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Callum shakes his head, obvious frustration written all over his face.
That’s when I have a brilliant idea. “What if we posed as researchers?”
Liz and Callum stare at me.
“Hear me out. One of my main reasons for choosing London for my first international visit was to do some research for my podcast. I produce episodes on all things tied to the supernatural, including famous ghost stories and such. Rather than that, we could fib a little and tell them that we’re conducting research for an LGBTQ+ history and travel podcast. The current season is focusing on old nightclubs and other establishments from the twentieth century that were bastions for the queer community. During our research on the Soho area of London, we stumbled across accounts of a place called the Midnight Vault that was popular with LGBTQ+ folks but was tragically destroyed in a fire. Few records remain so we’re trying to dig up more information from folks who were connected to the club.”
Callum immediately starts warming to my idea.
“That’s brilliant, Beau. A lot of this information we could have accessed through public archives, after all, especially given the age of the case. There’s a plausibility there that the average civilian would believe.”
Liz rubs a hand down her face in obvious resignation. “Fine. You can consult with anyone who’s still alive and willing to talk to you, but you will keep your conversations polite and accept any refusals the second they are voiced. Do not treat this like these people are suspects in an ongoing investigation and you have the power of the Crown behind your interrogations.”
I give her my most winning smile. “Don’t you worry, Miz Liz, I’ll keep him in line,” I promise.
“Drop the Miz,” she tells me, her gaze never leaving Callum.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She starts tapping her foot, giving Callum an exasperated look.
He grunts and I pinch his side, making him jolt.
Liz crosses her arms and narrows her eyes. “Do you agree to these terms, former DI Fraser?”
Callum doesn’t look happy about it, but he finally nods in agreement. “You just had to use your Mum Voice, didn’t you.”
“With foolish men, always,” she retorts.
“I’ll keep him in line and we’ll share any new leads we find,” I promise her. “And like Callum says, who knows? We might uncover something that may warrant reopening this case after all.”
“Bloody hell. The higher-ups would just love that,” she grumbles.
It’s my turn to cross my arms right back. “Liz, six poor souls perished in that fire, and if they lost their lives in a manner that was not accidental, they deserve justice, I don’t care how many years it’s been.”
“I know, I know,” she says placatingly. “I wholeheartedly agree. I’m just trying to mentally prepare myself for the fight I’m going to have on my hands if that happens. See what you can find and get back to me pronto.”
We return everything to the boxes and leave everything as we found it, like we were instructed to do.
When we step outside, I pull out my trusty pocket watch. Nearly one o’clock.
“Would you like to join us for a late lunch?” I ask. “I know I worked up an appetite with all that research.”
Liz turns me down with a happy smile. “I’m having a lunch date with Doug since it’s my half day off.” She gives us both a knowing look. “Besides, from the I got laid glow both of you’ve been sporting today, I’d say enjoying lunch by yourselves would be more fun at this point, don’t you?” She gives us a wink and a little air kiss. “Toodaloo, boys,” and then struts off to meet her husband.
“I really like her,” I say, and Callum laughs.
I like the sound of his laugher an awful lot too. I get the impression the man needs to laugh more. And smile. Both look darn good on him.
“Liz is one of a kind and will definitely have our backs on this, no matter how much she was telling me not to go off. If we find something that justifies reopening this investigation, she won’t hesitate to bring it to her superiors.”
Hallelujah for that. Now we just need to have another chat with one or more of our friends haunting Salon de Spin to see what we can learn before we start tracking down people from nearly fifty years ago.
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
RULE #300: A SPIRIT CANNOT POSSESS SOMEONE WHO IS ALREADY POSSESSED
