The Wakefield Haunting (The Braddock & Gray Case Files Book 12) by H.P. Bayne

Author:H.P. Bayne [Bayne, H.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781989992197
Publisher: Bayne Independent Publishing
Published: 2022-12-21T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Having received a text from Sully to meet him, Dez positioned himself in the hall outside Ian’s hotel room. He stood there a few minutes before the door opened and Sully stepped into the hallway. Dez caught a glimpse of Claudia standing guard inside the room, her face tight with concern.

Sully closed the door behind himself, allowing a private conversation.

“He’s asleep,” Sully said.

“He’s okay though?”

“Define okay.”

Dez leaned against the wall. “Physically, I mean. I know he’s got to be messed up in every other sense.”

Sully stuffed his hands in his pockets and joined Dez against the wall. “He’s exhausted and banged up, but he doesn’t seem to have any serious physical injuries. And his temp is better than it was. He doesn’t have any major symptoms of hypothermia or anything. It’s his mental state I’m worried about. He’s been through a lot. And there’s something else about him.”

Dez grimaced and prepared for the worst. “God, what?”

“You were right about Frank. Ian does see him.”

Dez braced himself as he asked the next question. “What about Willa? Does he see her?”

Sully shook his head. “He said no. But he does believe she’s dead.”

Dez pinched his lips together and nodded. “Figures.” Giving it a bit more thought, he nudged Sully with an elbow. “Hey, but Ian survived, right?”

“He dug himself a quinzhee. Frank taught him how.”

Dez shifted to his other foot and raised his brows. “He knew Frank?”

“Yeah, sorry. Should have said right off the bat.”

“No kidding. How?”

“He dated Ian’s mom.”

“Huh,” Dez said. “No kidding.” He paused a moment, thoughts playing on his face. “Could be good news in that case. Maybe Willa knows how to survive outside too. She could still be alive.”

Sully frowned. “Maybe.”

“You’re not convinced.”

“If Ian thinks she’s dead, I have no reason to doubt him. He says he can feel her around. That means something too.”

Dez dropped his head. “Yeah. I know.” He blew a breath through pursed lips. “What do we do now?”

“I told him we’d keep searching for her. I know it’s not much, but I think it would give him some closure at least.”

“I hear you.” Dez met Sully’s eye again. “Why did they leave the road? Did he tell you?”

While Sully passed along the information he’d received from Ian. Dez’s stomach dropped as he pictured Ian grabbing the wheel to prevent a collision with Frank’s ghost.

“You think Frank ran them off the road intentionally?” Dez asked.

“I don’t know. I can’t imagine why he would. I mean, even if he had issues with Willa, why try to hurt Ian? Best I can tell, Frank and Ian got along well.”

“Doesn’t make sense,” Dez agreed. “You know what else doesn’t make sense? Why Frank wouldn’t be desperate to communicate with you if there’s a way he can help us find Willa. God knows he didn’t do anything for Ian.”

“Or maybe it does make sense. I mean, if Frank acted deliberately—if he meant to run them off the road—why would he do anything to help us find them?”

Dez crossed his arms.

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