A Medium's Birthday Surprise

by Chariss K. Walker

  Looks like someone is really mad at Bradley Edwards, Marty thought and then another reality hit him… so the stories are true. Becky Tibbs really is a medium. She already knew about this. She just had to get someone from the police force involved… and she picked me. Probably because she knew I had a soft spot for her sister. Darn! She’s smart and effective.

  Marty looked at Edwards under the harsh glare of clarity and said, “I suspect that you had something to do with your son’s death, that you were responsible. And, from what we’ve just seen here, I guess Josh thinks you are to blame too. When I can prove it, I’ll be back with a warrant for your arrest.”

  After he left the distribution center, Marty considered his previous conversations with Becky Tibbs. She had purposefully gotten him to look into Josh’s death. She’d encouraged him to find the phone and discover who had called Josh away from her party. If Becky really was a medium like everyone said, she’d probably already gotten the entire story from Josh’s ghost.

  Marty Smith felt incredibly weird just thinking about that. He knew that he sounded crazy. He’d never believed in such things as ghosts or spirits and he wasn’t sure he could accept it now. One thing he did know, something invisible had gone loose on Bradley Edwards a few minutes ago. Was it his son’s ghost? He wondered if his initial reaction was the correct one: Josh grew angry when his father denied responsibility in his death and when he denied seeing his son on the night he died.

  Marty vowed to find out what Becky Tibbs knew and he was determined that she would tell him. He simply wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. It just wasn’t an option.

  Chapter 33

  Meanwhile, Bobby woke up the next morning with a horrible hangover. He stumbled off the couch and rushed to the bathroom where he hugged the porcelain goddess for several agonizing moments. After that disgusting episode ended, he sipped a cup of day-old coffee that he heated in the microwave and prayed a silent prayer that the nausea would go away.

  On days like this, he considered that drowning out the voices of ghosts by drinking so much alcohol simply wasn’t worth it. He ached all over and he was sure that his kidneys and liver also suffered. He felt green about the mouth. He groaned loudly as he walked back to his living room.

  A few minutes later he noticed the light blinking on his answer machine. He pressed the button and got Becky’s message from the night before. After hearing her worried voice, he felt even more miserable. He’d been too drunk last night to hear the phone ring or her voice as she asked him for help. He’d been out cold. Even if he’d gotten the message, he’d been too inebriated to drive or to be of assistance even as back-up. He’d had a huge pity-party for himself and had let her down in the process… once again.

  No time to regret it now, he silently admonished, I have to find out if my kid sister is all right.

  Since it was already Saturday, again, he didn’t have to work. On the weekends, Habitat for Humanity used many volunteers who wanted to contribute their time and efforts. Many of them held fulltime jobs during the week and could only offer their help on the weekends. Bobby couldn’t believe how fast the work week went by. It seemed like Saturdays were always upon him… and they usually found him smashed or hung-over.

  Since he’d let Becky down last night, he decided he’d do something special for her today. He’d get some great coffee and cinnamon buns at one of the local coffeehouses and take them to the antique shop. After all, he thought, it’s the little things we do for others that lets them know how much we love them. And he really did love Becky. It was impossible not to love her.

  Bobby set out on his errand wearing jeans, a tee, and an army hoodie. He also wore dark sunshades to protect his eyes from the bright morning sun and the lightening darts that threatened to pierce his brain. In spite of the hangover, he was in a better mood just thinking about Becky. He knew she’d smile from ear to ear when she saw him walk in with the treats.

  When he arrived at the store, Becky was there busily checking out a customer. Bobby waived the bag of goodies at her and was pleased to get an eager nod and wide grin from his sister. Using one of the display tables in the corner, he moved some of the sale items to one side and sat down to wait for her.

  As soon as the customer left, Bobby apologized, “I’m sorry I missed your call last night, Becky. Did everything go all right with Josh and Paul?”

  “Mostly,” Becky replied, but before she could tell him all the details, Marty Smith showed up. As he entered the front door, he flipped the ‘open’ sign over so that it appeared that the store was now closed. When Marty eyed Becky and Bobby in the corner having coffee, with a no-nonsense attitude, he marched straight over to them.

  “I just left Bradley Edwards work place and I need some answers from you, Becky Tibbs,” Marty announced without even a greeting. “Tell me everything you know about Josh Edwards’ death.”

  “I don’t know what you want to know, but you have to understand that I’m not at liberty to tell you,” Becky said in surprise. “Remember, I came to you for answers.”

  “If you don’t come clean with me right now, I will arrest you for obstruction,” Marty threatened, playing the heavy hand and wagging a finger at her.

  Bobby couldn’t help it; he burst out laughing. The scene with Marty acting all tough with his little sister was simply too bizarre and comical to him. He knew Becky was brave enough to get in trouble with the police department if it meant protecting the trust and confidence she held with ghosts… but he hoped it wouldn’t come to that. She was like an attorney or psychiatrist, determined to protect her clients’ secrets at all costs and without any ethical breaches. An image of Becky in a jail cell filled with supporting ghost friends flashed through Bobby’s mind. He chuckled again.

  “What’s so darn funny, Bobby?” Marty asked with noticeable irritation.

  “Hello to you too Marty,” Bobby replied with amusement. Bobby had known Marty Smith from their days together at Erwin High the same as Barbara had known him. His older sister didn’t have dibs on Marty; he did. They’d played ball together and had dated the same girls after Barbara broke Marty’s heart. “Maybe you should tell us what happened when you visited Bradley Edwards. I see you still have some evidence on you. Yeah, some glass… it’s still on your shirt, right there,” Bobby said as he pointed to a rather large sliver that stuck out of Marty’s buttoned-down collar. He handed Marty a standing mirror from one of the nearby tables that displayed women’s antique atomizers and vanity items so that the officer could see for himself.

  “Yeah, it was kinda rough,” Marty admitted with a deep sigh. The steam with which he’d entered the antique store had quickly evaporated. He took a deep breath and then looked at Becky, “So, it’s true? You’re really a medium?” Becky nodded. “You can see Josh Edwards’ ghost?” Becky nodded again. “This is surreal,” Marty admitted. “Will you tell me what you know about his death?”

  “Marty, I can’t violate the confidences of the spirits I work with or their families,” Becky softly said. “I know that’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. It’s the way I work.”

  “Maybe you should tell us what happened when you went to see Bradley Edwards,” Bobby suggested again.

  “I guess you two are the only people in town who would believe me,” Marty admitted. Marty knew that everyone had talked about how weird Bobby was when he returned from Iraq. He’d always attributed that to PTSD or something. He didn’t really know. Now, the way Bobby supported Becky, he understood that Bobby was a believer in what his sister could do. Marty told them what happened and how something invisible trashed all the glass in the place. When he’d finished, he added, “Scared the living daylights out of me.”

  “I understand,” Becky softly said.

  “What you don’t seem to understand is that I have suspicions and gut-instincts, but I need evidence if I’m going to give Josh justice,” Marty sighed in frustration. “I can’t arrest Bradley Edwards without concrete proof. And, to be h
onest, I’d really like to arrest that smug A-hole. Sorry, Becky, but he is a real piece of work.”

  “Again, I understand,” Becky sympathized.

  “No one has ever called a ghost to the witness stand,” Bobby added with a laugh. His comment lightened the atmosphere a bit.

  “Look, Marty, this is what you know so far,” Becky gently summarized, “You know that Bradley sent Josh a text with the address to his place of work the night he died. You know that Josh went because you found his and Paul Applewhite’s fingerprints at the warehouse. You know that Josh’s body was found only a few miles away from there. You know that Bradley Edwards sold stolen brews that he got from Paul Applewhite’s sideline activities because I have a list of Paul’s customers and Bradley is listed as the contact at the Phillips Company. I’m giving you a photocopy of his customers,” Becky said as she pulled the copied list from her purse-like-backpack. “You also know what you witnessed at Bradley’s place of business this morning. That angry display tells you that Josh believes his father was responsible for his death. Even though ghosts can sometimes be confused, you have enough to charge him for Josh’s murder. If he didn’t kill Josh or if it was an accident, he needs to explain what happened. He’ll get a chance to tell his side if you present all that you know to him. He is the only one alive who knows what really happened.”

  “Yes, but you said he was a pious hypocrite and that he wouldn’t want others to know what he had done… that he might try anything to protect his reputation,” Marty argued. “That’s exactly the way he acted in the store today.”

  “I didn’t say it quite that way, but I guess that’s close enough,” Becky replied. “His hypocrisy is the very thing that set off Josh’s destructive display in the store today. Still, think about it… you know enough to pull him in for questioning. Now, I don’t know how you will explain any of this to your boss, but you actually have a lot of information that wasn’t previously known ten years ago.”

  “And,” Bobby thoughtfully added, “you know you can trust Becky even if you can’t use her as a witness or name her as a source, right?”

  “Where did you get this?” Marty asked as he poured over the names on the file Becky had supplied.

  “From his widow,” Becky replied. “It was in his home office, in a little black book. She allowed me to copy it.”

  “Does that mean you are also dealing with Paul Applewhite’s ghost?” Marty asked in surprise.

  “Again, Marty, I can’t give you any details about that,” Becky said. “I must protect the families too.”

  “Wait a minute,” Marty said, “Did Paul witness Josh’s death?”

  “Not that it would do you any good,” Bobby added. “He’s also a ghost.”

  “Well, can you at least tell me how it works?” Marty asked. He realized that his entire worldview had changed in only a few hours. He was amazed and certainly shocked by the shift.

  “I can tell you that if you ever have a ghost problem, feel free to come to me,” Becky smiled sweetly.

  After Marty left that store where he’d talked to Bobby and Becky Tibbs, he thought about what Becky had said… she wouldn’t breach the confidences of ghosts or their families. She’d gotten the list of Applewhite’s clients from his widow. It was a place to start. If Becky wouldn’t tell him what he needed to know, then maybe Paul Applewhite’s widow would fill in some blanks.

  Chapter 34

  Becky made a courtesy call to Candy Applewhite, explaining that she might get a visit from Sgt. Marty Smith. Becky also told Candy what she’d found out from Paul and Josh. Now, it was up to Candy to decide whether or not she shared any of the information with Marty.

  After the call to Candy was made and she opened the store once again, Becky and Bobby talked quietly in the corner. She sensed that something was on Bobby’s mind and finally asked him, “What’s going on, Bobby? I can tell you are very thoughtful about something today.”

  “I feel like I have wasted my life,” Bobby slowly said. It was in Becky’s nature to soothe and comfort everyone, so when she started to object to his comment, he held up a hand to shush her. “No, it’s all too true, Becky. I drink myself into a blackout just so I don’t have to accept my responsibilities as a medium. I look at you and your life is full. You do anything you can to help ghosts.” He stopped for a moment and laughed before adding, “I have no doubt that you would’ve let Marty arrest you before you would spill the beans about Josh and Paul.”

  “Well, thankfully, it didn’t come to that,” Becky said.

  “I admire you, Becky. I want to be like you. I’m seriously thinking about moving to Greenville to start over. There, I could be a help to the recently departed in the area.”

  “South Carolina?” Becky asked in alarm. “But, Bobby, if you move away, I’d never get to see you. Oh, please do reconsider. You can be a medium right here in Asheville.”

  “No, I can’t,” Bobby insisted. “I need a fresh start. I need to go somewhere where I’m not known and where the entire town doesn’t see me as a drunken Army vet with PTSD.”

  “No one thinks you are an alcoholic, Bobby,” Becky tried again. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him. He meant so much to her. He always had her back. He was her confidante about all things relating to ghosts. Becky burst into tears.

  “All right now, admit it,” Bobby spoke gruffly. “You’re crying for your loss. I understand it, but you need to look at this as the best thing I could do for me.” He smiled weakly at his sister.

  “Oh, I do. I understand why you would feel like you need to do this. I also know that I am crying for me. I’ve relied on you so much, Bobby. What will I ever do without you? It’s just incredibly sad to me.”

  “Well, look at it this way,” Bobby said, “It’s only a few hours away, and it gives you a great stopover when you’re out looking for merchandise for the store. I might even make some runs for you when you need to buy antiques from nearby states.” He watched Becky’s face closely, but even those ideas didn’t perk her up. “I need this Becky. I can’t stand even one more blackout Friday night. That’s why I didn’t hear your call last night. I was passed out on the sofa. I can’t live like that anymore.”

  This is what he needs, dear one, Zetmeh encouraged. You must let him go so he can do his own work.

  “I understand,” Becky finally soothed. “Do what you have to do for you, Bobby. I’ll be fine. Just don’t forget me, OK?”

  “How could I?” Bobby joked as he gave his little sister a big hug.

  Chapter 35

  When Marty Smith knocked on Candy Applewhite’s door that afternoon, Candy had already decided what she would tell him. She had discussed everything with her friend, Dr. David Johnson. David had assured her that she should find closure in any way that she could.

  “I support you, Candy,” David had said. “And, I love you. I’d like to start a new life with you, but we can’t do that with the ghost of your husband hanging over our heads. Come clean. If not for your own peace of mind, then do it for our future.”

  Candy led Marty into the den where she normally entertained guests and offered him a glass of iced tea. Normally, Marty would have refused out of courtesy, but his mouth and throat felt very dry after everything he had experienced that morning.

  “A glass of iced tea sounds mighty awesome. Thank you, Mrs. Applewhite,” Marty politely accepted.

  When she returned with the tall beverage, Candy sat it on the coffee table in front of Marty on a delicately crocheted coaster. He gulped a large swallow in appreciation and nodded his thanks.

  “I came to see you today because I have a lot of questions about your late husband, Paul Applewhite. Questions that I couldn’t get Becky Tibbs to confirm.”

  “She is very discreet,” Becky acknowledged.

  “That she is!” Marty agreed. “Still, I need some answers.”

  “I understand,” Candy said. “I will help you if I can. What do you need to know?”

  “Did you enlist
Becky Tibbs as a medium?” Marty asked. Candy nodded. “Did you do so because your husband’s ghost came back to haunt you?”

  “Not exactly,” Candy replied. “You see, Sgt. Smith, it’s more complicated than that. Josh Edwards was confused and angry. He thought that my late husband had something to do with his death. He couldn’t remember. He had seen Paul at the warehouse with his father the night he died. Josh transferred his anger to Paul, but it’s all worked out now.”

  “What else do you know about how Josh died?”

  “Well, Josh was at Becky’s party. His father sent a text message, instructing Josh to come to the warehouse after the party. Josh decided to go early. When he got there, he overheard his father and Paul discussing prices about the confiscated beer. He was angry and felt that his father was a hypocrite. Mr. Edwards wanted Josh to see things his way, but he couldn’t force him to do so. When that failed, he tried to manhandle Josh. During a physical struggle, he broke Josh’s neck. I can only suppose that he dumped the body on I-26 because he didn’t know what else to do and he wanted Josh found.”

  “So did Paul witness Edwards killing Josh?”

  “Not exactly,” Candy replied. “He saw the struggle. He saw that Mr. Edwards put Josh in a chokehold, but Paul thought that Mr. Edwards only did it to put him to sleep so that he could talk to him later when they’d both calmed down.”

  “So how did Josh get confused?”

  “From what I’ve learned from Becky, the spirit world is very different from our physical world. When Paul died, he had just heard over the police scanner that a teenage boy was found not far from the warehouse. He was thinking about the death of Josh. So, when Paul became a spirit too and was thinking about Josh, Josh was drawn to him. It’s sort of magical the way it works. Anyway, Paul died of a brain aneurysm the day after Josh died. Josh became attached to Paul and neither of them knew how to free themselves. Becky helped with all of that. She helped Josh see that Paul was an innocent bystander and not responsible for his death. She helped Paul see that he could free himself from Josh. Josh was the real reason I contacted Becky. He was angry and moving things around here at my home.”