Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(159)

But seeing her peaceful, he decided he’d not wake her and take her home but instead join her in bed here.

Before he did that, he had three things to do.

“Stay with Belle,” he whispered to his dogs and they settled in on their bellies on Belle’s side of the bed.

Moving back out, he carefully closed the door so as not to make any sound. Then he moved across the landing into the living room and closed that door.

Once in, he pulled out his phone and made his first call.

“All right, lad?” Angus answered after one ring.

“Go over everything, Angus, all of you. Every piece of information, go back to every person you talked to, bring in more witches, clairvoyants, soothsayers, I don’t give a f**k what you have to do. Find out what he did. Find it out and find a way to stop it,” Jack commanded.

“Already on it, Jack,” Angus replied. “We got the whisky and we got our stuff spread out in your dining room. Miles feels crap but still, he’s in with Cassandra now. She’s going to hypnotise him. See if he can pull up any memories of his blank spots.”

“Good,” Jack returned, disconnected without a good-bye and made his next call.

On ring four he heard a sleepy, “Jesus, Bennett, it’s after one in the morning.”

Jack didn’t delay.

“Tonight, Dempsey, I had a f**king conversation with the f**king ghost of f**king Caleb Caldwell.”

Dempsey was silent for a moment before he replied, “I’m guessing with your ample usage of the word ‘f*cking’ this conversation didn’t go well.”

“No, it did not.”

“Do I want to know how you managed to have a conversation with a man who’s been dead for two hundred years?” Dempsey asked.

“Considering your profession, I can only assume your level of curiosity is elevated beyond that of others so yes, you probably would like to know. You also probably wouldn’t believe a bloody word I said.”

“I’m hanging in there with this supernatural shit, mate,” Dempsey reminded him.

“And you’re getting paid to do just that,” Jack’s reminded Dempsey then he went on, “Tonight, Caldwell shared he’s put some plan into action and whatever it is has already begun. And whatever it is puts Belle in danger. And before you ask, that would be mortal danger considering he declared her body will be broken by rock and sea.”

“Jesus,” Dempsey muttered.

“Indeed,” Jack clipped. “You told me there was nothing more to learn that would be of consequence, you’ve gone over it all. I want you to do it again and dig deeper.”

“Bennett, firstly, crazy as your story is, half of me believes it. The coincidences are too stark for there not to be some truth in this.”

“I’m obliged you think so, Dempsey, but, no offence, I also don’t give a f**k if you believe. Right now –”

Dempsey cut him off, “I wasn’t done. I just wanted you to know I don’t think you’re entirely mad.”

“Brilliant,” Jack muttered, for the first time after what he witnessed tonight wondering if Dempsey was right and he actually was mad.

Entirely.

Before Jack could fully assess his sanity, Dempsey continued.

“And I also have to remind you, mate, these murders happened two centuries ago. It was lucky I was able to find what I already found. You know I’m thorough and I promise you, I was no less thorough with this. There’s nothing else to be found.”

“Dig deeper,” Jack ordered.

“Jack –” he used Jack’s nickname for the first time and he did it sounding conciliatory.

Jack was in no mood to be pacified.

“Tonight, we tore Caleb Caldwell out of my brother,” Jack shared and heard Dempsey’s surprised grunt but kept talking. “When we did, we questioned him. We got nothing except for the fact that he was very certain he would best me. He was very certain because he told us he’d already set the plan into motion. Miles has told us that he’s lost time. Caldwell has been able to take control of him and he has. Miles is going to work with the people I’ve hired to deal with the bloody supernatural part of this madness. You are going to see if there’s some connection of the now to the then. Something he did back then, someone he worked with, something he used Miles in this time to do, something we missed, something that could harm Belle.”

“All right, Jack, I’ll dig deeper,” Dempsey agreed quietly.

“Don’t delay,” Jack returned.

“Can I finish out the night sleeping?” Dempsey asked.

“Yes. It would be better that you were fresh when you get down to it,” Jack allowed before concluding, “Goodnight, Dempsey.”

“’Night, Jack.”

Jack disconnected then made his final call.

“Mate, we’re drinking whisky but we’re still working,” Lachlan said by way of greeting.

“Call Lewis,” Jack ordered.

“Sorry?”

“Lewis. Call him. Speak to him. Find out everything he knows about that night. Anything he remembers about his mother, father and Caleb Caldwell. If he saw Caldwell in the village and who he might have seen him with. If he heard any talk. Anything.”

There was a pause and Jack would understand he was seeking privacy when he spoke again in a low tone. “Uh, Jack, I get you’re freaked but I also don’t have to remind you that wee one was murdered.”