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“She would have sensed the spell’s output,” Mom said before Samuel could. “Even if it did run along a different energy plane.”
“If there’d been something to find there, we would have found it,” Samuel confirmed. “This really is a fool’s errand.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been involved in one of those.”
“She’s got one of her feelings,” Belle said, in a weighty sort of tone that belied the amusement running through her thoughts. “And the wise do not ignore them, no matter how frustratingly poor they are with actual information.”
“That’s because it’s so much more fun walking into an unknown situation completely devoid of any relevant information or warnings.”
My tone was dry, and Samuel snorted softly. “You two really are crazy, aren’t you?”
“There’s not many who’d debate that question, be it here or at home,” I said.
Silence fell. I closed my eyes, grabbing what rest I could, because I had a bad feeling there weren’t going to be many other opportunities in the near future.
“We’re here,” Samuel said eventually.
I started and opened my eyes. We were in an area that appeared to be an unusual mix of commercial and housing, and the nearest buildings so closely resembled the one in which we’d lost Cat that old ghosts began to stir.
I shivered. Mom’s hand slipped over mine and lightly squeezed. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to. She’d no doubt felt the ghosts too.
While Cat wasn’t amongst them, it worried me that I hadn’t heard or seen her for a while. I hoped it meant she was with Dad, because if things went south and he was taken, she might well be our only hope of finding him.
We pulled into a parking area opposite a small church and climbed out. The house we wanted sat behind the church complex, which was somewhat ironic considering wraiths couldn’t handle anything holy. But maybe the fact it was the last place we would have searched was the exact reason he’d chosen it.
There were five official-looking vehicles sitting out the front of the house, and blue-and-white tape had been stretched across the driveway. A fierce-looking man stood behind it, his stance and expression foreboding. “Pass by at your peril” was definitely a vibe.
Samuel flashed his badge as we approached, and the big man lifted the tape to allow us entry. The house was a nondescript red brick, single story with a tiled roof. Its door had been forced open rather than magicked, meaning Samuel’s team hadn’t even taken the time to spell. Maybe they feared giving the wraith warning of their presence by doing so.
Another man guarded the door but stepped aside as Samuel approached. I followed him into the small hallway and, a heartbeat later, felt it.
Magic.
I stopped so abruptly that Belle crashed into me and sent me stumbling forward a couple of steps before I could catch my balance.
Samuel spun around. “What?”
“You didn’t feel it?”
“Obviously not, given I have no idea what you’re referring to.”
“A spell just activated.” I scanned the hallway but couldn’t see or even feel anything untoward.
“It was obviously primed for your entry then.” Samuel’s tone was grim. “But how is that possible, given he hasn’t been here for days if not weeks?”
“He could have left a trigger spell of some kind in every location he’s stayed at,” Ashworth said.
“Except the magic felt fresh, not old,” I replied.
“Then we need find out what it triggered, and fast,” Samuel said.
He’d barely finished that sentence when a woman shouted, “Boss, you’d better get in.”
He immediately took off down the corridor. We followed him into a well-furnished living room. The magic I’d sensed was here in force, but it held no threat.
Instead, it had left a simple but bloody message on the far wall.
My blood ran cold.
