Page 4 of The Vampire and the Case of the Hellacious Hag

Leif answered before Thomas could. ‘Cleared out,’ he grunted. ‘The inspector didn’t finish this section, so we can’t mine here until a new inspector comes and completes it. We’re haemorrhaging money through lost time.’

At first my mind said,That makes sense, then part of my lizard brain woke up with a definite zing of fear. ‘Erm … in that case is it safe forusto be here?’ My voice came out just a shade too high.

Leif shrugged. ‘Wasn’t safe for the inspector.’

What a dick reply. Ice-cold fingers ran down my spine and I looked at every nook and cranny as I waited for the earth to collapse on top of me. Perhaps I did have a touch of claustrophobia after all because all I could think aboutwas the ceiling falling in and covering me in tonnes of earth and rock.

Thomas must have noticed my discomfort because he said, ‘It’s safe to walk through. It’s protocol for mining, that’s all.’ That alleviated a little of my panic – but not all of it.

Leif stopped suddenly and pointed to where the corridor split. ‘This way.’ He took the left passageway. After a few metres we moved into a side corridor; it ended in a large room that looked more like a natural cavern than something man- or dwarf-made.

Leif pointed. ‘This is where the body was found.’ He stepped back and leaned against a rough-hewn wall. Thomas joined him so we could get an unobstructed view.

Time had passed and the ground was hard, so not even an impression of the body remained. There were some scuffs and a partial wheel mark, where presumably the gurney had been used to remove the body, but nothing else. No clues, no blood, and if there was hair I couldn’t find it. I dropped to my hands and knees to examine the dirt more closely.

‘Do you see anything unusual?’ Gunnar asked me quietly.

I sighed and shook my head. ‘No, nothing. Only that one wheel scuff from the gurney.’ I stood up and brushed off myhands. ‘I don’t see anything that would suggest this was murder. Do you?’

‘Unless something unusual comes back after the autopsy, it appears he just collapsed and died.’

‘Fluffy, scent,’ I called and gestured to the area. Obligingly, he sniffed around, his tail held low and showing no signs of excitement. Then, as he came closer to one of the walls, he gave a low whine.

‘Hag,’ Leif said firmly. ‘She travels through the ground. That’s what your dog’s smelling. It’s proof she was here!’

I couldn’t help raising my eyebrows. It was clear that Fluffy had smelled something unusual, but whatever it was it didn’t look like it had come into the cavern. My dog had pointedly sniffed at the walls, not at the ground. Luckily, I could ask him about it later when I persuaded him to have some human time.

Fluffy gave a small yip, returned to my side and pressed into my legs again. I gave him a pat and some praise, then I frowned and turned to our grumpy guide. ‘Leif, why do you think the inspector was murdered?’ As far as I could see, absolutely nothing pointed to foul play.

‘She’shere,’he insisted. He cupped his hand to his ear and pressed it against the wall he was leaning against and gestured for us to do the same.

I leaned in – and then I heard a slight scratching noise. I was pretty sure I knew the answer, but I asked anyway. ‘What’s the scratching sound?’

Leif looked at me scornfully. ‘You wanted to know where the entrance to the hag’s den is. Well, it’s right here. She did it.’

I searched the wall but there was no sign of a door. Gunnar and I looked at each other before I turned back to Leif. ‘Where’s the entrance?’

‘She can pass through earth without hindrance because it’s her natural element. This is where she enters the mine. She doesn’t need adoor,’ he sneered.

‘How do I knock so I can speak with her?’ I asked stubbornly.

‘Call to her if you dare, but wait until after I leave. I’m not dying for the sake of your curiosity.’

I stared at him for a beat. ‘How do I call her, then?’

Leif grimaced. ‘You’re a fool with a death wish.’

Thomas grunted, ‘She’s a Nomo officer. Show some damned respect.’

‘Sure thing,boss.’ Leif’s tone was faintly sarcastic. ‘Officer Death Wish, you just need to call the hag’s name three times and offer her a gift.’

‘What is her name?’

Leiflooked nervously at the wall, then leaned towards me and whispered, ‘Matilda.’

Great. One step forward – but I had nothing with me I could offer as a gift. ‘Gunnar, do you have anything we can give her?’

He shook his head. ‘What kind of a gift do you offer a hag?’ he asked Leif.

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