by Shea Meadows
Beth Ann nodded. “That’s what we are doing when we start working on our own, right? Working in pairs so our partner can give us another perspective?”
Ricky nodded. “This can’t be about ego. None of us will be perfect, but all of us need to do our job safely. We don’t want the incarnates, the ghosts, or the project harmed in this process, if at all possible.”
“I am making the intention to open the Akashic record of the disincarnate that I am indicating on the Vincent hologram,” Beth Ann said. She closed her eyes and started to share the record.
Beth Ann told the group the history of the ghost she’d picked who was attached to the accountant that appeared to handle Sam Reading’s finances.
The ghost was a gambler, Ned Tucker, who had lost his life to a mob. This all happened in New Jersey, but at his death his soul was harvested and linked to Joe Slattery, who decided how to report Sam Reading’s income. The ghost was told to teach Joe how to get around the law, and that was what he whispered constantly into Joe’s ear. Ned, who had been successful as a gambler, was now the consultant for Sam Reading’s million dollar psychic network courtesy of the Soul Stealer.
“Okay, Beth Ann. Which do you prefer? Are you ready to go solo, with the rest of us just watching, or do you want me to appear alongside you and let you do the talking?” Ricky asked.
Beth Ann looked at her friend with a new light of confidence shining in her eyes. “We were unlinking ghosts in Minneapolis while you were in Chicago. Shelia was teaching me, and with the etheric emerald, it became easy after a few tries. Now, since Moon invited me to a gathering, I have no doubt I can do it.
“I see that the most important thing we can do with this is to ask meaningful questions, so we can learn as much as possible about the Soul Stealer’s set up. Do you think I’m ready, Ricky?”
Ricky smiled and gave Beth Ann a loving pat on the shoulder. “I will be honored to watch your excellent technique.”
With that, the group moved into an out-of-body experience, Beth Ann being the only one visible to the ghost. They watched as Beth Ann, much slimmer in figure, now dressed in a slinky night-club-dress, complete with gold earrings, costume jewelry, very high heeled boots, and a come-either expression, landed next to Ned Tucker.
“Well, Ned, I’ve been wonderin’ where ya took off to,” she said with a thick New Jersey accent.
The ghost-dressed in a shiny three pieced suit- with a gold medallion hanging over his open shirt resting on his hairy chest- turned from his constant counsel of Joe Slattery and broke into a gigantic grin.
“Tootsie, how ya been, babe? I sure have missed ya. I got myself a new gig as a financial consultant to Joe here. He’d be lost without me. Good money in it too. Don’t have to worry about staying away from Birdy and the gang.”
Beth Ann looked him up and down, like he was a sight for sore eyes, then put a finger on the blood stain that had come from his fatal gunshot.
“Oh, Sweetie, what happened to your beautiful suit? Big ole hole in the back that comes out right here; they got ya, didn’t they.”
Ned looked down, and put his finger deep in the wound and laughed. “All this talk about guns being lethal is a crock of shit. See, I’m still here. It’s not even bleedin.’”
Beth Ann-as-Tootsie, took on a worried look. “I hate to tell ya, but they killed ya. The news was all over the county. No one was arrested. Cops aren’t tryin’ too hard. How did ya get here anyway?”
Ned looked confused, his dark eyes, even darker, his smile replaced by a look of horror. “They killed me in the alley behind the club. Didn’t give me a chance to repay my marker. I’m good for it; I’ve always been good for it.” He paused for a minute and looked around the office, staring at Joe Slattery, who was examining the room as well with a confused look.
“Don’t know where here is. Don’t know who hired me. Just remember someone said I’d be paid well. Told me Joe was a chump and I had to wise him up. Told me I’d get a cut. Not sure how long I’ve been doing this, or where I go when I’m not workin’.”
Beth Ann put a soothing hand on Ned’s arm. “There’s a dude named the Soul Stealer. His specialty is to kidnap people when they croak. He grabs someone when they die if he has a good use for them, and attaches them to some other poor schnook so he can control the living person. Joe wasn’t cooking the books like the Stealer wanted them, so he grabbed you to do the job.”
Anger pulsed through Ned, his aura glowing red. “That really burns me! What right does that moron have to interfere? He should a let me go to hell or disappear or do whatever people do when they go. This sucks.” He looked at Beth Ann.
“Ya look like Tootsie but ya really don’t. Who are you and why do you know about this?”
“I’m workin’ with a group who are freein’ people from the Stealer, and sendin’ them over to the other dimensions. Trust me, hell is a delusion that ya make for yourself. Right now you’re in a type of hell. Would you like to get out of this?”
Ned looked at her, conflicting thoughts parading over his face. “I want to trust you. You remind me of Tootsie, the one gal I ever felt anythin’ for. But you’re not her, and as bad as this is, where you send me might be worse. How do I know I won’t get punished for all the crap I’ve been pullin’ since I was a kid?”
“No punishment, just education that you only take part in if you want. I’ve got some powerful friends who’ll help. Maybe you can even help them, and that’ll get you in good. We’re not sure who the Stealer is. No greater crime than to steal someone’s soul. He’s our primary target. So can you help me before I help you? Any memory at all of the guy who brought you here?”
Confusion reigned for Ned, then his expression shifted. “Wasn’t a guy that brought me here at all. It was a gal. Good lookin’ babe, that’s why I listened, so caught up in her silky hair and amazing figure I followed her, blacked out, and ended up here.”
“What did she look like? Tall, short, young old?”
He shook his head. “Mostly remember her voice. Does that earn me a free pass?”
Beth Ann nodded. Took out the etheric emerald and faced him. “You’re birth name?”
“Edward Anthony Tucker.”
“Edward Anthony Tucker, you are now freed from your servitude. Go through that door.”
A green-framed energy door shimmered into existence next to him, and he went through it, tipping a non-existent hat to Beth Ann.
Instantly, everyone was back at the Inn. Beth Ann blinked and smiled. “Did I do it right?”
The group applauded softly. “You were awesome, Beth Ann. You got right into character. You are a good demonstrator of how to use the information in the Akashic record to build trust with the ghost. You didn’t have to talk long with Ned, but you learned a lot. Anyone want to share what we all learned from the ghost extraction?” Ricky asked.
“Sam Reading’s accountant was being forced to break the law, that makes Sam’s organization vulnerable,” Liam contributed.
“There is a possibility the Soul Stealer’s main persona is feminine, or he or she has the ability to shift genders, or perhaps there is more than one person playing that role,” David opinioned.
Ricky nodded. “Both possibilities are true. “Anyone else learn anything?”
“Ms. Beth Ann looks awesome in a party dress,” Jeff said with a chuckle. “I don’t think I could have pulled that one off. Maybe that’s part of what we do when we pick a ghost to work with. We intuitively know what kind of a persona we should take in order to gain their attention and trust.”
The group discussed the encounter and Jim, who had become the keeper of the group records, added the information to a document they had begun with Ricky’s journey to the Vincent street building.
Ricky called a ten minute break, it being close to three, then when they returned, each person in the group took their turn to interact with first the record of a ghost, then with the actual disincarnate. All did amazingly well with small glitches here and there
but all successful.
By five o’clock, the only person left to solo was David. “Well David, who is your target?” Ricky asked.
“I may be overreaching my abilities, so tell me if you think it’s too soon to try.” David took a deep breath and pointed to the ghost attached to Sam Reading. “I remember what happened when we freed Avery Sweet from the two past-life personalities. He was confused afterward, and we talked him down. What’s your opinion, Ricky? Would it be better to be there in the flesh and counsel him after he loses his ghost?”
“Good question. Let’s look at the hologram carefully. Look at the ghost and the orb representing Sam Reading,” Ricky instructed.
David looked closely at the representation of Sam Reading and his linked ghost, trying to see what Ricky wanted him to see. Confusion was evident first, then a look of recognition. “Oh, I get it. He’s another complicated case. Where Avery had two personalities in charge, Sam does as well but in a different way. His past life persona has taken over, and to insure his cooperation, a ghost has been attached too. If I release the ghost, he’ll be more vulnerable to us, but not clear of spirit attachment.”
“Right,” Ricky answered. “You can detach the ghost, and it will definitely get the Stealer’s attention, but Sam won’t revert to his normal self. And for that matter, he might be like Chester, caught up in the former persona for so long that even getting rid of all artificial identities won’t bring him around. It was amazing it worked so well with Avery.”
“Probably had something to do with so many trained spirit communicators being present and providing their support, Katera in particular, she was a great help,” David added.
Ricky nodded in agreement. She turned to the group. “You’ll meet Katera on Friday; she’s an awesome spirit communicator.”
Erna perked up. “That name is familiar. I think I’ve been to one of her rituals. If she’s going to be one of the team, let’s get her in our group. She is an amazing teacher.”
Vicky nodded in agreement. “She’s an example of a truly powerful spirit woman.”
Ricky glanced over at Shri whose group seemed to be through with their out-of-body work. “Let’s rejoin the Boston group and share our progress with everyone.”
She turned to David. “I want to get Shri’s opinion on unlinking Sam Reading’s ghost, before I let you have at it. This one might require delicate timing.”
David’s face registered a quick wave of discontent, but he didn’t voice his feelings, simply nodded in agreement.
The groups created a larger circle, and discussed the different ghosts that each had talked to, and a master list was made, circling the names of those who were freed who might be helpful in the future. Only Mary Joy had been unable to convince her targeted ghost to leave, and Shri had popped in to assist in the negotiations. David sat with his arms crossed, a scowl on his face during the discussion. Ricky could feel his unhappiness from her place next to Shri. She smiled at him, but he turned away, pretending not to see the smile.
It was five forty- five when the discussion was over. Cynda Lu and Edna asked to be excused to help Maggie serve dinner. All of the rest followed them out to help with the work, leaving only David, Ricky and Shri.
“I can feel your blood boiling, David,” Shri said with a smile. “Perhaps there is something you need to say?”
David looked up from his intense examination of the floor. “I’m not angry with you, Shri, and I guess not really with Ricky. Maybe I’m angry with myself. I don’t know why I’m here. I’m a cop at heart, not a metaphysical traveler in time and space. All of the rest went out-of-body and talked ghosts into leaving, but when it came my turn, the woman who I love the most in the world saw right through me. I’m just not up to it.”
Ricky reached out and took David’s hand. “I seem to remember saying that you would be the one to work on that particular situation. I have reservations not because I didn’t think you could do it, but because I wasn’t sure if I was experienced enough to help you if something went wrong. That’s why I wanted to bring Shri into this.”
David held her hand loosely, still feeling insulted. “Face it Ricky, I’m in over my head. I’ve learned a little in the last couple months, but most of these people have been doing this for years. It’s embarrassing. I’m supposed to be your protector. That’s what I signed on for, but instead, you’ll have to protect me if I screw up. I’m just not good enough.”
Shri shook his head. “That is so untrue. Moon picked you as Ricky’s protector and ally. Do you think she and the other guides in our circle would make that big a mistake? She picked Ricky to be her bridge, and Ricky has about as much experience in this as you. You would not be here if you were not ready.”
“Then why let the others pick a target and not me?” David asked, a little petulance creeping into his voice.
“Dear, you will get to work with your target, but it is a delicate matter,” Ricky said. She turned to Shri. “Can we show you the ghost David picked?”
“I think I know which one you are speaking off. I noticed Samuel Readings’ unique situation when Moon first projected the Vincent hologram. I think it might be best if we conferred with the whole circle; they will have the resources to state the problem so we can make a decision.”
“You’re going to bring the whole circle here?” David asked.
“No,” Ricky said, “it will be easier if we traveled to them. With the time difference between this dimension and that one, we’ll be back in just about a minute.”
“So how do we do it?” David asked.
“You’ve been going out-of-body most of the day. It’s just more of the same. Share the intention that we’re making to join Moon and her circle and we are there in a heartbeat,” Ricky promised.
Chapter 22
David blinked, breathed deeply and looked around him. Unlike the journeys he’d been having most of the day this one included what looked like his body. He was sitting in a fragrant garden on a large chair made of rose quartz, with Ricky by his side and Shri sitting across from him. As he watched, Moon and four other beings became visible, all of them saying hello as they popped into view. Moon leaned over and gave him a hug, then sat down on Ricky’s other side, holding her sister’s hand.
“David,” Moon said, “I want to introduce you to the rest of the team. Megon is my spirit guide, Aleese our healing master, Byron our expert on incarnate-to-disincarnate communication, and Maya, Ricky’s guide.”
There was one member of the circle left who looked at David with the fond look of a long-lost friend. The guide had taken on the appearance of a man in his prime with wavy brown hair, a square face and Roman nose. His body was muscular reminding David of the representations of centurions. In a way, he and David looked like members of the same family.
David smiled at the remaining being. “I feel like I know you. Were we together in another incarnation?”
The being came over to David and offered his hand. David’s face took on a blissful expression, as he stared into the guide’s eyes. “You’re my guide, Francos. We were together as father and son, brothers, sisters, mentor and student, and comrades-in-arms. Everything that we have been came back to me when you touched my hand.” David stood up and he and Francos hugged, with thumping on astral backs and much elated banter.
“I’ve been trying to talk to you since you started working with Ricky, but your ego got in the way,” Francos said with a chortle. “And I hear that your ego is the reason for this meeting. In a way, I’m glad you sunk into the respect-me-as-a-man pool of thought so there was a good excuse to bring you here.” Another gentle punch to David’s arm, as they both laughed without any particular reason.
David sighed, with a happy glow, then became more somber as he looked around the circle. “So why am I not ready for the challenge at hand? Is it too soon for me to be unlinking the really high-level ghosts? Are you sending me back to the Minors for more training?”
Shri Kria Baba laughed. “Again with the
baseball terms, David. No, you are here to stay in the Majors; you only need some coaching that those in this circle are able to provide. I will let them speak for themselves. Megon?”
Megon bowed his head toward the others then looked into David’s eyes and spoke. “We are in the midst of a war. I have been through centuries of them, and no longer wish a physical form that is frail in the midst of battle. But there are times, such as now, when those committed to the evolution of souls must act to stop those who wish power over other beings at whatever cost.
“There are signs that the one we have dubbed the Stealer of Souls is about to draw you and your comrades into a being-to-being confrontation. He, and those working closely with him, are noticing the unlinking of disincarnates. Powerful people such as the teachers from Chicago, who have become enslaved, have been freed by the efforts that you and your comrades began there.
“When the teachers were freed, the rest of those who were linked are easily released. The Stealer has noted this. His plan is faltering and he will soon act. Chicago was not the only center that has been affected by his enslavement of souls. St. Louis also has a prominent teacher who is being used as an instrument of disempowerment. This is also true of: Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, Miami, Minneapolis, and as you now know, Atlanta. The center of activity for the continent of the Americas seems to be Georgia, and most prominently, Athens where you and your friends are working.
“That is not to say this phenomenon is confined to this region of your world. There are epicenters of this activity throughout all continents. Much of the unrest is generated by the influence of the Stealer. The most efficient method of reversing the effects is to neutralize the leader. Without direction from their master, the powerful teachers whose minds and hearts have been kidnapped will no longer continue to do his bidding. Does this make sense to you?”
David nodded. “Does it not make sense, then, to unlink Sam Reading from the Stealer’s control? We have already brought Avery Sweet and Mel Shank over to our side of the equation. Since Sam Reading has enslaved so many, wouldn’t it make sense to free him next? He’s been a top notch soul communicator for years, maybe incarnations.”