Page 26 of Ghostmaker

“Guys, if the mayor and his flunkies don’t approve the cold case budget, we go to the media and ask the governor to step in. We’ll get people to protest city hall, carrying signs and shouting clever slogans. The media will eat this shit up, especially when they start interviewing the families of murder victims whose cases you solved.” Cisco eyed his detectives as he spoke. “Trust me, you’re not going anywhere. Don’t let that Poindexter and his calculator scare you. We’ve got bigger fish to fry including a demented psychic who might be killing people. Call me if you need anything.” Cisco left the room.

“We will,” Jude muttered.

“Let me know when you two want to leave for that interview.” Cope was exhausted already.

“We’ll grab lunch and head out to Lexington to speak with this woman. We’ll fill you in on the road.” Jude headed for the door. Ronan was right behind him.

“Thanks.” Cope watched the detectives leave the room. “I have a very bad feeling about Crawford and his history. I’m guessing there are a lot of bodies in his wake.”

Ten nodded. “Which is why he tried so hard to block us when we met him.”

“It’s also why he wants the death spell.”

“What do you mean?” Ten asked, looking scared.

“You said it earlier that Crawford’s in his sixties. He’s getting older and isn’t as strong physically as he once was. Killing people is hard work, but if he had the death spell, he could wield it from his living room or his car or shop. No one would ever be the wiser.”

“We’ve got to stop this guy before he strikes again.”

“Time is of the essence.” Cope planned to spend the rest of the morning working with Jude and Ronan on Crawford. This man was a menace to their community and was most likely a serial killer. Cope couldn’t allow his reign of terror to continue.

Jonas Crawford wanted to get his hands on the Deveraux death spell, but that would happen over Cope’s dead body, even if that meant wielding the spell himself.

13

Jude

After grabbing fast food burgers from the drive thru, Jude got on Interstate 95 South to Lexington, Massachusetts. Lexington, along with Concord, were where the first battles of the American Revolution took place. He’d never been there before and unfortunately, this wasn’t going to be a sightseeing trip.

“What did you guys learn about Crawford?” Cope asked, looking anxious.

“You and Ten were right that he’s been at this for a long time. Jonas Crawford is one of a dozen aliases he’s used over the last twenty years alone,” Jude said. “None of the identities have criminal records and there are no warrants sworn out against him, which makes me wonder why he’s changing his name every two years or so.”

“My guess is that he changes his name when he wears out his welcome in a certain place. With the internet and social media, it would be hard for him to screw over Salem and then set up his circus tent in another state using the same alias.”

“Good point,” Ronan said.

“He was a complete and total horse’s ass when I met him a few days ago. Madam Aurora texted me that she got the same cold greeting and warning when she went to introduce herself. He plans to steal our clients. Obviously he hates other psychics and is difficult to get along with.”

“It stands to reason that he’s an asshole with other people as well. Business owners, wait staff, the girl working the drive thru window at McDonalds.” Jude sighed. “Makes sense he’d get out of town when he’d alienated or angered all his clients or when they realized he was trouble.”

Jude watched Cope in the rearview mirror. He looked exhausted. Neither of them had gotten a good night’s sleep. “You okay?”

Cope shrugged. “Yeah, I’ll make it. All I want to do is get home to the kids. It’s pizza night. I want to eat in front of the television and watch episodes of Bluey with Lizzie.”

“But you’re worried that this Crawford thing is going to rear its ugly head again tonight?”

“I am,” Cope agreed. “I’m also worried about West Strickland. If we could get that man some answers about his mother’s murder, that might go a long way with him recommending funding for the cold case team. Solving her murder would also make me feel like I’ve accomplished something good.”

“You do a lot of good, Cope,” Ronan said. “You and Ten both. The cold case team wouldn’t be half as successful as it is without the two of you.”

“Thanks, Ronan. I appreciate you saying that.”

Jude kept his thoughts to himself as he followed the navigation prompts. He’d never worked a case before with so much personally at stake. He believed Cisco wholeheartedly when he said there would be a battle to keep cold case funded, but there was a part of Jude who believed getting West Strickland on their side was key.

Half an hour later, Jude pulled up in front of a cute little house in the middle of a cul-de-sac. It was painted white with grey shutters. The yard looked like it hadn’t been mowed in weeks and there were abandoned toys all over the front yard and in the driveway. “This is it.”

“Who is this woman and what was she to Alice Strickland?” Cope asked.