based resin. It’s used mostly in skin care these days. It’s not that odd that an herbalist would have some on hand, and I’m sure it’s Abi who’s stocking that pantry. There were a variety of herbs used for minor medical problems.”

  “So? What? From the probably random placement of the liver, you’re concluding that this creature knows there’s a dragon hanging around?”

  “I don’t know. It struck me at the time, and I didn’t mention it. I’m sure you’re right; it’s nothing.”

  “And the timing?” Jack asked, peering into the other room to make sure Elliot was still occupied on the phone. “I do think the timing of the liver’s delivery is significant.”