All Hallows Eve: A Krewe of Hunters Novella (1001 Dark Nights) by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page A

most haunted cities in the world. Easy to understand why. There were those who’d been condemned to death, along with those who died imprisoned, or others who went mad from fear or from what was done to them. A rich history permeated, one that needed to be remembered. Fear could cause normally decent people to do terrible things. Or, even worse, to practice the sin of silence, too afraid to speak out against injustice.
    Jenna stopped by the memorial with its stone benches, each dedicated to one of the victims.
    “John Proctor spoke out, and he died for it,” she said. “I always think about that. He threatened Mercy Warren, his servant girl, with a beating if she didn’t stop with the fits, and it worked once.”
    “You believe all of this has something to do with the witchcraft trials and the modern Wiccans?” Sam asked.
    She shrugged. “The case that Devin and Rocky worked up here had to do with someone who’d been murdered before she could be tried. And, according to Elyssa, John Bradbury’s ghost mentioned something about witches.”
    “I actually heard a woman back in the bar mention to her husband that John Bradbury had supported Tandy Whitehall against Gloria Day.”
    “May mean nothing.”
    “But could be everything. Another guy told me about finding chicken heads by his house. His neighbors, the DuPont family, practice Santeria or a religion that considers chickens to make good sacrificial offerings.”
    “Maybe they just like fresh meat at dinner?”
    “At least we’ve got the feel for Halloween in Salem,” he told her, slipping an arm around her shoulders as they continued to walk. “I want in on the autopsy. It’ll take place tomorrow. Adam Harrison is going to work with the governor, who will call the mayor. I also want to get to the Mayberry Mortuary. It was closed once the body was found. The police and forensic people probably haven’t finished with it just yet.”
    “If they suspect just a suicide,” Jenna murmured.
    “I don’t know what they suspect. The lead detective on the case is a guy named Gary Martin. I don’t know the man. I hope it’s someone Devin or Rocky might know.”
    Jenna shook her head. “I don’t know the name either.”
    “I should be able to meet with Martin in the morning and get into the autopsy.”
    “I’ll head to the Mayberry Mortuary,” Jenna said.
    They came to the cemetery and Sam stopped. He could see the old tombstones with their death’s heads, cherubs, angels, and other decorations, opaque and haunting in the moonlight. The main gates were locked at this time of night and it was, of course, illegal for anyone to enter. He thought for a moment he saw movement by one of the gnarled old trees.
    “What is it?” Jenna asked.
    He shook his head. “Nothing. Let’s get back and get some sleep. It’s been a long day.”
    She agreed.
    The crowds had thinned, a few groups here and there, less as they left the cemetery and some of the major attractions behind and headed down the street that led to Uncle Jamie’s house.
    As they turned a corner, Jenna said, “There’s another one, or the same guy on a costume bender. Another boo-hag.”
    She was right. Across the street, a group in costume was walking toward the wharf, heading back to one of the new hotels near the water. And there was someone in the same costume that had jumped onto their car.
    A boo-hag.
    Sam had been born and raised in Salem and he’d never even heard of a boo-hag before. Now he’d seen two in as many days.
    The group was walking with their backs toward Sam and Jenna. Suddenly, the man in the boo-hag costume turned, stared their way for a moment, then headed off.
    “That was eerie,” Jenna said. “Movie monsters and most creatures seem almost ho-hum around here, but that costume gets to you.”
    “A boo-hag,” Sam said. “Definitely creepy.”
    He didn’t mention that there was something more. The way the eyes seemed to focus on them, the way they seemed to burn, even at