personality and a reassuring demeanor.
“You should be High Priestess of that coven,” Cooper continued.
Ruby held up a hand to stop him. “But I’m not, so we need to inform the rightful leader of what’s happening. I do not want anyone else in danger because I didn’t want to talk to my ex-boyfriend. That’s childish. Besides, he knew about Courtney because he knows someone in the force. Someone there believes in our power. Maybe he can help.”
Cooper sighed but nodded his head. “All right, call him while I call the detective. I suppose we can expect both of them to show up within the hour.”
Michael didn’t answer his phone when Ruby called, so she left him a voicemail. As Cooper predicted, the detective showed up at her building half an hour later. Ruby buzzed him inside and opened the door on the first knock.
“Ruby Jackson? I’m Detective Phillips. May I come in and speak with you about tonight’s events?”
Ruby nodded and stepped aside to let the detective in. Short and stocky, Phillips had a thick dark mustache peppered with gray; his deep-set dark eyes looked sharply around the room as he entered. He nodded at Cooper in greeting.
“Is it all right if we have a seat in the living room? I’d like to ask some questions and take a closer look at this note,” he said.
Ruby led the way into the living room. She and Cooper had a seat together on the couch while Phillips sat in her reading chair. He paused to put on latex gloves and motioned for the letter. She handed him the note and watched him examine it for several minutes in silence. Her discomfort finally won over to talk.
“Mine and Cooper's fingerprints will be on there. I mean, I guess you figured that out already, but you should know,” Ruby babbled.
Phillips looked up from the letter to her. “I understand. I’m going to bag this and take it with me down to the station as evidence, though I don’t guess you wanted to keep it anyways.”
“Hell, no.”
“What do you think, Detective?” Cooper asked.
“It’s unusual that he apologizes about Courtney, considering the circumstances. It almost seems to show remorse, but experience tells me he’s only saying it as formality, as though to get in your good graces before threatening you.”
Ruby opened and closed her mouth. She and Cooper exchanged looks. Detective Phillips might be used to serial killers, but was he used to witches and magic? He didn’t seem too confused by it. Perhaps he was Michael’s contact?
“Sir, are you…uh, curious at all about the letter’s statement about magic?” Cooper asked.
Phillips retrieved an evidence bag from inside his jacket pocket. He slipped the note inside before meeting their faces. “I’m aware of the killer’s beliefs on his victims. He thinks he is killing witches, ones with immense power. It’s my understanding that he may be taking their hearts for his own practices.”
“Detective Phillips, do you believe in magic?” Ruby asked him point-blank.
“The killer certainly believes in magic. Therefore, I’m trying to think like he does in my attempt to stop and capture him.” His mustache didn’t even flinch as he spoke.
Ruby caught Cooper's eye again, knowing they shared the same thought. Without a clear answer on the detective’s stance on their craft, Ruby was hesitant to reveal more information for fear of judgment or disbelief. How could she explain to Phillips that another witch had broken through her protection spell when he thought the killer was merely crazy? She cleared her throat.
“So what’s the next step in all of this? How can I protect myself better against him breaking in again?”
“Unfortunately, it’s easy for people to get into the building. Someone could stand outside and pretend to have forgotten their key, or they could carry bags to make a person believe they live there and can’t open the door. I’ll suggest your landlord send out a letter reminding tenants not
“You should be High Priestess of that coven,” Cooper continued.
Ruby held up a hand to stop him. “But I’m not, so we need to inform the rightful leader of what’s happening. I do not want anyone else in danger because I didn’t want to talk to my ex-boyfriend. That’s childish. Besides, he knew about Courtney because he knows someone in the force. Someone there believes in our power. Maybe he can help.”
Cooper sighed but nodded his head. “All right, call him while I call the detective. I suppose we can expect both of them to show up within the hour.”
Michael didn’t answer his phone when Ruby called, so she left him a voicemail. As Cooper predicted, the detective showed up at her building half an hour later. Ruby buzzed him inside and opened the door on the first knock.
“Ruby Jackson? I’m Detective Phillips. May I come in and speak with you about tonight’s events?”
Ruby nodded and stepped aside to let the detective in. Short and stocky, Phillips had a thick dark mustache peppered with gray; his deep-set dark eyes looked sharply around the room as he entered. He nodded at Cooper in greeting.
“Is it all right if we have a seat in the living room? I’d like to ask some questions and take a closer look at this note,” he said.
Ruby led the way into the living room. She and Cooper had a seat together on the couch while Phillips sat in her reading chair. He paused to put on latex gloves and motioned for the letter. She handed him the note and watched him examine it for several minutes in silence. Her discomfort finally won over to talk.
“Mine and Cooper's fingerprints will be on there. I mean, I guess you figured that out already, but you should know,” Ruby babbled.
Phillips looked up from the letter to her. “I understand. I’m going to bag this and take it with me down to the station as evidence, though I don’t guess you wanted to keep it anyways.”
“Hell, no.”
“What do you think, Detective?” Cooper asked.
“It’s unusual that he apologizes about Courtney, considering the circumstances. It almost seems to show remorse, but experience tells me he’s only saying it as formality, as though to get in your good graces before threatening you.”
Ruby opened and closed her mouth. She and Cooper exchanged looks. Detective Phillips might be used to serial killers, but was he used to witches and magic? He didn’t seem too confused by it. Perhaps he was Michael’s contact?
“Sir, are you…uh, curious at all about the letter’s statement about magic?” Cooper asked.
Phillips retrieved an evidence bag from inside his jacket pocket. He slipped the note inside before meeting their faces. “I’m aware of the killer’s beliefs on his victims. He thinks he is killing witches, ones with immense power. It’s my understanding that he may be taking their hearts for his own practices.”
“Detective Phillips, do you believe in magic?” Ruby asked him point-blank.
“The killer certainly believes in magic. Therefore, I’m trying to think like he does in my attempt to stop and capture him.” His mustache didn’t even flinch as he spoke.
Ruby caught Cooper's eye again, knowing they shared the same thought. Without a clear answer on the detective’s stance on their craft, Ruby was hesitant to reveal more information for fear of judgment or disbelief. How could she explain to Phillips that another witch had broken through her protection spell when he thought the killer was merely crazy? She cleared her throat.
“So what’s the next step in all of this? How can I protect myself better against him breaking in again?”
“Unfortunately, it’s easy for people to get into the building. Someone could stand outside and pretend to have forgotten their key, or they could carry bags to make a person believe they live there and can’t open the door. I’ll suggest your landlord send out a letter reminding tenants not
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