by Alexie Aaron
“I’m aware.”
Mia turned and faced Ted. “I’m not sure I’m ready.”
“That’s cool. Just tell me when you are, and I’ll try to get some time off with Burt. Ever since that live segment, we’ve been swamped with calls, and we have a lot of haunts to check out.”
Mia walked over to the stump of the Death Tree. She examined the surface without touching it. The chemical stump remover had the stump looking spongy. It could now be chopped out of the ground. Whether that would stop its hold on the mall was another matter. She turned around, paced off ten feet and tapped the ground. “You can come up now.”
Six men rose. They looked pretty shifty. One of them Mia would drive the wrong way around a block just to not have to pass, in a tank. She called out their inmate numbers and the names attached to them. She offered them the deal.
“You can leave this mall, ask for forgiveness, and go into the light. You can spend some time in purgatory, or you can go to hell. You have three choices and three minutes to make them in.”
“Mia, you’re starting to sound like Bev,” Ted observed.
“Danny was one thing, these bozos are another. They hung the kids. They tried to hang Orion and Cid. They gave me hell.”
“So the 'tude isn’t because you have a hangover?”
“No this 'tude is pure attitude.”
She looked over at the ghosts. “Well?”
“We want to stay here,” the bold one answered.
“That’s not one of the choices,” Mia said, drawing her sword.
“Purgatory then,” he said.
“Fine,” Mia said. “Go through there,” she said as the ground opened up. She waited until the entrance had resealed before she asked Ted, “What’s for lunch?”
He watched them leave the mall before he brought the might of the heavens down on what was left of the witch tree. He didn’t have to, but he wanted to make sure that no one and nothing stood in the way of his acquiring Mia Cooper Martin.
***
Glossary
PEEPS: Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners
Dupree, Mike: Founding partner of PEEPs and on camera personality.
Garrett, Cid: Contractor, investigator, cameraman, and technician.
Hicks, Burt: Founding partner of PEEPs, lead investigator, and cameraman.
Jake: Ghost, research and computers.
Martin, Mia Cooper: Sensitive, lead investigator, and security. Wife of Ted and mother of Brian.
Martin, Ted: Lead technician, computers, and communications. Husband of Mia and father of Brian.
Murphy, Stephen: Ghost, translator and security.
McCarthy, Audrey: Researcher and investigator.
Recurring Characters:
Alessandro, Father: Jesuit Priest, mind reader, exorcist, sensitive, and friend of Father Santos.
Bainbridge, Matt: Pediatric Doctor, boyfriend of Audrey McCarthy, has ghost of his great uncle in his home.
Bouvier, Beth: Former PEEPs researcher, fired for not being able to get along with Mia.
Braverman, Susan: Mega Chicago Bears fan, housewife, mother of Tom Braverman and babysitter of Brian Martin.
Braverman, Tom: Deputy Sheriff, school friend of Mia. Murphy brought back to life inadvertently giving him the sight.
Chambers, Deputy: Deputy Sheriff, associate of Tom Braverman and John Ryan.
Cooper, Beverly: Professional Sensitive, associate of Father Santos, and aunt of Mia.
Delgado, Richie: Victim of ghost biker gang (Sand Trap). Computer software designer. Friend of Dave Hult.
Dupree, Glenda: Mother of Mike Dupree, supporter of PEEPs, recent millionaire.
Ed aka He-who-walks-through-time: Superhuman. Partner of Judy.
Elizabeth: Birdwoman. Head Gray Lady, healer and associate of Angelo Michaels.
Hult, Dave: Sensitive. Interned at PEEPs and for Charles Cooper. Friend of Richie Delgado.
Idra: Birdwoman. Healer.
Jefferies, Alan: Attorney for the Martins and PEEPs.
Judy aka Refugia: Birdwoman. Former Gray Lady. Independent healer and partner of Ed.
Maggie Mae: Mixed breed dog of PEEPs who can see ghosts.
Maria: Countess of Sardinia. Angelo’s plus one.
Martin, Brian: Son of Mia and Ted Martin.
Martin, Whitney: Former Deputy Sheriff. High school crush and ex-boyfriend of Mia.
Mendlessohn, Ralph: Musical stage designer, godfather of Mia, and partner of Bernard Wesley.
Michaels, Angelo: Birdman and associate of Father Santos. Lead Warrior and Librarian for the Brotherhood of the Wing.
Norwood, Sabine: Sensitive, clairvoyant, and medium. Associate of Father Santos. Widow, cousin of Mia and mother of triplets.
Roumain, Judge: Judge of Purgatory
Ryan, John: Sheriff, neighbor of Burt Hicks and friend of Father Santos.
Santos, Father (Paolo): Roman Catholic priest, exorcist, mind reader. Leader of a professional group of paranormal investigators.
Seeley, Sissy: Eccentric millionaire (Ice and Steel), elder Seeley sister, friend of Mia’s grandmother.
Shem, Gerald: Associate of Father Santos. Businessman who trades in favors, uncle of Sabine and paramour of Beverly Cooper.
Stavros, Orion: Birdman, Scribe, researcher, field medic. Friend of Angelo Michaels.
Sticks: Teenage demon.
Walters, Doctor: Emergency MD. Mia’s doctor.
Wesley, Dr. Bernard: Director of the Culture Department of Chicago’s Field Museum, friend of Father Santos, partner of Ralph Mendlessohn, and Mia’s godfather.
Yum-Yum aka Becky: Medium of Guiding Light Commission (NOLA). Friend of Mia’s grandmother.
Alexie Aaron
After traveling the world, Alexie Aaron, a Midwestern native, returned to her roots where she’s been haunting for years. She now lives in a village outside of Chicago with her husband and family.
Her popular Haunted Series was born from her memories of fleeting shapes rushing around doorways, an heirloom chair that rocked itself, cold feelings of mysterious dread, and warm feelings from the traces of loved ones long gone.
Alexie also writes the Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries. These cozies set in England and south Florida combine action and intrigue with a liberal dose of humor.