Darkest Journey (Krewe of Hunters #20)(30)

He had a gut feeling that tonight had only been a trial run. Someone had been checking to see just how hard it would be to break into this house. He was pretty certain no one was coming back tonight, at least.

Even so, he elected to sleep on the sofa, closest to the doors. He’d learned to sleep lightly, a useful skill for nights like tonight.

As he lay down, he thought about Charlie, sound asleep in her room upstairs.

He couldn’t help but remember her face as they’d waited for the police that night ten years ago, her leaning against the grave marker, himself leaning against a tree.

And then the killer, bursting suddenly out of the woods like a berserk, heading straight for Charlie, as if he knew she had something to do with the end of his spree.

She had stared at him, as he raced toward her, and started to rise in defense. She would have fought like the devil, he knew. He’d seen the emotions fly across her face: terror, anger, determination, and the look that meant she wouldn’t go down without fighting.

He didn’t remember actually thinking about anything himself. He just flew at the man, glad he played football and was a good tackle.

Someone had asked him once if he feared the dead.

He didn’t.

He feared the living.

And he hadn’t been haunted by the dead for the last ten years.

He’d been haunted by memories of Charlie.

*

When her alarm woke her early the next morning, Charlie could hear Ethan downstairs. Of course he was up. Not that she really knew his habits, but for some reason she’d doubted he was a late sleeper.

That meant she had to hurry. She quickly called Clara, hoping her friend would answer.

“Charlie! Hey, you good?” Clara asked anxiously.

“I’m good. Just reporting in,” Charlie said, relieved that her friend had picked up.

“Did anything else happen?”

Charlie told her about the strange noises she’d heard the night before—and about calling Ethan. “Probably got spooked by a squirrel,” she said.

“I’m just glad Ethan is there,” Clara said. “And you don’t need to worry. After I talked to you last night I told Alexi what’s going on, and we made some calls.”

“To?” Charlie asked.

“There’s a new guy who took over recently as head of all entertainment at Celtic American. I worked for him when I first started with the company, and he was entertainment manager for the ship I was on. Anyway, to make a long story short—”

“Too late,” Alexi said, having seized the phone. “Charlie, we can get on the Journey as Southern belles—and you should join us. We’ve already talked to Jackson Crow, and he’s going to run it past Adam Harrison. I’m not sure how soon we can start, but we’ll get back to you as soon as we know something.”

“You two are incredible,” Charlie said.

Clara laughed softly. “Well, we like to think so, anyway.”

Charlie glanced at her watch. “Call you later today, okay?”

Then she dressed quickly and went downstairs.

Ethan was in the kitchen. He’d had no problem figuring out the coffeepot, and the smell of fresh coffee was nearly as appealing as the man.

“Good morning,” she said, helping herself to coffee.

“Morning. You slept okay?”

She smiled. “Helped a lot that you were here. Thank you.”

“Not a problem. And, as it happens, I’m going your way this morning.”

“You can’t be. I’m due on site in...” She paused and glanced at her watch, a gift from her mom. “I’m due in makeup in forty minutes.”

“I know. Me, too.”

“I’m filming a scene with the oil-company boss and the senator.”

“I know.”

“There are no extras in it.”

“I know that, too. I talked with Brad this morning. I know more about the schedule now than you do. As soon as you film that scene, he’s going to use a day-for-night filter and shoot some extra shots for the scene where the ghosts start to rise from their graves to protect you.”

“You didn’t say anything yesterday about being on the set today.”

“I didn’t say anything because I didn’t know I would be. I had—and still have—an appointment with a guy named Chance Morgan—a photographer. He’s going to find me some time during the day and ask Brad if he can get a few shots out by the bluff. So now this is my plan. I’m flexible, just like your filming schedule.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, maybe I’ll have a long enough break between scenes for us to catch a bite together in the catering tent. But how can you do that and work a murder?”

He just looked at her, and she sighed.

“Yeah, right. I forgot,” she said. “The cast and crew are all suspects.”

“Not all of them. Still, it never hurts to get to know the people you’re looking at.”

“Well, I have to head out now, and you—”

“Showered this morning. After Mike suggested being an extra, I realized that would give me a good reason for hanging around the set. I’m prepared for whatever may happen.”

“I see. Wow, you’re good.”

“I do this for a living, Charlie.”