Spooky Business (The Spectral Files #3) - S.E. Harmon Page 0,105
is dead,” he said in that same flat tone. “I was finally able to show myself to him in a mirror, and the idiot fell to his knees, grabbing his chest. I think he had a heart attack.”
I felt a little numb, listening to his matter-of-fact recitation of events. “You scared him to death.” I thought about his two girls, and my chest ached a little with sorrow for someone I’d barely known. “How could you do that?”
“It’s not my fault,” he burst out. “He couldn’t see me like you can. I was just trying different ways to contact him, so we could finally be together.”
“I can’t help but notice he didn’t stick around. I guess he had no regrets.” I shook my head slowly. “You’ve been haunting him for years. It was probably something of a relief to just be done.”
“And like I told you, we’re not done yet.”
There was a coldness in his eyes that had me surging to my feet. “If you kill me, it will be a long time before you find another medium.”
“I would never kill you.”
“Well, that’s comforting,” I said dryly. “I’m glad you’re generous enough to let us live.”
“I said you.” He narrowed his eyes. “I would never kill you.”
I didn’t look in Danny’s direction. My heart hammered in my chest. “He’s not part of this.”
“See that’s where you’re wrong,” he said coldly. “He’s been part of this since the very beginning. He’s exactly the leverage I need, and why you’re going to give me my second chance.”
The pendant around my neck started to lift, and I grabbed it to pull it back down. I took a step backward, and my calf bumped into the deck chair. “That’s not going to happen.”
“I was waiting for a medium like you. Waiting for my second chance. Alex—”
“I’m not Alex! I told you that a million times.”
“Screw Alex,” he yelled back. “I needed someone stronger than that sniveling coward anyway. I want my second chance, and I’m done waiting.”
There was a sudden thud near the grill area, and I whipped around just in time to see Danny hit the ground. Time slowed as Nick shouted something and dropped to his knees beside Danny’s prone form. Kevin set his daughter on her feet and sprinted over, yelling for Tabitha to call for a bus. She was already on her phone, talking calmly to the dispatcher. Even though her face was chalk white, she was clutch in an emergency as usual.
I heard the team’s frantic conversation as if from very far away. “Has he done this before?”
“How do I know? I don’t even know what’s wrong with him.”
“Jesus, he won’t wake up.”
“Where are those fucking paramedics?”
Someone shook me, hard, and I blinked into Carol’s worried face. “Rain, honey, the dispatcher is asking if he has any health problems. We need you to stay focused.”
I didn’t bother to tell her that this wasn’t a paramedic situation. “Don’t do this,” I whispered. “Joey—”
“I told you what I want,” he screamed. “I’m done talking.”
Funny, because I was sure as hell done listening. I felt rather than heard Danny’s gasp for air, and I knew it was probably his last. I shook off Carol’s grip and faced Joey, anger thrumming in my veins.
He watched me dispassionately, his arms folded. The wind swirled around him, fluttering his clothes even as he remained motionless. “So now you know I’m serious.”
“He’s not dead yet.”
“Give it time. Wonder how long Danny boy can go without air?”
“Shut up,” I said quietly, and Carol stepped back with a gasp.
He smiled cruelly. “You can stop this at any time. Take off the pendant.”
His request only confirmed my suspicions that a ghost with harmful intent couldn’t harm me when I had it on. Without hesitation, I yanked it off with so much force that I broke the cord. I threw it at him as hard as I could and it sailed through his body, landing in the hedges.
He smiled. “Pleasure doing business with you, Bridge.”
Bony, bloodied fingers grasped a hand and yanked me forward. He still looked like Joey, but a different version—one who had been dead for quite some time. The unmistakable smell of decomposition emanated from his body like he was rotting from the inside out.
His arm sank inside of mine, merging with my body. I still wasn’t prepared for the sensation; I doubted I ever would be. A sickeningly strong feeling pulled at my stomach like a physical manifestation of the horror.