Two spirits hovered in the corner near the dining room and spoke to each other.
"Do you think this guy can really hear us?"
"I don't know, but what have we got to lose? Marie thinks he can."
"Marie thinks doing it doggy-style causes cancer."
He ducked as a boy dressed in all black crossed the living room and headed for Lindsay.
"Hey, listen, can I talk to you alone for a minute?"
The boy grabbed Lindsay's hand and led her into an adjacent bedroom. The half-naked couple stopped groping each other long enough to watch them go, and the remaining teens giggled quietly.
"Do you think he's gonna screw her, too?"
"If she wants to talk to her brother she'll do what Rick says."
"Does he really talk to the spirits?"
"Of course he does. Shut your mouth."
A soul soared from the kitchen through the living room into the bedroom Rick and Lindsay disappeared into. Connor heard Tommy's panicked voice.
"Lindsay, stop! What the hell are you doing?"
Connor circled around the side of the house, stopping once to hide from a wandering soul, and crouched beneath the window to the musty bedroom. The smell tickled his nose.
"Are you saying that in order to talk to my brother, you need to have sex with me?" Lindsay asked.
"It's not really about the sex. It's more about the emotion, the energy it creates."
"Don't listen to him, Lindsay. He's full of shit," Tommy said.
Connor peered into the bedroom. Lindsay leaned against the wall, keeping her head low. Rick kept his distance, but Connor could see that wouldn't last long. Tommy hovered near the door.
"Looks like we've got an audience," Rick said, gesturing to the soul. "Would you beat it? Go check Dana and Joe in the next room. They've got a better show going on."
"Go to Hell, you little punk."
Lindsay shyly folded her arms. "I don't know, Rick. I need to talk to my brother, but I'm…."
"A virgin? That's even better. It adds more to the energy."
"He's a damn con artist. Come on, you're smarter than this. Please."
"Can you hear what that soul is saying, right by the door? If you can even hear anything at all, I'll think about it."
"It doesn't work that way. I need some energy first. Then we'll pray in the other room."
"Yeah, right."
Rick took a step forward. "Are you…calling me a liar?"
"Get away from me."
"Don't you get near my sister!" Tommy shouted, floating uselessly forward.
Connor ducked down, and something inside him snapped. It was the anniversary of his parents' murder. Twenty-three years ago his mother and father successfully stopped a serial killer and saved his life. Now he was hiding from a group of teens as a young girl feared for her safety.
He stood and circled to the front of the house, not bothering to hide. A soul soared down from above and moved next to him.
"Connor, what are you doing, man?" Ryan asked.
"This is ridiculous. Let's get Lindsay and go watch the ballgame."
"Are you seriously just gonna walk in—?" Connor jumped across a broken step on the front porch and walked into the living room. "I guess you are."
The teens gasped in surprise. The half-naked Dana pulled Joe on top of her, trying to cover herself. The girl listening to music removed her headphones as her mouth fell open. Several souls moved in through the open window.
"Don't mind me," Connor said. "I'm just here to pick up someone."
He crossed the living room as Joe and Dana quickly put their shirts on. The doorknob to the bedroom felt disgusting in his hand. He pushed it open to see Rick only a few inches from Lindsay's face, trying to force a kiss on her.
"Connor, thank God," Tommy said. "Get Lindsay out of here."
"Tommy, let me handle this."
Lindsay's eyes lit up at her brother's name. "Tommy?"
"Who are you?" Rick said. "Get the fuck out of here."
"That's the plan, and she's coming with me."
Lindsay pushed Rick away and took Connor's hand. He glanced at the rest of Rick's friends as they passed back through the living room. Ryan and Tommy followed close behind.
"Is he talking to them?" Joe asked.
Dana adjusted her shirt. "What's going on?"
Connor kept his eyes forward. He could feel Rick walking behind him.
"You can't talk to the dead!" the teen shouted. "Only I can! You don't have the power!"
"Whatever, Spanky," Connor whispered, and glanced at Ryan. "Can you believe this idiot?"
He didn't even want to imagine the number of vulnerable girls he tricked into that musty bedroom with promises of talking to loved ones. The area outside the front porch grew brighter as more souls started to follow. He heard their chatter behind him.
"Can that guy really hear us?"
"I wonder if he can talk to my husband."
"Let's go talk to him."
"Uh, Ryan?" Connor said, afraid to look at the growing light behind him. "Can you give me a hand here?"
"On it." Ryan floated up to meet the crowd of souls. "Whoa now, guys. Hold on, don't crowd him. My man Connor is definitely special, but he's busy right now. But you can talk to me. Think of me as his agent."
"What's happening?" Lindsay asked. "Can you hear them? Is my brother here? Is that him behind us?"
"Later. Let's just get to my car, and we'll talk."
Tommy's voice erupted behind him. "Connor! Watch out!"
He spun in time to see Rick charging. The knife in his hand gleamed in the light from the souls above. Connor pushed Lindsay aside, but was slow in moving himself. The blade caught him on the edge of his shoulder, passing completely through to the hilt. He howled in pain and lashed out with his good arm, catching Rick under the jaw. The teen flopped to the ground.
"What the hell is the matter with you, you little shit?" Connor shouted.
The other boy in the group, Joe, tried to help Rick to his feet. The girls all followed closely behind.
"Are you okay?" Lindsay asked, returning to his side.
Connor glanced at the knife protruding from his arm. He felt the blade jutting out from the back of his shoulder.
"Let's just get out of here."
The pair jogged, and Rick's group followed at a much slower pace. He shouted behind them.
"I'm the chosen one, not you!"
"What the hell is that dumbass on?" Connor asked.
Lindsay made it to the car first. Connor slid behind the wheel gingerly as Tommy floated through the windshield and settled in the back seat. His arm felt like it was on fire, and every little movement caused pain. He backed up along the dirt road, driving with one hand. Rick and his friends grew smaller. Their voices and the light of the spirits finally faded.
He looked in the rear-view mirror at Tommy. "I guess you weren't kidding when you called those assholes a cult."
"I told you. I've been watching them for a while."
"Are you talking to him right now?" Lindsay asked. "Is that Tommy?"
"Yeah."
"How can you tell?"
"Because he told me."
She turned in her seat as Connor pulled back onto the highway. He tried to remember the quickest way to the hospital.
"Tommy," she said, trying to touch the spirit. "I miss you so much."
"I miss you too, sis."
Connor smiled, despite the pain in his arm. He wondered if his parents would be proud of him.
*****
"All done," the doctor said. She held two mirrors to Connor's shoulder so he could see her handiwork. Ten stitches in the front, and eight in the back where the blade went all the way through. She handed him his ruined shirt and gave him a flirty wink. "You're free to go."
"Thank you."
She gestured to Tommy hovering in the corner. "A relative of yours? He's been with you since you got here."
"Spirits just love me."
"I can see why. You take care of yourself."
He tried to move his shoulder as the doctor left the room. The pain was manageable thanks to the lidocaine, but he dreaded how he'd feel in the morning. He could only hope he'd be able to handle luggage at the airport.
Lindsay covered her mouth with both hands as she stepped in from the hall. She'd been crying, and wiped at the tears in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry Rick stabbed you."
"Eh, I've been through worse."
"Really?"
"Actually, no. I fell off my bike when I was a kid, and this huge suitcase fell on me one time, but that's about it."
She laughed, which brought a smile to his face. He was glad Rick didn't get to carry out whatever he had in mind.
"My parents are on the way. I'll probably be a spirit by the time I get home."
He nodded sympathetically and slipped on his shirt. Her eyes fell on her brother in the corner.
"So, that's Tommy? You can hear him? You don't have to—?"
"Nope. No trances, no chanting, and definitely no sex. They talk, and I listen."
Tears streamed down her face once again as Tommy floated forward, stilling himself in front of her.
"What would you do without me, sis?"
"I'm sorry, Tommy. I hope you don't hate me."
"I don't blame you for what happened, Lindsay. It was an accident, and you have to stop beating yourself up over it. You skipping school, taking drugs, it has to stop."
Connor repeated the message, and wondered what accident he spoke about. A car accident, boating accident, kitchen accident? He was curious, but it wasn't his place to ask.
Lindsay sniffled and wiped her nose. "I'll do better."
"You better. I'm not going anywhere until you do."
She laughed as Connor relayed the words. "You might be around a while, then."
Connor stood and smiled at both of them. "Okay, guys, I have to get moving. It's been nice meeting both of you."
She surprised him with a hug, which he returned.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Stay out of trouble, now."
"I will."
He left the teenager and spirit alone. As he turned into the emergency room lobby, two panicked parents burst through the doors. He could guess who they were, but said nothing as he passed and stepped out into the parking lot.
A soul rested on the hood of his Beetle as he moved in and out of the parked cars. He couldn't see his eyes or expressions, but had a good idea who it was.
"You're a wounded warrior now, man," Ryan said. "That was bad-ass. I saw everything from the sky. You took that knife to the shoulder, and whipped that punk's ass."
"I beat up a delusional kid."
"Hey, it's all good. We'll go to the churches next. Lay down some justice."
The pain shot through his shoulder as he laughed. He climbed behind the wheel, Ryan settling next to him.
"After you left, all the spirits rolled out, and his crew bailed on him, too. I'd say his banging-chicks-for-energy days are over."
"I can't believe he actually had souls thinking he could hear them. Hey, speaking of souls…."
Ryan sighed. "I tried my best to steer them away, but don't be surprised if you get the occasional midnight visit. Some of them are cute, though."
"It's such a shame I can't see that." He started the car.
"Dude, look, I'm sorry. I had no idea telling Tommy I knew a guy who could help him would end up with you in the hospital."
"Don't worry about it. It's been a hell of a day though, hasn't it?"
"You ain't lying."
"Like you said, without you, where would my excitement come from?"
CHAPTER 5
Brooke greeted her coworkers as she walked through the collection of desks at Soul-Ful. She sipped her coffee and sat at her desk three minutes early, as usual. The mound of papers on her desk seemed to magically grow over the one day off she had, and she regretted not taking at least some home with her.
Amber's desk in front of Brooke was still vacant. The two barely saw each other ever since Saturday night. Amber had spent her entire Sunday with the guy she met at the club, Paul. She even stayed over his house Sunday night. Brooke couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Amber took a chance and met a new boy-toy. Brooke stepped out of her comfort zone and was rewarded with meeting a lunatic who thought he could hear spirits.
She held her head in her hands at the thought of Saturday night. She didn't know what she was thinking, knocking on Connor's door. She wanted to do something wild and crazy, like Amber. The argument with her best friend had her questioning herself, doubting who she was. Fun for her wasn't dancing on tables and flirting carelessly. Her life wasn't like Amber's, and she was okay with that.
Amber strolled into Soul-Ful a few minutes late. She turned heads, as usual, in a knee-length skirt and high heels. Brooke and Amber had days they didn't drive to work together, but it felt like there was still tension between them. Amber offered a half smile before turning her back to Brooke and settling in at her desk.
Brooke stared at the back of Amber's head. She wanted to talk to her, clear up whatever was happening between them. Amber could drag a bad mood out a long time, but something still felt wrong. She certainly couldn't still be angry about Saturday night.
The atmosphere around her changed, and Brooke could sense people slowing down and looking at something. She glanced up at the beautiful brunette walking into Soul-Ful. The brunette wore shorts and a tight tee-shirt, showing off her curves, and had a friendly smile that lit up the room.
"Isabel!"
"Hi, Brooke!"
Isabel extended her arms as she approached. Brooke realized she wanted a hug, and stood up to meet her in the aisle, giving a gentle squeeze. Isabel grabbed an empty chair from a nearby desk and sat across from Brooke.
"How did your weekend go?" Brooke asked. "I thought one of our sales guys was supposed to pick you up?"
She dismissed that thought with a wave. "No way. They won't let me drive yet, but I can put these legs to good use. I bought a bike and pedaled my way over here."
"That's a long ride."
"Yeah, and it felt great."
"You want something to drink? Some coffee or tea?"
"No, thanks." She leaned forward and lowered her voice. "I had sex with a man over the weekend."
Brooke's face turned red. It was strange to hear a woman old enough to be her grandmother talking about sex, even if she was luscious and youthful on the outside.
"You don't waste any time, do you? Just tell me, it wasn't with Chris, right?"
"The tech? No, no. I'd kill that poor boy."
They laughed quietly, drawing a look from Amber. They talked for a few more minutes before Dana stopped by and pulled Isabel away for more paperwork and a new driver's license photo. Brooke was getting into a paperwork rhythm when Wesley leaned out of his office.
"Brooke, stop in for a second, please."
She searched around her, as if another person in the office was named Brooke. Tucking her purse under her desk, she stood up and nervously ran her fingers through her hair. She couldn't think of any reason she'd be in trouble.
"What did you do?" Amber whispered.
"Nothing. I didn't do anything."
A few of her coworkers glanced her way as she headed up the aisle. Greg, one of their salesman, walked with a soul to the lab area for a resurrection. She smiled politely at them both before stepping into Wesley's office.
"Close the door behind you."
A lump formed in Brooke's throat. She wasn't even sure if she should sit across from him. Walking slowly toward the chair, she kept an eye on him, waiting to see if he'd object. She slowly sat down and crossed her legs, trying to hide her nervousness. He didn't bother sitting in his comfortable-looking chair, instead sitting on the corner of his desk.
"Okay, I've got a meeting in about a half hour, so I'll get right to the point. I was gonna wait until the afternoon
to talk to you about this, but I wanted to get the ball rolling. I'd like you to think about joining our sales team."
Brooke's mouth hung open. She knew the next words out of her mouth would be important, but her lips moved before her brain could stop them.
"Seriously?"
His mouth twitched into a small smile. "Yeah, seriously. You sold three policies over the weekend without even trying."
"Uh, I don't understand?" She felt like a five-year-old child.
"I got calls from a few people from the hospital yesterday, all wanting to buy soul insurance. They saw how you defended us in a fight with a doctor, and with the respect you gave Isabel's soul."
Her face grew hot. "About the fight…it wasn't really a fight. The doctor, he—"
He held up his hand. "You did good, Brooke, that's all I care about. What half our sales department doesn't realize is soul insurance is about life. I don't want people out there just trying to make a sale. I want people smiling, laughing, being themselves. I watched Isabel come in here and walk right to your desk. You have that something special that puts people at ease and makes them smile." He was quiet a moment to let his words sink in. "What are your thoughts?"
Brooke looked out at her fellow paper-pushers at their desks. She had trouble believing she would succeed in sales.
"You don't think someone like Amber would be better?"
"Amber. Yeah, she'd be good in sales, I think. But to be honest, I think you'd be better. That's why you're here with me now. I felt really embarrassed when those callers asked who the saleswoman who visited the hospital was, and I had to tell them you weren't in sales. I want to fix that. Your workload would go up, I won't lie. But your pay will, too."
Ten seconds of silence passed. She wasn't sure if he wanted an answer at that moment or not.
"Can I think it over? Just for a day or so?"
"Of course. Take your time, and just let me know what you decide. I'll be disappointed if you say no, only because I really think you'd be great at it. But if that's the case, there won't be any hard feelings."
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