Only a Mother Could Love (Afterlife Book 3) Read online

  "Okay, so our demon doesn't travel far from home," Conner said. He glanced at Alec again, but Alec was staring moodily at the window. He sighed, and pulled out his own pen, which was blue instead of black. He began circling other roads near the ones that Brittney had marked.

  "These are the roads she hasn't hit," Conner said. "There are three of them within the vicinity that fit her MO, and we obviously want to count Sunburst, since she's hit there twice... what I'm thinking is that we stake these places out tonight. Alec and I can handle one on our own each, and then the rest of you can partner up."

  "I'll go with Brittney," Chloe said immediately.

  "Actually, I will," Harper said. "We can head there after family dinner."

  Chloe glanced over at Brittney, who shrugged.

  "Alright," Chloe said. "Looks like we're together, Sarah."

  "Fun," Sarah said.

  "This isn't supposed to be fun," Alec cut in. "This is life and death, and we shouldn't be so flippant about it."

  "Oh hush," Chloe said. "Don't be such a buzzkill."

  "And you're really going to dinner still? Knowing that somebody is going to die tonight?" Alec shot at Brittney and Harper.

  Harper felt her face flush but Brittney fired up at once, flicking her red hair over a shoulder. "Just so you know, the murders happen in the middle of the night, Alec. At three in the morning. If you'd been paying attention, you'd know that. Do you really think we're going to be eating dinner at three in the morning?"

  "How would I know?" Alec said.

  "Enough," Sarah said. "Maybe Alec should sit this one out. Chloe and I can handle ourselves."

  "No," Alec said, "I'm not sitting it out."

  "Then control yourself," she said. "Because we didn't make you drink that blood, and we didn't make you into a vampire, and you're taking it out on us, and we're all getting a little fed up by your snarky comments."

  A dull pink color appeared on Alec's otherwise pale face. He looked between the hostile faces and then gave a curt nod. "Sorry."

  "That's quite alright," Sarah said. "Just remember to take out your anger on the people who deserve it. We're your friends."

  He nodded again. "Conner's plan is a good one," he said. "I'll take the furthest road on the left, Conner you take the one next to it. If she's going to hit one, I'd guess it'd be once of those two. Brittney and Harper, you two take Beesley. I doubt she's going to hit it again so soon, if it all."

  Everyone nodded.

  "The usual," Alec said. "Crucifixes on, stakes, holy water, guns, flashlights, and mirrors."

  "Mirrors?" Harper asked.

  "Some demons are afraid of their reflections," Alec said.

  "Are you?" Harper asked curiously.

  "No," Alec said, a little amused sounding. "I actually have a regular reflection just like anyone else here."

  "Oh..."

  "I'm not afraid of my reflection," Conner said. "In fact, I'd like to think I'm a pretty handsome man."

  Chloe snorted.

  "What? You disagree?"

  "I didn't say that."

  "You're not not saying it," Conner said. "You're hurting my feelings here, Chloe. Do you want me to start crying? Have you ever seen an incubus cry?"

  Everyone groaned.

  "Well!" Brittney said, hopping to her feet. "It's going to be a long night. Come on, Harper. We're going to go stock up on energy drinks to keep us up. We can play music from the nineties and get fat on candy. I haven't done a stakeout since..."

  Harper closed her eyes briefly, praying she wouldn't say it.

  "Dickey Haynes," Brittney said. "Oh, you loved him."

  "We were kids," Harper said.

  "You stalked someone named Dickey?" Chloe said.

  "I wouldn't call it stalking," Harper mumbled.

  "Sure it was. We wore all black. Remember, we even painted our fingernails? And we sat across from his house in that little park all night, just to see if Rebecca was there?"

  Harper shook her head. "How do you even remember this stuff?"

  "Oh come on," Brittney said. "You remember, you're just embarrassed that you used to be a creepy little stalker freshman obsessing over the star football player who just so happened to be a senior and rumored to be dating the head cheerleader."

  Everyone laughed, including Alec. Harper just sighed.

  "Okay, fine," she said. "But you know she was cheating on him!"

  "Maybe," Brittney allowed. "She was always kind of a--"

  "--So we'll all have our phones on," Alec interrupted. "We need to be able to text during the evening."

  He shot a look at Harper specifically, and the dozen missed messages she'd seen popped into her head and she resisted the urge to grin at him. "Yes," she said, "We'll have our phones on."

  "Let's get going," Brittney said. She and Harper both stood up. "Thanks again for the presents and the cake," she said to Sarah and Chloe. "You really made this a special day for me."

  Chloe smiled warmly at her. "I'm glad."

  "Next year, though," Brittney said, "we're ditching the FBI gear and wearing short skirts and fishnets."

  Conner let out a low whistle. "You don't have to wait a year to do that."

  "One more thing," Alec said. "There's going to be an increased police presence coming through, specifically one car. They're friends of mine, so if you run into them, just say you're with me."

  Everyone nodded.

  Harper gathered up the supplies they'd need and then took Brittney by the arm and led her out of the club. It was beginning to gain patrons who wanted to be there earlier than the rest. Brittney veered off towards the bathroom, and Harper followed her, waiting outside.

  She glanced around while she waited, tapping her foot absentmindedly. Her eyes fell on a couple not far from her. The woman was obviously older than the man, but she was still dressed like a teenager. She wore a short red skirt, a black corset, long boots, and had curled her hair. She didn't look bad, but Harper couldn't help but feel that she looked a little garish in the outfit.

  The man was probably in his early twenties, and looked absolutely captivated by the woman. For a moment, Harper thought she must be a succubus; that's the only way he'd go out with her, surely. But she stared at the woman, and didn't get any demonic vibes from her.

  Then she realized what she was doing. She was associating everything with the underworld these days. The man could simply like women with more experience, and it wasn't fair to assume that just because she was dressed like a teenager that she must have some sort of demonic power.

  Before she could follow her line of thought any further, Brittney came out of the bathroom. "What are you staring at them for?"

  Harper shook her head and they began walking outside. "The thing is, I don't know if I like this anymore."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Fighting demons, saving Las Vegas. It's starting to take over my mind," Harper said. "To the point that it's all I think about sometimes. I saw a couple in there, and I thought for sure the woman must be a demon, just because she wasn't young and pretty."

  "Well, to be fair," Brittney said, "if it was the woman in the red skirt, she was definitely not rocking that."

  "Yeah, but that's not the point," Harper said, as they climbed into her car. "The point is, I'm getting cynical. I don't want to be cynical so young."

  Brittney laughed. "You worry too much sometimes," she said. "Look, do you like them? Alec, Conner, Chloe, and Sarah?"

  "Yeah, of course I do."

  "And do you feel good about the work that you do with them?"

  "Yes."

  "Then don't worry about the rest," Brittney said. "Of course we're going to be jumping at shadows; we know what can be hiding in them."

  Harper smiled. "You always know the right thing to say."

  "Of course I know what to say. Just like you know what to say when I get my heart broken," Brittney said.

  "Speaking of heartbreak," Harper said. "You haven't told me about any new men in
your life for awhile. Don't tell me you're taking a break from the dating scene?"

  Brittney shook her head. "I'm not really taking a break," she said. "It's just that nobody has interested me lately. Everyone is so shallow."

  "And you're not?"

  "Not anymore," Brittney said. "I want someone who's going to be able to handle my life, and that's asking a lot. Someone who can stimulate me intellectually, and keep me amused."

  Harper smirked at her while she drove. "Should we make you an Find A Date profile with those traits highlighted? Must be smart, funny, and perfectly alright with me skipping dinner dates to go fight demonic evil in the secret underbelly of Las Vegas?"

  Brittney and Harper both laughed. They pulled into Brittney's parents' driveway and parked.

  "Ready for this?" Brittney asked.

  "Yep," Harper said. "Come on, it won't be so bad. I love your parents."

  "You haven't had to listen to them lecture you for twenty-five years," Brittney said.

  "No, I haven't," Harper agreed. "I also haven't had my bills paid, and I haven't gotten two-thousand dollars for my birthday every year."

  Brittney considered this for a moment, then shrugged. "Fair enough."

  They headed inside, where the rest of the family was waiting.

  "Hi guys," Alice Conley said. "I'm so glad you could make it for dinner. Especially you, Harper. I feel like we've hardly seen you lately."

  "I wouldn't miss dinner with you guys," Harper said. "How are you, Alice?"

  "I've been great, thank you for asking," Alice said.

  Craig Conley came into the front room and pulled Harper into a giant bear hug. "I keep forgetting how old you guys are," he said. "It seems like yesterday that the two of you were covered in mud, running amok in the house while Alice prepared the dinner table."

  "We still play in the mud," Harper said. Craig laughed. "Peter's setting the table if you want to go say hello."

  Harper and Brittney exchanged a look. Despite their difference in age, Brittney's parents had always held a firm belief that Harper should get together with Peter and officially become part of the family. She liked Peter well enough, but he wasn't her type, and she wasn't his.

  She went into the dining room anyway, leaving Brittney alone with her parents. The table was clothed, as usual, and set up with candles, with a beautiful new chandelier that hung just above it.

  "Harper!" Peter said. He put down the silverware he was setting beside the fancy china plates and rushed over to hug her.

  "Hey, Peter," she said, returning the hug. "How are you? I've heard you're following your father's footsteps in business?"

  "I am," Peter said. "You know, I never thought I'd like business, not when I was younger anyway, but I do. It's surprisingly inspirational."

  "I'll have to take your word for it," Harper said. "I could never get my head around all the numbers."

  Peter laughed, and pulled out a chair for her. "So what is it you're doing these days? I stopped by Patrick's, but they said you haven't worked there in a while. Did you go and get a new job while I wasn't looking?"

  "I did," Harper said. "I work at a nightclub now."

  "Which one?"

  "Afterlife."

  Peter blinked. He pulled out another chair and sat down. "Harper, I don't want to have to be the one to tell you this, but that place is dangerous. Haven't you been listening to the news? People go missing there. Frequently."

  "I know," Harper said. "But it's really not that bad of a place if you can look past that. Security is a lot better these days. They haven't had a disappearance from there in over a month."

  "A month," Peter repeated. "Listen to you. Are you sure it's safe though? I'd hate if anything were to happen to you. You know I love you like a sister."

  "I appreciate the sentiment," Harper said, "and I love you too, Peter, but you don't have to worry about me. I'm a grown woman and I can take care of myself. Afterlife is surprisingly nice. I know the owners personally, and I believe they're putting forth their best efforts in making sure no more disappearances happen there."

  Peter shrugged and didn't argue the matter. Brittney and her father came into the dining room and took their seats. Alice came in next, carrying food.

  "Do you want some help?" Harper asked her.

  "Oh no, dear, you just sit there and enjoy yourself," Alice said. "I've got this."

  Dinner at Brittney's parents house was always a three course meal minimum. As expected, Alice brought out soup and salad first, setting each one in front of those gathered around the table. Then she took her seat next to her husband.

  They weren't a strictly Christian household and didn't hold hands and say grace. Harper had known families like that, and while she appreciated that they held true to their beliefs, she found them a little tiresome.

  The talk over the soup and salad course was light and fun. They discussed the people that Craig had met at work, and the woman that Alice had run into. They discussed Peter's newest colleague, and how well he was doing with the business. Then Alice cleared the dishes and brought out the main course. She'd made a pot roast for the occasion, with buttered corn, slow cooked potatoes, and homemade soft bread.

  Once everyone had their plates in front of them, Alice turned to Brittney. "Have you given any more thought to what we discussed?"

  Brittney chewed slowly, buying herself some more time. When she could no longer pretend that she was eating, she swallowed and said. "Which part, mom?"

  "Your father and I think that you're getting too old for an allowance," Alice said. "It's not healthy for a twenty-five year old to have no goals in life. Look at your brother; he's only twenty-one, and he's already well on his way to knowing what he wants to do with his life. Isn't that right, Peter?"

  Peter gave a noncommittal shrug.

  "If you don't want to work," Craig said, "why don't you go back to school? You know, your grandmother was a very well-known lawyer. I'm sure she would love to know that you're following in her footsteps."

  "But I'm not," Brittney said. "I don't have any interest in the law."

  "Then what do you have an interest in?" Alice asked, her tone polite, but her eyebrows had shot up into her hairline.

  "Actually," Brittney said, after a quick look at Harper, "I have a job."

  "What?"

  "I'm working as a waitress at a nightclub," Brittney said. "Maybe you've heard of it. Afterlife."

  Peter stared at her, as did both of her parents.

  "Excuse me?" Craig said, "I must have misheard you."

  "No," Brittney said, "You didn't. I'm working as a waitress. Actually, Harper and I are doing it together. She's a bartender."

  Harper shot her a look. She didn't want to get dragged into this discussion. It was too late, though. Craig and Alice were looking between the two of them as if they were playing some sort of practical joke.

  "Harper, is this true?" Craig asked.

  Harper took a sip of her mineral water and then gave a faint nod. "Yes, we're working together."

  Alice shook her head. "I don't know what's gotten into the two of you. You're such pretty, intelligent women. You could do anything you want, and yet you choose a career where you'll have no future?"

  Craig added. "You can't work in those jobs forever. It's a young woman's job, and you're both nearing thirty."

  "We're not that close," Brittney said. "I've got five years before I'm thirty, and besides, by that time, I'm sure we'll be doing something else, right Harper?"

  Harper nodded. "It's not a long-term plan," she said. "Just something to do while we decide what we really want to do."

  Alice shook her head. "You know that if you need time, your father and I are happy to support you, Brittney. And that goes for you too, Harper. You're like a daughter to us. If you two need money, we are more than happy to provide it. You don't have to demean yourselves."

  "It's not like we're working as prostitutes," Brittney said.

  "Brittney!" her mother said, her
eyebrows furrowing.

  "Sorry, mom, but it's true," Brittney said. "Besides, I like my job. I get to hang out with interesting people."

  "Well, you're an adult," Craig said. "We certainly can't stop you -- either of you -- from doing what you want, but I want to make it clear what my position on this is: you are wasting your time working at a dead-end job, and you're going to find yourselves in a lot of trouble when you realize that."

  Nobody said anything for a moment.

  "So!" Peter said. "Enough about that. You're right, dad, Brittney and Harper are adults. They can make their own decisions. If they want to work at a club, I think you should be supportive. Not many people get to see what it's like to actually work a blue collar job. It will give them some perspective for when they decide what they really want to do."

  "Thank you, Peter," Brittney said, flashing her younger brother a large, sunny smile. "I appreciate your support."

  Alice shook her head again, and got up, clearing their plates. She returned several minutes later with small dessert plates, which she placed in front of each of them. "I hope you don't mind, Brittney, but we decided to forgo the cake this year. I'm watching my caloric intake, and you and Harper should do the same. When you get older, your metabolism won't be like it is now."

  Neither Brittney nor Harper commented on this, or told her about the birthday cake they'd eaten earlier that day.

  Instead of a cake, she came out with a small bowl of chocolates that looked like balls of butter. She put two in front of each person, and then sat back in her chair. "White chocolate from Belgium. I remember how much you enjoyed it when you were younger... I do hope your tastes haven't changed."

  "No," Brittney said. "Of course not. This is perfect, mom."

  Harper started to pick up her chocolate and then looked at the others. They had all selected their dessert fork and were cutting slices off their chocolate. Feeling her face flood with color, she put down the ball, and picked up her fork as well.

  "So," Craig said, "are there men in your lives that we should know about? Brittney? Harper?"

  Brittney gagged on her chocolate, swallowed, and said, "No, dad. None have stuck around so far."

  "Same here," Harper quickly added.

  "You know," Alice said, looking at Harper, "I have two front-row tickets to the a ballet... I told Peter he could have them, but perhaps you'd like to go with him. What do you think, Peter?"