The séance was going to be weird, which didn’t surprise me. Even if there hadn’t been a séance thrown into the mix, the night was bound to be weird just because of the people in attendance. Besides myself, Seth, Howard, Jodie, and Sarah, Donte was there too, and so was Creighton. I couldn’t tell if Jodie hadn’t known he was going to attend or if she’d brought him along. Either way, the brother and sister didn’t behave as if they knew each other; they took seats opposite each other at the round table that had been placed at the front of the shop, right next to the black velvet that now covered the front window. The table was small and we were crowded together, all of our knees touching.
The shelves and stacks of books that had previously been where the table was now had been shoved back, creating precarious towers of books and things that lined up from the counter all the way back into the murky darkness toward the back room. The fire hazard that Jodie had been worried about hadn’t lessened much.
The only light was from two candles in the middle of the table that flickered as we stirred the air when we took our seats.
Howard, Seth, and I had been the last to arrive and I wanted to kick myself for not being early like I was sure Jodie and Creighton had been. I wondered what I’d missed. We were greeted and told to take our seats quickly, that “the hour was upon us,” and if we didn’t get started soon we’d miss the window that offered the clearest communication with the other side.
“All right,” Sarah said after we’d all been seated. “Thank you all for coming tonight. I know this is probably weird to most of you, and the circumstances of us coming together were unpredictable at best, deeply tragic at worst, but I believe firmly that the people who are here tonight are exactly the people who were supposed to be here tonight. Not that Lloyd’s murder was fated, but this group coming together was, in ways I can’t explain. Donte, of course, is required to be here, but please don’t allow yourself to be in discomfort. Feel free to leave at any time. I don’t even care if a departure disturbs the spirits. While I believe in all this, my priority is most definitely the living and their well-being.”
I didn’t think any of us would leave the table by ourselves, no matter what she said and no matter how uncomfortable we might end up feeling. Jodie and I shared a look of doubt mixed with acceptance. She almost rolled her eyes, but she didn’t.
Sarah wore jeans and an old sweatshirt, which surprised me. I hadn’t given it much thought beforehand, but I’d been disappointed she wasn’t in a flowing long dress with big sleeves, something Gypsy-like.
Everyone else was dressed in street clothes too, including Creighton. Even though it had been a few years now and even though I didn’t look back fondly, seeing him in something other than his uniform always took me back to when we were together, and sometimes a small fuse of anger lit at the back of my throat. Not tonight, though. In fact, I didn’t have even one tiny spark of anger toward Creighton, which was happening a lot more lately.
After Sarah’s welcome words, Donte smiled awkwardly and nodded at Howard. I could guess what was behind the smile—a mocked patience—but would’ve liked to know for sure.
Howard seemed to be enjoying the moment. He was interested and engaged, his eyes alert as they watched Sarah and took in everyone around the table. I was sure Creighton, Jodie, and Seth were all taking in the same things I was, but I’d ask later.
“All right,” Sarah continued, “specifically, what I’m going to do is summon spirits. Invite them to communicate with us. I will ask for Lloyd, but it doesn’t always work that way.” She sighed. “I’ve tried to reach him on my own, but he doesn’t seem to want to answer. I think there’s a chance he doesn’t really know who I am, though. Everyone, just send out welcoming thoughts and if you’re afraid at all, try to let go of that fear. Fear doesn’t work well here. Sometimes bad spirits feed on fear.”
I wasn’t feeling fear until she mentioned bad spirits feeding on it. Then I felt a small twinge of it, but I willed it away as I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I didn’t believe in this stuff.
Sarah had behaved oddly when I quickly introduced her to Seth, but only briefly. She covered her lifted eyebrows with a quick and easy smile.
“Let’s hold hands,” she said. We did as instructed. “The circle is complete if we hold hands. I won’t go into all the reasons why, but a completed circle is very important. If you need to remove yourself from the table, please try to remember to join the two hands on either side of you as you let go.”
Donte shifted uncomfortably in his seat before his wife continued; I chalked that up to the fact that his knees were probably as uncomfortable as mine. Sarah took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she closed her eyes. “You don’t have to close your eyes, but it helps.”
Donte and Howard closed their eyes, but no one else did.
No matter what, whether or not I “believed” in what was happening, goose bumps rose on my arms and expectation swirled around in my chest. The setting, though messy, was perfect. The blacked-out windows, the candles, the old building smells of tired lath and plaster that mixed with the ink and paper scents of the books. Chester would have liked it and probably would have commented about how some coffee smells would make a nice addition.
However, Chester would have not stuck around for this next part. He would have had none of her “shenanigans.”
“Spirits that have crossed over, we invite and welcome you to join us. We are a friendly group and seek friendly company,” Sarah said. She neither moaned nor swayed, but her voice was loud and certain. “Please join us. Lloyd Gavin, we seek your company. Please come talk to us.”
The candles flickered in the wintery draft that blew through the old building, and I thought I heard a buzz begin in my head. It was faint, but definitely there. I looked at Seth. I wanted to ask if anyone else was hearing it, but Sarah hadn’t explained the rules about talking. Seth seemed unbothered. He squeezed my hand and then turned his attention back to Sarah.
“Lloyd, are you there?” Sarah said.
“There’s a noise in my head,” Howard said.
“What do you hear?” Sarah asked as she opened her eyes.
“It’s like a low voice. I can barely make it out, but I think there’s a hum or a buzz there. Can any of you hear it?”
“I hear a buzz,” I said. “But not a voice.”
Everyone else shook their heads.
“I don’t like this,” Howard said, his seeming good humor now gone.
“It’s okay,” Sarah said. “They can’t hurt you. It sounds like you and Clare might be our conduits tonight. Howard, will you accept the spirit who wants to talk to you?”
I really hoped he said yes, because if I was second choice my answer was going to be a huge disappointment. There was no way I was willing to be a spirit conduit. I’d thought that if we heard any voices they’d come from Sarah or unspecific locations, certainly not from me.
“I don’t know,” Howard said nervously.
“It’s okay,” Donte said. “I’m starting to hear it too.”
Phew, I wanted to say, but I didn’t.
“Focus, Donte. Tell us what they’re saying. Ask who they are,” Sarah said.
It seemed like a long time passed as we all waited, but it was probably less than a minute before Donte took on a different pose. It was startling, and I wasn’t the only one to sit up straighter and take notice as Donte’s right shoulder bent deeper than his left and he hung his head so his chin almost touched his chest. It had to be an uncomfortable position.
“I’m looking for Creighton Wentworth,” Donte said. It was his voice, but slightly different, maybe higher, but certainly twanged a little with an accent.
Creighton didn’t answer.
“Who are you?” Sarah asked. “Are you Lloyd?”
“No! Who’s Lloyd?” Donte said, his shoulder and head still in awkward positions.
“We’re searching for the recently crossed spirit of Lloyd Gavin. Would you help us find him?”
“No, I want to talk to Creighton Wentworth!”
“Creighton, are you willing to speak to this spirit?” Sarah asked.
I knew him well enough to know that he was pulling together as much patience and acting ability as he could muster. Talking to spirits would not be something Creighton would ever buy into if there weren’t a police investigation involved. His description of what was happening would include stronger words than “shenanigans.”
“Depends on who it is, I guess,” he said. His gaze was locked on Sarah. He didn’t once look over at Donte.
I wondered what he was looking at or for, so I kept my eyes on her too.
“Who are you, spirit?” Sarah said. “We need your name.”
“My name is Eloise MacPherson.”
“I don’t know who that is,” Creighton said to Sarah.
“How do you know Creighton Wentworth?” Sarah said.
“He killed me,” Donte’s body but the twangy voice said.
“I don’t understand,” Sarah said, her voice too high-pitched. If she’d wanted to gasp, she swallowed it away. Suddenly, I was barely breathing.
“Creighton?” Sarah said.
“I’ve never killed anyone,” Creighton said. “I’ve drawn my weapon, but I’ve never fired it in the line of duty.”
I looked at Jodie. I thought she might be angry, but mostly I saw deep curiosity at the corner of her eyes.
“Details,” Donte said with a twangy sarcasm. “Okay, so you had me killed. You took my stash and they killed me.”
“This is about drugs?” Creighton said.
“What else would it be about?”
“I don’t remember you, Eloise, but I have arrested drug dealers and have taken their contraband into custody. That’s part of my job.”
“That’s not what I mean, Creighton Wentworth, and I think you know it.”
“No, I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”
“You didn’t arrest me. Now do you remember?”
“No,” he said sincerely.
I looked at Jodie again. She was even more curious.
“I don’t know what you’re up to, Creighton Wentworth, but you got me killed and I’ll do what I can to haunt your existence.”
“That’s not possible,” Sarah said. “You’re incapable of haunting anyone. You were invited into the body you’re speaking from, and when you’re uninvited you’ll have no choice but to leave.”
“We’ll see.”
Suddenly, three things happened at once. The front door swung open, slamming against the wall; the candles flickered out; and a groan came from Donte, but the groan didn’t sound the same as Eloise’s voice, nor did it sound how I would expect Donte to sound. The groan was distinctly masculine and lined with what sounded like the word “Help!”
Sarah had jumped up from the table, the first one to break the circle, I thought. I saw her next as she stood by a light switch on the wall. She flipped it up and the old fluorescents above came to life.
Both Jodie and Creighton had gotten to their feet and made a move like they were going to try to sprint toward the counter. Sarah had flipped the switch too quickly for them to go anywhere.
“Everyone okay?” Sarah said. “Donte, how are you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Anybody else hear that groan come from Donte?” Sarah asked.
We all said we did.
“Donte, hon, was that Lloyd there at the end?” Sarah asked.
“I have no idea. The last thing I remember is saying I was beginning to hear a voice. Did someone speak through me? I don’t remember inviting anyone specifically.”
“Yes, but it was just one of Creighton’s criminals coming back to threaten him,” Sarah said as if it was no big deal. “That happens a lot. I should have thought about that when we started. I would have disinvited anyone who you or Jodie might have come in contact with through your police work. My bad.”
“Donte, man, you sure you’re okay?” Howard asked, his eyes saucerlike and shadowy from the harsh light above.
“Oh yeah. That’s happened before. I must be set up to be a conduit and I must be easy for them, since they sometimes don’t wait for my verbal invite. What did Creighton’s criminal want?”
“Same old same old,” Sarah said. “Threatened to haunt him. Happens all the time, Creighton. I’m sorry. You know you have nothing to worry about, don’t you?”
“Of course I know,” Creighton said.
Time froze for a second and I held my breath. I knew that tone. I’d never had Creighton’s anger directed toward me, but I’d definitely seen it, and it was a loud, ferocious thing.
“Creighton,” Jodie said.
He sent her a brief glare before he turned his attention back to Sarah. Though he didn’t believe in séances, for all intents and purposes he’d just been accused of murder.
“What?” Sarah said. “Oh, I’m sorry, Creighton. There’s no way to control the spirits, but when such accusations are made we don’t believe them. Of course not. When it comes to police officers, we all expect such things.” She blinked at Creighton, then at Jodie. “I should have prepared you all better. I take it for granted that everyone knows what I know. No, please don’t take any of that personally.”
Howard jumped in. “That last voice, though. That was different. Who was that who said ‘Help’? Lloyd?”
“I don’t know,” Donte said.
Sarah shrugged. “Impossible to know for sure unless they tell us.”
“Lloyd asking for help?” Howard offered.
“I wish I could answer. I wish I’d gotten more,” Donte said.
“Well, I’m sorry, but that’s all there is for tonight,” Sarah said. “Sometimes the spirits get so wound up that they cause things like doors slamming open and other physical world stuff, but they really are mostly harmless. And police officers in attendance often get accused of things.” She added the last part too emphatically.
I decided she’d gone from harmless to mostly harmless. No matter what had happened, there was more behind this séance than just trying to contact Lloyd. Though I couldn’t quite figure out the true motivations.
“Where is everyone else?” I asked.
“Who?” Sarah asked.
“You said there was a group. A Thursday night group.”
“I asked everyone else not to come tonight. This was just for us.”
I nodded.
Sarah continued. “Sometimes the spirits scare everyone else from the other side away, so if that was Lloyd coming through at the end, I’m sure he’s gone back to wherever he was because Eloise thought she had to make such a statement. We might try again later, but things need to settle first. I’ll let you all know.”
“We’d appreciate anything you have to offer us, Sarah. We’ve got nothing on this case yet. Nothing,” Jodie said. “That’s why both Creighton and I came tonight. If you can give us anything at all, we’d take it.”
“It’s so terrible about Lloyd. I’m sorry. Of course I’ll let you know right away if I get anything that might help,” Sarah said. “That’s why we came together tonight. If only it were as easy as simply asking once. Maybe there’s more work to be done. I’ll think about it.”
“Anyone able to round up that invitation for us yet?” Jodie said to the group.
“Where’s Creighton’s?” Howard asked.
“I threw it away,” he said. “I wasn’t interested in the meetings.”
“Not your style, huh, Creighton?” Sarah said with a sly smile.
I was suddenly embarrassed for her, but I couldn’t pinpoint why. If she’d been flirting, it was a small attempt, nothing that should bother anyone, but I couldn’t help thinking
she had overstepped some boundary.
“Not really,” Creighton said.
“I’ve put in a call to have mine rounded up and mailed to me if they can find it,” Howard said.
“Thanks. Let me know when you have it,” Jodie said.
“I will.”
“Any luck finding Nathan Grimes?” Sarah asked.
“Not yet, but we’re working on it,” Jodie said. “If you see him, please have him call.”
“Of course.”
“Nathan Grimes is missing?” Howard said.
“Yes,” Jodie said, admitting what she hadn’t when we talked to him earlier.
“Wait a second. I just put it together. I might have seen him,” Howard said. “I’m staying at the Three Bells, and I thought I saw him this morning, leaving the hotel. You asked me specifically about the bookstore earlier. I didn’t remember . . .”
“What time?” Jodie said as she reached for the pocket that would be on the shirt of her police uniform. Since she was in civilian clothes, she had to pull a pen out of her jeans pocket instead. She didn’t have any paper handy, so she wrote what Howard had said on her hand.
“Early. About six. He was carrying a stack of books. I wasn’t sure it was him, but that hat and scarf were so familiar. I’ll be. That must have been him.”
“You see which direction he went after he left the hotel?” Jodie said.
“No, I barely saw him leave. It was just a quick glance. I’d gone to get some coffee from the vending machine and was coming back to my room. I don’t even know which room he came out of.”
“If you see him at all, call us. And tell him to call us too. That goes for everyone here,” Jodie said.
“Of course,” Howard said.
We filed out of the bookshop. Creighton, without saying anything, got into his car, Howard walked down the hill, and Jodie walked Seth and me up toward Little Blue.
The cold air and the now wide-open starry sky above were even more welcome than normal. I hadn’t realized I’d been so tense inside the bookshop until my shoulders unknotted as we made our way.
Once well out of earshot and view of anyone still in the shop, Jodie said, “What the hell was that show about?”
Comic Sans Murder Page 12