“No, they’re not, but if I know exactly how Bash died and can walk the killer through it step by step, they’re more likely to confess to what they think we already know. Ten and I have tried this tactic in the past, and it usually works.”
“Good to know, Detective O’Mara. I feel like I’ll actually be able to sleep tonight. Thank you, and thank your team for me as well.”
“You got it,” Ronan said and hung up the phone. He hoped Ten could provide some measure of comfort to the grieving father. Ronan opened Fitzgibbon’s door and walked back toward the table, where Fitzgibbon sat with a frown on his face as he paged through documents. “We’re all set for tomorrow morning. I also asked Stark for—”
Shouting from West Side Magick downstairs stopped Ronan in his tracks. Fear set his heart pounding. He moved toward the wall safe and pulled out his gun and holster. Fitz and Jude were right behind him. “Stay here,” Ronan ordered Ten, who looked scared.
Easing his way down the stairs, Ronan could hear several raised voices talking at the same time. He couldn’t make out who they belonged to or the words flying back and forth. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Ronan slowly peeked around the corner. He saw Carson and Cole facing two strangers, an older man and a woman, who was probably in her late thirties but dressed like she was a hippy with a flowing dress and a flower in her hair.Ronan didn’t recognize either of them. From what he could see, neither of them had a weapon. “Is everything all right, Carson?” He exited the stairwell and headed for his friends. His gun was still in his hand but was pointing at the floor.
“Yeah, we’re fine,” Carson said, sounding more annoyed than scared. “We’re just taking out the trash.”
“Trash?” Ronan asked, not understanding what was happening.
Carson sighed and ran a hand through his blond hair. “Detective Ronan O’Mara, this is Destiny Beckham and my father, Cornealius Craig.”
“Yourfather?” Ronan asked, his fear turning to shock. He took a closer look at the older man and his lived-in face. His hair was mostly silver, but a few golden strands ran through it. Corny had the same blue eyes as his sons and was an inch or two taller than Carson and Cole.
“You called the cops on me?” Corny shouted. He grabbed Destiny and manhandled her toward the door. “You crusty fucking asshole!”
“Corny, stop!” Carson called back, sounding more annoyed than angry. “Ronan is a member of Salem’s cold case team. He investigates unsolved murders. He isn’t here to arrest you.”
“I absolutely will if you don’t take your hands off your friend.” Ronan slid the gun into the holster. He watched as Corny dropped his hands.
“I’m not his friend. I’m hiswife, you pig!” Destiny spat back. She plumped her hair and continued to look at Ronan as if he were a cockroach.
Several shoppers who were browsing in the store headed for the front door. “Cole, take them to the conference room.” Turningback to the fleeing customers, Carson offered a warm smile. “Family reunions are so much fun. Is there anything I can help you find at a ten percent discount?”
Ronan stood back while Cole ushered Corny and Destiny away as fast as possible.
“What the hell’s going on?” Ten asked from behind Ronan.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Ronan said, “but one thing’s for certain. Carson and Cole’s visions just came true.”
6
Tennyson
After all the shouting settled down, Ten felt like his gift was fried. Information had been flying at him from all directions, and somewhere along the line, he’d crossed into sensory overload. Looking around at Carson and Cole, he could tell they were feeling the same way.
Cole got his father and stepmother settled in the conference room while Carson tried to save the customers who’d been about to walk out of the store. Needing something to do himself, Ten grabbed bottles of water and granola bars from the breakroom, passing them out to Corny and Destiny, who looked less than impressed.
“We come all the way from California to see you, and all you offer us are snacks and the rudest welcome possible?” Destiny looked as if she were about to fly off the handle again.
“You never told me you were coming,” Carson said as he walked into the room with a dark look on his face. He shut the door behind him and seemed leery of taking a seat at the table. “Cole, what about you?”
“Corny hasn’t contacted me since he walked out when I was a toddler.” Cole shot his father a cold look. “I wouldn’t know him from a hole in the wall. How the hell do we even know you are who you say you are?”
Tennyson quickly read each of the people sitting at the table. “They are who they say they are, but Destiny isn’t her real name. It’s Martha.”
Destiny pointed at Ten. “Witch! I decry thee a witch!”
“Jesus Christ,” Cole muttered, rolling his eyes. “Thisisn’tan audition forThe Crucible.”
Carson strode to the table to take the empty seat between Ronan and Fitzgibbon. “Enough bullshit. A leopard doesn’t change his spots, Corny. You’re an infamous grifter and a con man. The last I’d heard, you served time for fraud in Arizona, which is how I’m guessing you ended up in California. You’d worn out your welcome. Again.”
“You’ve been keeping tabs on him?” Cole asked. He sounded hurt.
“Yeah, I run a Google search on him every few months. I also set up alerts from when new information is added.” Carson shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. You and I can talk about this later.” Looking back and forth between Corny and Destiny, Carson sighed. “What are you doing here?”
