by Alexie Aaron
“It gets around. I’m not really sure,” Cid said, not wanting to change focus on the job at hand. “We need to get Father Simon to the hospital.”
“Not yet,” Father Simon said from the doorway. He stood holding on to Murphy who had just set him on his feet. “Stephen carried me down. I was having a conversation with this fellow, and he asked for my help.”
The last acolyte glided into the room and stood before Father Santos. He put his hammer and the four black crystals down in front of the priest. “I have been used as an instrument of evil until today. Today, I followed the farmer’s advice and performed a good deed,” he said.
“For which we are all grateful. Thank you,” Father Santos said. “I will counsel you on what you need to do soon. Please give me a moment to reflect. Father Simon, will you hear my confession?”
“Yes, Father, shall we adjourn to the library? Stephen, if you will carry me, I promise to give you time to skedaddle before we bring the light,” Father Simon said.
“It would be an honor,” Murphy said, lifting up the young priest. “Later, we must exchange battle stories.”
Father Simon winced as he just only stopped a laugh in time. “It would be a pleasure.”
Bridgeton walked over and looked at the congressman’s body. He took off his jacket and covered his face to give the corpse some dignity. “He tried to save us. I hope it will be enough to balance the sins he held.”
“What do you remember of the first time you saw August?” Cid asked Bridgeton.
“I was playing in the yard when this shadow man approached me. He asked if I wanted to play a game…” Bridgeton frowned. “I was never completely alone after that.”
“When this is resolved, you may want to have Father Santos check you over to make sure no residue remains of the negative elemental that was August Atwater.”
“I will. Now I’m trying to think of how to explain my grandfather’s broken neck to the police.”
“There is a very large hole in the floor,” Cid mentioned. “He could have fallen. We have a priest who may have seen it happen.”
“Miss Gee isn’t really gone, is she?” Bridgeton said rubbing his arms.
“No. We can’t kill a heritage demon, but she will have to answer some hard questions with her peers and, most likely, be unable to participate on this plane of existence for some time.”
“Will she come after us?”
“I doubt it. Gadus wasn’t acting out because of revenge. It isn’t in her nature to do so. Demons have a different way of looking at things. She was just negotiating,” Cid said.
“Did she love Arnold?” Bridgeton asked.
“I believe so. But sometimes a hyperactive will to survive destroys even the strongest of emotions.”
“Your friend wasn’t really considering taking on Gadus, was he?”
“No. Jesse is too lazy for world domination.”
“I must ask his forgiveness. I really didn’t think he’d go after the keys.”
“I don’t think he holds you responsible for his fall through the ice.”
“No, I don’t,” Jesse said, extending his hand to Bridgeton. “With your permission, I’d like to put some plywood over that hole.”
“Not until the police clear it,” Cid said.
“Oh, look whose playing boss. I’ll ask Kiki when she comes back.”
Cid laughed. “You do that. I hear they took everything, including your fifth wheel.”
“I could use my extra shoes and Pete’s marble buffer before you guys call the cops.”
Cid looked up at the scorched words on the wall and nodded. “Maybe it will come off with a little saltwater scrub.”
Murphy drifted up to examine it and shook his head and said, “One half-inch deep.”
“Take the wall down,” Bridgeton said. “Open up this area. Keep whatever you need to hold the ceiling up, and take the rest of the wall out.”
“It’s going to be expensive,” Jesse warned.
“It will be worth it. I want to add several things to the list. Either dig up all those workmen’s bodies in the cellar or put up a monument with their names on it.”
“You do have a graveyard in the walnut grove, but I doubt it’s consecrated,” Cid said, scratching his head.
“We do have two priests handy - or will be once they finish crossing this lot over,” Jesse pointed out.
“Have Kiki do a cost assessment,” Cid said.
“Have me do what?” Kiki asked from the door. “What the hell did you two monkeys do to the media room?”
Cid and Jesse stood up and hunched their shoulders.
Bridgeton was about to say something when Kiki laughed.
“We came back as soon as Faye told us the coast was clear. Scrub, I’d make yourself scarce. Wayne’s here and a bit put out about his clothes and shoes.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Why did you come back?” Cid asked.
“I didn’t want to miss saying goodbye to Daniel and the Italians. I missed them showing you their work, but I’d like to be here when they finally leave this prison.”
Jesse’s face lit up and he cried, “Lungs!” He took off up the stairs. They could hear him calling “Stephen” as he climbed back down the circular stairs.
Murphy appeared.
“Daniel, where the hell did they put your body?”
Daniel manifested.
“He’s not blue,” Kiki said.
“Not since, well, we have a lot to catch you up on,” Cid said.
Daniel tapped the bottom stair, and Murphy pried off the tread.
Jesse set down the flannel bundle.
“That looks like Wayne’s shirt,” Kiki said, walking around the hole in the floor and over to the stairs. She stared down at the bundle that was resting atop a desiccated corpse whose legs had been broken to fit it inside the riser. “Rest in peace, Daniel.”
Daniel looked over at Kiki, realizing that she could no longer see him. Jesse could, and that was enough for him. “Ask Faye to look after my books for me,” Daniel said and looked outside. “I see my parents on the lawn.”
“Go. I’ll make sure the Italians find their way home,” Jesse said.
Daniel moved through the wall and was gone.
“Look at you, crossing a ghost over,” Kiki said. “I expect you’ll want a raise?”
“Hazard pay.”
“Oh, no, I didn’t instruct you to run out on the ice, Scrub,” Kiki argued, winking at Cid.
Cid laid the top of the stair back down, explaining, “Just until Bridgeton has the cops satisfied.”
Faye appeared. “Father Santos is ready. Mr. Wonderful and I will send the Italians into the hall, but we’re going to beat feet until it’s over. Where’s Daniel?”
“His parents already came for him. He said for you to take care of his books.”
Faye smiled. “Imagine me, a ghost agent for a ghost writer. Well, if that don’t beat all.”
Chapter Thirty
Cid and Jesse stood together as Father Santos crossed the twelve workmen and the acolyte who gave his name as Miles Green. Cid interpreted the Latin and Italian, and Jesse told him what he saw as the ghosts lost their hold on this veil. Jesse was glad Cid was at his elbow and not Wayne, who was glaring at him from across the hall.
Father Simon sat ramrod straight in a chair. Wayne had wrapped his ribs, but he would have to go to the hospital and have a professional take a look at them.
“I can see the light in their eyes,” Jesse said. “They have big smiles, and some of the men are running, I assume into the arms of loved ones. Miles is slowing his steps. He’s removing something from his pocket. He has the four crystals. I believe he’s handing them to someone or something. He’s looking back at Father Santos. Miles is smiling, and now he’s gone. They’re all across.”
Father Santos looked around.
“I think he’s waiting for Arnold Atwater,” Cid sai
d.
Jesse tapped Cid’s arm. “There he is.”
Arnold Atwater moved upwards from where his body lay. He looked around and seemed to take comfort that no one else had perished.
“She’s gone back to Hell,” Father Santos told the spirit. “The light is here if you would like to cross over.”
“I’m surprised that it’s here for me at all,” Arnold said.
“Do you repent your sins?”
“Yes, Father. I have no excuses. I’m guilty of five deaths by my hand and four others by my association with Gadus. I will accept the judgement of the light without protest.”
“I, through the powers given to me, forgive you of your sins. Step into the light, Arnold Atwell. May the Lord have mercy on your soul.”
Arnold did as instructed and disappeared into the light. The light stayed a moment longer.
“Alas, Stephen Murphy and Faye have decided to stay,” Father Santos said.
The light left.
Cid looked over at Bridgeton who was speaking seriously with Kiki. He took a card she handed him, and she shook his hand before she joined them.
“So do we get the renovation job?” Jesse asked.
“He thinks he has to wait until the will goes through probate. But he has okayed a sum to fix the floor.”
“Not it!” Cid and Jesse said at the same time.
“I’m giving it to Gary on the condition he uses local laborers to complete the job,” Kiki said. “Jesse, you’re going to be on paid sick leave. Cid, you’re fired.”
Cid smiled. He was glad. He couldn’t wait to get back home to see Sally.
A big hand fell on Jesse’s shoulders. “Where are my boots?”
“Soon to be buried in the walnut grove,” Jesse said. “Along with your handkerchief and your undershirt. Your flannel shirt is in the bottom stair in the west room. Kiki will reimburse you for your losses.”
“I will?” Kiki asked.
“Those were some expensive boots. I’m on sick leave. Where am I going to get the money for those?” Jesse asked, squirming out of Wayne’s grasp. He ran up the stairs and out of sight.
Wayne laughed. “Those weren’t my Sunday boots. It unnerves me to think that we share a shoe size. My feet are enormous.”
“Well, you know what they say about big feet…” Kiki started.
Cid clamped his hands over his ears and walked away.
~
The grove was silent. Jesse, who was happy to be back in his own clothes, stood holding the boots, one filled with congealed blood, the other empty.
“Why did you bring both?” Murphy asked.
“I don’t know, it seemed right at the time.” Jesse had Carl carry the undershirt. The more the air got to the compressed bones, the more it weighed. Cid placed it in one open grave and the boots in another.
“I know they are long gone, but it still feels like something is here,” Jesse said rubbing his arms.
“We didn’t dig them up. Some other force that came in a rush of wind from the lake did. Murphy opened the graves with his axe. I imagine there may still be residual energy in the grove,” Cid theorized.
“Should we say words?” Murphy asked. “Father Santos has already left to take Father Simon to get his ribs looked at.”
“I guess it couldn’t hurt. Carl, you went to religious school. Would you mind?” Cid asked.
“I don’t mind. It would be a pleasure. Lord, we have four sinners trying to do justice to six lost souls, five of whom have crossed over and one who has turned to ash. May no one ever find themselves in the shoes of these people. May evil leave the weak-minded people be. And may the good step up and lead them to the light. In our Lord Jesus’s name, Amen.”
“Good words,” Murphy said. “I’ll be waiting in the truck, Cid.”
“We won’t be long,” Cid said, picking up a shovel.
Before Cid could plant it in the pile of dirt, a whirlwind formed at the edge of the grove. Jesse pulled Cid and Carl back away from the graves. The dirt flowed over the graves as if it were water. The massive stone slabs flipped back over to cover the graves. The north stone laying on the ground vibrated.
“I think that one is up to us,” Carl said. “Help me put it back.”
Together, the men managed to right the stone, and Cid filled in the dirt on either side of the small monolith. The wind moved back to the lake, and all was quiet again in the walnut grove.
~
Jesse closed his eyes as they pulled out of Walnut Grove House’s parking lot. He didn’t look back. He didn’t want to.
Cid assumed Jesse was dead tired, and he and Murphy listened to Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” until Cid could take it no more. “Sorry, Stephen, but I’d like a little silence.”
“Silence is good,” Murphy said. He could tell by Jesse’s breathing that he wasn’t sleeping, but he wasn’t going to rat him out.
“You did well, grasshopper,” the voice in Jesse’s head said.
“Who are you?”
“Does it matter?”
“No, I guess not. Thank you.”
“You are welcome. Peace be with you.”
Jesse opened his eyes. “Heavens to Murgatroyd!”
“What’s the matter?” Cid asked.
“You just drove through a person.”
“No thump. It must have been a ghost,” Cid said amused.
Jesse put his hand over his eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying not to flinch as you drive through those ghosts. Why are they dancing?”
Cid’s phone pinged.
“Could you look at that?” Cid asked.
Jesse concentrated on the phone. “It’s from Lazar Popov. I need your code to continue.”
Cid gave him the code.
“He says that I’m to be put up in the guestroom of the main house. You’re not to take no for an answer. There is a postscript of: Sit on him if you have to.”
“That would be from Mia. She believes in the power of straddling one into submission.”
Jesse lifted an eyebrow and said, “You really don’t know the inappropriate things you say, do you?”
Cid ignored the comment. “I’m going to drop you, the truck and trailer off. I’ll take Ethan’s jeep. I expect you can find your way into the house.”
“I expect I can.”
“Ethan will be there, so you won’t starve,” Cid said.
“I take it you’re going to see Sally.”
“Yes. All may be in vain because I fear it’s too late for visiting hours.”
“I know a way in,” Murphy said manifesting. “But I won’t tell you until you put the music back on.”
“I can sing it to you,” Jesse offered. “Crazy. I’m crazy for feeling so lonely…”
“Stop!” Murphy said and disappeared.
“Well, now I’m insulted,” Jesse said.
“You’re no Patsy Cline,” Cid said.
“Evidently not,” Jesse agreed and closed his eyes once more.
“I believe you’re behind me staying at the Martins,” Jesse sent into the ether.
“I suppose so. Mia is a great healer but an impatient teacher.”
“I have enough patience for two.”
“Good to know.”
~
Sally looked at her text and flashed her lights before turning them off and opened her patio door. Cid slid in. Sally was in his arms instantly. He shut the door with one hand. She closed the drapes by pulling on the cord, she had wrapped around her hand, as he carried her to the edge of her bed. He sat down and kissed her.
“I missed you so much,” he said catching his breath.
“Me too.”
Sally stroked his face, liking that he didn’t stop to shave. She felt his urgency as much as he did. She turned on the bedside lamp so she could see him.
“Carl told me you decided to stay for a while,” Cid said, searching he
r face.
“Yes, Mrs. Leighton has a food service emergency. She asked if I could trade room and board for cooking until she found a replacement. I’ll move into a smaller accommodation as soon as my adjustment period for my new meds finishes.”
“Sally, you can stay with me,” Cid said. “Or with the Martins.”
“I’m not abandoning the idea nor the offer. I’m just trying to do what is right for everyone. We don’t need to take things slow, but we need to get to know each other better before cohabitating,” Sally said. “I’ve got some work to do before I know you’ll be safe beside me.”
“And I have to find a way to make a living to support both of us.”
“Cid, I can work. I like working,” Sally said. “I’m an excellent cook.”
“I just got fired from Pickles Construction.”
Sally laughed. “Good. I’d rather have a poor ghost hunter than a traveling contractor.”
“You need to get your head examined.”
“Done and done.”
“What did they find?”
“Not much, just a large empty space to fill with memories of us.”
Cid kissed her long and hard. Sally responded and pushed him backwards on the bed. “Whose clothes are you wearing?” she asked as he unbuttoned the western shirt. “Where is my nerd?”
“I didn’t have time to change. Hell, I must smell,” Cid said rising off the bed. “Today, I fished Jesse out of the lake, extinguished an acolyte, and buried remains. These are Jesse’s clothes.”
“Gee, all I did was add a bit too much oregano to the sauce,” Sally said, pushing him back down and planting kisses on his skin as she peeled the rest of his borrowed clothing off.
“Are we breaking any rules?” Cid asked, running his hands under her sweater.
“I hope so,” Sally said.
~
Jesse walked through the Martin house in his bare feet. Ethan had vacated to the carriage house after feeding the ravenous contractor. Jesse didn’t know what to think of the young caretaker.