Page 20 of Dark Obsession

“Oh? Something going on here in town?” Margie asked.

“Nothing we know about for sure,” Demetrius said.

Rubbing the silver St. Christopher’s medal on a chain around her neck, Margie gave a nod. “We’ve been through some nasty business.”

“Yes, we have.” Lucia slid out of the booth, Gayle right behind her. “And we’re determined to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Keep in touch, Demetrius.”

“We will. You, too.”

Lucia nodded and turned for the door. Gayle told Margie it was good to see her, flashed a quick smile at Demetrius, then followed Lucia outside. Once they were gone, Margie sat in the booth across from him.

“Anything else I should know?”

“Not much to tell. We were checking out a house in Stone Hill for a client⁠—”

“A monster-business client?”

Demetrius smiled. “Yeah.”

“Is that the first one?”

“Yeah.”

Margie looked impressed and reached over to momentarily to clasp his hand. “I’m so proud of you boys.”

“Aw, thanks.”

She waved a hand. “But never mind that, what did you find?

“A zombie.”

She leaned in closer. “Zombie?”

“Yeah. He was in pretty rough shape, so he’d probably been wandering in the woods since all that happened.”

“That was over a year ago.”

“I know.”

Margie stared across the diner at the counter running the length of the room. Several people sat on stools fixed to the floor, eating lunch on their own. “Just when we think we get a moment, something else crawls up out of the dark.”

“That’s why you’ve got the Critter Catchers.”

She smiled at him, and although it was genuine, it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “And we’re all grateful. Even the sheriff’s department, though they won’t ever tell you boys that.”

“Thanks, that means a lot.”

They both stood up, and he was surprised she pulled him into a hug. When she released him, she kept her hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes. “You both have been through so much. Be careful out there and watch each other’s backs.”

“We will. Thank you for the food and coming to my defense.”

“Happy to do it. Now go find that handsome husband of yours.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice.”

With the to-go carton in hand, Demetrius headed for the door, taking the opportunity to check out the tourists. He saw two couples, maybe late thirties or early forties, all wearing shorts, hiking boots, and souvenir t-shirts from one of the shops in town—Paranormal Paraphernalia, perhaps, or Cryptid Keepsakes, or even The Purple Orchid. They were laughing and talking together, taking selfies and planning out their trip, and Demetrius wondered if their group would ever get the chance to act that way.

Outside, the heat dropped over him like a blanket fresh from a hot dryer. By the time he’d reached the truck, his shirt was once again stuck to his back. He sat in the truck until the AC had cooled, then called Cody as he backed out of his space and headed for the office.