To Free a Phantom

by Carrie Pulkinen

  She licked her lips. “Did you love her?”

  “No.” The answer came quickly. Easily. He’d never loved Allison. Not romantically. “But she is my friend. Is that going to cause a problem?”

  Letting out her breath, she relaxed her muscles as she leaned into his side. “It won’t be a problem. I’d like to meet her sometime.”

  The tension in his own muscles eased. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

  “I’m sorry, too. I promise I won’t keep any more secrets from you.” She laced her fingers through his. “Are we good now?”

  “Definitely.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. They’d get through this. Whatever was causing her problems…whether it was Colette like he suspected or if it was something else…they’d overcome it. He dealt with the paranormal every day, and if he could vanquish demons, he could handle anything a human ghost threw at him. As long he and Erica were together, they could do anything. “I meant what I said in that letter, you know? I love you. Deep like a river.”

  She grinned. “Deep like an ocean. Can’t you even remember your own words from ten years ago?”

  “That’s right. Vast and deep. And from now on, I promise total honesty.”

  “Me too.” She took his other hand in hers and traced her thumb across his palm. “And since we’re being honest…there’s one more thing I need to tell you.” She pulled away to look into his eyes, her gaze more serious than he’d ever seen. “I love you, too.” The corner of her mouth twitched, tugging her lips into a smile that lit up her whole face. “Just wanted to put that out there, so you know.”

  Her words slammed into his chest like a confetti cannon exploding in his heart. He took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead, her cheek, her lips. “You have made me the happiest man alive.”

  “You make me pretty happy, too.” She leaned into him, taking his mouth with hers.

  His entire body warmed with her kiss, and he pulled her into his arms, losing himself to the moment. To the woman. Erica loved him. The real him. Not some made-up version of who the dating experts told him to be. This woman knew him, and she loved him, and that was all that mattered.

  She pulled away, pressing her lips together, her brow furrowing in concern.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Do you really think Colette could be controlling me from inside the mirror?”

  He straightened his spine and held her hand. “I’m not certain a spirit can actually be inside a mirror. But I know someone who can help us.”

  “Allison.”

  “Do you mind if I call her?”

  “It’s almost ten. Do you think she’ll be up?”

  “It’s only two or three in Fiji. She’s not due home for a few more days.” He held her gaze, searching for hesitation or any sign that she wasn’t comfortable with involving his friend.

  She nodded. “Call her.”

  He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed Allison’s number.

  “Hi, Gage.” Her voice sounded raspy from sleep.

  “Are you okay?” It wasn’t like Allison to nap in the middle of the afternoon. He switched the phone to his other ear and rested a hand on Erica’s leg.

  “I’m fine. Just jetlagged a little. Why are you calling so late? Is something wrong?”

  “Isn’t it afternoon there?”

  She inhaled deeply, the sheets rustling as she moved. “We came home early.”

  “Oh, shit. I’m sorry to wake you then.”

  “It’s okay. Did you need something?”

  “Well, Erica…the one I told you about…she’s having a problem with a ghost. I was hoping you could give her some advice.”

  She yawned. “Why don’t you bring her over tomorrow around ten? We can talk then.”

  “Sounds great. Thanks, Allison.”

  “Bye, Gage.”

  He pressed the end button, and Erica looked at him expectantly. “What did she say?”

  “How do you feel about meeting her tomorrow?”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Erica fidgeted with her seatbelt for the twelfth time since she’d gotten into Gage’s Jeep. She had no reason to be nervous. They were going to meet Gage’s friends for coffee at their multi-million-dollar mansion on Grayhaven Island. No big deal. Except for the fact that Gage used to have…what did he call it? A thing for Allison.

  She stared out the window as they crossed the bridge. “You didn’t have to take the day off from work for me.”

  He glanced at her, placing his warm hand on her thigh and giving it a squeeze. “I’ve got plenty of vacation days saved up. I don’t mind using one on you. Besides, I don’t want you going back to the theater until we talk to Allison.”

  She shifted in her seat to face him. “Can she really do all that stuff you talked about? Reading people and helping spirits cross over?”

  They pulled into the driveway, and he cut the engine. “She can. But she won’t read you without your permission.”

  “She can just turn it off?” She chewed her bottom lip as she unbuckled her seatbelt and let it slowly slide across her body. “That’s a little hard to believe.”

  The passenger door opened, and Gage held out a hand to her. She hadn’t even noticed him getting out of the car. Fantastic. Now she was talking to herself.

  He smiled. “Are you nervous?”

  “A little.”

  “Don’t be. Allison’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Logan’s not so bad either.”

  She took his hand and let him lead her up the porch steps. “I’ve heard of him. He’s the one that organizes all those three-hundred-dollar-a-ticket fundraisers for local charities, right?”

  Gage chuckled. “See? They’re nice people.”

  The heavy oak door swung open, and a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and a perfect complexion smiled at them. “You must be Erica. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Allison.” She held out her hand, and Erica had no choice but to shake it.

  She readied herself for the psychic to close her eyes and start spouting off random things about her future…like she’d seen on TV…but it didn’t happen. Allison’s handshake was firm, her palm warm, and her smile so genuine, Erica almost forgot she was nervous.

  “Come on in, guys. Logan’s bringing the coffee to the living room.” She motioned for them to follow before padding through the foyer.

  Gage slid his arm around Erica’s waist and guided her into the living room. A dark-haired man with bright blue eyes kissed Allison on the cheek as he set a tray on the coffee table. “Your decaf is in the Keurig. I’ll be right back.” He strode out of the room, and Allison perched on the arm of an overstuffed chair.

  Erica sat on the sofa, and Gage settled in next to her, draping his arm across her shoulders. His outward display of affection in front of the woman he used to have a thing for eased her tension. The dark-haired man returned to the room, settling into the chair, and Allison introduced him as Logan.

  Allison grinned, her gaze darting between Erica and Gage for a moment before she spoke. “Gage tells me you’re a medium.”

  Erica sipped her coffee to give herself time to form an answer. “I wouldn’t call myself a medium. I can sometimes see ghosts…when they feel like showing themselves to me.”

  She narrowed her eyes, studying her. “You probably have more power than you think. Would you mind if I did a quick reading on you?”

  “Umm…” She looked at Gage, who smiled and nodded. “Okay, I guess.”

  Allison moved to sit on the sofa next to her and held out her hands. “Physical contact helps.”

  Erica swallowed the dryness from her mouth and slipped her hands into hers. Allison closed her eyes, rocking slightly from side to side, as a tingling sensation formed where their skin touched. The area around Allison seemed to open up, almost like a vacuum or a magnet, drawing Erica in. Her body swayed toward the other woman’s, and a strange quivering sensation formed in her stomach.

  As Allison’s eyes fluttered op
en, she released Erica’s hands and cast a conspiratorial glance at Gage. It was a mischievous smile, with a glint in her eyes that said we’ll talk later without actually saying anything at all. “Your ability is quite powerful. You see spirits clearly and hear their voices.”

  Of course she heard them. How else would she communicate with them? “Don’t you hear their voices?”

  “Not with my ears. I’m an empath, so everything for me is about emotion. I feel what spirits are saying more than hear them speak.”

  “Hmm.” What else could she feel about Erica? Did she pick up on her skepticism? Or that tiny shred of inferiority deep in her heart that she couldn’t seem to squelch no matter how hard she tried? Gage idolized this woman’s talents. Erica’s ability could never compare.

  Allison rose and returned to her perch on the arm of the chair, moving so gracefully, she almost seemed to float across the carpet. No wonder Gage had been hot for her. She was flawless, and Erica was nothing more than a failure.

  “Your abilities have never been developed,” Allison said, “but that doesn’t make you a failure.”

  Erica’s mouth dropped open at Allison’s use of the same word that had just danced through her mind. How could she have known that’s what she’d been thinking?

  “Your mom asked you to keep your ability a secret because she couldn’t be there to protect you. She doesn’t blame you for what happened, and you don’t have to hide anymore.”

  Erica’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat as she turned to Gage. He must have said something to her about Erica’s past. There was no way she could know all that.

  He raised his hands in a show of innocence. “I swear I didn’t tell her a thing.”

  “How did you? Is my mom here?” She scanned the room, but saw no sign of her mother’s ghost.

  “Her spirit has moved on, but she checks in on you from time to time. She isn’t here, but she’s sending me the message through the energy of the universe.”

  Pressure built in the back of her eyes. “Wow. That’s…wow. I didn’t know that was possible. Is there anything else you got from ten seconds of holding my hands?”

  Allison tilted her head. “Why don’t you tell me about your ghost problem?”

  Gage rubbed Erica’s back. “She seems to be involuntarily channeling something at the theater. A ghost that’s attached to an antique mirror.”

  Erica let out a frustrated sigh. “I really don’t think Colette is the one doing it. She’s always been so helpful.” She told Allison about her foggy memory and the lapses of time she’d missed, being careful to avoid sharing the incident with Gage in the wing.

  Allison furrowed her brow as she listened, casting occasional glances at Logan, who’d remained quiet the entire time.

  “So, that’s what’s happening.” She leaned into Gage’s side as the weight of the world seemed to lift from her shoulders. Sharing her ghostly encounters wasn’t as bad as she’d thought it would be.

  Logan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You guys are the experts at this, but…can a ghost really be trapped inside a mirror?”

  Allison shook her head. “I don’t think that’s possible. Gage?”

  “In all my research, I’ve never heard of it. Not even with a demon involved.” He squeezed Erica’s shoulder. “If she’s going to help, you need to tell her everything.”

  Her stomach dropped at the horrifying thought. She couldn’t tell these people she barely knew that a ghost may have used her body to have sex with her boyfriend. “I, um…” The words died before they could make it past the lump in her throat.

  Gage sat up straighter. “She came onto me, rather aggressively, in the wing. We ended up doing it in a chair.”

  Heat flushed her cheeks. She shrank into herself, bringing a hand to her forehead to cover her eyes. If it were possible to die of embarrassment, her demise would be slow and painful.

  Logan chuckled. “Nice.”

  Allison elbowed him in the shoulder.

  Gage grinned. “Yeah, it was kinda hot. Until she didn’t remember doing it.”

  Erica groaned inwardly.

  “I had a long conversation with Leroy and Stanley when we investigated.” Allison’s face turned serious. “I don’t see either of them doing something like that. Not even to impress a lady ghost. If no other spirits are haunting your theater, it has to be Colette.”

  “But she’s dead. Why would she try to manipulate me?”

  “Have you ever tried to research her?” Logan asked. “Find out what she was like in real life?”

  Her shoulders slumped. “I guess I took her at her word that she was a Broadway star.” Why had that thought never occurred to her? If Colette were a living person making claims of stardom, she would have at least Googled her name. She shrugged. “I was a kid when I met her. My teacher told me her story, and I believed her.”

  “What’s her story?” Logan asked.

  “She was popular on Broadway, until a jealous understudy murdered her. She’d been sitting in front of the mirror when it happened, and that’s why she got trapped inside it.” She sucked in a sharp breath. If Colette had been murdered because someone wanted her part, would she have put Caitlyn up to hurting Amber? Could she be fueling that rivalry because of what had happened to her?

  Gage squeezed her shoulder. “Things starting to make sense now?”

  No, she wouldn’t believe it. She couldn’t. “I don’t think Colette would do this. Sure, she’s ornery sometimes, but she wouldn’t hurt anyone.” At least, she didn’t think she would.

  “But, babe.” He shifted toward her and rested a hand on her leg, tightening his arm around her shoulder as if afraid she might bolt for the door. “If she was a manipulator in life, she’ll be that way in death too. People don’t change just because they lose their bodies.”

  “But she wasn’t a manipulator; she was the victim.”

  “Maybe so, but from the way you’ve described her, it sounds like she’s a woman who expects to get her way.”

  She shook her head. “She’s done nothing but help for as long as I’ve known her.”

  “Help me out, Allison.” Frustration sharpened Gage’s voice.

  “Her reaction is normal. If Colette is manipulating her…whatever her endgame may be…she’s probably been grooming her.”

  “Grooming me?”

  “Like when kidnapping victims bond with their abductors.”

  “Oh, my God.” Erica leaned her head back on the sofa. Her hair fell away from her face, so she sat up quickly and smoothed it into place. A tornado of thoughts whirled through her mind. Betrayal. Disbelief. Fear. Bolting for the door sounded like a viable option, but Gage’s hold on her was firm.

  Breaking down now wouldn’t help her one bit. She needed to focus. To stay calm and figure out how to stop whoever was taking over her body. She looked at Allison. “You can read people. Can you read ghosts too? Will you come to the theater and talk to Colette?”

  Pressing her lips together, Allison cut her gaze to Logan. He took her hand, bringing it to his lips before holding it tight against his chest. “Allison is taking a break from spirits for a while.”

  A tiny smile lit on her lips as she glanced at Erica before focusing her gaze on Gage. “I don’t think channeling would be good for the baby.”

  Gage straightened, excitement sparking in his eyes. “Baby? You’re pregnant?”

  Allison nodded. “That’s why we came home early.”

  Gage shot to his feet, reaching Allison in two long strides and pulling her into a hug. “That’s fantastic news. You’re going to be a great mom.”

  He held on to her, rocking from side to side and gushing about how happy he was for her. Erica picked at a loose thread on her jeans, reminding herself he was congratulating Allison on the baby she was having with another man. No need for jealousy. Gage came from a huge family, so babies were probably a big deal to him. He probably wanted to have a few himself.

  Warmth
spread through her chest. Would she be the one to give them to him? Could she even have children? She couldn’t think about that right now. Instead, she rose to her feet and shuffled toward the others. “Congratulations.”

  Gage finally released his hold on the other woman and shook Logan’s hand. “Yeah, congrats, man.”

  Erica gave Allison a quick hug before settling on the sofa again.

  “You definitely need to stay away from this ghost.” Gage plopped down next to her and gave her thigh a squeeze. “Can you teach Erica how to cross her over?”

  Erica grimaced. “Doesn’t it hurt the ghosts to send them to the other side?”

  “No, not at all. I’ve felt nothing but peace from the spirits I’ve helped. But if she truly is attached to the mirror, you’ll have to free her first, then cross her over.” She sighed. “And if the spirit is as strong as she sounds, that would require a form of energy manipulation that would take years to master.”

  Gage leaned forward. “What can we do then?”

  Allison tapped a finger against her lips. “What about the PILFER machine? If you adjusted the energy output and attached it to the mirror, you might be able to create a frequency high enough to break the spirit’s bond with the object.”

  Gage rubbed the scruff on his face. “You mean it won’t take psychic powers to free this phantom?”

  “When I clear objects, I’m practicing a form of energy manipulation. Maybe you can recreate it.”

  Erica rubbed her neck. “What’s a PILFER?”

  “It stands for Positive Ion Low Frequency Energy Resonator.” Gage drummed his fingers on his knee, and Erica could practically see the gears turning in his mind. “Maybe. I’ll have to do some research.”

  “Wait.” Erica’s heart raced. She didn’t understand their technical jargon, and their casual discussion of vanquishing her friend sank in her stomach like a brick. “I want to talk to her first. We still aren’t even positive she’s the one doing it. And even if she is…maybe she’ll stop if I ask her to.”

  “I doubt…” Gage blew out a hard breath. “Okay. I’ll go with you though. I don’t want you around that mirror alone.”