Mirela waved her hand at the other women. "What if we were to just do away with all of you? No one would be the wiser."
"No one but the police department," Ambigo pointed out.
Mirela laughed. Her companions joined in with a good cackle. "Those buffoons? We could easily fool them with false trails so they would never find you." A coy smile slipped onto her lips. "Or rather, what's left of you."
"What about Mab?" Orion spoke up.
A gasp sprang from the women. Many backed away from us. In the distance a horse whinnied.
Mirela's eyebrows crashed down. "What does she have to do with this?"
Orion folded his arms and shrugged. "She wouldn't be too happy to see her favorite customer disappear. You could say she might go looking for me, and if she didn't like what she found she might do something about that."
Mirela narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. "You're lying."
Orion looked her in the eyes. "Maybe, but do you really want to risk it?"
All eyes lay on Mirela. Not a woman breathed. Even the horses stood stiff. My heart obliged by skipping every other beat.
Mirela's shoulders fell. She half-turned away from us and waved her hand. "Very well, I accept your challenge."
I breathed out and clutched my chest. Orion smiled and Ambigo nodded his head. He stepped forward. "I will be our combatant."
Mirela looked at us and sneered. "We won't fight men. It must be her-" she nodded at me, "-who will be your champion."
I stiffened and pointed at myself. "Me?" I squeaked.
Orion put a heavy hand on my shoulder. "We accept. Now who will she battle?"
Mirela turned to us and grinned. "I accepted your challenge, so I will do combat with you."
I whirled around and glared at Orion. "We came here to get rid of a spirit, not make me into one!"
Orion put his hands on my shoulders and turned me around so I faced Mirela. "You shouldn't have too much to worry about. After all, the pen is mightier than the sword."
I glanced over my shoulder. "Which reminds me, I forgot my pen at home. We need to go get it."
One of the other women handed Mirela a bowl and a leather bag stuffed with dried herbs. The women drew closer and created an impenetrable wall where we stood in the circular center. Ambigo and Orion were pulled back. I was left standing alone amid the din of children clapping and women shouting.
Mirela raised her hand. The din quieted. "The right of combat has been initiated. None may interfere. Now we will-"
I raised my hand. "I have a question."
Mirela frowned. "What is it?"
"What are the rules?"
She smiled. "There are no rules. You must merely knock me unconscious whatever way you can."
My face drooped. "Seriously? I'm living a real-life version of Calvin-ball?"
Mirela arched an eyebrow. "What is this-"
"Readysetgo!" I shouted as I lunged at her.
She leapt out of the way. I tumbled to the ground, but righted myself and spun around. The witch-gypsy threw a handful of herbs into her bowl. Thick fog poured out and covered the ring in its impenetrable white body. I stretched out my arms and groped in the dark. My hands felt the faces of the spectators.
"Watch it!" one of them shrieked.
Hands grabbed me and spun me around before they shoved me back into the circle. I stumbled forward and squinted at the fog. My eyes were transformed, but I couldn't see the end of my nose. That particular organ was also being particularly useless. All I could smell was dried herbs.
Mirela's laugh echoed through the mist. "Your werewolf eyes are useless in such white darkness, and my herbs will keep you disoriented until the fog is cleared."
I cried out as an elbow came down on the back of my neck. My nerves screamed out in pain as I stumbled onto my knees. I growled and whirled around. There was nothing but fog.
"You can forfeit if you wish," Mirela taunted me.
I climbed to my feet and used the back of my hand to wipe away the muck from my chin. "Damn it. . ." I muttered.
Orion's voice broke through the stillness. "If you can't use your werewolf senses than use that reporter instinct! Search her out!"
"It's worth a shot," I murmured as I took a deep breath and stood straight. The fog was as dense as ever. I cleared my throat. "Marco?"
Mirela's irritated voice came from the fog. "My name is-"
I spun around and lunged at the rough location of her voice. My clawed hands grasped her coat as she moved out of the way. One of my long fingernails caught on her clothing and I was tugged along for a few feet.
"Let go! Get off me!" she demanded.
I lunged and fell into her. We both toppled to the ground. Something shattered a few feet away. The fog cleared and revealed the astonished crowd. Beneath me lay Mirela in all her ire. Beyond us lay the remains of her clay bowl and a few puffs of fog.
I positioned myself so I straddled her and grinned at my captive. "You could forfeit."
Her eyes narrowed. "Never."
I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest. "I didn't come here to play with you. I just wanted to know how to get that stupid ghost out of Orion, okay? Now you can either give that info to me so I can leave, or I can sit on you and give you a noogie until the sun comes up. Which will it be?"
She furrowed her brow. "Give me what?"
I fisted a hand and rubbed my knuckle against her forehead. "This is a noogie."
She squirmed and whipped her head from side-to-side. "Stop it! Stop it at once!"
I hovered my knuckle over her forehead. "Give me the info or the forehead gets it again." I glanced up at the horrified faces around me. "Besides, I don't think this is helping your image."
She growled and turned her face away. "Very well."
I stood and offered her my hand. She sat up and waved it away. I stepped back and let her climb to her feet.
Orion walked over and wrapped his arms around my waist. "You did it!" he yelled as he swept me in a circle before he put me back on solid ground.
I shrugged. "Of course." I glanced at Mirela. Behind her congregated her tribe of Amazonians. I broke from Orion and turned to her. "Well?"
She pursed her lips and shook her head. "I have no information on how to release the spirit from this man."
My face twisted into disbelief. "Seriously?"
She nodded. "I'm afraid so. We only know how to contact spirits, not how to exorcise them."
My shoulders slumped. "I just went through mortal combat for nothing?"
"Just think of it as your own exercising," Orion teased.
I spun him around so he pointed at the car and gave him a nice, good push. "Let's leave before I make you a homicide headline."
"Remember my warning!" Mirela called out.
I waved to her over my shoulder. "I know, I know. I'm going to make the acquaintance of death. I'll put in a good word for you when I meet him."
Orion stiffened and glanced over his shoulder at me. "Death?"
I dug my feet into the ground and kept pushing. "Keep walking or you'll meet him before I do."
CHAPTER 9
We climbed into the car and found ourselves with an extra passenger.
Ambigo slid into the rear seat and shut the door. "I'd appreciate a lift to my car. I had to park it a mile down the road to avoid notice."
We both leaned back and looked over our shoulders at our 'guest.' I glanced at Orion and nodded my head at Ambigo. "Should we toss him out?"
Orion sighed and started the car. "It's tempting, but I wouldn't want to give Chief Orso that much paperwork to fill out after the women are done with him."
We turned around and drove down the road. I looked at our 'guest.' "Just as a favor to a reporter, how did you happen to be where we were?"
Ambigo smiled. "I asked you not to leave the town, so what else could I do but follow you when you did leave?"
I narrowed my eyes. "But how'd you know we left the town?"
He chu
ckled. "That's my secret."
I looked to Orion. "He's bugged the car."
My mate nodded. "I'll be sure to have it cleaned."
Ambigo frowned. "I still must insist neither of you leave the town again."
I half-turned in my seat to look at both Orion and Ambigo. "Do you want us to get that spook out of Orion or-" The devil was suddenly hit with a violent coughing fit.
The car swerved a little as he hacked out his guts in a bone-rattling choke. I lunged toward him and grabbed the wheel to keep us out of the muck pit of a ditch. He brushed my hands aside and took back control.
"I'm. . .I'm fine," he coughed.
I sat back down and frowned. "You're about as fine an injured ox on the Oregon Trail. Do you want me to take you out behind the wagon, or the cactus?"
He steadied himself and grinned. "I'd rather you take me out to dinner. I'm starved."
I sighed and jerked my thumb over my shoulder. "First thing's first, we get rid of the extra baggage."
We reached Ambigo's car and pulled over. He slipped out and stepped up to Orion's window. "I know you probably won't listen, but remember that we don't know what the spirit of William Malory wants and what it can do, so be careful."
I saluted him. "Will do, captain."
The officer chuckled. "That's detective to you, but good luck on your search. I'll see what I can dig up myself." He strode over to his car and we continued on our journey back to town.
I slumped in my seat and crossed my arms over my chest. The clock on the dashboard read three in the morning. "Half the night wasted, and we still can't talk to the post office. . ."
Orion grinned. "I've got a way to make up for it."
I stifled a yawn. "I hope it has coffee."
"All that can be brewed," he promised.
Mab stood behind the counter as Orion and I shuffled into her diner and climbed onto our usual stools. She strode over with paper and pencil in hand.
Her eyes flickered between us. "Would you like a pitcher of coffee, or should I bring the machine out?"
Orion held up two fingers. "Two pitchers, and bring me a-"
"Stack of pancakes soaked in syrup," she finished for him as she scribbled the order down. She turned to me. "Do you want tartar sauce with that basket?"
I frowned. "How do you always-"
"All take that as a 'yes.' Your food will be ready in a few minutes." She turned and walked into the kitchen.
I glanced at Orion and jerked my head where she'd gone. "Doesn't that seem odd to you?"
He smiled and shook his head. "You get used to it. So what'd you order?"
I shrugged. "I think I ordered the fish and chips basket I wanted."
He arched an eyebrow. "That's a strange meal at a time like this."
I leaned back and sighed. "This whole stinking mess got me thinking about fish. The only thing we've found out is the ghost's name and when he was around."
Orion leaned his elbows on the counter and smiled. "I'm afraid my physical tracking skills won't work too well here, but we could ask around to find out who knew him."
I picked up my fork and tapped it against my chin. "There's also something else that's bothering me. That file said he wasn't very old when he disappeared, right?"
Orion nodded. "Yeah, about twenty-five."
I raised the fork in front of me and admired my reflection. "What age do you think that ghost looked before he dive-bombed us?"
He shrugged. "About-" His eyes widened. He snapped his fingers. "He looked exactly as he did in that photo!"
I set the fork down and nodded. "Yep, and if my ghost rules aren't too far off that means he died shortly after he disappeared."
Orion pursed his lips. "Or he disappeared because he died."
I folded my arms onto the counter and looked at him. "Have I ever mentioned that Apple Hollow seems to be in a race to be trouble-capital of the world?"
He sighed. "Seems to be that way, doesn't it? But where do we go from here, Boss?"
I slumped over my arms and shrugged. "Until the post office opens we go nowhere but home."
Orion closed his eyes and shook his head. His tongue made a soft clicking noise. "And here I thought you were an ace reporter."
My narrowed eyes flickered over to him. "I've attended a botched seance, got to see the interior of the police department again, and had to face the leader of a band of anti-man witch gypsies. I think I've deserved a break."
Orion glanced at the kitchen entrance and leaned back. "Speaking of breaks, here comes our dinner break."
Mab swept behind the counter, and in each hand was a platter. She slid one in front of each of us, and dropped two hot pitchers of coffee between us. "The apple pie is on the house," she told us.
I looked down at my plate and noticed the thick wedge of fruity desert. A smile came over my face as I picked up my fork. "Troy told me to try this some time. I guess now's as good a time as any." I stuck my fork in the soft, crumbly desert and snapped up a large bite.
Orion chuckled as he started on his meal. "You're not supposed to start with desert."
I shrugged. "I figured I might as well enjoy this before I join Mallory on the other side."
Mab arched an eyebrow. "Mallory?"
Orion stabbed his food and nodded. "We had some trouble in Bentley's seance tonight. A ghost of this guy intruded on the spirit of a Pomeranian and tried to go after Trixie. I got in the way, and now I'm stuck with him."
Mab pursed her lips. "I see. That is why the air is so foggy tonight."
I gazed over my shoulder at the street. The air was clear. "Looks okay to me," I commented as I returned my attention to Mab.
Mab shook her head. "Not the physical air. The air of the spirits."
My fork paused mid-mouth and I frowned. "Come again?"
She smiled and placed her hand on the counter so her palm faced the ceiling. My eyes widened as I watched a small blue flame burst from her palm. The fire swayed and flickered. Mab's voice was soft and quiet. "The spirits are all around us. One need only focus their will to summon them."
Orion cut into his pancakes and snorted. "And have a gift for gabbing with them."
I looked into Mab's lit face and furrowed my brow. "Are you a medium?"
Mab frowned and shut her hand into a fist, extinguishing the flame. She stood straight and turned her nose up. "My gifts are not so mercenary."
Orion chuckled as he took a bite of his food. When he spoke bits of pancake sprayed the counter. "No. You just like to show it off when you can."
Mab turned to him and a sly smile slipped across her lips. "Would you like more spice with your pancakes?"
Orion's eyebrows crashed down and he wrapped his arm around his plate to drag it close to his chest. "Threatening a man's dinner is against the Geneva Convention."
She laughed. "What is that to any of us?"
I raised my hand. "If I could be called on before we get into crimes-against-humanity territory, if you don't consider yourself a medium than what are you? Another witch?"
Mab picked up a pitcher and poured some coffee into my cup. "For the present I am your waitress. For the future, that remains to be seen." She put down the pitcher and smiled at us. "But if your questions are done-"
"Mab." It was Orion who spoke up. His eyes matched hers and he pursed his lips. "You know we need your help, so why not give us a hand here?"
Mab sighed. "If you seek the dead then there is no better place to find them than where they rest."
He arched an eyebrow. "But he wasn't buried there. He went missing."
Mab chuckled and turned away from us. "That is all the help I can give this evening. Enjoy your meals and leave the money on the counter." She strode back into the kitchen.
Orion stood on the bottom rung of his stool and leaned over the counter. "Mab! Come on!"
I grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back down onto his stool. "As you told me, don't bother. If she doesn't want to answer any questions then nobody can find he
r."
He pursed his lips and glared at the kitchen entrance. "Sometimes it's not easy knowing that."
I leaned forward to catch his attention. "So what was that last bit about, anyway? Do you know what she was talking about?"
He looked down at his plate and nodded. "Yeah, but I think we should wait."
I arched an eyebrow. "Wait for what?"
"The sun."
I glanced at my watch. "But it's only three. Why don't I go change into something less mortal-combat covered and we check this place out right now?"
He glanced at me. I didn't like the teasing glint in his eyes. "Only if you change into your Halloween costume. It is technically that day."
I leaned away from him and frowned. "On second thought, skip the change of clothes. Let's just go." Orion's face fell. I rolled my eyes. "I'll do it when we get back home, okay?"
Orion grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the counter. I snatched my untouched basket and he dragged me to the door. "Come on. We'll be breaking Ambigo's rule again, but it's for a good cause."
CHAPTER 10
We slid into our seats and I set my food on my lap. The warm plate was a comfort to me, as was the food as I munched while Orion drove us through town. We cruised past Troy's motel and out into the country. The forest was dotted with a few small farmhouses on their five acres of gardens and ancient orchards. Hills rose from the forest like warts on a witches nose and showed off their ample supply of lumber.
"So where are we going?" I asked through a mouthful of chips.
"To the cemetery."
I choked on said chips. "Going where?"
"To Apple Hollow Cemetery," he repeated.
I swallowed a chunk of chips and frowned. "Don't you think we've had enough fun with dead people for one really long night?"
He showed off his crooked grin. "Let's just say you're getting the first-class tour of the hollow. Enjoy the atmosphere. Soak it up."
I snorted and pointed a chip at him. "Like you soaked up that ghost like a sponge?"
He winced. "Maybe not that absorbent."
"So maybe absorbent enough to suck up the spirit of a Pomeranian?" I guessed.
He sighed. "Okay, maybe I didn't use the right words, but if Mab says we should go this way, we should go this way."
I stared ahead at the windshield and furrowed my brow. "Speaking of her, what's her deal? Is she a witch, a ghost, a were-person, or a combo were-witch-spook?"
Orion let a smile curl onto his lips and shook his head. "None of the above."