Whiskey Witches by F.J. Blooding (moboreader .TXT) 📖

“Who are you?” the cop asked.

Dexx spared the cop a glance. From the look of things, Leslie had been right to call him in. It looked like he’d arrived in the knick of time. “Fanny!”

“Yeah?” she shouted back as she opened the door.

While he’d waited for Paige to show up at the inn, he’d flirted with the inn owner. Great gal. Quite the gab and without a doubt the local gossip. “Grab my bag out of the dining room.”

Alarm slashed across Fanny’s round face. “What’s goin’ on?”

“Just grab the bag, and put it in my room.” He was going to kill Leslie and Alma.

The cop stopped him on the second-floor landing with an iron grip on his arm.

Dexx stared at the cop. Hard. They didn’t have time for this shit.

“You will answer the question.”

“Dexx. Colt. Demon hunter.”

The cop didn’t even flinch.

Huh. “This needs to be handled. Right now.”

As if on cue, Paige’s eyes shot open. The rich, nut-brown had been replaced by pure black. A grimace twitched across her face. “This vessel belongs to me.”

The words might have come from Paige’s mouth, but the voice had too many layers to be human. And it had an accent that Paige didn’t have.

The cop’s eyes widened. However, to the man’s credit, that was the only reaction.

“Her room is upstairs. Help me.”

“She just drove in from the airport.”

“And you made a reservation for her.” Dexx took her shoulders. “I just took the liberty of checking in for her. Would you bring her bags?”

“Fanny wouldn’t let just anyone check in for her.”

“I know. She’s a good girl.” Would he just fucking hurry up?

The cop raised his eyebrows and grabbed Paige’s bags.

Finally. Dexx hoisted her up and carried her like a child. “I’m her fiancé. Came to surprise her.” Wasn’t a complete lie. He had come to surprise her. Thank goodness he had, too. The demon didn’t have full possession of Paige’s body. Odd. She was fighting it. Maybe it couldn’t get a full toe-hold. Maybe they had some time, had half a chance.

Fanny led the way down the corridor to the right and opened the third door on the left.

“Thanks, Fanny,” Dexx grunted.

“Chief White,” she said, her voice hitched. “What in the name of the Lord is goin’ on?”

Chief of police, huh? Dexx dumped Paige on a chair. “Nothin’s goin’ on, Fanny,” Dexx said, adopting a slight twang to soften his words. He needed Fanny to relax. Needed everyone to calm down.

Fanny crossed herself.

He took his duffle from her arms.

“Look, Fanny,” Chief White said, taking her arm and leading her out of the room. “We just came from a crime scene. She came into contact with something down there.”

“Shouldn’t she be at the clinic, then?”

“With Dr. McCormick dealing with the body?”

Her eyes widened. “So, it is true.”

Chief White nodded, his eyes closed for a moment. “Now, be a bless and don’t tell anyone about it.”

“It was Eddie, wasn’t it?”

The chief gripped the door with one hand and sighed. “It was.”

“It was them witches, Chief. You know that same as I do.”

“We don’t.”

“His store was goin’ belly up, and with his wife pregnant.”

Whoa. Now, that was a connection worth noting. “You think he could have sold his soul?”

“To the devil?” Fanny’s grey eyes lit. “Yes. Yes, I do. That man was crazed tryin’ to find a way to unload that store. He went to see them witches several times.”

Chief White glanced at Dexx and shook his head, his lips tight as if to say, ‘Don’t rile her.’

Yeah. Okay. Whatever. Best lead. Witches. The Whiskeys, he knew. Good people, witches. Most of them, anyway. But others?

Some others weren’t as nice. At least, not the ones he’d come into contact with.

“What about her?” Fanny asked, glancing at Paige.

“She’ll be fine. Bring some lemonade?” Chief White closed the door firmly in the woman’s face.

“Thanks for that.” Usually, when the police got involved, the situation turned into a gagglefuck.

“Don’t thank me yet.” Dexx stared at Paige, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “What’s the plan?”

That guy had a seriously level head. Dexx didn’t know whether to be concerned or grateful. He dumped the contents of his bag on the bed. Holy water. Demon knife. Salt rounds—those weren’t