The Cursed

“Obviously?” Logan asked.

 

Liam nodded. “The night Jose Rodriguez was killed, he was with a group, and at least some of them were Los Lobos.”

 

“And they’d been at the bar,” Katie put in.

 

“You’re sure?” Logan asked.

 

“Jose told us,” Hannah said.

 

“You did sketches, right?” Dallas asked.

 

Katie smiled. “I didn’t—the sketch artist did. I can’t draw a stick figure. But yes, the police artist did a great job.” She paused, frowning. “You know...”

 

“What?” Hannah asked her.

 

Katie shook her head. “No, no, he had short hair.”

 

“Who had short hair?” David asked.

 

“One of the kids on the tour tonight,” Katie said. “He was very clean-cut, but I remember when I was looking right at him, he reminded me of someone.”

 

Hannah tensed. “And you think you remember him because he was at O’Hara’s the night Jose was killed?”

 

“It never occurred to me until this minute,” Katie said. “He looked like a guy who had dark curly hair, a band T-shirt and dingy jeans. The kid on the tour tonight had a short-sleeved tailored shirt. And a buzz cut. I didn’t think of it until Dallas mentioned the sketches. You know how you feel like you’ve seen someone before, and then you figure they just look like someone else you know? I thought it was that, but it could have been the same guy.”

 

Hannah saw Dallas and Liam exchange a meaningful glance.

 

“Hair can be cut. Katie, we’ll need a new sketch in the morning,” Liam told her.

 

Hannah shivered. “I’m starting to be really afraid—and not just for myself anymore. One of my guests is dead, and she hadn’t seen anything but the group walking with Jose. We were nearly killed today. And this isn’t the kind of case where you catch the killer and then you’re safe. Katie can’t be involved in this anymore.”

 

“I’m not alone,” Katie reminded her. “I have David.”

 

“And we have an alarm system,” David said.

 

“There you go. We’re all in good shape,” Logan told them. “No one goes anywhere alone. Agreed?” He fixed Hannah with a firm stare as he spoke.

 

“Hey,” she said. “I’m all for living.”

 

“You do have an early warning system,” Hagen reminded her as Melody materialized at his side. “Us.”

 

Hannah looked at the intangible spirits of the couple she knew watched over her very well. “And I’m very lucky in that, I know.”

 

Hagen lowered his head in acknowledgment, pleased.

 

“There’s something else we need to get going on,” Dallas said.

 

“What’s that?” Katie asked.

 

“Jose’s sister. She disappeared before he went undercover, and Los Lobos are involved, but whether she’s a victim or a member we don’t know.”

 

Logan looked at him. “And we know this because...?”

 

“Because Jose told us,” Hannah said.

 

“So she was here, in Key West?” Logan asked.

 

“Up in Miami,” Dallas said.

 

“It would be nice if Jose would cruise on back here and fill us in,” Kelsey said.

 

“I’m sure he will when he’s ready.” Hannah looked from Hagen to Melody. “You haven’t seen him?”

 

Both shook their heads solemnly.

 

“I’ll get on that right away—finding out about Jose’s sister,” Logan said. He looked at Dallas. “This is your call, since we’re in your territory, but I’d suggest that, if Liam is willing, we get a police task force—local and state—going tomorrow.”

 

“Agreed,” Dallas said.

 

“I’ll set it up,” Liam said. “And now, if you all don’t mind, I’m going to go home and see my wife. She needs to know what’s going on.” He met Hannah’s eyes. “We’re all going to be fine.”

 

“If we can find the Wolf,” Hannah murmured.

 

“We will,” Dallas said. She was a little surprised by the passion in his voice. He sounded like a man who was becoming emotionally involved in his case, she thought.

 

“Liam, have you found out anything at all on Yerby Catalano’s killer?” Dallas asked.

 

“We’re sifting through, but none of the charter boat captains were in the area with anyone unaccounted for at the time of death. The killer or killers must have had a private boat, and that’s going to be hard to find,” Liam said.

 

“It doesn’t really matter,” Hannah said, and realized that she sounded defeated. “I’m sorry. Of course it matters. Yerby deserves justice, and I’m sure you’ll catch whoever killed her. And the man who attacked us today is dead. But there will be another and another and another.”

 

“Until we catch the Wolf. And we will catch the Wolf,” Dallas promised. There was a core of steel in his voice.

 

She was surprised to find herself feeling encouraged. He didn’t say so, but she knew that Dallas would find the man—or die trying.

 

“On that cheery note,” Liam said, “I’m going to go and get my wife.”

 

“We’re out of here,” David said, reaching for Katie’s hand.

 

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