End of the Road (Ghost Stories Trilogy #1) Read online

  The pizza arrived and after paying the young, greasy-haired delivery driver, I locked and bolted the door. I set the pizza box on the table and grabbed plates from the kitchen. Eric wandered in and as he walked past me, I inhaled the scent of coconut body wash. He had used mine and I smiled.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing, you definitely smell better.”

  He pretended to be offended and reached for a slice of pizza. “So how did it go with your parents?”

  “It went surprisingly well. I’m a little shocked, actually.”

  “Really? Your mom didn’t flip out?”

  “No, she didn’t.”

  “Huh. Well, that’s good, right?” I nodded since I was in the middle of inhaling my pizza. He sat down at the table next to me. “What’s going on with the medium?”

  He listened and chewed as I explained the conversation Gavin had with the medium. Eric was there when I got my ass handed to me for the video of my rescue. He knew the Sheriff’s stance on extreme publicity so I fully expected him to share my misgivings.

  “I understand your concern, but this is bigger than anything you have ever done. You’re making a difference in people’s lives now as a deputy, but imagine what you can do with your new ability?”

  I set my half eaten slice down on my plate and stared at him, not quite believing what I was hearing. “Eric, God knows why I started seeing dead people out of the blue. This so called ability might be gone tomorrow. If I do this and go public, my ass will be so fired. Why the hell are you all for this now anyway?”

  “You’ve been given a gift, Lena, I see that now.”

  “I wouldn’t exactly call it a gift.”

  Eric ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. “I thought you were crazy and this whole thing was crazy, but can you imagine being one of them…just stuck there?”

  “Yes, I think about it all the time.” No longer hungry, I picked at the pizza, peeling cheese and pepperoni off, leaving it in little piles on the side of my plate. “It makes me realize I don’t want to be alone.”

  “Is that why we’re together again?”

  “No. I never stopped loving you, but Peggy gave me some advice.”

  “Too bad she isn’t around anymore for me to thank her.” Eric smiled at me before raising a glass of water to his lips. I watched him swallow, enjoying the movement of the muscles in his thick neck. “So, what are you going to do about the medium?” he asked and set his glass down.

  “I don’t know. Honestly, I thought you’d be against her proposal too. I’ll have to sleep on it, I guess.”

  ‘That can be arranged,” he said and reached for my hand, pulling me out of the chair. We went into the bedroom, leaving our plates and the half eaten pizza abandoned on the table.

  Chapter Seventy-Four

  I knew what Adele looked like from visiting her website, but when I first met her, I was surprised. She was tiny, the very definition of petite and I felt huge next to her. She said hello in a soft voice and gave me a surprisingly firm handshake before sitting down.

  We agreed to meet at a small tea house in Old Town Scottsdale. Even though it blended with every other business from the outside, inside the décor was very Victorian with a lot of lace and rose-colored fabrics. Dark wood furniture gleamed in the sunlight streaming through the storefront windows. Our server recognized Adele and within a few minutes brought a pot of tea over without taking her order.

  “Do you like petit fours?” Adele asked me.

  “I don’t think I have ever tried them.”

  “They’re little cakes and just perfect with afternoon tea.” She requested a tray of petit fours and turned her attention on me. That’s when I realized her soft voice and neutral appearance was a cover. The power of her mind was evident in the intensity of her gaze. The depths of her large, gray eyes told their own story – she had seen beyond our world.

  Windows to your soul, I thought and quickly looked away, afraid of what she might be able to discern from mine. I took a sip of hot tea and cringed, almost choking on the bitterness. Setting my teacup down, I used small silver tongs to add two cubes of sugar.

  “Not a tea drinker?” Adele asked.

  “No. Pretty obvious, huh?” I took a tentative sip and relaxed, swishing the now sweet liquid around in my mouth before swallowing.

  “A little bit. You let the leaves steep too long, so it’s probably really bitter.”

  Ah.” I nodded and took another sip.

  Our server returned with a beautiful polished silver, two-tiered serving tray full of tiny square cakes that were artfully arranged by color of frosting; like a painter’s palette all in pastel blues, pinks and yellows.

  I placed two cakes on a porcelain dessert plate decorated with a delicate floral pattern and didn’t know if I should fancy myself a fashionable lady at tea or if I was Alice meeting the Mad Hatter.

  “So, you have concerns about what I want,” Adele said, getting right to the point.

  “Yes, what I agreed to have filmed so far is for Gavin’s class and not for the public. I’m a private person and need to preserve my anonymity – especially if I want to keep my job.”

  “Is that what you want even after being given the sight?”

  “The sight?”

  “The ability to see spirits. It’s hard to maintain normalcy when you can see things others can’t.”

  “When did you start seeing ghosts?” I asked before popping another petit four in my mouth.

  “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t see them. My parents said I always stared at things they couldn’t see and I had too many weird imaginary friends for their liking.” She laughed, but I could tell it was forced. “They’re accepting of who I am, but I don’t think they really understand it. You’re different though. To just suddenly be able to see spirits, not to mention interact with them, is rare.” She cradled her tea cup with both hands and leaned back in her chair. The antique wood creaked in protest. “Your ability is powerful. Are you sure you never interacted with ghosts before?”

  “Yes, I’m positive.”

  “Hmmm…” She tapped a forefinger against the porcelain and stared past me, deep in thought. “So you don’t know the woman who is serving us is in fact a ghost?”

  I coughed and sprayed tea across my cake plate. Brown liquid dribbled down my chin, which was practically resting on my chest since my mouth hung open with astonishment. “What? No!”

  Leaning forward, Adele placed her tea cup back in its saucer and stood up. She whispered something, but I only saw her lips move. Suddenly the waitress materialized out of nowhere and appeared next to our table. Aside from her grand entrance, the young woman appeared as solid as a regular human. Her clothes, a long floral skirt and white t-shirt, may have been a decade behind in fashion trends, but seemed normal enough.

  She looked at me expectantly. Her eyes were kind and the corners crinkled up when she smiled. “Hello, I’m Amelia.” She held her hand out and after a brief hesitation I took it. I was able to shake her hand and this is where the likeness to being human stopped. It felt like I was squeezing a water balloon; cold, soft and squishy. Not a real hand made up of bone and muscle covered with skin. I resisted the urge to rub my palm against my jeans afterwards. Amelia continued to stand next to me so I took the time to really examine her. She had long dirty blonde hair with bangs that framed her face and a slender build. There was something familiar about her; especially her wide set gray eyes.

  “Wait a minute,” I glanced back and forth between Amelia and Adele, noticing the similarities. “Is she a relative of yours?”

  Adele smiled and said, “Yes, Adele’s my twin sister. She died eight years ago.”

  That was it - Amelia was a younger version of Adele. “Wow, are you, um, were you a medium too?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why are you still here?” I asked, beginning to doubt Adele’s ability to help me if her own sister’s ghost was still hanging around.

&nbs
p; “I can leave anytime I want and have crossed over before, but I come back when I miss Dilly or if I sense that she needs me. She called on me to be here today to test your sight.”

  I thought about Juanita, Tobin and Peggy. They never returned once they crossed over.

  “Is that normal? Can spirits come and go as they please?”

  “No, it’s not,” Adele answered. “I think Milly – sorry, Amelia - is one of the exceptions because of her extrasensory abilities…and mine. Plus, we’re so tightly connected.”

  “Huh.” This new information was interesting, but confusing too.

  I’d already run a background check on Adele and knew her twin sister had died - a suicide if I remembered correctly- and her website claimed that she called on the spirit of her sister, I just thought it was bullshit. Clearly there was a lot I needed to learn.

  We eyed each other across the table while Amelia glanced nervously back and forth between us like a referee waiting for a player to make the first move. I broke the silence.

  “Listen, this isn’t going to work if we don’t trust each other. You know what I want and Gavin explained your terms to me. I’d prefer to do this anonymously because my job is on the line.”

  “I understand that, but I need to get something out of this in return and I prefer to use my ability as a business.”

  “So, I’ll pay you.”

  “No. Evidence – proof that I’m legitimate and not of those annoying fakes – is worth more money. Besides, you have a gift, Elena. It’s okay to embrace it.”

  “I understand that. What if you blur my face out and don’t mention my name?” I countered.

  “To have a member of law enforcement involved. That endorsement is so valuable,” she said, leaning forward, practically pleading.

  “No, I can’t do it.” I started to stand and Adele held her hand out gesturing for me to wait so I did. A few minutes passed and Adele let out a sigh.

  “Okay, fine, we’ll do it your way,” she said. “I agree to those terms.”

  I sat back down on the velvet cushioned seat and smiled, more out of relief than satisfaction. We’d reached a compromise and I was one step closer to keeping my promise.

  Chapter Seventy-Five

  Eric slowly traced invisible lines down the center of my back with his finger. I was lying on my stomach half asleep. He wasn’t at my apartment when I got back from Adele’s and the buzz from the tea had worn off. Sometime during my nap he had come home and crawled into bed. I turned my head so I was facing him and opened my eyes.

  “Hi.”

  He smiled and leaned forward, kissing my forehead. “We need to stop meeting like this,” he said.

  “In bed? It’s a good meeting place.” I wiggled closer to him, closing the gap between our bodies. He laughed and rested his hand on the curve of my hip.

  “How did it go today?”

  “Strange, but good. I met Adele’s identical twin sister who died over eight years ago.”

  Eric made a choking sound and his eyes widened. “What?”

  “And she served me tea and petit fours.”

  He laughed until he realized I was serious. “Okay, this I have to experience.”

  I rolled over onto my side, propping myself up on an elbow, and filled him in on my meeting and how I was able to see Amelia. “Do you think you’ve seen other ghosts, but didn’t know?” Eric asked.

  “It’s possible.”

  “I think you would have realized, but what do I know.” He shook his head as if trying to shake the dazed expression off of his face. “What happens next?”

  I explained that Adele wanted to come up and meet with all of us before she went to see the ghosts. She needed to get a feel, actually a “temperature” of our group to make sure we were going to work well together. She said any negative energy could inhibit the process.

  “So when is she coming up?”

  “Next Sunday. Oh, by the way, can you get Saturday off?”

  “I don’t know. Why?”

  “It’s my mom’s birthday and we’re going out for a big family dinner.” Eric didn’t blanch easily, but he tank skin took on greenish hue at the prospect of dinner with my family. The last time he saw my parents, I was in the hospital. “It’ll be fine,” I said and kissed him, pressing my body against his. “They need to get used to seeing us together.”

  ****

  So maybe Eric was right to be concerned. While my parents gave me a warm welcome when we arrived at the restaurant, the reception was an arctic one for Eric. They made a modest effort during dinner with small talk, but I’d occasionally glance across the table at my mom and catch her glaring at Eric. I reached under the table and squeezed his knee reassuringly. Thankfully Cruz sat on the other side of Eric and was friendly. They talked about football and baseball, eventually pulling my dad into the conversation. I smiled at my dad, encouraging him to continue. He shook his head, but the corners of his mouth hitched up before launching into a rant about the latest trade.

  As we ate our dinner the tension seemed to mellow a bit. My mom became more engrossed with what was on her plate than shooting Eric the death stare. I relaxed, finally able to start enjoying the evening. Eric nudged me with his elbow and I glanced up at him. He winked before feeding me a bite if his steak. Apparently he was relaxing too.

  Afterwards, as we waited for the valet to bring our cars around, my mom pulled me aside.

  “Elena, I know I told you to open your heart again, but I didn’t mean to Eric. Are you sure about this?”

  I glanced over at Eric talking to Cruz and my dad. He had his hands in the pockets of his khaki’s and he leaned against one of the stucco pillars outside the restaurant. My dad said something, causing Eric to laugh. Cruz just shook his head and my dad smiled at Eric. I knew he was pleased that one of his jokes was being appreciated.

  “Yes, mom, I’m sure,” I answered, looking directly at her and not blinking.

  “I can tell,” she said with a resigned sigh. “His expression softens when he looks at you and that makes me think he feels the same way, which is some consolation. Just be careful – I love you.”

  “I love you too mom and happy birthday.” We hugged and when we separated, I glanced away so she didn’t see the tears that had unexpectedly surfaced.

  “I think it went well,” Eric said on our way home. “Better than I thought it was going to. Your mom can be feisty…like her daughter.” He reached over and lightly squeezed my knee.

  “It was a little tense at first, but everyone loosened up.” I told him what my mom said.

  “She’s very observant,” he said with a smile and merged onto the Interstate.

  “Still, I’m glad it’s over…so I can get out of these pantyhose.” I pulled at the nylons, annoyed that my mother’s rule of always wearing them with a dress or skirt had become engrained. If I opted not to wear them, the disappointment on her face combined with the pointed “look” that only mothers possessed, guaranteed a more stressful evening.

  As we approached the spot on I-17 we were all too familiar with, Eric slowed down. We rounded the last bend and I shrieked, grabbing onto Eric’s arm, almost forcing us off the road.

  “Jesus Christ, Elena! What the hell is wrong?” He slowed down a little bit more, but continued driving.

  Of course Eric didn’t see Bob and had no idea he just drove through him. I felt the chill and familiar pull of energy, even caught the slight flicker of the lights on the dash when we passed through him. Eric was too distracted by my reaction to notice.

  “Bob was playing in traffic again,” I explained. “He surprised me and it took a few seconds to recognize him.” At first I mistook Bob for a real person standing in the middle of our lane, that’s how visible he was. His arms were outstretched with his head tilted back like he was staring at the sky. Only when we were right up on him did I recognize his faded Doobie Brothers t-shirt. The one he died in and was stuck wearing every day.

  “You scared the shit out of m
e.” Eric shook his head and let out a nervous laugh.

  We were both wide awake after that and the rest of our drive to Prescott was uneventful - fortunately. No antelopes, coyotes or thrill seeking spirits crossed our path and when we got back to my apartment, Eric was more than willing to help remove my pantyhose.

  ***

  We woke the next morning in a tangle of sheets, but didn’t have time to sleep in and be lazy. Gavin was bringing Adele up to meet as a group. I nervously flitted about my apartment dusting furniture that didn’t need to be dusted. When I started to alphabetize the books on the small bookshelf in the living room, Eric pulled me close and kissed my neck.

  “You’re getting so worked up, everything will be fine. You and Adele have already met so you know what she’s like,” he whispered.

  “I know. I just really want this to work.”

  I leaned into Eric and let him hold me for a few minutes. Reluctantly, I stepped out of his embrace to get the coffee ready. I had purchased some tea and a tea kettle just for Adele, so I set the kettle on the stove and turned the burner on. After that I set out a plate of cookies and a plate of cheese and crackers plus a bowl of red grapes.

  “Expecting the queen?” Eric joked. He was kicking back on the sofa watching ESPN. I flipped him off and threw a grape at him. He laughed before leaning forward and catching the errant fruit in his mouth. I probably went overboard with the snacks, but I wasn’t used to having people over.

  Moments later there was a knock on the door and I rushed over to answer it. Gavin and Adele stood on the other side. Gavin had his bag of equipment and judging by the wrinkles he had slept in his jeans and t-shirt the night before or pulled them out of a hamper. Adele wore another neutral outfit. This time khakis and a light pink sweater set. I stepped aside to let them in, introducing Adele to Eric. After I shut the door Amelia materialized through the hard wood, causing me to jump. She waved and smiled at me before going to stand next to her sister. Gavin and Eric were oblivious to the fact that we had another guest.