Page 29 of Cursed
“You’re the one with the intuition,” Seth said. “Is there anything specific that’s got you worried?”
Evan let out a long breath. “No. Just a feeling of foreboding. I know we’re doing good work hunting the disciples, and if you hadn’t started the quest, I’d be dead. But I’ll be glad when it’s over.”
“Me, too.”
They called ahead and picked up takeout for dinner before heading back to the RV, not wanting to be out in public more than necessary. The restaurant was one that Caden had recommended. Dinner was Brunswick stew with freshly baked bread, accompanied by fried green tomatoes topped with a house-made pimento cheese spread.
Evan rubbed his temples.
Seth frowned. “Headache?”
“Yeah. Came on kinda suddenly,” Evan replied. “It seems a little better now that we’re home. I’m not going to let it spoil a great meal. The food smells fantastic.”
“Do you feel okay otherwise?” Everything going on was certainly enough to give anyone a migraine.
“I’ll be okay.”
“I’ve got good whiskey,” Seth said with a smile. “Maybe it will help.”
They did their best not to talk about the case as they ate, seizing a few moments of reprieve. The food was as good as it smelled, another confirmation of the city’s reputation as a great place to eat.
After supper, Seth found an action movie online that they hadn’t seen, and they settled in with a bowl of popcorn to extend the short break from their case. He could see Evan close his eyes now and then against the headache, but every time Seth asked, Evan waved off his concern.
Several hours after dinner, Seth’s phone rang from a number he didn’t recognize. He handed it to Evan, who put it on speaker.
“Seth? Seth, is that you? Caden gave me your number.”
It took Seth a moment to recognize Tony’s panicked voice. He exchanged a worried look with Evan.
“Tony, what’s wrong?” Evan asked.
Seth noticed he was rubbing his temples again, and his pinched expression suggested that the headache was worse.
“Pax is gone. He didn’t leave on his own. I know he wouldn’t. Everything is still here, just no Pax,” Tony said all in one breath.
“Slow down,” Seth coached. “Tell us what happened.”
Tony was quiet for a moment. Seth could hear his panicked breathing gradually slow.
“The day at the truck was normal. Creepy guy didn’t even show up. Business was good, lots of regulars and some new tourists. We closed on time and stopped at the grocery store on the way home for some stuff to cook dinner,” Tony said.
“I’m sorry I was rude earlier. I was…scared. But I took what you said seriously, and I kept a lookout for anything suspicious. I swear I didn’t see anything odd.” Tony sounded young and frightened.
“We believe you,” Evan encouraged. “What happened after the grocery store?”
“I took a load into the house, and Pax was supposed to be right behind me,” Tony answered. “Except he wasn’t. Between the car and the house, he vanished. The bag was on the ground, but no Pax. I called for him, but he didn’t answer. There was no one in sight. No cars driving away, nothing.” Tony’s voice held unshed tears, and Seth didn’t fault him for the reaction.
“I told Detective Brady—Caden—everything, and he said that he would come out. I didn’t expect him to visit personally, but he came with Nash from the pub, and they did some police stuff and some other tests I’d never seen before. Spooky stuff.”
“What did they say?” Evan asked.
“Nash said that he believes Pax is still alive because he couldn’t find a ghost.” He choked back a sob. “Caden touchedthe grocery bags that Pax dropped and closed his eyes, and told us that a man said words that made Pax pass out, and that he and another man kidnapped him. He reported Pax as a possible kidnapping victim and gave the details about the car, but…I don’t think someone took him for his wallet.”
Seth closed his eyes as old memories welled up. “No. It wasn’t a robbery. The people who took him were likely witches who could keep from being noticed.”
“That’s what Caden said when he was done talking to the other cops,” Tony said. “This is all my fault. I should have listened to you?—”
“No, it isn’t,” Evan said in a stern tone. “What we told you was difficult to believe—impossible under normal circumstances. You were right to be wary. We knew Vernon was going to move on him soon, but we didn’t know when.”
