by Shea Meadows
Ricky washed up quickly and put on a pair of white Bermuda shorts and a blue Beatles tee shirt, went down to the kitchen and grabbed an apple from the counter. She needed some sustenance before having a conversation with Beth Ann or Moon or anyone. She opened the fridge and searched for orange juice, finding only a little left in a carton.
Thoughts raced through her head. Who did the shopping? Does Beth Ann or maybe one of the students? I don’t have time to sort things out, work on Moon’s project, study the data she gathered, besides cooking cleaning and laundry.
She sunk into a kitchen chair, the uplifting mood gone within an hour. Overwhelm was striking big time. Maybe I’m undiagnosed bi-polar. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster.
In the midst of Ricky’s mini-meltdown, Beth Ann, smeared with dirt, sweat dripping from her face, tie-dyed green tea shirt damp and having grass stains on her tan cotton elastic-waist slacks, stumbled into the kitchen and plopped down in the chair opposite Ricky.
“You’re up! Thought I heard the phone ring? Anything I should know about?” Beth Ann asked as she dabbed at her face with a large, red and white checked handkerchief.
Ricky took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Why don’t you guys have caller ID in the house? Just about anyone could call. Dangerous for us with all the reporters and the crazies that could be calling.”
“Oh, you mean the phone in Moon’s room? It was Moon’s private line. Only the people that she gave it to could call on that. The public line goes into the office and that one has caller ID,” Beth Ann answered
“David called on that line before we knew him. How did he get the number?”
Beth Ann, shrugged. “Never even thought about it. Strange huh? Is that who called?”
Ricky shook her head. “No, someone named Max Herman. Do you know him?”
“Oh sure, Max is a guy Moon worked with, one of the lead detectives for Minneapolis. He was at the memorial service yesterday. Didn’t anyone introduce you?”
“No. I talked to Detective Cummings yesterday. Max Herman told me something surprising. He said that you told him I would be the one to take over Moon’s function of working with the police. Is that true?”
Beth Ann’s tanned skin suddenly blanched and she found something interesting to look at out the window. “Um, ah, oh, maybe I said something like that. You’ve been talking to Moon and that’s sort of what the job is. Brought in a big piece of Moon’s income every year, and she solved all sorts of complicated mysteries. I just sort of, you know, assumed you’d want to carry on that work.” She laughed nervously and twisted the checkered cloth into a long rope. “Did that upset you? Maybe I should have let you talk to him, but you’d had so much thrown at you that day.”
“Please, in the future, don’t assume I’m ready to step into any new role until I tell you I’m ready. You’re right. I wouldn’t have wanted to talk about that after the memorial service but you could have given me a heads up. Let me know the police would probably make an offer. Fill me in on what it entails. Isn’t there anyone else from Moon’s group who could help?” Ricky was trying with all her might to remain calm as she spoke. In her mind she was throwing kitchen objects at her new business partner.
“Well ah, you’re right. Me and my big mouth. What do I expect of you anyway? I am just so impressed with how you can communicate with Moon. It’s like she hasn’t left at all.”
Beth Ann popped up and went to the fridge to pour a glass of cold water from a bottle with crystals settled at the bottom.
“She was the one who knew how to do it well, you know. Chester just made the police crabby. Too bossy. Shelia and Chris would freak out at the crime scenes. I know both of them have gone with her separately to investigate cases and came off as totally useless. Police weren’t too impressed.”
Ricky got up and poured a glass of the cool water, and grabbed a brownie from the plate of goodies that someone left the previous night. “So, let me get this straight, three people who went through years of training to communicate with spirits weren’t able to do the job, right?”
Beth Ann nodded with a concerned smile. New bands of sweat were trailing down her face.
“So in your wisdom, you volunteered me, with less than a week of exposure to this stuff to do the job at which they failed?”
Beth Ann rubbed her hands over her pant legs, trying to clean off some dirt. “Ricky, you’re making it sound worse than it is. You’ll have Moon with you! She can tell you what she’s getting. It should be a cinch for her now. She’s on the other side with the ghosts and she’ll see everything. No troublesome human nature to get in the way. She’ll tell you, and you’ll let the police know that Moon is doing the work. It’s a win-win for everyone. Makes sense, doesn’t it?”
Ricky deflated, letting out some of her righteous anger. “You have a point. That wouldn’t be more bizarre than what she used to do. If they believed Moon could contact the other side and they were successful with what she told them, then my passing on what she’s saying won’t take them too much further down the path of crazy.”
“Yea, you get it! That’s what I was thinking. You can at least ask Moon if it works for her. She’d have to agree to show up when you have a case.”
Ricky nodded and gave Beth Ann a genuine smile. “Next time, let’s talk it over first before you volunteer my services. I do need to get Moon onboard. We had a long discussion last night about her project. In her view, it is more important than just about anything. I have to be sure working for the police won’t slow down my progress.”
“Can you tell me about what you learned? Is it okay with Moon? We might not have too much time by ourselves. Jess and Dylan are going to help me move this afternoon. We can bring dinner home with us.
Rita Fantez, our housekeeper is here three days a week. She’ll be restocking the cupboards and cleaning tomorrow, so we’ll have to make do with the platters left over from yesterday or whatever we pick up. What are your plans?”
“Relieved to hear there is a housekeeper,” Ricky said with a sigh. “David will probably be over later, and I want to see if Moon will talk to me about the police thing before he comes. If she’s willing to do it, I’ll call Max Herman and let him drop in when David is with me. David probably already knows Max and can give me advice. From my conversation with Moon and the guides last night, I get the feeling that if I’m running around the city in unsavory neighborhoods, they’d want me to have a body guard.”
Beth Ann nodded. “I’m going to take a quick shower and change clothes before people drop in. Maybe while I’m doing that you can see if Moon has a few minutes for a consultation, then give me a quick overview of what you learned about the project.”
“Sounds good. Hopefully, Moon can be reached. She’s still working her primary investigation from the other side. Me, filling you in, might take us an hour, maybe I can tell you and David everything at the same time.”
Sitting in the meditation room a short time later, Moon appeared for Ricky, who told her about the call from Max Herman.
“Yes, it was the person I worked with at the MPD. I should have told you to expect a call. So many things seemed more important, like getting you through your fears. You were wise to question and check with me before saying more than you did. But yes, you should work with him.” Moon told her.
“Won’t that be a distraction? I should be looking at people connected to Chester. He’s the one solid lead, a good place to start checking out people who have the skill to be the Soul Stealer. This stuff will be keeping both of us diverted from our objective.”
Moon nodded. “I can see how it would look like that to you. If Chester is connected to the culprit, everything that Chester knows about my activities is known to the Stealer. It is routine for me to be part of police investigations that involve something paranormal. Chester knows that so the Stealer does too. It would be logical if I am working with you that you would be working with them. So there is a good probability that crimes with paranormal elements
will pop up more often now, at least some of them caused by others connected to the Stealer. We might pick up data that allows us to track back to the prime suspect.”
“You’ll be with me if I do this stuff right? I have no idea how.” Ricky questioned.
“That’s what you think, but your missing something. You worked with the guides last night. When they gave you their particular gifts, they opened up channels of information and intuition that were closed to you before. You are going to be stunned at how easy it will be for you. You’ll be able to touch things that belonged to people involved and images will flash into your mind. The spirits of the victims might talk to you. I’ll be with you as much as possible but soon it will feel like you’ve been doing this your whole life.” Moon reassured her.
“Wow. I have had a little of that already. I touched Chester’s arm and I saw things from his life I didn’t know about. Will it be like when the guides shared their history with me?”
Moon nodded. “But because we aren’t sure of who might be working for the Stealer, you’ll always need a body guard. Police may be all around you, but their job is to solve the case, not protect you, so they may miss a threat.”
“So I can’t look at a case until July first, when David is officially retired from the Highway Patrol? It sounds like Max Herman has something for me right now.”
Moon shrugged. “It’s up to David. I trust him to be vigilant. He’ll have to decide if he can do it on his days off until then. Maybe Stan could fill in,” she smiled. “But he can’t wear his shorts and tropical shirt.”
Ricky laughed. “I’m filling Beth Ann in on what we did with the guides last night. If you want to stick around and add anything you’re welcome at the meeting.”
“You’ll get it right. I downloaded everything I know about the Soul Stealer to you last night. You have access to the Akashic records about my work. Just ask Byron to pull the files for you.”
“I’ve become a human computer,” Ricky said with a giggle. “See you later then.”
“Yup we’ll be working with Max today for sure and I’ll hang around with you the first time. Oh, by the way, answer the phone. If you were wondering, I gave David my private number when we met a few years back. I worked for the Highway Patrol a couple of times.”
“It didn’t ring…..oh there it is.”
Ricky ran down the hall to her room and picked up the phone.
“Good morning,” David’s already familiar voice said. “Did you get enough rest after yesterday?”
“Good morning to you. Yes I did. New and interesting things to tell you, but not over the phone.”
“Good thing, I was hoping to come over and maybe bring you lunch, that okay?”
“Sounds good. When can you be here? I need to fill Beth Ann in on my last adventure with Moon and might as well tell you at the same time. Also have a whole other topic to discuss.”
“I’ll be there in about twenty minutes. I live five miles from you. I’ll drop into a deli for food. Any preference?”
“I don’t eat ham but anything else will do. I’m easy to please.”
“See you soon.”
It slipped out of her mouth before she realized she was saying it: “You’re a love.”
Oh my gosh, did I just say that? At least I didn’t say “I love you.” You’re a love is what I used to say to Roy when I thought he was one.
Feeling somewhat idiotic, Ricky ran back to her room, puffed up her hair and put on a touch of makeup. For some reason she picked up a crystal bottle from the dresser without sniffing it and splashed on a little essential oil before looking at the label. Geranium. Smells nice. Have to go through my stuff and put some of my own things out, but this will do for now.
She knocked on the hall bathroom door. “Beth Ann? David will be here in about ten minutes. I want to go over Moon’s instructions with both of you at the same time. Does that work for you?”
“Yup, be out in a jiffy.” Beth Ann’s voice called from within.
Ricky felt a tap on her shoulder as she walked down the stairs and turned around to see the translucent form of Nellie. “So did you talk about me with Moon? I know she was here, I smell her geranium. I was exploring the third floor rooms to see if there was anything we missed.”
“I’m wearing the geranium. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Does it make you sad when I wear it?” Ricky asked.
“No, it makes me feel safe. Not sure how the others will feel, but Moon used to say geranium oil caused balance and stability. Did you talk to her since we talked about me helping with the project?” Nellie asked.
“Other matters came up. It would have been too soon to mention it anyway. You haven’t told me if you’d be willing to go into the Light, if that’s what it took for you to be free from the house.”
“Still trying to decide. I thought maybe you could ask if I could be on the team when I was a free spirit. I’m sort of a Moon expert so I’d be a valuable member. Don’t want to say “yes” to the Light until I know what happens next.” Nellie answered.
“I’ll be seeing Moon later today. I’ll talk to her then. David is coming over and maybe Max Herman as well.”
Nellie’s face took on a mischievous grin. “Don’t be upset with me. I like to rattle things around when Max is here. He’s really scared of me. If I go into the Light I’m going to miss doing that to people.”
Ricky giggled at Nellie. “Okay, just a little bit though. We have serious business to discuss. Okay?”
Nellie giggled back. “Just a little thumping in the pantry. I won’t even spread flour around. Don’t want Rita mad at me.” With that, she was gone.
A few minutes later David arrived with rotisserie chicken, baked potatoes, cold slaw and some baked beans. “Hope this is enough. I imagine Beth Ann will want lunch too.
“We just finished breakfast. I’ll put the hot stuff in a warm oven,” Ricky said, just as Beth Ann came downstairs, still drying her hair with a towel.
“Hi David,” Beth Ann called out as she walked into the living room. “I probably won’t eat with you. I have to get over to my apartment and start packing stuff so some of our group can help me move in here. I’m just sticking around long enough to hear what Moon had to say to Ricky last night.”
Ricky returned, hands free of food. “One other thing I have to ask before we talk about last night, Max Herman called from MPD. Wants me to help with a case. Would you be okay with me having him drop in? Moon says I need a body guard, even if I just go down to the precinct.”
“Sure give him a call. I’d be happy to tag along and look out for you. I’ve known Max for years,” David answered, “he’s an open-minded guy.”
“His number is on the phone list on my desk in the office,” Beth Ann contributed.
Beth Ann and David chatted while Ricky made the call, and they had just finished discussing Charlie Fell’s confused behavior when she returned.
“He’ll be here at two to discuss the case with the two of us, plus Moon of course; we may be going into the Powder horn park area to view the crime scene. It’s an apartment building near Chicago and Lake.
“Rough neighborhood. Glad you didn’t go down and meet him on your own,” David answered.
“Not after what Moon told me and what I experienced yesterday. After your retirement, you and I will be spending a lot of time together. You’ll act as investigator and body guard as well.”
“I’ll be all yours starting July 1st, only five days away. My new boss, Brink, is aware of how much of my time you’ll be buying, and he’s fine if I am more or less exclusive on your project. Stan Jacobs is dropping by to sign a contract with the agency on Monday afternoon.”
Ricky let out a sigh of relief. “Good to hear. There is so much going on here.”
For the next forty-five minutes she filled David and Beth Ann in on what it was like to meet the Spirit Guides and what they were contributing to the project. She also shared Moon’s view point that more crimes with a paranormal
element would be happening because of the Soul Stealer’s connection to Chester.
David’s face became red and Ricky had all she could do to stop him from calling headquarters to arrest Chester, when she told him Moon’s theory that a ghost who was a past incarnation of Chester’s had blinded her the night of her death. “I went over that with Moon. There is absolutely no proof. Chester doesn’t have any control over what Azer is doing. There is a strong possibility he is completely clueless about what is being done with his abilities.”
David snorted. “I think he knows just what he’s doing. The guy has always been a prick and now he’s a dangerous one. Years ago he gave me the creeps when he taught with Moon. Could never understand that pairing.”
“That may be true, but he’s one of our big avenues of investigation. Someone at some time in the recent past activated this tyrant incarnation. If we track Chester, we have a chance of finding the Soul Stealer. That’s what Moon was doing when she died. She was driving to Chicago to talk to Mel Shank one of Chester’s teachers who also taught her in the past. She didn’t think Mel was the Stealer but thought maybe he could give her some clues,” Ricky said with a confused look on her face. “David, I don’t know how I know that. Moon never told me who she was going to see. The information was suddenly there. It’s going to take me a long time to get used to stuff like this.”
“Okay, I’ll back off Chester for now, but you’re never going to be in the house at the same time as Chester unless your dad or Stan or someone we trust is there as well. I’d move in here if it didn’t become a tabloid bonanza, and I might just do it if I have to, no matter what the gossips say. Moon has asked me to protect you and I have no doubt she knows what she’s talking about.”
After they had discussed what they could do next and agreed it was impossible to make plans until they found out what Max Herman needed her for. Beth Ann left to clean out her apartment and David and Ricky ate lunch. As they shared the food, Ricky found her mind floating away from the tense discussion about the Stealer and into images of what it might be like to have David living in the house. Eating breakfast with him, driving with him, passing him in the hallway, watching him sleep beside her. Watching him sleep beside her? Was that where her mind was going already? She was pulled out of her reverie by the door-bell.