The Wantland Files

by Lara Bernhardt

  “You spent so much of your life with Dale. Remember him?”

  The images changed, focusing on Dale, first older as he must have been in their later years together, then drifting backward through time. Through birthdays and anniversaries, Edna Miller’s memories of Dale aged in reverse. They clinked glasses over meals in restaurants. Dale held Edna as she wept, a doctor informing her she could never have children. They sat in a car at a drive-in movie. They shared a chocolate milkshake at a soda shop while a jukebox played. Dale’s beaming face, barely more than a child, carefree and blissful, spinning Edna across a dance floor while “It’s Only a Paper Moon” played. Their wedding.

  The spirit’s features relaxed again, appearing as young as Dale in the wedding-day memory. Sad eyes seemed to plead with her. The ethereal hand wrapped around hers grew cold. A dreadful loneliness and longing consumed her.

  “I know you miss him. You can go join him again. You need to let go of this world and move on to the next.”

  The hand grew colder still, and she fought the urge to yank her own hand away.

  “Yes, it’s scary. Change is always scary. But Dale is there. He’s waiting for you. I know he misses you. Wouldn’t you rather go dance with him again than stay here without him?”

  The SEEPS hissed and arced.

  “EMF nudging higher,” Elise warned her.

  “She’s drawing more power. I believe she wants to communicate.”

  “You’re okay, Kimmy?”

  “Yes. I’m making progress. Don’t try to inhibit her.”

  Edna’s spirit drifted closer. She could sense thoughts in addition to feelings and images. She voiced them for the camera to record what she heard.

  “She’s afraid. She remembers now but doesn’t know how to cross over. She misses Dale and wants to reunite with him, but she’s scared he won’t be there if she leaves. She doesn’t understand why she got left behind. And she doesn’t want to forget her life again.”

  Michael stepped closer. “Can you help her transition?”

  “Of course. That’s why I’m here.”

  She closed her eyes. The spirit wanted to move on. That was the first step. She could offer comfort and support as the spirit crossed to the next world. Once they established the way. That was the tricky part.

  Grasping her crystal, she focused all her energy to her violet chakra, reaching out, seeking the pathway the spirit would follow. The SEEPS sizzled and hissed. She opened her eyes as a blue arc of energy jumped from one coil to another. A bright-white oval appeared between the SEEPS and where she sat.

  “That’s it. That’s where you need to go now.” She smiled at Edna’s spirit, nodding encouragement.

  The spirit watched the opening for a moment before rising and drifting toward it.

  “She’s crossing,” she announced to her crew.

  Mrs. Miller’s spirit stopped and looked back.

  “It’s okay. Go ahead. You’ll be much happier.”

  The translucent entity hesitated, grasping her hand tighter.

  Not good. “Let go, Mrs. Miller. You have to let go. I can’t go with you. You have to cross alone, but then you’ll find Dale waiting for you. One scary moment followed by an eternity with your love.”

  She felt Mrs. Miller attempt to disengage—to extricate from their connection. The fear told her the spirit wasn’t letting go but trying to break off the transition. She’d worked too hard to lose her now.

  “Mrs. Miller, stay with me. Don’t run off.” She tightened her spiritual hold as well as attempted to grasp the spectral hand clinging to her. She might as well have attempted to grab water. The tenuous connection held, but barely.

  “Kimmy, what’s happening?”

  “She’s scared and wants to bolt. She’s trying to sever the connection. I don’t know how long I can hold her.”

  Her head slumped forward as she gathered every ounce of remaining strength. She’d pay for this tomorrow but so be it. She shook with exertion. Her head snapped up and dropped back.

  “Michael, she’s seizing again. I cannot sit here and watch this happen to her. Do something!” Sterling’s voice caught and he tried to scramble to his feet, loosening his grip on her hand. He let go and grabbed her shoulders, shaking gently.

  She gasped and shuddered. Her spiritual energy tugged away from her body, ready to accompany Mrs. Miller to the next existence.

  Mrs. Miller paused and turned to examine her closely, apparently aware of the change in energy weight. The specter pulled at her hand, seemingly pleased with this new development.

  She drifted farther off center. No longer cold, no longer stressed, the lure of the next world gnawed at her soul. No more sleepless nights, no more worry about ratings, no more stalkers or tweets or Internet trolls. She allowed Mrs. Miller to coax her closer to the door to the great unknown. How long had she hoped for a glimpse of what lay beyond? Perhaps she would see her mother again. She watched the others as though outside her body.

  “Michael, she’s not breathing.” Sterling cradled an arm around her, jostling her as his panicked voice sought help. “What do we do? Do you have a stick to pry her mouth open? Someone call nine-one-one!”

  “You ass-hat!” TJ yelled. “You let go of her hand! You were her anchor.”

  “What?” Michael dropped the thermometer and fell to her side. “Kimmy? Kimmy?”

  Elise raced to Sterling’s side. “Take her hand! And convince her to stay. You can do it. That’s why she chose you.”

  Rosie’s voice chimed in. “Convince her to stay, Sterling. Give her something to live for.”

  Mrs. Miller pulled again. Kimberly felt the glow of the next world on her face. She squinted, desperate for a glimpse. Would her mother wait with open arms as she often imagined? She saw nothing and stretched closer.

  A heavy weight engaged her left hand, jerking her spirit back toward her waiting body. She heard someone call her name as if through a deep pool of water.

  Mrs. Miller realized her spiritual traveling partner no longer trailed behind her and yanked.

  Sterling pulled in response, and she found herself in a tug-of-war between the two.

  She stared at the bright light, the temporary portal to the next existence. She knew it wasn’t her time, but the allure tantalized. No deadlines. No travel. No responsibilities. No hotel food.

  But also, evidently, no Mom.

  “Kimberly, please. Do not do this to me. If you die, the entire crew will believe it was because I let go of your hand. And they will blame me for your death. I’m here. I’ve got you. Don’t let go.”

  And no Sterling.

  She settled back into her body and gasped an enormous breath into her burning lungs.

  The crew cheered as she rasped breath after breath.

  But the struggle wasn’t over.

  “You guys, she’s still got Ms. Wantland. I can see her on the FLIR.”

  Too weak now to sever the connection with Mrs. Miller, she clung helplessly to Sterling while the spirit continued to pull at her, pleading for help in translocating.

  She attempted encouraging words to spur the spirit on, but her shredded lungs only wheezed.

  Meow.

  She snapped her head toward the portal. Felix stood before it, calling gently to Mrs. Miller. His eyes glowed their normal yellow now, as he cocked his head. He raised a pale paw, his stripes barely visible in ghost form.

  The grip on her right hand lessened. She nodded to Mrs. Miller. Go ahead. You can do it.

  “Come on, Edna. You sure as blazes took your sweet time.” Dale Miller appeared in the portal, young and smiling, just as he’d looked in Mrs. Miller’s memory of her wedding day. He stretched out one arm to his wife.

  The music from the cell phone blared again.

  Mrs. Miller seemed to forget everyone else. The spirit dropped her hand and drifted toward her husband’s outstretched arm as if drawn by a magnet.

  “I’ve been waiting for you.” He curled his arm around her waist, to
ok her hand, and danced her away to their wedding song.

  Felix meowed one last time and leaped into the arms of a spirit Kimberly could only assume was once Danielle’s grandmother. The spirit waved once, stroked Felix, and vanished.

  The portal closed.

  The SEEPS fell silent.

  The phone battery died.

  “It’s over,” TJ said with a sigh of relief. “No more activity.”

  “EMF dropped to ten. No signs of activity,” Elise agreed.

  Sterling clutched her head to his chest and rocked her gently. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

  She took breath after breath and reveled in the rocking before she answered. “No promises. It’s kind of what I do.”

  36

  Kimberly walked into the dining area for breakfast, no thought in her pounding head but how good the urn of coffee smelled. Recovering from Edna Miller’s demanding transition would take days. Many of her crew lingered at tables, nursing cups of coffee or picking at plates of food. The usual post-investigation funk seemed to affect everyone. Sterling sat at a table alone but jumped to his feet as she walked by.

  “Morning, Kimberly. Won’t you join me?” He pulled back a seat at the table, where a still-steaming mug of coffee waited. “Just a splash of skim.”

  She dropped into the chair, curled her hands around the hot mug, and offered him her most grateful smile. “Thank you.”

  He returned to his seat. “How are you this morning?”

  “I’ve been better,” she admitted. “But I’ve probably also been worse. I’ll be okay. Just need a few days to recover.”

  “And an appointment to see your doctor, right?”

  “I’m fine. I don’t need a doctor. I promise.”

  He opened his mouth to argue, but Michael interrupted.

  “Good morning. How’s my Kimmy?”

  “I’ll be fine. How are the Williamses? Have you heard?”

  “I did. The baby is fine. He’s been released from the hospital, and they’re all back home.”

  “So we can wrap today?”

  “If you feel up to it.”

  “I’m good. Let’s close this one.”

  Michael rested a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll go get things ready at the house.”

  The rest of the crew seemed to take their cue from the director. They likewise gathered up and left.

  Rosie stopped at the table on her way out. “Did you see Sterling’s tweet yet?”

  “You know I didn’t. I haven’t even had coffee yet.”

  “You should see. So many likes, comments, and shares. He’s drawing a lot of attention to the show.”

  “Ah, Rosie. Let her wake up,” Sterling said, rubbing the back of his neck. “She doesn’t care about that.”

  Rosie turned her phone.

  @KWantland almost died last night. I saved her #hero #nooneelsecoulddoit #shepickedme #wantlandsavethedate

  “Look at these comments. He’s bringing you all kinds of publicity.”

  She nodded. “I know.”

  “I’m just saying, he’s really good for the show.”

  “I got it. I’m glad he was here this week.”

  “Okay, well. I’ll leave you two alone.” Rosie raised her eyebrows before she turned and left.

  She sipped her coffee. “Sorry about that. Rosie is a touch . . . colorful. But I love her.”

  “No, she’s great. I love her, too.” He cleared his throat. “So, it’s over. You said we wrap today?”

  “Right. We go back to the house, summarize the source of the haunting. I guess you’ll record your rebuttal explanations. And we’ll say good-bye to the family.”

  “I know we don’t agree most of the time, and I know I irritated you a lot. I’m really sorry I was forced on you this week.”

  “I’m not sorry. Not at all.” She rested a hand on his and smiled.

  He smiled back. “I got something for you.” He slid a box across the table in front of her.

  “You didn’t have to do that!”

  “I want you to know how much I appreciate you putting up with me and trying to help save my show from cancellation. And it’s not returnable, so I hope you like it.”

  She reached for the blue velvet box with a big white bow on it. She looked up to find him watching her, hope and trepidation in his eyes.

  Amber stood behind him.

  Kimberly shook her head. “Are you kidding me right now? Do you truly have no life?”

  Startled, Sterling began to say something, then stopped when Amber rested a hand on his back.

  “You’re a sensation today,” Amber purred.

  Sterling pulled away from her. “What are you doing here, Amber?”

  “Apparently, interrupting a moment.” The young woman eyed the box. “Jewelry, huh? Doesn’t seem like a gift you would get for someone you don’t have feelings for. Or something you’d buy if you had to watch expenses because you’re broke and jobless.”

  Sterling scowled, one hand curling into a fist. His jaw tightened. “My feelings for Kimberly are none of your business. My expenses are also none of your business. And how I choose to spend my money has nothing to do with you.”

  “Oh, but it does. I don’t like my boyfriend giving other women jewelry.”

  Sterling shook his head. “You broke it off yesterday. You don’t do canceled, remember?”

  “I realized I acted in haste. You won’t be down long. You’ll have a new show soon. Or something else.”

  “That’s very astute of you, but I’m getting really tired of telling you it’s over. We are over. We are done. I have zero interest in continuing this relationship. Take your hands off me, turn around, and leave Kimberly and me alone.”

  The young woman narrowed her eyes, first at Sterling, then at her. “You’ve worked quite a number on him, haven’t you? Well, I will never let him go. Never.”

  Kimberly didn’t drop her gaze but met the fierce, burning eyes with an intensity of her own. “I think he’s made it clear, Amber, that he is not yours to hold on to. I’m going to ask you nicely one time to please leave my friend alone. Then you will leave me no choice but to make you leave.”

  Amber threw her head back and laughed. “Make me leave? I’d like to see you try.”

  Kimberly pushed her chair back and stood. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a bottle containing a concoction Rosie had brewed up for her and prayed this would work.

  Amber scoffed. “And what do you have that you think will strike terror into my heart?”

  “My own special recipe of succubus repellant.”

  Amber’s self-satisfied smirk faded. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I think you do. I figured you out the first time we met. You have two options right now. You can call me a crazy person and walk away and never bother Mr. Wakefield again. Or you can stand here and push the issue, and we will see how your skin reacts to a healthy dose of this.” She held up the bottle of tan liquid.

  Amber turned to Sterling. “Do you hear her? What is she talking about?”

  “I don’t know, and I don’t care. I just want you to go. But this looks like it’s about to get interesting.” He leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head.

  Amber threw her shoulders back. Her normally ghoulish pallor flushed pink. “I don’t need this. I’m doing you a favor. You think I can’t have anyone I want just like that?” The young woman snapped her fingers in his face.

  “I believe you can. And I fear for your next victim.”

  Amber looked back and forth between the two of them. “Screw this. I don’t have to put up with it. I can do way better than you. It’s over, Sterling. Don’t come crawling back to me.” She spun on her heel and stalked away, head high.

  Sterling watched her leave, sighed, and shook his head. “Sorry about that. I truly hope she’s gone for good. Thanks for helping. Again.”

  She waved away the thank-you. “That’s what friends do.”

  He
smiled. His eyes crinkled at the corners in an endearing way she hadn’t noticed before. “Friends? I like the sound of that. What do you have in that bottle anyway? Succubus repellant?”

  She grinned, popped open the top, and took a big drink. “It’s just tea. But I hoped she would fall for it. I don’t think Amber is the brightest bulb in the box.”

  Sterling laughed, clapped a few times, and shook his head. “You are a brilliant woman, Kimberly Wantland, no denying that. Despite the belief in ghosts and magic rocks and all that rigmarole.”

  The fire in his eyes sent butterflies fluttering through her stomach. Wasn’t she too old to get butterflies over a guy? And this warm, fuzzy feeling radiating through her? Apparently she wasn’t. Who knew?

  He cleared his throat. “You didn’t open your present. I really hope you like it.”

  She slid the ribbon and bow off the box and rocked back the hinged lid. She caught her breath and her jaw dropped. “Sterling, this is . . . too much. This is just beautiful.”

  His face cracked into a smile. “If I’d known all it took to get you to use my first name was jewelry, I would’ve brought something the first day.”

  He leaned forward, eyes dancing as she marveled at his generosity. He looked very pleased with himself, but she didn’t mind. He should be pleased with himself. She lifted the gold necklace draped inside the box. A quartz star merkaba pendant hung from the chain, looped by two gold rings. A quartz crystal point hung below the merkaba. Gems corresponding to all the chakras were spaced along the sides of the necklace.

  “Do you see?” Sterling asked. “The stones make the rainbow you claim we all carry inside us. The woman who made this said the pendant is called a merkaba, and that it carries lots of mumbo-jumbo powers. But I asked her to add this plain quartz at the bottom because you always grab your quartz pendant. And the merkaba looked way too big and bulky to wrap your hand around. This way you still have quartz to grab. That seemed important. And now you can wear all the stones at once. In my humble opinion, it turned out to be a pretty cool necklace I designed, even if you don’t believe in magic rocks, which I don’t. But I thought you might like it.” He finally stopped talking and watched her carefully.