The Vampire and the Case of the Hellacious Hag: An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Portlock Paranormal Detective Series Book 6) by Heather G. Harris & Jilleen Dolbeare

Author:Heather G. Harris & Jilleen Dolbeare [Harris, Heather G. & Dolbeare, Jilleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hellhound Press Limited
Published: 2025-03-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

I had fallen asleep on the sofa cuddled up with Fluffy when the blare of my phone jolted me awake. For a moment, I was utterly disorientated. Even with the shutters down, it was clearly daylight outside. I reached blearily for the phone and checked the time. I’d had four hours of sleep. Ugh.

It was the office. ‘Sorry to wake you,’ Sidnee said apologetically. ‘But I could do with Fluffy’s nose. There’s been another murder.’

The last vestiges of sleep were wiped from me in an instant. ‘Another murder? At the mine?’ I asked.

‘Where else?’ She sighed. ‘I’ll pick you and Fluffy up in ten. We can let Gunnar sleep a little longer while we deal with it.’

‘All right. See you soon.’

I fed the animals and ran around like a mad woman chucking on clothes. I brushed my hair and teeth and we were just about ready when Sidnee motored up in the Nomo SUV. ‘You’ll have to stay here,’ I said to Shadow. He hissed at me. I ignored him and put Fluffy’s Nomo vest on him.

I opened the front door and Shadow pelted out. He stood by the Nomo car and yowled loudly and pointedly until Sidnee opened the door. I felt better about that: at least the half-grown lynx kitten was bossing me and Sidnee around.

Shadow had his own plastic crate, so when I put Fluffy in the car I pointedly opened its door. Evidently Shadow was just happy for a road trip because he climbed in. I closed the metal mesh door and he settled down like he was fully trained and not a cheeky little beast with a mind of his own.

‘Thomas will meet us there,’ Sidnee said as I buckled up. I was grateful for that because he had a better relationship with the dwarves than I did.

Finally ready, we headed to the Chrome Mine. It had warmed up and was raining lightly so the snow was turning to slush and ice in places. It was a mess, but luckily the roads had been cleared after the last snowfall.

Sidnee pulled into the mine and we went up to the office. Thomas and Leif were there, both stern-faced and serious as they should have been with a dead dwarf on their hands. Thomas pulled us aside. ‘Look ladies, things are tense and they don’t want you here.’

‘We’re the law Thomas, we have to investigate,’ I insisted.

‘I know, but stay on your toes. The dwarves are sure the hag is behind this and they aren’t going to listen to anything else. Just … tread carefully.’ He looked at Sidnee. ‘Both of you.’

He looked worried, and since Thomas generally appeared unperturbed I felt nervous. Maybe we should have called Gunnar. ‘Should I call backup?’ I asked.

Thomas shook his head. ‘At this point I think more outsiders will make it worse.’

‘I need to speak to Matilda again.’

‘I figured. Let me find a location outside the mine. She won’t be welcome inside it.’

‘Yeah, sure. Thanks.’

Thomas signalled that we were ready and Leif led us to the locker room.

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