nancy werlock's diary s01 - episodes 8 by julie ann dawson Read Free Book Online Page B

besides being a stubborn man?”
    “Didn’t you say she was a psychologist or something?” asks Stewart to Steve.
    “Nancy has traditionally used the blunt-force method of counseling,” says Steve.
    “And you gentlemen are?”
    “Want me to take this, Steve?” asks Stewart.
    “Yeah, would ya? I need to check the body.”
    “Sir, I need you to—”
    “Everything is fine, officer,” says Stewart as he steps in front of me and makes eye contact. “Steve knows the deceased.”
    “Well if he knows the deceased then that’s fine,” says the officer.
    “So Houston found the body and called 911, huh?” says Stewart.
    “Houston found the body and called 911.”
    “Kid never saw a dead body before and must have passed out and hit his head.”
    “Kid never saw a dead body before. He must have passed out and hit his head.”
    “It’s a good thing he was here, otherwise that body might have been found by some kids heading to school.”
    “It’s a good thing he was here. Otherwise the body might have been found by some kids heading to school.”
    “Nancy should probably check on Houston.”
    “Ma’am you should probably check on Houston.”
    “Who’s the other guy?” asks Houston as he looks up at me.
    “Friend of Steve’s. What happened to your head?”
    “I got another one of those headaches.”
    “He’s refusing to go to the hospital,” says the EMT.
    “There’s a surprise,” I say.
    “I’ll make an appointment with Doctor Creepy-Guy.”
    “You mean Dr. Parker? He’s not creepy.”
    “Make sure he gets some x-rays done,” says the EMT. “He really should go to the hospital now. But we can’t force him.”
    “I’ll take care of him.”
    The EMT walks off to gather his equipment. I look over at Stewart, who is now talking to the second police officer on the scene.
    “Justicars are recruiting Mesmers now it looks like,” I say.
    “All things considered, not a bad idea,” says Houston.
    “Now what happened? You cut me off.”
    “I was trying to concentrate and you were distracting me!” He shakes his head and takes a couple of deep breaths.
    “I’m going to call Dr. Parker now and take you right over there.”
    “Fine.”
    “Ye gods, you must be hurt. You aren’t arguing.”
    “He gonna be OK?” asks Steve as he walks over to us.
    “He’s alive. More than can be said for the other fellow. Anyone we know?”
    “No college affiliation. Looked to be an adept. I’ve already made some phone calls to get a proper autopsy once the mundanes are done. Might be problematic, though. A lot of these adepts the families don’t even know. They may not cooperate.”
    “What happened?” I ask Houston again.
    “I was following the wisp. I hid behind the dumpster and watched the guy cut across the parking lot. He stopped and was looking off toward that telephone pole. I saw someone. Something . I think it was female from the shape, but I’m not sure. It…it wasn’t solid.”
    “Free-roaming Ghost?” asks Steve. “Wraith maybe?”
    “It pointed at him. He just stopped moving. Like he was terrified. Frozen in fear. Then he clutched his chest. That’s when I came out from behind the dumpster.”
    “Why did you do that?” asks Steve.
    “What, I was supposed to just stand there and watch that thing kill him?”
    “What did you think you were gonna do as a Rank Five Demonologist? Do you even know any binding rituals yet?”
    “No, but I figured maybe I could tag it and you could bind it.”
    “Then what happened?” I ask.
    “I didn’t get too close. It realized I was there and it…I think it looked at me. I couldn’t see its face or even if it had one. It wore a cowl. It paused and looked at me, and then waved a hand at me and my head started pounding and I collapsed. When I came out of it, he was dead.”
    “You are damn lucky it didn’t kill you!”
    “ Why didn’t it kill you?” says Steve.
    “Don’t sound so disappointed,” says Houston.
    “No, that’s not what