Page 26 of Coven of Corpses

“Right,” Demmy said. “The town was officially founded by Parson Abbott Stone. He built a cabin and a church out here in the woods somewhere next to a hollow, which was how the town got its name. Other people soon settled around him and the town grew from there.”

“I wonder which came first, the coven or the parson?” Ollie said. “What do you know about this Parson Stone guy?”

Cody shrugged when Demmy looked at him, and said, “Clarabell didn’t have time to go into detail about all that.”

“Do you know where this original church and cabin were built?” Ollie asked.

Demmy shook his head. “Not specifically. Somewhere in the woods outside of town, but I don’t know that it’s ever been marked as a historical site or anything.”

“The logging company most likely demolished all traces of it,” Cody said.

“I’m going to assume the good parson didn’t appreciate having a coven of witches in his brand new, carved-fresh-from-the-tree town,” Ollie said.

“Would have been quite the face-off if they’d been happening around the same time,” Cody said. “Not sure I would have wanted to be ringside for that showdown.” He looked at Ollie. “Did Eileen know where Rita’s body was found?”

“No. But Dieter said something about a lot of police activity out by a place called ‘the wiggle’ last night.”

“Where the hell is that?” Cody said.

“No idea.”

“I’ve never heard of a place called the wiggle,” Demmy said.

“We could always stop by the sheriff’s station and ask our favorite deputy,” Cody said. “I haven’t been in handcuffs for a while. I’m starting to feel ignored.”

“You guys need to up your sex games,” Ollie said.

Cody refused to mentally picture anything Ollie and Cody’s brother Dave might get up to in the bedroom. Nope, not even a bit. Closed door, locked tight. From the smirk on Ollie’s face, he’d said that on purpose just to give Cody a case of the icks. Bastard future brother-in-law.

“Anyway,” Demmy said. “Let’s look around and see if we can find this crime scene.” He pulled a red shop towel from his pocket and tied it around a tree branch.

“What’s that for?” Ollie asked.

“I’ve learned the hard way to mark the path back,” Demmy said. “Here we go.”

Demmy set off between some trees and Cody gestured for Ollie to go ahead of him.

“Don’t look at my ass,” Ollie said.

“The shine from your bald spot is way more pronounced.”

That earned him an over-the-shoulder glare, and he gave a tight smile in return.

They tromped through the woods for an hour but found nothing that resembled a crime scene. Cody was tired and hungry, bordering on all-out cranky.

“Let’s call it a day,” he said, stopping in his tracks. “We’re just walking through the woods now. Whatever happened out here, we’re not going to find it this way.”

Demmy stopped and faced him, forcing Ollie to stop and turn as well.

“Yeah, I agree,” Demmy said. “Maybe Lucia will be open to sharing some information.”

“We could always check back in with my grandma,” Ollie said. “Or we could pay a visit to Clarabell.”

Cody’s brain nearly shut down. “I can’t handle Clarabell for a second time today. I need to figure out how to avoid my family and get some food, then I need to get to work. I’ve got another late shift tonight.”

“Don’t you mean you need to take your lunch break because you’ve been at work all this time?” Ollie said with a smirk.

Cody took a step forward and pointed at him. “Don’t rat me out, Ollie.”