What Remains Read online

  Chapter Three

  With his sister arriving tomorrow, Sev was already thrumming with nerves. The anxious call from Zeke Matthers asking him to come out to Zeke and Brendan’s place didn’t help any. Sev hadn’t felt quite normal since a few days ago—the day Alma had called. While he could attribute part of his unease to that, the majority of it was related to something else entirely.

  Three days, and no Conner. Four, actually, counting the day Alma called. Laine hadn’t caught so much as a hint of the spirit, either, and between the two of them, they were more than a little worried. Conner had never disappeared like this. And maybe Sev should have wished Conner on to the great beyond, whatever the fuck that was, but the truth was, he couldn’t. He missed the damned spirit too much.

  As he waited for Zeke and Brendon to arrive—maybe one day he’d get his license—Sev paced the length of the living room and back, turning the puzzle of Conner’s disappearance over and over in his mind. It dawned on him that he hadn’t had any contact with spirits, not for days now. That wasn’t unusual, depending on where he was and who was dead—with the exception of Conner, of course. But there were a few spirits here in McKinton he was used to, and he hadn’t heard from or felt any of them.

  Not Stefan, the sweet, innocent spirit of Darren Brown’s brother. Not Mrs. Hawkins, who in life had got her kicks out of greeting unsuspecting deputies in sheer lingerie. Even Zeke’s momma, who sometimes popped in and offered comfort when Sev was upset…

  “Ugh!” Sev rubbed his forehead. If he kept frowning like this he’d either end up with an ugly wrinkle there or his head would shoot off his shoulders since frowning for very long tended to give him a headache. His mind veered right back to the fact he hadn’t detected any otherwordly presence in days and the sound of Zeke’s worried voice as he’d asked if Sev had a few minutes to spare.

  He considered calling Carlin or asking Laine to talk to Matt, Carlin’s partner, and see if they’d had any contact with Mrs. Hawkins’ spirit. Or he could go to the diner, see if Darren was working…

  Or, he could start by seeing what Zeke wanted since the rumble of a diesel engine outside meant the man was here. That’d probably be the smart thing to do.

  Sev grabbed the house keys off the stand in the hallway and darted out of the door. He made sure he locked every lock, not wanting to catch a lecture about it if Laine got home before him, then Sev turned and bounded down the steps, waving at Zeke and Brendon.

  Brendon opened the passenger side door and scooted over to the middle. Sev greeted both men, noting the tight lines of strain around Zeke’s mouth. Brendon didn’t look much better, but at least he managed to smile at Sev once he’d climbed in the truck.

  “What’s wrong?” Sev asked even as he reached for his seatbelt. “You two look worried. Eva didn’t get out of prison, did she?”

  Zeke shook his head and Brendon cursed. “No, that bitch is going to be there a long time after what she did to Zeke.”

  Sev flicked a glance at Zeke to see if he was going to get pissed over Brendon calling Zeke’s sister a bitch, but he didn’t even flinch. Good. Maybe he’s got over feeling guilty about her being locked up for trying to kill him. Twice. One thing Sev could say about his own sisters, at least none of them had tried to do him in.

  Eva had run Zeke over on Main Street in downtown McKinton in front of at least a dozen witnesses. Then the psycho had been astounded when she’d actually been arrested and tried for attempted murder. She and her husband had both been tried actually, and found guilty.

  It didn’t seem wise to comment on the whole matter, though, so Sev merely nodded and snapped on his seatbelt. The ride to Zeke and Brendon’s ranch wasn’t entirely comfortable. It wasn’t that the two men were quiet, or angry. Sev thought it was something else, and his concern that he knew what it was grew with each mile they drove.

  By the time they arrived and Zeke parked the truck, Sev was as tightly wound up as his two friends. “Are y’all going to tell me what’s going on now?” He unbuckled then opened the door, all the while watching the two men.

  Zeke scowled as he shut the truck off. Brendon slumped in his seat. “Can you…can you see if you can feel her?”

  Sev knew immediately who Brendon was talking about. Apparently Conner wasn’t the only spirit who’d gone missing, and the realization settled like ice along Sev’s spine. “How long since y’all have felt her presence?”

  Zeke turned pain-filled eyes toward him. “I—we—haven’t felt Mama or smelled her scent for four days.”

  The confirmation of Sev’s suspicions was like a kick to the balls. He nearly fell out of the truck, his legs felt so weak. Communing with spirits had been a part of his life, a big part of his life, for well over twenty years. He’d first encountered one when he was seven. He couldn’t imagine not being able to do so any more, even if he had spent several years fervently wishing his freakish ability would disappear.

  Except it wasn’t just him, was it? Sev steadied himself on the outside door handle for a moment, waiting until Brendon got out before slamming it shut. Zeke and Brendon couldn’t do what he did, but they did know spirits existed. They’d interacted with Zeke’s mama for years. Now they couldn’t find her, so maybe the problem wasn’t that Sev had lost his psychic skill—maybe something else was going on.

  Like someone’s abducting spirits? It was a ludicrous idea, but the only one Sev could come up with as he followed his friends inside the house. He didn’t imagine there was some big otherworldly convention being held in the great beyond. Or Vegas.

  Sev knew as soon as he stepped in the house that Zeke’s mother wasn’t there. He didn’t have a way of seeking out spirits, usually they came to him. It would start as a low buzzing in his brain, as if a single bee had been caged in his skull. The more intensely a spirit tried to contact him, the louder and stronger the buzz, until sometimes it felt like he had a whole hive in his head.

  There were some exceptions with spirits he was more familiar with, but those he could actually sense, like when you caught a whiff of someone’s cologne or perfume and you knew right away who it was. Not that it was always an olfactory experience—it was more a recognition of a familiar presence.

  He hadn’t felt anything like it in four days. The complete lack of any contact with the dead left him feeling bereft and uncomfortable in his own skin. The ability was now so ingrained in him, Sev didn’t know what he’d do if it ceased to exist.

  Zeke’s and Brendon’s hopeful gazes were like weights on his shoulders. He didn’t want to disappoint these men. “Maybe, if I can walk around the house…”

  Zeke nodded, the hope draining from his green eyes. “Yeah, sure. Wherever you need to go.”

  Sev was relieved his friends didn’t follow him. He walked from room to room, fingers rolling the necklace around his neck as he silently prayed for help—from his grandmother, from God, from whatever deity existed. If any such being did exist, he or she didn’t bother answering him. Or else, this is the answer. The spirits, at least two of them, are gone. Fuck!

  His usual optimism ebbed as he stepped into the living room and looked at Zeke and Brendon sitting on the couch. It didn’t matter how much he didn’t want to, Sev was fixing to hurt them. His throat tightened against admitting he’d found nothing. By the time he’d cleared his throat enough to speak, he knew Zeke and Brendon already figured out the bad news.

  It wouldn’t make them feel any better, but at least they would know they weren’t alone in their loss. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s going on, but Conner’s gone missing, too.”

  “What?” Zeke and Brendon frowned at him, both snapped out the same one-word question.

  Reminding himself these two were some of his closest friends, and that they must be as freaked out as he was, Sev ignored their sharp tones, concentrating instead on the fear creeping into their expressions.

  He walked over and sat on the couch beside Brendon. Turning to put his back against the armrest, Sev then pulled one
leg up and tucked it under his butt, angling himself so he could see both men. “We haven’t seen or felt Conner’s presence in days. Four days, just like y’all with Zeke’s mom. I thought it was maybe just Conner, but I haven’t felt anything. Nothing.” And it scared the shit out of him. Sev glanced down and found a string on the inseam of his jeans to pluck at. Letting his friends know how much this whole thing shook him wouldn’t help Zeke or Brendon at all.

  “So what do we do?”

  Sev looked up at Brendon’s answer, hoping his expression projected a confidence he didn’t feel. “I was wondering if y’all had time to take me to town. I thought maybe I’d stop and see Darren, at the café or at the Hawkins’ place. Or Matt—that might be better, actually.”

  If he had any luck at all, Laine would be in. The man was Sev’s rock, and right now he needed him. Just speaking to Laine, seeing his eyes light up with joy because Sev was there, would go a long way toward calming some of the fear bubbling inside him.

  Half an hour later, Sev was resigned to dealing with it on his own for a while longer. Neither Laine nor Matt were in, and as much as Sev tried, he couldn’t charm their location out of the battleaxe filling in for Doreen.

  “That woman’s just harsh,” Brendon muttered as the loaded back into the truck. “I bet she makes babies cry and kicks every puppy and kitten she sees.”

  Despite the gloom permeating Sev’s mood, he chuckled. “I don’t know about that. Laine said Rich bet him five bucks he’d have Loretta eating out of the palm of his hand by the time Laine went and got coffee. Laine was grumbling about his wallet being five bucks lighter.”

  Brendon snorted as he glared at the building. “Yeah, but that’s Rich. He could charm a habit off a nun.”

  “The hell would he want to do that for?” Zeke asked, but the upward curl of his lips made it clear he was joking. “Wish I had a bit of his charm. I just don’t have the patience for people like that. Spent too many years keeping to myself, I guess.”

  “Yeah, it was ingrained by the time I met you,” Brendon said, “but I think that’s part of your charm.”

  Sev had seen that sappy, lovey-dovey look on Zeke’s face before, but it always made him grin. Zeke reminded him of Laine a lot—both men liked to growl but inside they were just giant, mushy teddy bears.

  Zeke cleared his throat and went back to looking serious. “Do you want to try Darren and Lee?”

  “Sure, but let me call them first.” Sev called and arranged to meet Darren and Lee at their home, which was also the Hawkins’ Senior and Youth Center. Darren had started out as a waiter at Virginia’s Café. Virginia, his boss, and Mrs. Hawkins’ nephew, Carlin, had decided to invest in the place and turn the deceased widow’s home into something the community could benefit from. They’d encouraged Darren to take some classes so he could work in the center.

  Darren’s partner, Lee, worked there as well as head of maintenance. It was Stefan, the spirit of Lee’s younger brother, who Sev wanted to ask about. Sev had a really bad feeling he knew the answer already. Darren had sounded nervous at first then eager to talk to him.

  Sev texted Laine on the drive to the Hawkins’ place. As succinctly as possible, he told him what he’d discovered and where he was going as well as why. Laine hadn’t replied by the time they arrived to talk to Darren and Lee, so Sev tucked his phone in his shirt pocket once he got out of the truck. He called out a greeting to Darren and Lee.

  Both men were sitting on the porch swing, each with their arms slung over the back of it. They made a striking couple, Darren with his lithe, youthful beauty and Lee, brawny and masculine despite the long blond hair flowing over his shoulders.

  Zeke and Brendon trailed behind Sev. Sev avoided the ramp and took the steps instead. Darren and Lee stood and walked over as Sev stepped onto the porch.

  “Severo, Zeke, Brendon.” Lee shook each of their hands. “Would y’all like to come inside for some tea or coffee?”

  The weather had turned warm, or at least warmer than that frigid spell they’d had a few days ago. “Tea would be awesome,” Sev said as he shook Darren’s hand.

  They went inside after Darren finished greeting Zeke and Brendon. Sev was stunned by the transformation to Mrs. Hawkins’ house. It didn’t look like a home anymore, at least not inside. The wooden floors gleamed, the warm honey color lighting up the room. What used to be a living room was now some sort of lobby, Sev guessed, with a dozen or so plush looking chairs covered in a striped pattern.

  The walls were a soothing cream color. Vibrant prints framed in aged wood adorned the walls. Two bookshelves were tastefully stocked with a mixture of books, pamphlets and knick-knacks. A large desk sat close to the back wall, the top immaculate except for the computer monitor and keyboard on the gleaming surface.

  “Y’all have done an amazing job,” Sev said as he took in the room. “This looks professional but not stuffy, you know?”

  “Lee did the carpentry. Virginia let me decorate.”

  The pride in Darren’s voice was impossible to miss. So was the tender look Lee gave his lover. Darren blushed, and Sev was surprised, pleasantly so, that the shy younger man was crawling a little further out of his shell.

  “Anything?”

  Sev bit back a surprised yelp upon hearing Zeke’s deep voice so close to his ear. He hadn’t even known the man was that close. Now he no longer needed a cane, Zeke moved quietly—too quietly, Sev decided, casting his friend a baleful look. He shook his head then faced forward again as he followed Darren and Lee into a hallway. Like the front room, this one was tastefully decorated as well.

  “We figured we’d give y’all a quick tour,” Lee said when they stopped in front of a door. “This is the rec room.” Lee crossed his arms and looked at Sev. “Actually, that’s not the entire story. We were kind of hoping maybe you could find Stefan and Mrs. Hawkins. They’ve been gone for—”

  “Four days,” Zeke muttered before Sev could. “Same with Mama and Conner, according to Sev. Where the fuck did they go?”

  Lee blanched and reached for Darren, as if needing support—or comfort. Probably both. Lee tucked Darren’s head against his shoulder as both of them looked at Sev with fearful expressions. “Is… You don’t know where they are? If they’re okay or if they p-passed on?”

  Sev hadn’t ever heard that nervous stutter from Lee before. It just didn’t seem right, didn’t fit with the image of the big tough former Army Ranger. He wished he could say something to make it all better, but lying would only make everything worse.

  “No. I haven’t felt a single presence for several days.”

  * * * *

  After one more stop—one Sev had dreaded so much he almost didn’t ask Zeke to take him there—Sev’s hopes were all but demolished. Any hospital was hell on him. There were so many spirits in them, and they would swamp Sev, buzzing in his brain until he wanted to scream.

  But he’d rather have felt that than nothing. Abso-frigging-lutely nothing. It had so unsettled him that he’d practically ran down one hall after another, drawing more than one odd look from various members of the hospital staff. He’d been desperate to find just one spirit, just one. Sev didn’t get so much as a quiet hum in his brain, much less the usual cacophony.

  “I don’t understand,” he said over and over, stunned stupid by the experience. “Last time I was here I could hardly stand it. There were spirits everywhere, clamoring for attention. Something bad has happened,” he blurted before he thought better of it. “Conner, Stefan, Mrs. Hawkins, your mama,” Sev said with a tip of his chin toward Zeke. “They wouldn’t just all up and leave, not like this. They wouldn’t abandon us.”

  “No, they sure wouldn’t,” Zeke grumbled as he hooked an arm around Sev’s waist. Brendon was on Sev’s other side, his arm linked with Sev’s.

  Sev hadn’t even realized he’d been stumbling along or that he’d needed assistance. He was so out of sorts, so on the verge of full-scale panic that he could barely concentrate to speak.

&n
bsp; “Come on, get in.” Brendon opened the truck door and gave Sev’s butt a nudge. Sev climbed into the truck. His chest felt tight, his heart beating so fast he was dizzy. Sev reached up and felt for his necklace. The silver chain was warm from his skin, and it immediately started to soothe him as it so often did.

  Rolling the necklace between his fingers, Sev closed his eyes and concentrated on calming down. He was vaguely aware of Brendon’s arm pressing against his chest as his friend grabbed his seatbelt.

  Zeke and Brendon were blessedly quiet on the drive, giving Sev the time he needed to pull himself together. When he finally felt like he wouldn’t lose it, he opened his eyes and discovered they were almost back to his friends’ ranch.

  “Zeke and I didn’t think you should be alone.”

  When Sev glowered at Brendon, the man only arched a sandy brown eyebrow. “You’ve been kind of out of it for a while, and frankly, you scared the hell out of us at the hospital.”

  Sev sighed and gave up on being irritated. “Yeah well, I scared the hell out of myself, too. I don’t…” He looked out of the passenger window, unable to deal with the sympathy in Brendon’s eyes. “I don’t know what to do. This ability to commune with spirits has been with me most of my life. Even if the problem isn’t me, which I don’t think it is since everyone seems to be missing their spirits, regardless, it feels like the biggest part of me is gone.”

  He didn’t know what he’d do if it turned out he was wrong and he really couldn’t interact with the dead like he had all these years. If someone or something had eradicated— Sev’s mind skittered away from that train of thought. No matter how downtrodden he might feel right now, he wouldn’t give up hope that Conner and the other spirits would return. He couldn’t.