“Keep them,” she said. “Sit down so the men can sit,” Sabine instructed.
“K.” Mia started to move towards Ted, but Mike pulled out a chair next to him, and she didn’t want to be rude. She looked over at Ted, and he seemed alright with it.
“She seems nervous,” Burt observed as he sat down next to Ted.
“I think we’re going to ask one of you guys to take our room so we can sleep on the boat. The hotel is a hotpot of ghosts from many generations. A lot of people have died there. I have hacked into the hotel’s security system and already have hours of footage we can use. Also, Murphy is back on dry land. Mia felt his return. She says he’s headed to the farm.”
“How do you feel about it?”
“It’s his farm,” Ted said. “If his existing there is a problem, Mia, the kids, and I will just move. I can just about handle a second place.”
“Don’t be too hasty, I’m sure Mia will find a way to coexist. In the meantime, I’ll give you my stateroom,” Burt said. “I hope it will help. You know when Mia is overrun by ghosts…”
“She drinks,” Ted completed. “It mutes the sounds and blurs the visions.”
“I’ll put a bug in Mike’s ear so he watches her intake.”
“I would be surprised if he wasn’t plying her with drinks,” Ted said.
“Believe it or not, Mike has her best interests at heart.”
“Just as long as he knows who has her heart,” Ted said.
Burt turned sideways and looked at him. “Wow. Lucky you.”
Kevin pulled Fergus out of the restaurant. “Did you hear? My son is on dry land and headed to the farm.”
“So, the seafaring adventure has come to a close,” Fergus said dryly.
“You don’t seem happy. I know you had your problems early on with him, but he is family.”
“I think there is something you ought to see,” Fergus said, pulling a black disc out of his pocket.
“What is it?”
“It’s that camera Mia was wearing. The one that didn’t transmit once she got on the boat. It fell off when she fainted. I found it in the boat and thought it was a button. You know how valuable buttons were when we were kids,” Fergus explained.
“Yes, Catherine would hide me every time I would lose one. So, this is really a camera?”
“Remember the scenes of the ship? They came from here.”
“I thought it stopped recording once she got on the ship.”
“It just stopped transmitting. I took it and waited until Cid and Ted left the office. I asked that Jake fella how to check and see if it were still working. He was afraid I’d upload a virus into the computer he sleeps in, so I took one of the old laptops, and he described how to plug in this and do that, and before I know it, I’m seeing the pictures of the ship. I get to the part when she climbs aboard, and it’s still showing me stuff.”
“It recorded. Why didn’t you let the PEEPers know?”
“You have to see it. Show me where all that computer stuff is that Ted brought with him, and I’ll let you see what really happened on that boat.”
Chapter Thirty-two
Kevin watched the computer but didn’t say anything until he saw himself. “I remember this part.”
Murphy said, “I think your trip to Hell has changed you. You’ve brought back some of it with you. If I ever return, it will never be because of you.”
“Fine,” Mia said. “Forgive me if I invent something less hurtful to tell the others. Kevin, will you be returning?” she asked.
“I’m not a seafairing man. I’ll say goodbye to my son and escort you across the veil. Although Fergus may come back.”
“It’s his choice,” Mia said, suddenly tired.
“I’m going to check on him,” Kevin said.
This is where I left,” Kevin narrated.
Mia sat down and put her head in her hands.
Murphy asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry, I left you behind, but I couldn’t take both you and the demon into the pit with me. You’re a hero. You saved so many. I hate to think of you rotting away under a boatswain’s whip.”
“I hate to think of you period,” he spat back at her.
“Where is your axe?” she asked.
“I used to keep it at my side, but now it’s next to my bunk.”
“May I have it?”
“It’s spectral.”
“I still want it to remember you by,” Mia said.
“I’ll go and get it. Leave soon before the captain fills you with child.”
“I can’t believe you just said that to me!”
“Mia, I have eyes. I know a whore when I see one.”
Mia slapped him and slapped him hard. He caught her arm. She shook it free from his grasp. Mia walked over and stared in the mirror. “Whatever I did, I did to save you,” she said. “Go. I’ll tell the captain I have no need for you.”
Murphy stood there for a minute.
Mia continued to cry, and she clutched her heart for a moment.
“Get the hell out of here!” she shouted, pointing to the door.
“I knew Ted couldn’t see this because he may not understand the kissy-face stuff with the captain. I know she was acting. She even hypnotized the fella like we saw them do in the carnival. He just stood there while she gave the birdmen the keys. I thought I was going to die again when the quartermaster appeared.”
“Yes, she was acting. You could tell it in her voice,” Kevin said. “She told me once that demons were sexy critters. I think she was acting and using it and her mind powers to get the keys. You
