Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

by Alexie Aaron

  “Yes, she was acting. You could tell it in her voice,” Kevin said. “She told me once that demons were sexy critters. I think she was acting and using it and her mind powers to get the keys. You did right in showing this to me. Even though we know Mia didn’t do anything shameful, I’m not sure the others would think so. We need to destroy this disc and this computer.”

  “Ted’s got cameras all over the place. I think we need to just give the whole kabob a hiccup. Jake’s not here, so we’ll have to figure this out ourselves.”

  “Figure what out, ghosties?” Mason asked, walking into the suite.

  “We need to hide something we’ve done from Ted.”

  “That’s going to be hard. Why.”

  “Sit there and press play. We’ll keep a lookout.”

  The ghosts saw the lights go out and then the emergency lights come back on. Kevin moved through the wall to see Mason working frantically, using the backup generators. He sat back, thought, and then smiled and pounded on the keys some more. When he had finished, he said, “God help me, I hope I’ve done the right thing.”

  “You don’t know if it’s going to work?”

  “Oh, it worked. It will look like the cameras started failing inside and then frazzled out as the computers went on the backup system. Let’s go outside. I’ll have to make a grand entrance once the cameras are up again.”

  Kevin followed Mason as he ran down the stairs, outside, and then came walking up to the building as the hotel’s power came back up. He rode the elevator and walked down the hall. He hit Ted’s cameras just before he put the key in the lock. He walked in and walked over and then began frantically backing things up.

  “He’s a better actor than Mia was,” Fergus said.

  Mason picked up the phone and called.

  Ted, who was watching his wife eat her second sundae, with a silly look on his face, at the ice cream parlor adjacent to the hotel, picked up the phone.

  “Ted, there’s a problem with the computers. I think the power went out. The backup generator kicked in, but I’d feel better if you or Cid took a look,” Mason said.

  “I’m on my way.”

  “What’s wrong?” Mia asked.

  “Power failure. Mason is freaking out. All I had running was recording the hotel’s security cameras. I’m sure we’re fine.”

  Mia glanced out the window and saw Fergus waving frantically.

  “Why don’t you go ahead. I’ll go and buy some fudge.”

  “Are you eating for two?” Ted asked gently.

  “No. But I can’t seem to get enough of you. Maybe I better buy more protection too.”

  Ted leaned across the table and kissed her. “The others are in the bar we passed.”

  “I see Fergus. I’ll see if he will escort me.”

  “Grand idea. Don’t be long. We have suitcases to pack if we’re going to sleep on the boat tonight.”

  “Yes, Teddy Bear.”

  Mia abandoned her sundae and paid the bill. She walked outside and found Fergus and Kevin frantically pacing.

  “What did you do?” she asked. “Fry the computers?” she guessed.

  “No. Let’s go and sit over there. There’s no cameras there.”

  “Okay,” Mia said, getting worried. She sat down, and Fergus pressed the disk into her hand and explained.

  Kevin watched her face and was surprised that there wasn’t any shame or humiliation, only resolve.

  “I haven’t told Ted the whole story. He didn’t ask. I think he was afraid to. I’m sure, in his mind, he thinks I made love to Murphy, and that’s what the big fuck up was. He won’t ask. He doesn’t want to hurt us. Maybe he should see this. Murph doesn’t come off too good though. But still, Ted’s got to see this. ‘Knowing is half the battle’ GI Joe.”

  “No, then he’ll hate my son. I hate him right now,” Kevin said.

  “But he wasn’t himself,” Mia defended. “Sure, he’s a little prig at times, and I think without his normal emotions, he became a self-righteous puritanical beast instead. On my end, I used my talents to free him and the birdmen. We couldn’t fight a ship full of pirates. But I didn’t make out with the captain; he only thought we did. Mind control is a tricky thing. On one entity, it gets you slapped. On another, it starts something that I would have had a hard time stopping. Fortunately for me, the Peacock arrived. I mentally screwed with that man’s libido. That’s all I’m guilty of. So, when Stephen said what he said, I knew he really never knew me.”

  “On the ship, there were looks cast about,” Kevin reported. “Even I thought you were kicking boots with the captain. When I saw this recording, I knew I misjudged you, but I also saw how it may put a dent in what you and Ted have going right now. If you were my woman, I would understand,” Kevin said. “Women are treated so unfairly. Things haven’t changed much. If a man did this, he wouldn’t be called a whore. He’d be called 007.”

  “Mia, I’m sorry that Kevin and Mason have seen this,” Fergus apologized. “I didn’t know what to do. I was afraid I’d blurt it out to Stephen when I next saw him. Regardless, I’m going to punch him in the jaw. And I want Kevin to give him a good talking to. We didn’t know how to get rid of the evidence and were discussing it when Mason walked in.”

  “Mason,” Mia said, putting her hands to her face for a moment. “I trust Mason; he’s a Callen. But I shouldn’t put him in this position. Secrets hurt relationships. I just don’t know what to do?”

  “Catherine used to say that there is no sense in flying off like there are foxes in the henhouse when there aren’t foxes in the henhouse,” Kevin said.

  “Very sound advice,” Mia said. “Although, I’ll need to face Mason.”

  “If it helps, he was working furiously to help you. He’s on your side, Mia.”

  “I hope so, because I’ve been losing a lot of friendships lately. I would hate to lose his.”

  Ted scratched his head. “It’s got to be the wiring. I say that we make sure the backup generators aren’t frying the old wiring here. Maybe we should move the base of this operation to a newer building.”

  “Maybe. But I think that, aside from your surveillance of the ghosties in the hallways, we aren’t going to do too much here. Even Burt’s hot to find that treasure.”

  Ted looked at his watch. “Come on. I left Mia heading to a bar with Fergus as her escort…”

  “Bar fight,” Mason said. “He wouldn’t start a fight in this fancy hotel, would he?”

  “It was so funny when he ended up on the floor at Mia’s feet, and she looks down and says, ‘I’ve missed you and your subtle ways.’ I thought I was going to pee myself,” Ted admitted.

  “There is always a lot of laughter when your wife is around.”

  “She’s special, Mason. I know that she doesn’t always use the right judgement, but she does what she does to set things right.”

  “Then I shouldn’t worry about you two?”

  “No. We’re held together by a bungee cord. We both have the freedom to be ourselves but always seem to meet back up stronger.”

  “I’m going to address the elephant in the room. Murphy is back.”

  “One day at a time. As I told Burt, if he and Mia can’t get along, we’ll move. I’m thinking it would be nice to buy Ethan’s family’s house and paint it a better color.”

  “Can you afford it?”

  “Once it gets out that it’s haunted, we will.”

  Mason started laughing.

  “Come on, leave this mess. I’ll figure it out in the morning with Cid.”

  “Cid’s got something up his butt.”

  “He’s petrified that Mia slept with Murphy,” Ted said.

  “Did she?”

  “No. She wouldn’t risk the consequences.”

  “Would you leave her if she did?”

  “No, I’d be disappointed, but I’d forgive her. I wouldn’t, however, forgive him.”

  ~

  Lazar and Dieter were watching television when they heard
the first CRACK! Thinking it was an old tree limb falling in the forest they ignored it.

  CRACK!

  Dieter got up, walked to the screen door, and looked out before stepping outside.

  CRACK!

  Dieter started running down the drive.

  There, where Mia had Kevin leave his axe, Murphy was splitting wood.

  “Murphy!” Dieter shouted. “Welcome home. Mom said you were on dry land and most certainly headed home, but I didn’t believe her.”

  Lazar caught up. Murphy turned and tipped his hat.

  “You look clean shaven and, I believe, tan. How can a ghost tan?” Lazar teased.

  “Lots of time aboard ship,” Murphy said. “Where is everybody?”

  “They’re on an investigation,” Dieter said offhandedly. “Dad wanted to get Mom back into the swing of things after her operation.”

  “Operation?”

  “You don’t know?”

  “Our navigator Harley said Kai’s granddaughter saw her in the hospital, but she was fit when she left the ship.”

  “She keeled over on the way back. Something was wrong with her heart. It’s not what everybody thought it was, but it had a lot to do with you, or the lack of you,” Dieter told him.

  “I’m confused,” Murphy said.

  “It’s confusing. You should ask Mia,” Lazar suggested. “But first, get your energy back, and I’ll make sure the PEEPs know you’re okay. You’re okay, aren’t you?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “I’ll leave you to it. I’m going to make a call.”

  Dieter looked at Murphy. “You look different.”

  “I believe you’ve grown too. How’s football?”

  “Funny you should ask, Mark made varsity.”

  “That’s great news. He was thinking about quitting.”

  “He says he got some good advice from a friend of my mom’s.”

  “Whitney? Is Whitney here?” Murphy asked.

  “No, it’s not that guy she used to date. She calls him Whitney Pee Pants even though he’s a bigtime federal agent.”

  “That nickname comes from me scaring him in that barn when Mia and he were about your age. He was a big man on campus, a football hero. Mia was a hanger on. She and Tom Braverman, come to think of it. Their gang used to come out here and make mischief. Whit invariably used to lay with the easy girls in the barn while the others drank and tossed rocks through the empty farmhouse windows. Mia never did. She always respected the place. The other kids didn’t like her and started calling her names, so I manifested with my axe and scared the little buggers. Next, I went into the barn and scared Whit so much he peed his pants. The other kids took off in their cars with Whit’s girlfriend. He was humiliated. Mia felt sorry for him and wrapped her flannel shirt around him to cover up the soiled jeans and walked him home.”

  Dieter listened to Murphy but noticed something. He related the story like Mia wasn’t anything more than an acquaintance.

  “And that’s why she and I call him Whitney Pee Pants.”

  “Oh, it wasn’t him, or I think Mark would have said.” Dieter changed the subject, “How was it being a sailor? Mom said you weren’t coming home for a while.”

  “It was different. Maybe we should go in the house so Lazar can hear too. I’d hate to tell my story more than once.”

  “Can I call Mark? I know he’d like to hear too.”

  “Fine with me,” Murphy said. “Although, isn’t it a bit late?”

  “You’re right. I’ll tell him tomorrow.”

  Lazar watched them from the porch. Murphy walked like he didn’t quite have his land legs yet. He had his axe again, but he was carrying a curved sword, and there was a dagger stuck in his belt. He looked like a pirate in farmer’s clothing.

  “Murphy’s going to tell us all about being a pirate,” Dieter said.

  “I’ve met some modern-day pirates. I wonder how they are different,” Lazar asked.

  “After I exploded the C4…”

  “C4!” Lazar exclaimed. “How much?”

  “A box full.” Murphy held out his hands, gesturing the amount.

  “That’s a lot of explosives,” Lazar commented. “It only took a tiny amount to blow up my vehicle. That amount would have killed you.”

  “I’m already dead, so that wasn’t an issue, but I was blown into another dimension where I was alive. I could eat, drink, pee, poop, sleep, all the things I used to be able to do before I died.”

  “Where?” Dieter questioned.

  “It’s called the Ghost Ship Dimension or the GSD…” Murphy went on to describe being fished out of the ocean and being put to work. He described Mia’s arrival and his decision to stay. “All was fine until the new captain started to notice I was aging. So, Harley, the navigator, found a place for us to cross over that would put me near a ley line so I could travel home quickly.”

  “And here you are,” Lazar said. “I’m glad you’re back.”

  “Where are the little ones?” he asked.

  “Still on the archeological dig with Mia’s parents and godfathers.”

  “The fresh air will be good for them,” Murphy said. “Would you excuse me? I’d like to check out the farm. I’m concerned about the willows since the dry season has started.”

  “Thanks for stopping in,” Lazar said and watched Murphy leave through the door.

  “Who was that?” Dieter asked. “It was like talking to a stranger.”

  “No emotions. No twinkle. Maybe this will come back in time, Dieter. Your mother said that the GSD sucked the highs and lows out of the ghosts’ emotions.”

  “He talked about my mother as if she was nothing more than a taxi driver.”

  “He could be holding things back, on account that you’re her son. Did I tell you who came to visit this morning?”

  “No. I hope it wasn’t another Robo Murphy.”

  “No, quite the opposite. Did your mother ever talk about Abigor…”

  Dieter’s face became alarmed. “You do know who he is, don’t you?”

  “The Grand Duke of Hades. He introduced himself. He was fishing for information.”

  “He’s the creature my mother’s genes were developed and her nature was nurtured in order to be able to kill.”

  “Mia doesn’t hold anything back, does she?”

  “I ask a lot of questions and have learned to listen at doorways.”

  “That’s not good manners, but I understand,” Lazar said. “I got the feeling that he was here against his will, investigating.”

  “I think he likes my mother. You’ll get used to it. If the entities aren’t trying to kill her, it’s because they like her.”

  Lazar laughed. “I like her.”

  “Me too. Murphy used to like her too much. Now he’s a robot. Is this a good thing?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Would you mind if I asked Roumain?”

  “The King of Purgatory?” Lazar confirmed.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m not sure. I’m supposed to be watching you.”

  “Then come along,” a deep buttery voice told him as time stopped around them.

  Dieter looked at Lazar.

  “Alright, I’m coming.”

  “Welcome, Lazar,” Judge Roumain said, giving a hand to steady the veteran on the sandy shore.

  “This is a beautiful place. I can’t believe this is anyone’s purgatory?”

  “Maybe it’s mine,” Roumain sighed. He opened up his jacket and fanned his face.

  “I love this place!” Dieter said, running down the edge of the beach, splashing water.

  “His mother complains about it. I’m not sure she sees the beauty.”

  “Mia?”

  “Oh, you were thinking Dieter’s birth mother. I never had the opportunity to meet her.”

  “Mia’s had a lot of forced island life recently,” Lazar said.

  “Dieter!” Roumain called. “Didn’t you have a question to ask me?”

&nb
sp; Dieter dropped the shell he was looking at and ran over. “Sorry. Murphy has returned. He’s like a robot. He has the emotions of a single-celled organism. His eyes used to twinkle when he talked about Mia. There is only the faintest of recognition. Not happy, not mad, nothing.”

  “A victim of the Ghost Ship Dimension or a ghost keeping secrets?” Roumain wondered.

  “Abigor was snooping around,” Lazar told Roumain.

  Roumain nodded. “How was he?”

  “Friendly but inquisitive. Did something happen in Hell that has radiating repercussions?”

  “I wasn’t there. But they would not have allowed Mia to leave if they had a problem with her,” Roumain counseled. “I understand she saved their butts. This demon-with-no-name, aka Ruax, was a mind reader before he was a mind eater. He had dirt on most of the generals and Altair. Maybe he is looking to see if Mia was told anything?” he offered. “Dirty little secrets are great leverage in Hell.”

  “And my mother’s stuck in the middle, again. How can one person have so many problems?” Dieter asked Roumain.

  “Mia doesn’t cause most of her problems,” Roumain said. “She attracts powerful creatures, men, and women. Her blind acceptance of each entity endears her to a lot of us. She, also, is a very dangerous person in her own right.”

  “You wouldn’t think so now,” Lazar said. “She’s timid, sad, and waiting…” He stooped down and scooped up some sand and brought it to the light. “I’ve seen this sand before…”

  “Do you think she’s waiting for Murphy?” Dieter asked.

  “Not in the way you think,” Roumain said. “I would feel better if I knew he was going to stay and have her back. Right now, she’s a target. She killed the most dangerous fallen aside from Abigor and Lucifer. She received a reward for this service, and she says she’s already used it. She is worried that the big secret is going to come out, so she is waiting for the other shoe to drop. She’s worried that Abigor is going to discover it.”