Page 16 of Bad Medicine

“That’s going to be a hardmonster to catch,” he muttered, then, “Motive?”

“Apparently he thought she wasa bad person.”

“So they were acquaintances.Related?” Rick asked.

“No, and no.”

“How do you know it was ashapeshifter?”

I hesitated. “I know what tolook for. When a shapeshifter is on camera or you catch his reflection in amirror, there’s a distortion to his face.” I didn’t tell him how that imageaffected a person mentally. It was scary as hell and messed with the viewer’smind, even though the regular human wouldn’t even understand what they wereseeing. “I talked with the spirit of the dead woman, and she led me there.”

“I’m going to need to talk toyou too, Kait.”

“After the Pocket, Rick. Digher up, so she can cross over. Then come find me. I’ll be at—” I broke off witha startled cry when I turned around and found Tammy standing there watching me.

“Kait?” he asked. “What’swrong?”

“My ghost is now in thebathroom with me.” Tammy was being uncharacteristically quiet, which worried mea little bit. I studied her as I talked to the detective, but she didn’t meetmy stare. She only stood there with an emptiness to her eyes that hadn’t beenthere before.

“I’ll call you when I can,” hesaid. “I’m already dealing with one serial killer. I’m not sure this city cantake another one.”

“Dig her up, Rick. Contact herfamily. After she gets a proper burial, she’ll be ready to go. I hope.” I slidmy cell back into my pocket. “Tammy? You okay?”

She looked at me, finally. “Ifeel…faded.”

I nodded. She was dimming,which usually meant a spirit was fresh from her death and preparing to crossover. If that were true, maybe her transition had only been delayed for reasonsI wasn’t ever going to understand.

“I’m going,” she said. “I’m notafraid anymore, but I am feeling regretful. That’s…different.” She hesitated.“My killer wasn’t wrong. I was a bad person.”

I could hear the restlessmurmurings of my clients through the closed door, and I knew I needed to hurry,but I also needed to hear Tammy out. And someone should be with her as she waspulled from the world. “You abused your children,” I guessed.

She shook her head. “Only oneof them, really. My son Anthony. I don’t know why I hated him. I took out allmy frustration and anger and disappointment on him.” She shrugged. “I needed aplace to put it, I suppose. Please find him.” She didn’t cry, but there was asheen in her fading eyes. “Tell him mommy is sorry. Tell him I loved him.”

Poor kid. I could only imaginewhat he’d gone through. “I’ll tell him.”

From the corner of my eye Icaught a sudden movement, and when I turned my head, I saw the tail end of theangel Nicole—myangel—disappearing. I thought I understood things betternow. Nicole had kept Tammy here long enough to get me involved, though why shehadn’t come straight out and told me about the shapeshifter was a mystery.Angels were strange creatures.

I was alone, quite suddenly.Tammy was gone. I hoped she got exactly the afterlife she deserved. I’d need tohave a conversation with the little boy, and I hoped like hell I could help himfind some sort of peace.

Chapter Eight

Two hours later, I was backbehind my own desk, and Max was out front where he belonged. Joe, lookinggruesome but in good spirits, patrolled the area, keeping things safe and quietin the office.

I’d made six appointments tode-ghost homes, one for that very evening but the rest scattered out over thenext couple of weeks. I was spreading myself too thin, but I didn’t mind beingbusy. I thrived on it. I had too much wolf energy to relax for long.

I’d called Zach’s cell phonethree times between clients and got his voicemail each time. My stomach was inknots worrying about him, but I reminded myself sternly to trust the alpha.He’d taken to Zach the way I’d never seen him take to a human—especially notone who hunted supernaturals—and he would protect him. He’d make sure Zach wasokay. That’s what I kept telling myself.

“You’ve always beencontrolling,” my mother told me when I called her with my worries. “If youdon’t do it, it won’t get done properly. You have to learn to delegate, honey.You have to trust that other people are just as capable as you are at takingcare of business. Now get back to work and stop worrying. I’ve called Lucyevery hour like you asked me to, and she’s fine. Remember to drive out toHuntersburg after work. I’ll see you there.” She threw in a ‘yo’ and an‘aiight’ and told me to ‘peace out’ before she hung up, but otherwise she wassurprisingly subdued. I didn’t ask her about her beau Nigel, and I didn’t bringup our ex-alpha and his threats. That was a conversation we needed to have faceto face.

I’d fit in that visit after myappointment to check out a haunted house and before I went to Shadowfield tosee Zach. And Jared. I breathed through the sudden dryness in my mouth and therapid pounding of my heart, wondering if I was ever going to stop reacting so intenselyto thoughts of the alpha. “Damn wolf,” I muttered. And because I had a minute,I needed to at least warn Jared about Adam and his stupid decision to start awar with the Gray Shadow Pack.

I sent him a quick text.We’lltalk about it more tonight, but I wanted to let you know that Adam Thornecalled me. He’s going to fight for control of Jakeston. Warn your wolves to becareful in the city.

I wasn’t really surprised athis reply.I’m aware. You be careful.

I’m going to have to killhim.

If I don’t kill him first.