Homecoming (A Finn McCoy Paranormal Thriller #1)

  Chapter Six

  It was nearly eight when McCoy arrived home. Amanda, ever a poster girl for punctuality, pulled in right behind him. He hopped out of Boo and went to open her door.

  “Impeccable timing,” he said as she got out. He bent over and gave her a kiss. It felt like winning the lottery.

  “Keep that up, and you’ll be bouncing the mattress instead of ideas,” she said. She shoved a bucket of chicken at him. “I didn’t get drinks.”

  “There’s beer and soda in the fridge.”

  They went inside. Amanda set out the food while McCoy went to the bathroom. It had been a long drive back from the Springs, and he was pretty sure he’d soon be able to add prostate trouble to his growing list of ailments. Hooray for getting old.

  “So, did you find anything interesting?” Amanda asked when he rejoined her at the kitchen table.

  “Plenty,” he replied as he sat down. “I just don’t know what to make of it. There’s definitely something funny going on in Shallow Springs.”

  “There’s an oxymoron,” she said. “Funny and Shallow Springs don’t exactly go together.”

  “Fine. Weird.”

  “That’s better.”

  “Lyle’s got his back to the wall, and he knows it. I don’t think these killings are just going to stop on their own. In fact, this may just be the beginning.”

  “Is it the Sluagh, like you thought?”

  McCoy shook his head. “I’m almost positive it is. But something’s different. They’ve never been so bold or organized before. And I saw this naked girl..”

  “Whoa. Time out.” Amanda had been about to take a bite of chicken, but she let it fall back into her plate. “You didn’t think to mention that when I called?”

  “Oh, I thought plenty. Then I came to my senses.”

  Amanda flicked a piece of biscuit at him. It bounced off his nose.

  “Okay,” he said. “Here’s what happened. I was driving up Monster Road, and this girl comes busting out of the woods, not a stitch of clothes on. She stops for a second, looks at me, and then takes off. I tried going after her, but it was no use.”

  “See? I knew you were up there chasing women.”

  “Well, I didn’t have a prayer of catching this one, believe me.”

  “Do you think she was one of them?” Amanda asked.

  “No. I mean, I’m pretty sure she was human.”

  “Maybe she was being chased.”

  McCoy shook his head. “She was going somewhere. In a hurry. She didn’t expect to see anyone on the road. It surprised her as much as it did me.”

  “Are we talking young girl?”

  “Nineteen, twenty. Somewhere around that. She looked…almost feral. I tell you, it was a sight to see.”

  “I bet it was,” Amanda said with a smirk. “Do you think she’s the same one?”

  “Same as what?” McCoy asked, shoving a spoonful of mashed potatoes into his mouth.

  “The little girl that the demon showed you.”

  McCoy froze, spoon still in his mouth. He looked like he’d just been told he was eating puréed ass.

  “I swear, Finn. For being a big-time paranormal handler, you have the hardest time putting two and two together.”

  “Damn!” he said through the mouthful of potatoes. He swallowed. “It could have been her. I didn’t get a good look at her face, but the hair color was right.” He looked at Amanda. “How did I ever make it before I met you?”

  “Just keep asking yourself that,” she said with a smug smile. “And wipe your mouth. You’ve got potatoes dripping from your chin.”

  He took a napkin and ran it across his mouth. It made sense. He had almost forgotten about the image of the little girl. She had to fit into this somehow, and since she wasn’t one of the victims…

  “We need to find out who she is,” he said. “She might end up being the key to this whole thing.”

  “And how do we do that?”

  “We can try the internet, but it may not be much help. Maybe you could go with me tomorrow and research back issues of the local paper. Could be she’s a local that’s been reported missing.”

  It was Amanda’s turn to stop in mid bite. “You want me to come with you?”

  “Sure, if you can take off from work. But I want you to stay in town.”

  She looked at him, undecided.

  “Meet me halfway on this?” he asked.

  Amanda smiled. “Okay. I’m sure they can do without me for one day.”

  “Great. I want to get an early start. Can you be here around seven?”

  “That depends on what time you let me go home,” she teased.

  McCoy thought about it.

  “Let’s make it eight,” he said.