Page 40 of Haunted By the Shadow of Death

“Ladies, look who decided to join us for tea and cake!” Evangeline called out.

Six faces met mine with different degrees of fake smiles. Some barely managed not to scowl, while some were mildly convincing. No one in this group would be winning an Oscar anytime soon.

I’d seen them all before. The only one who I’d had a strong dislike of was Louise, who of course was barely acknowledging me.

Evangeline poured us both some tea as we settled at the table. Louise, who happened to be closest to me, made a show of sliding her chair farther away.

“So, what’s on everyone’s agenda for the spring season?” asked Naomi, a younger lady who handled the laundry.

She avoided meeting my gaze when she spoke. She obviously didn’t want to know what my spring plans were.

They began to chatter, talking about what they were planning on doing with crops, and other mindless chatter. I sipped tea, staring at the clock and wondering how long I’d have to sit here before I could make an excuse to leave. Evangeline shot me apologetic looks here and there.

“So what are your plans, Piper?” Louise asked. “I mean, do you have any?” She was openly condescending.

“Louise, you better watch your mouth,” Evangeline said, eyeing her up like she was going to drag her out of the room in another minute.

“What? I’m just asking about her plans. I’m trying to be polite and inclusive.”

“We all know—”

“It’s fine,” I said calmly. “I don’t care much what she says or does. She couldn’t get the man she wanted, and she’s obviously bitter about it, but that’s understandable.”

“What? You think he really wanted you?” Louise got to her feet, if only to be able to look down upon me. “You’re a mess, a monster, and a pariah. He has to threaten people to even get them to speak to you. Yeah, you’re a real catch.”

I stood. It was time for me to leave. Arguing or fighting with her wasn’t the right move, and worse, her words hit home. Everything she said was true, and I knew it better than anyone.

Before I had a chance to leave, Louise dropped to the ground. It was like time stopped as we all stared at her form. She’d been healthy and laughing a second ago, and now she was gray and dead. It happened almost instantaneously.

Naomi let out a high-pitched scream. Everyone else ran from the building, and I just stood there. The only person left with me was Evangeline. She looked as frozen as I was. Finally her eyes lifted from Louise to me, and I could see her thoughts written as clear as day.

“Did you do that?” she asked. “I know she wasn’t nice to you. I didn’t like her either, but…”

She’d already decided I had done it, in spite of her question. She took a step back from me and shook her head.

“No. Or I didn’t consciously… I don’t know.” Another person was dead. I hadn’t touched her, not even a graze. I was too aware now to doubt that, especially with people I didn’t like. My hands were shaking as my mind rebelled against what had happened. It was me. Somehow, I was behind these deaths. There was no other explanation.

Evangeline went to kneel beside the body but stopped short of touching her, as if whatever I’d done would spread.

Kicks burst into the room and then took a look at Louise on the ground, and then me.

“Where’s Charlie?” I asked.

“I left him with Magnum as soon as I saw the commotion. What happened?”

“I—I don’t know.” I wasn’t crying. I couldn’t even really think straight as I began to shake.

“She didn’t even touch her,” Evangeline said. The words didn’t sound like a defense of me, more shock that I killed so easily.

Buddie, Rastin, and Crackers filed into the room seconds later.

“Watch the door,” Kicks said, and Buddie immediately took the lead.

“Holy shit. Another one?” Rastin said. “I mean, obviously you’re not trying to kill them, because anyone who was wouldn’t do it like this. They’d at least lure them into the woods or something. This…” He waved his hand at the body as he looked at me. “Seriously, you gotta get your shit together and get a handle on this crap. At least learn to be discreet.”

It was too late for discretion. That ship had sailed.

I didn’t know how to respond, and no one else did either. Rastin had basically laid out the way that probably most in this room felt. They thought I was a serial killer who couldn’t get her act together. I was a blundering, messy, accidental serial killer who some of them happened to like. Or had.

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