All Hallows Eve: A Krewe of Hunters Novella (1001 Dark Nights) Read Online Free Page A

this.
    But this time her family was involved.
    “I’m here,” he said. “Jamie is here. And you’re the best damned agent I know. Things will work out fine.”
    “Thanks,” she said.
    He drove to Jamie O’Neill’s eighteenth century house, not much different from his parents’. Jamie kept the place in excellent shape. He was an exceptionally good man who’d almost gone into the priesthood. Instead, he’d studied psychiatry and donated an awful lot of pro bono work, always helping the underdog. Sam had known Jamie before he’d returned on the day of the Lexington House murders. He’d even met Jenna, though all he remembered of that day was being called upon by his parents to supervise a group of rowdy teenage girls.
    Today, Jamie’s house seemed strange as he eased onto the old stone drive in front. Like a dark cloud had settled over it. But the afternoon was waning. Massachusetts’s autumns brought night quickly. Still, it seemed to Sam that clouds sat over the house and nowhere else. Jenna’s family was certain that the property was haunted, but by nice ghosts they claimed. Ghosts that went about their business and left the living to their own. He was curious about Elyssa Adair and her family. Apparently, they didn’t possess Jenna’s mom’s and dad’s ability to shrug off anything that might be paranormal.
    The door opened and he saw Jamie O’Neill step out on the porch. He wore a sweater and jeans, but cast a grave look about him that Sam could not remember seeing often. He lifted a hand in greeting, as Jenna ran up the walk to hug him. Sam opened the trunk of the rental car and grabbed their bags.
    A young woman burst from the house behind Jamie. She had red hair, similar to Jenna’s. Tall, lean, pretty, upset, yet relieved.
    “Jenna. Thank you for coming.”
    Sam knew that the young lady had to be Elyssa Adair.
    “That was never in doubt,” Jenna said, engulfed in a tight and enthusiastic hug.
    Sam moved forward, setting the bags down as Jenna disentangled herself and turned to make the introductions. “Elyssa, this is Special Agent Sam Hall. We work together and we’re together, too.”
    “Uncle Jamie told me all about that,” Elyssa said.
    The younger woman stared at him with beautiful eyes that weren’t quite as rich a green as Jenna’s. Then she threw her arms around him and hugged him.
    Withdrawing at last, she said, “I knew you would come, too.”
    He was puzzled. “Can I ask how?”
    “The ghost told me. John Bradbury specifically said you were coming, and that was before Uncle Jamie ever mentioned you. He said he knew you when he was alive.”
     

Chapter 2
    “Come in,” Uncle Jamie said after greeting Jenna and Sam.
    Jenna looked at her uncle anxiously, wondering why she had such a bad feeling about what was going on. Elyssa had calmed and smiled at Jenna.
    “Are you all right?” Jenna asked, hands on her young cousin’s shoulders. She hadn’t seen Elyssa for years, although they kept up on Facebook. Their lack of a visit hadn’t been on purpose, just the way life had fallen into place.
    “I’m fine,” Elyssa said. “Now that you’re here.”
    There was that unshakeable faith Elyssa seemed to have in her. Which was a lot to live up to.
    “Let’s talk,” she said to both Elyssa and her uncle.
    For a man who accepted just about anything on earth and maintained his faith with the loyalty of an angel, Uncle Jamie could be very matter-of-fact. “We need to, before Susan gets back.”
    “Susan?” Sam asked, following Jenna across the porch to the front door.
    “Elyssa’s mother,” Jamie said.
    A minute later Uncle Jamie had served them all coffee and they sat around the dining room table. Jenna felt Sam’s hand on hers and met the strong gravity in his eyes.
    “I’m here,” he said softly.
    She nodded, a thank you in the squeeze she returned on his hand.
    “From the beginning,” she told Elyssa. “Tell me everything.”
    Elyssa glanced nervously at Uncle