Father Santos and Father Simon were conspiring on the opposite side of the room.
“I’m glad that you’re here,” Cid said.
“I wasn’t needed in the hospital,” Father Simon reminded Cid.
“No. I just thought you were…” he stopped before he blurted out about the keys and the attic, “with Jesse,” he finished.
“He’s so headstrong, reckless, and irreverent,” Father Simon said. “A very bad patient.”
“Someone will have to keep an eye on him,” Father Santos said.
“Excuse me, are you talking about the man Bridgeton supposedly bashed in the head?” Miss Gee asked.
“No, another contractor who fell through the ice,” Father Santos said.
“Why was the fool on the ice?” Miss Gee asked.
“He was trying to stop Bridgeton from tossing something into it.”
Arnold was on his feet and opened the safe. “The keys are gone.”
“It’s probably for the best,” Miss Gee said.
“But what if he wins?”
“He won’t,” Miss Gee said confidently.
“What if he wins?” Arnold asked again.
“The spirits will be trapped here forever and…”
“This is not acceptable!” Arnold said. “You promised that if anything happened to me, the spirits of the men who lost their lives in this house would be released.”
“I don’t remember any such promise,” Miss Gee lied.
“I’ll take the house down brick by brick if I have to,” Cid vowed.
“You’ll do no such thing!” Bridgeton said, walking into the library. “It’s my home, and I’ll raise my family in it. You, sir, need to find your place.”
“Bridgeton, calm down.”
“I will not calm down. You gave the house to me. I have the papers. I am not only the heir but the owner of the demon Gadus!”
Arnold looked at Miss Gee.
“Don’t look at her, she’s not going to help you. I know her name, and I know what you did to August. I’ve known since I was old enough to understand the words that were whispered to me. The treachery of the female demon. Do you know how old the body is that you…”
“That will be enough of that!” Arnold said standing. “You’ll not inherit this or any part of my legacy. Get out, Bridgeton, and take August with you!”
Bridgeton instead walked over and sat down in a chair opposite the congressman. “It’s time you and I had a private talk, Arnold.” He looked over at the priests and then at Cid. “Get the fuck out of my house!”
“It’s not your house!” Arnold said.
“I beg to differ,” August Atwater’s voice proclaimed.
The men in the room could see Bridgeton’s Ken doll features fall away and a harsher visage form as the elemental took control. “It was my money that built this house, my money that supported your mother, and my money that you still rely on to do your good works.”
“Grandfather, let the boy go. He’s an ass but still innocent. It’s time for the likes of us to…”
“To what? Leave? I’m not going anywhere. And if she’s wise, Gadus will return to my side before I out her to the demon council.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Miss Gee exclaimed.
“I would. I understand that they will strip you of your gold and your skin. No more will you be able to seduce humans in your flayed form.”
Father Santos crossed himself.
Jesse pushed through the insulation and found himself in the main attic. A door slammed open, and Murphy stumbled in.
“The weight of the iron is zapping me of my energy. I must return to the outside to recharge,” he said, holding the beads at arm’s length. The keys twirled back and forth.
Jesse took the keys. “Go recharge and then return to Cid’s side.”
“But…”
“That is where Mia would like you to be,” Jesse insisted.
“But…”
“Stop being a dumb farmer and…” Jesse’s last words fell away. Murphy had already left.
Jesse stood up and said aloud, “Now which way is north?”
“Well, if it isn’t the eejit who took an icy plunge for us wee ghosties,” Blue Daniel said.
“Time’s not on our side,” Jesse said. “Which way is north?”
“Behind you,” Jon O’Connor said. “That box is set as close to north as it gets.”
Jesse moved quickly to the box. He tore away the surrounding insulation and started to fit the keys into the lock.
“What are you doing?” Jon asked amazed.
“Setting you free. I don’t know if I have to remove your heart from the box, but I will open it,” Jesse said.
Jon fell to his knees. “Praise Jesus, Mary and Joseph.”
Jesse found the key and carefully fitted it in the lock and turned it. Blinding light burst out, and Jesse fell backwards. He rubbed at his eyes, trying to rub the blue dots away.
“Careful, Jesse, you’ll rub your eyeballs out,” Jon said softly.
Jesse focused on the voice and saw Jon O’Connor staring down at him.
“You could have warned me that your heart was so powerful,” Jesse said.
“I think they trapped part of the light that was coming for me,” Jon said. “I hear my mother.”
“Find Faye and say goodbye,” Jesse said. “I’ll release Daniel.”
Jon disappeared. Jesse removed the heart which had withered and dried into something resembling a misshaped prune and set it in a handkerchief he found in Wayne’s jeans pocket. He crawled over to where he had found Jon’s remains and set the heart in the center. He gently replaced what had covered Jon’s body. He crawled back to the open box and turned around. Jesse didn’t trust his eyes or his balance, so he crawled directly away from the north box. He kept a hand on a beam he knew to be true from his earlier inspection. He found the south box and started fitting the three remaining keys. He got it on the first try.
Daniel was watching Murphy moving towards the trees from the nursery window when
