Carl came back down the stairs carrying a bag of chips. Wayne tried to grab the bag.
“Hands off, I’ve got to keep up my strength,” Carl said.
The men resumed their work, and Cid filed Kiki’s red eyes, along with her leaving before the work day was finished, as interesting.
~
Cid had just changed his shirt for dinner when there was a pounding on the trailer door. Cid opened it to see Carl standing there. “I’ve come to discuss Kiki Pickles and my sister sharing a room.”
“Sure. Would you like a beer?”
“Please,” Carl said. He walked through the trailer, opening and closing compartments. “This seems a lot bigger on the inside. If I put her in here, would you keep your hands off her?”
“I don’t think Sally would appreciate being put into a trailer with two bachelors. Why not toss Walrus out on the couch and put Sally in your room?”
“You’re right, that would be the best solution. The reason I would rather have her here than in that building is that she suffers from PTSD. In her case, her fight and flight instinct, once turned on, she can’t shut it off and… It’s not pretty. Sudden noises can set her off. I hate to think how Sally would have responded if it were her seeing that knife and those red eyes and not me. I think Sally would feel safer here, if there’s room.”
“Is Sally asking to change rooms?” Cid asked.
Carl patted his chest. “I would feel safer if Sally could bunk with you guys until I know Kiki is back to her old self.”
“I’ll sleep here at the table, and she can have my bunk. There’s a door that she can close. Jesse is on the opposite side of the trailer.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Can you keep your hands off her?”
“I’m a gentleman and I will not take advantage. Neither will Jesse. You’ve worked with him.”
“That’s the problem. I’ve heard his stories.”
“That’s what they are, they are stories. If it makes you feel better, I’ll have Faye stay in here too. Sally will never be alone with one of us.”
“That would help.”
“Ask Jesse if she can bunk here. I’m just his guest. Give him the responsibility of keeping her safe. It would be good for him.”
~
“I’m what?” Sally asked, not believing her ears.
“You’re staying in the fifth wheel with the cowboy and Cid.”
“Carl, I can take care of myself.”
“Sister Angelica would skin me alive if she knew you were rooming with a possibly possessed woman.”
“What would she do to me, living with two men?” Sally asked, her hands on her hips.
“Go pack. I’ll stir the sauce,” Carl ordered.
Sally knew better than to fight Carl. She walked past Kiki who seemed deep in thought looking at her whiteboard. It took a few minutes, but she had everything jammed into her duffle bag with the exception of her toothbrush. She’d bring that down with her after supper. She lugged the bag down the steps and out into the cold fading light. She pounded on the door, and Jesse opened it and reached for her duffle.
“Welcome to Villa Holden. We have you booked into the just vacated Garrett suite. Mind your head.”
“I’m sorry about this, Jesse. When Carl makes up his mind…”
Jesse waved her off. “I’ve worked with him for years. I understand. Since we’re now bunkhouse mates, I was going to call you Hands Off, or HO for short, but Cid thought that would be a bad idea. I thought Not A Guy or NAG. Again, it just didn’t fit.”
“How about Sally?” she said, her face full of mirth.
“Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Where’s Cid?”
“He’s outside having a conversation with someone named Father Santos.”
“Is Cid Catholic?”
“You’d think so, but I don’t think he’s practicing. Father Santos is a big cheese in exorcist circles. He’s a friend of the Martin family and PEEPs.”
“Would you mind if I just toss my duffle on the bunk. Carl is in charge of my sauce. Last time I left him alone in the kitchen, my Italian meal ended up tasting like Tex-Mex.”
“No problem. See you at dinner, Sally.”
Faye appeared when Sally left. “You did a remarkable job of making her feel better.”
“I’m a saint, what can I say. Saint Jesse of the spirit level.”
“Clever,” Cid said walking in. “It works in two different scenarios.”
“You just missed Sally. What’s up with Father Santos?”
“Father Simon came to see him. Santos is worried and gave me some advice. Evidently, there’s a rumor that this heritage demon doesn’t want to be bound to Atwater. It’s actually a hostage.”
“Yikes, that doesn’t sound good,” Faye said. “Should we tell Carl that Kiki is just being a bitch and not possessed?”
“No!” Jesse and Cid said together, for different reasons.
“The demon could still be working for Atwater. It just doesn’t want to be,” Cid said.
“Maybe part of it resides in one of those boxes,” Jesse suggested.
“We spoke with Jon,” Cid told Faye. “We’ll do our best by him.”
“I know you will.”
“I’m also going to interview him when this is all over.”
“Why?” Faye asked curious.
“He’s sane as you or me, and the rest of the ghosts are past the point of no return.”
“Yes.”
“I’m working on a theory that Irish ghosts don’t go crazy,” Cid said. “I’m going to see if Burt would like to work on this with me. He’s getting a grant to study the paranormal.”
“Don’t use Jon,” Faye said.
Jesse caught Cid’s eye. “Faye, he seems like an upstanding ghost. Cid’s an upstanding corporeal. I’m sure each will treat the other with respect.”
“Good. Now what are we going to do about Kiki?
