Page 13 of Possessed

“To say the least,” he snapped.

“And this ghost, she seems to be filled with positive emotions?” Lana said.

Lauren nodded. “Aubrey was full of joy and positive energy in life—she still is in death.”

“When Aubrey tries to talk about her murder, when she gets anywhere close to darker, more negative emotions, like the fear and pain and even anger or hatred that remembering what happened to her evokes, that’s when she dissipates, correct?” Lana asked.

“Yeah, it’s like he has a hook into her that he can reel back whenever he wants,” Raef said.

“Notwhenever.” Lana continued, “Lauren, if Aubrey manifests and says nothing about her murder, if she simply visits you, does the killer pull her back to him?”

“No, but we always end up trying to talk about her murder. She’s being drained. Even when we don’t say anything about her death at all. She’s still being drained,” Lauren said.

“Because he’s feeding off her emotions—the negative ones—fear, pain, panic, hatred. He can’t tap into the softer emotions. My guess is he can’t even Trace her spirit when she’s feeling them.” Lana met Raef’s gaze. “He’s a psychic like you gone bad.”

“Shit. I knew this was a cluster fuck of massive proportions,” Raef said.

“Why? If he’s like you, then it should be easier for you to find him,” Lauren said. “Can’t you use your—” she paused and made a vague gesture with her hand “—your Gift or whatever and Track him down?”

Raef jerked his chin at Lana. “Ask the cavalry. She’s the ghost expert.”

Lana’s green eyes sparkled and her smile reminded Raef of a ginger cat who had just lapped a bowl of cream. “Oh, Raef can find him, but he cannot use his Gift like he usually does. The murderer has that way blocked. You already told me what happens whenever your sister tries to speak of her death.”

“He knows it. He stops her,” Lana said. “And he hurts her more.”

“Which proves Aubrey does know who killed her and could lead us to him—if he let her,” Raef said. “Damn! It’s frustrating as hell!”

“Aubrey can still lead you to her killer, she just has to do so through positive emotions. Use them to Track him.”

“Positive emotions?” Raef snorted. “How the hell do I learn about Tracking with those? Joy isn’t gonna lead me to a murder site and a serial killer.”

“You don’t have to learn about positive emotions,sudzius.I have told you before, if you let go of your attachment to negative emotions, your soul will naturally reset itself and begin to accept and understand their opposites.”

“And I’ve toldyoubefore—I’m not like the rest of your touchy-feely gang,” Raef said.

“Great, you meanhehas to get happy to find my sister’s killer?” Lauren said.

“What the fuck is this, a motivational speech? I don’t have any attachments to negative emotions. Negative emotions are my damn job. I don’t need to get happy. I just need to find a murderer,” Raef told the two women.

Both women smiled knowingly back at him.

He considered pouring more Scotch into his tea. Instead, he faced Lana. “So, that’s the bottom line? I have to move through positive emotions to find this killer?”

“That’s the bottom line,” Lana agreed. “Like you, the guy is a fish out of water when he’s not attached to hate and fear and pain. Let Aubrey show you how to flank him through joy and love and happiness.”

“Flank him, huh? I knew you were a Russian spy,” Raef muttered.

Lana grinned. “Here’s the good news. All human soul are designed to accept love and happiness and joy, or at least they are if they can let go of their attachments to hate and fear and pain. And you’re human, even though you are a man. Good luck. You’ll need it.” Lana waved a goodbye to Lauren and then disconnected the Skype call.

Raef and Lauren sat in silence, watching the screen saver come on—a series of pictures of a North Side beach house in Grand Cayman where he vacationed every year. At that moment Raef wished desperately he had his ass in the sand and a cold beer in his hand.

“Do you think that’s true?”

Lauren’s question seemed loud and out of place, but weirdly enough Raef thought he knew exactly what she was asking.

“You mean the part about all human souls being designed to accept love and happiness and joy?”

“Yes, that’s what I mean,” she said.