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Oh. Uh, didn’t know that was on the table.

Well, fuck, now I was worried too.

4

I rode in the backseat of the Humvee, Jon driving. This was apparently normal, but also made sense to me, as he knew the roads of Nashville very well, having grown up here. It also left Donovan free to handle phone calls and such while Jon drove. A smart system for them.

I wasn’t surprised at how well they worked together, how naturally balanced their partnership was. I couldn’t see auras of people the way Jon could, I wasn’t a Reader. But any Energy Reader could pick up if someone was a fundamentally good person or not, and Donovan Havili was one of the best men I’d met. He rivalled Lachlan, which said something. Mack had told me the entire Havili family was similar and I was starting to see what he’d meant.

While we rode along, Donovan half twisted in the seat so he could speak with me and Lachlan, catching us up.

“A neighbor called the case in, and it was because of the smell. They thought it was a sewage problem backing up, but because it’s a vacation house, no one was home to realize the problem, so they called it in. When the HOA president arrived to verify if it really was that, they instead found stacks of bones on the pack patio and blood everywhere. They immediately called the police. When the police went through the house, they found more blood, and half eaten human remains in the fridge.”

I wish I could be surprised at the depths humanity could plummet but unfortunately, I’d seen a few cases like this. “Cannibalism? Really?”

“I wish that was all it was, as horrible as that sounds.” Jon’s tone was one of grim necessity. He really did not like returning to the scene, but he was willing to do it, which tells me a lot. About him and about how bad this looked to him. “I was partially there to clear the owners, since it’s their property, and the wife was clueless but the husband was complicit.”

“Ah,” Lachlan sighed, shaking his head. “Makes sense one of them was.”

“Right, someone had given access to the house, after all. It’s why Borrowman had me check first thing. The husband’s kept his mouth shut, refuses to speak without a lawyer. Refuses to speak even with a lawyer. After I show you this nonsense, I get to go pry his mouth open. I get a feeling he’s going away for a very long time.” Jon blew out a stressed breath. “But Borrowman also had me look at the basement, as he had no idea what that bowl of blood could even be, and was hoping I’d be able to tell him enough to guide him on what expert to call.”

Donovan snorted with morbid humor. “He took one look and demanded that I call you, ASAP.”

I’d be flattered by that if it wasn’t always some insane emergency making people call me.

My fiancé twisted in his seat to glance back at the suitcases in the trunk. “What all did you bring?”

“A little bit of everything,” I admitted. “Mostly anything that can reverse, shut down, and trace portal energy.”

“Ah, smart, yeah.” His eyes met mine and he could tell, I think, how much I didn’t like the sound of this case. His eyes softened as he slid a hand into mine.

I held onto it, taking comfort in his warm grip. Energy manipulated by evil means, created and formed by human sacrifice, was horrible to handle. Sticky, like black swamp mud, and so disgusting I didn’t even want to look at it. The idea of an entire basement being saturated with this crap, a place I’d likely be spending days clearing, did not appeal whatsoever. I’d find a natural hot spring after this case and soak in water for two days. Just to clear my own aura. I’d be unbearable to live with otherwise. I’d make sure Lachlan came with me, for that matter, he was sensitive enough to energy to suffer as well.

“Treat me like a mule,” Donovan offered. “I’m happy to help whatever way I can.”

Truly, I could see why Jon took one look and then just latched onto this man. In his shoes, I’d likely have done the same. “Thank you in advance. There is something you can do, actually, the second we arrive. I’m sure you noticed the bag of salt I brought with me?”

“Blind man couldn’t miss that.”

“We’re going to make up multiple big spray bottles of salt and water, and the entire property needs to be cleansed. Just spray everything down.” I pinched bridge of my nose with two fingers, trying to think. “This will help all of us, anyone working the scene. Is there any evidence left?”

“It’s all been collected, I think, at least in the house has been. Except for that blood bowl and the body next to it, obviously. They’re still double checking the yard, to make sure they didn’t miss any shallow graves.”

Jon corrected, “No, Mom found them all. They are still tagging and processing the graves, though.”

“Ah, good. Borrowman wasn’t sure on that part. He did clear us to do whatever we needed to in that basement.”

Good, as I had a gut feeling this wasn’t a case where I could be hampered.

Jon turned into a neighborhood that had wealth written all over it. One of those million dollar house subdivisions with large lots, three story houses, and decorative gates. Nice looking, rather upper crust in feel, and the last place you’d ever suspect to find such inherent evil. It also made sense why the smell was reported, though. This neighborhood wouldn’t tolerate anything unpleasant.

Good thing, too.

Jon made another turn, deeper into the subdivision, and then pulled up to a house with crime tape all over it. In fact, he’d barely gotten into the driveway when he had to park or risk running over crime tape. A policewoman was on duty, and she approached the car quickly, her expression one of relief and recognition.

“Jon, Donovan, been expecting you,” she greeted with a smooth alto as soon as we’d gotten out of the car. “Borrowman tried, he just can’t make it over here, so I’m here instead. Who’s this, our experts?”

“Indeedy,” Jon replied, tone pleasant and friendly. “Seiji Ito, who’s a chaos magician and in charge of this shitshow. Lachlan McTavish, monster hunter, and awesome friend coming to back us all up. Guys, this is Shelby Gaines, she’s someone we work with a lot. She’s hard to spook so you can pull her in as needed.”