Midnight Exposure (Midnight #1)(70)

“Good.” Reed poured coffee and set a plate of food on the kitchen table across from Jayne. “Don’t be afraid to ask them for help.”

“Thanks, but I know what I’m doing.” Doug gave Jayne a cool nod. “Miss Sullivan.”

“Officer Lang.” Jayne’s response was polite but chilly enough to frost a beer mug. She returned to her software download, leaving Reed to make nice.

Doug pulled out the chair and sank into it. He two-handed the mug and Reed nearly felt sorry for him.

Be careful what you wish for…

Reed set a glass of orange juice in front of the cop.

“Thanks.” Doug forked eggs into his mouth with an appreciative grunt. Reed waited the entire three minutes it took Doug to clean his plate, then Reed refilled the cop’s coffee cup.

“Is that it?” At Reed’s nod, the cop leaned forward to study the metal object. “Any idea what it is?”

“None,” Reed said. “Looks like it belongs in a museum to me.”

Doug used his fork to point to the engravings on the flattened end pieces. “What are those symbols?”

“No idea. That looks like a spiral.”

“How about this one?” Doug indicated a spot nearly worn smooth. The shape was barely visible.

“I didn’t see that one.” Reed squinted at the faint mark and reached for his reading glasses. He glanced over at Jayne. She was focused on the computer screen, her chin rested in her hand. “Jayne, what do you think?”

She looked up from the laptop. Her eyes darted to Reed, then Doug. “What?”

“Take a look at this symbol,” Reed prodded. “What do you think it is?”

Jayne adjusted the light over the table. Dull gold gleamed. “Could it be a pentagram?”

Doug’s brow wrinkled. “And it had the mistletoe wrapped around it with the feathers and cake when you found it in your tree?”

“Yeah. I have pictures.” Reed braced himself for the criticism.

“You shouldn’t have moved it.” And there it was.

“I didn’t know what it was.”

“You knew it didn’t belong there.”

Reed swallowed his irritation. “This thing reminds me of the ancient Celtic coin found under that teenager’s body.”

“Shit. I hope you’re wrong.” Doug lifted a tired shoulder. His eyes shifted to the metal circle and worry creased his face. “I don’t like this at all. Looks like some freaky occult thing. I’m going to send this to the state lab. Maybe they have experts who can make some sense of it. I don’t even have a friggin’ office. At minimum they can tell us what it is and take prints from it.”

Jayne reached for a piece of toast. “Any word on what started the fire?”

Doug’s mouth went tight. “Point of origin was Hugh’s space heater. So far it looks accidental.”

“You don’t really believe that, do you?” Reed asked.

“I won’t believe anything until I get the final report.” Doug’s head shot up. His face was flushed with red spots. “But if it looks like a horse and smells like a horse, I don’t have time to go lookin’ for a zebra.”

A bonfire flared in Reed’s gut. “Jayne was attacked twice. Her photographic equipment and purse were in Hugh’s office. Don’t you think the fire was a pretty big coincidence?”

“Coincidences do happen.”

My ass, thought Reed. “You’re going to blow off the similarity between this thing”—he nodded at the gold object—“and an artifact recently found under a corpse?”

“I will not ignore it once it’s been corroborated by an expert. Look, I’ll pass your concerns on to the fire marshal, Reed. But there isn’t much else I can do if there’s no evidence of arson.” Doug folded the pillowcase over the objects and slid the whole package into a paper evidence bag. He stopped and turned toward Reed with a tight-ass frown. “Look. If you want to do some research, there’s this occult store down on Route 31 in Greenville. Maybe the lady who runs it would know what this all means.” He waved a hand over the bag. “I don’t have the time.”

Reed drew back in surprise. Doug offering information? Was there hope for him? “Jayne and I can run down there this morning.”

Doug nodded stiffly. “Let me know if you come up with anything. If I hear anything on the prints, I’ll give you a call. Are you going home, Miss Sullivan? Or shacking up with Reed indefinitely?”

Jayne bristled. Reed touched her shoulder. Any hope that Doug’s attitude could change went down the drain.

“My brothers are coming to get me later today.” Although her jaw was clenched, Jayne’s tone was miraculously civil. “Have you found the farmhouse where I was held?”

“No. With the fire and Hugh’s death, I haven’t had two minutes to spare.” Doug stood. “Well, I guess that’s that. I’ll contact you if we get any leads on your case.”

But don’t hold your breath.

“You know, Doug.” Reed pointed at the evidence bag. “Crow feathers were found at the crime scene with that teenager’s body.”

Doug’s face flushed. “Don’t go into that again. That kid died of exposure unless I get an official statement from the medical examiner saying otherwise. And it’s hardly unusual to find bird feathers outside. If and when the ME tells me the cases are related, I’ll treat them like they’re related.”