“This is a weird conversation to have about the man you’re going out on a date with tonight.”
“It’s not a date. Is there another way I can say it so it sinks in?”
Pam shrugged off the truth, along with regrets about her non-relationship with Callum, and got right back on the giddy train.
“Look at these wedges, they’d go perfect with that little strappy number.”
“The one so tight I’d have to unzip it to breathe? You remember where I came from, right? I might not even be allowed to date. There are probably rules. For all I know, a bolt of lightning could blast Athena’s off the map.”
“I hope not; they make the best calzone in three counties. Besides, it’s just a date, nobody said you have to go to bed with him.”
No amount of argument swayed Pam from her chosen course of action. Pizza was more of a date than she’d had in years, and she planned to live vicariously whether Adriel liked it or not. Although, with the stigma of Ben’s death lifted, she might just say yes the next time Paul the delivery guy asked her out. For now, though, Adriel was getting a new hairstyle, and if there was a second opening at the salon, Pam might hedge her bets with Paul and try something new, too. Highlights might be nice.
In the end, Adriel left the salon looking only subtly different. A scant layer of red decorated the salon floor—just enough to remove split ends and thin back some of the bulk. Her head felt lighter, though, which wasn’t the worst thing. Pam, however, walked out looking like a new woman in a sleek bob with an underlay of royal blue highlights that peeked through when she shook her head.
Buyer’s remorse set in before they made it back to the Jeep. “It’s too much, isn’t it? I’m not a teenager. What will people think?”
Adriel placed a hand on Pam’s arm, exerted enough pressure to stop her forward motion. “Does it really matter what people think? How does it make you feel?”
“Bold. It makes me feel bold.”
“Then be bold.”
“But what about vanity; isn’t it one of the deadly sins?”
Adriel waited until they were seated in the Jeep to answer.
“Have you ever seen a sunset?” She asked.
“Of course.”
“What about a field of daisies? Or a perfect white cloud in a perfect blue sky? A butterfly? A kitten?”
Pam nodded. “Then what makes you think a creator who would go to the trouble to make so many beautiful things would condemn you for doing the same?”
“When you put it like that…” Pam grinned and shook her head. “I really do love it.”
Callum McCord sat on Adriel’s front porch and watched the Jeep pull in. Sure, he was a little early, but she was also a little late. He looked forward to teasing her about it just to see what that quick tongue of hers would fire back at him. He liked a woman with spunk.
Ignoring Adriel for the time being, he carefully levered himself out of the plastic lawn chair, taking care to keep the spindly legs from folding under the stress. The last thing he wanted to do was land in a sprawl on the porch floor. There was no coming back from something like that. He made his way to the driver’s side to say hello to Pam Allen. He owed her a word of sympathy about Ben anyway.
He wasn’t prepared for the new and improved version he saw when the tinted window slid down. Years of stress and worry were gone from a face he remembered was only a couple years older than his own. This must be what closure looks like, the thought.
“I came over here to ask you something, but now all I can think of is how lovely you look.”
“You like it?” Pam blushed and gave her head a little toss to show the blue base underneath.”
“I do. It suits you.”
Adriel watched the exchange with interest. As much as he liked sparring with her, she could see Callum had a soft spot for Pam. Maybe a little push in her direction would bear fruit. No matter what Pam wanted to believe, Adriel had no interest in dating the man. She’d make sure he was aware of it before the night was over.
“I was thinking we could walk, if you don’t mind. The weatherman says it’s going to be a supermoon tonight.”
“Like with a cape and tights?” Supermoon was a term Adriel had never heard.
“No, like when the full moon is at or near perigee or apogee so it looks bigger and brighter than normal.”
“Ah, I see.” Adriel did a quick calculation in her head, “so roughly every seven months.”
“Sure.” His information came from the TV weatherman; he couldn’t have spelled perigee if his life depended on it. “Some people would find it romantic.”
“And some people eat crickets. There’s no accounting for taste.” Nevertheless, she let him lead her toward town and Athena’s. His mind might be on romance; she would keep hers on ham and pineapple pizza.
“Tell me about it. We could have gone anywhere. You’re a cheap date.”
“You asked for a conversation over dinner. That’s all this is.” She pushed the door open without waiting for him to do the gentlemanly thing. Over her shoulder, she tossed an airy, “I don’t date.”
“I do.”
“Well, that will be one of the things you do alone tonight.”
“Ouch.” He mimed, getting an arrow to the chest. “That’s cold.” He followed her inside where he surprised her by ordering a twelve-inch meatless. Adriel stuck to her choice of pineapple and ham, but in the six inch size normally reserved for kids. The half hour they waited for their pizza was spent with him asking her a series of questions to which she had no believable answers. Adriel found it difficult to concentrate on skirting his questions about her past—too many things whirled around in her head.
When her patience ran out, she skewered him, “Why are you so intent on this being a date? I’d like to be friends with you, but nothing romantic can ever happen between us. I’m not looking for that in my life.” For so many reasons; none of which he would understand.
“I’m drawn to you, Angel. I can’t explain it. It’s just chemistry.”
“Callum, you need to put the test tubes back in their holders, because I’m not feeling it. I’m sorry. I think I need to leave now.”
“No, please. I’ll stop, I promise. Look, can I tell you something? Something private? And you’ll never tell another person?”
“You have my word.”
Callum leaned toward her, “I’ve got this reputation around town for being a lady’s man.” Athena’s had filled up with people. Callum pitched his voice low enough so no one else would hear. “You’re gorgeous and new in town, so my buddies expect me to, you know—bag you.”
“Bag me?” A raised eyebrow accompanied her similarly low tone. For once, she got the gist of the slang. “That’s…well, it’s…the most disrespectful thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“I know.” Callum dragged a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I really do like you, though. It’s not all about my reputation.“
“I’m about to do you a favor, then.” Adriel popped the last bite of pizza into her mouth.
“You’re going to pretend this is a date so I can save face?” Callum grinned in anticipation—a fake was better than no date at all.
“Not even close.” Adriel raised her voice to make sure everyone in the place could hear, “I’m sorry if you thought this was more than a meal between friends, but you’re not my type. I don’t go for shallow men who spend more time thinking with what’s in their pants than what’s in their head. So do yourself a favor and leave me alone.” Adriel sailed out the door.
A red-faced Callum caught up with her halfway to the cabin, “Was that absolutely necessary?”
“Yes, it was. You are a forty-year-old man with a lot to give to the right woman. I’m not that woman, but I figured I’d do you both a favor and take your reputation off the table so you can finally grow up. Pam deserves so much more than a shallow playboy.”
“Pam? I don’t even…what?” Surprise stopped him in his tracks.
“I saw how you looked at her today, and did you know you smile every time you talk about her?” Her eyes searched his face, and what she saw brought on a chuckle. “I’m sorry, my mistake. You aren’t a shallow playboy; you’re just in denial, and maybe a bit socially inept.” It takes one to know one, she thought.
She left him standing there with a dazed look on his face.
Chapter Fifteen
If anyone drove by, they might wonder why three full-grown adults were seated in a circle on a patch of grass near a newly dug ditch. None of them would see the figure of the boy sitting cross-legged in the center of the circle.
Adriel hated to put him through this, but there was no way around it. If she was going to help him move on, she had to help Zack solve Ben’s disappearance. Ben’s description of his death sounded like an accident followed by a panicked driver hiding the body to cover up the crime. Zack needed to hear the details first hand. BTF—before the fall—opening a channel between them would have been child’s play. Now, the only way was a circuitous route involving Kat.
Finding Ben’s killer was the key to sending him home to be with his family. If there was anything useful in his memory, they needed to find it.
“Do you trust me, Ben? I know we’ve only just met, and you’ve been alone for a very long time.”
“Sure. You’re a nice person. I can tell.”
What she had to do next might change his mind. First, she introduced Kat.
“Hello, Ben. It’s nice to meet you,” Kat greeted him. “This is my husband, Zack. He’s the police officer in charge of finding out who hurt you.”
“He can’t see me, can he?” Ben waved a hand in front of Zack’s face.
Suppressing a smile, Kat replied, “No, but we’re going to see if we can fix that.”
“Is Adriel going to use her wings?” He turned to Adriel, “Are you? Can I touch them?”
The question floored her. “You can see my wings?”
“Well, sure. Can’t you?”
If only I could, Adriel thought. “You can try.” She exchanged a slightly panicked look with Kat, who squeezed her hand in support.
“Oh, boy. You’re the best, Adriel.” Ben scrambled closer, stretched out his hand while she waited to see what would happen next. Adriel’s eyes widened when she felt him make contact.
Ben sighed. He stroked a single finger down the leading edge of a phantom only he could see. “Thank you,” he turned shining eyes on Adriel.
“Um, guys? This is weird,” Zack should have been used to weird by now, but sometimes it just sneaked up on him. “I saw a flicker.”
Okay, Adriel thought, that makes this easier. “Did you see anything?” She asked Kat.
“Ben, can you do that again? If it’s okay with Adriel.” Kat shot her a questioning look.
“Of course. Ben, go ahead.” Eagerly, he laid his whole hand against the living softness.
“I can see him,” Zack involuntarily reached out, then snatched his hand back when it passed through what looked like solid flesh and bone. Right hand still resting in Adriel’s, Kat couldn’t resist the temptation to try. It was a tossup between who looked more surprised when her questing fingers brushed the silky hair back from Ben’s face. So many years had passed since he’d felt the simple touch of another, he leaned into the brief contact.
In surprise, Kat dropped Adriel’s hand with the intention of pulling Ben into the hug she sensed he craved. She got the second shock in as many minutes when her hands passed right through him.
“Zack, could you touch Adriel and then try to touch Ben’s shoulder? Is it okay with you, Ben? Don’t let go of Adriel’s wing.”
“Sure.”
Zack did as Kat asked, and when his hand touched striped cotton, he yanked it back like it was burned. “Whoa. Adriel, how are you doing this?”
“I’m not. Maybe we’d better get on with this, because I don’t know how long it will last.”
Zack took Ben through all the same questions Adriel had already asked. A few minutes of gentle probing satisfied Zack he had drawn out every nuance. He nodded to Adriel. It was time to take it up another level.
“How are you feeling, Ben?” Adriel searched him for signs of stress. Seeing none, she continued, “I need you to let Kat look inside your memories for clues to who might have hurt you.”
“Didn’t never see him. Just the car.”
“I know. Since we found your…”
“You mean my bones?”
Instead of trepidation and fear, his expression was one of keen interest.
“Yes. That’s exactly what I mean.”
“It’s like a Hardy Boys mystery. The case of the missing something or other. What do I have to do?”
“Let Kat look inside your memories.”
“Like mind reader stuff? Neato keen. Will it hurt?” A little fear now, but mostly excitement.
“No. While she’s looking, I’ll try to protect you from seeing anything scary. All you have to do think about something you really love. Just concentrate on one thing and we’ll do the rest.“
“Okay. I’m ready.” He scrunched up his face in concentration and Adriel couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm.
Kat opened the connection while Adriel stood as shield. Both were able to see his memories: Pam as a young girl, without the pall of grief, figured highly in his mental playback. His parents, a day at the fair, the scratchy tongue of a kitten licking his face, the first day of school, learning to ride a bike—these were the highlights of a young life cut way too short. The simple joy he had lived within was so strong and so deep.
Working forward to the time of his death, Adriel did her best to shield him from the sights and sounds. The thunk of the car, any pain he might have felt she took into herself. He’d been completely honest with her about not having seen his killer, but there were clues he was too young to comprehend.
Leaving the shields in place, Adriel watched as Kat pulled back, and then slowly withdrew.
“Ben, it’s okay, you can relax now. It’s all over.”
“You’re done? Nothing happened.” He sounded relieved and disappointed at the same time. “Did it help?”
“Yes, we know where to begin now.” Maintaining contact with Adriel, Kat pulled Ben into a one-armed hug. “Thank you for talking to us.”
Ben turned his head toward the road. “Someone’s coming.”
She glanced in the direction he was looking and saw Callum strolling toward them. Out of the corner of her mouth Adriel said, “He looks upset.”
Ben flashed a cheeky grin. “Right. See you later, Alligator.”
He was gone. Alligator? Mortals say the strangest things.
To Kat and Zack, Adriel said, “I’ll meet you inside. This won’t take long.” She got a look at the speculation on Kat’s face, “It’s not what you think.”
Callum barely noticed Zack and Kat as they walked past him to enter the cabin. His focus was squarely on Adriel, who rose from the grass and walked to meet him.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Hot anger sparked the air around him.
“Not really.” Her lips twitched. Of course she did.
“I can’t stop thinking about Pam, and it’s all your fault.” In the way his hand rose then fell, Adriel read the urge to poke her. She let the grin slide over her face, then let it widen when he squinted at her. “Are you some kind of witch? I feel like someone cast a spell on me.”
“All I did was pull your head out of your…” The squint was joined by a raised eyebrow, “…pants. What did you think I was going to say?”
“Never mind that. What am I supposed to do now?”
“I don’t know. Turn on that lady-killer charm you bragged about. Or better yet, for once in your life, be honest with her and with yourself. Tell her how you feel. Ask the woman out to dinner. You might have to convince her your intentions are good.” Adriel paused, “They are good, right. She’s not going to be another notch on your lady-killer gun.”
“I saw that,” Kat singsonged when the screen door slammed behind Adriel.
“Get your mind out of the gutter. It was a thank you kiss for putting his feet on the path to the right woman. Nothing more. I’d rather talk about what happened with Ben. Did you bring Zack up to speed?”
“She did. It was an accident; no doubt in my mind. Ben was late going home, so dusk had already fallen. He moved over into the grassy verge, but not as far as he thought. The headlight blinded him when he looked back, and he swerved at just the wrong time. Does that fit with your impressions?”
“Completely. The first time Ben looked back, the driver was over the line, then right before the impact, the car was too far to the right. It looked like he or she overcompensated.” Adriel replayed the scene in her head. Something about what Ben had witnessed triggered a niggle in the back of her mind, but the more she tried to bring it clear, the more it slid away.
“Based on the trajectory, it looked like the driver was impaired. Maybe by age or alcohol,” Kat added while Adriel nodded her agreement.
“I think we can eliminate age,” Zack mused, “or maybe not. I’m still fuzzy on how the details work when it comes to ghosts. Let’s say Ben didn’t cross over because he couldn’t until his killer was found. If the killer was an elderly person thirty years ago, they would be long dead by now. Wouldn’t their death satisfy Ben’s unfinished business?”
“It’s a tough call. There are three possible motivations connected to his journey. Finding the body, identifying the killer, and getting justice. Usually those last two happen together, but not always. It’s not the first, since his bones were found and he’s still here. The killer’s own death would usually satisfy both of the other two, but not always.”
Kat picked up where Adriel left off, “Let’s say someone else knew or strongly suspected where Ben’s body was buried. If that person keeps the secret, they become complicit, and Ben’s unfinished business transfers to them. I don’t think that’s what’s happening here, though.”
Earthbound Bones: An Earthbound Novel (The Psychic Seasons Series Book 5) Page 16
