Page 4 of Into the Fire

“Has anything out of the ordinary shown up in the fire itself or the debris?” Vic carefully chose his wording to get to what he wanted to know without prejudicing the witness.

“Like what?” Jimmy’s eyes narrowed, probably figuring that there was more to the question. Especially since he also knew Simon and was aware of some of their prior cases.

“Something that isn’t usually part of fires like this, or that seems unlikely.” Vic scanned the piles of wood and the burned section that was still standing.

“We see fires start in attics no one ever uses all the time,” Jimmy told him. “Basements aren’t common in Myrtle Beach due to the water table and the storms, so the ones that do exist tend to be in older buildings. That means more chances for old electronics, appliances, or a staffer sneaking off for a smoke.”

“But…” Vic fished.

Jimmy looked uncomfortable. “This one feels different. For starters, where it began and how it spread isn’t typical. I usually like the big old properties because they’re so historic, but this one has always given me the creeps for some reason. And around the section where the fire started, that feeling is even worse, spooky even.”

“Spooky, how?”

Jimmy seemed to search for words. “It’s strange. I feel like we’re being watched. Not by a person, or passively, but by something sizing us up to see if we’re an easy mark. I haven’t even gotten that feeling from arson cases where the firebug is still on the loose.”

Vic nodded. “I feel that too. Anything else?”

“I always steered clear of the Ocean Visions. Never been in it, wouldn’t stay here or recommend it to a friend because of the funny feeling I get. It’s not like a no-tell motel in a late-night horror movie where you just know bad things go on. The Ocean Visions is very respectable. Expensive. Historic.

“The closest I can come to describing it is the time my parents took my brother and me to the Gettysburg battlefield,” Jimmy went on. “I don’t usually see ghosts or hear voices, but that day I swear there were a bunch of dead soldiers who never moved on. Couldn’t wait to leave. I said every Bible verse I knew under my breath, prayed the Hail Mary over and over, and took a hot shower with soap that night trying to ‘clean off.’ Didn’t seem to bother my brother the same way, or my parents.”

“Simon calls it ‘psychic residue,’” Vic agreed. “I think people who go into police, fire, and other emergency roles have more than a little sixth sense, even if we don’t like to think of it that way. Helps us do our jobs and stay safe, but sometimes we also pick up on the secret gunk under the surface whether or not we find out for sure.”

Jimmy nodded. “Yeah. I think you’re right. There are too many coincidences to count that out.” He gestured toward the damaged hotel. “What do we do about this?” He managed to make one word encompass the fire, the fire setter, and the potential for supernatural mayhem.

Vic sighed. “I don’t know yet. I sent the hotel owner to talk to Simon. With all his connections in the paranormal community, I’m hoping someone there can help figure out what is behind this. Until that happens, I guess we stay extra alert.” He knew he wouldn’t have to explain more since Jimmy knew Simon as well.

Vic paused, thinking of how best to phrase his comment. “When I looked into the history of fires at Ocean Visions, there seemed to be a cycle with a big fire and a bunch of little, seemingly unrelated, blazes elsewhere.”

Jimmy looked intrigued. “Going back how long?”

“Back to ten years after the first Ocean Visions Hotel was built, nearly a century ago,” Vic told him. “It looked like a regular thing until the last sixty years when the hotel didn’t burn—until now.”

“You think it’s something hinky, like magic?” Jimmy knew about Simon and Vic’s involvement in paranormal cases. “And that the smaller fires might happen again?”

“Maybe. Bears looking at,” Vic said with a shrug. “Just do me a favor and keep your eyes open. Little fires that might not seem connected might be part of a bigger pattern.”

“I’ll tell my teams that we might have an arsonist on the loose and to keep a close eye out,” Jimmy replied. “I think they’ll get the drift, even if I don’t spell it out.”

“Stop by Simon’s shop. He’s got protective necklaces that really work,” Vic urged.

Jimmy pressed an open palm to his chest. “Absolutely. I figure it can’t hurt.”

Vic took a long look at the Ocean Visions. Most of the building appeared unharmed, although the closest section had smoke damage on the outside. The whole place would probably need to be cleaned to get rid of the smell of smoke. Whether or not the owner decided to stick with his problematic legacy, it was going to be a long road to recovery, even without having a demon on the loose.

He was headed back to his car when a blast of cold washed over him like wind from a winter storm. A sense of palpable evil made Vic’s heart pound, even as he reached to clasp one of the amulets in his fist.

Something gave him a hard shove, even though none of the firefighters were nearby. He nearly lost his footing, dangerous amidst the rubble. Vic braced for another attack, but none came.

Was that a warning? If so, message delivered.

2

Simon

Simon Kincaide began restocking the displays once he and Pete King, his assistant, opened the shop for the day.

Grand Strand Ghost Tours offered guided walking tours of Myrtle Beach’s most popular haunted locations along with a dose of local history and folklore. The shop sold books on the town’s ghostly history, including three written by Simon himself. It also sold silver charms, crystals, dried protective plants, saints’ candles, and a variety of T-shirts, stickers, shot glasses, and coffee mugs. Simon had a table in the back for private psychic readings, which proved very popular.