Page 65 of Haunted

“I’m assuming you already ran the name?”

“You assume correctly. No hits in any database I have access to.”

“It couldn’t be easy, could it?”

“Never is, Keaton. One more thing before I let you go.” He paused and I knew what was coming before he said anything. It was the same old song and dance every time we talked. “Heather said to tell you to get your ass home for a visit. It’s been far too long since we’ve seen your ugly mug.”

“I’m pretty sure she didn’t call me ugly, old man.”

“Yeah, well, the sentiment is the same. Come home, soon.”

“Can I bring someone with me?” The phone was dead-ass silent for so long I thought maybe he’d lost the signal, but as I pulled it away from my ear, I saw the connection was live. “Good to know I’ve still got the ability to stun you speechless.”

“Shit,” he groaned. “You met a woman?”

“I met the woman I’m gonna marry.”

“Fuck. Heather’s gonna go ballistic. You know that right? From the day you came to us, she’s been on a mission. All those romance books she reads are research for your HEA.”

“HEA?”

“Happily ever after.”

I laughed out loud. “Sounds like you may have been reading a few yourself.”

“Laugh it up, kid. You should see our basement. It’s like the wedding version of a doomsday prepper’s wet dream.”

“Damn. Okay, once this case is wrapped up, I’ll bring Henley to Virginia, but you need to control your wife.”

“I prefer my balls to remain attached to my dick, so you’re on your own with Heather.” He chuckled. “My suggestion would be to call her, maybe even FaceTime so we have a chance to meet your girl.”

“I’ll see what I can do. Thanks. Talk later.”

“Later, Keaton.”

Disconnecting, I looked up to see Noah with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“The girl you’re gonna marry?”

“Fuck off, asshole.”

“I’m gonna be your best man, right?”

“Jesus Christ.”

Henley

Black clouds rolled in shortly after the lunch rush ended, darkening the skies before unleashing buckets of cool rain over the town. It was days like these I wish I could curl up with a steamy romance book and a warm blanket fora lazy afternoon getting lost between the pages. But no such luck when there were bills to be paid. The weatherman was calling for a round of nasty storms to hit the area later, but it didn’t seem to stop anyone from coming out in droves to their favorite diner to eat.

“One more hour.” Jade collapsed into the booth of the table I was clearing. “God, I’m so tired.”

“Do you wanna hang out for a while when you drop me off? We can make some popcorn and throw in an old movie or something,” I suggested.

“Can’t. I’m on a deadline.” Her eyes widened and she slapped her hand over her mouth.

Realization dawned. “Deadline?” My friend was hiding something.

She sprang up out of the booth like the hounds of hell were on her heels and glanced around quickly, checking to see if anyone else was listening to our conversation before nudging me back toward the kitchen.

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