“Island Security called me,” I said from where I still kept my ass parked. “About eight thirty. The motion detector on the first floor sent an alarm, so I came to turn it off.”
Jun nodded. “An intruder was found dead on the second floor. Aubrey says a second subject was seen, but escaped before they could be apprehended.”
I winced. A subject was seen, yes. But could a ghost be handcuffed? An hour ago I was a Negative Nancy on the idea of an afterlife, but I sawCaptain fucking Smith! How else could that be explained but by the supernatural?
I hopped down from the counter and took a step before a powerful wave of exhaustion hit me. Oh Jesus. I needed a nap. Just a quick one.
I WOKEup on the floor.
Nothing new there. I couldn’t recall the number of different floors I’d napped on over the years.
“Are you awake?” Jun asked from somewhere nearby.
I sat up, nodded, and rubbed my eyes.
“He drops like a ragdoll,” an unfamiliar voice stated. One of the cops, I guessed.
“He’s narcoleptic,” Jun replied. He crouched at my side, taking my hand. “Want to stand?”
“Hmm, yeah.” I got to my feet with his help and looked around. Tillman and one of the other officers were gone. “How long was I sleeping?”
“A few minutes,” Jun answered. “Tillman and Officer Lane are checking the house.”
“I need to go over there.” I turned, but my knees went a bit Jell-O for a second, and I stumbled.
Jun grabbed me again before I could fall sideways into a display of stupid cup coasters. “You need to go to bed.”
“Okay,dad,” I scoffed. I waved Jun away when I noticed the remaining officer staring. I got stared at enough, and Jun babying me wouldn’t make it better. I tugged at my clothes, trying to put myself in order. “I can’t go until I know what’s happening. It’s my job.”
“Tillman asked that you folks wait here,” the remaining officer said.
I turned to glare at him. “And your name is?”
“Officer Barney.”
“Barney. I manage this property, and I need to be able to assure the nonprofit committee that keeps the doors open and my employees paid that there has been no damage to the house or any of its artifacts.”
“You can bring that up with Tillman, Mr. Grant.”
My left eyelid twitched. I looked up at Jun and whispered, “Pull jurisdiction.”
“What?”
I waved my hands at him. “Get all in their face with the FBI thing.”
“This doesn’t fall under any sort of FBI jurisdiction, Aubrey,” Jun said calmly. “Local police can handle this. Besides, did you want me working on our vacation?”
My shoulders slumped. “No,” I muttered. I walked to the window nearby and cupped my hands around my eyes while looking out. Every light in the house seemed to be on, and an ambulance was pulling up outside the gate. “I’m waiting in the garden for Tillman,” I said. I made a dash for the door that led outside and escaped before Barney could get the “—ant” part of my name out.
I ran down the winding path to the Smith Home, Chucks squishing and sliding on fallen sapodilla fruits. A few late-night tourists, likely in between bars, were watching the house curiously from the other side of the picket fence. Tillman was coming out of the front door to speak with the EMTs. I stopped running at the steps, not going up as he gave me a glare, like “I dare you, shrimp.” Although I glared back, hoping it came across as “Eat my shorts.”
I had to give it to Tillman. At least when hewashanded a body, the man was quick to call in reinforcements. Before I knew it, the house was swarming with crime-scene photographers, more cops, and the county medical examiner, who was standing by to take the dead intruder away. Of course, that was frankly… awful for business, but at least it was late at night. And those around to see the mess of police cruisers were at least on the far side of not sober, so… maybe they’d forget any of this ever happened?
As if.
I was left sitting on the porch steps for a while, holding my head in my hands. Jun had, of course, followed me out and had been patiently waiting with me the entire time. He had his hand resting on the top of my head, absently combing his fingers through my hair. It was nice. Comforting. I liked how he didn’t hesitate with public affection.
“What time is it?” I finally murmured.
