Watching Shadows: Book 1: Paranormal Shadow

By Madalain Ackley

Even in the Shadows, there is Justice.

A bizarre series of deaths in the City of Oakview leads Detective Alonsa Matthews on a hunt for a killer. But first she must overcome her disbelief in magic and its existence in the world and within herself.

Tyler Buchanan is a special field agent for the FBI's mysterious Section Seven Division. He has the answers to the questions Alonsa doesn't know how to ask.

Together, using the magical elements of Air and Fire, they must track down and confront the dangerous assassin who is using magic to kill. If they don't, the power that lies beneath Oakview will fall under the control of a secret society determined to change the alignment of the Nexus – the magical heart of the world – from good to evil, changing their city and their lives forever.

Book 1 of the Paranormal Shadow Series

• Language: English
• Publisher: Madalain Ackley
• Release date: May 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9780692630983

Madalain Ackley

My interest in the paranormal and supernatural was born in the days of Nightstalker and the X-Files. Other shows included CSI, Criminal Minds and Charmed. Mash those together and I had plenty of ‘What if’ to get me to try my hand at it. Along with authors such as Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan and Gena Showalter I fell in love with the idea of magic in the modern world. I have been writing my own stories since I was a teenager, but never quite reaching the end. I credit NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) for giving me that final push to complete a novel and take it to the next step. I currently live in Virginia with my husband and our Diva cat, Bastet.

Book preview

Watching

Shadows

Paranormal Shadow: Book One

Madalain Ackley

Ebonmoon Publishing

Richmond, Virginia

Copyright © 2016 by Madalain Ackley.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Madalain Ackley/Ebonmoon Publishing

3087 Decatur Street

Richmond, Virginia 23224

www.ebonmoonpub.com

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

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Ordering Information:

Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the Special Sales Department at the address above.

Watching Shadows/Madalain Ackley. -- 1st ed.

ISBN 978-0-692-63098-3

To my husband, Richard, who over the years has supported and encouraged me to keep writing. To Michael, the best kind of brother, who has always believed in me. And to Jason, Lisa, Claire, Amanda, Kat, and Leo who have constantly pushed me to take the last big, scary steps. And of course, Jim who patiently dealt with my comma blind spot.

1 Earth

Detective Alonsa Matthews arrived in front of a small one and a half story house on the south side of the city of Oakview, Virginia. She parked her old white Honda as close as she could to the house. Her dark blue eyes took everything in as she shut off the engine. Her first impression was this was a quiet community. The initial appearance of the home gave her a sense of the person who lived there. White siding and a dark Gray roof. The front lawn was well maintained. A striped green and white awning protected the small stoop that led to the front door. She also saw three police cars at the scene, yellow crime-scene tape strung up by the officers to block off the area from the curious, and the coroner’s van parked behind the crime scene van in the driveway.

She stepped out of the car and then slid her leather jacket on. Although it was late September, this early in the morning the temperatures tended to be cool in this part of the state. As she closed the driver's side door with one hand, with the other she checked her pockets to make sure she had everything she would need.

She glanced down at herself for another quick check. Her white t-shirt was tucked into a pair of black jeans and her low-heeled boots didn't look too scuffed. Alonsa was just glad her shirt lacked coffee stains. As she stepped away from the vehicle, a dark-haired man wearing a sport coat with a police badge dangling from the pocket walked toward her. She smiled in recognition. Her smile widened as he held out a large travel cup of black coffee to her.

Thanks, Evan, she said gratefully as she accepted the cup.

Detective Evan Richardson grinned at her with amused brown eyes. I need you at the top of your game for this one, he said.

She raised an eyebrow at his words and started walking toward the house. What have we got? Alonsa asked. And why did they call both of us in for it? Usually, we go solo in these cases. We're not that big of a department. Even then, we have to beg, borrow and steal for support.

Evan lifted a section of the yellow tape so she could slip under it. The, uh, victim's name was Thomas Van Hought, he said.

Alonsa stretched the length of her stride in an attempt to keep up with Evan. She was nearly a foot shorter than his six foot two height. A moment later he slowed down so that she didn't feel like she was jogging to keep up.

Building inspector for the city, Evan continued speaking as they walked across the front lawn. Lived alone. Didn't report to work yesterday. A co-worker came to check on him when he didn't answer the phone.

She paused at the bottom of the front stoop to look up at him. That tells me who, but not why both of us, she said. Wait, Van Hought... Don't we have a city councilor by that name?

Evan nodded. Jessica Van Hought, he replied. This is... was, her nephew.

Alonsa nodded. That explains it then, she said. A touch of political bureaucracy was the reason two homicide detectives were called in on the case.

Evan smiled down at her. At least you got me and not someone else, he said. He reached out and tugged on the long dark braid that hung over her shoulder and nearly down to her waist.

Alonsa swatted his hand, then turned to step through the open front door. She found herself immediately hit by the distinctive smell of a decomposing body. Whoa. She had once been told that breathing through her mouth would make the smell easier to take. It never seemed to work for her, so she just tried to ignore it. How long has he been dead? she wondered.

The interior of the house was neat and comfortable looking, with the color scheme focused on earth tones. Alonsa paused a moment, feeling oddly uncomfortable in the house. But she could not figure out why. Evan's touch on her shoulder shook her out of the moment, and she stepped further into the living room.

The body of Mr. Van Hought was in the middle of the room. He was lying on his back, his eyes closed. There was something odd about the way he was positioned. The medical examiner, a slender dark-skinned woman, was kneeling beside him.

What do you know, Jackie? Alonsa asked as she moved to stand across from the other woman.

The woman looked up from the examination of the body. Jacqueline Wagoner had a puzzled expression on her face. You mean other than a dead man? she asked. She shook her head and turned back to the body. Honestly, I'm not sure what we have here.

What do you mean? Alonsa asked squatting down on the other side of the body.

Jacqueline slowly lifted the man's right arm. No rigor and every bone in his body have been crushed.

Alonsa frowned as she looked at the body. She had seen enough dead bodies to understand the process of death. The lack of rigor meant that Van Hought had been dead for more than a day. The bloating and discoloration along, with the putrid smell, meant that he had been dead longer than that. The bones in the human body still tended to give it some form, even in death. In this case, Van Hought's looked like an oddly shaped balloon.

She looked at Jackie with a frown. Ever see anything like this before? she asked.

Jackie nodded. Yes, in jumpers, the medical examiner replied. Usually from very tall buildings.

So, he jumped and somebody brought him home? Alonsa asked, though she already knew how ridiculous that sounded.

Jackie shook her head. The body hasn't been moved Alonsa, she replied, quite serious.

The house was locked from the inside with no sign of forced entry, Evan said from behind her. No sign of a fight of any kind.

No defensive wounds either, Jackie said.

Okay, this is strange, Alonsa said. She looked up, her eyes going from Jackie to Evan Any other way this could have happened?

I've also seen things like this in bodies that have been dug out of collapsed buildings, Jackie volunteered. But there is no unusual bruising anywhere on the body. I should have a more solid answer for you after the autopsy.

Alonsa nodded and got to her feet, and then turned to Evan as she stepped away from the body. Well while we wait for Jackie's results, it's time to interview friends, family, co-workers, a faint smile touched her mouth. You know... the usual, she said.

Evan snorted quietly. Riiiight... he said. Maybe they can tell us how this happened.

If you find out, let me know, Jackie said. I could write a medical paper on this.

Alonsa smirked as she headed toward the front door. A quick glance told her that Forensics was going over the house with their usual thoroughness. She hoped that they would find have some answers, or at least some clues, to this.

As she stepped through the door with Evan, again she had the sensation of discomfort. She paused outside, her hand on the railing as Evan continued down the steps.

You okay? he asked looking up at her.

She nodded and walked down the step. Yeah, she replied.

You sure?

Alonsa nodded again. Yeah, she said. I have a feeling this case is going to suck.

2 Air

I hate mysteries, Alonsa grumbled. She sat be-hind her desk at the police station, Evan at his own desk, facing her.

And that's why you became a cop, right? he asked with a teasing smile.

I prefer things straight forward, Alonsa said.

Dream on, Evan said with a laugh and picked up his phone to make a call.

Alonsa grunted as she leaned back in her chair. More than twenty-four hours later, and there was nothing about Thomas Van that stood out. He had been a building inspector for the city. He seemed to get along well with supervisors and co-workers. He was considered a very down to earth guy. He had no enemies to speak of. His medical records showed a generally healthy man in his forties. He had no major surgeries beyond an appendix removal when he was fifteen. Blood pressure was a little high, but that was normal with some of the stresses of his line of work.

She had looked a little deeper into that last fact, but it proved to go nowhere. The fact was, there was no way even extremely high blood pressure could account for every bone in his body being crushed. According to the medical examiner's report so far, there was no rational explanation for how it happened.

Alonsa was not a fan of the classic locked door mysteries. But it was part of the reason she had become a detective. To solve those mysteries.

The phone on her desk rang distracting her and she picked up the handset.

Matthews, she said.

Detective Matthews, we have Teresa Van Hought here at the front desk, the officer on the line said.

I'll be right down, Alonsa replied.

Alonsa hurried down to the first floor of the police station. Teresa Van Hought sat in the waiting room. Her first observation was that she looked like a younger version of her brother.

Her dark hair was pulled back tightly behind her head. Her face was pale and her hands clenched together in her lap as she waited for someone to come and give her answers.

Miss Van Hought, Alonsa said holding out her hand. I'm Detective Matthews.

Is it true, isn't it? Teresa asked, ignoring the hand extended to her. Thomas is dead?

Alonsa sat down across from her. Yes, she said. I am deeply sorry for your loss.

How? Teresa asked. How did he die?

Alonsa hesitated only slightly. At this point, we're still trying to figure out what happened, she said. All the bones in his body were crushed. The medical examiner is still trying to determine what caused it.

How could this happen to him?! Teresa demanded.

Miss Van Hought, we... Alonsa began.

The other woman interrupted her by grabbing her hand. The woman’s brown eyes seemed to flash with a hint of gold as she stared at Alonsa hard. He was supposed to be protected! she said her voice growing angry. "Why didn't they…-you protect him?!"

Alonsa looked at her in confusion. They? she asked.

The Guardians! That's your job, Teresa said. The tears flowed down her cheeks as she became increasingly agitated.

Guardians? Who...? Alonsa asked.

You're one of them! Teresa said angrily.

Alonsa put a hand over Teresa's, trying to calm her and loosen the grip the other woman had on her. Ms. Van Hought, she said. I'm a police detective. We had no idea anything was wrong until a co-worker went to check on him after they couldn't contact him after missing work.

The older woman's hands were shaking violently beneath hers. She lifted her head and stared hard at Alonsa, a hint of surprise touching her expression. You don't know what happened, she said with sudden realization.

No. But I promise we'll do everything we can to find out, Alonsa replied. The wording of the question had bothered her, though. Do you know some-thing that might help with the investigation?

Teresa was silent for a long moment as she closed her eyes. The flow of tears slowed and then stopped. Finally, she pulled her hands from Alonsa and rose gracefully to her feet. You will find out, Detective Matthews, she said. She paused for a beat and then continued. Tell them Adam isn't ready yet. You have to protect him until he is. She turned on her heel and stalked out of the waiting room before the Alonsa could respond.

A frown crossed Alonsa’s face as she watched Teresa Van Hought leave, absently shaking the circulation back into her hand. She rose and headed back up-stairs slumping into the chair at her desk.

How did it go? Evan asked, looking up from his paperwork.

She was very upset, Alonsa said. Not making a lot of sense. But considering she just lost her brother, it is kind of expected. She hesitated for a moment. Is there an Adam listed anywhere in the file?

Evan skimmed through the pages of the file and then nodded. Adam Markam, he said. Nephew, son of Van Hought's sister Teresa. He looked up at Alonsa. Why?

Just something she said, Alonsa replied. Something about him not being ready and protecting him until he is.

Ready for what? Evan asked.

No idea. She replied.

Protect him from what? Evan asked closing the file on his desk.

Not a clue, Alonsa said.

That's weird, Evan replied.

This whole case has 'weird' written all over it, Alonsa said.

Evan leaned back in his chair and stretched. I think I'm going to call it a day, he said.

Any more interviews? Alonsa asked.

Her partner shook his head. I don't think so, he replied. We've interviewed everyone except the next-door neighbor's dog. And that was only because we couldn't find a translator for Pekinese. He grinned at her. So far there is nothing out of the ordinary.

Alonsa smirked. It had been a long day and she couldn't think clearly if she was too tired and stressed. Okay, I'll finish up this and see you in the morning, she said.

You do that, Evan said and got up from his chair. He grabbed his tan sports coat off the hook and headed out.

*****

Alonsa finished her paperwork, locked up her desk, then headed home. When she pulled into the driveway twenty minutes later, she was still frowning slightly. She had a faint sense of unease she couldn’t place since she left the station. Everything around her looked normal. Everything was normal, but she could not shake the sensation that she was missing something. She finally shook her head, got out of the car and walked to her front door. The case was already getting to her.

She unlocked the door, then stepped inside. The house was silent, but this time she found herself listening for anything out of the ordinary. There was nothing. She switched on the living room light. Everything was where it should be.

She walked through the house, her hand on her gun, but nothing was out of place. Alonsa took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She slowly let it out, allowing the tension to seep out of her. She removed her gun and badge and placed them in the drawer of the cabinet that held her television.

An hour later she was curled up on the couch in comfortable clothing, television was on, volume turned low, the reports she and Evan had compiled on the death of Thomas Van Hought in her lap, flipping the pages quietly as she read.

The strident ringing of the phone startled her. She glanced at the clock to see it was after eleven as she picked up the handset from the coffee table.

Hello? she said.

Alonsa? a male voice spoke.

She was surprised. Alonso? she asked. She knew that voice. It was the voice of her twin brother. What's wrong? she asked. He didn’t often call her and never this late.

Nothing, her brother said with forced casual-ness. Are you all right? he asked.

I'm fine, she replied suspicion rising. Why?

I felt something wrong, Alonso said.

Alonsa rolled her eyes. Lonny, we may be twins, but I keep telling you, that psychic link business is a dud in our case, she said, keeping her voice light.

I know what I felt, her brother replied, his voice serious. Are you sure there's nothing wrong?

I'm sure, she replied. I am perfectly healthy, except for drinking too much coffee.

And work? he asked.

Got a strange case, but you know I can't talk about it, she said, relaxing further into the soft cushions of the couch.

Strange how? Alonso asked. She detected an odd intensity in his voice.

Nothing I can discuss, she said firmly. You know that. And again, I'm fine.

I worry about you, Lana, her brother said.

I promise, you have nothing to worry about, Alonsa said. Here's a bit of trivia I can share with you. Did you know some people call police officers Guardians?

There was a moment of silence on