Dead of Night (Gwen's Ghosts, Book 3)(Paranormal Women's Midlife Fiction)

DEAD OF NIGHT Gwen’s Ghosts #3 by J.R. RAIN & H.P. MALLORY Gwen’s Ghosts Dance with the Dead Dead and Gone Dead of Night Left for Dead Other Books by H.P. Mallory PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION: Haven Hollow Misty Hollow Gwen’s Ghosts Midlife Spirits Trailer Park Vampire PARANORMAL ROMANCE: Witch and Warlock Vampire Esquire Ever Dark Academy FANTASY ROMANCE: Dark Destinies Gates of the Underworld Lily Harper Dulcie O’Neil PARANORMAL REVERSE HAREM: My Five Kings Happily Never After CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: Age Gap Romance SCI-FI ROMANCE: The Alaskan Detective TRILOGIES: Dragon’s Birthright Crown of Lies The Dark Circus Midlife Mermaid Chasing Demons Dungeon Raider Here to There Arctic Wolves Wolves of ValhallaLucy Westenra Other Books by J.R. Rain VAMPIRE FOR HIRE Moon Dance Vampire Moon American Vampire Moon Child Christmas Moon (novella) Vampire Dawn Vampire Games Moon Island Moon River Vampire Sun Moon Dragon Moon Shadow Vampire Fire Midnight Moon Moon Angel Vampire Sire Moon Master Dead Moon Lost Moon Vampire Destiny Infinite Moon Vampire Empress Moon Elder Wicked Moon Winter Moon Sasquatch Moon Wild Moon Moon Magic Moon World Vampire Deep Moon Matador (coming soon) SAMANTHA MOON ADVENTURES Banshee Moon Moon Monster Moon Ripper Witch Moon Moon Goddess Moon Blaze Golem Moon Moon Maidens SAMANTHA MOON CASE FILES Moon Bayou Blood Moon Parallel Moon SAMANTHA MOON ORIGINS New Moon Rising Moon Mourning Haunted Moon Dead of Night Published by Rain Press Copyright © 2023 by J.R. Rain & H.P. Mallory All rights reserved. Ebook Edition, License Notes This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Reading Sample: The Girl Who Joined the Circus About H.P. Mallory About J.R. Rain Dead of Night Chapter One Hide and Seek “My name is Inspector Lean. This is Sergeant Ford and Constable Wyler. And, as I mentioned, we have a warrant to search these premises.” I could actually hear Bastian’s expression of blank confusion. “Mr. Chambon?” The inspector pressed. “Yes,” said Bastian, apparently still able to recognize his own name. “May we come in?” “I suppose I can’t say no.” Bastian’s voice was spacey and detached from reality, like he was high or something. Drunk maybe. “Thank you, sir.” “Please wipe your feet.” There was a pause and then a deep inhalation of breath. “Don’t know why I said that. Mother always used to say it to me and…” “Mr. Chambon,” Inspector Lean interrupted. “Sergeant Ford and Constable Wyler are going to search your home.” “I understand.” “As I mentioned,” the inspector went on. “We have a warrant—it’s my responsibility to ask if you’d like to see it?” Bastian was quiet for a few seconds as he considered it. “I suppose I’d better. Or… I don’t know. Do people usually ask to see it?” “About fifty-fifty.” “How many of them read it all the way through?” “About zero.” “I won’t bother then.” Bastian sounded like he was starting to come back down to earth after the surprise of finding the police at his door. “Can I ask; why are you here? This whole thing is coming as a huge surprise and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to have done?” “May my officers begin their search?” asked Lean. “Yes, of course,” said Bastian dismissively. “I have nothing to hide.” He paused. “That’s not precisely true. I have a great deal to hide. None of it illegal, you understand, but a lot of it quite... embarrassing. Are the results of this search likely to get back to my mother?” Petra looked at me and rolled her eyes. “Really depends on what we find,” the inspector responded. “Okay,” Bastian sounded resigned to his fate. “Please bear in mind that everything you find is completely normal for a man in his early thirties with a healthy sexual appetite. And that little book is just a way of keeping track—it’s not a ranking system by any means.” Little book? Good God, had I ended up in Bastian’s little book? I really hoped not. And then it occurred to me—if I had ended up in his little book, then the entire police force (which wasn’t very large—just the three of them who were here now) would know it. I swallowed hard because it wasn’t like I wanted everyone in Morley to know I’d slept with Bastian. And though it was just the three men here who would know, word did spread quickly in small towns. “Could you point us in the direction of your bedroom, please, Mr. Chambon,” said a different voice—I assumed Sergeant Ford. “Right to the scene of the crime, eh?” asked Bastian morosely. “And I do, of course, use the word ‘crime’ euphemistically. As I said earlier, I’ve done nothing illegal. Nothing that wasn’t between two consenting adults. And nothing she didn’t do back to me afterwards. Healthy give and take, you know?” “Maybe it would be best if you let my officers conduct their search,” suggested Inspector Lean. “I really don’t think we’re on the same page in terms of what we’re looking for.” “What are you looking for?” asked Bastian. “We never established that. Perhaps I can help?” “Just point us to the bedroom, please, sir,” repeated Sergeant Ford. “Up the stairs, turn left, third door on your right,” said Bastian. “I’m afraid it’s a bit of a mess. I had a… friend over earlier.” “We won’t judge, sir,” said Sergeant Ford. “Er, the mess, that is.” “Depending on what we find,” added Inspector Lean. “Off you go, Ford.” “If you want to tidy up while you’re up there, it would save my cleaner a job,” suggested Bastian with a little laugh I could tell he didn’t feel. He followed it by saying under his breath, “bloody hell.” The heavy footsteps of policemen came in the direction of the stairs. The good news for Bastian was that he didn’t sound like a man