Demon Street Blues Read Online Free PDF Page B

the door behind them. “I asked my deputy to leave. Told him I needed time to do my own investigatin’. Better to keep’em in the dark about this whole crazy supernatural thing as long as possible I figure. New guy’s gonna work out great though. ‘Course, I said that about the last guy…”
    Melinda chuckled.
    Michael stared at the examination table, which Mack stepped over to, gently lifting a sheet, exposing an intact skeleton.
    “Drybones is right.” Michael let out with a whistle.
    Melinda would have, but she had never really been able to whistle, so she just replied with a wide-eyed, astonished nod.
    The skeleton was lying flat on its back, except for the skull, which was turned as if staring at the siblings. Even skinless, its mouth stuck open in a horrified silent scream, its final terrified moments permanently etched into the bones.
    “Sure is something ain’t it?” said Mack. “Called you guys ‘cause I’ve never seen bones come in as clean as these. At first, we weren’t even sure they were real. Sure enough they are. Looks like something came across the body and just plain sucked everything right off ‘em!”
    Michael stepped closer. He’d never seen anything like it. Whenever Mack called on his services, it was usually someone recently deceased, that still had muscle and skin attached to the bones.
    “Diver found these bones in an underwater cave in Bloodsucker Bay,” Mack explained further. “After initial examination we confirmed it’s a male, and found damage that seems to indicate some kind of trauma.” She pointed out the spot, just to the side of where the heart should have been.
    “Considering where they were found, and the condition of the bones,” aimed Michael to the sheriff, “my guess would be a Sea Hag. I’ve never seen their handy work personally, but William’s told me about them. Our parents killed one when I was about two if I remember right. Sea Hag does not explain the trauma to the chest though. Hag’s attack their victims using a poison that releases from tentacles they call hair.”
    “Icky,” shuddered Melinda.
    “I’m with her,” agreed Mack. “Nice to see you out and about, by the way,” she added bluntly. 
    Melinda just nodded thanks in reply, preferring to ignore the topic.
    Michael stepped toward the skeleton. He took a concentrated breath and extended his arm out to touch the bones. “Why don’t we find out what really happened,” he said, laying his hand on the skeleton. Michael’s eyes closed and began to flutter back and forth under closed eyelids.
    A long minute later, he gasped and let go, taking a few unsteady steps backwards.
    “You okay?” his sister inquired, concerned. 
    “Ju-Just a little more violent than I expected,” he stuttered, catching his breath. Something in his eye told Melinda he wanted to say more, but held his tongue. After a moment, he turned to Mack. She always waited patiently after Michael’s assistance, realizing how equally helpful and disturbing his ability as a death reader could be. 
    “This man was definitely murdered,” he informed her.
    “I was afraid you were gonna say that.”
    “Right before his death he was in some kind of rage… shouting like a mad man, but nothing comprehendible. It looked like he was trying to attack someone and that someone shot him, which explains the chest trauma. They left him to die at the hands of a Sea Hag, as I expected, which explains the stripping of the bones.”
    “Don’t suppose you could help a sheriff out and just tell me who shot this man?”
    “Sorry. No face. Only a gun.” Michael stepped toward the door, appearing eager to leave.
    “It gives me a place to start at least. Appreciate it, Michael. I always hate draggin’ you into these things… but at least you’re nice to look at.” Mack raised her eyebrow in sarcastic seduction, her tone laden with flippant innuendo.
    “Glad to help,” insisted Michael, this time avoiding her attempt to