In the Dead of Night by Aiden James Read Free Book Online

Freddie told me. “That had to be tough, babe.”
    “It was,” she agreed. She took a deep breath and shuddered, motioning for me to walk her to our car. “Whoever did this is carrying so much rage and anger inside them. They’ve got a mean streak I only caught a glimpse of last night.”
    Her voice was so soft, hovering barely above a whisper.
    “Hmmm,” I replied, thoughtfully. It didn’t seem like a good idea to prod her for more information, especially with so many open ears surrounding us. “What do you say we get the hell out of here? Are you hungry?”
    “Yeah, a little,” she said, a wan smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
    I wanted to ravish those lips, but not here. Rocker yes, exhibitionist no. Freddie reached us after wading through the media mosh pit.
    “Hey, Fi,” he said, giving her a light peck on her cheek. “Sorry for the loss of a good friend. Dickey was always one of my favorites for getting the juiciest inside scoop around here.”
    “Thanks,” she replied, and I could tell she felt touched by his comment.
    His sincerity made me feel a tad guilty for not taking the same approach earlier when she called me at work with the news. It’s always been kind of hard to be there in the moment while dealing with the routine call center B.S. It takes me about an hour to become fully human again each night
    “Not to be rude, bro, but I think we’re ready to shed this place, man,” I told him. I looked over at her…well at least I was ready to get the hell out of here. Fiona kept glancing back toward the office. Maybe she sensed something, some forlorn energy, perhaps?
    “Yeah, I’m ready to blow this place, too,” Freddie agreed, snickering while he watched Ed Silver’s cruiser head down the least congested side of Division Street. “There goes your buddy.”
    “I heard he’d rather suck you off,” I retorted.
    A mirthful moment followed, though quickly tempered by Fiona’s pained expression. Ed’s advances might irritate her almost as much as me, but he’s her best friend on the Metro police force.
    “I’ll give you a call once this calms down some,” I told Freddie, moving to guide Fiona over to the Camaro. “Maybe next weekend?”
    “Sounds good, bro!” he called back to me, and then disappeared into the sea of onlookers pushing ever closer to the entrance of Dickey’s office.
    I pulled Fiona close once we reached the driver’s side door, holding her tight before letting her climb inside. Satisfied she’d be all right—at least stable enough to keep it together until she reached the Elliston Place Soda Shop—I jumped on my bike and followed her out of there. Claustrophobic from all of the media vehicles and additional police cruisers, I felt grateful when I could finally accelerate my Harley back up to the city speed limit.
    A slight chill coursed along my spine as wind seeped through the back of my leather jacket, embracing the light sweat on my skin from a moment ago under July’s merciless heat. Or, maybe it had more to do with my anticipation of what Fiona would soon tell me—what she gathered from her visit to Dickey’s office, both visual and from beyond the average person’s sensory perception.
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    Ever since Tom Gaither moved to Nashville from Paducah, Kentucky two years ago, after Fiona successfully recruited him to join our paranormal investigative group, he wanted to find a small Craftsman to live in. Not an easy task, since unlike Paducah, finding such a place in middle Tennessee turned into an arduous adventure. Finally, last month he found what he was looking for in South Nashville, near the Grassmere Zoo and not far from where I work.
    This brings us to a balmy Thursday evening.
    Fiona and I drove out to see him along with the rest of the gang, just before dark around eight o’clock. It’s the first time we’d been in Tom’s new home since the house warming party Jackie and Fiona put together for him a few