Page 60 of Thunder Road

This year, they planned to expand the display with additional Styrofoam tombstones and a weeping angel to have a small cemetery complete with a plastic faux-wrought iron fence, ghosts, and a large fake raven.

“Is it weird that we deal with real ghosts and monsters, and then we come home and decorate for a holiday about scary stuff?” Vic wondered aloud.

“No more than how we can still enjoy a good horror movie.”

“Yeah, but they get so many of the details wrong,” Vic countered.

Simon gave him a fond look. “Our decorations aren’t exactly accurate.”

“I wouldn’t know—we’ve never fought a dragon.” Vic fought the urge to cross himself.

“And let’s hope we never do,” Simon replied.

“Go back to bed,” Vic told Simon after they finished breakfast, as he got ready to go to the precinct. “I’ll be home for dinner.”

Simon nodded. “I’m not going into the store today. Pete was quite stern about telling me to rest and that he’d reschedule the couple of bookings. It’s like you two gang up on me,” he joked tiredly.

“We do, but it’s in your best interest,” Vic assured him before giving him a kiss. “If you need me, call. I suspect I’ll be drowning in paperwork.”

Vic decided to walk, and enjoyed the uninterrupted quiet, knowing that the day would be hectic in the aftermath of their evening activities.

“Are you okay? How’s Simon—and everyone else?” Ross asked as soon as Vic showed up in their office.

“I’m tired—but worried about Simon. He’s exhausted. I haven’t heard from the others since last night.”

“There’s a fresh pot of coffee, so drink up. Cap had a meeting this morning but wants to hear what happened when he gets out,” Ross said. “And I need to get the full, unredacted version.”

“Are you suggesting there’s more than one version?”

Ross gave him a look. “There always is—depending on who’s listening.”

Vic fixed his coffee and plopped into his chair. “The short version—the wardings are strengthened, the troll is bound, Simon is whole, and nearly everyone survived.”

“Nearlyeveryone?”

Vic took a long sip of coffee before he replied. “Buckle up. It’s a wild ride,” he warned before he started his tale.

“…and then the troll vanished after Sister Cecilia burned him to death,” Vic finished a while later.

“Fuck. How do we write that up?” Ross looked a bit stunned, despite having had the inside scoop on Vic and Simon’s previous cases.

“That’swhat stuck with you out of the story? The fate of the coast hung in the balance, and you’re worried about a report?”

“The devil’s in the details,” Ross pointed out.

“Lucky for us that the Supernatural Coast Guard claimed jurisdiction and is handling the cleanup. Hardin is going to work with the Sisters of St. Cyprian to honor Sister Cecilia. She didn’t have any family except the cloister.”

Vic provided a less detailed recap to Captain Hargrove, knowing that his boss preferred plausible deniability and would be fine with the SCG handling the aftermath.

“You know, I slept better before I knew all this mumbo-jumbo was real,” Hargrove grumbled. “I liked thinking it just happened on TV.”

“Where did you think the scriptwriters got their ideas?” Vic joked. “Truth is way stranger than fiction.”

Hargrove held up a hand. “I don’t need to know. Thanks for saving our collective asses.”

“Any time.”

“Is Simon okay?”

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