Page 34 of Hextreme Measures

She was trying to herd him out of the room, for at least a few minutes, and he recognized her efforts for what they were. He was unsure if he should say something about it, but ultimately nodded. “Sure.”

Ofelia waited for him to go, then fixed her full attention on Cathy. “I’m going to be quick. The consulting I do for the police department is more of a … supernatural … thing.” Was that the right word? Ofelia wasn’t certain.

“Meaning that you believe there are more than just humans in this city.” Cathy almost looked relieved.

“Oh, I know there are more than just humans,” Ofelia assured her. “You do, too. I can tell by the way you decorate. I can also tell by the way you were when you greeted us.”

“That was rude.”

“It’s fine.” Ofelia shook her head. “I don’t blame you for that. Just know that we’re here to ask our questions in a different way.”

Cathy blinked. Then she blinked again. Ofelia recognized the exact moment realization dawned on the woman. “Oh,” she said finally.

Ofelia nodded and gave Cathy time to absorb that news as she started throwing in the silverware to soak.

When Sully returned, the women were still being quiet. “What did I miss?”

“Nothing,” Cathy replied, making up her mind. “I think I better understand what you’re doing here.” She swallowed hard. “You think a paranormal killed Roger.” She didn’t phrase it as a question.

Sully sent a sharp look toward Ofelia, but she steadfastly avoided his gaze.

“It’s fine,” Cathy told him. “I was already a believer. I might have been holding back because I didn’t consider that anybody in the police department could be a believer.” She was sheepish as her shoulders hopped. “I figured you guys are all too rigid.”

Sully managed a tight smile. “Not all of us are rigid,” he confirmed. “You did the right thing when you held back initially, however. I can’t say for certain that the detectives you spoke with aren’t believers — I work separately from them — but odds are they might have tried to get you into a hospital.”

Cathy took that in. “Basically, you’re saying the police department has two sets of detectives, believers and non-believers.”

“That is what I’m saying,” Sully confirmed.

“Huh.” Cathy absently rubbed her cheek. “I would be fascinated if I didn’t have so much else going on.”

“It’s okay,” Ofelia assured her as she started scrubbing at the plates. The food had dried to them so they were going to be difficult. “We need to know what you saw in the weeks before Roger’s death to start. Did anything out of the ordinary happen?”

“Like what?”

Ofelia shrugged. “Like … did you hear anybody screaming outside of your house?”

The look Cathy cut to Ofelia was so sharp it almost jolted the witch into dropping her plate. “How did you know that?” Cathy asked, her voice full of wonder.

“It has a little something to do with what we’re researching,” Ofelia replied.

“Okay.” Cathy was clearly readjusting on the fly because she was suddenly more animated and full of life. “Then, yes, we started hearing screams two nights before he died.” She hesitated, then continued. “I didn’t like the noises. They made me uncomfortable. It clearly wasn’t someone needing help.”

“What did your husband say?” Sully asked. “Did he go outside to investigate?”

“Roger? No.” A small puff of air escaped as Cathy shook her head. “I loved him, more than anything, but he wasn’t a brave soul. He just did his job, and we had date night once a week. He played video games with his friends and went to bed at 10 o’clock every night. He lived his life according to a schedule.”

That sounded horrible to Ofelia, and yet part of her understood the appeal. Oscar lived his life on a schedule, and he thrived under those conditions.

“I have to ask you something that is going to anger you, but it’s important,” Ofelia said, turning so she could stare directly into Cathy’s eyes. Her hands were soapy, but she didn’t care. “Do you understand?”

Cathy nodded and swallowed hard.

“Was Roger having an affair?”

Cathy didn’t fly off the handle and scream “how dare you” at the witch. She didn’t burst into tears and claim it couldn’t be true. She simply sat there for a long time, so long she started to remind Ofelia of a statue. When she spoke again, it was in a soft voice.

“He wouldn’t admit it,” she said. “I knew, though.”