“I thought four was the magic number.” That’s what he’d told me when we snuck in Ms. Wolff’s apartment in the Galena House that first time we held a séance there.
“Four is good for delving into the past to seek a spirit. Five is perfect for communicating with an entity that’s already here.”
Where did he get this shit? Was there some instructional manual for paranormal junkies out there?
“We have to do it, Vi.” Natalie took his side. “Jane must want you to see something down in that Hellhole.”
What if I didn’t want to see what was in the Hellhole? I wasn’t even a little curious. In fact, my vote was to fill it full of cement and seal the damned thing off for good.
“I don’t know about this, Cornelius,” Doc said, watching me. “Our channeler looks like she’s ready to bolt. You and I both know that the medium needs to be relaxed and ready in order to open a channel.”
“It feels too rushed,” Cooper added.
“That’s because you’re a cop,” Natalie said. “You’re used to planning everything and writing reports about it later.” Her smile took any sting out of her words. “Spontaneity makes you itchy, hot cop.”
Whereas Natalie shot from the hip most days.
I crossed my arms. “We’re forgetting about my first objection—I’m hungry.”
Cornelius pointed at his protein drink that still sat on a bookshelf by the door.
I scowled at him. “I’m not drinking that stuff.”
Doc chuckled. “You could mix it with tequila.”
“Channeling while hungry will sharpen your focus.” Cornelius finished making his rock art and laid a line of salt in front of the closet door. “Violet, please.”
Crud. He rarely ever asked me nicely. In fact, I wasn’t sure he even knew that word until now. I sighed. “You promise that we’re only going to stay in this room and ask her questions?”
“Of course.”
“How can you be sure we’ll reach her and we aren’t wasting our time?” Cooper asked.
“Because she’s already here.” Cornelius set the salt shaker next to his protein drink. “She’s been here with us pretty much since I came down here.”
“What?” I gaped at him and then Doc. “I thought she’d disappeared after leading Cooper and me in here.” Cooper hadn’t mentioned still being able to see her since then. “Why didn’t either of you two say something?”
“Because I wasn’t sure at first that it was her energy I was picking up.” Cornelius was the first to speak. “She’s being very shifty tonight.”
How was that different from normal? Jane had left us a message previously to stop watching her. She didn’t like being videotaped against her will, apparently wanting to reach out on her own terms.
“I’m only catching a little from her, and even that is iffy. Something is different tonight, which must have to do with why she’s opened the door,” Doc confirmed. “Coop, you seeing anything?”
He shook his head. “Not since she lured us in here earlier.”
I chewed on my lower lip. “What do you think, Doc? Should we do this?”
He shrugged. “We can keep it short and simple. Have you ask a few questions and then ask her to lock the door and shut off the lights behind us.”
I frowned at the open closet door. I could do this. I’d faced off with a pack of Chimera, for Christ’s sake. What was one ghost—and a nice one at that?
“Okay, let’s do this and be done. I have a date with a hot guy, three kids, some cheese, and a television tonight.”
While Cornelius moved the furniture around to his liking and positioned Natalie and then Cooper, who was even less thrilled than I was about doing the séance, I called Aunt Zoe. When she asked what was holding us up, I told her there were two problems—Jane and a Hellhole. That spurred a lot more whispered questions, but I assured her I’d fill her in on it all as soon as I came home if she’d save Doc and me a couple pieces of the meat-lovers pizza she told me she’d bought for an easy Saturday night supper.
After our deal was made and she’d warned me to be careful and stay out of the “dark,” referring to the realm where I’d run into trouble more than once while channeling, I hung up.
When Cornelius pointed at the chair placed alone in the center of the room, I cringed.
“Why do I have to be the monkey in the middle?” Before Cooper could get a smartass comment in, I pointed at him. “If you say one word, I’ll drag you into the dark with me.”
He grinned, but kept his mouth closed.
“Because you’re channeling.” Cornelius held the ghost meter up again and pushed a button.
“Why do you call that thing ‘Eddy’?” I asked as I took a seat.
“Because it’s spelled E-D-I.”
“It’s sort of an all-in-one ghost hunting tool,” Doc explained as he sat down on the floor next to the closet door. I wondered if there was a reason for him choosing that spot and if so, did it have anything to do with keeping me from going down through that trapdoor.
I turned back to Cornelius. “So, you’re watching for signs of Jane’s energy via changes in the electromagnetic field in here?”
He nodded. “And any fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and air pressure.”
“Is she in here right now?” Natalie asked. She got to sit over near the file cabinet, lucky girl.
“No, but there still seems to be something out in the hallway causing a spike in readings. When I move closer to it, the entity shifts farther away.”
Jane had been a pretty private person when she was alive, so it was no surprise that extended into death.
“What’s the plan?” Cooper asked. He stood in the office doorway for some reason. “And what am I supposed to do with this rock?” He held out a black stone that Cornelius had handed him a moment before.
“That’s hematite,” Cornelius explained. “It will ground you, help balance your energy, and eliminate stress.” He pointed at Natalie.
