Page 2 of Into the Fire

Vic reached into his drawer and got a card, which he slid across the desk to Sanderson. “Simon’s been quietly involved in solving a number of supernatural-related crimes over the past few years. He’s also got a network of friends with special abilities who have experience handling difficult cases. If he can’t help you himself, he’ll know who can, and he might be able to tell you what your options are.”

Sanderson took the card and turned it over in his hand, reading it carefully. “I’ve seen the shop. I thought they just did tours.”

“That’s how they started, and they still do,” Vic replied. “But Simon and his friends are Myrtle Beach’s shadow protectors. They don’t want credit; they just want to keep the town safe from the kind of dangers that the police can’t stop.”

Sanderson drew a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll contact him. And thank you for not laughing at me.”

Vic guessed that the insurance company hadn’t been as open-minded. “If we can’t provide a solution ourselves, the Myrtle Beach Police Department tries to connect resources with the people who need them. I hope everything works out.”

Sanderson had walked out of the station when Ross turned to Vic. “Well, that’s not something we hear every day.” He glanced toward the door as if thinking. “At least, those of us not married to psychics.”

“Certainly not the usual case off the street.” Vic reached for his coffee. “It might be a hoax. The guy could be looking for a reality TV show deal,” he ventured, searching for an alternative explanation.

Ross gave him a look. “Or he could be telling the truth, which is often not what people want to hear. Myrtle Beach has always had a dark side, no matter what the tourism bureau wants people to believe. Seafaring, timber, and railroads were dangerous work. People got hurt, and the nicest folks weren’t always in charge.”

Vic remembered some of the stories he’d heard about pirates back in the coast’s early years. “Ya think?” He shook his head. “I need to call Simon and give him a heads up. It’s not every day that I send him a business referral from the office.”

“Everything okay?” Captain Hargrove stuck his head into the office Vic and Ross shared. “Intake said you got a guy with a wild story.” Hargrove was a former Marine and built like a tank. Most people didn’t scare him, but even he had gained a healthy respect for the supernatural after some of the things Simon had helped them handle.

“Just your everyday, average potentially demonic arsonist in a haunted hotel,” Vic said as if that really was the norm.

“Only you, D’Amato.” Hargrove sighed and shook his head. “I’m guessing it had something to do with that blaze over at the Ocean Visions? I heard from some of my friends in the fire department that some things don’t look quite right.”

Vic gave Hargrove a shortened version of what Ross already overheard. To his credit, Hargrove listened with a serious expression.

“He could be totally nuts,” Hargrove replied.

Vic nodded. “I know. The thought did cross my mind. In which case, there’s a human arsonist running around, and we do our normal thing and catch him. But if Sanderson’s right…”

“Then it’s definitely out of our jurisdiction,” his boss said. “I’m guessing you sent him to Simon?”

“Yeah. It’s not like I could refer him to social services,” Vic answered.

“Not without getting him a psych evaluation. You’ve been in this business long enough to go with your gut. Let it play out, and we’ll see what happens. I can try to get more details from my fire department friends and pass them along to you. Good work.” Hargrove headed back into the squad room.

“He’s come a long way,” Ross observed. “He took that whole thing in stride like a champ.”

Vic shrugged. “He’s seen enough weird stuff by now to know it’s real.” His personal cell phone buzzed, and Vic saw it was Simon.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Got vibes you were sending someone to me. Psychic, you know?” Simon replied. “Something going on?”

For the second time, Vic recounted the highlights of Sanderson’s story, being careful what he said to avoid influencing Simon’s perceptions of the man or his tale.

“Interesting. Not a total surprise. That hotel’s had some darkness clinging to it for a while now. And this won’t help you sleep well at night, but it’s not the only place in the area that comes with a supernatural stain that’s hard to get rid of. Thanks for sending him my way. I’ll let you know if he shows up.”

“Be careful,” Vic warned. “I can’t vouch for the story itself being true, but Sanderson certainly seemed to believe it. And if it’s real, watch your back.”

“Will do,” Simon promised. “See you for dinner. Love you.”

“Love you too,” Vic replied. He put the phone in his desk drawer and started typing on his computer. “I want to know more about that hotel. I cleared the rest of my reports for today.”

“Must be nice.” Ross sighed. “I’m still digging out from the paperwork. Let me know if you find anything interesting.”

Vic’s work as a police detective meant research was a constant, but he didn’t usually go looking for urban legends and local ghost stories. He traced the history of the Ocean Visions Hotel, validating several of the low points Sanderson had shared.

The hotel had its share of tragedies over the years. The wars of the last century claimed lives, from staff members to owners’ sons. Celebrities died there, accidentally or not. A spree killer in the 1970s followed several workers to their homes and murdered them. Some of the managers were arrested for everything from tax evasion to selling drugs or came to ruin through very public and bitter divorces.