Phantom Kiss (Chicagoland Vampires 12.5)

Since they didn’t mention the grave, I had to assume they hadn’t found it yet. That could also be an issue of timing.

“How’d you get in?” I asked. “The front gate is locked.”

Robin grinned sheepishly. “Oak tree on the corner has a huge branch that pops right over the fence. Easiest way in and out if you don’t want to hack through a lock.” He looked back at the breached portion of the fence. “If we’d known this was already here, we’d have come in this way.”

He cocked his head at me like a scientist examining a particularly curious specimen. “You didn’t summon the ghost, did you? I didn’t think vampires can do that.”

“I didn’t. But I’m very interested in who might have, as are my colleagues. Let’s take a walk,” I said, and directed them back to the path.

• • •

We reached the front of the cemetery just as my grandfather’s vehicle, a white panel van with OMBUDSMAN printed on the side, pulled up. The doors opened, and my grandfather and Catcher climbed out. Catcher had changed from party attire into casual wear, and wore one of his characteristic snarky T-shirts. This one was dark green with MY MAGIC > YOUR MAGIC across the front in bright letters.

Ombuddy number three, shape-shifter Jeff Christopher, hopped out of the back. He had shoulder-length brown hair, currently tucked behind his ears, and a thin frame that belied the power of the enormous tiger he could shift into.

For a moment, everyone looked at everyone else.

“I’ll start,” I said. “Ethan of Cadogan House; Chuck, Catcher, and Jeff of the Ombudsman’s office; Annabelle of the Illinois MVD Association; and Robin, Matt, and Roz of the Chicago Paranormal Action Network.” I wasn’t sure if Annabelle was publicly out as a necromancer, so I stuck to her professional affiliation.

“Annabelle,” my grandfather said, “it’s nice to see you again. How’s little Maddy?”

Annabelle’s face lit with joy. “She’s good, Chuck. Thank you for asking.”

My grandfather gave the CPAN folks a careful glance. “And what brings you to a cemetery in the middle of the night?”

“A spirit, sir,” Robin said, and stuck out a hand. He shook with everyone while Roz watched warily and Matt, who’d pulled out a small video camera, recorded the action.

“We’re glad to finally meet you,” Robin continued. “We’ve sent you some literature about our services, in case you have needs in that area.”

“Of course,” my grandfather said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. They stayed flat and mildly curious, giving away nothing of what he thought of CPAN. Then he looked back at Annabelle. “What did you find?”

“A disinterred body, minus one skull, and a lot of magic,” Annabelle said.

“Someone disinterred a body?” Robin asked, and we ignored him.

Catcher nodded. “You can feel it in the air. A spirit?”

Annabelle nodded and gave the Ombuddies the rundown while Roz, Robin, and Matt watched and listened.

“Have the wards been tripped?” Ethan asked.

“No,” Catcher said, and the word loosened the concern that had tightened my chest.

Those were the magical alarms set by the Order, the sorcerers’ union, which would warn us if Sorcha tried her magic here again. Even if we hadn’t believed she was the culprit here, it was good to get confirmation.

“We think we saw the summoner,” Robin put in, hitching a thumb over his shoulder to indicate the cemetery behind him. “We chased him, but he got away.”

“There’s a trail that tracks the fence around the back of the cemetery,” I said, glancing at my grandfather. “The fence has been cut. The summoner may have come in that way, probably left that way. There’s a scrap of fabric caught in the links,” I said, and pulled out my phone to send Catcher and Jeff the photo. “It looks like the same fabric from the grave.”

“And the perp left in a sedan,” Matt added. “White, maybe one of those boxy models from the 1980s.”

“Did you get a plate?” Catcher asked.

“No, it’s pretty dark out here. No streetlights or anything.”

My grandfather nodded. “We’ll go in and survey the scene. I’d like to do that before the CPD arrives.” He glanced at the humans. “And we’ll also want to talk to you, get your information. Catcher, if you could take care of that?”

Catcher nodded, led the humans away. When they were out of earshot, my grandfather turned back to us, looked at me. “Are they telling the truth?”