They all laughed, then went through the motions again. The only difference was that this time when they said, “When you’re good, you’re good,” they really meant it.
Chapter Eleven
“What in God’s name am I doing in Toots’s bed?” Ida demanded, looking around her as though she were in another world and hadn’t a clue how she’d gotten there. And she was, in a way.
“You whacked out in the bathroom,” Sophie explained. She needed to see what, if anything, Ida remembered.
Ida looked down. The shock of what she discovered hit her full force. “Why am I wearing this?” She touched the pale pink gown Sophie had dressed her in. “I know I did not have this on when I came here this morning.” She paused as though trying to recover a memory. “Is it still morning?” she asked in a childlike voice. Sophie felt a stab of pity for her friend, who placed so much of her self-worth on her appearance and what others thought of her.
Sophie plumped the pillows behind Ida’s head. “You don’t remember anything, do you?”
Ida considered her question. “I remember stopping by your house. I knocked, but no one answered, so I went inside. Your place looked like a cyclone had gone through it. I always thought you were so neat and organized.”
“Do you remember why you stopped over?”
Ida gave her a dirty look. “Of course I do. I need you to model for another brochure for Seasons. We’re planning the fall line now. I thought you could be the model of the month.”
“I’m flattered, really. But isn’t that your position?”
“Yes and no. You’re dark. I’m fair. Dark is better for the fall look. Plums, purples, and rich reds, they look much better against your skin tone than mine.”
Was it really that simple? Sophie knew the answer, but it didn’t matter now. Something much darker than Ida’s fall shades of makeup had touched her friend. She would fix this; she had to because it was her fault. She knew something wasn’t right in that house. She knew it the day Abby brought Jonathan and Amy over. She knew it the other day when she’d felt all that cold air, knew it from the dream that really wasn’t a dream. This was on her shoulders, and she was not about to allow some evil spirit to possess Ida, even if Ida was a bitch most of the time. She was her friend no matter what. And friends didn’t let friends . . . well, she knew what she needed to do. Now all she had to do was convince Ida to be a willing participant.
Taking a deep breath, Sophie turned so that she faced Ida. “When you came searching for me this morning and didn’t find me in the house, did you see anything unusual?”
“You’re unusual, Sophie. Why don’t you just come right out and ask me whatever it is you want to ask. We’ve been friends for too many years to beat around the bush, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I do, but there is a bit of a problem. You see, I think there is something . . . well, I believe there to be an evil spirit in my house. A soul who hasn’t crossed over. I’ve had dreams . . . or visions of a woman who had a horrible accident in the house.” Surely Ida could deduce what she was telling her? “I believe there is a man involved, too.” Ida would like this addition to her story, that she was sure of.
“Why am I undressed in this bed? Did I faint?”
Sophie relayed the events to her. “I stuffed pralines in my mouth?”
“And washed them down with scotch.”
“And this scene in the bathroom?” Ida looked in the direction of the master bedroom. “I actually lost control of my bladder?” The shock was still evident on her face.
Sophie wanted to laugh, but there was nothing funny about what was going on. Yes, Ida pissed all over the floor, but Ida wasn’t in control of herself. “You did, but it wasn’t like you could control yourself. What I’m trying to tell you is this—I think that something evil, a spirit or an entity of some kind”—this was the part she’d been dreading—“entered your body when you were at the house this morning.” She gave Ida a few minutes to absorb her words and what they meant.
Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She blinked rapidly as if trying to dispel the images Sophie had just revealed to her. “I don’t understand. Tell me again.”
Damn, this was much worse than she’d thought. “I think there is a very strong possibility that an entity, an angry spirit, may have, well it might’ve . . .” Shit, this wasn’t easy. As much as she normally delighted in messing with Ida, she didn’t like this one bit. “There’s a chance that you might be . . . possessed.”
Ida fell back against the pile of pillows, her face as pale as the white silk pillowcases she was leaning against. Her lips had a bluish tint, as if the oxygen were being sucked out of her body. Her hands gripped the light blanket Sophie had placed over her. Sophie feared she was about to lose her again. She leaned across the bed, placed her hands on Ida’s shoulders, and gave them a light shake. “Stay with me, Ida. Can you hear me?”
She squeezed her thin shoulders a bit harder than normal, hoping to get a response from her. “Ida?”
Snapping back into the moment, Ida rubbed her forehead with one hand and pulled the blanket up under her chin. “I’m here,” she whispered.
There was nothing more to be said. Sophie needed a minute to think of her next move. She felt sure Ida would appreciate a few moments of silence. She really needed to go home and study the book that Madam Butterfly left her, but she couldn’t leave Ida like this. She wouldn’t leave Ida like this. She might be here for the rest of the day and into the night. It didn’t matter. She was not going to let Ida out of her sight until she purged her of the evil that was trying to take over her mind and body.
“Listen to me, can you hear me?” Sophie said in a strong, firm voice. Not the soft, almost melodic voice she used when she was performing a séance. This was her voice, the voice of Sophie, her friend.
Ida nodded that she did.
“Can you talk?”
Ida rolled her eyes. This was good; she was being a smart-ass, Sophie thought. Smart-ass was very good under these circumstances.
“Yes, but I would like something to drink. Could you get me something to drink?”
Sophie had never felt so sorry for Ida. Not even when she’d been obsessed with germs. She had no control over this, and certainly had done nothing to deserve it, but it is what it is. “Yes, I’ll get some water.”
She hurried to the master bathroom. Spying Toots’s mouthwash glass they’d used earlier to clean the urine out of the Jacuzzi tub, she rinsed it a couple of times, then filled it with water and returned to the bedroom.
“Drink this.” She held the glass to Ida’s mouth, fearing that if she let her hold it, she’d drop it and spill the water all over herself. Ida drank the entire glass.
“More,” she said, somewhat out of breath.
Sophie refilled the glass, and this time, Ida held it. Though her hands were still shaky, she didn’t spill the water. Her color was coming back. That was a good sign. She needed Ida to talk, to tell her how she felt.
“Want some more?” Sophie asked.
“No, that’s enough. I want to know why this is happening! I don’t practice that voodoo magic, or that psychic stuff you live for. I want an explanation, Sophie, and I want it now!”
This was much better. Ida was returning to her old bitchy self. “I do, too. I am going to try to help you, but you can’t act like a bitch, Ida. You need to listen to me and do what I say. Do you think you can do that?”
Ida considered her question. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“Yeah, you could let it go and who knows what would happen to you, maybe to Daniel, quite possibly the twins, so sure, if you want to let it go, that’s your choice.”
“Of course I will not let this go! Do you think I’m insane?” Ida said, her tone almost back to normal.
Well, yes, she did often question her friend’s sanity, but now wasn’t the time to bring up the past.
“Do you feel like going downstairs?” Sophie didn’t know what she was going to do onc
e they were downstairs with the others, but she’d figure it out when and if.
“Is there something for me to wear, other than this?”
“I’m sure I can find something in Toots’s closet. Sit tight,” Sophie said before entering Toots’s huge walk-in closet. Five minutes later she came back with black silk lounging pants and a matching top. She took a bra and panty set from Toots’s lingerie drawer, then found a pair of sandals next to the bed. “This should fit. You want me to help you dress, or step out for a minute?” She really didn’t think it was wise to leave her alone right now, but if Ida insisted, she’d step into the hallway and leave the door cracked open.
“You can stay put. I have a feeling it was you who put this awful gown on me, so you must’ve seen the full view, not that I care. I’m not ashamed of my body.”
Sophie grinned. The bitch was back. At least for a while.
Chapter Twelve
Sophie saw that everyone was still in the kitchen. “Toots, come over here a second, I need to talk with you in private,” she said, then waited at the bottom of the staircase.
They all focused their attention on Sophie.
“Just Toots, okay?” she said to Goebel, Bernice, and Robert. “I’ll fill you guys in on the details later.”
Toots hurried to the bottom step. “Wanna go out and have a smoke?”
“Yes, but I can’t. Follow me upstairs. I don’t want to leave Ida alone any longer than I have to.”
Toots followed behind. When they stood outside Toots’s bedroom door, Sophie put a finger to her lips indicating they should be quiet. In a hushed voice, she said, “I don’t want Ida to know we’re out here. I need to observe her for a few minutes, to see if she’s really back to herself, or if this entity that seems to have taken over is screwing with me.”
Toots’s eyes got as wide as saucers. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. Evil lies and tries to draw you into its grasp so it, or they . . . hell, I don’t know how to refer to this shit, but I do know that we can’t let our guard down. We might think Ida is fine when in reality, she’s not.”
“I don’t get it. How can we distinguish the real Ida from this thing? This is almost too bizarre, even for us.”
“I’m not sure. I’ve read on the topic but not enough to completely understand it. I have a book at my house. I keep it locked in a safe in my office. Madam Butterfly gave it to me years ago when I was having her read for me. You remember her, right? She’s the woman who told me I had the gift. I think those were the words she used. This book she gave me wasn’t really a book. It’s a journal of sorts, and it’s handwritten, in both English and Latin. Inside the cover it reads The Roman Ritual. Have you ever heard of this book?” Sophie whispered.
“Maybe. As you know full well, I spent six years going to Catholic school, so I think I heard it mentioned. Why? What does this have to do with anything?” Toots spoke softly and quietly, very much disturbed at the thought of Ida’s having been possessed by some evil demon or whatever.
Sophie peeked through the crack in the bedroom door to make sure Ida wasn’t in trouble. She appeared to be sleeping, but Sophie knew that right now nothing was necessarily as it appeared, nothing was as it should be. She needed to get to the bottom of these goings-on, and fast.
“This book contains instructions for those in the priesthood on how to perform an exorcism.”
Toots’s face turned chalk white. “That is horrible!”
Sophie nodded her agreement. “I know, but I don’t believe Ida’s at that stage now. She’s acting weird, yes, but I don’t think there’s a full-fledged possession taking place. Remember that dream I had about the woman?”
Toots nodded.
“I believe it has something to do with her and what I saw happen in that house. I know this doesn’t make any sense right now, but I need someone to confide in other than Goebel because I don’t want to move Ida right now. I think it’s best if she stays here where you can keep an eye on her while I figure out what the hell I need to do.”
“I agree. Though I have to be honest, this scares the living daylights out of me. I don’t want Abby and the kids around while this. . . crap is going on.”
“I don’t either, but you’ll have to make that your mission. Keep her and those babies away from your place and mine for now. It might be a good time to suggest she and Jamie take the kids to the beach for a few days. Isn’t Chris out of town this week?”
“He’s at the same conference Daniel is attending. I don’t know if I can convince her to leave. She told me the other day that she wanted to get more involved with her Dogs Displaced by Disaster program, and asked me to keep the kids while she worked. I know how important that is to her. Hell, it’s important to all of us. If Abby and Chris hadn’t started the organization after those horribly destructive forest fires in Colorado, who knows what would’ve happened to all those animals? I think of little Frankie and how much I love him.” Suddenly, Toots stopped and cleared her throat. “I’m babbling again, aren’t I? Sophie, stop me when I do that. I’m beginning to sound like a senile old lady.”
“Well, you’re at least half-right since you are an old lady. In point of fact, we’re both old ladies. We are all in our seventies now, including you, my dearest friend,” Sophie had to remind her.
“How could I forget? I just hate it that we all turned seventy last year, but then I think of the alternative, and it sounds wonderful. You have to admit none of us act—or, thanks to Ida—look our age.”
“Right now, looking our age is unimportant. I need you to watch Ida while I go back to my place.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea for you to do this alone? I know you said not to mention the clergy in any way, but wouldn’t it be best to leave this to the pros? A priest or someone who’s experienced in this?”
Sophie peered through the bedroom door again. Ida still appeared to be asleep. “I don’t think it’s needed at this point. Don’t ask me how I know that when I don’t know much of anything else right now, but I’m positive we’re not dealing with the kind of demons that you think. This isn’t a . . . satanic possession.” She crossed her fingers. She was 99 percent sure. Thoughts and images whirled around in her head. She just knew that she had to get back to her house as soon as possible.
“I trust you,” Toots said. “Go on then. I’ll keep an eye on her,” and she motioned to the bedroom. “Do what you need to, so we can put this behind us.” Toots paused. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I’m going to anyway. While you were up here with Ida, Bernice and Robert told Goebel and me what their big secret is.”
“They’re getting married,” Sophie said.
Toots looked at her and grinned. “Is this the psychic in you? Or were you eavesdropping while we were downstairs?”
“Neither. I’ve seen how they are with one another. It’s a natural progression that they would tie the knot. Look at me. Did you ever think I’d marry Goebel that day he first walked into your house?”
Toots gave a quiet laugh. “No, I honestly didn’t give it a thought.”
“I thought you suspected there was something going on between us. Doesn’t matter now. Though I’ll make sure to offer up my congratulations to Bernice and Robert, I’ll do it later. I’ll let them tell me,” Sophie added.
“That’s a good idea. Now, go on and do whatever it is you’re planning. I’ll keep watch over Ida, and I’ll call Abby and suggest that trip. Now, go.”
“Okay. You’ll call me if Ida acts out of the ordinary in any way?”
“Cross my heart,” Toots said as she placed her right hand over her heart.
“Good. Remember, call my cell phone if you think you need to,” Sophie instructed as she headed downstairs.
In the kitchen, Bernice, Robert, and Goebel were still gathered around the kitchen table, each with a steaming mug of coffee in front of them. A plate of cookies, probably from the Sweetest Things, sat in the center of the table.
Bernice was the firs
t to speak. “I called you for lunch. You didn’t answer, so you’re shit out of luck, unless you want an oatmeal-raisin cookie.”
“That’s okay. I’m not hungry,” Sophie answered, then turned to her husband. “I need to go back to the house for a while.”
He jumped up, almost knocking his cup over. “Then let’s go.”
“No, I mean just me. I need you to stay here with Toots. Just in case.” She gave him the look, which she knew he would understand.
He sat back down. “You’re sure?”
“One hundred percent. I’ll have my cell turned on, so don’t worry. Just sit tight while I’m gone. I’ll be back in time to go to dinner with that Dabney man,” Sophie said before practically running out the back door. Seeing their car parked so close was an added bonus. She slid inside and cranked the engine, not bothering to look back.
Ten minutes later, she pulled into her driveway. She took the keys out, remembering that Goebel had locked the front door. Normally, they parked in the back of their long drive and entered the house through the back door just like they’d done at Toots’s place.
Her hand trembled as she inserted the key into the lock. Why she felt so nervous was understandable, but it was so unlike her. She felt rushed, as though she needed to hurry and find out exactly what was going on in this house and with Ida. A sense of urgency coursed through her like a jolt of electricity.
Inside, the house seemed empty and dark. Lost, as though all the life once living inside had been extinguished like a flame. She stuffed the keys in her pocket, checked to make sure she had her cell phone, then headed upstairs.
As soon as she reached the top of the stairs a cold gust of air greeted her. She looked up, but there was no air-conditioning vent above her. Taking a deep breath, she proceeded to walk to the room that she called her séance room.
The door was closed, and that was unusual. Sophie always kept this door open because the room always smelled like mothballs to her. Goebel had tried to open the window once so she could air the room out, but the window would not budge. As far as they could tell, there was no reason for that either. Goebel had suggested breaking the glass, but Sophie wouldn’t allow him to. The window was original, and though its beveled glass made her a bit disoriented when she looked at it, she liked the added charm it gave the room.
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