Gypsy Magic - J.R. Rain Page 0,67

been warned the aftereffects of the concussion would be unpleasant and… they were. “I just keep jumping at shadows.”

“Don’t do that to yourself,” Marty said, a frown creasing his face. “You aren’t crazy. You’ve just… been through a lot, Pops.”

“I’m convinced a monster gave a man a heart attack,” I said with a sigh and a shake of my head. “And that man was so upset about it, he stuck around and became a poltergeist that terrorized his own nieces.” I shook my head again. “What logical explanation is there for that? I really doubt Allison or Hannah decided to go Seed of Chucky on their uncle. Not to mention that there aren’t any such things as monsters!”

“Well, as crazy as the whole thing sounds,” he started, cocking his head to the side. “And it does sound pretty crazy, Bailey believes you and I do too.”

I looked over at him and frowned. “You don’t believe in monsters.”

“Well, let’s just say that after meeting you and learning about your… abilities, I’m more open than I was.”

“Thanks, McFly,” I said with a smile. “I appreciate your vote of confidence.”

Marty pulled the hearse into the driveway, parking next to Bailey’s Mazda. She and Henner were leaning against the hood. Henner had brought the ghost hunting supplies, though setup was going to take longer without RJ to unload the heavier pieces of equipment. Bailey, while fit, had a job to do (channeling Danny) that would require most of her strength. And Marty had promised Finn that he’d remain glued to my side all evening. After what happened to me earlier, I wasn’t sure I could lift a Solo cup, let alone what Henner had piled into the Mazda’s trunk.

As soon as I stepped out of the hearse, Bailey walked up to me and engulfed me in a hug. While I was surprised, I returned it. Then she pressed up on tiptoe and laid the back of her hand flat against my forehead.

“Honey, you look like death warmed over. Are you sure you should even be here? When Marty told me you were coming, I couldn’t believe it.” She took a breath. “You know you still don’t have to go in? I can channel Danny and we can wait to do the exorcism until you’re feeling better. You could sit in the car and wait until I’m done channeling him.”

I batted her hand away impatiently and started staggering for the door. The throb at the base of my skull seemed to grow worse with every step toward the house. It was like the poltergeist was battering a ghostly fist against my bones and screaming ‘leave!’ with every blow. It was probably a good idea to stay out of things.

But I’d never been good at minding my own business.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, and continued up the stairs to the covered porch. “I didn’t come all the way out here just to wait in the car.”

All occupants of the house were out, staying with relatives nearby. The glaring absence of life inside was palpable. The windows yawned like miniature black holes, and an unsettling conviction sank into my bones, right along with the drumming tempo of the ghost’s inaudible cry.

I took a deep breath, leaned a little further into Marty’s side, and nearly got blown backwards. The second the door opened, an arctic gale swept through the gap, lifted my hair, and hit my face like a sandblaster. A million shards of icy cold stung my face, pulled tears from the corners of my eyes, and made me gasp. By the time the wind died down, something had slammed the door closed in our faces. If I hadn’t felt Danny before, I felt him now.

“Looks like Danny doesn’t want visitors,” I mumbled.

“Tough,” Bailey answered, coming level with us.

Henner staggered in the space behind her, his arms trembling with the exertion of carrying the ghost hunting gear.

Bailey nudged me out of the way and laid her small hands flat against the front door.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Danny. Either you let us in or I summon you from out here and believe me, you won’t like that.”

That same chill breeze swirled like a small eddy in the yard, tossing leaves into the air. The naked boughs of the trees shuddered and groaned, and one snapped menacingly at the roof of the house. Still, there was no sign of Danny in the flesh, er, ectoplasm.

“Can you see him?” I asked Bailey.

“No, but