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“Bind the promise that you’ll give me the spell to help Kipp.”
“Impossible.” Wayde snorted. “How will we set out the parameters? You could say you will stay and help, but that doesn’t mean you won’t leave tomorrow and I’ll be bound to give you the spell. You also can’t say you’ll stay until you solve Alexander’s murder, since you don’t know if you can.”
He had a point, so I reconsidered. “Well, I’m not doing this without a way to trust your word.”
Wayde’s gaze lifted to the ceiling for only a moment before he glanced at me again and that somewhat scary smile returned. “I could promise the power does exist to reconnect your ghost with his body, and I possess that knowledge. Would that suffice?”
I looked at Gretchen and she nodded. Truth be told, I did understand Wayde’s hesitation in promising anything else to me. In his position, I wouldn’t have either. “Yes, that’ll do.”
“Good.” He took the last two steps to reach me as Dane sidled up to him, wrapping Amelia in a hug from behind. “Now then, as to the other condition, are you prepared to stop being blind to the world around you?”
My breath caught at his dark smile and I couldn’t find my voice when he said, “Are you ready to have everything you know, everything you believe in, turned upside down?”
Chapter Seven
I followed Wayde and Gretchen down the dark wood wainscoted hallway, and as I passed the formal dining room, furnished with all the fancy fixings, I grumbled to myself. I did not belong in this rich, historic house. I missed Memphis, and my little condominium.
On a sigh, I headed past the doorway leading to the kitchen, and the scent of banana bread reminded me I hadn’t eaten in hours. Hell, I hadn’t eaten much lately, and my slightly baggy jeans were evidence enough I needed to take better care of myself. But with all that had happened, food hadn’t been much of a priority.
Besides, what troubled me more was Wayde’s statement. I suspected he might have been onto something. The day I saw my first ghost was the day I, more or less, shut down. But how could I not? Up until I met Kipp, I did my best to ignore the ghosts trying to get my attention.
With each step along the creaky hardwood floor, and with memories of Kipp on my mind, urgency overtook me to talk to someone else. Especially since I assumed things were about to get buck-ass wild, and the time to make a call would vanish.
After Wayde disappeared into a room on the left and Gretchen nearly followed, I called, “Be there in a minute; gotta call the boys before they start to worry.”
Gretchen glanced over her shoulder, eyebrows raised. “I imagine they are worried.”
Without waiting for my response, she entered the room, leaving me alone in the hallway. I understood; she didn’t need my confirmation that Kipp’s fellow cops were concerned about me. Max hadn’t been thrilled at my leaving Memphis, especially considering he wasn’t coming with me. Of course, I hadn’t expected this trouble when I had refused his babysitting.
I heaved a long sigh, and reached into my pocket. After I took out my cell phone, I scrolled through my contacts and found a person I wished could magically appear in front of me, and then I hit the call button.
The phone rang twice before a low voice said, “Zach.”
I smiled at the familiarity of Zach’s voice, leaning my shoulder against the wall. “Hey, it’s me.”
“Hi, you.”
The obvious happiness in his voice warmed me. Our friendship had developed under insane circumstances, since he was Kipp’s partner, but regardless, I loved Zach and I knew he loved me back.
“How’s Louisiana?” he asked.
I snorted. “Stir-shit-crazy.”
His pause was long and slightly awkward. “Crazy, how?”
I sympathized with the tension radiating off his voice. No one wanted more trouble, especially me. “Well, from what I’ve seen, the Animus is real and they can help me with Kipp, but…”
There, I began explaining the insanity I now found myself in. I didn’t leave a single detail out, nor did I downplay the weirdness with Alexander. Odd in part only a short time ago, no one but my best friend, Caley, knew about my gifts. I wouldn’t have dared shared these happenings before, in fear of total humiliation. Now, considering all Zach and I had been through, the events passed easily from my mouth.
When I finished, Zach paused again before he cleared his throat. “You have no idea who killed Alexander? Or if this person is in the house with you?”
Only confirming how normal ghost-talk was now, since Zach didn’t even fumble, going right into cop mode. “Yeah, well, it’s not an ideal situation.”
He laughed, unamused. “Ideal?”
I rubbed at my tired eyes, then lowered my hand and admitted, “Okay, it downright blows. Is that better?”
“Much.” His long exhale crackled through the phone line before his voice firmed. “Do you think you’re in any danger?”
