Clearly, she’s never had to deal with ghosts face to face or she’d have different feelings on the matter, but as she talks about how the tests work and what information they’ll give them, I feel confident she knows what she’s talking about and might actually be able to help me. Finally, I sign my name half a dozen times. Malachi signs his name a few less times—probably just the “don’t tell anyone” part, and then we’re ready to start.
Malachi stands back behind the tables, arms crossed with a worried yet curious expression on his face, while I’m positioned in a chair at the other end of the room. There’s open space around me with about a dozen different devices positioned in a ring around my chair. One of the interns, or whoever they are, sticks a bunch of monitor wires all over me, and then we seem to be set.
“So, what exactly do you want me to do?” I ask Agent Morton.
“Basically, we’ll run you through a few exercises to see how accurate you are in locating spirits.”
I scrunch my face at him because that seems like a stupid thing to ask me to do since I can see them, but I realize they have to “prove” I can see them before there will be any chance at a consulting job. I’m still not sure I really want to get involved in something like that, but I need to get through these tests first.
“Are there any spirits present now?” Agent Morton asks. Dr. Rosemond’s eyes are as bright and alert as a dog waiting to have the ball thrown.
I don’t really need to look, but I do a quick scan to see how many are hanging about. I’m only vaguely surprised to see five ghosts present—some of my regulars—that are hanging back behind the monitoring equipment. I can’t help wondering if they know what this is all about.
“There are five here right now, but they’re all standing outside the range of the equipment,” I explain.
“Can you encourage them to come closer,” Dr. Rosemond asks.
Grimacing, I want to tell her that’s the last thing I want to do, but this will all be for nothing if I don’t. Lifting one of my hands, I point to one of the ghosts that has been with me the longest. She used to stand over my crib when I was little and make me laugh. I motion for her to come forward. She hesitates, and I wonder if any of this stuff hurts ghosts. I can’t imagine how it would, so I say, “Liza, it’s okay. They just want to run a few tests.”
I trust Liza not to do something crazy, and apparently she trusts me enough not to try and hurt her. She steps into the circle and approaches me slowly. No alarm bells go off to indicate there’s a ghost inside the circle, but from the corner of my eye I see several members of the team getting excited. Malachi is hovering behind Dr. Rosemond’s back looking pretty interested as well.
“Echo, can you give us the exact location of Liza?” Agent Morton asks.
“She’s standing to my left, by my knee, about a foot away,” I tell him. He writes something down and nods.
That’s pretty much how the rest of the morning goes. I convince ghosts to come into the circle of equipment, Agent Morton asks me to do things like have the ghost move around or try to interact with something, everyone behind the scenes gets excited and nods and takes notes while I stay stuck in this chair. I’m getting tired of the whole thing after three hours, but before I can ask if we’re almost done, the one ghost I didn’t want to see today steps into view.
“No, no, no, no, no,” I start whispering frantically. In my head I’m begging him to go away, to just disappear for a while. As if he knows exactly what I’m asking for, he cocks his head to the side and ignores me.
Heads snap up as one of the cameras fritzes out with a pop and puff of smoke. Something starts beeping as he crosses into the circle. Thanks to the monitors stuck all over me, I’m sure they can all see my pulse skyrocketing.
“Echo, what’s going on?” Agent Morton asks.
I want to answer him, but I press myself into the back of my chair when Archer keeps coming toward me. “Go away, please,” I beg him, which seems to be the exact wrong thing to say.
A blast of cold hits me. Frost begins to form on the rim of the half-drunk glass of water someone brought me an hour ago, then spreads out beneath his insubstantial feet as well. One blurry arm reaches forward. I want to scream, but I keep my mouth shut as tightly as I can. He doesn’t touch me, but he touches one of the wires connected to me and I yelp as it shorts out and zaps me.
Almost as though he’s startled, Archer pulls back and drops the wire. “That hurt,” I snap as I glare at him. He cocks his head to the side again. I’m not sure if he’s confused, or just staring at me. When his hand reaches out again, I really start to panic. “Don’t touch me, Archer. Please don’t touch me again.”
I’m begging, but I don’t care. My eyes squeeze shut as his hand moves closer. Don’t scream. Don’t scream. I hold my body rigid, waiting for the assault, but all I feel is ice against my cheek. My eyes snap open when it vanishes, hoping he’s left, but instead, I see him standing in front of me, a frozen tear balanced on his finger. My hand presses to my cheek to find a few more frozen and quickly melting tears.
Archer bows his head, and then he’s gone. I look around, startled and afraid he isn’t really gone, but he’s nowhere to be seen. I start yanking wires off my body as I struggle to breathe normally. Malachi is there in a flash, ripping off sticky tabs and pulling me into his arms. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I’m fine,” I say in a rush. I close my eyes, wanting to block out everything but Malachi. Agent Morton’s voice pulls me out of his protective embrace.
“Echo, what just happened? The readings we got were nothing like earlier.” Dr. Rosemond looks flat out excited, but Agent Morton is clearly concerned.
Thankfully, Malachi jumps in to answer for me. “Remember the show that caught your attention? Remember those last few seconds before the cameras got fried? That’s what just happened.”
“That was the same spirit?” Agent Morton asks.
I nod. “He’s been stalking me for a while, about a month and a half. He’s wants me to help him, but I’m not sure how yet.” I take a deep breath and try to calm myself back down. “Archer is the reason I called you, Agent Morton. I know you guys want to study me and see if I can help with cases, but I need your help too.”
“Archer? Who is Archer?” Agent Morton asks.
Shrugging, I say, “I have no idea. That’s why I need your help.”
I realize I’m not in much of a position to bargain with the FBI, but Agent Morton nods slowly. “We’re done with tests for today, but we need to sit down and talk about this soon. If you’re going to be helping us, we can’t have things like that happening without warning.” He meets my gaze, and though his words sound more self-serving than compassionate, I can tell from his expression that this goes beyond his job. “We’ll help you take care of Archer, Echo, I promise.”
I don’t think I have to tell him how much I needed to hear him say that. The way my body sags in relief is enough.
23: Doubts
(Malachi)
“Holden!” I yell. “I thought you were going to help us haul this monster couch up the stairs!”
Struggling to hold the screen door open and maneuver the couch through the opening, I glance into the living room to see where everyone went. Thankfully Zara is already on her way to help. She ducks past me to hold the screen open while Kyran and I work at getting the couch into the apartment. Finally, we get the couch to the middle of the living room and drop it. Zara plants her backside on it immediately and grabs a controller.
“I knew you two boys would come in handy,” she says with a wink.
Kyran crashes next to her and picks up the spare controller on the floor. And…they’re gone. Neither of them even notices when I ditch them and the couch and head for the back of the apartment. Sounds of an argument filter through the thin walls, but I see Echo in the kitchen and head that way instead.
Slipping up behind her, I put my arms around her waist and pull her against my chest. The soap suds hal
fway up her arms tickle as they burst against mine. Keeping her dripping hands over the sink, Echo lets her head fall against my shoulder. “Hey, sorry I didn’t get the door. I’m all soapy.”
“I see that.” I have to turn my head a little to get her hair out of my face, but I freeze when Echo tilts her head to one side, exposing the soft skin of her neck, purely on instinct. Not doing anything about that is torture. “There is something about coming in to find you in the kitchen that I find overwhelmingly sexy.”
“Is that a Southern thing?” Echo asks with a chuckle.
“I think it’s mainly the bubbles.”
Echo seems confused by my answer for a moment, but then that beautiful red blush blossoms on her cheeks. Seeing the bubbles still clinging to her forearms makes is tough not to wonder what the rest of her would look like wearing the same. Echo must realize where my thoughts have gone, but all she says is, “Oh.”
Changing the subject before I let myself ponder on that much longer, I ask, “What’s up with Holden? Sounds like a pretty heated conversation going on in the bedroom.”
Echo sighs and glances at her bedroom door worriedly. “A letter arrived at his house this morning, and his dad opened it even though it was addressed to Holden.”
“What kind of letter?” Must have been something pretty interesting to inspire a fight.
“An acceptance letter…from Georgia State.” Echo bites her bottom lip and looks up at me. “I guess he applied the day after I started talking to you.”
“Really?” Not that I’m surprised Holden would follow Echo to Georgia. Clearly, he’s set himself up as her protector and is determined not to fail her in that. Curious that he applied before I even asked Echo to come here.
Drying off her hands and leaving the rest of her thrift shop china in the sink, Echo turns in my arms and looks up at me. “Does that make me the most predictable person in the world, or just the lamest?”
“Neither,” I say. “It makes Holden very perceptive, and a good friend. He knew you needed out of your parents’ house, and he spotted the connection you felt to me right away.”
Echo seems to consider this. She looks down, thinking, then glances toward the bedrooms again. “Do you think he’ll really come back here?”
“Come back? You mean he’s still planning on taking the internship?” I ask.
Nodding her head, Echo says, “Holden’s dad would kill him if he ditched the internship. Holden would be disappointed too. He worked really hard to get it. It’ll probably suck, getting coffee for the mayor’s staff, but it’ll look great on a resume. Holden shouldn’t give that up.”
“He’ll come back,” I say. I don’t know Holden well enough to be making judgments, but I find it hard to doubt his commitment. Echo is family, though my mouth turns up as I remember yesterday. “Plus, Cerise is a pretty big draw as well.”
“She’s kind of old for him, isn’t she? You said she’s a senior. Or was. Did she graduate?” Echo asks.
“She will in December. She started mid-year. She’s twenty-two, but Holden’s pretty mature. Neither of them seemed to mind the age difference yesterday.” I shrug. I know Cerise well. She’s a good person, and I can’t imagine Holden finding anyone better at some stuffy Ivy League school, but I can understand Echo’s hesitation.
Putting aside thoughts of Holden, soap suds, and everything else, I peer down at Echo seriously. “Now, plans for tonight.”
Echo quirks an eyebrow up at my serious tone. “Did we have any?”
“Well, Katie Lynn might have mentioned that you bought a dress this afternoon, and I figured that if I’m going to keep telling everyone you’re my girlfriend, I should probably take you on a proper date.” I lose all my false seriousness when Echo’s eyes light up. “How’s that for a plan?”
“Just us?” Echo asks.
I can’t tell if she really wants me to say yes or if she’s nervous to get that answer. “Kyran said he’s taking Zara and Holden out to show them around. Cerise is working until nine, but she said she’d call and see what they were up to when she gets off. They’ll be fine without us…as long as that’s okay with you.”
There’s a flash of hesitation in her eyes before she grins and nods quickly. “Where are we going?”
“I have a reservation at this great local place. You’ll love it, but you might want to start getting ready. The reservation is at seven.”
Echo’s eyes bounce over to the clock on the stove. It’s only five-thirty, but I figure she’ll want to take her time. The anxiety that bursts into her expression says it was a wise choice. She glances back down at the dishes still in the sink and frowns.
“I’ll take care of them. Go take a shower.” Before she can argue, I plant my hand on her hip and push her toward the bathroom, then get right to finishing up the dishes. I need to run back to my place and shower as well, so I start washing, thinking Echo has taken off. When I hear soft footsteps behind me, I look over my shoulder and find her staring at me, biting her lip again.
“Just so you know,” she says softly, “the bubbles…it’s mutual.” She grins shyly before spinning around and darting toward the bathroom.
It takes me a minute to get my focus back on the dishes.
I’m not sure how great of a job I do with the dishes, but a few minutes later the plates and bowls I’m pretty sure my mama must have helped pick out, are sitting in the strainer to dry. I should probably dry them, but I need to take off. Grabbing my keys, I head back to the living room and clap Kyran on the shoulder.
“Hey, I’m taking off. You coming with me or not?”
Zara, eyes glued to the TV screen, says, “Dude, you smell. Go. Shower. We’ll reconvene and take care of business when you get back.”
“Fine,” Kyran pouts. He tosses the controller down on the couch when Zara pulls them out of the mission and stands. “All right, let’s go.”
A few minutes later, we’re in my Jeep, pulling out onto the street. “So, you and Zara getting along?” I ask.
Kyran shrugs. “Yeah, she’s pretty cool. Intense, but a nice girl.” He leaves it at that and I put my focus on the road.
I’d been curious to see what would happen when they met, especially after his comments about her being hot. When I met her back in California, she didn’t strike me as Kyran’s type. I couldn’t really pinpoint why, but I seem to have been right. When Kyran is interested in a woman, everyone knows it.
When we make it back to our place, I claim the shower first while Kyran flops down on the couch to take a quick nap. It amazes me how he can drop off like that. He’s out before I gather my stuff and hit the bathroom. It won’t take me nearly as long to get ready as I’m guessing it will Echo, but I still move quickly. Kyran also needs to get ready, and I want to get to the restaurant on time.
When I get out of the shower, I wake Kyran up and then head to my room. I put a little more thought into choosing my clothes than I usually do, but I haven’t had much occasion to dress up lately, so I go with black slacks and navy button up. I have to hunt around for my tie, and end up finding it in Kyran’s room.
He must have misplaced the one that goes with his uniform last week and borrowed mine. It’s not an exact match, but it’s close enough no one ever notices. He tends to lose his ties a lot.
Fixing my hair takes the longest, which I know kind of makes me sound like a girl, but it’s true. I brush it out, wondering if the length bothers Echo at all. I prefer it long. Not that I’ve got a mane like Troy Palamalu or anything, but it’s brushing my collar in the back. Holden is clean cut—very political intern-ish. Echo’s dad had a pretty standard cut as well. Even Kyran has a more conventional style, keeping his super curly hair cropped short. By the time I give up worrying about it and head back to the living room, Kyran is lounging on the couch, ready to go.
“What took you so long?” he complains.
I look at his standard jeans, skater shoes, and favorite Henley. Clearly, he isn’t planning anything too exciting for tonigh
t. “Just waiting on you,” I say as I offer him my hand.
Kyran rolls his eyes, but takes my hand and I pull him up. As we’re walking back to the Jeep, he asks, “So, after you and Echo go to dinner, do I need to stay away from the apartment…or look for a sock on the door or something?”
I probably should have been prepared for that question, but he catches me off guard and I have to shake myself to jumpstart my brain. “Uh, no, of course not.”
“Of course not?” Kyran asks, one eyebrow raised.
“Dude, we haven’t known each other that long, and besides, this whole thing is all kind of new for Echo.”
“New as in…she’s a virgin?”
I kind of want to punch him right now for getting this personal, but I try to be patient. “She’s never been with a guy, at all. On a date, kissing, boyfriend, sex, nothing, okay? This whole ghost thing, it really kind of screwed up her childhood. We’re taking things slow.”
Kyran shrugs. “Yeah, okay, I get that. It’s just…”
He doesn’t finish his thought. It hate it when he does that. “It’s just what?” I demand.
“I don’t know, man.” He shrugs again. “There’s just something about the two of you, when you’re together. It doesn’t seem like you just met. I can’t explain it. I just won’t be surprised if taking things slow doesn’t pan out.”
I pull out of the parking lot of our building and think. What did he mean by that? I wonder if Holden got the same impression, if that’s why he applied to Georgia State before I even invited Echo to come here for the summer. Did anyone else get this weird vibe from us? Short on answers, I head back to Echo’s apartment.
By the time I get there, Holden is no longer yelling at his dad, but Echo is still nowhere to be seen. Surprisingly, the others aren’t parked on the couch with controllers in their hands. Zara is milling around looking for her purse while Holden and Kyran discuss where to go first. Holden sees me looking around for Echo and directs me toward her room.
The Ghost Host: Episode 1 (The Ghost Host Series) Page 19