Page 15 of Down and Dirty

Keaton stepped into the clearing. An old covered gypsy wagon was parked beneath a huge oak tree. Weathered ancient trees with trunks the size of a tiny houses rose from the earth and brushed the sky. A breeze sent a shudder of movement through the branches. The scent of wildflowers drifted around them as animals scurried away to hide.

He was never quick to rush in.If you didn’t count dealing with Faith.

They both broke through the brush.

“How did you know it was here?” Jimbo asked.

“I followed my gut,” Keaton answered.

“Now who's lying?” Faith said, pushing past him.

“Still you,” Keaton said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Ready to tell me what’s really in the box?”

Her eyes narrowed to slits, and she sighed. “Fine. It’s a protection bag that Mary made for me.”

His mouth snapped closed as he tried to process that information. “What the hell is a protection bag?”

Her lips twitched. “Sometimes witches put together ingredients in bags that are used like spells to either protect or harm others.”

The thought of Faith needing supernatural protection ate at his gut. Should he have found her sooner?

“So which is it? Are you trying to harm someone or do you need protection, Faith?”

“She’s not harming anyone,” Jimbo answered. “You might as well tell him, Faith. He already knows your secret.”

“My bag is specifically for protection. It blocks dark entities and demons from entering my house. It’s more like…spiritual teamwork, I guess you could say.”

“Oh well…if that’s all,” Keaton said. It was official; she was as crazy. He just hoped her brand of crazy and his matched. Keaton dropped his arms to his sides, and glanced around the property, eyeing the home. “Should we take a look inside?”

“No need,” Jimbo said. “We’ve already broken in to look for her. The place is cleaned out.”

“So then maybe you’ve got this all wrong and she did move?”

“Hardly,” Faith said, dropping to her knees with the box in hand. “I need to solve her murder.”

“You aren’t a cop,” Keaton reminded her.

“You and Jimbo are.” She smiled and took the lid off the box.

“Right.” His lips twitched into a smile as she took out a leather pouch. “Sorry for being rude, but not sorry for canceling whatever date the doctor was trying to set up.”

“Oh, you didn’t cancel it.” She grinned. “You just delayed it. I’m seeing him later tonight.”

Before Keaton could protest, she opened the bag.

Spirits flew out of the satchel. The movement blew her hair like a gust of wind that stole her breath.

There wasn’t just one member in this spiritual team; there were ten.

These ghosts were like none he’d ever seen. They wore long dresses that floated around their bodies. Their hair waved in the air as if they were underwater, instead of settling down by their shoulders.

Darkness covered their faces as if Keaton’s vision had blurred while trying to make their features. They formed a tight circle around the area.

Keaton’s breath caught. It was one thing to protect Faith from any threats, but supernatural threats were another matter entirely.

“What the….”

“Aw, tell me you didn’t open it. Did I miss it again?” Jimbo asked from just inside the tree line where he’d been looking for clues. His gaze went up above Faith's head in the middle of the clearing. It was painfully obvious that he couldn’t see these creatures. If he had, he wouldn’t have stuck around.

They flew in the circle, occasionally dipping down and circling her too.

Keaton flexed his hand to stop from reaching for her and pulling her back out of harm's way. He needed answers.

---