Holy smokes

Chapter 1

Pulling the car to a stop outside the latest victims' house in Lawrence I read over the paperwork that had been sent to me. The official report and photos showed that Jemma Riggs was found surround by ritualistic materials and a pentagram on the floor; what the official report did not say was this was not just any pentagram but it was a demon trap. Walking up the house I noticed that the one thing to suggest demon killing was missing, there was no smell of sulphur which would usually be found where a demon had been. Something did not feel right about this. Feeling around the door frame I found a key and laughed to myself. Why do people insist on leaving keys out, every would be burglar knew this hiding spot. Shaking my head I let myself in immediately covering my nose from the smell of death and decay that lingered here. If this was a hunter's kill then it was sloppy. No hunter I knew would purposely leave all this evidence here so I started searching the house for something normal law enforcement would miss. My search took forever but eventually I found something, hidden under all the sinks in the house were several hex bags. So does this mean that there were a coven of witches calling up demons? But there was no smell, things just didn't add up. Heading back to the car with the hex bags I got in and started the engine. Across the police scanner I heard that another victim had been found. Taking down the address I plugged it into my sat nav, the house was barely two streets over.

Pulling into the street next to the other house I glanced at all the police cars in the street, murders always brought out more people then was usually required for the investigation. How the police got any work done I didn't know, surely most of the evidence was trampled under booted feet. Sighing I stared out of the street, this should be fun, cops of all flavours hated federal Marshall's interfering in their cases. Putting the car in park I made my way to the guy who appeared to be in charge, the one barking orders to all the men and women around him. Approaching him slowly I held my badge high,

"Excuse me are you the man in charge?" I said to the gentleman, who stopped his tirade to look at me,

"Yes." He said the smell of tobacco coming off him in waves, "and who might you be little lady." I held up the badge so he could see.

"I'm Federal Marshal Arcadia Simms, I was just passing through and I noticed all the cars. Can you tell me what happened?" He spat on the floor barely inches from my flat shoes, causing me to step back in disgust while raising my eyebrows at him.

"Well I already told the other Marshall's what had happened?" Stepping closer I leaned into his personal space,

"What other Marshals?" I asked him although I thought I knew who they were and my heart skipped a beat,

"Agents Pace and Dempsey. They are up in the house." Nodding my head in thanks I made my way to the open door.