The Tenth Ward

by Rockwell Scott

  Although the relationship was new and showed a lot of promise, Rand knew from experience that his investigations and his relationships rarely mixed well. When he got involved with a case, the supernatural tended to affect him along with his client, which meant his past girlfriends had experienced terrifying situations that they didn’t deserve. The last thing he wanted was for that trend to continue with Rachel.

  This case should be straightforward enough, Rand told himself. If there’s a ghost, send it away, and everyone moves on. In and out. Simple and easy.

  5

  St. Mary’s was the largest hospital in the city, but Rand had never fully realized just how huge it was. It was the first time he had ever been there, and it was like its own miniature town rather than a medical facility.

  Weaving his way into the parking garage, he would have gotten him lost had it not been for the clear signs, the bright arrows painted on the asphalt, and the occasional worker wearing a yellow vest, waving him in.

  Going above and beyond, he thought, impressed with the ease of finding a spot when the garage was already so full.

  The lobby reminded him of the atrium entrance of a large mall rather than a hospital. His footsteps echoed off the high walls, and many hallways branched off that main section. The reception desk in front of him seemed like a logical place to start.

  Rand approached a friendly woman, who greeted him with a smile. It was genuine—Rand got good vibes from the woman. “Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to St. Mary’s.”

  “Hi there,” Rand said. “I was wondering if you could point me to the coffee shop.”

  “Certainly. Which one?”

  Rand chuckled. He should have figured there’d be more than one in a place this size. “Your nearest.”

  “The Bean Factory is our own personal brand. We import the finest coffees from all over the world.” She pointed toward a corridor that led away from the main lobby. “If you go this way and turn right, it will be on your left.”

  Rand smirked. Her sales pitch was well practiced. “Thank you very much.”

  “You’re welcome. Have a blessed day.”

  Rand followed the woman’s directions, looking around as he did. Hospitals usually gave him the creeps, but at St. Mary’s he didn’t even feel like he was in a hospital. A man in a suit passed him going the other way, an employee badge dangling from his coat. He nodded at Rand when he saw him and wished him a good afternoon.

  The coffee shop was exactly where the greeter said it would be. Nick and Maria Collins sat in the corner, talking low between themselves.

  When Maria noticed him, she gave him a small smile and stood. Nick followed her gaze, spotted him, and did the same.

  “Thank you for coming,” Nick said, shaking his hand. “You made it here all right? We figured this would be the easiest place to meet in this huge place.”

  “No problem at all,” Rand said. “Should we get started?”

  “You want to grab something before we go?” Nick pointed his thumb toward the counter, where a young girl enthusiastically took orders.

  “Had my coffee in the car,” Rand said.

  Nick looked away as he slowly nodded. Rand saw that he was nervous.

  “We can head up, then,” Nick said.

  “Perfect. You lead the way.”

  Nick and Maria brought him deeper into St. Mary’s to an elevator, which they rode to the tenth floor.

  The doors opened to the entrance of the ward. A single security guard manned the desk, and he smiled and rose when he saw Nick and Maria.

  “We’re back,” Maria said.

  “Sure thing,” the man nodded and handed them a clipboard where they could sign in.

  “This is a friend,” Nick said, nodding his head toward Rand. “Wanted to introduce him to Georgia.”

  Rand extended his hand, and the security guard took it. “Randolph Casey.”

  “Harold,” said the guard. “I’m the main security on duty up here.” He was a stout black man, with a round frame filling out his beige uniform. What hair remained on his head was short and grey.

  “Pleased to meet you.”

  “Meeting Georgia for the first time, hmm? Good luck in there, my friend.”

  “Will I need it?”

  “That girl’s one of a kind.” He couldn’t help but smile as he said it.

  “So I hear.”

  Harold took the clipboard away and replaced it with a binder, which he opened. “Simple process for non-relative visitors. Sign in here, then we’ll give you a name tag. When you leave, you’ll sign out.”

  “No problem,” Rand said. He produced his own pen from his pocket and signed his name. Harold gave him a name tag sticker, with “RANDOLPH” already written in big black letters.

  Rand put it on his chest. “Next time, just Rand. It’s what friends call me.”

  Harold nodded and smiled. “No problem, Mr. Rand.”

  Rand thought he saw a knowing look in the security guard’s eyes, and he wondered if someone had told him who he was and what he was there to do.

  When Rand followed Nick and Maria into room 1019, it was like he’d stepped out of a hospital and into the bedroom of a teenage girl. There were posters of singers on her walls, and around them were photographs of her and friends. There was a desk in the corner stacked with schoolwork and a vase of flowers. Someone had recently burned a floral-scented candle. The hospital bed had been removed and replaced with a single, narrow bed, with a fluffy pink comforter and a bunch of pillows.

  Georgia propped herself against the headboard, a computer on her lap, knees bent up. An oxygen tube ran from her nostrils to a fixture on the wall.

  “We’re back,” Maria said.

  Georgia closed her laptop. She and Rand met eyes, and she gave him a beaming smile, the same from the photograph he had. “Is this the ghost man?”

  Rand couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, I am the Ghost Man. Randolph Casey. Friends call me Rand.” He offered his hand and Georgia took it, giving it a single, dramatic pump.

  “Georgia Collins. Friends call me Georgia. Nice to meet you, Rand.”

  “I guess that means we’re friends.”

  She threw her legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. She wore an oversized t-shirt, black leggings, and socks, one that was blue and the other orange. Her blonde hair was wavy.

  “You knew he was coming,” Maria told her daughter. “You couldn’t have put something else on?”

  “Take me as I am,” Georgia told Rand, spreading her arms.

  “Will do.” Already Rand felt her warmth and vibrancy.

  “Have a seat,” Nick said, pulling up a chair from the other side of the room.

  “This is exciting,” Georgia said, eyeing Rand. “A real-life ghost man.”

  “I take it you’ve never met a ghost man before,” Rand said.

  “All I ever get to meet are doctors, nurses, and psychologists. This is so cool. I hope you know I’m going to tell all my friends about you.”

  Rand laughed. “Fine by me.”

  “Come on,” Georgia said. “I’ll give you a tour of the place.”

  Maria sat up straight. “Honey, Mr. Rand just got here. I’m sure he doesn’t want to walk around the whole place.”

  “It’s fine,” Rand said, standing. “I actually would appreciate a tour. I’ve never been inside St. Mary’s before.”

  That, and Rand already knew he wanted to separate Georgia from her parents if he was going to ask her about the ghost she was seeing. He figured it was the best way to get her to open up fully about her experience.

  Georgia unhooked her tubing from the device on the wall, which hissed before she twisted the knob to turn off the oxygen. She hooked up to a portable tank on wheels, which was inside a black bag that looked like a rolling suitcase. Then she donned a pair of oversized and ridiculous purple sunglasses, and said, “Shall we?”

  6

  “This is the tenth ward—for children, so that’s why it’s got all these kiddi
e things on the wall,” Georgia explained as they strolled. “I’m under eighteen, so they still put me here instead of a normal ward. I’m, like, the oldest person here, I think. Or I am now that Thomas died. Did my parents tell you about Thomas?”

  “They mentioned him, yes,” Rand said.

  “Yeah. He was another CF kid and, like, my best friend for a while. He lived here too, but we only really talked on video chat.”

  “Why is that?” Rand asked.

  They passed by the nurses’ station and Georgia waved her hand like she was a pageant queen. “Hello, hello, everyone.” The three nurses behind the desk all stopped what they were doing to tell her good afternoon.

  Georgia said, “I’m definitely the favorite around here.”

  “I can see that,” Rand said. “So why did you and Thomas only talk on video chat?”

  “Oh yeah. It’s a CF thing. People with CF shouldn’t be around other people with CF. Don’t tell anyone, but we totally used to meet up sometimes, anyway. But we’d wear masks, so it’s cool, right? Hospital masks, not like Halloween masks. Although that would’ve been fun.”

  “Your secret is safe with me,” Rand said.

  Harold the security guard sat at his desk near the elevator.

  “Miss Georgia,” he said when she saw him coming. “Loving those stunner shades.”

  “I wish I’d known, I would have gotten you a pair.” Georgia and Harold high-fived each other over the desk. “I’m heading down for some ice cream with my new boyfriend. Call me on the secret phone if you need help taking down any perps.”

  “Will do, Miss Georgia.”

  She pressed the down button on the elevator.

  As they waited, Rand said, “You’re going to start rumors around here about us.”

  “Be proud, Ghost Man. I’m quite a catch.”

  The elevator dinged, and they got inside.

  “By the way, I’m on antibiotics right now and it kind of makes me sensitive to bright light. That’s why I’m wearing sunglasses. I mean, I’m a freak, but at least I know it’s not normal to wear sunglasses inside.”

  “Doesn’t bother me,” Rand said. “The sun never sets on being a badass.”

  Georgia looked up at him for a few seconds. “You’re right. I think I’m going to like you.”

  The elevator opened on the ground floor and Georgia led him down the giant corridor. “The cafeteria here is pretty good. I’ve had everything on the menu like three times. We’re gonna get ice cream, by the way. The ice cream there is totally awesome. It’s soft serve. Hey, Mr. Steve.” Georgia held out her hand and high-fived a guy in a suit as he passed.

  “Looking good, Georgia,” he said.

  “Have a good day administrating.”

  “I will.”

  Georgia said, “That’s Steve, one of the hospital administrators. Like, big boss. He asks me before he fires people, though.”

  “You should tell him I found his parking garage to be easy to navigate.”

  “I will!” Georgia lit up. “Seriously, that would make him so happy to hear.”

  The St. Mary’s cafeteria was the size of a large restaurant, and a myriad of sweet and spicy aromas filled the air. The walls of the dining area were all floor-to-ceiling windows, which looked out over a garden. Some of the employees had taken their lunch outside to enjoy the autumn weather.

  “I don’t get why they do this,” Georgia said, pointing to a podium at the entrance of the cafeteria. There was a plate with the day’s main dish—salmon with a red sauce, covered in a clear plastic container. The food already looked like it had grown cold and gross. “I mean, I know they’re trying to show it off, but look at it! It doesn’t take long for it to start rotting.”

  “I agree,” Rand said.

  Georgia led him to the soft-serve ice cream machine. “Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?” she asked.

  “All three,” Rand told her.

  “I knew it! We’re spirit animals.” She grabbed a cup and pulled on the levers one by one.

  “Soul mates?”

  “Right. What did I say?” She handed the cup to him, and then prepared her own ice cream. They walked to the cash registers, where an elderly woman with glasses was ringing people up. “Oh, sweet! Mrs. Eloise is working. Check this out.” She elbowed him in the ribs.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Georgia,” said Mrs. Eloise. “Ice cream for lunch?”

  “They brought lunch up to the room today.” She turned and winked at Rand when Mrs. Eloise wasn’t looking.

  “And who is this?” she asked, eyeing Rand up and down.

  “My new boyfriend. It’s our first date.”

  “What have I told you about older men, Miss Georgia?”

  “I know, but I have to make these mistakes for myself. Duh!”

  Mrs. Eloise smiled and pressed a button on her computer, which made the cash drawer opene, but she only pushed it closed again. “It’s on me.”

  “Thank you!”

  Georgia grabbed the sleeve of Rand’s jacket and pulled him away, as if trying to move him along before Mrs. Eloise changed her mind.

  She took two plastic spoons from the counter on the other side of the register and they sat at a table in the far corner of the dining area.

  “Mmm,” Georgia said after her first bite of ice cream. “See? It’s the best. Even better than those expensive places they have downtown.”

  Rand tasted the ice cream, and he had to admit it was actually pretty damn good.

  “So, like, how much are my parents paying you to come here and talk to me?” Georgia asked.

  “They’re not paying me anything.”

  “Really? Wow. You could totally charge top dollar for being the best ghost man in town.”

  “I’m the only ghost man in town.”

  “Then you can charge even more. It’s like a neech.”

  “A niche.”

  “So, basically, everyone thinks I’m crazy because I see Thomas around. But doesn’t it make sense that I would see him?”

  “It does, believe it or not,” Rand said. “Spirits who linger in our world feel they weren’t ready to pass away when they did. Maybe it was too soon, or it was tragic, or they felt like they had unfinished business.”

  Georgia’s mouth fell open as she stared at him. “Wow. Thomas fits all three of those.” She took another bite of ice cream. “It’s also so cool to talk to someone who believes in this stuff. Everyone else tries to make me think ‘rationally.’ ”

  “I’m definitely a believer,” Rand said. “It’s very real. Do you believe in life after death?”

  Georgia shrugged. “I guess I do now. I mean, sometimes I visit the chapel here and Father Calvin talks about God and Jesus and how we go to heaven when we die. Not sure if I only like the idea of it because I’m so close to dying or because it actually makes sense. You know?”

  “Close to dying?” Rand asked.

  “Yeah. CF people don’t live very long. And about a month ago I collapsed and had to go to the emergency room and all this stuff. My parents don’t even like it when I walk around—they say I should use a wheelchair because my lungs are so shitty, but I don’t like that. The only reason they let me go now is because you’re here and they didn’t want to get into a fight about it in front of you. So basically I’m using you for free ice cream and to walk on my own two legs like a normal person.” She chuckled. “But seriously. They’ve given me a year, or maybe two. The doctors say I need a lung transplant.”

  Rand frowned.

  “I’m over it,” Georgia said. “I’ve known my life would be short all along and don’t have any regrets. I feel like I’m making the most of every day.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Do you think that’s why I can see Thomas?” Georgia said. “Because I’m so close to the end? I read something like that on the internet.”

  Rand cleared his throat and put his empty ice cream cup on the table. “Sometimes people are more in tune with the spiritual world w
hen they are closer to joining it themselves.”

  “Wow,” Georgia said. “Since you’re the ghost man, do you think we’d be able to hang out after—”

  “I would like to think you would move on. As you said, you don’t have any regrets and live every day to the fullest. What reason would you have to stay behind?”

  “To haunt people,” Georgia said, dropping her spoon into her empty cup. “Rattle chains and all that stuff.”

  Rand smiled and shook his head.

  “Why are you laughing at me?” Georgia asked.

  “I’m not. It’s just that you remind me of my daughter.”

  “Your daughter must be awesome.”

  “She is. She’s sixteen.”

  “Really? I want to meet her.”

  “She said the same thing about you.”

  “No way!”

  “Yes way.”

  “That settles it. You gotta give me her number.” Georgia reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She unlocked it and passed it across the table to him. The screen was cracked so badly it looked like it had been shot. Rand didn’t move. “What’s wrong? Don’t mix business and personal stuff or whatever?”

  Finally, Rand tapped the phone app on her screen and added Libby’s number to her contacts. “Her name is Libby. She texts all the time, so I’m sure you’ll get a response if you send her a message.”

  “Sweet,” Georgia said, taking her phone back. “Making new friends is awesome. Makes me feel more normal.”

  “So now that I’ve made you a friend,” Rand said, “why don’t you tell me a little more about Thomas?”

  “Ah. Nothing for free from this guy, I see.”

  “Not like that. I’m just interested in your experience.”

  “Do you want to know about alive Thomas or dead Thomas?”

  “Both.”

  “Hmm.” She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling as she recollected. “Well, alive Thomas was cool. He was sixteen, and he stayed on a different floor than me, and the nurses wouldn’t let us hang out, but I told you that already. Hmm, what else. He liked rock-and-roll music and college football. He said he always wanted to play, but his lungs were shit. He had a crush on some girl named Kristen, who volunteers on his floor, but she avoided him when he asked her out because I guess she doesn’t like sick boys. Ugh.” She stuck out her tongue. “Anyway, he deserves much better. Or, he deserved, I guess. He crashed about three months ago. Health just went splat. Went into a coma, they had to operate, but then he never woke up. I cried at his funeral.”