Page 32 of Ghostmaker

“Beats the fuck out of me.” Fitz flipped on his blinker with a casual shrug. “The total amount of money it costs to run cold case pales in comparison to the other units. We use our own office space, our own weapons, and our own vehicles. We also have the highest solve rate in the entire department. I don’t want to start a unit war or anything, but it’s far more economical to fund cold case than it is to fund the white collar crimes unit. Plus, we’re getting killers off the street.”

“Can’t argue with you there.” Even though the news sounded good, Jude was still afraid the department wouldn’t get the funding it needed to continue. “I hate to be the sad sack here, but what are we prepared to do if the funding doesn’t come through?”

“Strickland asked me the same question. I gave him a different answer than I’m going to give you.”

“What did you tell him?” Ronan shot Jude a questioning look.

“I told him it was past time I retire. I’m over fifty. My husband is a billionaire. We don’t need the money and it would give me more time to spend with Aurora.”

“What the hell would you do with all your free time when she’s in school?” Jude asked, truly curious.

“I’ve always wanted to learn how to garden. Everly could teach me a thing or two about that. I could join the board of the Tremont Street Mission or start my own non-profit, maybe something to do with mental health in policing. I’m not sure. None of those answers are the truth.” Fitz waggled his eyebrows. “To be honest, I’d probably continue in the unit without drawing a salary until such time when our funding was restored.”

“I had a feeling you were going to say that.” Jude grinned at his boss. “I’m in the same boat. Cope inherited a shit ton of money from his father, so if I’m out of a job or not getting paid, it won’t cause too big a wrinkle in our finances. I hate the idea of using Buford’s money, but we can afford for him to go without pay for a while. What about you, Ronan?

Ronan snorted. “Well, I’m not in either of your situations with more money in the bank than I could ever spend in a lifetime. I suppose if worse comes to worst, I could get Everly to give me this week’s Powerball numbers and after we won, we could move to Florida and visit Disney World every day.”

Everyone laughed.

“In all seriousness though, I don’t know what I’d do without this job. I could work for another team in the SPD, or see if I could catch on with another town’s police department. I’d be miserable. When I retired from the Boston Police, I thought I’d die not being able to work cases and send killers to prison, but it turned out what I missed was the two of you. Going into Fitz’s office and getting my ass handed to me because of something stupid I did, or said. Jude playing devil’s advocate to the point where I wanted to punch his lights out. We’re a family and the idea of not going to work with you guys every day…” Ronan trailed off, sniffling. He opened the glove box and rooted around for a fast food napkin, which he used to dab his eyes.

“Let’s table this discussion for the moment. I need you all to focus on Crawford.” Fitz pulled into the parking lot across from Essex Street and shut off the car. “Cope, are you seeing anything?”

“Crawford is in his shop, but he’s not alone. I can’t tell who is in there, but there are only two people that I can sense. He’s nervous in an amped up way. He knows we’re coming and is looking forward to bringing us to our knees.”

“In other words, it’s just another day in the life.” Fitz grinned. “What about weapons? Are Crawford or his partner armed?”

“Crawford is a weapon. He’s the most powerful psychic and black magic practitioner I’ve ever come up against. He will try to use your own minds against you and might even use what he knows to set you against each other.” Cope paused, his eyes were on his husband. “Jude is going to be the problem child.”

“What else is new?” Ronan rolled his eyes.

“Even with all his magic, Crawford won’t be able to read you and that’s going to infuriate him, which will make him doubly dangerous and unpredictable. I’m sure he hasn’t come up against many people his gifts can’t overpower. You need to use that against him, Jude. We need to know if he was the one who killed Alice Strickland in Cambridge and if he’s responsible for the murders of Paul Shea and Cindy Walsh.”

“What will you be doing, Cope?” Fitzgibbon asked. “I’m sorry to ask, but I’m so used to working with Tennyson and him knowing what I need from him.”

“I understand,” Cope smiled. “I’ll be trying to get into Crawford’s mind to get to his endgame. We’re fairly certain he was the one trying to break into Christie’s mother’s house a few nights ago, so I’ll be looking for evidence of that. Lastly, I need to find out if there’s a way to break the contracts Crawford had his clients sign. Jude, we need to know what these unsuspecting people agreed to do. Fitz, you and Ronan need to watch out for Crawford trying to compel you to do his bidding. If that’s the case, I need you to shout ‘No weapons forged against me will prevail. Your power is useless. I will not obey.’ Can you all do that?”

“No weapons forged against me will prevail. Your power is useless. I will not obey.” Jude, Ronan, and Fitz said in sync with each other.

“I’ll be working to try to counter whatever magic Crawford has worked.”

“Be careful, guys,” Fitzgibbon said. “Remember we’ve got kids and husbands at home who need us.” Fitz got out of the SUV, walked to the back and popped the hatch. He grabbed his Kevlar vest and strapped it on. “Let’s do this.” Fitz hurried across the street and down the brick-paved walkway that made up the pedestrian mall of Essex Street. Ronan followed behind him, with Jude and Cope pulling up the rear.

“Are you gonna be okay in there?” Jude asked. He’d be able to better concentrate on Crawford if he knew Cope was going to be safe.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Just do what you have to do. I’ve got spells that can counter Crawford’s and, of course, I’ll use a particular spell, if necessary, as a last resort.”

Jude knew Cope was talking about the death spell. “Don’t wait for any of us to give you permission. Do what you have to do to keep yourself safe.”

Cope nodded.

Jude caught up with the others, who were peeking in Crawford’s store window.

“The place looks empty. I can’t see Crawford,” Fitz said.

“I’m sure he’ll greet us once we’re inside his lair.” Ronan yanked open the door. Chimes sounded, announcing his arrival. “Crawford? I know you’re in here.”

Fitz, Jude, and Cope entered the store behind Ronan.