I huffed at him and avoided the latter topic like the plague, wanting—needing—to move on from a conversation that I didn’t understand.
Either he needed to confess what his problem was, or shut the hell up about it. Both men were withholding information from me and I didn’t like it one bit. “And what do you mean, you’re going to stay here? Is that safe?”
“The ghost cannot be harmed by the demon,” Dane said, clearly catching onto the conversation. “Besides, I agree with him. It’s good to keep watch just in case he gets through the protection.”
Good point. “What was with the salt anyway?”
Dane shifted on his feet, as if he wanted to get out of here, and all this talking annoyed him. “Salt is a pure substance. Haven’t you ever heard of the superstition about throwing salt over your shoulder?”
At my nod, he continued, “We place salt around any exit points so the demon can’t step over it.” How odd. “In other words, trapping him because he has no defense against anything so pure. Trust me, I’ve seen it work.”
“As long as it keeps him in there, I will believe anything at this point.” I looked at Kipp. “But I still don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come back here later.”
“If he gets out, I can follow him,” Kipp replied, his tone firm. “I’ll keep a good distance from him, but do we really want a demon walking around the streets?”
He wouldn’t waver from his decision. So why bother trying to persuade him? Besides I was done being in the middle of an argument. More so, done with both the man and the ghost in front of me. “Okay, no, not when you say it like that.”
The strain in Kipp’s expression softened. “Call Max and he’ll arrange for the flight for you. We cannot waste time here.”
“Ya think?” I reached into my back pocket to grab out my cell phone, but paused. “Will Max be okay with this? Won’t it ruffle his feathers that we’re using department funds to fly to Salem?”
“Tell him there’s a demon here in Memphis and I suspect he’d fly you around the world to get what you needed to stop it.”
Chapter Eleven
Kipp was dead right about Max. He said he’d do exactly that. And three hours later, we landed in Boston at Logan International Airport, rented a car, and drove the forty-five minutes to Salem.
The journey remained like it had on the plane while Kipp stood in the aisle, in complete silence. Not a huge surprise since Kipp kept his burning gaze on the back of Dane’s head who sighed occasionally. For two men who couldn’t even talk to each other, they really didn’t get along.
I racked my brain trying to figure out Kipp’s jealousy, but kept coming up short and had no idea what threatened him. Dane might be nice to look at but Kipp was better. Besides, I was sure I hadn’t been giving off any come get me feelers. I had zero interest in Dane except for the knowledge he held.
Later, I’d ask Kipp what was riding him. Right now, I had bigger problems. And that was the eerie yellow brick house with ivy covering it from ground to roof, surrounded by an endless display of wildflowers littering the garden
.
Dane stopped the car by the curb, cut the engine, and was out of the car before I could even open the door. I followed, not nearly as enthusiastic. I’d never met a witch—didn’t really believe they existed—and I wasn’t at all thrilled to be meeting one now.
When had my life become so insane?
At the front door, Dane knocked, and a moment later it opened to a woman clad in a black lace, tight-fitted blouse that led down to a crimson, silk skirt. She didn’t look like a witch. In fact, she looked like a woman who was no older than my twenty-five years.
She scanned me from head-to-toe, then glanced over to the space next to me where Kipp stood before she grinned at Dane. “It’s nice to see you again. I hope your flight treated you well.”
Dane offered a kind smile that I hadn’t once seen from him. “Quick flight and a perfect drive here.”
His curt tone displayed the dig at Kipp. Although I could have sighed because seriously their rift weighed on me, I was too enthralled with the witch in front of me to care.
“This is the woman I told you about on the telephone.” Dane gestured toward me. “Tess Jennings.”
Gretchen brushed her cinnamon-colored hair over her shoulder, as those blue-gray eyes twinkled at me. “It’s lovely to meet you.” She eyed the direction of Kipp. “And your ghost too.”
“She can see me?” Kipp exclaimed.
I didn’t need his question because I was equally as shocked. “You can see him?”
“Oh no.” Gretchen’s eyes widened. “I don’t possess the gift you do, but I can see the shift in energy beside you there. That’s how I know you have a ghost with you.”
I scanned Kipp, but didn’t see anything about this energy. All I saw was hunky ghost who looked by all appearances, totally normal.