Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, only the story line.
Chapter Nine
FATHER D's Point of View
Why is nothing ever simple around Susannah? It will be interesting to see how her kids turn out, especially considering Jesse's calm nature. I hope for everyone's sake they will take after their father – the world can't handle another Susannah. But, then again, I wouldn't have the world without at least this one.
3RD PERSON Point of View
The two brothers were still arguing, only about music this time, when they pulled up at the address they had gotten from the secretary.
"Son of a bitch! How would you like to live here, Sammy?"
Sam could only look at the house – mansion – with awe.
"Ok, let's go see what Mr. Money Bags has to say for himself."
The bothers go out the car and knocked of the door. A man in a nurse's uniform soon opened the door looking tired.
"Hello, how may I help you two gentlemen?"
The brothers did their usual introduction before asking to come in.
"Of course, what is it you'd like to talk about with the younger Mr. Slater, if I may ask? His grandfather wouldn't probably be the best to sit in on the convocation, but if you need an adult present…"
"Thanks, but that isn't needed," Sam assured the man. "He is not in trouble. We just want to ask him a few questions that might help us with a case."
"Why wouldn't his grandfather be the best choice?" enquired Dean, curious.
"He is not well, often not lucid, but he seems to be getting better each time that Suzan girl comes around. The only one I've ever heard him talk to, as soon as anyone else enters the room he shuts down."
"How does he know her?"
"Paul brought her over a while ago. She seemed to have developed a fondness for the old man and he her."
"Huh." The brothers didn't really know how to respond to that. Besides did this Susannah know everyone in this hick town? They now knew they would be asking about more than just the belt buckle a certain ghosty might be attached to.
"Mr. Slater's probably in his room. This way."
On the way up the stairs Dean leaned over to whisper in Sam's ear. "I'm sure she could get anyone to talk as long as they have eyes."
"His ancient. Besides, I'm sure he just enjoys the convocation." Sam whispers back at the corner of his mouth.
"Sure Sammy, that's why the only one he talks to is a smoking hot young woman, not his guy nurse or his own grandson. For good convocation."
Sam just shook his head, thankful now to arrive at Paul's room.
"Mr. Slater?"
"Yep, what is it?"
"The FBI is here to see you."
They all heard chuckling come from inside the room. "I haven't done anything wrong – at least not anything I can be charged with. Not that I'd be stupid enough to get caught for anything I did do."
Dean took over. "We just want to ask you a few questions…"
The door opened, giving the two brothers their first look at the boy. He stood the same height as Dean with a similar build and look, only with curly brown hair and fog grey eyes. Dean and Sam also immediately knew that Paul knew he looked good. Dean hated people like that – excluding himself of course.
"Sure," he says shrugging, "come in."
As they walk in, the nurse turns back down the stairs. "I'll leave you alone then. If you need anything just shout."
"So...?" Paul began when the other man disappeared down the stairs. "What do ya want to know?"
"We were enquiring about a belt buckle you bought a little while ago from your schools auction."
His face looses the smile and almost darkens over. "What about that piece of tin?"
Sam raised his eyebrows. "'Piece of tin' isn't that a bit…extreme for something you paid so much for?"
"Yeah, well. I don't have it anymore. I gave it away to…a friend."
"A friend? Can we get a name?"
"Suze Simon, lives – "
"Yeah, yeah. We know where she lives." Dean interrupts.
Paul looks amusingly surprised. "Huh. Really? Why is that? She do something wrong? She's not hurt is she?"
"Miss Simon is fine. It's all just a part of our investigation."
"Well, I wouldn't look too hard. Some things are meant to stay secret."
"Why would you say that?"
"No reason."
"What do you think of her?" Sam asks moving on.
"Hot, of course, as well as hot-headed. Strong-willed, but also total vigilante. Sticks up for the little people and does the whole heartfelt thing until that doesn't work or she doesn't like you. Get a few whacks in the face if that's the case." He grimaced.
"I'm judging by your tone you've been on the receiving line of one of these 'wacks'?" Dean asks, trying to hide his amusement over the idea of such a short female taking a swing at a guy twice her size. Then again, if he could get a look underneath her shirt to see if she's packing any muscle…
"…I've learnt from my mistakes."
"Was there anyone else that she didn't like?" Sam asks. "Anyone she might have gotten into a fight with recently? What about her boyfriend?"
"She fights with her brother mostly. Well, step-brother, as she reminds everyone. But she doesn't do anything to serious. She's devious that one. Always hits in a place no one would see a bruise." He pauses. "And she would never fight with Jesse. He has her wrapped around his fingers. Worships the ground he bloody walks on. Lucky bastard."
The brothers share a look.
"What about her past times? Do you know what she does in her spare time?"
Paul's eyes seem to glint. "Saving poor unfortunate souls, mostly."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
"Anything else we should know?"
"I'm sorry but whatever secrets I hold of Suze's are still going to be with me when I die an old, old man."
"Why is that Mr. Slater?" Sam asks.
"Because if I tell you I will die a young, young man."
"Well…I guess, thank you for your time Mr. Slater."
"No problem. Always happy to help out."
The two brothers then left the room, only loosening their ties once they got into Dean's baby and sped off towards their motel.
"He knows."
"What?"
"He knows," Dean repeats. "Did you see that look in his eyes? And that was a clear reference to a witch. And all those cryptic remarks."
"And you went off at me for knowing fairy tales."
"Shut up."
"Ok, so what's her motive? She summons this ghost…to what? Exact revenge for the people the two victims killed? Why not just summon those guys instead? "
"Maybe she couldn't access any of their belongings." Dean shrugged. They'd been over this. He could never understand a witch's motive anyway. He hated witches.
"If she was close enough to them to want revenge for their deaths she could get something of theirs easy. And I don't know why she would know them anyhow."
"Maybe they were cremated and didn't stick around like this Hector guy did?"
"I guess so. Either that or she had used this ghost before and couldn't be bothered summoning a different one? But why exact revenge for them at all? She couldn't have known them."
This was going around in circles. "What about a ritualistic thing?"
"Again, what ritual? Besides, they don't usually get ghosts to do their dirty work for them. She has the Book of the Dead – she wouldn't need a ghost to do her bidding to get away with it. And if the belt buckle was what he was holding on to, why even let it out her sight?"
"Maybe she's only recently started using black magic?"
"And what about that connection to the priest– "
"Ok! Ok! Way too many questions all at once." Dean rubs his temples. "I say we find a place to eat, grab a power nap, then fry the son of a bitch. We can light up the other ones too, just in case. Then we can get the Hell out of Dodge."
"And the book?"
"We'll fry that too."
"And how do you suppose we do that? Sneak into a teenage girls room and under her bed?"
"We'll figure that out later. All I know is witches always give me the heebs and or jeebs, so were burning it. Hopefully she'll knock it off after her ghost minion is out of the count and her book is gone."
Sam opens his mouth to respond but stops and smiles when Dean begins to hum the tune of Jesse's Girl. They can talk about it later when their rumbling stomachs are full.