What Remains by Bailey Bradford (to read list txt) 📕

because, for whatever reason, what they were saying was actually getting through to him.

This wasn’t the first time someone had told him he wasn’t responsible for Conner’s death or any of the other horrible things that had happened since then. But this was the first time he was actually beginning to believe it. He wished like hell Sev was here, though. Laine could have used those strong lean arms around him.

It might have been better that Sev wasn’t there. Laine was afraid he’d have completely broken down in the man’s arms. Sev seeing him so vulnerable was one thing—Laine didn’t want there to be anyone other than his partner around to witness it if it did happen. He concentrated on calming his breathing, which had become shaky and harsh. His shoulders relaxed under Chris’ arms, and as Laine exhaled slowly, he realized he felt less burdened than he could remember feeling in years.

Sure, he was still worried about Conner as well as the other spirits—that concern hadn’t lessened. But the sometimes almost overwhelming feelings of guilt and failure, those weren’t nearly as strong as they had been. They weren’t gone entirely, but Laine thought they might just be easier to bear now. And maybe, eventually, he could learn to let the rest of it go. He was almost feeling like he had himself pulled together when Miriam spoke.

“I’m going to make you some more tea, and this time I want you to drink it.”

Laine couldn’t help but wrinkle his nose at her. “Do I have to?”

Miriam nodded. “Yup, you sure do, but I’ll be nice and add some sugar and milk, will that make it more palatable?”

“I have no idea.” Laine always avoided hot teas except when not drinking it would hurt someone’s feelings. “Guess I’ll try it and find out.”

“Good.” Miriam patted his hand. “I’ll fix your tea then we’ll figure out a plan for finding out what’s happened to the spirits of McKinton.”

* * * *

The plan, as it turned out, wasn’t all that complicated—not the first part, anyway. Miriam called her coven together then told them what had been done to the spirits. From their higher positions on the porch, they had a good view of the coven.

As Miriam talked, Chris studied auras and Laine studied faces. When he looked at the High Priest, he didn’t need Chris’ ability. He could easily see the desire in the man’s expression as he watched Miriam. Wonder what Miriam thinks about it? As sharp as the woman is, she has to be aware of it.

Laine muttered to Chris, “You know, I never thought about using you as a human lie detector before.”

“It doesn’t exactly work that way,” Chris murmured back, “not everyone feels like they’re lying when they are. It’s all in how they perceive themselves and their truths—”

“Guys, I’m talking here,” Miriam scolded.

Laine and Chris obediently shut up. By the time Miriam finished, Laine had studied each of the twenty-two people gathered in front of them. He hadn’t seen anyone wearing a sign that said ‘I did it’, not that he’d expected to, but he also hadn’t seen anyone who looked nervous or guilty.

“Anything?” he asked Chris, who was still studying the crowd.

“No, but like I said, that doesn’t mean anything. Someone could have done something and really not think there was anything wrong with it.” He shrugged. “I wish I could have been more helpful.”

Vincent, the High Priest, came up onto the porch and offered Laine his hand. “Sheriff, we’ll do what we can to fix this. I have no doubt we can make it right, we just need a little time. We’ll have to make sure, of course, that it was a spell that banished the spirits and it wasn’t simply their time to pass on.”

“It wasn’t,” Laine bit out. He refused to believe otherwise. “Surely you see how suspicious it is that every single spirit in this town is gone, not just the ones people are familiar with, but all of them. Sev even went to the hospital, a place he usually can’t stand for long because of all the spirit activity, and he didn’t find a single presence there. Are you really going to tell me that’s a natural occurrence?”

“N-no,” Vincent sputtered, backing away from a finger Laine hadn’t even known he was jabbing at the man. It was like his body had a mind of its own. “No, of course not. I just mean we have to make sure it was an act of magic, n-not some…something else.”

“What else would it be?” Laine snapped. “You think they all went to the Bahamas together?”

“I’m sure that’s not what Vincent thinks,” Miriam said from behind Laine. “Quit scaring the poor man, would you, before he falls off the porch.”

Laine glared at Vincent but stepped back. Then he glared at Chris since the man was snickering. “I fail to see anything amusing about any of this.” Laine winced at sounding like an uptight prick, but damn it, he wanted all of the spirits back where they belonged.

Chris quit snickering. “The only thing amusing was watching Vincent here try not to piss his pants. Sorry.”

Vincent sputtered for a few seconds until Miriam sent him inside. She turned to Laine and pointed one red-tipped finger at him even though her lips were twitching against a smile. “It’s not going to help at all if you scare off my High Priest. We need him to help us, not pack up and head for the hill ’cause he’s scared you’re going to bite his head off, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Laine knew better than to let his temper get the best of him, yet twice in as many hours he’d lost it. He’d better get his shit together before he did anything else stupid. “I’ll apologize—”

Miriam waved off the offer. “Nah, just let him be. He was kind of a twit about it. Of course it’s magic, we just need to find out what kind, and whether it was someone