Incorporeal Witness

Chapter 4

Logan sat with Harley at her feet, a fire clattering in the fireplace. Devina and Alex sat on the other sofa, heads bowed together, discussing one of the books they both read. They'd all come together after Logan finished in the kitchen and Harley finished reading upstairs. Now they sat together, relaxing before they all went to bed. This was her favorite part of the day, just being with the people she loved. Alex had taken to joining them in the evenings, some nights she played cards with Harley, other nights she sat and talked with Devina. Olivia hadn't returned from her cottage rounds yet and Logan wondered what was keeping the ghost. She was a pain in the butt, the poking at the piano becoming a thing now, she always seemed to find her form when a new guest checked in. And not everyone was into living with a ghost, even if it was only for one night, or two.

They'd gone on their hike that morning, it had been more fun than she'd thought it would be, she loved that Alex got along with Harley the way she did, Harley was an easy kid to like, and they seemed to talk about everything. She'd noticed Alex taking it slow, and favoring her side, and had slowed their pace, talking to her about the trees and flowers, and letting Harley tell her about the birds, their names, and species. Alex had thanked her later, when they'd sat and ate the picnic food she'd packed for them, Harley had explored a bit more while they ate. She'd also told Alex about the waterfall again, and Alex had promised to go to the library and see if she could find anything on the mysterious waterfall. Logan would have to talk to her about making promises when she was only there for another week. It was already going to be hard to say goodbye to Alex, for all of them, she thought. 

"Mom, do you think I could tell Alex I'm a witch?" Harley asked and scooted up to sit next to Logan. 

"No, I think that some people just don't know how to handle things they don't understand. And come on, Alex already has trouble believing us about Olivia." She smiled at Harley and ran her hand through the thick white hair. 

"Harper asked me if she was single." 

"What?" She squeaked. Devina and Alex looked up in surprise. "Don't mind us." She said and lowered her voice. "Why did she ask you that?" 

"Oh, come on mom, I know she's into girls, and she said Alex was hot, and she wanted to ask her on a date since Alex gave of a lesbian vibe." 

"Okay, but surely you told her Alex was only here for another week." 

"I did, but she said there's nothing wrong with having fun." Harley looked into the fire. "Maybe they fall in love and Alex stays forever." 

"Oh, honey." 

"I know, but it could happen." 

"It could, but not likely." She leaned over and kissed Harley on the forehead. "Come on, time for bed." 

"But Olivia is not back yet." 

"I was wondering about that too, actually. Mom, did Oliva check back in?" She asked, raising her voice so Devina could hear her.

"No, actually, she's late." 

"Yes, I'm going to go look for her." She may be annoying at times, but she was family.

"Seriously?" Alex piped up. "Maybe she decided to go into the light." She looked down and muttered something when no one seemed to find her funny. "To make up for my lack of belief, I'll go with you." 

"I can look for her myself." 

"Yes, but some company never hurt anyone." She stood and followed Logan to the front door where they put their jackets on. "I promise no more shitty comments." 

"Can I come too?" Harley asked.

"No, you have to stay here, if she comes before we get back, you have to come to get us," Logan said.

"Like backup?" 

"Yes, kid, like our backup." Alex laughed and ruffled her hair.

"Okay." She agreed with a smile and watched them leave.

"Well, this is the last cottage, if she's not here I don't know where she could be," Logan said.

"I know I said no more shitty comments, but are we really out here trying to find a ghost?" 

"Yes, I know you don't believe, but she is a part of our family, Alex. She's as real to us, as you and I." She stopped walking and looked at Alex. "Sometimes she takes her time getting back to us, but this is very late for her. I hope she's okay, and nothing..." She stopped talking her eyes going wide. "What?" She rushed forward and seemed to be listening closely. "Where?" 

"What?" Alex asked.

"Not you, she says there's a dead body. Someone was killed." 

"Seriously?" Alex grabbed Logan's arm and pulled her back when she tried to rush toward Rainbow Cottage. "Is this some kind of joke? Are you playing a game with me?" 

"Let me go, and no, I'm not. We have to follow her, it's inside the cottage." 

"I feel like I'm stuck in a twilight zone here. Ask her if the murderer is still inside?" Alex said. She felt stupid and hoped for Logan's sake she wasn't playing with her, being made a fool, was not her idea of a joke.

"She says no, she lost them at the back of the grounds," Logan swore again. "Mom and Harley!" 

"Wait! Let's go see what the ghost, Olivia is on about, then we can worry about them, they're safe in the main house anyway." 

"What if Harley decides to come to get us?" 

"She won't, remember, you told her to only come if Olivia shows up, and you said she's here with us." Alex shook Logan lightly. "Calm down." Alex started to think that Logan was not making anything up, she looked scared shitless. 

"In there." 

"Do you have your phone?" 

"Yes."

"Get your sheriff on the line, tell her, I don't know, just get her on the line." 

"What are you doing?" Logan asked as Alex started up the steps of the cottage. 

"I'm going to investigate." 

"You're injured!" 

"I'm the cop here, and she said he's gone right?" Alex rolled her eyes. Now she was talking about the ghost as if she was real.

"Yes, fine okay. Just let me get Harper on the line first." 

"Hurry up," Alex said, and with the bottom of her shirt wrapped around her hand, opened the door. "It's open." She whispered. 

"The new guest checked in this morning, while we were on our hike," Logan whispered back. "The light switch is right by the door," Logan said, and Alex flipped the switch. Logan jumped back, screamed, and dropped her phone. A frantic voice could be heard in between Logan screaming and drawing a breath for the next scream. Alex bent down, picked up the phone, and with her other hand covered Logan's mouth, she shut up, her eyes wide as saucers. 

"Sheriff?" 

"What the f**k is happening?" Harper asked her voice vibrating with anger and worry. 

"I'm Alex, I'm staying at Winter House, you should get out here." She looked at the man lying in a pool of his own blood. "We have a dead body."