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Simon chuckled. “Of course. What are friends for?” Especially friends who were witches, psychics, mediums, brujas, and paranormal researchers.
“Talk to you soon. Stay safe,” Liam cautioned.
Dr. Rich Jeffries, head of the Fox Hollow Institute, was next on Simon’s list. The institute specialized in documenting and studying supernatural phenomena, as well as training people with paranormal abilities.
“Simon, something told me I’d hear from you today,” Jeffries greeted him. “You’re worried and trying to hold back danger.”
“Very good,” Simon praised his psychic friend. “I need to find out about dark spirits that aren’t regular ghosts and might not be demons but that love fire and enjoy causing destruction.” He gave Jeffries an abbreviated recap of what he had learned so far and what he’d picked up from the hotel site.
“Fire is a primal force, maybe even the original power,” Jeffries mused when Simon finished. “Old, powerful, and dangerous, the spark of life and the means of death. Magic, religion, and lore spend a lot of time on fire because it really is a godlike energy.”
“I don’t know how common the particular kind of spirit we’re dealing with is,” Simon replied. “If there were many of them, the world would have burned already.”
“In the legends, they staked out their territories,” Jeffries said. “Otherwise, the food, that being us, runs out too quickly.”
Simon repressed a shiver. “My guess is that the long-ago owners of the hotel might have had a way to bind the spirit, but it got away. If that’s possible, I need to know how to lock it back up again. I don’t think something like this can be destroyed, but it was quiet for a long time before starting trouble. I’ll be grateful for anything that will help.”
“I’ll get on it.” Jeffries barely hid his glee at the academic challenge. “And I’ve got a couple of talented graduate students I can put on the project as well. A little friendly competition spurs activity. Give me a couple of days and be careful.”
His last call went to his cousin Cassidy Kincaide, who lived in Charleston. Cassidy also had some unique supernatural abilities and ran an antique and curio shop specializing in getting dangerous magical objects off the market and out of the wrong hands.
“Simon, great to hear from you, but I’m betting this isn’t a social call,” Cassidy teased when she answered.
Simon winced at the gentle reminder that he needed to do a better job of staying in touch. “Afraid not, sorry. I’ve got a situation here to untangle, and I was hoping you and your connections might have ideas on what to do.”
Cassidy listened without interrupting as Simon laid out the facts, what he had learned so far, and his concerns. “That isn’t one I’ve heard before. But I’ll put out the touch to my friends and see what they know. Given my crowd, I’m sure someone has ideas.”
Cassidy’s circle included witches, mediums, and some long-lived supernatural creatures, in a city where magic ran deep.
“That’s why I figured you were good to pull into this,” Simon replied. “Thank you. And I’ll work on being a better cousin when the world isn’t ending.”
Cassidy chuckled. “You’re fine. Phones work in both directions, and I’ve been overwhelmed too. Saving the world is tough work. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Simon heard fire sirens in the distance and swore under his breath. He opened a local alerts site and found a current small blaze as well as two others overnight.
Sanderson answered on the first ring. “Hey, anything new with the fire at the hotel?” Simon asked.
“It’s flared up several times, but the firefighters seem to have it under control, though they’ve had a run of bad luck. Hoses disconnecting, pumps failing, firefighters losing their footing,” Sanderson replied. “Still can’t get to those bricked-up rooms.” He paused. “You heard the sirens?”
“Yeah. The timing is…suspicious,” Simon said.
“When I went over to the hotel a little while ago, I heard some of the firefighters talking about ghosts,” Sanderson told him. “They clammed up when I got close, but they seemed a little spooked.”
“I’m trying to figure out if it all ties together—the fire spirit, the ghosts, and the small fires,” Simon replied. “Right now, I’ve got possibilities but nothing solid. I’ll keep you posted. Let me know if anything changes.”
“Will do,” Sanderson promised.
Simon didn’t realize how much time had passed until Pete brought him a sub sandwich from his favorite takeout.
“Find anything?” Pete handed him chips and a large drink.
“Maybe. I found dots. Now I need to connect them and see if they make a picture.” Simon unwrapped the sandwich and opened the bag of chips.
“Do you think there’s really a supernatural problem?” Pete asked.
“I think there’s a strong possibility,” Simon answered between bites. “I don’t think it has as clean a history as its current owner believes. Along the way it was bailed out by railroad financiers and shipping magnates who paid off debts in exchange for favors. They might not have had mafia connections, but back in the ’50s and ’60s there were some pretty clear links with New England mobsters who helped fund renovations and cover lean summers. I’m still digging.”
“None of that sounds paranormal,” Pete replied.
