One Case down, Another to go
"Wake up, Benny," | call to my son. I hear faint grumbling through the door. I shake my head with a slight chuckle. "Be out in ten, you need to eat before school and I have a gig to get to," | say as I walk away to finish up making a simple breakfast of eggs and toast. I plate it and set it at the table, then go to feed Hex, my cat familiar. Checking that the sigil is still intact on Hex's collar | tell her, "Keep an eye on the place Hexie."
Benny comes shuffling into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. "Mornin' Dad." | stand up and ruffle his hair. "Foods ready Ben. Eat up then we can head out to the bus." He nods and hurries up to eat. Tossing his plate into the sink, he goes and gets his shoes on.
I grab my keys and head to the door. Ben heads out the door first, I follow out but turn to lock the door and activate my protection barrier. I nod in approval and lead Ben down the stairwell.
When we get out of the apartment complex we head to the bus stop. "What gig do you got today, dad," Ben asks curiously.
"Nothing a fifteen year old should worry about," I reply jokingly. Ben rolls his eyes at me and says
"You can just say its a bad detective one, dad."
I smile at him but sigh, "I know, I know. But l'd rather you not have to think about that stuff Benjamin."
He huffs a little at that. "I'm not a little kid anymore. I know there's some bad stuff out there, dad. But I know you help stop it. You're kinda like a ghost hero."
| stiffen at his comment and look around to make sure no one heard Ben. "I am just an Occult Consultant, Benny. I help by just finding clues not so easily seen. If anything I am more along the lines of a Private Detective, bud."
After a few minutes of silence, Benny's bus rolls in. "I love you, Benny. I'll see you tonight," | tell him. He nods and hops on followed by a quick
"Love you too, dad." When his bus pulls off, I walk to catch a cab to the scene I am working, but I have a gut feeling today isn't going to be a good day.
On the scene I immediately see a spirit gripping the cops shirt, or at least trying to. It's a small boy, looks no older than seven. He is clinging to a female officer and tugging at her shirt, begging her to pick him up because he's scared.
I walk up and kneel in front of him. "Hey buddy, why don't you talk to me. Why do you want Officer Emilia to pick you up?"
The officer tenses and goes, "I hate when you do that with no warning." I wave her off and look at the little ghost boy.
He shyly looks at me and mumbles, "She looks a lot like my sissy. I thought she was my sissy." I nod in understanding and ask "Can you tell me your name, bud?"
He fidgets with his fingers, looking between me and the ground. "Sissy said not to tell that to strangers." I look at the officer then back to the boy. "Well, my name is Lee Wolfe. I am a Detective who is working with Officer Emilia. Can you tell me your name so that I can help the officer?"
The little boy thought about what I said for a moment before slowly nodding. "My name is Wesley Meddix." "Wesley Meddix, that's a cool name."
I turn to the officer, "Emilia, the boy's name is Wesley Meddix. He has an older sister who he says looks quite a bit like you," | stop talking to turn back to the boy.
"Why are you scared Wesley?" Gripping his own shirt, he sniffles a little.
"There was a mean man. He told me l was col-colighter-""
"Yeah, that word. He said my Sissy owes a lot of money to the sharks. That she knew it was coming. He picked me up and tossed me against the wall. He kept doing it, telling me they warned her. That her rocks better have been worth it. Did my sissy really do this just for rocks?"
"I don't know bud. Do you know your Sissy's name? That will really help us get you that answer," I tell Wesley.
"Her name is Camille. The men called her Cammie," Wesley tells me.
I nod and stand up finally.
"Don't worry Wes, you'll get your peace. His sister's name is Camille Meddix. She had Loan Sharks after her. Said that the last thing he heard was them shouting that her rocks better have been worth it. The boy was just collateral."
Officer Emilia writes down everything that l've told and says "Thanks for the help Wolfe.
Hopefully this will turn something up."
Emilia leaves and the little boy follows her. I check my phone and notice that I had a missed call from the school and a voicemail to call them to discuss Ben. I walk away from the scene and head to the office.
When I get back to my office, I sign in to check my email for any other gigs and call the school back.
"Hello, Draven High. This is Secretary Joni, how can I assist you today?"
"Hi, Its Lee Wolfe. I had a missed call from the school and was asked to call you back over my son Benjamin Wolfe." I hear some clicking of keys and then a tsk or two.
"Well Mr. Wolfe, you have not called to let us know that Benjamin would be late or absent.
We were needing to have that on file if it is a sick day or an appointment to know if it is an excused absence or not." I look at the phone as if it had grown a head,
"Ben was sent to school today. He should have been there three hours ago. Did he not show up?"
"That is why we called. Mr. Wolfe. Benjamin was absent. Do you believe he skipped?"
"No. Today was his favorite class. He would have shown up. I have to go."
I hang up the phone and rush out of the office barely locking it behind me as I go. Hoping he really did skip, I rush to the house.
