Micah

Micah pulled the black peacoat tighter as the wind tugged at whatever it could reach. The massive stone building loomed in front of them. Four stories of solid brick with turrets and molding along the edges that reminded him of a castle. The base was white, and the rest was a candy brick broken up with Gothic molding. The older detailing gave the exterior a majestic appearance. Daize agreed to meet them here at nine o’clock. They’d arrived early to get a feel for the property. He craned his neck.

The moonlight shone down on the building, highlighting its beauty. The chill that settled over him could’ve been from the weather. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he walked the perimeter, opening his senses, and observing the wooded area surrounding them. Nothing. He turned to Carl who trailed behind him.

“Anything?” Micah asked.

“Not yet. It’s quiet. Perhaps unnaturally so in a building this old.”

Micah cocked his head to the side and studied the building again. “You think it’s hiding?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Carl said.

“That would make this thing intelligent.”

“Yes, I believe we’re dealing with more than a residual haunting given the activity.”

“I’m worried it might be an inhuman spirit as well, my friend.” Micah had learned to hear the things the quiet man didn’t say. They were supposed to remain objective, but facts were facts. It took a hell of a lot of energy to move things. If Daize hadn’t been exaggerating, a lot of power had been exerted. It hadn’t attempted to hurt her yet. He cleared his head of speculation. He needed to go into this with no expectations.

He finished the walk around. His phone vibrated and her name appeared on the screen.

“Hey.”

“Hey, I’m here in the parking lot.”

“We were walking the perimeter. I’ll meet you and introduce you to the team, and then you can take me up to your apartment.”

“Should you enter alone?”

“It’s important I put away anything that could influence our medium as he does a walk through. I’ve kept the conversation we had between us to allow the crew to remain objective. They only know the bare basics of this case.”

“Oh. Okay.” Her voice is shaky.

“Daize. It’s going to be okay. Take a deep breath, and remember you have a whole team of people here working for you. We’re all in this together, okay?”

“I remember.” Her voice sounded calmer and more confident. The effect that he had on her pleased him.

“I’m coming around now, which car is yours?”

“You can’t miss it. It’s the aquamarine Mini Cooper.”

“Of course it is, beach lover.”

“I’m half Hawaiian, and my father was a pro surfer. It’s in my blood.” He could hear the smile in her voice.

Mission accomplished. He’d always been good at distraction. As one of five, he’d learned early on it was easier than the more direct approach his eldest brother, Luka, took. “See you in a few.”

He spotted the car with the starfish along the top of the front window and a mermaid pendant hanging from the rearview mirror. She stepped out of the car warily.

“Hi, Daize. This is my team ... Brendon and Maria are the ones who started the team. Eric and Scott are our technical gurus and cameramen, Mel and Trisha our are spiritual advisors, and Carl is our medium. Guys, this is Daize.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Daize said quietly.

“I told her we’d go in before you, Carl.”

Carl nodded his head in understanding.

“If you’re ready to let us inside of your place now we can get things started,” Micah told her, as he studied the curvy woman who stood a few inches shorter than him at about five foot nine or ten inches. A range of emotions crossed her face before she settled on determination. Her jaw twitched as she squared her shoulders and held her head high. Eyes flashing, she looked like a queen with her high cheekbones adding to her regal bearing.

“Let’s get this over with.”

“You heard the lady. Trish, will you join us please?”

“Yes, sir.” Trish saluted, and Micah mentally rolled his eyes. They were all silently cheering him on. It meant the world, but he had to keep things professional.

“After you, Daize.”

She closed and locked her door with the key fob before striding forward into the building. He studied the security measures. It took a code to open the front door. It buzzed when she entered the correct combination and clicked behind them. They walked down the well-lit hall to the third door on the left. The walls were thick, or her neighbors were quiet. Clean wood flooring covered with a runner of light blue carpet with wavy brown lines running through it helped create a peaceful environment.

A burlap wreath with light blue ribbon, sand dollars, sea stars, and teal ribbon with golden scales held a blue sign with ‘Life’s a Beach’ on it in white writing greeted them.

“I’m sensing a theme here,” Trish said.

“I don’t know what you mean, madam,” Daize deadpanned.

Micah smirked as he gently took the wreath off its hook. “We don’t want Carl to be influenced by anything.”

Daize unlocked the door and hesitated. He met Trish’s gaze over her head and shook his head slowly. She needed to do this herself. The first step was taking back ownership of her space. Taking a deep breath, Daize stepped across the threshold. A turquoise and light green area rug with a half circle design that mimicked scales and a bright blue sofa brightened up the bland beige carpet and eggshell white walls. Two blue armchairs with white starfish prints were angled on the opposite side of the room with a white cocktail table in the center. Beach themed paintings and photo frames with pictures of family and friends lined the walls.

“Welcome to mi casa.” She gave a weak smile.

“We’re going to take down the photos and place them face down on the table if that’s okay?” Trisha said.

“It’s fine.” The oceanic colors continued in the kitchen on potholders and tea towels that dangled off the handle of the stove. No religious items caught his eye as he moved into her space.

“Do you want to see the rest of the place?” Daize asked.

“Yeah, I think Trish has this room taken care of.” Micah followed her into the bathroom. An ombre blue shower curtain and light blue towels and rugs kept the light feeling flowing into the space. Nothing personal jumped out, and we moved to her room. Closed, the bedroom door loomed ahead ominously.

“Take your time. There’s no rush.” He stood a few feet behind her, allowing her to go at her own pace. She placed a shaking hand on the knob, turned, and pushed it in. The door opened easily.

“What?” Everything from the wave patterned bedspread to the bottles meticulously lined across the dresser were in their proper place. “This is not how I left it.”

I’ve heard of ghosts destroying a room while the owner was out but never cleaning it up. She stepped inside and spun around, shaking her head. “I swear I’m not crazy.”

“Hey, no one said you were,” he assured her.

“I feel like an idiot.” She covered her face with her hands.

“Let’s get all your photos taken down and get set up.”

She dropped her hands and nodded her head. Shoulders slumped, she moved as if she hurt physically. Together, they got the telling items stored away and moved to the living room.

“Are we all set here?” Micah asked Trish.

“I think we’re ready for Carl.”

“Excellent. I’m going to send you and Trish to go grab a coffee and give us about thirty minutes here. When you get back, everything will be set up.”

“If you think that’s best.” Daize glanced from him to Trish.

Trish placed a gentle hand on her arm. “It is. It lets him work freely and gives you a break from the situation to come back fresh.”

“All right. Let me just change out of my uniform.”

She walked from the room.

“What did you find in the bedroom?” Trish asked once the door closed.

“Absolutely nothing. It was in pristine condition.” She blinked. “I know. It’s unusual. She seemed sound of mind when we spoke, and there’s no history of mental health. I think bringing in Dr. Jay to examine her would add some validity if we need to dig deeper.”

“I don’t feel unsettled or apprehensive in here, Micah.”

“Me either.”

The door opened. Daize emerged in a pair of form-fitting blue jeans, an oversized white cable knit sweater, and knee-high brown boots with fringe.

“I love those boots,” Trish gushed.

“Thank you. I’ve never gotten to do fall and winter, so I’m taking advantage of the different clothing options.”

“I’ll drive. You relax.” Trish sweeps her out the door with easy conversation. She has a knack for people. He’d never been sure if it stemmed from her bubbly personality or her deep involvement in her Christian faith.

Micah grabbed the walkie-talkie. “Go ahead and send up Carl.”

Carl walked through the threshold and frowned. “There’s an energy here. This land has seen many lives pass, and their energy lingers.” He stepped through the door.

“Do you think it’s residual?” Micah asked.

“A portion of what I’m experiencing is. But, there’s ...” frowning, he continues his walk to the kitchen, “something else. It’s masked, or maybe slumbering is a better way to say it.”

“So, you think there is paranormal activity going on here?”

“I believe so.” His brow wrinkled. “It’s hard to get a read. It feels like a bad connection. There’s a lot of static. I haven’t experienced that before.”

“What do you think it means?”

“It could be crossed signals, too many energies trying to be noticed at once maybe. I’ll need to research it. I’ve never run into anything quite like this.” He moved back into the living room and hummed. “There’s so much here. I wonder if this is a vortex situation.” His eyes took on an unfocused appearance. “So many lives, all different paths.” He slowly walked into the bedroom. “It’s concentrated in here.” He approached the window and frowned, stepping back. Carl cocked his head and closed his eyes. “Perhaps there’s an item, native to the apartment or the building itself that’s collected all this energy.”

“Do you think it’s malicious?” Micah whispered.

“I can’t say definitively,” Carl answered apologetically.

“I think we have a base reading. Let’s get everything set up.”

***

SEATED ON THE COUCH, Micah watched the monitors via the computer. They’d begun their official investigation at midnight. Three hours later, they had nothing to show. Daize’s sleep had been undisturbed. There were no hits on the motion detector or the 3D Mapping camera.

“Is this thing hiding or what?” Micah asked quietly.

“Or what,” Brendon replied.

“I think we should use the Spirit Box and do some EVP sessions before we wrap. It’s three o’clock. If it was going to speak, it’d be now in the dead of night.” Micah rubbed the back of his neck.

“Let’s put Mel on the EVP, and you can take the voice box. I’ll man the computer,” Brendon suggested.

Eager to leave the couch, Micah handed over the headphones and stood.

“Mel. Do you want to do an EVP in the restroom? It’s closer to the bathroom. I’ll do a voice box session in the kitchen.” Seated on the cool tile, Micah turned on the machine—the radio signal’s cycle continuously creating a robotic static. “Is there anything here that wishes to speak to me?” the channels cycled. “If you have something you want to say, now is the time.” He leaned back against the kitchen island.

“Hungry.” The mechanical voice made him jerked.

“Did you just say you were hungry?”

“Hungry.”

“Is that because I’m in the kitchen?”

“Below. Hungry.”

The words chilled him.

“You’re hungry below?” Was this spirit referring to hell?

“You’re hungry below?”

The silence that followed stifled. Had that been a threat? Another twenty minutes without a hit forced him to end the session.

“Did you get anything, Mel?” Micah asked as he helped pack up the equipment.

“Starving. Does that make sense to you?”

“The spirit box said they were hungry below,” Micah admitted.

“I don’t like the sound of this.” Trish shook her head.

Micah sighed. “The real question we need to answer is what this thing is, and what it’s hungry for. Attention, energy, a soul?”

***

DAIZE

“I’m glad you finally agreed to come out with us.” Sophie grinned at her.

Daize smiled down the bar at her other co-workers, Joshua and Stephanie. Hard workers with kind, upbeat attitudes, they were her favorite people to be on a shift with. She’d begged off after work outings, but the thought of going home to an empty house before she talked with Micah didn’t sit right. Since they would not meet until nine, this left her with time to kill.

“Now that I’m finally settled in, I’ve been exploring the city. I never would’ve found this place by myself though.” She marveled at the atmosphere the Prohibition Bourbon Bar had managed to cultivate.

“It’s a bit of a well-kept secret. It’s only open Thursday through Sunday from five to eleven, and five to one on the weekends.” Now freed from his work braid, Joshua’s dark brown hair tumbled around his shoulders; the thick locks were enviable.

Why do men always get the best hair and lashes?

“We only found it because Josh is a bourbon fanatic,” Stephanie added. The perky, petite blonde with bright blue eyes was anything but a stereotype. Her platinum locks were streaked with purple, and Daize often enjoyed serious conversations about the newest developments in their field with her. The bar was tiny but quaint with its dark wooden bar tops, a dark yellow wall, and matching shelves fully stocked with bottles. Brown cushioned stools and a few tables with woven wooden-backed seats in the smaller space behind them kept the authentic vibe of a 1920s speakeasy.

“It has the largest collection of bourbon in the world ... over fifteen-hundred types,” Josh said. His hazel-colored eyes lit up, and she smirked.

“That’s impressive. Too bad I’m more of a scotch girl.”

“Boo. We’ll convert you,” Josh promised, lifting his glass of dark liquor.

Daize wrinkled her nose. “You’re welcome to try.” It felt good to be out and focused on normal things, like getting to know the people she worked with better.

“First drink is on me,” Josh insisted.

She perused the lengthy menu. “That decision is going to take me a while.”

Josh laughed. After all she’d been through, a nice stiff drink sounded just about right. She chose a tried but true drink, an Old-fashioned. Bourbon, bitters, sugar, and a splash of water were mixed together with expert precision. The slightly sweet, potent beverage served with a slice of lemon went down smooth.

“Are you making any plans for Halloween? It’s coming up fast,” Sophie said.

“I hadn’t put much thought into it. Back home, I’d be going to a Halloween party with friends.”

“We’re doing a ghost tour.” Stephanie gestured between herself and Josh.

“Here?”

“In the tri-state area,” Josh replied.

“Is Cincinnati really that haunted?” she asked, tensing.

“It’s not a ghost mecca, but with the buildings and land being so old, there are things said to linger. We’ve also got a lot of underground places still in existence.”

“What do you mean?” Images of tunnels running beneath her apartment complex made her nervous.

“Well, they started building a subway system in the early twentieth century, and the city ran out of money and scrapped the entire thing but left the start of the project behind. It’s the largest abandoned subway in North America. You can go once a year to view the abandoned tunnels. It attracts plenty of people who want to go down there solo and take photos and what not. But so many of them claim to be chased away by angry spirits. It’s a little too IT for me.” Josh gave an exaggerated shudder.

“That is creepy but fascinating at the same time. Why would spirits be down there? You say it was never used, right?”

“Yes, but the rumor is, the real reason the project was abandoned was the spirits in the first place,” Stephanie said.

“Are you trying to freak me out?” Daize narrowed her eyes, searching for signs that they were pulling her leg.

“No. If you go to the Cincinnati Museum center, they have a video and books on it. They’re the ones who actually host the tour every year. I’d be afraid of getting lost down there.” Stephanie held up her hand.

“We also have a past with mobsters. There’s a gangster tour you can take. You know what they say, ‘Live by the gun, die by the gun’. The tour isn’t pitched as haunted, but that level of violence must leave behind an imprint,” Sophie said.

“I never would’ve guessed that about Cincinnati.” Daize digested the information, wondering if it was a possibility she lived by a site that once saw criminal activity.

“People always think Chicago or New York, but the mobs were everywhere.” Stephanie gestured with her hands.

“Fair point. I want to hear more.”

“Oh, now she’s getting into the spirit,” Josh crowed, rubbing his hands together. “The Cincinnati Zoo is the second oldest in the world. So, it shouldn’t be surprising they have a ghost lion.”

She laughed. “Are you kidding?”

“No. They say he walks through walls,” Josh assured her.

“I don’t even know what to say to that one. Are there any major things that have happened?”

“Hmmm. There was an explosion at an artillery factory, but that wasn’t a high body count. Maybe I’d say the old Dunham Tuberculosis hospital. Most people went there to die, and the tunnels probably saw thousands of bodies in the fifty years it was open. They used to call tuberculosis the white death, and by the time most came to the hospital it was already too late to help them.” Stephanie shook her head.

“Wow. Is it still standing?”

“No, the tunnels are really all that remain other than a plaque and a stone pillar left from the original building. The Dunham recreation center now stands above the site. Plenty of workers say it’s active, and refuse to set foot in the tunnels underground,” Josh added.

“Is that anywhere near me?” Daize whispered.

“Where do you stay again?” Sophie asked.

“At the Claymore apartments in Clifton Gaslight district.” The thought of the ghosts of people who had spent the end of their lives in pain and torment from a disease with no real cure, and at that time, no treatment to bring comfort disturbed her.

“Oh, it’s about twenty minutes from you, so not really.” Sophie shook her head.

She relaxed. “I think I’ll try another bourbon drink,” Daize said.

They laughed, dispelling the tension that had built up.

***

“SHOULD I BE WORRIED that you’re plying with me cookies before you give me bad news?” Daize took in the ‘Insomnia Cookies’ in purple above an awning of the same coloring.

“Why does the half-eaten cookie have a moon background?” Daize asked, intrigued with the late-night cookie theme. 

“Because this place is open until about three a.m. and will deliver warm cookies and milk.”

“Oh my God. Why didn’t anyone think of this before now?” Daize gushed.

Micah chuckled. She liked the rich sound. “The best ideas always make you ask that question, don’t they?” He opened the door. “And to answer your question, news delivered with chocolate is always better, and what I have to say isn’t that awful. You just looked like you could use a pick me up.”

“To say it’s been a rough week would be an understatement. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.” Don’t treat a casual business meeting like a date. It’d been a while since she had a steady beau, and with his dark hair, wicked sense of humor, and kind, brownish-green eyes, Micah was just her type. Wrong place. Wrong everything. I know my house is being haunted, and I’m freaked out, but let’s date doesn’t compute.

The smell of freshly baked cookies and the mouth-watering arrangement in the plastic case chased away her lingering doldrums. They had the classic snickerdoodle, chocolate chips, and sugar along with more exotic breeds of baked goods like the S’mores.

“We’re going to need a twelver,” Micah says.

“A what?”

“A box of twelve. I like you pretty well, but I draw the line at sharing my favorite cookies fresh from the oven.”

She laughed. “Good, then we’re on the same page.”

He grinned roguishly.

“This time, the food is on me.”

“I’m never going to object to a beautiful woman buying me dessert.” He winked.

She glanced away, secretly pleased by his flirting.

After placing an order for an assortment of cookies and two large milks, they retreated to the bar against the window. Watching the students travel to and from, she enjoyed the flavor of melted marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. Her taste buds sang, and the chocolate soothed her nerves like an old supportive friend.

“Are you ready to talk now?” Micah asked.

“As ready as I’m going to be. I’m ready to take my medicine.”

“There’s something there. Whether its residual energy from an event that happened or an imprint that’s playing on a loop we’re not sure. It could be an item there that a spirit is attached to. We didn’t get any activity other than an EVP, and a few phrases on the spirit box.”

“Oh.” She sat up straighter. “That’s not what I expected.”

“Here’s the not so great part. The voice said it was hungry and below. Starving.”

“What the hell does that mean?” The words formed a hard ball in her stomach.

“We’re not sure.”

“Is it ...” she glanced around and leaned in, “from hell?”

“We don’t believe so—”

“But you don’t know,” she finished.

He nodded. “One thing I won’t do is lie to you. We’re researching the land your building sits own, the surrounding area, and making a plan for another session. We want to search for any particular hotspots for paranormal activity.”

“Why didn’t it do anything while you were there?”

“It might’ve been exhausted from the big display.”

“Or hiding.”

“That is another possibility. Carl did detect a presence. We’re not going to call the case solved and walk away until we’re confident we’ve done all we can, and you’re going to be fine on your own.”

She exhaled slowly. “So, we set up another session?”

“Yes.”

“And in the meantime?”

“You have my cell phone. You can call me anytime if you have a problem or feel unsafe. If you have a religious item that gives you comfort, I’d suggest keeping it close, and drawing from your faith.”

“I have a cross that used to belong to my maternal grandmother.”

“I’d wear it.”

“Do you think it’s dangerous?”

“We can’t say. So far, the goal has appeared to be grabbing your attention. Perhaps this is why it cleaned up. It’s speculation of course. For now, it’s all we have to go by.”

“I can’t say I love the odds.”

“I know. I wish I could give you better. Unfortunately, a case is like a puzzle with lost pieces. It takes time to gather them all and figure out how they fit together.”

“Logically I understand that. I’m just ...”

“Scared? It’s okay. Would having me go home with you tonight and staying for a while make you feel better?”

“Is that what you do?”

“It’s what I choose to do for you. If you’d like me to.”

Setting aside her pride, she studied the man beside her. This felt like an off-the-record offer. Did he feel the same pull she did? Pride would have her alone in the house terrified and unable to rest. A smart woman knew when to ask for help.

“Please.”

“Let’s finish up here, and I’ll follow you home.”

The once delectable chocolate chip cookie now tasted like sawdust. She washed the cardboard down with the remainder of her milk and stood. He placed a hand on the small of her back and steered her out the front door. Drinking in the protective vibe he cast, she allowed herself to lean on him for strength as they walked the sidewalk to the parking garage. She unlocked the car door, and he opened it, waiting until she was inside to close it and pat the wood. The intimacy was water after a trek through the desert.

The small things—like touch, conversation, and the expression of care—were things she took for granted back home. Surrounded by loved ones, she lost sight of the little things that made life as a whole great. Here, forced to navigate a new world along with a threat looming over her head, she felt extremely isolated and bereft. Adrift on the ocean of life without a paddle, her character was being called into question. Her father came from a proud race of people descended from ancient warriors. Being strong meant much more than physical strength. This was her chance to prove their blood flowed through her veins.

Renewed by the short ride and reaffirmation of who she was and where she came from, she pulled into the parking lot prepared to go back into the fray with Micah as her backup. Kahles didn’t back down easily. How else could her father charge the big waves knowing the harm they could impart? Broken bones, concussions, and tight budgets never threw him off his goal. His determination and passion inspired her to reach for her own dreams. It had been years of putting work first as she tried to make a name for herself. This paranormal activity was not allowed to ruin that.

This is my time. The stone castle became a wave to charge.

Micah stepped up beside her. “You good?”

“Yeah, I forgot for a minute.”

“Forgot what?” he asked.

“Who I was. The fear infiltrated and broke me down. Being here alone and unsettled left me vulnerable. That’s over now.” 

“You speak as if you’re going to war.”

“Aren’t I?” she whispered.

He inclined his head. “You might have a point there.”

They began the short walk and entered the quiet building. Holding her head high, she unlocked her front door and stepped inside. The house was quiet and peaceful. No sense of impending doom registered on her radar, and everything appeared to be in its proper place. She locked the door behind him. “Let’s look around.”

“Ladies first.” He gestured forward. He let her take the lead, and she respected him for it. Taking back her power and control helped distance her from the mini-meltdown she’d had in the face of the unknown. Removing her boots at the door, she padded through the living room to the kitchen and down the hall. The door was open just as she’d left it that morning.

“It looks good.”

“Why don’t I do some poking around while you go about your nightly routine?”

“Are you concerned, or curious about what my pajamas look like?”

Micah snickered. “Can’t I be both?”

“Smart answer. Please make yourself at home. There’s plenty to eat and drink in the kitchen. I won’t be long.”

“Take your time. I cleared the evening for you.”

The sincerity had her heart beating faster. He had an intensity that left her speechless as his eyes bore into her own.

“Thank you.”

“Mhmm.”

He went back to the living room, and she gathered her things and moved into the full bathroom connected to her room. Stripping down, she tossed her clothing into the wicker basket in the corner and turned on the water. Stepping underneath the warm spray, she grabbed her coconut scented body wash, placed it on her pastel blue scrubbing ball, and lathered it up. Washing away the grime of the day, she felt her muscles relax beneath the heated spray.

Feeling clean, she stuck her head beneath the spray and used the Aragon oil infused shampoo. She had her father’s defined curl, but her hair drank conditioner like her mother’s coarse 4C hair pattern. Massaging her scalp, she rotated her shoulders and moved onto the deep conditioner. After she combed through the curls carefully, she gave them a final rinse.

She stilled. Suddenly she didn’t feel alone in the room. Quickly working the conditioner out of her hair, she jerked back when the shower curtain moved inward. The impression of a hand made her scream. The shower curtain shook violently.

“Daize,” Micah yelled over the sound of the running shower, “I’m here.” He jiggled the door she hadn’t locked, and she fumbled with the shower knob. Her slippery hands were clumsy. It took two tries before she could get it right.

“Leave me alone,” she screamed. The curtain stilled. Not waiting for the ghost to strike again, she stumbled out of the basin, grabbed a large, fluffy towel, and wrapped it around her body.

Micah stumbled through the door, righting himself as he gripped her upper arms. “Are you all right? What happened?”

“I saw a hand pushing up against the curtain. I cried out, and the entire curtain started to shake.”

“Jesus,” Micah whispered.

“What?” She spun around and glimpsed the mirror. Written in the condensation was: We wait below.

“Get dressed and pack a few things. You’re not staying here tonight.”

“Then where should I stay?”

“With me. My brother just moved out with his fiancée, so I have a spare room in my condo.”

“I couldn’t impose.”

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want you there, Daize.”

She clamped her mouth closed. “Give me ten minutes.”

“Make it five.” He glanced around warily as they backed into the bedroom.

“I’ll wait beside the door. Keep it open.”

“Yeah.” The minute he disappeared through the frame, she swiftly towel-dried, threw on a pair of underwear, a bra, and gray sweats with a white T-shirt and a San Diego hoodie. Pulling on socks, she grabbed enough clean clothes for a week, shoved them into an oversized beach tote, and rushed out.

“I’m ready.” She grabbed her purse, bundled up in her peacoat, and followed him out of the house. Remaining silent until they escaped the building, she let out a sigh of relief. “What just happened?”

“Honestly, I have no clue. Nothing happened in the living room. It’s focused on you, and that worries me. We need to do a cleansing ritual and do a more detailed investigation. You can stay with me as long as you need to. But you aren’t going to stay in that house until we figure this out.”

“I’m not going to?” She placed a hand on her hip.

“If that’s a demon, I won’t have anything on my conscience.”

“I won’t be a burden. You can do your job just fine with me in a hotel. You saw me at my worst last week. I’m not that girl who needs saving.”

“I didn’t think you were. I only want to see you safe.” He held his hands up.

“I can tell you’re used to taking the lead in your life. I don’t operate well that way.”

He took a step closer. “How do you operate best?”

She could feel the heat from his body seeping into her. His minty breath caressed her face. Her mouth dried out like a sea star in hot weather. The gold flecks in his green eyes warmed her from the inside out. Lost in the tractor beam of his gaze, she swayed toward him.

“When I’m asked nicely and respectfully.”

“Please come home with me until we figure this out.”

“Why, Micah?” she whispered breathlessly.

“Because this is about more than a case, Daize.”

“What’s that?”

He smirked. “Are you going to make me say it?”

“Yeah. I’m going to need you to do that.”

“I’m interested in more than keeping you safe, Daize. I tried to ignore the chemistry between us, keep things professional and separated. But I don’t act the way I should when I’m with you. I want to be more than your paranormal investigator.”

“You don’t even know me.” Her brow furrowed as she shook her head.

“Yet. What I’m saying is I’d like to get to know you. I keep the people I care about safe. My brothers and I run a company together, so I’m used to giving orders and being listened to. I can come off as heavy-handed. It’s not my intention, and I apologize.”

She wanted to deny his words. But the connection she’d formed with him was potent. For the first time in months, she no longer felt all alone in her new hometown. It was fast, unexpected, and completely inconvenient. None of it mattered.

“I want that, too. Apology accepted.”

They smiled at one another. “Let’s get out of here.” He took the bag from her. “I got this.” She relinquished control, holding onto the happiness she’d discovered in the midst of turmoil.