Monday Snippet: Flight From Death

Here’s your Monday Snippet!
FLIGHT FROM DEATH — Book 1 of the Fly By Night Series (a spinoff of Otherworld)Release date: July 7th, 2015. Available for Preorder! If you want an autographed copy, preorder from Seattle Mystery Bookshop.

You can also preorder Autumn Thorns, book one of the Whisper Hollow Series, now!

As Ralph and I left, Chai was waiting outside for us. He followed us back to the car and I realized he meant to hang around. Wonderful. How was I going to explain this one to Alex? And if he objected, well, I had no influence over what the djinn did.

“So Anna Lee Buckland put a curse on the house. We don’t know what kind, but at least we can surmise what the chanting is connected with. So we need to figure out what kind of curse it is, and then we might be able to figure out if the spirit haunting the place is Nathan.” Ralph glanced nervously at Chai. “He coming with us?”

“Apparently so. Just be polite and everything will be fine,” I said with more confidence than I felt. Chai would never mess with me, but I couldn’t vouch that he’d behave himself around Ralph and Alex. “Oh, and don’t ask Chai for any favors. Trust me. The question is, why would Nathan haunt Patrick in such a nasty way? They were friends—”

“Were is the operative word, isn’t it?” Ralph turned to me as I was fastening my seatbelt. “Remember, Patrick said that he and Nathan had a falling out. Nathan wanted Patrick to turn him so he wouldn’t die. Patrick said no. Nathan’s family was grateful Patrick didn’t, but Nathan wasn’t. Maybe he’s trying to get back at Patrick for refusing him?”

“That would make sense. And if the curse exacerbates the energy, maybe Nathan’s spirit has turned into some sort of a monster?” I glanced into the back seat. “Fasten your seatbelt, Chai. The law requires it and we’re not getting any tickets because of you.”

“You want me to take care of this ghost you have a problem with?” Chai’s voice rumbled from the backseat.

“Yes! Can you?” Ralph sounded all too excited.

“What did I just say about asking him favors?” I glanced back at Chai. “No thank you. Absolutely, emphatically, do not do us any favors or grant any wishes. You do, and I send you packing.” I glanced over at Ralph, worrying my lip. I could speak in front of Chai without worry, but there was a point where bluntness turned into being rude. But I had to make Ralph understand. “Never ask a djinn for a favor. Do you know anything about djinn wishes?”

Ralph shook his head. “Can’t say that I do. Just thought, if he could help us, it might be worth a shot.”

“Djinns are bound by their natures to twist your wishes in any way possible. Even when they aren’t chained to a person’s will.” I shot a glance at Chai in the backseat. He’d managed to avoid getting enslaved so far and I hoped that never changed. The thought of him being subservient to somebody turned my stomach.

Chai cheerfully chimed in. “Shimmer is correct. I’m bound to make the offer, and then I’m bound to screw things up for you if I can. Nothing personal, you understand.”

“What, is it in your union handbook?” Ralph snorted, but Chai laughed right along with him.

“Actually, yes. Well, the equivalent.” He was able to sit in the back seat without too much problem, but his head still brushed the roof of the car. “These vehicles need to be bigger.”

“Don’t even go there. This monster is big enough as it is.” Ralph put the car into gear and we swung out on the street. “Okay, it’s almost eleven. We grab a quick snack and then I seriously need some sleep. Even with catching an hour of shuteye this morning, it’s been a long time since six o’clock last night.”

I was starting to feel the strain as well. “Right. I’m not hungry, so if you just want to go back to the house we can. When we wake up tonight, we should get right to searching through Gypsy curses to see if we can figure out what Anna Lee did to the house. Maybe Tonya will have some clue as to what we’re up against.” I yawned and stretched, realizing that the thought of bed sounded really good. “Chai, you going to stay awake while we sleep? There’s a nasty spirit in the house and we’re a little leery of what it might do while we’re in bed.”

“Won’t that backfire?” Ralph darted a quick look my way, his voice decidedly nervous.

“Nope. I didn’t ask him a favor. I asked him what he was going to do.”

Chai muttered something under his breath.

“What?” Ralph glanced in the rearview mirror. “You say something?”

“Damned right,” Chai grumbled. “Nasty buggers, ghosts. Can’t stand them. I’ll keep watch. No worries.”