Descension

by Shani Struthers

  I know you’re in the light, Gran, but you’re also in my heart. I also know that somehow, somewhere, you know what I’m planning to do. Watch over me if you can.

  Cash arrived at Lazuli Cottage just after nine. There was so much hesitancy in his eyes; as if he was afraid Ruby was going to reject him. She wasn’t, but neither was she going to rush into his arms. She couldn’t afford to, not yet.

  Later that morning, Saul drove the pair of them and Jessica to the crematorium, where the rest of the team were waiting, dressed not in black – Sarah wouldn’t have wanted that – but bright colours. Corinna, who normally only wore black, had on a slim-fitting green dress and a tapestry overcoat that looked brand new, and beside her stood Presley, very handsome in a white shirt and tan chinos. Theo, always flamboyant, with her hair as pink as ever, had a turquoise scarf draped around her neck. Ness was in grey, but a lighter shade than usual. Eclipse had asked if he could come to the funeral and Ruby had agreed. He was standing with the team, his puppy-dog eyes, as Cash had described them, trained on her. She smiled at him as she followed her mother into the church; smiled at them all: the team, Eclipse and some of Gran’s closest friends, enough of them to fill the small chapel and to hear a few words said in memorium.

  Jessica had written a piece about her mother, but at the last minute was unable to read it out, she was crying so much. Saul took the eulogy from her and spoke instead, his clear, melodious voice a perfect vehicle for the warmth of her words.

  Ruby addressed them next, Jed accompanying her to the stand, sitting by her side as she spoke about the Gran who’d filled each day of her childhood with sunshine; who’d wrapped her and Jessica in cotton wool; whose love knew no bounds.

  Everyone was crying, not just Jessica; there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, except for Ruby’s. Maybe that surprised some; it might even have seemed callous, but again, she couldn’t afford to give her emotions free rein.

  The service over, the curtains closed on Sarah’s coffin. At this final gesture, Jessica started to sob again, Saul had to practically support her weight as they trudged outside to congregate on the tarmac, where not just he but several of Sarah’s friends who’d known Jessica since she was a little girl, tried to soothe her. Not one of the team, not even Cash and Eclipse, asked Ruby if she was all right, even though their concern was evident, Cash’s particularly. He was doing what Ruby usually did when worried; chewing at his lip. There was just the wake to go now. It was held at The Jenny Lind in the Old Town, close to Lazuli Cottage. Food and drink had been laid on and some laughter punctuated such a sad day, as happy memories of Sarah Davis were exchanged. Even Ruby smiled at several of the stories being told, testimony of how her grandmother had touched so many during her time in this world.

  Eventually, after the last of the guests had wandered away, and Saul took Jessica back to his home rather than Lazuli Cottage, there was just the team and Eclipse left. As Ruby watched her mother’s departure, she wondered what would become of the family home. It’d be sold most likely, since Jessica did indeed plan to spend the majority of her time at Saul’s. That was fine with Ruby; it wasn’t a home without Gran in it; it had reverted back to being a mere house, the memories created within its four walls stored in the mind rather than in anything physical.

  All of them checked their watches. It was after five already. By the time they reached the Brookbridge Estate it’d be dark.

  Finally Cash asked the question they all had on their lips. “Are you sure you’re up for this, Ruby?”

  “It’s our last chance,” Ruby replied, looking at each of them in turn. “But more than that, it’s their last chance. I think we’d better get a move on, don’t you?”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Including Eclipse, the team numbered six and so they divided between two cars, with Cash driving Ruby and Eclipse and Theo and Corinna riding in Ness’s car. It was only a half hour journey during which Cash did his best to pass the time with some light-hearted chatter, but both his passengers responded only as and when required. At one point Ruby looked behind her and Eclipse graced her with a smile that was both eager and sad. Ruby smiled too, but more at Jed who was sitting beside Eclipse, as eager for his attention as Eclipse was for hers. They probably wouldn’t work together after this job, she decided, thinking that perhaps Cash was right when he sensed over-keenness for her as well as the job. But she was glad she’d got to know Eclipse, glad that he’d brought the destruction of the last hospital building to her attention, and for the opportunity he’d given her to put right what had once been so wrong.

  Ness was just behind them when they turned into the estate. It hadn’t been discussed where to park, there being an assumption they’d leave the cars where they had before. Ruby quashed that assumption when she directed Cash to the Watkins’ house. He was confused, as was Ness probably, but she followed them nonetheless.

  “Ruby, there are roads much closer than this,” Cash protested.

  “I know that, but we’re going to the Watkins’ house.”

  “Who are the Watkins?” Eclipse asked, leaning forward.

  Ruby told him theirs had been the house that had marked the beginning of a recent spate of investigations on the estate, paranormal activity there intensifying at around the same time as Hames had emerged from his stupor. “It could just be coincidence,” she said, “or something much more. He’s radiating a lot of negative energy. It’s filling the atmosphere and the grounded are reacting to it perhaps.”

  “In what way?” Eclipse was clearly enthralled.

  “Either identifying with it or in fear of it.” Just before they parked, before she had to explain something else to the rest of them, she turned to face Eclipse fully. “You’ve spent time in the hospital building, you’ve sensed the pain of those who are still trapped there. Tell me, has it been worse in the past fortnight?”

  He shook his head. “To me it’s always been bad, I don’t understand how people can run around that building, the living I mean – mucking about, scrawling graffiti all over the walls; vandalising furniture that’s already been kicked in. I’ve seen people loads of times. I’ve heard them from wherever I’ve been in the building at the time, usually hiding behind a door or a cupboard or something, because I don’t want to see the idiots or be seen by them; have them waste my time. To be honest, when we went in, one of the problems I was expecting to deal with was dickheads like that, but there was no one there; no ghost-hunters, no drunk kids. There wasn’t anyone anywhere close to the building. That’s, like, the biggest change I can think of.”

  Ruby nodded – it was as she suspected. Even thrill-seekers were sensitive enough to realise when something was beyond a laughing matter.

  “Ruby,” Cash interjected, “out with it. Why are we at the Watkins’, specifically?”

  In the wing mirror, she could see that Ness had pulled up behind them and that she also looked puzzled, as did Theo and Corinna.

  “Come on,” she said to Cash, “we mustn’t keep Kelly waiting.”

  “You mean she’s actually waiting for us?” An incredulous Cash turned to Eclipse. “Do you know anything about this?”

  Ruby answered before Eclipse had a chance to. “Cash, there’s no reason why Eclipse should know anything more than you do.”

  Cash’s nostrils flared, a possible retort on his lips.

  “Seriously,” she continued. “You have to trust me. If we don’t have that, we have nothing.”

  Briefly, he shut his eyes as if realising he’d screwed up. “I do trust you, Rubes.”

  “Good, and I hope that in roughly ten minutes time when I answer your question, you’ll be prepared to trust me a little bit more.”

  Cash and Eclipse exchanged another glance, this time one of shared trepidation.

  Finally opening the car door, Ruby signalled to her colleagues to follow her.

  * * *

  “Come in, come,” Kelly Watkins greeted them. “Go straight through to the kitchen. I’ve boiled the ket
tle, but I’ve also got a range of cold drinks and even some wine for those who fancy it. Oh, and some nibbles too, to keep your spirits up.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my days, I can’t believe I just said that! I didn’t mean to, I meant nothing by it. It just slipped out, honest. By the way, there’s no need for formalities: my name’s Kelly, my husband’s Dave and my little girl is Carly, although I’m sure Ruby’s already told you about her and the ghost that was in her bedroom.”

  As she babbled on, the team filed past one by one, entering the kitchen where at least Jed’s eyes lit up at the nibbles on offer, that word completely underestimating what Kelly had provided, it was more akin to a gourmet spread.

  Still in a state of bewilderment, the team looked to Ruby for an explanation while Kelly took up position by the kettle, ready to take orders.

  “Ruby!” The command in Theo’s voice was unmistakable.

  Ruby took a deep breath. “Kelly here has been a diamond. She’s offered to feed you and provide refreshments in between visits to other houses, like the Griffiths’ and the Barkers’, where spiritual rescue is still very much needed. Actually, they’re not the only houses, as Corinna said; more calls have come in since, but I just want to point out that as far as I’ve been able to glean, none seem to be about troublesome spirits; they sound more distressed than troublesome. There’s a lot of work to be done tonight and well… in between, if you want to take time out, or need some food to sustain you, this is your base. Kelly’s also made the front room available, which is also very kind of her.”

  Kelly was having none of it. “Kind? Do you know what, I’m just so grateful to you, Ruby. You came out on a Saturday, with no quibble at all, and you helped us. And now I want to help too, in any way I can. I know the Griffiths, I know the Barkers, and the other families too, and this problem we’ve got, it unites us.” She laughed suddenly. “Never mind a book club on the estate, we’ve got a ghost club!”

  “Not if we remove all the ghosts, you don’t,” Cash pointed out.

  Kelly sighed. “Oh, yeah! Silly me, I never thought about that. Seriously though, like I said, we’re grateful, all of us, and to think you’re going to waive all charges too.”

  “Oh?” Ness raised an eyebrow.

  “You won’t be out of pocket,” Ruby quickly explained, “I’ll make sure you all get paid for your time, but no, there’ll be no charge for the clients this evening, and I’ve returned Kelly’s money too, what with everything she’s doing for us.”

  “Never mind about money,” Theo replied, shaking her head slightly, “none of us are worried about that. What I think we’re worried about is why you keep talking about us as a separate entity from you. Going into that building, it’s a major job, an all-hands-on-deck type of job. You’re not making it sound that way.”

  It was never possible to get anything past Theo. “Look, over these last few days, I’ve had a lot of time to think, not just about Gran, but about other things too.” Pausing, Ruby looked at those staring back at her, each face running the gamut of so many emotions. “Because of that, I came to a decision, about the building and how best to tackle the spirits grounded there.” She turned briefly to Kelly, “It was the spirit in your house that gave me the idea. When I told her I understood her anguish, she came close to me, her mouth forming words. You. Don’t. Know. That’s what she said, what she stressed. And she’s right, I didn’t know the depth of her suffering, not then, but I’ve got a clearer idea now. All the more minor cases on the estate need seeing to as well and it needs to be tonight, as it’s now clear they’re all connected. But I’m going to tackle the main building by myself. I have a plan in mind and I don’t want any of you to be there when I put it into practice. I won’t be able to put it into practice if you are. It needs to boil down to just me and them.”

  Cash was shaking his head. So was Eclipse. “You can’t,” they chorused. They looked at each other and Eclipse signalled that Cash should speak.

  “Ruby,” he said, “let me come with you at least.”

  “No, I’ve told you, it won’t work unless I’m on my own.”

  “What won’t work?” He touched his temple in a puzzled gesture. “You haven’t said! Actually, I don’t care what it is. I’m not letting you go back there alone. ”

  Ness interjected. “Ruby, I think I know what you’re planning. And actually, I think you’re right.” Her gaze steady, she added, “We all need to go a little mad sometimes.”

  Of all of them, it didn’t surprise her that Ness agreed.

  “I’ll be okay,” Ruby assured her. “In the end.”

  “I know. I have every faith you will be.”

  Ruby nodded, their bond, she realised, that of kindred spirits. “I’m not saying I’ve suffered more than any of you,” she wanted to make that clear, “or any of them. But my suffering is current.” She swallowed. “It’s also relevant.”

  “Okay,” was Ness’s sole response.

  During their exchange, Theo’s look of horror had faded as understanding dawned. “It’s a plan,” she conceded. “A definite plan. After all, what’s the saying; how do we get ahead of crazy, if we don’t know how crazy thinks? But, Ruby, appease a silly old woman and let one of us come with you, even if it’s just to wait in the wings.”

  Eclipse’s hand shot up. “I’ll do it.”

  Before Cash could react, Ruby refused. “Eclipse, I’d like you to work with the others tonight, to see how they go about sending spirits to the light; the type of language they use, that sort of thing. It’s very different to your experience with me in the asylum. It’s… calmer. I want you to see that side of it, to understand that often there are no fireworks. This job can be just like any other job, although I can’t say it’s ever boring. It’s very real and it’s very human, despite the fact we deal with spirits. If it piques your interest further, that’s great. It might be something you’ll want to carry on with.”

  “With you, you mean? With Psychic Surveys?”

  Resolute, she shook her head. “There are no vacancies at the moment with Psychic Surveys.” She glanced at Cash – was that relief on his face? Yes, she thought so. Inwardly, she shrugged. So he had a jealous streak. She wouldn’t stand for any nonsense from him in the future regarding it, but as flaws went, it could be worse.

  Capturing her gaze, Cash asked for a quiet word.

  “Sure,” she replied and they left the kitchen, leaving the orders for teas and coffees to be taken at last and the others to discuss what had just been said.

  Outside, in the fresh air, he grabbed her by the shoulders. “Humour me here, because I’m really having trouble getting to grips with this. You’re going in alone to that building, and, whilst you’re in there, you’re planning to go a little bit mad?”

  “Not just a little bit.”

  Her words only served to increase his horror. “Ruby, that’s so…”

  “Insane?” she ventured.

  “I was going to say dangerous!”

  “But it’s the only way; it’s what’s going to qualify me to do the job – in their eyes, I mean. First, I join them in madness; I empathise with everything they’ve endured, identify with it, and then I show them there’s a way back.”

  “But what if…”

  “I don’t come back?”

  “You can’t come back.”

  “You need to take a leaf out of Ness’s book and trust me.”

  He kept his gaze steady. “Do you trust yourself though, Ruby?”

  “Cash, I know what you’re doing, but it’s no use. I won’t be dissuaded.”

  “I just want an answer.”

  “I trust that I’m doing the right thing, okay? That’s the best answer I can give you.”

  “I’m going in there too.”

  “No, you’re not. Look, Cash, trust me and in turn I’ll trust that you’ll curb that jealous streak in you; that you won’t leave me again when the going gets rough.”

  “I won’t leave you, I swear!”

 
“And I won’t leave you, if you let me go.”

  His hands still on her shoulders, he was silent for a moment. “Is Jed going with you?”

  “That’s up to Jed.”

  “But is it likely?”

  “Yes, it’s likely.”

  She smiled at the concern that was still so evident on his face and did what he tried to do so often for her – tried to lighten what was an increasingly tense situation. “What’s that song, Cash, an old song, by Fun Boy Three?”

  “Fun Boy Three? The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum. Do you mean that?”

  “That’s it. That sort of describes what I’m doing, in the singular, though.”

  There was no smile on his face. “You’re no lunatic. What you are is brave beyond belief.” After a brief pause, he continued. “There’s a more apt saying actually, although I’m gonna have to bastardise that one a bit too.”

  “Oh? Come on then, spill, what is it?”

  “Cometh the hour, cometh the woman. Do it, Ruby, go and shine a light in hell.”

  “I will, Cash, but first that light’s going to have to go out.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Cash insisted on accompanying her to the building, which Ruby agreed to only after extracting a promise from him that he’d leave her there without further argument and re-join the others. As they walked, Jed materialised, trotting by Cash’s side.