The Spiritist Read online

  He snorted. “There are ways to get money out of people who see you as a messiah who promises to rid them of their trouble.”

  Aerilyn took a step forward. Anger stirred in her eyes. “If Joan doesn’t wish for our séances to continue, she will have to tell me that herself.”

  “You’ve ensnared her with talks of her son’s death being a murder. How can you stoop so low? What proof do you have of such a claim?”

  For a moment, her face became blank. “Unfortunately, the spirits don’t bring proof,” she said.

  “How convenient! From what Joan told me, Thomas didn’t even know how he was killed or who killed him? So all you’ve is this is this mysterious claim that he was killed, but nothing else. Not a good spiritist, are you?”

  “It would be nice if a spirit could solve all the mysteries in the world, but unfortunately, magic doesn’t bring all the answers.”

  “Just more questions, it seems.”

  “Yes, perhaps that’s true.” She took a step forward, her eyes boring into his. “Now, I believe, you have said everything you wanted to say. Perhaps, it’s time for you to leave.”

  “I have not even begun,” he stated. His eyes narrowed with annoyance at her quiet dismissal. He could sense her withdrawal. She had already relegated him to the back of her mind. He would have to do more than talk; he would have to expose her fraudulent activates.

  “You may leave now,” she said.

  “And what if I refuse to go? You will turn me into a donkey?”

  To his utter astonishment, she began to laugh. “You amuse me. It’s rather ironic that before your arrival, I had made up my mind to tell Joan that I would not be able to continue with our séances. But you have brought me hope. Now, with your help, we may actually be able to get to the bottom of this mystery.”

  Cole raised an eyebrow. “You want me to help you?”

  “You did say that you’re a friend of Joan’s. True friends help each other. Right?”

  Unbelievable! She actually thought he would fall in line with her plans. The girl had some nerve. Her cavalier attitude didn’t surprise Cole. Most swindlers appeared to think that they were invulnerable. Or perhaps this was just an image she had cultivated over the years. Why would a smart young woman like her run this scam? Didn’t she have anything better to fall back on?

  Perhaps she didn’t. Maybe she liked the easy money.

  “You’re actually soliciting my support for this? Have you not heard a word I said?”

  “Actually, I’ve heard everything you said with perfect clarity. You’re committed to helping Joan. You’re dedicated to her…and you’re a resourceful man. A man with connections who can put them to good use on behalf of Joan. Am I not right?”

  He nodded. “But…”

  “You’re the perfect man to help us with this investigation. Who better than you to seek the truth behind the claims I make?” She tucked a strand of her hair behind an ear. “I have a séance with Joan today evening at seven. If you can convince her to bring you along, I would like you to attend.”

  To say that he was surprised would have been an understatement. He hadn’t expected her to actually invite him to one of her hocus pocus sessions. What did she hope to gain? Did she hope to win him over in the séance? Well, hell would freeze over before he came under her charm.

  But he would be a fool if he turned down her offer. She had presented him with a marvelous opportunity to watch her in action. Cole believed in getting to know the enemy. The unknown presented dangerous, the known could be handled, one way or the other. As yet, he didn’t know much about her; she was a complete enigma. If he wanted to defeat her at her own game, he needed more information. And she had just given him the perfect opening to do so.

  Best case scenario, it would allow him to reveal her true nature in front of Joan. At worst, it might give him a few pointers on how best to diffuse this situation. In either case, he had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

  “Not only will I be here, but I will also make sure that I expose your devious nature in front of Joan.” He didn’t want to give her the impression that she had won him over. Let her ponder about what damage he could do to her. He wasn’t a gullible or emotional fool who would keel over with excitement just because she had granted him a chance to observe her mysterious practices.

  Her lips lifted in a haughty smile. “I will look forward to that.”

  Cole strode out into the shop. Truth be told, she made him feel uneasy. She was a tough nut to crack. He would need a substantial amount of work to bring her down.

  As an afterthought, he turned to the shelf that contained the herbs and bottles of pills. Randomly selecting two bottles and two packets of herbs, he took them over to the counter. “How much for these?”

  “Take them as a gift.” Aerilyn stood at the inner door. Her lips thinned in a disapproving line, the only indication that he’d managed to piss her off. “Your money would give me no peace.” She turned to walk back inside.

  Well, good. He intended to do much more before he was done. “How much?” repeated Cole.

  Selina crossed her arms. “You heard the lady. There is no charge. If you wish to take them, you will have to take them as a gift.”

  Snorting with amusement, Cole put them in the grocery bag she offered. The thick, green bag was stylized with the name of the shop. “Thank you,” he said, more out of habit than courtesy. He strode out, intending to be back soon. And this time he would make her pay for what she intended to do to Joan.

  He would see to it that the witch was stopped in her tracks, even if he had to put her in jail to do so. No better than a petty thief, she deserved no mercy. And if there was one thing that set Cole’s teeth on edge, it was when he had to deal with a criminal. As he turned to walk back towards the inn, his gaze took in the ornate front display. He sneered. Witch Central would not remain so festive for long.

  While he walked along the main street, Cole called the head of his investigation team. His business not only provided armed and unarmed security, personnel, and equipment to private and government firms, he also had separate teams that conducted investigations and research for corporations and individuals.

  “Damon, I’ve work for you,” he said after exchanging hellos. “I am sending you the details of a woman. Aerilyn. She lives in Alby, Oregon. Dig up everything you’ve got on her. She runs a shop called Witch Central. Pull up the records on her business and see if all licenses are in order. Any police records, previous and current boyfriends, work, assets, accounts, anything and everything. Email me the details as soon as you can.”

  “Alright,” came the cautious reply of his old and trusted employee. “Anything else?”

  Cole hesitated. “Do you remember the preliminary investigation you conducted at the death of Joan’s son Thomas? I want you to pull all the files and go over them again. See if anything sticks out. And if possible, get in touch with the police officers who worked on the case and see if they are willing to talk now that the file is closed.”

  “What are we looking for?”

  “A reason why the boy committed suicide. It would give closure to Joan.”

  “I will see what we can do.”

  After Cole cut off the connection, he made another call. “Alisha, I am sending you a parcel. It contains packets of herbs and liquid potions. Study and analyze them with care. I need a list of all the ingredients and a detailed report on each ingredient. Specify all side effects, and anything else of importance.”

  “It will be done,” assured Alisha. A trained pharmacologist, she worked for one of his pharmaceutical research units. The Hudson group provided security and research services to many pharmaceuticals, and needed their own teams of experts to provide the right support when needed. Alisha had been working with him for the past two years, and if she found his request odd, she didn’t say anything.

  As he terminated the connection, and thrust the phone back in his pocket, the first fat drops of rain landed on his head.<
br />
  “Perfect,” he muttered, regretting not bringing one of the umbrellas stacked against the inn’s main door. After pulling up the collar of his jacket, he increased his pace, eager to reach the inn before he got thoroughly wet.

  Also, he intended to persuade Joan to let him accompany her to the next session. If nothing else, it might encourage Aerilyn to think twice before giving more nonsensical information to Joan.

  One way or the other, he intended to make sure that Joan was spared any more grief; even if he had to fight with the devil himself to do so.

  Chapter Three

  That man had put her in a bad mood. Used to suspicious looks, criticism, and downright condemnation, Aerilyn usually took it in her stride when people didn’t take her seriously. But something about Cole Hudson rubbed her the wrong way.

  And to top it off; he was hot. Damn it! Why the hell did she have to notice his good looks and the charming way his black hair fell over his eyes? It wasn’t enough that he was tall, confident, and successful, he had to be gorgeous also. And to top it off, he was also an extremely useful man.

  After he left, she wasted no time in doing her research. His security company boasted of an impeccable reputation. He had important connections. What’s more, he had exactly the right qualifications to help her in this task. If she was going to be involved in a murder investigation, Aerilyn intended to have an ally who had the ability to gather enough resources to ensure that everything was taken care of.

  Too bad, he had declared himself as her enemy. Of course, she had others plans for him; plans that involved using his considerable resources and manpower to solve this murder. She would have to make him see that he would better serve Joan by working with Aerilyn rather than working against her. Easier said than done! It would take a lot of effort to turn that man in her favor. And it would help if Thomas offered some information that proved his accusation in the next séance. She would just have to make sure she got something concrete from Thomas – and for that, she had to be well prepared.

  Knight strolled inside as she took her usual meditative position on the carpet. “Oh, go away, you traitor. Couldn’t you have at least swiped at him?” She glared at the cat that turned to give her a haughty stare. “Oh, yeah sure. That is beneath you, but swiping at me whenever the mood strikes is just fine.”

  She ignored the cat who settled under the table, lying on his side, his tail loosely wrapped around his body. Knowing she would need to be calm and free of any negative thoughts for the upcoming séance, Aerilyn breathed in and out. With her eyes closed, she focused on an image of a rotating, iridescent emerald against a white backdrop. As she had trained over the years, she imagined the brilliance of the gem and its exquisite cut. Her vision focused on its shining façade and noted each tiny facet. The image became so real in her head that she believed she could reach out to touch it.

  As usual, the meditation calmed her mind and a sense of peace prevailed over her senses. Finally at ease, she stood and readied herself for the séance. She straightened her white dress and debated tying her hair so as to project a more professional image. She decided to leave it for now. Her craft would speak for itself.

  As if on cue, the entrance door opened and closed.

  “Come inside,” she called, knowing that Selina had already left for the day. Joan walked in, accompanied by Cole.

  “Hi. I hope you don’t mind, but I have brought along someone.” Joan gestured towards him. “Cole’s my employer and a very close friend.”

  “Hello,” he said, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. “Nice to meet you.” A warning glance told her that he hadn’t told Joan about their earlier meeting the day before.

  So he actually managed to convince Joan to bring him along without disclosing that he had landed at her shop to threaten her? Impressive! He would prove to be a formidable opponent – and possibly, a useful collaborator.

  Her gaze slid to Joan and softened. The grief-stricken mother was already undergoing enough emotional anguish. Aerilyn had no wish to add any more by recounting the details of her argument with Cole earlier today.

  For the moment, she decided to play along. “Please take a seat.” Aerilyn shook his hand and motioned towards the extra chair she’d already placed at the table. She had been sure he would come. He would need to examine everything himself before committing himself to a cause.

  What would he think of today’s séance?

  “Cole doesn’t really believe in your talent, but he has an open mind,” Joan added.

  Aerilyn doubted the truth behind that statement, but she chose to let it go. “I am sure Cole will learn quite a few new things,” she said.

  “I’ve brought along Thomas’s wallet and a picture of his.” Joan handed over the two items.

  After everyone took their places, Aerilyn sat on her seat. She placed the picture of Thomas at the center of the table, next to the emerald. She put the conflicting thoughts about her guest out of her mind. This wasn’t the time to get distracted. Losing her concentration at this crucial juncture would lead to failure.

  “Joan, I want you to close your eyes and focus your thoughts on your son.”

  “I’ve brought along a list of questions to ask the spirit.” Cole put his hand in his jacket pocket and withdrew a piece of paper. He handed it over to her. “It would be nice if we could get some names this time.” His mocking, amused tone indicated that he considered this all to be sheer drama.

  Ignoring his tone, Aerilyn read the questions. They more or less jibed with the mental list she had made. She placed the paper on the table. “I will be sure to ask him, but whether he knows anything or not is beyond my control. Spirits don’t tell everything. Communication is not as easy for them as it is for us. Even if a spirit knows, he may not tell for his own reasons.”

  “I understand,” he said, flashing a smile that quite clearly said that he thought she was either mentally instable or cunningly fraudulent.

  Her mind already at the task at hand, Aerilyn ignored the sneering expression on Cole’s face. No words would convince him of the genuineness of her gift. He would have to make up his own mind after he saw everything. For now, she needed to focus on the spell. Aerilyn cupped her hands around the emerald and closed her eyes. The magic she invoked soon made her forget her ire.

  As before, the veil was thick, smoky, and gray. Dark shadows danced in its depths. Aerilyn’s spell cut through the foggy curtain, parting the veil. Thomas appeared, dressed in the same clothes as before.

  “Thomas, tell me about your murderer.” Her voice was commanding but soft. “What’s his name?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Whom do you suspect of being responsible for your death?”

  “Robin,” he said. His gaze remained focused on his mother, the reason for his presence in the room. Her grief enabled him to push through the veil and enter the mortal world. He came for her, and yet was unable to touch or talk to her. She understood his grief, but could do nothing to help him. She sensed his mounting frustration as he tried unsuccessfully to gain his mother’s attention. While a spirit didn’t feel any sadness in the otherworld, it was invariably drawn towards negative emotions when she called it forth. The sooner he could go back, the quicker he would be at peace.

  “Where can we find Robin?” she asked with mounting excitement. Finally, they were getting somewhere.

  Thomas turned his gaze at her. He frowned, as if not quite understanding her question. “At the bar,” he said.

  “Tell me the name of the bar where we can find Robin.”

  “The Plazza,” he said.

  Time was running out, fast. If she needed to get any more information, she would have to be quick. Already, the air around Thomas crackled with black, flickering lights. The edges of his body blurred. Soon he would be engulfed by the veil once more, beyond their reach for another day, if not more.

  “Did Robin kill you?” Aerilyn wanted no room for errors.

  “It all started with Simon
,” he said.

  “Simon? Who is Simon?” She heard Joan gasp, but to her credit, the woman didn’t falter in her concentration.

  “Simon is the key to it all,” he said. He reached out with his hand, his fingers brushing over Joan’s hair. But the rules of the netherworld dictated that he could not touch her. His gaze flicked to the other occupant around the table. “Tell Cole that he must take care of my mother.”

  His image, the manifestation of his spirit, stepped back and passed through the veil. Once more, the dense curtain stretched far and wide, an infinite wall that kept the denizens of its world separate from life. Ever-present, eternal and immovable.

  Aerilyn opened her eyes. For a moment, disoriented, she stared at Joan who leaned forward eagerly.

  “What happened? What did he say? Did he mention Simon?” Words tripped over her tongue as she keenly waited for Aerilyn to reveal everything.

  “Shush a moment, Joan.” Cole’s hand cupped her elbow. “Are you alright, Aerilyn?”

  Aerilyn gulped, fighting the nausea that threatened to overwhelm her. Perspiration beaded over her forehead. She stood and walked over to the carafe of water. After drinking one glass, she returned to the table. Picking up the sheet of paper on which Cole had written his questions, she jotted down the answers before she forgot anything important.

  “Here, read this.” She handed over the paper to Joan. The older woman gasped as she read the answers.

  Joan passed the paper to Cole. “It is as we suspected. It was murder.”

  “Who’s Simon?” Aerilyn asked.

  Joan tapped a finger on the table, her eyes looking troubled at these new revelations. “Simon was Thomas’s roommate but he died three months before Thomas. Overdose of heroine. Thomas had come home for the weekend, and I remember one of his friends from college called to tell him about it. Thomas was devastated. He hadn’t been very close to Simon because Simon was a year older, but they got along well enough as roommates. They had rented a two bedroom apartment in the Lower East Side.”