Read All Hallows Eve: A Krewe of Hunters Novella (1001 Dark Nights) for Free Online Page A

would be a great final statement to the world.”
    Stephanie gasped. “You don’t think he committed suicide, do you?”
    “We don’t really know anything at all,” Sam said. “We’re just here with the family.”
    “Did you two get married?” Stephanie asked.
    “Not yet,” Sam said. “But it’s coming. What do you two know about the mortuary and the haunted house? Anything odd going on there?”
    “You mean besides a man found hanged to death?” Audra asked.
    “Yeah. Besides that.”
    Stephanie shrugged and said, “The paranormal people aren’t happy about renting to the haunted house people. They’re above all that, you know. And the haunted house people just think that the paranormal people are crazy. Micah is kind of a self-important jerk and Jeannette Mackey thinks that she’s a serious psychic and that all the Wiccan palm and tarot readers in town are idiots. But when it comes to keeping the mortuary going, they force themselves to get along. Oh, my God. You don’t think Micah murdered him, do you?”
    “We don’t know what to think,” Sam said.
    “But you’ve come home to solve this murder, haven’t you?” Stephanie asked. “This is your home, Sam, right?”
    He nodded. “Absolutely.”
    Jenna looked at Audra. “Are you in a coven?”
    “I practice Wicca, but no, I’m not in a coven. I like practicing the tenets on my own. A lot of people don’t really practice, they just join covens and then charge for tarot and palm readings and whatever else. Then they charge to be mentors. I don’t like the charging part of it, so I practice on my own.”
    “Oh, come on, there are good covens in the area,” Stephanie said.
    “Some,” Audra agreed. “But only a few.”
    “So do Wiccans argue with each other?” Sam asked.
    “The only argument I know about is between Gloria Day and Tandy Whitehall,” Audra said. “Old school versus new school, and all about money. Gloria runs the Silver Moon Festival throughout October. Tandy is much younger and has started doing some really wickedly wild parties. They’re always vying for the most publicity. Everyone else is divided. Some support the new, others the old. But mainly they just bitch about each other privately.”
    “Then there’s that idiot who went to court to support the drunk who killed a guy in the crosswalk. Said he was a warlock and that he was going to hex everyone,” Stephanie said.
    “Male witches aren’t warlocks. They’re witches, right?” Sam said, frowning.
    “They are,” Audra agreed, flicking a hand in the air. “At least, in my circles they are. But there are zillions of diverse ways to be a Wiccan or practice the Old Religion. There’s Shamanic, Celtic, Gardnerian, and more, not to mention paganism, Pantheists, and Druids. What we all have in common is a love and respect for nature. Most of the holidays are about the same, speaking of which, Halloween is Samhain to us.
    “Anything else going on?” Sam asked.
    “I need another beer if we’re going to play twenty questions,” Stephanie said. “And you two haven’t had anything to drink yet. What’s happened to the service around here?”
    “I’ll take care of it,” Sam said. “I guess they’re swamped. What are you all drinking?”
    “Local brew. Black Witches Ale. Give it a try,” Stephanie said.
    “Okay, four mugs of Black Witches Ale coming up.”
    Sam walked over to the bar and waited his turn, observing those who were there, some in street clothes, others in partial costume. Those were the ones who worked at the historical or Halloween venues, glad to be out of Puritan or creature garb for the night.
    “Every place in Salem,” an older man next to him said, and sighed. He shook his head, then glanced at Sam apologetically, as if realizing he’d spoken aloud. “Sorry––commercialism! Good for Salem, hard on those who live here!”
    “It is almost Halloween,” Sam said.
    “Can’t wait until it’s over.”
    Sam offered his hand and