Page 52 of Mack's Horribly Hellacious Ghost Town
Well, fuck. Explained why the violence was so severe there. Also meant it was going to be awful clearing it because we’d have quite the fight on our hands. “Thank you. We’ve been trying to track him and his mob down without much luck. You gave us the piece we needed to find him.”
Samuel’s expression lifted a little, turning lighter. “I’m glad. Stay safe. I’m ready to go.”
“Then let’s go.”
I oriented him to the path, walking him down it. He sailed right on through without hesitation and the door softly closed behind him. Phew, glad I got to him in time. He was a good man who had been very wronged. It would have been a travesty if that woman had destroyed even his soul.
And this, this right here, was why I was so dedicated to helping these souls. Sometimes, they just couldn’t help themselves. Sometimes, I was able to right a wrong. It was a very empowering, good feeling.
I returned to Brandon and Gwyn but kept an eye out. Hm, the greyish soul wasn’t in sight anymore. Wonder if he just left? I hoped he wasn’t one of Joey’s, but he likely was. There would be trouble if he reported we were looking for Joey, but I was just hoping for the best right now. The rest of the ghosts had moved across the river, making it clear they wanted no part of what I offered. That was fine. Some weren’t ready to move on.
“I sent the video to Booker,” Gwyn informed me.
“Perfect. Exactly what I was about to suggest.” I blew out a breath, feeling stress enter my shoulders. “Lord Almighty, that was more than I bargained for. I’m glad to know about the theater, though.”
Brandon grunted in agreement. “We’ll definitely all need to go in for that building.”
“Truly.”
I felt the distinct need for a battle plan.
And maybe a backup plan.
We gathered in town for dinner, rendezvousing at a family restaurant, and it was crowded with the living and the dead. The dead, at least, tried to keep a healthy distance from us. As long as they didn’t bother me, I wouldn’t bother them.
We’d been sat at a round table in the back of the restaurant, so it was quiet enough to easily talk, which I silently blessed the hostess for. Once orders had been placed, I cleared my throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Well, we’ve news to share. Wefinally met a ghost who knew the almost-demon. Booker, your guess wasn’t wrong, it’s Joey Halfacre.”
Booker hissed a sound of triumph, eyes coming alight behind his glasses. “Tell me more.”
I did so but still addressed the table. I repeated the history we’d been told, which matched what the local historian had told Booker, then finished with “According to Samuel, Joey goes all around Black Rock, but the building he favors is the theater.”
Quinn was already side-eyeing his wife like he just knew what she was going to say next. “Which means we all need to go into that theater.”
“Soon. Tomorrow soon,” Eli insisted. “If I can’t handle the asshole, we need to know now so we can get the right expert in. I’m praying I can handle him because Demonologists are booked nearly a year out.”
I felt it best to be honest with her. “Eli, I don’t know if I can really help you exorcise him.”
“I don’t think you can, sorry. I wish otherwise.”
Lachlan rubbed his chin, eyes on the ceiling as he mused, “Don’t know if I can help much either. If he’s solid enough, I might be able to cut him down?”
“I wouldn’t bet on that,” Davina cautioned him. “Either way, seems our course is clear enough. Theater tomorrow. I had to tap out today”—she made a disgusted face—“as I’m still tiring easily. But I’ll do all I can tomorrow.”
“Do, but don’t push yourself.” I appreciated her even trying. We really did need all hands on deck, but I didn’t want her overdoing it and getting sick again.
Beau spoke up. “Mack, you leave Gwyn with me. If Eli’s going head-to-head with Joey, she’ll need you backing her up.”
“Precisely what I hoped you’d say. Thanks.” With him safeguarding Gwyn, I’d have nothing to worry about. Man was more practiced than me. “Gwyn, you good?”
“Of course.”
We all seemed determined, which was good. I just hoped we could find and exorcise Joey. That we weren’t forced into a retreat and calling in bigger guns. We were still trying to lay hands on a chaos magician, for god’s sake. It was almost a bad joke at this point.
How many experts did it take to handle Black Rock?
More than we had, apparently.
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