Page 59 of Coven of Corpses

“The most reliable person I can think of for something like this.” She stepped away from their table as she pulled her cell phone from her pocket.

Cody looked at Demmy. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

* * *

Cody got out of the truck and looked at the building in front of them. It was a two story brick rectangle, with a three-car covered parking area that extended from one side and supported a deck above it. The bricks were weathered, the front stained from years spent beneath a black walnut tree half covered in new leaves. Cody didn’t spend a lot of time on this side of town. It was a hodgepodge of farm supply stores, self-storage units, and duplexes. The air smelled of gasoline, fertilizer, and something oddly sweet.

“This whole thing just keeps getting worse and worse,” Cody grumbled. “Is this really necessary? Isn’t the situation bad enough as it is?”

Demmy came up beside him and put an arm around his shoulders. It felt incredibly strange to be so short standing beside Demmy. He knew, deep down, no one else was better equipped to help them, but, ugh, did it really have to be this way?

“It’s a lot nicer on the inside,” Demmy said.

“That’s what the witch said to Hansel and Gretel.”

“Appropriate, given the circumstances. Come on.”

Lucia stopped her sheriff’s department cruiser at the curb behind Cody’s truck and approached them.

“Stop off for a donut?” Cody asked.

She scowled. “I don’t like hearing your sass come out of Demetrius’s mouth. It’s messing with the natural order of things.”

“Try being inside him,” Cody said, then waved a hand dismissively as they all made faces. “I heard it, I know. Let’s just move on, please.”

Lucia led the way up the walk and pressed a button on the intercom. They were buzzed in almost immediately, and then Lucia opened the first door on the left to reveal a flight of stairs. Cody followed her, ducking his head beneath the doorframe even though he didn’t need to, and flinching when he heard Demmy hit his head. Or rather, hit Cody’s head.

“Gotta watch doors and stairs,” Cody said over his shoulder.

“I know. Sorry about your skull.”

“Been hearing that for years.”

The steps led up to a small entry area, which was really part of an open concept living room, dining area, and kitchen. A short hallway led to what Cody assumed was a bedroom and bathroom. French doors opened onto the deck area above the parking stalls.

“This is surprisingly nice,” Cody said.

“You’ve been here before.” A raspy voice that begged for a throat-clearing seemed to come from the kitchen, but he didn’t see any sign of its owner.

“God?” Cody said.

Clarabell Remington popped up behind the kitchen island. She held a glass baking dish, which she’d most likely been pulling out of the cabinet below. Today she wore an oversized Pittsburgh Pirates jersey. Cody was afraid to see what she wore on the lower half of her body.

“Yeah, I have,” Demmy said.

Clarabell gave him a squint. “I don’t think you’ve been here, Stretch.”

“So, here’s the problem,” Lucia said. “And I’m going to do this quick because I need to go out to the center of all this and help Deputy Walsh secure another crime scene.”

“Another one?” Clarabell set the baking dish on the island and came around to the front, climbing up onto a stool. She wore gold tights and house shoes in the shapes of giant bear paws. “What happened?”

“So, these two got themselves caught between whatever took over Heath’s body and the new witch in town, and now they’re swapped.” Lucia gestured toward him. “This is Cody.”

Clarabell frowned and pointed at him. “You mean Demetrius?”

“No. I mean it’s Cody.”

Cody lifted a hand and waved. “Hey there, small fry. I see you’re wearing Skene’s jersey. Shouldn’t you be wearing Cruz’s jersey since he’s the short stop and you’re basically a hobbit?”