Page 10

“They didn’t have me long, just a few weeks. I killed two innocent men during that time. I look at my hands, Lieu, and see the blood on them. I feel shitty for killing them, but I’m damn grateful to be alive. None of us had a choice; it was kill or be killed.

“But when I saw Chill, I recognised him and resigned myself to death. Even though we weren’t brothers, we were—because I intended to join the club and take up Chap’s legacy.” Asgard fell silent, and I let him have the moment.

“It fucks with someone’s head when you expect to die and it doesn’t happen. I still see their faces, Lieu; they ain’t ever gonna go away.”

“Heard you didn’t want to find out shit about them, and I understood. As far as you’re concerned, you took two lives, and that can’t be changed. But Asgard, the first victim, drove drunk and killed a kid. He walked free because his brother’s a cop who lost evidence. The second scumbag you killed was a child-beating arsehole who is suspected of killing his wife. You rid the world of two scumbags; you didn’t kill an innocent man, brother.”

Asgard’s shoulders slumped as my words landed. “I’ve not wanted to know in case they were family men. Couldn’t have handled that knowledge, brother. Maybe I can sleep at night now.”

I slapped him on his back and hoped he’d get the peace he deserved. None of what happened had been his fault. And he certainly didn’t need punishing for it.

Chapter Three.

Bow

“Ma’am, please calm down and take a deep breath,” I said for the fifth time. The woman I crouched next to looked up, and I braced.

“That was a damn ghost!” she shrieked.

I winced at her volume and glanced over at Law, who was talking with her husband. I didn’t want to question if she was sure because, clearly, she was. However, I wasn’t certain whether to ask for a description.

I bit the bullet and asked, “Can you describe what you saw, please?”

“It was a ghost! And he looked like Errol Flynn, or that Zorro character,” she declared loudly and folded her arms across her ample bosom.

“Yeah. What my wife said. He resembled that dude from Gone with the Wind, only his outfit was all black, and he had a beard,” her husband agreed.

“Clark Gable,” Law muttered.

Feeling really stupid, I continued questioning her. “What did he do?”

“He tipped his hat to me and winked.”

Okay, that was new. I exchanged a glance with Law and quickly looked away as I realised Law was trying not to laugh.

“Did he say anything?” My voice remained steady, which made me very proud.

“No.” The woman scanned the area and then leaned in toward me. “Between you and me,” she whispered, “he was a very sexy ghost. He wore a belt with a gun on each hip. In his time”—she nodded, her chin wobbling—“he would have been a ladies’ man.”

Christ, she was perving over a spirit. How the hell did I reply? My training didn’t cover this, not by a long shot. Law walked over after finishing with the husband and tipped his own sheriff’s hat at her. I swear she almost swooned.

“Ma’am, I am very sorry for your experience today. However, I can assure you that you’re perfectly safe in Merritt,” Law replied.

“We are going to the hotel to check for available rooms. This is just so exciting,” she exclaimed.

“Well, good luck with that, Ma’am. We’ll keep an eye out for the ghost,” Law stated with all seriousness.

We watched a couple walk away, and I shook my head in disbelief. “What the hell is going on?” I asked.

“God knows. Damnit, Bow, something is seriously wrong.” Law’s eyes searched the crowded street. Despite being in the middle of October, we were busy. Nanci and the old ladies, along with several employees, had decorated the town this weekend. There were garlands, pumpkins, animatronics, anything needed for Halloween. They’d covered everything. Inglorious had invested heavily in marketing the event, and our hotels and rentals had been fully booked.

While the club owned some of the shops and we employed our own staff, others were rented out to people who ran their own businesses. The feedback had been hugely positive. Seeing the town right now with its heavy crowds, even on a workday for most, this event would probably happen again. Which begged the question: what was behind these ghosts suddenly appearing?

Law and I swapped glances before he slapped me on my shoulder. “Come on, deputy, let’s grab some lunch.”

Razor

I parked my bike in the club’s parking area. No vehicles were allowed down Main Street to protect the historical buildings. Our private space was basically set behind the theatre. A small path led from the parking lot to an alley next to the theatre, which opened onto Main St.