~*~
Theo found the offices he was looking for up a long flight of metal steps that ran up the back wall of the warehouse. He kept the light he was generating in his palm to a low blue, mimicking the torch he had been carrying just in case they were dealing with anyone outside of the magical community and it lit up just enough of the steps that he could see where he was going. However, it left a big black void to his left over the hand rail and left him feeling like he was rising up into unconnected space. It was a very strange feeling that made his stomach turn and Theo was glad when he finally reached for the door at the top of the stairs.
The door was not locked and Theo pushed it in, remaining to one side, checking the area for anyone hostile. He shone his light into the room, directing it like a torch beam and sweeping it across the darkness. One side to the other: a chair, a bent old desk lamp, a filing cabinet. Back the other way: a desk with one drawer open, a coat stand, a puff of white. Theo's hair stood on end and he swung the light upwards rather too quickly. It swept past a face, Theo was almost sure, a face so white it shone in the beam, eyes dark hollows. Alarmed, Theo re-aimed his light, flaring its intensity, but where there had been the mask-like face, now there was nothing but empty darkness.
Theo swallowed hard. Unsure of what he had seen, his mind trying to make sense of the flash of white and the deathly face, he took a moment to let his heart rate settle before he swept the room once more. There was nothing there except old office furniture. Kicking himself for his own imagination, but not able to completely settle again, Theo went inside.
"Alinson, Felix Alinson," he called, more for his own benefit than to actually garner a response.
Theo wasn't expecting an answer.
"Welcome, Detective Haward," a deep male voice greeted from his left.
Theo swung round, light flaring with his nerves, and what he found looking at him from atop the desk made him step back rapidly. He knew the devil doll from the spirit board immediately: the leering grin over its pointed beard and its horrible, yellow eyes had been etched into his brain from the moment he had broken into the room and found it bent over the dead body of Raymond Holiday. To see it standing alone, unsupported by the framework of the board, sent ice slicing down Theo's spine and it stalled him into inactivity, his dread growing when, slowly, its chin lifted and he knew it was looking directly at him.
"Time to pay the price, Policeman," the large voice boomed from the small mannequin and disbelief protected Theo as he recognised the voice he had only heard in muffled ranting behind a reinforced door.
"Raymond?" he had to speak his suspicion, but in no more than a whisper.
A chuckle greeted him, the same one that had echoed out in the darkened warehouse and slowly the doll's arm came up, pointing at him.
"Time to die," Holiday snarled.
That threat kicked Theo back into gear. However, it was too late. He heard a rustle behind him and turned in time to see a streak of white, but then something hit him in the arm and in another second a shock of pain ran out through his body. He only realised it was a Taser as his knees buckled under him and his teeth locked. Theo crumpled, his last, horrified thought the white, expressionless mask of his attacker watching him go down.