all turn to look at DJ, but he’s still watching TV.
“What the fuck is Shadow Falls?” Danny’s eyes dart between us both.
Baker rubs a hand over his face before glaring at Danny. “Legend has it, it was once a second home to British royalty, but regardless of what its origins are, it became a mental institution in the fifties. I believe it closed down for a while after a fire gutted it. It then got a facelift and became a small private hospital until it attracted a serial killer. The angel of death, if I remember correctly. She killed thirty-four—”
I interrupt him, “Thirty-six—”
He glares at me before continuing, “People while she worked there. There was no saving the hospital after that. It’s been empty ever since as far as I know, which is about fifteen years ago.”
Danny looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.
I huff, “I get it, it’s weird. Deal with it and look at the damn pros of this property. It’s out of the way, sitting on fifty acres, and the whole thing is enclosed by eight-foot-high fencing. There is a small chapel on-site and a cemetery.”
If anything, he looks even more disgusted.
“Oh, for goodness sake, the graves are empty. After the angel of death debacle, they cleared the area and had the bodies buried elsewhere. According to the schematics, there are tunnels running underneath the place that lead in and out of the property. If I fill coffins with my cargo,” I use the keyword, not wanting DJ to overhear, “then nobody will suspect anything. It will simply seem as if the cemetery is open once more. Also, and this is my favorite part, there is a mortuary with an incinerator.” I clap my hands and grin but rein it in when I realize I’m the only one excited.
Baker catches on. “That’s why you want the cop taken there.”
“Well, I’m not really looking at taking up taxidermy.”
“Okay, I can see the merit, I guess. I’m just glad it’s you sleeping there and not me.” Baker shivers, making me chuckle.
“Some tough guy you are. Please tell me you’re not afraid of ghosts.”
He huffs and turns away, making me laugh out loud.
“Well, I’m glad I amuse you.” He sniffs, fighting back a smile. “What about the boy? Are you gonna eventually move him in with you?”
“No. I don’t want him caught up in this, and keeping him away will keep him safer, at least for now.”
“So where are you going to put him because I know you’re not going to return him to the streets,” Danny comments.
“No, of course not. I’ll figure something out but for now, would you mind if he crashed here?”
Baker shrugs. “The kid can stay here as long as you want. I’m never here.”
“He’s been taking care of himself on the streets for a long time. I think he can manage here just fine for a few days. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he has a cell phone with each of our numbers, just in case.” I chew my lips because I’d rather have someone with him.
“I can call Chris to come over and watch him for a while. Her arm is still in a sling, so she’s taking it easy for now,” Danny offers.
I hadn’t yet met Chris, the lone female on their team. She had torn the ligaments in her shoulder, so she had been resting up.
“That’s a good idea. Thanks, Danny.” He nods and turns to make the call while I wander over to DJ.
He looks at me as I sit cross-legged beside him.
“I have to go soon. I’m going to need the clothes you have on, so Baker here is going to lend you some sweats while one of his team is fetching you some new stuff.”
“For me to keep?” he asks, confused.
“What, the clothes? Yeah, bud, those are all yours.” I smile, but he frowns.
“Do I just have to do the one or both of them as payment?” he whispers, fiddling with the hem of his T-shirt.
I reach over to grip his hand, probably a touch too tightly, and use my other to cup his jaw so he has no choice but to look at me. “Never again will someone put their hands on you when you don’t want them to. You will not now, nor later be obligated to pay me back for these things, and even if you were, it would not be with your body. You are not paying for services rendered. Your body is yours