Page 13 of A Song for the Dead

“I don’t believe that’s necessary.” The manager plucked a card from a small display at the checkout and handed it to Kane. “Elliot is a photographer. This is his card. It doesn’t pay the bills, so he works here.” He opened his hands. “He’d normally be here around this time, but he changed his shift, said he needs to be around town at night over Halloween to catch all the displays. People apparently like professional photographs during festivals.”

“Thanks.” Jenna folded her notebook. “We’ll give him a call.” She headed out the door and turned to Kane. “What do you think?”

Kane pushed his hat down on his head firmly as a cold breeze brushed his cheeks. “Another possible. This one has a motive. She shunned his attention and it had an immediate effect. Yeah, he’s on the list.”

SIXTEEN

A cold mist swirled across the sidewalk and turned the blacktop into a walkway for ghostly figures, all of them marching into the unknown. Jenna pushed away the shudder of uncertainty and looked into Tauri’s face. He shone as if lit from inside, his happiness coming out in giggles and little skips of joy as she led him past the sometimes horrific displays. It had taken a long discussion to persuade her to expose a four-year-old to all that Black Rock Falls offered over the Halloween week. She’d spoken to Blackhawk, who’d shrugged and said it was a fact of life and Tauri should understand it was all in fun. Kane had said much the same, pointing out the decorations in the kindergarten and just how many of Tauri’s friends were involved in decorating their own front yards. She’d giggled when Kane mentioned he’d never had a problem with Halloween, but Santa Claus had frightened him as a child. The idea of a huge man with claws coming down the chimney in the night had been a terrifying notion, carrying gifts or not. He’d explained that after being well-schooled in stranger danger and not taking candy from anyone he didn’t know, Santa Claus sounded very dangerous to him.

Dark shadows loomed ahead and, wishing Kane was with her, she stared through the swirling mist hoping to see him. But Kane had driven to Aunt Betty’s and parked outside, and, leaving them to enjoy the displays, he had gone to purchase a pumpkin. After leaving it in the Beast, he’d walk along Main to meet them. The sidewalk wasn’t busy, most people had headed home for their dinner, but a few people lingered. Ahead, the Halloween spirit was in full force, with every store trying to outdo the next, but between them, the banks and offices sat in darkness and all around them shadows had filled with mist, adding to the creepiness. The fog was so thick in places that people seemed to emerge at first like ghostly figures before their features set in place. With a killer roaming the streets, once they entered the thick cloud of fog, no one would see if someone attacked them.

Nerves on edge but wanting to keep the atmosphere around Tauri as relaxed as possible, she laughed and pointed at the skeletons dressed like gunslingers playing cards, their red eyes flashing and heads turning whenever anyone walked by. “They’re so funny.” She squeezed Tauri’s hand, keeping him close to her side.

“It’s funny because we made jack-o’-lanterns today to keep the bad ghosts away, and Nanny Raya says only good spirits of the elders come through on that night and she welcomes them to bring in a new beginning. She told me never to be afraid of the good spirits. Most are there to guide us.” He gave her a quizzical stare and wrinkled his nose. “Who is right?”

Enchanted by Tauri’s knowledge of both cultures’ interpretation of Halloween, she smiled at him. “You should believe what’s in your heart. These displays are for fun and shouldn’t be taken seriously, but years ago people had many different interpretations of what some called All Hallows’ Eve. I happen to agree with Nanny Raya and believe there are spirits who guide us. I think they guide us every day, not just over Halloween.”

“Uncle Atohi said the same thing.” Tauri laughed. “He comes to see me at Nanny Raya’s and tells me stories. I like listening to him. He teaches me new words, same as Daddy. I want to speak to the elders, same as the other kids.” He looked up at her. “I can teach you. It’s easy.”

Heart blossoming with love every time she looked at her little boy, she nodded. “I’d like that.”

As they strolled along Main, a few people wandered past, nodding to her, heads bent against the cruel breeze that seemed to creep up behind her and send chills down her neck. Ice covered the mountain peaks, turning the snowcaps blue. Snow would come early. The winters had become worse each year and seemed to last forever before the melt. As she stopped in front of a group of wild-haired witches stirring a bubbling cauldron, she caught a movement in one of the displays. Within a group of ghostly figures with hideous masks, a head turned toward her, the black eyes deep pits of nothingness. The hairs stood erect on the back of her neck, as they’d walked by just before and nothing had happened. Most of the automatons had movement sensors, and right now they were the only people close by. She pulled Tauri closer as he poked a fat spider with twirling black-and-white eyes that reminded her of old movies about being hypnotized.

As they moved to the next display, a shiver slid down her spine and every muscle went on alert as she caught the reflection in the storefront window of a ghostly figure detaching itself from the group. It appeared to float on the mist to join the next display. She hadn’t imagined it, not twice in a row. Had she? Casually, she unclipped the leather strap securing her weapon and moved Tauri on to the next display, keeping one eye on the reflection behind her in the storefront windows. Ahead, the street was empty. Shadows bathed the sidewalk outside the closed office buildings that stood on each side of the dark alleyway. Concern gripped her. Was someone following her to cause her harm or try and snatch Tauri from her? He was such a beautiful little boy and attracted attention from everyone. Not wanting to alarm him, she bent, gathered him in her arms, and hurried across the entrance to the misty alleyway. Heart pounding, she burst out of the darkness and slowed as she reached the next display. To her horror, in her peripheral vision she caught sight of the ghostly figure sliding into the alleyway. There was no mistake. Somebody was following her.

Acting nonchalant, she placed Tauri on the ground and clasped his hand as they moved toward a dancing skeleton and a man with an ax through his head outside Guns and Ammo. She searched ahead for Kane but couldn’t see him. Through the swirling mist, she made out a mass of people around the entrance to the pizzeria waiting for takeout. The ghostly figure hadn’t emerged from the alleyway, so they walked on. Heart racing with every step, Jenna tried not to allow her Halloween over-imagination take hold of common sense, but as they moved along the sidewalk, she stared into the storefront window straight into the face the of the figure heading their way, and in one hand he swung a machete.

She needed to get some distance between her and the man following her, and squeezed Tauri’s hand. “How fast can you run to the next one?”

“Like the wind.” Tauri giggled and dragged her forward.

Laughing, they ran toward the next exhibition of gruesome Halloween fun. Not wanting to frighten Tauri, she stopped, took out her phone, and took a photograph of him, making sure to capture the reflection of the figure now blending into the previous display. She allowed the little boy to explore the attractions and called Kane in a whisper. “Someone dressed as a ghost and carrying a machete has been following us since we started to walk along Main. He waits, and then as we move on, he follows and blends in with the displays. I don’t want to create a bad experience for Tauri, but if he comes any closer, I’ll take him down.”

“I’m heading your way.”She could hear Kane’s footsteps running on the sidewalk.“I’m across the road. I took Duke to the park. Leave him to me. I’ll come around behind him. Make sure you keep Tauri busy. What’s your exact position?”

Jenna kept her voice low. “Just went past Guns and Ammo. Not far from the pizzeria.”

“Okay. If anything goes down, pick Tauri up and run to the pizzeria or Aunt Betty’s.”Kane disconnected.

Holding out her hand, Jenna smiled at Tauri. “Come on, the giant spider isn’t far.”

“Can we see the man with the funny teeth?” Tauri make a face. “He says, ‘Hahaha, I want to bite your neck.’ My friends told me.”

Keeping a close eye to any movements, Jenna allowed Tauri to drag her to the Dracula attraction. The coffin opened as they walked by, and the dummy’s arms stretched toward them. The voice was almost melodic and she couldn’t help laughing, and then froze as she caught sight of the ghostly figure detaching itself from the previous display and heading straight for them. She picked up Tauri, ready to run for her life and then sighed with relief.

As if like magic, Kane appeared from between parked trucks and in two strides had slammed the ghost against a red-brick wall with his forearm across his throat. She didn’t turn but kept Tauri’s attention on the display, watching everything unfold in the reflection of the storefront window. The ghost’s mask was dragged off the culprit to show a young man, his face white and eyes bulging at Kane. Words were exchanged and Kane took a photograph of the man’s ID. He shoved the mask at him and gave him a push in the opposite direction. The next moment Duke came bounding toward them, tail wagging like a windmill and his backside in a happy dance to see Tauri. That dog sure loved the little boy. As they headed toward Aunt Betty’s, Kane came to her side. Jenna looked at him. “You let him go?”

“He claimed to be an actor hired by the town council to scare people.” Kane shrugged. “I have his details and will check tomorrow. I’ll also be calling the mayor about the stupidity of doing such a thing in Serial Killer Central. I let the guy go with a warning.”

Interested, Jenna looked at him. “What kind of warning?”

“Oh, I said messing with the sheriff is a big mistake, especially when she’s out with our son. If he’d come close with that machete, which was plastic by the way, you’d have shot him dead.” He cleared his throat. “I also reminded him that anyone who believes their life is in danger has the right to do the same thing and suggested he find another occupation.”

“Daddy, come look at the spider.” Tauri was jumping on the spot with excitement. “It has babies.”

“Oh, I’m scared, maybe you should hold my hand.” Kane grinned at him.

“Silly Daddy.” Tauri laughed and took his hand. “You’re big and scared of nothing. Uncle Atohi told me you are Eagle Eye the great warrior.”

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