gasped. The case was more heartbreaking with every bit of information they uncovered.
“Local man, Brooks Stanhope, after being missing for the last six months, was laid to rest today at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Peabody,” Jude read. “According to this article, his badly decomposed body was found in the woods by hunters. He was identified by dental records. The coroner couldn’t determine means, or manner, of death.”
“Someone killed him and hid his body where it wouldn’t be found for months.” Cope shivered. Being exposed to the elements and insect and animal activity would most certainly make identifying how he died much more difficult. “When was that article written?”
“It’s from The Salem News archives and is dated June 2, 1947.” Jude’s look was downcast. They’d found their spirit and Jude looked sad, rather than triumphant.
“Brooks could have been dead as early as December of 1946.” Cope felt sick to his stomach. What atrocities had this man endured before his life was cut short?
“Right. Maybe even earlier than that depending on how regularly he checked in with his family and friends. Now that we have a timeline, you can get to work tomorrow on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, while I work on The Beecher House.” Jude still looked downcast but had some of his earlier spirit back.
“Sounds like a plan.” Cope yawned. He had no idea how he could possibly be sleepy after what they’d learned tonight. They had a lot of work to do tomorrow. Cope couldn’t afford another sleepless night.
Snapping the lid of the laptop shut, Jude set it on his nightstand and turned off the light. He climbed back into bed and pulled Cope into his arms. “Love you.”
“I love you too.” Cope wrapped his arms around his husband. The steady thrum of his heartbeat soothed him toward sleep.
24
Jude
For as tired as he and Cope were last night, neither of them slept well. Cope tossing and turning woke Jude up twice. He’d thrown in the towel around three and ended up watching The Mandalorian again.
When it was time to drop Wolf off with Kaye, the baby was a bit clingy, not wanting to let Cope go. It was the last thing either of them needed to start off this workday. The baby’s bottom lip quivered as he and Cope left, but Wolf didn’t cry.
“You look like shit,” Cope managed a grim grin.
“You’re not looking so hot yourself.” Jude knew what Cope was doing, trying to elevate their moods with a touch of humor. It wasn’t helping.
“All we’ve got to do is get through today,” Cope sighed.
“There isn’t enough coffee in the world.” Jude flipped on his blinker. “How are you feeling about this case after what we learned last night?”
“I’m getting sick of all the plot twists.” Cope turned from the window to look at Jude. “But I have the distinct impression there are more of them to come.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” It was game-on once Jude discovered The Beecher House was connected to Brooks Stanhope. He was determined to figure out what the house had to do with Brooks’ disappearance and death. “It’s been seventy-four years since Brooks died. I can’t imagine there are going to be any witnesses left alive who can help us solve this case.”
“The spirits are going to need to start speaking up. There’s nothing else to it.” Cope sounded as if his opinion decided the matter.
Easier said than done, Jude thought. “What about Bertha Craig? Do you think she would be able to reach out to the spirits involved?”
Cope shook his head. “I can ask her, but I don’t think she can help. Remember, she was the one who told us she wasn’t able to get to Wolf the first night Brooks locked me in the office.”
Jude nodded. He remembered. “It’s obvious now that Brooks needed your undivided attention to get his message across. Do you think he was blocking everything else around him in order to communicate with you?”
“I’m not sure. It would take a lot of energy for Brooks to type, lock me in a room with no physical lock, and keep other spirits from getting to him.” Cope shook his head with obvious frustration.
“That brings us back to some kind of witchcraft, doesn’t it?” Jude was still uncomfortable around spells and witches, even though he married one. Now that the skinwalker responsible for murdering his father had been identified, Jude felt his battered soul heal a little more every day. He was never going to buy a