“Hello, Jesse. A few years ago, I took a high dive, not by choice, into an icy well. The water was so cold that my heart stopped. Murphy, who was down in the well with me, restarted my heart. He reached into my chest and squeezed until my blood was moving. Essentially, he brought me back. I was dead but not dead-dead.”
“That’s where you guys got that from,” Jesse realized.
“Murphy gave me back the gift of life, but with it comes something else. Bear with me a moment while I elaborate. During another investigation, Tom Braverman drowned in quicksand, and his heart stopped. Ethan Aldridge pulled him to solid land. Because of Murphy’s success with me, he reached in and restarted Tom’s heart. Yes, he’s our one-ghost defibrillator. The reason I mention Tom is because after Murphy brought him back, Tom started seeing ghosts. I’m not sure why this happened, but it’s a distinct possibility that you too may be able to see some of the other side. I’ll be back in the country in a week’s time. I would be happy to guide you through this. It can be a curse or a gift. It’s all how you look at things. In the meanwhile, no driving.”
Alan turned off the recording.
“Well, that explains my hallucination in the hall. I thought it was the drugs. The reason I moved down the corridor a bit was that I saw three drunken women in various modes of undress who were fighting. Actually, I’d say brawling.”
“I bet there’s a story there,” Alan said.
Father Simon looked at Alan in amazement. “This doesn’t faze you does it?”
“After you rid your girlfriend of a negative elemental while trying to keep the car from plunging into an icy river, nothing really is that frightening.”
“Why can’t I drive?” Jesse asked.
“Mia spent years driving around ghosts, causing more problems. She eventually figured out how to tell the difference. She taught Tom,” Alan answered.
“Why am I like this?”
“Can I answer that?” Father Simon asked.
“Please,” Alan said.
“Stephen Murphy is pure energy, and he transferred some of that energy into your body. It acts like a special key to unlock the next veil.”
“Speaking of keys… What happened to them?”
“Cid has them. I gave them to him myself,” Father Simon answered. “The prayer beads had an energy to them.”
“Mala beads. They were a gift from someone who thought she could save me from myself.”
“There is energy still there. There must have been a lot of love attached,” Father Simon said.
“Unfortunately, my baggage far outweighed the love,” Jesse divulged.
“Did she move on?” Alan asked.
“In a manner of speaking. She went to the Roof of the World and either is still there, dead, or she never intends on returning – to me anyway.”
“Tibet is called the Roof of the World,” Alan realized. “I think we know people who could find out for you.”
“Thanks for the offer, but she made it very clear she wouldn’t be waiting for me, not on Earth and certainly not in the light.”
“You must have really pissed her off, Scrub,” Kiki said from the doorway.
“Enter Miss Congeniality,” Jesse said. “Kiki, you always manage to make me feel like an overdrawn checking account.”
“Some of us are talented that way. Gentlemen, I received a phone call from Congressman Atwater’s assistant. He will be at the mansion in two hours and expects me there.”
“Don’t go,” Father Simon said. “If the negative elemental is in residence, there is little I or Father Santos can do to protect you.”
“I’ll try to meet with him outside or in the carriage house,” Kiki said.
“Bridgeton was possessed,” Jesse said. “If he’s around, I expect old August to stay with him. No offense, but if he’s going to toss more keys, Kiki, you throw like a girl.”
“I consider that a compliment,” Kiki said, her eyes sharp.
“I think we’re going a bit off script,” Alan said. “I’ll be with her. Folks, I think we need to get a handle on this so we can do the right thing.”
“Agreed. Father Simon, see if you find me something to wear,” Jesse said. “What clothes I have that haven’t been cut off are soaking wet.”
“You’re staying here,” Kiki said. “I don’t want Wayne alone. His doctor says he suspects Wayne’s skull is cracked. If you leave, he’s going to leave.”
“Not if I take his clothes,” Jesse said, pulling off his nasal cannula.
“Mr. Holden!” a very large male nurse scolded, walking in. “You put that back and settle down or I’m going to recommend having you strapped in.”
Jesse lay back and crossed his arms, which took some doing, considering the IV and the other monitors.
“You may develop a lung infection. Pneumonia isn’t abnormal considering you drowned. The EMTs said you took in a lot of water.”
“It was icy cold. It was like inhaling an Icee. Talk about brain freeze,” Jesse said.
“Your brain has been frozen for years,” Kiki said.
“Your heart stopped,” the nurse reminded him. “It’s a miracle it started again. Let us do our jobs.”
Jesse frowned. “I’m sorry…” he looked at the man’s name badge, “Bernie, it’s just I’m missing out on so much.”
“I’m sure, considering your friends, you’ll have more adventures ahead of you. Get well first. I’m sending Dr. Crisper in for your psych evaluation. You’ll get a kick out of her.”
“Psych evaluation?” Jesse paled.
“Standard protocol for suicides.”
“But…”
“Bernie, I assure you Jesse didn’t try to kill himself,” Kiki stressed.
“Didn’t he go walking on a thawing lake?” Bernie asked.
“I wasn’t there. I’m sure he had a good reason,” Kiki said.
“Not one I can talk about in front of non-believers,” Jesse said.
Father Simon got up.
“Father, tell him,” Jesse pleaded.
“I’m sure a little talk with
