Page 51 of Tragic Ink
Chapter 17
The doorat my back creaked as it opened, and I whirled. Ethan screeched, which only added to the rush of adrenaline that poured into my veins, rooting my feet to where I stood. Deputy Conall stood in the doorway, and I didn’t know whether to be relieved or terrified. Either way, my reflexes were working faster than ever. I’d already called up the magical tattoo and now held a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. I dropped my hands to my sides at the sight ofConall.
“Gwen?” He made no move to approach me, probably because of the terror already written on myfeatures.
I struggled to find my voice—and to make itwork.
“What do you want?” I asked. The spot on my thigh where I’d inked the arrows—to hide them—still tingled from how quickly I’d spelled them into solidobjects.
“We received a tip that Walter Glass has been spotted in the area. We’d like you to come down to the station until he’sfound.”
I studied him, debating whether or not to trust him. But despite his apparent dislike for me, I had no reason to doubt his story. Doubting his identity was another matter. I kept my gaze locked on his, searching for that flash I’d seen in Dead Walter when he’d jumped from my apartment. If this was a glamour, that flash of color behind his eyes would give it away, but so far his eyes werenormal.
“And Rhys?” I asked, taking a step toward him—which only made Ethan shriek louder. “Is that what Elsmed wanted? To bring him in until this blowsover?”
“Elsmed Fairchild?” Deputy Conall frowned. “Uh. I didn’t realize he was involved, so I can’t answerthat.”
I halted. “I think I’ll just wait right here, if it’s all the same toyou.”
Ethan still gave a warning sound, but the shriekingquieted.
Deputy Conall lookedannoyed.
“Fine.” He closed the door behind him and took up a position in the corner, leaning against the wall next to a photo print of Havenwood Falls circa fifty yearsago.
“You don’t have to stay,” I toldhim.
“Actually, I do. Sheriff Kasun’sorders.”
Ihuffed.
So didhe.
A moment of silence ticked byslowly.
Finally, I turned to glance back outside, scanning quickly for Rhys. He hadn’t reemerged from the trees, and with every minute that he was gone, my worry grew. Something wasn’t right. Not with Elsmed’s cryptic summons and not with Deputy Douchebag hovering behindme.
I spun, ready to chew Conall out for whatever he’d just done. But he was still in his place in thecorner.
Beside him stoodWalter.
He glared at me, and I had to blink several times before I realized it wasn’t my eyesight that was washing himout.
Walter was aghost.
That was a trick I hadn’tanticipated.
“Hello, Miss Facharro. It’s been a while,” Waltersaid.
Behind Walter, Deputy Conall went pale, and I could only assume being confronted with the backside of a dead guy was a first forhim.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Idemanded.
On the railing behind me, Ethan shriekedwildly.
“Shh,” I hissed at him, so that I could hear over his shrillcall.
Silent now, Ethan was practically molting. Walter watched himwarily.
