Chapter Seven: Spirits are my friends

"So who is this Edward anyways?" Halina asked as I lead us both to the scene of the crime, an apartment complex in the more rich side of Lake City. The air was rather chilly. "Sounds like an important guy."

"He is. Councillor Edward Hughes was the warlock representative on the council. But he wasn't just a representative--he was essentially the head voice, and arguably the most important man in the city."

I pushed through a crowd of reporters and journalists, to the front gate of the tall apartment building. Two guards stood there, trying to keep everyone back. I yelled, "I'm Ditto Night, and I'm here to help the hero."

The guards nodded, and let us through. We went down the walkway, going by intricate statues and fountains. It definitely smelled of death, and not like the flower bushes near by. A man stood by the front entrance.

"Finally. Ditto, it's good to see you." The hero Jamie stuck his hand out, the shifter shaking mine with a strong grip. His eyes screamed with sadness. "It's been to long."

"Horrible circumstances. Edward was a good man. Great warlock," I said. But, honestly, I never knew him that well. He taught me some magic, and I liked his speeches, but he wasn't close to me. The warlock was good friends with many other people though, including Sasha. Both were tremendous council members, and agreed on many things.

"Yeah. Tragic, that someone would want to murder him," Jamie said, putting hands in his trench coat. "There isn't much evidence. But, it's a little gruesome. Can your friend here take it?"

"She's good. Don't worry."

Jamie nodded, then took us to the lobby and we waited for the elevator. While we were standing there, Halina said, "What kind of hero are you Jamie?"

Breaking the tension, I like it. "Who are you again?"

"I'm Halina Deya, a writer. Ditto's my consultant." The confidence in her voice made me smile. Humans, for all of their weaknesses, can always be relied on to speak with steel backing it. Hidden are much more....chill with their words a large percent of the time. Actions and words, pens and swords. A duel as long as time itself.

"Huh, interesting. I'm what you humans would call a private investigator." He tapped his freckled nose, small and delicate. "This thing can sniff out anyone. I'm a decent fighter, but a great detective."

"Jamie here turns into a blood hound. Loves being scratched on the belly, don't ya buddy." I rubbed the man's fluffy head, black hair becoming a mess. But he smacked my hand away.

"Please, don't do that. Edward use to...." Jamie choked up, a tear rolling down his cheek. Geez, now I feel pretty bad. Yet how do you comfort someone whose friend died? Death is kinda my thing, I can sense it every day. The last sad death I remember were my parents.....but what can you do?

The elevator finally arrived. We entered and traveled up to the top floor. Jamie seemed to scrunch up, a sign he didn't like this room, a sign that this was a pretty heinous crime. And it's no small thing to just kill a council member. They are very dangerous themselves.

Jamie coughed. "It was around noon, a slick knife across the throat. But, that's not all."

Moving down the gilded hallway, more people swarmed around, medics and investigators, a few human. Jamie pushed past them all, acknowledging most. He opened the beautiful door, into the huge suite. I had to admit, the man knew how to live. Huge pale statues and columns and expensive paintings were everywhere. The arts were clearly his thing.

Sasha stood in the middle of the lavish living room, talking to Edward's wife, Heather Hughes. The fae woman was crying hard, with Sasha gently tapping her shoulder and giving the occasional tissue. Good lord, the atmosphere was as though a bomb had gone off.

"Sasha, I brought him." Jamie and I strolled forward, stepping down the few stairs and maneuvered our way around the furniture.

"Ditto, I--" Holy fuck, my heart broke. I've never heard Sasha this emotional before, not even when we watched Bambi. She hugged me, hand in my hair. "I'm sorry. I'm having trouble thinking now."

"No problem. I'll do whatever I can," I said, still unsure on what I was saying. "This is my expertise, remember."

Jamie went next to a plastic covered body, kneeling down with a pen in hand. "We don't have much to go on. Mrs. Hughes wasn't home, she was out shopping when he was killed. No signs of a struggle, no clear signs of breaking and entering. We're at a loss."

I went to the body, smelling hard. Nothing unusual. "You use some preservation magic?"

"Yeah. I wanted you to see the body before it was taken away." He lifted off the shawl, and the woman all turned away. "While clean cut across the neck, they completely mutilated his body."

Oh boy, now things were interesting. The body of the older man was a bloody mess. His chest was cracked wide open, and his intestines were hanging out. His tan skin stained red. I went down and poked around. "How curious, why this if he was already killed via wide smile?"

Jamie talked as plastic gloves went over my hands. "We're not sure. In fact, from what I was told, they were after his--"

"--Caller organ. One of the few warlocks with one." The caller was supposed to be located under a being's heart, but none were present. I leaned in, smelling as strong as I could. "I can't smell any scent. The killer must have had perfume or a odor eliminator."

"Odd, isn't it."

Odd indeed. I replaced the plastic cover, and moved to an open space. "A rule of necromancy: spirits can be summoned by blood."

I said a very complex spell, forming a necro circle. Taking out my blood knife, the three inch blade with brown leather hilt dug into my palm, and I dropped a few delicate drops. The circle shifted from black, to red, to black again. I went back to Hughes, and dipped the knife into liquid blood.

"What are you doing to my husband?" Heather screeched, coming near me. "Get away from him necromancer."

I didn't even turn. "If you wish to speak to him one last time, I need his blood."

Heather's anger didn't calm, but she backed away, letting me finish. Going back over, I let the former warlocks blood fall. "Listen everyone. I'm going to call Edward. Here are the protocols for spirit summoning. Do not talk unless I say you can. Do not enter the circle. And do not give it what it wants." I directed my voice at the now widow. "Heather, your former husband might ask you to kill yourself. Do not do that. Jamie, check her for weapons."

More intricate spells left my mouth, activating the circle in a stormy blast. The clear outline of the late Edward Hughes appeared, not mutilated like his organic body. He seemed confused, then peered at me. "Ah, Necromancer, you have brought this old man to life. I thank you."

"Nope. You still dead. Just spiritefied. Now, you need to answer some questions."

"I'm dead? Oh, but that cannot be. I was alive before...." He stared past me and at his once alive form. I think it clicked. "Oh my, I guess I am dead. Questions you ask? What kind?"

"Who killed you?"

"I do not recall. Things are oh so blurry my dear boy." Scowling, this was going to be an annoying session of interrogation. "I think I might remember with more blood. That stuff is oh so good."

"No no no. Who killed you Edwards? Did you see who ended your life?"

"I told you, blood will help...."

"I said, tell me now, or you get the Pool in the Pit treatment." I crossed my arms. Ghosts are so frustrating. Give a ghost too much blood, and bad things will happen. The only way to make one talk is to threaten it. "I doubt you want that do you?"

"I see thru your bluff Necromancer. You need me....so I request blood."

"Agh. Fine, one more drop you old fool." I flicked a tiny ass drop onto the ghost. It shivered in pure delight. Greedy bastard. "Better now?"

"Much. And to answer your question, I didn't see who did it." Edwards frowned in a creepy way, making me wonder if that was the truth. "I was sitting down, enjoying a book, when everything went dark."

"Did you hear anything? A door open? A window?"

"No, nothing."

Gah, ghosts who see nothing are not that helpful. Whenever I do this, half the time I get ready to rage quit. "Jamie. Get up here and ask your questions."

The detective came up, and I sensed a wave of guilt and shame off of the man. He better not cry, or I swear, I'll leave this place faster than a dog after a cat. "Edwards, it's me, Jamie Geddy. You remember me buddy?"

"Of course I do. Jamie my dear boy, it appears I have died."

Jamie smiled, but in a sad face kind of way. "Edwards, did you have any enemies? Anyone who would want to hurt you? I need to know."

"Calm down dear boy. Anyone who'd want me dead? None I can recall." Edwards floated up, then back down. Oh, he better not ask for something else. "Maybe some of your blood dear boy."

"No," I said. "Jamie, just pressure him more. Don't do anything he says."

The man gave me a weird look, which I didn't appreciate, but I nodded for him to continue. "Edwards, please. No more blood, just answers."

"My dear boy, how can I say no to you?" Oh, the next thing the ghost said was unsurprising. "Maybe if you join me, we can discuss it together?"

"Answer me dammit!" Jamie yelled. There we go, that's what we needed. A little push. "I can't solve this without your answers."

"My good Jamie, everything was going smoothly up until now. In fact, the last argument I remember was with Councillor Quinn, and that was simply about taxes."

"Give it up Jamie," I said, placing a cold hand on his shoulder. "The councillor was a good man. This smells like assassination, but for something else entirely."

"Right. Will you let Heather speak to him?"

"Yes." I turned, facing the trio of women, motioning at Heather. "If you wish, now would be the time."

Heather walked up, her eyes red, contrast to her blue skin. She sounded sad, yet hopeful. "Honey, dear, I miss you so much."

"Ah Heather, the love of my life, please do not fret. I love you too."

"We will find who did this, that I swear." Not with my help, I could care less. Finding a killer is Jamie's job. I have other things to do. "We will all miss you."

"Then please join me my love. We can be together forever again." And with that, I broke the connection, letting Edward Hughes go to rest, wherever he believes he'll go. I'm pretty sure he was Muslim, but how strong in his faith he was, I didn't know. Religion, not my level of expertise.

"No! Bring him back, I wasn't finished talking to him." She beat on my chest, her trembling hands pounding weakly. "Bring him back."

"I'm sorry. He told us all he could. Now he must rest." There was nothing more I, or anyone else, could do. A ghost can only tell you so much without begging for blood or you to kill yourself or anything that might jeopardize your well being. Ghosts will do anything to try and come back to the real world, to the realm of the living. Those bastards are annoying, which is why a necromancy rule is never give them what they want--It could cause disaster. Another rule is when summoning spirits, more blood gives you more results, but brings the ghosts closer to reality. Necromancers blood is the best for this kind of thing.

"Thank you Ditto. I'll make sure to send your pay in a few days," Jamie said. He motioned, and we began to take out leave. The shifter huffed. "I'll send for the medics to take the body. Mrs. Hughes, I need you to come with me."

Our small group left the room that stank of death, and as Jamie closed the door, he looked at me. "Can I speak to you for a second?"

Halina came to my side. I sighed. "Meet me on the first floor. Stay with Sasha, I need to talk to her as well."

The woman gave a solemn head bob, before going off with the witch. Heather was lead away by a buff man. Jamie whispered near my ear. "What's going on?"

"Er--a man was murdered?" Damn, what am I, a psychic? I know a few though, maybe that's what Jamie needs.

"Stop dicking around. Why would someone steal his caller? Why not just kill a magi?"

"Damn I wish. And I do not know why." Okay, I'm kinda lying, but you gotta understand, I only have speculations right now. No concrete evidence. "I'm in the dark as much as you."

"Listen, I've talked to Sasha, and everyone else you know at one point. You have secrets." He can't possibly have talked to everyone I know. Impossible. "What. Is. Going. On."

"Jamie, if you want answers, then you need to be patient." I patted him on the back. "It's a  tragedy what happened. But believe me, you wouldn't like my answer."

Leaving Jamie by the door, I made my way down to the lobby. Sitting on a green bench, Sasha and Halina were talking quietly. Joining them and going next to the witch, I asked my question. "What happens now?"

"The council will hold an emergency vote tomorrow to replace Edwards." Her once golden voice was now consumed with tear induced pain. If there's one thing you don't do, is you don't fuck around with my friends. "Ditto, what did Jamie want?"

"He wanted to know what's going on." I shrugged, aware of what's going through her mind. "That's all."

"And what is going on?"

"I only have a theory now. Nothing real yet. But tomorrow," breathing in deep, the faces of the council came to mind, "tomorrow will answer my questions. We'll talk after that."

"Can I even trust you Ditto." Sasha blew her nose, weeping even more. "You never tell me anything. But I need answers more now than ever."

Wow, that's a loaded thing to say. But, there is truth there. "Sasha, give me after the meeting tomorrow, and I'll give you my speculations. And you know I'd do anything for you. We'll catch this bastard, that I promise. I'd defend you until death. But you must keep in mind, this is going to be bigger than any one man if I'm right."

The crying witch didn't say anything, which is not reassuring. Maybe this will do the trick. "I know Edwards was important to you. To a lot of people. But you are strong Sasha. The strongest person I know. The times ahead, they're going to be tough. As long as you are here though, we'll be fine."

Sasha said nothing still, so I stood, getting Halina's attention. We were near the glass door when she spoke. "Ditto, there was another attack this day. A pack of shifters raided a Hidden town in Kentucky, killing a councillor member there as well."

This time it was my turn to say nothing. Halina pushed the door open, and we left.

After twenty minutes, Halina and I were walking down the dock, and Halina broke the silence. "What's your theory? You never really said."

"Oh, it's not a theory," I responded. "It's fact."

Not for the first time, I saw her shocked face. "Then why did you say you had a theory?"

"Because Sasha wouldn't believe me. Not then at least. Plus, don't ever know who's listening."

"What is fact then?"

"Even the Hidden have our legends Halina. Even we have our myths and ancient heroes and whatever." The back door had a grey triangle painted on it, to match the one on my leather jacket. My insignia, if you will. "I'll explain at the meeting."

"The council meeting?"

"No, of course not silly," I said, bopping her nose. She clearly didn't like that. I'll make note of her annoyance. "The most important meeting that will be taking place in the next decade. The one I'll be hosting here, tomorrow."

Tomorrow, tomorrow will be the day that will define the years to come.

It's probably bad then that I'm hosting it.