Mystic Hearts by Cait Jarrod

Jake asked. “We’d need a team of a
hundred to cover it.”
    Jake
was right. Over six hundred acres embodied the manor, which required more man
power than they had for a case that was supposed to stay low-key. “I’ll fill
the Director in that we’re looking into it,” Larry said.
    “He
already knows I’d drag you and Steve into it if I needed extra eyes and hands,”
Jake said, petting Willis.
    “I’m
heading to the house to see Pamela.” Steve tossed the empty cans in the cooler.
“She’d kick my ass if I don’t. Larry, can you give me a lift? My wheels are at
the office.”
    “Will
do.” Larry stared out at the water, the sick feeling that things were about to
get worse crept down his spine. “Damn, I hope this case doesn’t escalate into
something more than the obvious.”

 
    Chapter Six
     
    The
schoolhouse haunted Charlene––everything that happened last night did. With
Larry’s help, she’d muddled through some of it. Still, she needed to put eyes
on the land to determine what was real or fake.
    After
careful consideration, she changed her mind about taking her son to Greenwood
Manor with her. He’d enjoy running around the open land and seeing the animals.
Not that any livestock inhabited the land that she was aware of, but a cat or
two roamed the area, maybe even kittens.
    An
image of a witch flying on a broomstick visualized in her mind. She squeezed
her eyes, warding off the apparition. If going to the manor to rid the oddities
didn’t work, she didn’t know what she’d do.
    Charlene
dressed in a cotton shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes, and headed downstairs.
“Mom! Henry!” She set her purse on the hallway table and froze.
    The
normally active house lay quiet. Her mother had said she’d fix something to
eat. Where are they? An odd thought ricocheted
across her mind: Andrew’s back .
    Adrenaline
spiked, raising her senses to high alert. She scanned the area: umbrella stand—without
a habitant—a pair of flip-flops, nothing to use as a weapon.
    “Charlene,
dear.” Her mother’s voice sang with the clicking of the back door.
    Tension
whooshed out of Charlene on a puff of air. “I’m here.” She headed toward the
kitchen as Henry barged through the back door. “Mommy, can I go? Can I? Huh?
Huh?”
    Charlene
took in her mother’s casual dress and Henry’s shirt and slacks. She knelt in
front of him, slid the tendril of sandy-colored hair off his forehead, and took
in his excited face. “Where do you want to go, sweetie?”
    “To
the movies with Grandma’s friend. Her grandson will be there.” Henry’s eyebrows
lifted. “He’s ten, Mommy!”
    Charlene
smiled, wishing she could bottle up at least some of his energy, and glanced to
her mother.
    “We’ll
go to an early movie and be back before dinner.” Doris moved closer and placed
her hands on either side of Charlene’s face. “You look like you’ve seen a
ghost. Are you okay?”
    Henry
blinked and tilted his head.
    A
feeling of failure purged her veins from the ‘kick ass’ adrenaline that pumped
in her blood moments ago. She couldn’t let her son see her cowering. “Nope. I
haven’t seen a ghost. I wanted to ask Henry if he wanted to go to Greenwood
Manor today.” She focused on him. “You’re such a lucky boy. You get to pick
what you want to do. Whichever you choose is fine with me.”
    His
nose and mouth twisted as he gave the choices due consideration, but she had a
good idea he already had his mind set on going to the movies with a bigger kid.
    When
he took too long in responding, she answered for him. “You want to go to the
movies, don’t you?”
    He
nodded.
    “I
think that’s a wonderful idea. You’ll have so much fun.” She leaned in close to
him, in a conspirator way. “You can make sure your grandma behaves, too. You
know how she gets when she’s with her friends.”
    Henry
grinned and looked up at Doris. “I do. She giggles a lot,” he whispered and
directed his attention back to