Page 12 of The Shadows of Excess

CHAPTER SEVEN

Tim walked into the office and noticed the heavy atmosphere as soon as he entered. He eyed Justice with surprise and skepticism. “Well, if it isn’t Justice bringing the end-of-the-world news. Judging by those long faces, I’m guessing you’ve already spilled the beans, huh?”

Justice nodded solemnly. “Dr. Gould sent me. Our patrols found Becky’s body in Mystic Vale Park, underneath Hanging Rock.”

A chill crept down my spine. Mystic Vale had always seemed otherworldly to me with its majestic and towering red rock formations. Hanging Rock, a colossal red sandstone boulder precariously balanced on a smaller base, was particularly awe-inspiring and unsettling.

Brody leaned back in his chair, rubbing his rugged jaw. “Mystic Vale Park is only an hour away from the PMC,” he mused aloud. “Do you think the proximity is a coincidence?”

The mention of the PMC piqued my interest. Hidden from human eyes on Pikes Peak, I knew it existed yet had never seen it. The thought that such a significant event had occurred so close to this bastion of supernatural governance was disconcerting.

At that moment, Tim chimed in. “Coincidence? In our line of work? Not likely. More like a big, flashing neon sign pointing right at something we’re supposed to see. The question is, what are they trying to show us, or what are they trying to distract us from?”

His dark words hung in the air like a dooming black cloud.

Justice tilted his head. “Dr. Gould and I don’t think this was a coincidence, either. It’s some kind of message, one we need to solve. Becky was staring up at the rock with her eyes wide open and her arms and legs stretched out.” His low voice painted an eerie picture.

The imagery struck me deeply. The stark contrast of Becky’s lifeless form against the backdrop of a natural marvel that defied gravity seemed macabre and strangely poetic.

“Anything else?” I managed to ask.

Justice nodded. “She looked like she was over eighty years old.”

Brody’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Becky’s not even thirty.”

“I know,” Justice admitted heavily. “There were also strange coins scattered around her body, not like any currency we know. And her wrists and ankles…they were marked with tattoos resembling those coins. Even Dr. Gould hasn’t seen anything like it before.”

Tim rubbed his scalp, and bewilderment flickered in his eyes. “Coins? That’s a new one for me. Anything else about that poor girl?”

“No,” Justice replied. “Dr. Gould’s got some theories but isn’t willing to share until he finds out more. He doesn’t want us working on false assumptions.”

“Since Dr. Gould’s not in the sharing kind of mood, where do we start?” Damon asked dryly.

Tim’s gaze turned sharp. “You’d best start at Hanging Rock, then head over to Mystic Ridge. That place is a regular witch’s haven. Someone there’s bound to have their ear to the ground or some cockamamie theory about what’s going on.”

Damon and I had been to Mystic Ridge plenty of times on hunts. It was a stone’s throw from Colorado Springs and looked like any quaint town lined with old brick buildings, cozy diners, and antique shops. However, it was unique.

The place was known for its high concentration of psychics, mediums, and practitioners of various esoteric arts. Crystal shops, bookstores brimming with ancient tomes on the supernatural, and cozy tea rooms offering tarot readings dotted the town. Damon and I had consulted many of the psychics there.

Justice’s intense, dark eyes locked onto mine. “You have contacts there?”

“Several.” I flashed him a quizzical look. “Why? Don’t you?”

He smirked. “Mystic Ridge’s magical community has always been wary of vampires and other magical creatures.”

Damon grunted. “Imagine that.”

“Damon.” I shot him a warning look.

He rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, but quickly quieted when my scowl deepened.

“Let’s stay focused,” Brody interjected, cutting through the rising tension. “Justice, the real question we need to address is whether Lisa was with Becky at the time of the incident. Did the recon team provide any insights on that? It’s crucial we understand the full scope of what we’re dealing with.”

Justice shrugged. “We don’t know. That’s why Dr. Gould sent me here. He wants us to pick up where they left off.”

Tim jerked a thumb toward Justice and the others. “You lot are about as subtle as a bull in a china shop in a town like Mystic Ridge. Best leave that to Damon and Sawyer. Meanwhile, you four should hoof it back to Hanging Rock. Poke around some more, see if your fancy PMC team missed anything. We need to get a handle on this Lisa situation and figure out what the heck these coins are all about. Keep your eyes peeled. We’re likely not the only ones interested in what’s going on there.”

I glanced at Dad again, who hadn’t made a sound or moved since we started our powwow. “Tim, you’ll stay with him?”

---