Page 21 of Half Dead

“Sounds like you are.”

She lowered her hands. “I had to ask. This is new territory for me, as you’re well aware. There’s bound to be a learning curve.”

Her response didn’t assuage my hurt feelings. “I understand, but I thought you knew me better than to think I’d inflict insanity on someone as a form of punishment.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t investigate all the angles.”

“People have mental breakdowns all the time. There doesn’t need to be a supernatural in the mix.”

“I realize that, but like I said, the numbers didn’t add up. As far as I know, you’re the only one in town with the power to drive people crazy.”

“Has she met Ginny Halstrom?” Nana Pratt interjected. “The woman’s blathering could turn Einstein’s brain to jelly.”

I was too stuck on the chief’s accusation to fully appreciate Nana Pratt’s comment. “I get that the supernatural world is still new to you, Chief, but please don’t start to blame us for every bad thing that happens in Fairhaven. Humans carry a decent portion of that load.”

Her brown eyes radiated empathy. “I’m sorry, Lorelei, really. West told me I was barking up the wrong tree.”

“I’m surprised he would use that idiom.”

The chief gave me a vague smile. “Okay, that was my version of his response.” She drank her tea in two quick gulps. “Any word on that potion?”

Resident witch Phaedra Bridger was currently in the process of crafting a potion that would give Chief Garcia and Officer Leo the Sight. It wouldn’t necessarily have helped in the Richard Horton situation, except for the fact that the chief would’ve known immediately he wasn’t an actual werewolf.

“Nothing she’s ready to test.”

“Let me know as soon as you hear anything. I’ll see myself out.”

I remained seated as she scraped back her chair and exited the house. I’d expected there to be a teething phase as she and Officer Leo adjusted to their new knowledge. What I hadn’t expected was for that knowledge to be used against me. I was beginning to regret my decision to enlighten them.

Ray appeared in the chief’s empty seat. “Are you okay?”

“Disappointed, but otherwise fine.”

“I don’t blame you,” Nana Pratt said. “It was downright offensive. It’s like she doesn’t know you at all.”

Ray glanced at the elderly ghost. “In a way, she doesn’t. The chief knew Lorelei Clay, the mysterious woman who bought the most expensive pile of blue stones in town. Now that she’s met Melinoe, she needs to recalibrate.”

“We all had to do that,” Nana Pratt sniffed.

“We aren’t all the chief of police,” Ray said. “Elena has a different mindset.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Cut the chief some slack. I’m sure her head is still spinning from having the curtain yanked back.”

Ray was right, as usual. I thought of all the information I’d learned in recent months. I’d already been privy to the supernatural realm, yet still my world had been tilted on its axis. I could only imagine how unsettled the chief was.

I’d give her time. I only hoped it would be enough.

That night I dreamed of a flowing river and a giant statue of Cerberus at its mouth. I didn’t recall a statue like that in the underworld and wondered whether Spedo had influenced my creative juices.

After a quick breakfast of granola and blueberries, I lingered at the table, examining Birdie’s special delivery. The cufflink wasn’t particularly memorable. I wouldn’t have identified it as a token of hell. I was glad the older woman had been vigilant enough to learn everything she could about Lucifer, which was far more than I’d done.

“What’s that hunk of junk?” Nana Pratt asked, startling me. She laughed. “Since when do you get rattled by ghosts?”

“I was concentrating on this.” I motioned to the cufflink.

“Why? Are you trying to levitate it or something?”

“I wish it were that simple.” I explained the situation.

“Ray,” Nana Pratt called. “Get in here. Lorelei has a project for you.”

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