Page 60 of Coven of Corpses

Clarabell’s eyes widened. “What the hell?”

“Right. That’s why we’re here. It’s all connected to the research you’ve been doing. And now there’s a demon loose, and we don’t know whose body it’s currently occupying.”

“And why the hell are we just now hearing about this witch being in town?” Demmy said, and Cody had to give him points for sounding like him.

“This is going to take a lot of getting used to,” Clarabell said.

“Yup. And now Heath is dead, according to these two.”

“Heath? Oh, no. Did you tell Tracey yet?” Clarabell said.

“Not yet. She’s my next stop. If I can find her.” She suddenly looked very tired, and Cody felt a pang of empathy. “So. Here they are. Keep them safe and away from pretty much the rest of the town. Explain where we’re at with the research and see if you can come up with a fix for…” She waved a hand between him and Demmy. “All of this. Because there’s nothing right about it. At all.”

“That’s for sure,” Clarabell said, and looked between them, finally settling on Cody. “You okay in there, Stretch?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just hurt in all different places.”

“Same,” Demmy said, rubbing his head. “And I keep forgetting to duck.”

“I’m off. Call me if you come up with anything useful.” Lucia gave Cody a look. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Bye, sorry you have to leave so soon,” Cody said, feeling a bit of satisfaction at her tight expression.

Without another word, Lucia clomped down the steps in her boots, opened the door, and closed it behind her.

Clarabell was still perched on the stool, looking between them.

“Going to ask us to sit down?” Cody said.

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. Come on, let’s go to the living room. You guys want something to drink?”

“Got any beer?” Cody said as he dropped onto the couch. Demmy sat beside him and they both winced when he cracked his shin on the coffee table.

“Your legs are, like, six miles long.” Demmy rubbed his shin, then gave him a pointed look. “Just remember I don’t drink that much. And you’re dealing with less body mass, so you’ll get drunk faster than you’re used to.”

“Did you just call my body fat?”

“No. I called your body bigger than mine.”

“Hmm.”

Clarabell brought three beers with her and sat in an armchair, curling her feet under her.

“All right,” Demmy said after taking an unusually long pull from his beer. “Catch us up.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Demetrius was trying to focus on what Clarabell was telling them, but he found it difficult. Given the circumstances, he could definitely understand the reason he was having trouble concentrating, but he needed to stay in touch with what had been happening and the options available to correct the situation.

“How long has this witch been in town?” Cody asked.

“For a while,” Clarabell said. “Demetrius worked a Critter Catchers case with him, I believe.”

“Right. Yeah.” Demetrius looked back at Cody. “I told you this out in the woods. He had chipmunks in his hall closet.”

“Weird place for chipmunks to show up,” Cody said.

Demetrius made a face. “Yeah, you’re right. I didn’t think about it at the time.”