Advocate For The Dead (Complete Novel)

Chapter 19: Behind Closed Doors

I really didn't know what I was going to do as I went up onto the front porch. Should I knock or just bust in? If he was in there with Summer's stolen corpse in the midst of some ritual, I wanted to hit him by surprise. If I knocked, that would give him warning. He could hide anything sinister he was doing and put on that boyish charm. I kept thinking what he had said standing over his brother's grave. 'I think I might get in her skin tonight.'

My hand was half raised to knock when I felt her behind me. "Summer, go back to the car," I whispered.

"No, Cole. This is wrong. Something is not right here. Darnell might be a lot of things, but he's not one to conjure up the dead. Especially not his brother. They barely even got along."

"How do you know this? Are you remembering something?"

"I just have this feeling. This isn't what it looks like. Please don't go in there and hurt Darnell."

"Why? What's your concern with him?" I reeled on her. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

"No, I just don't want anyone to get hurt. You are angry and you're chasing shadows."

"Beats the hell out of talking to ghosts," I snapped. "Now go back to the car."

She didn't budge. Why does every female ghost I run across have to be so damn stubborn?

I must have said it aloud because I swore she smiled just as I put my hand on the doorknob. It turned in my hand. I put my hand inside my jacket for my gun, but remembered she had asked me to leave it in the car. I sighed and slowly eased the door open. I was going in.

She was right behind me, though I think I was just as quiet as she. Thankfully the wood floors didn't creak, and there was enough light filtering in through a skylight to guide my way.

The Dean household was large and richly furnished. I stepped lightly, exploring the rooms as I went. A kitchen, a bathroom, a study. The rooms were immaculate and something suggested to me that it was all for show. Under the wealthy facade, a darkness lurked here.

Where would he be hiding the body? And where exactly was Darnell? I came to a closed door and put my hand on the knob. It was warm. Someone had been through here recently. I slowly turned the brass handle and it opened with a light creak. I stopped and waited for the silence again. Then I eased it the rest of the way open.

A sparse bare bulb lit a stairway going down into the basement. I looked behind me. Summer wasn't there. Where the hell did she go? I knew she followed me in. Reflex made me want to whisper her name, but I didn't say anything. I needed the element of surprise.

I started down the stairs, slowly making my way step by step. Reaching the bottom, I noticed there was a big crate right in the middle of the floor. It was just about the right size for a body to fit in. I walked over to it. I checked to see if its lid was nailed down. It wasn't.

I slid the lid away from it, slow and cautious. I had a brief thought I was stuck in an old vampire movie and was getting ready to face Dracula. But there was nothing inside the box. It was empty, except for a fine layer of dust. I ran my finger through it and put it up to my nose. Sawdust. Nothing sinister there, but maybe he had moved the body. Maybe the ritual was already complete and her body was now occupied by...

There was a creak on the stairs. I spun around, instantly wishing I had my gun on me.

"Winter," Darnell hissed, standing there on the steps. In his hand he held a pump action shotgun. "I don't recall inviting you in to my house."