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Chapter Sixteen<br />

Later that night, I was sprawled out on the couch staring up<br />

at the ceiling when Gunner’s head blocked my view of the white<br />

expanse above me. “We have to talk about Tucker.”<br />

My heart kicked as it tried to get out of my chest. It didn’t<br />

want to hear whatever Gunner had to say. But if it meant helping<br />

him in any way, I had to listen. I quickly scooted backward so I<br />

could sit up and make room for him on the couch with me.<br />

“You said you came across something not so good when you<br />

were ghost hunting?” he asked as he lowered himself to the cushion<br />

by my feet.<br />

I nodded as my heart continued to pound out a rapid rhythm<br />

against my ribs. “Yeah.”<br />

“I know you’re not supposed to reveal anything about your<br />

clients, but can you at least tell me what happened there? That could<br />

have something to do with why he’s sitting there burning his own<br />

hand.” Gunner’s face was red and he looked like he’d rather be<br />

chewing on nails than sitting here having this conversation with me.<br />

“Like head trauma? Because I thought of that,” I offered.<br />

His eyebrows furrowed. “No, not exactly.”<br />

I took a deep breath, and when I let it out, the story spilled<br />

forth. I told him about the way I felt uneasy from the very beginning<br />

of the case but tried to brush it off, about how Tucker almost had his<br />

head slammed in a closet and his hand burned before being tossed<br />

into a wall. By the time I finished, my hands were shaking so badly<br />

I had to use them pull my knees against my chest to keep them<br />

steady.<br />

Gunner was quiet for a little while as he stared down at the<br />

couch cushion beside him. When he finally raised his head, he said,<br />

“Chelsea ... was this Timmy Johansson’s house?”<br />

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present Chelsea Keller,<br />

the magnificent detective who never misses a beat. Timmy<br />

Johansson was Gunner’s friend who kept telling him that he had a<br />

demon in his closet. This is the second time I forgot this. Damn it.<br />

<strong>17</strong>2

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