The Marshall Drummond Case Files: Cabinet 2 by Stuart Jaffe

Author:Stuart Jaffe [Jaffe, Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: noir, mystery, magic, witches, private detectives
Publisher: Stuart Jaffe
Published: 2019-11-19T00:00:00+00:00

Case 08 - The Haunting

MARSHALL DRUMMOND WATCHED A SPIDER CRAWL across the uneven ceiling in his office, and for a few seconds, he considered that the spider had it made. No knowledge of the stranger world surrounding it, the creature simply went about its day looking for food, a good place to rest, and a good mate. Drummond worked on getting those things, too, but he could not ignore the stranger world around him — not for long, anyway.

Catalina, the woman in his life, rested her head on his bare chest. The two pillows and the rough blanket did little to cushion the hardwood floor, but neither minded. Both breathed soft and strong after an enthusiastic afternoon. He knew she listened to his heartbeat — she had once commented on how peaceful it made her feel to hear his calm pulse after such vigorous pleasures — and that gave him a sense of peace, too. After all they had been through in the last handful of months, he welcomed any peace he could snatch.

Dealing with the economic depression after the Crash of ‘29 caused enough stress in the lives of everyone, but Drummond had the added benefit of being the sole investigator of the bizarre for Winston-Salem. Possibly for all of North Carolina. He had seen so many terrifying things, had escaped the clutches of Death so many times, that he wondered how much longer he might last. All the more reason to focus on the pleasures life had to offer.

He kissed the top of Catalina’s head as the sounds of the city rumbled below.

“I wish I didn’t have to go to work,” she said, playing her fingers across his chest.

“I don’t think I’ve got energy for another round. Not yet, anyway.”

Her naked body pressed warm against his side. “I’d be happy to just lay here.”

“Me, too.”

“I don’t want to go outside and see the world.” She raised up to look him in the eye. “How much longer do you think we can keep this up?”

He knew exactly what she referred to, but he didn’t want to think about it. Just another source of tension in his world. Unfortunately, he knew her well enough now — if she wanted to discuss a topic, there would be no evading it. Sitting up, he rested his back against his beaten, office couch.

“Nobody’s bothered us yet,” he said.

“Nobody’s bothered you. That’s because you’re the white man in this relationship. But a brown woman like me — I notice the way people look when you visit the diner during my shift. Mrs. Carlisle and Mr. Cook, in particular — they don’t approve. Heck, the entire country doesn’t approve.”

“I don’t recall asking anybody for permission.”

She smacked his chest. “This is serious. At some point, people will decide that what we have is more than a friendship. They suspect now, but they either can’t tell for sure or are content lying to themselves. But I know how this story goes. Somewhere along the line, one of

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