A Deep and Dark December by Beth Yarnall Read Free Book Online

whispers of her being a witch. “Is there something I can help you with?”
    “Actually there is. Something’s happened.”
    He made a motion for her to continue. He couldn’t wait to see what she’d come up with. Ghosts maybe, or ghouls.
    “Besides the murder/suicide. The poor dears.” She closed her eyes as though she were praying.
    “Cerie? Your point?”
    She opened her eyes and sat up straighter. “I think it’s the storm. It seems to be affecting our abilities.”
    “ Our abilities?”
    “I suspect it might have something to do with the storm on top of the full moon and mercury being in retrograde.”
    “You don’t seem to be having any…issues.”
    “Not at the moment, no. But earlier I was doing a reading for Bessie Farnsworth’s daughter Beatrice. You’d remember her. She’s about your age. Blond. She’s expecting… Beatrice, not Bessie you understand—”
    “Of course.”
    “Anywho, there I was, the Tarot deck all laid out, then… blink!”
    “Blink.”
    “Blink! Nothin’. Nada. Zilch. My mind went as blank as Bessie’s head.”
    “Is this leading somewhere because I have a lot of work to do here, Cerie?”
    “I’ll let you get back to your X-rated imaginings of my niece in a moment.”
    He let the grin go, liking how it stretched little-used muscles. “That would be nice.”
    “At the first clap of thunder… blink, blank, bloop.” She passed a dramatic hand across her face. “Nothing.” She lowered her hand and leaned forward. “Reading Bessie’s always been like reading a news flicker, which is why she’s one of my best customers, you understand. So you can imagine my concern when she went blank as the side of a barn.”
    “I’m still not seeing as how this is police business.”
    “It’s not. It’s Erin business. And if you’re meaning to make Erin your business you better work on that properly or stop putting her in the starring role of your own private porno. Got me?”
    He had no business making Erin his business. Fantasizing about her was one thing, acting on it was another. “Get around to it or get out of my office so I can do my work.”
    “Donald said the same thing’s been happening to him off and on all day.”
    “Donald.”
    “You remember, Erin’s father. Boy, it’s a good thing I’m the only mind reader in the family or you’d be staring down the double barrel of Grandpa December’s shotgun. I’m telling you. That shotgun’s not the only thing Donald inherited from Grandpa D.” She put her hand to the side of her mouth. “Both he and Erin got Grandpa’s terrible temper.”
    “How does this relate to Erin?”
    “If my ability went on the fritz and Donald’s too, then Erin’s must have as well.”
    He jerked upright. “Erin has an ability?” Why didn’t he know this about her?
    “She doesn’t like anyone to know so this will have to fall under client confidentiality.”
    “I’m a cop, not a lawyer.”
    She waved that away. “Whatever. The point is, I’m worried for Erin and I need you to help me keep an eye on her. Since you seem to like eyeing her, I figured you’re the perfect one for the job. Plus, I trust you.”
    “Thank you. I think. Just what kind of secret ability does Erin have?”
    A commotion out in the front office caught their attention.
    “White bread and fruit punch,” Cerie mumbled.
    “What?”
    “Here he comes. The most staid man in the county, maybe the state. He won’t be much competition for you.” She winked. “But Donald likes him so that could be a potential problem.”
    “I would ask what you’re talking about, but I have a feeling I’m better off not knowing.”
    “Erin has visions,” Cerie hurriedly whispered. “Of the past and future.” She pressed a finger to her lips. “Remember. Mum’s the word.”
    He opened his mouth to ask her more, but Keith Collins appeared in the doorway.
    “Oh. Hello. I didn’t know you’d be here,” he said to Graham.
    “It’s my office.”
    “I’m