Page 2 of Feathered Web

“I’ll text you once I get to work,” I said, then signed off. I made sure to save her number in my contacts, and then—mind racing with what Kerris could possibly want with me—pulled out of the driveway and headed to the office.

Tad and Caitlin were busy looking over a report when I got in. I’d stopped to buy coffee and doughnuts for everyone, and Hank took the coffee tray from me and put it on the table.

“What’s up?” I said, setting the box of doughnuts down beside the coffee. I leaned over Caitlin’s shoulder. She and Tad were looking through a series of recent reports of some creature that had been spotted around the area recently. Described by various people as a bipedal dinosaur, to a Yoda-lookalike, to a goblin, all the reports had three things in common: the creature was spotted only at night, it had been spotted near trash bins in every report, and in each case, someone had tried to take a picture of it, but the creature vanished in every photo.

“Are we going looking for it?” I asked.

“Maybe. So far, there haven’t been any problems reported, except for the trash cans being knocked over. We’ll keep an eye on it, but I don’t want to waste resources unless there’s more evidence and more activity,” Tad said.

“Well, I’ve got news. Kind of,” I said. I returned to my desk, got my notepad and tablet, then headed toward our group round table where we held meetings every morning.

Conjure Ink was a passion project. Tad Gelphart was a precocious genius. He had started not only Conjure Ink before he was twenty-four, but also the umbrella group that brought together paranormal investigations groups around Washington state—Urban Legends, Inc. He was born into wealth, but he used it for the betterment of others. Those of us he employed could count on our jobs, were paid a good wage, and we’d become a family of sorts.

As we gathered around the table, the others looked at me expectantly. “Well?” Caitlin asked. A bobcat shifter, she and Tad had finally admitted their attraction for each other and were now engaged.

“I got a call this morning,” I said. “Kerris Fellwater’s coming over to talk to me. She said she needs my help. If she really needs my help, do you mind if I take a little time off?”

Tad’s eyes widened. “Kerris?” His parents had left Whisper Hollow before he’d been born because they knew how dangerous the town could be. But Tad was fascinated with the shadow town and kept an eye on what was happening there.

“Yeah. I don’t know what she wants yet, but if we need Conjure Ink’s resources, can I?—”

“Of course,” Tad said, before I could even finish my sentence. “If you have time, bring her in. I’d like to meet her.”

“Will do,” I said. “We’re meeting for dinner.” I let out a sigh. “Okay, so what’s on the agenda today? Is Wren coming in?”

Tad shook his head. “Walter had a really bad spell this weekend. She called me last night and said she might not—” He stopped as his phone rang. “Speak of the devil…” He answered. “Hey Wren, how are things?—”

Seconds later, Tad’s face drained of color and he let out a soft sigh. “Of course. I’ll tell the others. If there’s anything we can do—anything at all… Right. I’m so sorry, Wren. I’m here, and so are the others… All right. If you need anything, I’m here.”

My stomach knotted. I’d heard that speech before, from other people, when my mother and father were killed in a car crash. As Tad set his phone on the table and looked up, I caught his gaze. I knew immediately what had happened.

“Walter’s gone?”

Tad nodded. “He died this morning.”

I hung my head, and so did the others. Wren’s husband Walter had developed multiple sclerosis, and the disease had advanced far too quickly. He’d tried experimental therapy and everything they could dig up that might help, but it ran through him, rampant. There had been a couple periods where he’d gone into a slight remission, but each time it came back with a vengeance, and now, he was gone. Just like that…a flame fighting for life, fighting for air, snuffed out all too soon.

I realized that tears were creeping down my cheeks. I looked up to see the others crying as well. We were a family, and one of our own had suffered a great loss.

“What can we do?” I asked, trying to find something that might help. “What can we do to help her through this?”

“I’ll hire an assistant for her for a month or two,” Tad said. “Wren’s going to need all the help she can get with making arrangements, dealing with all the medical gear at her house, cleaning, sorting through Walter’s things. That sort of thing.”

“That’s a good idea,” I said. “One of us should go over there now, though. She’ll need immediate support.”

“I’ll go,” Caitlin said. “Wren and I were going to meet for lunch tomorrow. If you don’t mind, I’ll take off now. I’ll stop for flowers and a casserole so she won’t have to cook.”

“Let us know if there’s anything we can do from here,” Tad said, giving her a quick kiss. “We don’t want to overwhelm her and I’m sure relatives from both her side and Walter’s side will be on the way. Give her our love.”

Caitlin shrugged on her jacket and headed out. I watched her go, thinking that I should have volunteered, but I had to meet Kerris after work. Caitlin had more leeway to help today, and there were a thousand things to do after a death. Wren wouldn’t be in much shape to do anything.

I sighed. “So, what do we do today? It’s going to be hard to focus.”

“Given we’re not really working on any cases right now, let’s take some time to organize files, check all the equipment, and sort out the office. January, can you organize the supply closet and make a note if we’re low on anything? Hank, start with the equipment. I’ll start scanning in photos.” Tad motioned for us to get busy. “Take it easy, do what you can. We’re all in shock.”

By late afternoon, we’d cleaned up the office in more ways than one. I grabbed the cleaner and sprayed down all the surfaces, wiping them thoroughly. Tad finished scanning in documents and organizing them, and Hank finished cleaning and checking all our equipment.

As we finished, Caitlin called. Tad put her on speaker phone.

---