Proxy (The Dreams of Reality Book 1)

by Gareth Otton

  “Okay.” Tad still felt as though he was missing something, “When are they doing this?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What’s the evidence we need to look out for?”

  “I don’t know.” Maggie frowned. He didn’t need their history or that strange red glow surrounding her to know she was getting mad. “Why aren’t you more excited for me? This is big.”

  “It doesn’t sound like we have much to go off. All we know is that they’re moving evidence soon. To be honest, I’m not sure why you’re so excited.”

  Tad spoke to Maggie, but he kept looking at Miriam.

  “I know,” she said before Maggie could speak. “It’s not much, but it’s something. However, that’s not the only reason we’re back. Tad, his friends are all police, like him. We followed him to a place near Cardiff Bay. It was way too nice for anyone on a copper’s salary. Mark met with five people and he got angry the minute he walked inside. He had a go at one of the older ones, said he’d been there time and again for them, yet when he needed help none of them were there for him.

  “This was where it got interesting. He mentioned that they were always more than happy when hiding the evidence of a murder for their employer, but now it was him they were dragging their feet. It was obvious that if they didn’t help him and he went down for it, he wouldn’t go down alone.”

  Suddenly Tad knew why Miriam found this interesting. This was huge. A group of corrupt police covering up murders was newspaper headline big.

  “Yeah. Sure, they’re doing that too. But the important thing is that we can catch Mark red handed,” Maggie said. She was seconds away from a meltdown and he knew just how to mollify her.

  “Mags. You don’t understand. This is huge for your case. If we give this news to Kate and she can find something to support it, then she has something real to take to her bosses. Corruption in the police is always a big deal and they'll want to get on this. The support Kate will have to solve your case will become unlimited at that point.

  “If what you heard this morning is correct, then if they can solve your murder, Mark will take everyone down with him. That means that the entire Cardiff police force will have a strong incentive to get your murder solved fast.”

  Maggie stared at him, the red nimbus surrounding her fading to a blue so pale it was almost white. He could only hope that meant she was happy.

  “What are you waiting for then? Call Kate.”

  He pulled up a note taking app and wrote some names that Miriam had memorised.

  “What about the employer?” Tad asked. “You get his name?”

  “Joshua King.”

  The name felt familiar, but he wasn’t sure why. “I don’t think I know it. The only thing that comes to mind when I hear King is that God awful tower that was put up about five years ago. You know the one near the M4—”

  “King Tower,” Miriam agreed. “I remember you saying how much you hate it.”

  “What’s wrong with the place?” Maggie asked. “I always liked what they did there. It’s much better than that old office block.”

  “There’s something wrong with the place,” Tad said. “It makes me shiver every time I pass it.”

  “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You’re weird. Now go call Kate.”

  Maggie practically pushed him off the sofa.

  Kate answered on the second ring and by the sound of her voice she was not happy about him calling her at work. By the end of the conversation that had changed. In an excited whisper she told him that this was every bit as huge as he suspected. If she could find something to support it, it would do huge things for her career. She hung up so fast she forgot to say goodbye.

  “What did she say?” Maggie asked.

  “She’s on it.”

  Maggie jumped up and shouted happily before wrapping Tad up in a hug. “I knew there was a reason I stuck around. It’s about time we got something going.”

  Tad just laughed and hugged her back.

  When she was calm enough to sit, she asked, “What are you doing today? Any lectures?”

  Tad shook his head. “Nah, got the day free. I was thinking of—“

  “Good. Then why don’t you come to Mark’s place and you can do some lifting for us. Maybe we can find the evidence they’re talking about and get the ball rolling.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mags,” Tad said, looking to Miriam for support.

  “No, definitely not,” she agreed. “If you want a conviction to stick, then you don’t want to interfere with the evidence. It’s best to let the police handle it.”

  Maggie shot her an annoyed glance and looked back to Tad. “Come on. What could it hurt? Just come and take a look around. He’s at work so you won’t be caught. You can even wear gloves so you don’t—”

  “Mags, no. It’s asking for trouble. You’ve waited this long for justice, what’s a few more days?”

  “I just want this over with.” She grabbed his hand. “Tad, once this is over, I can put it behind me. I can move on with my life… afterlife... whatever.”

  She took another step closer and in a whisper so quiet that only he could hear she said, “Who knows, maybe I could even think about moving on to new things. New… relationships.”

  Tad pulled back and stared at her. There was no mistaking the implications, and his mind short circuited. How long had he wanted to hear words like that? How much did the younger version of himself yearn for it?

  But she was dead. Could they have a relationship even if she wanted one?

  He had wanted this since he was a teenager and thought he’d do anything to make that dream come true. On the other hand, there was something about the whole situation that gave him pause.

  Once more he caught himself studying that strange light. If it represented emotions as he suspected, he didn’t think the ugly, dark grey that was almost black was the colour he wanted to see when she looked at him so hopefully.

  He was saved from having to speak when the phone rang. He stepped away and answered it.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello. Is… uh… is this… Mr Holcroft?”

  “That depends. If you’re a telemarketer then definitely not—”

  “A man named Jordan Collins gave me your number.”

  Jordan Collins. That name meant something to him. He could picture a sharp angular face set in an expression of worry. Where had he seen that face?

  Suddenly it came back to him.

  “Jordan. I solved a… problem for him last year. It was one that only I could fix. Is it something of the same nature you’re calling about?”

  There was silence for a few seconds before, “Um… I don’t know how else to say it, but I think I’ve got a ghost.”

  The way the woman said it made him think she was waiting for him to laugh.

  “Is it there now?”

  “Yes. I think so. It’s freezing upstairs and—”

  “What’s your name ma’am?”

  “Mary. Uh… Mary Adams.”

  “Right Mary. I want you to stay downstairs for now. Don’t go up there until I arrive. Where do you live?”

  She gave him an address just inside the city. He knew the place, he passed it on his way to work.

  “Are you saying you can help me, Mr Holcroft—”

  “Tad. Please call me Tad. And yes, I can help. I’m leaving now and should be there in ten minutes. Stay downstairs.”

  “Oh… thank God. I was so worried and I—”

  “I understand. I have to go. I’ll see you in ten minutes.”

  “Okay. Bye.”

  She hung up and he put the phone back. Maggie stared at him surrounded in a purplish light that he was beginning to think was irritation.

  “Where are you going?” she asked.

  “Gotta go, sorry Mags. Got a ghost to deal with.”

  “Another one?” Charles asked. He sounded worried. If these lights were emotions, then worry and fear was a light grey
colour. Surrounded by that light, Charles looked more ghostly than ever.

  “You don’t have to come—”

  “No. What kind of man would I be if I let a friend walk into danger alone?”

  “I don’t mind—”

  “Let's talk no more on it, Thaddeus. The matter is closed.”

  Tad smiled, nodded and headed for the door. He held it open for Charles and Miriam, then waited for Maggie. She stood still, looking at him with a glare of disbelief.

  “Please tell me you’re not going to deal with this problem over helping me. I thought you were supposed to be a friend.”

  “I am a friend. But I can’t help with what you want. The best thing you can do—”

  “Fine. Go. But I'll watch Mark. Someone needs to keep an eye on him at least.”

  He wanted to tell her it would be good for her to come. Crazy ghosts were more dangerous to other ghosts than they were to people. It would be good for her to see one up close.

  One look at her face made him think again. He turned and walked out the door. His inner teenager who had loved her forever was screaming at him as he did so.

  13

  Friday, 20th November 2015

  09:34

  Tony was on his way back from one of his outings as they got to the car. After Tad filled him in, he decided to accompany them. That was fine by Tad, when it came to ghosts, all the help he could get was appreciated.

  Less than ten minutes later, they pulled onto a street filled with red-brick homes finished with Victorian styling. Large windows, pointed roofs and tall chimneys helped to make these houses desirable property, though their luxurious sizing was the real selling point.

  Some of the houses were large enough to turn into offices and Mary Adams had called from such an office. The first thing Tad noticed as he approached the address was a small group of men and women dressed in business attire. They clustered around the front of a building and were broken into groups that chatted amongst themselves.

  “What the hell is this?” Tony asked. Tad shook his head. He had no answer for him, but he was getting a bad feeling about it.

  He was spotted a moment before he found a place to park and by the time he got out of the car there was a woman waiting for him.

  She was in her late forties. Her hair was cut short, her glasses were large and not the latest fashion, and her dress was conservative. All combined, she looked much older than Tad thought she actually was.

  Even after only a morning of seeing them, he was getting used to seeing auras. Hers was an off white colour that touched on being light grey. Combining it with the way she hugged herself and looked back to her colleagues nervously, he was confident this was the colour of fear.

  “Mr Holcroft?” she asked.

  “Mary?”

  She nodded and offered a skeletal hand to shake. “Is this your team?”

  He blinked in surprise. She was looking at his ghosts. The thing was, Tad wasn’t using his power to reveal them.

  “She can see us?” Tony whispered to Miriam. As always he wasn’t subtle and his voice carried.

  The woman’s aura flickered, then intensified. Her eyes grew round as they passed over each of them and settled on Charles, no doubt taking in his outdated fashion and unusual facial hair.

  “Oh my God. You’re ghosts, aren’t you?”

  “Is she a Proxy?” Miriam asked instead of answering. Tad stared at the woman and shook his head. He wasn’t sure how he knew, but he could identify other Proxies. This woman was not one.

  She was normal and yet somehow she could see ghosts.

  “Sorry Mary. I didn’t mean to go silent on you. Yes, these are ghosts. I’m just a little surprised you could see them. Most people can’t.”

  She looked flustered and had to struggle to get her eyes back on Tad.

  “I couldn’t see the one inside,” she said. “I could only feel it… we all could.”

  Tad looked past her to the group of nervous looking people. “They could all feel it?” he asked. She nodded. “That’s… well… it’s unusual. Normally ghosts don’t like crowds.”

  He looked up at the first blue sky he had seen in a month and was further troubled. They didn’t like daylight either. In his experience the crazier the ghost became, the less they acted like the living. They liked to stay away from other people and enjoyed darkness. Tad guessed it had something to do with not wanting to be reminded of what they lost.

  For a ghost to be there on such a bright day with so many people present was worrying.

  “This one doesn’t seem to mind. He… She… It has been bothering us for the last week. It started out as a cold chill here or there and a feeling of being watched. Then this morning it got worse. Whenever it was near, our screens would flicker. Sometimes our computers would crash or reboot. Then it started throwing things, staplers and the like. It progressed to keyboards and phones when I called you.”

  Tad tried to look professional and give the impression he knew what he was doing, but he was stunned. He had known some strong ghosts in his time, but none that were like what she described.

  Ghosts that were mad enough could leave cold spots and make it feel as though you were being watched. However, that’s it. The only other way they could interact with the living was by touching people and feeding on their life. This caused the worst of the cold spots.

  Only prolonged exposure to such feeding could cause permanent harm. However, that was changing of late. He had heard a few rumours here and there of ghosts knocking people unconscious from their touch. But he had never heard of them interacting with objects before.

  For it to happen this morning in correspondence with the emergence of his new power was troubling.

  “Do you think you can help?” Mary asked, snapping Tad from his thoughts.

  He nodded. “I should be able to.”

  “Do I need to come in with you?” He could hear the reluctance in her tone and knew that no matter what he said, she would do no such thing. He shook his head, and she sighed in relief. “Right. How much do you charge?”

  “Charge?” Tad asked. He’d never considered it. “I don’t charge—”

  “Hang on a second, Tad. We could make some—”

  “I don’t charge,” Tad interrupted Tony. “The ghosts need to be removed and I can do that. You don’t need to worry about it.”

  “But Tad. This is becoming common,” Tony protested again. “We should charge something.”

  “Not this time,” Tad answered. Then to Mary he asked, “That building there?”

  He pointed to the only house on the street that had a bronze plaque outside with a business name etched into it. Mary nodded. He smiled at her, then walked towards it, doing his best to ignore how the other employees backed away from him as though he had a disease.

  Unlike Mary, they couldn’t see his ghosts. He filed that information away to consider later. He had more important thoughts on his mind, not the least of which was curiosity about what waited within that building.

  They entered through the front door into a narrow corridor with stairs running up the right-hand wall. Though the building looked like a house on the outside, the inside was a different matter.

  The walls were bare and painted white. A faux wooden floor had been laid in the corridor and white plastic trunking for cables was running above the skirting. The stairs were lined with a black, non-slip linoleum. The hand rails were polished steel and there were glass panels underneath the outside hand rail that ran right to the top.

  It was a place of business and again it was not the kind of place Tad expected to find a ghost.

  “You need to think about charging,” Tony said the moment the door swung shut behind them. “You’ve been doing this more and more and it’s not as though this job is danger free.”

  Tad opened his mouth to shoot him down again, but hesitated. For once Tony had a point. This was his twelfth call in six months, not including the incident at Cardiff castle. It might be somethin
g to look into. Extra cash wouldn’t go amiss.

  He didn’t answer Tony and instead climbed the stairs. As ever with Tony, his attention didn’t last long, and he switched to another topic.

  “How could that woman see us?”

  That was a troubling question, and Miriam spoke up before Tad could. “I’d like to know that. If we become visible, then it'll make following people and searching for evidence difficult.”

  “Among other things,” Tony grumbled. Tad forced himself not to laugh. Most of Tony’s reason for living would vanish if he could no longer be invisible.

  “I don’t know,” Tad said as he stepped off the stairway into a large, open plan office that spanned the entire building’s first floor. “If I had to guess I would say that normal people seeing ghosts is like anything else. People have different aptitudes for different things. Some people might just be sensitive to paranormal things.”

  “It’s never happened before,” Charles stated. If anyone should know, it would be him.

  “A lot of things seem to be happening recently that have never happened before. I guess it’s just another change we’re going to have to roll with. Just be careful from here on—”

  His words cut off as he sensed another presence. He couldn’t see it yet, but that was sometimes the way with crazy ghosts. They were more spectral than Tad’s entourage and it took them a while to build up their physical form.

  As ever, it started as shadows coalescing into a featureless cloud. It was building on the other side of the room close to a window. As it did so, the monitor next to it flickered wildly.

  “That’s new,” Tony said. He may not be as old as Charles, but he had been with Tad almost every time he dealt with a ghost like this. He had experience enough to be shocked.

  “And worrying,” Charles said. “If it can affect the living world like that, then what else can it do?”

  “I guess we’re about to find out,” Tad said as the cloud solidified in places and turned pale. Soon enough Tad could make out a skeletal face with eyes that were pools of darkness. It was looking at him.

  “Prooxxyyy.”

  The word was a quiet hiss. Tad shivered and Charles yelped. The firsts just kept coming. He had never heard a ghost that was so far gone talk before.