"Sorry, but I didn't want to watch my best friend make moves on you. Sad, I know, but I'm still jealous of her."
"What do you mean?"
Brooke filled him in briefly on her status as Amber's friend when she was alive. Always being looked over, always placing second.
"I've gotten used to it over the years," she said. "But I'll admit it, sometimes I can't help it. I know it makes me sound petty. I love Amber, but everyone looking over me to drool over her, it gets me sometimes."
It wasn't the complete truth, but she wasn't ready to entertain the idea of having feelings for a living person.
"Not everyone. For the record, you're hotter than her."
"Back when I was alive—"
"No, I mean now."
"I'm a moving light bulb, Connor."
"You don't have to have a body to be hot."
Her eyes met his, and for a second she thought he could actually see her. He looked directly into her eyes with that smile of his.
"For a change, I'm actually glad you can't see me," she said. "I'm so red right now."
"I made a spirit blush," he said proudly. "Anyway, I think she was maybe thinking about a move or two, but I stopped that."
"What did you do?"
He shrugged. "I told her the truth. She's just not my type."
Brooke's eyes went big. "I bet that went over well."
"Actually, she was fine. We just talked after that, and she cried over you."
"Me?"
"Yeah. She still misses you. She told me the story of how you two sneaked out when you were seniors and borrowed her mother's car."
Brooke laughed at the memory. Instantly her jealousy of Amber vanished as she thought of all the fun they had. They couldn't have been more different, but Amber was her best friend. She'd always been there for her. Brooke would have to ask for Connor's help soon, in finally talking to her.
"Anyway," she said, trying to focus on why she was there. "I wanted to say I'm sorry for running out on you last night."
"You are forgiven. Just remember, people don't stop by much, but you stay before anyone else. You're my friend."
She brought a hand to her mouth and coughed, in an attempt to get out the nervousness. "There's one more thing I wanted to talk to you about. Have you ever dated a soul?"
"Just once. But it got real awkward when it was time to get naked."
"Oh my God! Are you serious?"
"Not at all. You mean like a romantic date? Nope, can't say I have."
Brooke felt her courage slipping away. She thought her seemingly innocent question would show her intentions, but Connor didn't appear to pick up on it. He was going to make her ask directly.
"Well, what if I told you…."
She trailed off as her gaze fell on a woman eating by herself a few tables behind Connor. Brooke almost looked away, but recognition hit her, and she narrowed her eyes and stared to make sure she was seeing correctly.
Beautiful blond hair down to her shoulders, a tan complexion, deep blue eyes, and a slender build. She was a gorgeous woman, and drew several looks as men walked past. She seemed oblivious to the attention, and continued to focus on her food. There was a small carry-on bag at her feet.
Brooke noticed the mole on her cheek, and her breath caught in her chest.
"I know that woman."
CHAPTER 11
Connor looked over his shoulder at the rest of the food court. There was a couple eating lunch not far away. A family of four was just settling in at their table. A woman ate alone. A female security guard stood in line at the Subway stand. He couldn't see Brooke's eyes to know where she was looking.
"There's plenty of women here. Who are you looking at?"
"Four tables away. The leggy blonde all by herself."
He took the woman in. She was certainly beautiful, like she'd stepped off the cover of a magazine. There was something odd about the woman's mannerisms that caught his attention. She stared at her food, and a smile crossed her face as she took a bite of her sub. Connor liked ham and cheese as much as anyone else, but couldn't remember the last time he broke into a smile eating one.
"You know her? Want me to go say hi for you?"
"No. I mean…something's wrong. She's not supposed to be alive."
Connor's eyebrows went up as he turned back in his seat to look at Brooke. He wished he could see her face. Even more, he wished they could go back to the conversation about dating souls, where it seemed she had something she wanted to ask him. If she had in mind what he thought she did, that was a conversation he wanted to revisit.
"Not supposed to be alive? What do you mean?"
"That's a soul resurrection body. It belongs to Isabel, one of our clients at Soul-Ful."
He turned in his seat once again to steal a look. That made perfect sense, given how physically beautiful the blonde was. It was amazing to think a lab could create such attractive men and women. The only flaw he could find was a tiny mole on her cheek, which ironically only added to the woman's sex appeal.
"So, that's Isabel?"
"No," Brooke said, frustration in her voice. "That's not her. Isabel already chose her body."
"I'm not following. What's going on? One of Isabel's bodies went to someone else?"
"It doesn't work like that. A client chooses three bodies, or more, depending on how rich they are. After they die, we bring them back to life in the body they mark as primary. The client can choose what to do with their other choices. Pass them down to their children, use them for organs, donate them to a lab, whatever."
"Harvest them for their organs?" he said, frowning.
"They were never alive to begin with." There was danger in Brooke's voice. Connor had no doubt she engaged in many heated discussions over soul resurrection. "And Soul-Ful alone has saved a lot of lives. My point is that body shouldn't be up walking around. In fact, it never made it to Soul-Ful. There was some kind of screw-up at the cryo-factory. And even if it did arrive, Isabel wanted her other choices to go to a lab somewhere in Utah. That body shouldn't have a soul."
He finished his sandwich and took a drink of soda. "Well, obviously there's a soul in there now."
Brooke was quiet. Connor glanced at Brooke's mystery woman one more time. She was staring at a magazine, a look of confusion on her face. She held it at arm's length, like she was having trouble seeing, before moving it an inch away from her nose. A man passing by laughed under his breath, but still turned around to get another eyeful. Connor was accustomed to people laughing and giggling at him as he talked to spirits, but the odd woman was drawing more attention than him.
"Connor, go over there and talk to her," Brooke said.
"Yeah. Funny."
"I'm serious. I need to hear this woman, see what she's all about."
"Why?"
"Because something isn't right here. Just go over there and flirt with her a little."
"I suck at flirting."
"No way. You're great at it with me. Just smile at her."
"Smile?"
"It always makes my knees weak."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I wouldn't lie to you."
They were quiet for a moment. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
"You're staring at me," she said.
"Sorry. This is important to you?"
"Yeah. I just have a feeling."
He sighed and turned in his seat one more time. His mind seemed to go blank as he tossed his trash away and took slow steps across the food court. He never approached someone with the intent to flirt with them. His stomach danced nervously. The mystery woman looked up at him, squinting.
"Hi," Connor said, trying to sound as normal as possible.
"Hello. Are you one of the pilots of the plane?"
He looked down at his uniform, which resembled nothing like a pilot's. "Uh, no. Actually, I handle the luggage."
"Oh. I already checked my luggage. I just have my carry-on here with me."
"Yeah, I see. I'm on
my lunch. I was wondering if I could sit and talk to you."
"About what?"
Connor could feel the sweat bead on his forehead as he smiled nervously. Did all women make it difficult to approach them? Or was he unfairly comparing the unusual blonde to Brooke, whom he felt perfectly at ease with?
"Maybe we could figure that out on the way."
He sat across from her. A simple move, but a bold one for him. She smiled and set her magazine down.
"I'm Connor." He extended his hand.
"Lisa."
She shook his hand. A light, gentle grip. She held his gaze, and squinted once again, like she was having trouble focusing.
A soul flew in between them. Connor had lost track of Brooke, and didn't know if it was her or not. Lisa let out a small shout, nearly knocking over her drink.
"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to that," she said.
He thought of Katie in the apartment beneath him, always dealing with souls spying. "I'll bet you put up with that a lot, souls trying to get a peek at you."
"I have lately, that's for sure," she said with a laugh. She eyed him up and down with no subtlety at all. Connor hoped his cheeks weren't turning red. "I'm sure you have the same problem."
Connor heard a familiar voice somewhere above him. "Reel it in there, lady."
Lisa squinted at a family walking not far away. She reached for her drink, but her hand missed the bottle completely. Connor smiled as he grabbed it for her. She didn't do a good job of hiding her embarrassment.
"Thank you."
"Let me guess. Soul insurance?"
Lisa lowered her head and grinned up at him, somehow managing to look sexy. "Is it that obvious?"
He nodded, but knew her condition went well beyond a resurrection.
"I'm still getting used to this body. I must have been ugly before, because no one ever wanted to talk to me. Now cute guys like you sit down at my table."
Connor smiled graciously and gestured to her bag. "So, where are you heading? Taking a trip somewhere?"
A soul flying caught her attention for a moment. It passed through a table and moved down through the floor. Lisa watched with fascination.
"I never realized how beautiful they were. Did you ask me something?"
He laughed. "I was wondering if you were going somewhere."
Lisa's guard went up. She clutched the handle of her bag and stiffened in her seat.
"Just overseas," she said. "I probably won't be back for a while."
"Ah, so no phone number for me, then?"
Brooke huffed in disgust above them.
Lisa's posture relaxed slightly. Was she running from something, or on the lookout for someone?
"I'll tell you what. When I do come back, you'll be the first person I look for, Connor."
She rose to her feet and pressed a button on the side of her watch. It narrated the time in a cold, robotic voice. She reached for her trash, but again reached past her target. Connor handed it to her, and she held onto his hand longer than necessary.
"I have to get going," she said, giving him a full smile. "But you were definitely the highlight of my day."
Connor watched her walk away. Brooke's description of Lisa as leggy was accurate. She continued to turn heads as she left the food court and walked down the corridor. She nearly walked into a sign as she faded out of sight.
He was aware of the soul floating down next to him.
"Highlight of my day," Brooke said. "Who says stupid crap like that?"
He took a deep breath and glanced at his friend. It was certainly his imagination, but he thought he saw a hint of red in her color.
"How did I do?"
"You did fine. But you didn't have to stare at her as she walked away."
"Someone sounds jealous."
"Of course I'm jealous. She has a body, and I don't. Hell, she has a perfect body, because of soul insurance. We have to follow her."
"Brooke, I'm not gonna follow her. I have to get back to work."
A security guard gave Connor a confused look as they left the food court. Connor ignored it as best he could, and Brooke moved by his side. They headed in the opposite direction from Lisa, and Brooke let out a disappointed sigh. He could imagine her pouting with her arms crossed, looking sexy.
"I'm telling you, there's something very weird about that woman."
"You mean besides the fact that she's in one of your company's bodies? Or is this going back to the whole jealousy thing?"
"Connor—"
"Hey, look. I believe you."
Brooke stopped in mid-air, and Connor turned to look at her. Their interaction drew even more attention, and he heard someone snickering.
"You do?"
"Yeah. Lisa didn't just go through a resurrection. She was blind before."
"Are you serious?"
He smiled, proud of his discovery. Maybe he had some of his father's cop instincts in him, although it was painfully obvious.
"Yeah. She couldn't focus, had trouble with depth perception, and a watch that talked to her."
She caught up to him as he resumed walking. "We have to find out what's going on."
Connor turned into a door for employees only, Brooke still with him. He nodded a greeting to Donnie, one of his coworkers, who stopped long enough to point.
"Hey, Connor, do you know you have—?"
"A spirit following me. Yes, I know. Brooke, listen, what do you want to do? Play detective? That would make for a cool show, though, don't you think? The cop with the gorgeous partner, who happens to be a soul, that only he can hear."
"A body that didn't make it to Soul-Ful somehow ends up not only alive, but with someone who was blind. Doesn't that make you curious?" Brooke paused for a moment. "Did you say gorgeous partner?"
He stopped outside a door. "Are you really gonna follow me into the men's locker room?"
Connor laughed and rolled his eyes as Brooke's soul moved halfway into the door. He crossed his arms and he waited for her.
"There's no one in there. And I've seen you without a shirt plenty of times."
"I'm not changing shirts, but whatever, let's go."
"Aww, why not?"
Brooke floated behind him as he opened his locker. He grabbed his radio and set his wallet inside.
"Brooke, if you really want to find out what's going on, teleport to Lisa and watch her."
"I don't teleport, Connor. You know this."
"You did before. What's the big deal?"
"It's just…scary. Anyway, Lisa is getting on an airplane. Heights aren't my best friend, either."
"You fly around all the time."
"Hanging out near the rooftops isn't the same thing as being up on a plane."
"If you want to solve your mystery, that's what you'll have to do."
Connor grabbed a bottle of water from his locker and slammed it shut. He was ready to leave when Brooke spoke.
"What would I have to do?"
He looked at her, surprised. In the back of his mind he didn't think she was serious, but she was really concerned with Lisa walking around in a body that wasn't hers.
"You're for real?"
"Can you teach me?"
"Can this wait until tonight?"
She sighed. "I don't think so. I'll lose my nerve before then."
Connor took a breath and clutched his radio. It was almost a shock to him that he didn't hesitate. Simply liking Brooke had grown into caring about her, and he would do what he could for her.
"Hey, Eddie. This is Connor."
A moment later Eddie's voice squawked through the radio. "This is Eddie. What do you want?"
"I'm gonna be a little late coming back from lunch. Not feeling too good."
"Ten-four. You attacking the toilet, teaching it a lesson?"
Brooke giggled.
"Very funny. I'll see you soon." Connor sat on a bench and looked up at Brooke. "Are you ready for this?"
"As ready as I'll be. And Connor…thank you."
/>
He felt his heart melting, and knew he'd have to get his emotions under control. Feelings for a soul was a complication he didn't need.
"Anytime. Okay, it's not hard at all, from what other souls tell me. You know what she looks like, and you know her name."
"Lisa might not even be her real name."
"That doesn't matter. That's the name you know her by. Names aren't so important, anyway. You could look at a picture of someplace and go there."
"So, what do I do?"
"Close your eyes and remember Lisa in the food court. Picture something she was doing, like eating or drinking. Try to relive that in your head as best you can."
"The only thing I can remember is her throwing stupid lines at you."
He smiled. "I guess that will do. Now, try to knock everything else out around her. Take away the food court, the airport, me, everything, so that it's just her you see."
Ten seconds passed. "I don't think it's working."
"Then start over and try again. Visualize on her, and focus on how much you want to get to her."
"That sounds weird."
"Just trust me."
*****
Brooke sighed in disgust, staring at the darkness ahead of her. She had a solid image of Lisa in her mind, but was having trouble getting through the jealousy over the simple fact that she could hold Connor's hand, but she couldn't.
"This isn't working, Connor. Even if it did, how the hell am I supposed to get back?"
The floor shook under her feet.
"Hey Mommy, look! A soul!"
"Excuse me, ma'am? My husband's feeling a little sick."
Brooke risked opening one eye. Claustrophobia overwhelmed her as she stood in the middle of the plane. Connor and the locker room were long gone. People sat in their seats on both sides of her. A flight attendant gingerly moved around her on her way up the aisle to attend to a sick husband. An overweight woman shifted in her seat as she fought the uncomfortable seatbelt. An obviously newly-married couple split their time between making out in their seats and taking pictures out the window.
"I'm on an airplane," she whispered. "Holy shit, I'm on a damn airplane."
She'd never flown on an airplane before in her life. The sinking feeling in her stomach reminded her why.
Brooke dove to the floor in between the seats and covered her head. The shaking had stopped, but she could feel the vibrations in the floor, the hum of the engines. She looked to her left and right at people's feet, at the sides of the airplane just twelve feet apart. If she moved thirteen feet she would fall out of the plane.
Soul Insurance Page 18