Chapter Text
The newspapers were spread across the table when Miss Holloway heard the front door's bell downstairs. She didn't turn around when she heard the man climb the stairs and pass through the door frame.
"Heya, darlin'! I brought some Taco Bell for you to try it!"
The woman continued leaned over the table, analyzing the clippings. She motioned with her hand to the sink on her left. "Feel free."
Duke headed to the sink, resting the paper bag on it as he opened the wall cabinet in search of dishes. "Damn, you're really focused, huh?" He looked at her, who was reading the newspapers with furrowed eyebrows. Duke then noticed the mess on the table and stopped what he was doing, approaching it. "Wow, what's all this?" He slowly picked up the papers, analyzing them. "Newspapers…reports…wait, is this a police document? Miss, what have you been doing?"
"This, my dear Duke, is my next investigation." She handed him one of the headlines. SLAUGHTER AT LITTLE HATCHETFIELD! Bodies of two Hatchetfield High students have been found after the big game against Clivesdale Chemists.
"Wait…wasn't this case already over? It's been like, what, two months?"
"Technically, yes, there were no more murders after the mayor's death. However, as you may know very well, another boy from the same school disappeared a while ago."
Oh yes. Jason Jepson, a good kid as far as Duke knew. Once, while waiting to talk to a student about their situation at home, Jason had chated with the man for a while. It was a cordial conversation, about football, but it was enough for Duke to like the boy. He was definitely worried about the disappearance, and even more angry about the police's incompetence.
Miss Holloway bagan to organize the papers energetically, as if putting together a map in her mind, a smile spreading across her face.
"Do you...think these are connected?" It did make sense, but it was still confusing to understand why Miss Holloway was so intrigued by all that.
"I think so, dear. You know I had certain...complications in following the case. And now, after reading everything about it, I think the so-called 'end' left some loose ends."
Duke pondered. Was Miss Holloway investigating something for real? See, she's not one to investigate criminal cases out of nowhere. Unless...
"Wait...you...think it has to do with something...supernatural?"
"Exactly!" For the first time since he arrived, the woman faced him, an electrifying look on her face.
She's feeling like Sherlock Holmes, isn't she?
Duke couldn't help but smile. She might have looked a little crazy at that moment, but to him, she was radiant. He was suspicious to say, after all, Miss Holloway was always radiant in his eyes.
"Okay...summarize, please."
"The police investigation ended in a very strange way. I mean, there is no report that says they got close to the truth, only that a suspect could have actually been involved in the first murder." Miss Holloway showed the papers to Duke as she explained. "But the following ones don't have enough commentary. The suspect seemed genuinely surprised when she learned about the deaths of Richie Lipshitz and Ruth Fleming. And there is nothing about the major and his assistant Tessburger."
She picked up a photo of an abandoned mansion. "The time between deaths is also not consistent. It took two weeks after Maxwell Jägerman's disappearance for the next murder to happen. The day after this, it was one death after another on the same day. What's more important, the house where Jägerman was found is not just any place."
It took Duke a while to recognize the house mentioned. He should have passed by it very few times so as not to immediately remember such a hideous place.
"The Waylon Place? What about it?"
"Oh, hon, you have no idea how much this place changes everything. You must have heard the stories, right? About the Waylon family and their rituals?"
"Sure, tourists love coming here because of them. But they're mere stories, aren't they?" It's about time he stopped asking these questions. Nothing was a "mere story" when it comes to Miss Holloway.
"Perhaps some stories exaggerate a little, but your base is real. The Waylons were the first to worship the Lords in Black. That house retains several enchantments, and people do say..." She took out a document containing an autopsy of a body, along with a photo of the crime scene. "...no one actually dies there."
Duke's hair stood on end. It didn't need a expert - or a witch - to connect the dots.
"Wait...you're telling me the murders were committed by a...zombie?"
"Almost 100% sure! I mean, a killing spree starting right after a boy died in a haunted mansion? I know that place pretty well, Duke. To me, it's clear what happened. The thing is..." She looked at the papers on her desk, thoughtfully. "I don't know exactly how it was resolved."
Suddenly, Holloway turned to Duke and lunged foward, stopping mere inches from his face. "And that's where you come in, partner."
"M-me??"
"Exactly. I need to know the whole story, and for that, I need to talk to the three people who are in the middle of this whole mess. The three survivors. I need you to help me contact Grace Chasity, Peter Spankoffski and Stephanie Lauter."
The sound of the cars from the streets filled the small kitchen as they stared at each other. They could hear the tick-tock of the retro clock stuck above the door.
"Holloway, I think this is kind of difficult. These kids have been through a lot, do you think they would be willing to tell you what happened?"
She placed her hands on Duke's shoulders, her gaze steady. "Duke, if my theory is correct, maybe these kids are still in danger. I wasn't there to help when it all happened, but I can prevent more teenagers from disappearing. I need to help them."
He still felt hesitant.
"Please?"
Shit. That damn puppy look.
"Okay, okay. I'll see what I can do." He surrenders, with a sigh, but couldn't hide a smile.
"There it is! That's my Duke!" Holloway punched him lightly in the shoulder, stirring up those butterflies trapped in his guts again. She then looked at something beyond Duke. "I guess we're going to have to heat up the food, aren't we?"
He had completely forgotten about the fast food resting in the sink. Holloway went to the oven and turned it on, then took the food out of the bag.
Well, another supernatural work. This will be interesting.