44 Gilmore Street

by Shani Struthers

  “Stubborn?” Ness queried. “That’s one way of putting it. Do you want me to come with you to Malling?”

  “You’ve got work of your own, haven’t you?”

  Ness not only worked for Psychic Surveys, she also specialised in balancing chakras, centres of activity in the body that relate to health, both of a mental and physical nature. She had a long list of clients that sought her out on a regular basis, but thankfully always put matters of spiritual domestic clearance first. If there was trouble at Psychic Surveys, she was there, her loyalty – her priority – unquestionable. Ness had also worked for Sussex Police as a medium in the past, and Brighton Council too; it was amazing the amount of houses that tenants insisted were haunted. According to a recent YouGov poll, 39% of UK citizens believed their house to be haunted. According to Psychic Surveys, a fair few percent of them were right, council houses and the private sector combined. Nowadays, Ness’s work was mainly with Psychic Surveys. ‘It’s an easier life I prefer now,’ she had said to Ruby once by way of explanation. ‘It’s not as if I’m getting any younger.’ Ness never talked about when she was with Sussex Police, despite Ruby having probed a couple of times. Ruby wasn’t sure if that was because of reasons of confidentiality or something much deeper. Either way, she was surprised to find Ness considered her work with Psychic Surveys contributed to an ‘easier’ life in comparison.

  “Oh, it does,” said Ness, catching the thoughts that were blazing a trail through Ruby’s mind, “with the possible exception of last year of course.”

  Ness smiled as she said it, trying to make light of ‘last year’, to remove the gravitas from it, which Ruby was grateful for. It helped. Her earlier irritation fizzled out. Instead she recalled one of Theo’s favourite sayings: ‘Angels fly because they take themselves lightly.’ It was a good adage to keep in mind, a sound ethos to follow. And most Psychic Surveys cases were pretty standard to be fair, very little drama involved at all.

  Ness looked at her watch. “You’re right, I have got clients to see, but if you need me, Ruby, I’m on the end of the phone.”

  “Thanks, Ness.”

  “As for Ellie, I know you’re reluctant but, as Theo guessed, I do know a woman who specialises in past life regression. She’s rather brilliant at it.”

  Despite herself, Ruby was curious. “Has she ever tested her skills on you?”

  Ness’s smile faded. “Actually, yes, she has. I was psychic in a past life too apparently. A rather unfortunate time to be psychic: the seventeenth century.” As she said it, she glanced pointedly to the right, towards Lewes Town Hall. Formerly The Star Inn, from 1555 to 1557, ten of a group of seventeen people were imprisoned in the cellars there whilst waiting to be burned at the stake, not for their paranormal powers but for their religious beliefs – it didn’t do to admit to being anything other than Catholic during the reign of Queen Mary. When the time came, they were dragged outside to a jeering crowd and set fire to. Ruby could barely imagine a worse way to go. A memorial to them was finally erected in 1901 on Cliffe Hill. Although it was set in the distance, the obelisk was deliberately visible from the spot on which the martyrs had been killed, a reminder of intolerance should anyone bother to look. Their deaths were also marked on Bonfire Night for which Lewes was famous; a burning cross lit for each of them and carried through the town.

  Remembering that, Ruby was stunned. “You were burnt at the stake too?”

  There was a strange look in Ness’s eyes, as though she’d become disconnected but rapidly she came to. “No, of course not, I’m just kidding. Besides, witches weren’t burnt in England, only heretics were. They were hanged instead.” She reverted back to their earlier conversation. “Now, if you change your mind about the regression and you want my friend’s number, let me know. She’s called Ailsa Isaacs. I’m sure she’ll be pleased to help out.”

  As Ness walked away, her figure clad in dark clothing and so slight, so fragile, Ruby was still trying to come to terms with the ‘joke’ her colleague had made. Considering the history of their town it was insensitive, and Ness wasn’t an insensitive person. She was equally as aware of the residue of terror, shock and pain that lingered a few feet down the road, had indeed remarked on it several times. Such feelings took time to dissipate, although thankfully it was just the feelings that remained, and not the poor, tortured spirits themselves, endlessly reliving their plight. Just kidding? Ruby didn’t think so. She shook her head. It was even more reason not to get involved with Ellie, or Ailsa for that matter. The past should stay exactly that.

  Chapter Four

  Sitting in Ness’s living room – the first time she’d ever been here surprisingly enough, despite having known her for nearly four years – Ruby could hardly believe it. How had she got roped into this? If Cash were here, she’d direct one of her hard ‘Paddington’ stares in his general direction. It was him she held responsible for changing her mind. It was Thursday and ever since Monday evening he’d been trying to persuade her to take Ellie’s case on. Last night the excuse of being ‘too tired to discuss it’ had started to wear thin. She’d felt obliged to listen to him at least.

  “Don’t get me wrong, spirits and the paranormal world, it’s fascinating stuff but reincarnation, that’s a whole new bag isn’t it? The very thought that we return here, to this world, time and time again is incredible. Why is it do you think? What’s the lure? Is the beer really that good? The pizza?”

  Trust Cash to relate everything back to food – he was obsessed with his stomach and the process of filling it.

  “This pizza’s good,” she said in reply, her mouth full. He’d made it, right from scratch, the base and everything. His obsession had a flip side at least.

  Warming to his subject, his dark eyes had grown serious. “Do you think we return because we want to or because we have to? Do we get a choice?”

  She placed her knife and fork down. “Cash, I really do find it sweet the way you think I’m some kind of authority on this subject, but I’m not. I’ve got as many questions about reincarnation as you have.”

  “I know, I know, but come on, you’ve got a better idea than most.” The caramel skin around his eyes crinkled as he smiled at her.

  “I haven’t.”

  “You have.”

  “Cash!” As much as she loved him he could be exasperating at times. “Look, for what it’s worth, and I’m guessing just as much as you are here, is that we don’t have to return, we choose to return. Perhaps it’s because we feel we haven’t quite developed enough to enter a higher plane, perhaps it’s as you say, because we love it in this realm, we want to enjoy it—”

  “Or endure it.”

  “Or endure it some more. We could return due to unfinished business—”

  “Ah, unfinished business. That’s what Ellie’s on about.”

  “Pardon?”

  “That whole unsolved crime angle. She’s got a feeling something bad happened to her in her past life, perhaps she was murdered, buried in the cellar or something and her body never found. She wants vengeance, justice to be done, so she’s started to remember things, stuff that will lead her back to her killer. He might have reincarnated too, and she’s chasing him through time and space. That’s her purpose for returning and you can help fulfil it.”

  Ruby grew tired just listening to him. She leant back in her chair and closed her eyes as she sighed. Cash was immediately all concern.

  ‘Ruby, what is it?”

  Perhaps Theo was right, she did need a holiday. She felt drained, exhausted, wanted to continue keeping her eyes closed, to sleep. What should she do? Be honest and say that was the reason she didn’t feel like taking it on, because she was so knackered? She decided to go for it.

  “Cash, aside from this bloody pizza, I’ve got enough on my plate at the moment. I honestly don’t think I’ve got the energy to devote to this one.”

  “Then sit on the side-lines, observe. Let that woman Ness knows do all the work.”

  “But why
?”

  His insistence really was mystifying her. Perhaps he was mystifying himself. He wrinkled his nose, shrugged. “Because this case is different, that’s why.” He faltered. “Because… she seemed as if she really wanted your help, but more than that, as if she needed it. And that’s what you do, Ruby, you help people, dead or alive. That’s what you’re good at.”

  She got up and started clearing their plates; he was virtually finished anyway. “And because of that I’m supposed to help everyone who comes knocking at my door am I, who looks at me like the cat from Shrek?”

  “The cat from Shrek?”

  “Yeah, the one who turns on the big sad eyes whenever it suits him?”

  Cash got up too, took their wine glasses to the sink and emptied the dregs. “Okay, forget I said anything. If you’re not interested, you’re not interested.”

  “It’s not that I’m not interested.”

  “You could have fooled me.”

  “It’s because I’m tired, Cash!” She shouted the words at him.

  “Then let’s book a bloody holiday!” He was clearly getting pissed off too.

  “No… I.” She sighed again, heavily this time. “I suppose I could pass on Ailsa’s details.”

  “You could.”

  “It wouldn’t do any harm, would it?”

  “None that I can see.”

  Coming up behind her, he put his arms around her waist. She leant back into him, relished how solid he felt, the familiarity of him. She’d never been with a man as long as she’d been with Cash. In the past, boyfriends had tired very quickly with her ‘other-worldly’ dealings. The fact that Cash was fascinated by it was a bonus, but perhaps too much of one at times.

  She turned to face him. As she did, he lifted her chin and planted a kiss on her lips.

  Breaking away, he murmured, “Don’t you ever wonder if you’ve been here before? Who you could have been?”

  She thought again about what Ness had said.

  “No.”

  She couldn’t just blame Cash – Ellie’s big sad eyes had got to her as well.

  “It’d be cool to meet Ailsa,” Ellie had said when Ruby called her back, “for her to be the one to regress me, but it’s Psychic Surveys I came to about my case and I’d really like it if Psychic Surveys could oversee it at least.”

  “Because of our reputation?”

  “Well, yeah, like I said, it’s good.”

  Ruby had to admit to a grudging admiration for how determined Ellie was. She reminded her of herself. Determination was a necessary ingredient to make a business like Psychic Surveys succeed. It was no mean feat to get the paranormal to be taken seriously by the general public, not to be laughed at, or to be ridiculed or indeed feared. And in the end, she supposed that was another reason why she’d allowed herself to be roped in – their similarity – why she was sitting here with a notepad on her lap, her pen at the ready.

  Ness’s sitting room was a decent size given she lived in a tiny terraced house. It wasn’t dissimilar to the one in Gilmore Street, although its classic red brick Victorian exterior was a little easier on the eye. As curious as she was about Ellie, she was even more curious about being admitted into Ness’s inner sanctum. She couldn’t believe it when Ness had suggested her house as a venue. She preferred to keep her private life just that – private. Of the team, Theo knew her the best; their friendship went back to the late nineties. But if she was aware of anything significant in Ness’s past – anything responsible for her enduring sombreness – she wasn’t saying. And why should she? Ruby respected that decision. Even so, looking around someone’s home was like looking at ‘them’. It reflected who they were, their tastes and personality. Ness’s, however, was minimalist. There were barely any knick-knacks or photographs, no mirrors either, just one in the hallway. Disappointingly, there were no clues to the deeper person at all.

  Ailsa, a short but imposing woman, dressed in natural shades of cream and brown, had an obvious penchant for owls. She had owls of the metallic variety hanging from her earlobes, and one attached to a chain around her neck. Catching Ruby looking at them, she informed her they were her spirit ‘power animal’ – a Shamanic term for a spirit guide.

  “I’ve got a dog,” Ruby replied, referring to Jed.

  “I know.” Ailsa’s voice was conspiratorial almost.

  How she knew that was another mystery. Jed wasn’t in the room. He was off playing in some sun-dappled meadow somewhere, or so Ruby liked to think. She didn’t sense a psychic connection with the woman – there was no meeting of the minds, not on her behalf anyway. Whatever the case, as Theo had said, Ness wouldn’t recommend someone who wasn’t the real deal.

  “Let’s get started shall we?” Like Ness, Ailsa had an air of authority about her; a confidence in what she was doing. A belief. Ruby wondered if she thought the same about her or whether it was something that came with age.

  She caught Ailsa looking at her, one eyebrow raised. Ruby winced. Perhaps it was insensitive to think confidence only came with age.

  “Ness, Ruby, are you happy to stay in the room?”

  “If the client doesn’t mind,” answered Ness.

  Ellie glanced nervously at Ruby. “Please stay.”

  Ailsa again took charge. “Ellie, if we’re going to be successful, it’s vitally important you feel relaxed whilst I regress you. If it suits you to have other people in the room then that’s fine, I don’t mind a jot, but you must be sure.”

  Ellie graced her with a shy smile. “I’m sure.” She looked much younger than her years suddenly, little more than a teenager. Instead of being irritated with her, Ruby felt a pang of sympathy. When they had talked on the phone prior to this appointment, Ellie had informed her she’d had another insight into her ‘past’.

  “There was blood,” she said.

  “Your blood?” queried Ruby.

  “I think so, who else would it belong to?”

  “Was there anyone else in the room with you?”

  Ellie had faltered. “There was, but I can’t see who it is, not yet.”

  “Dreams are strange, we all know that,” countered Ruby.

  “So are snapshots. That’s what this was.”

  Ailsa, who had had the case explained to her, including this event, saw no need to quiz the client further. She preferred to ‘learn’ on the job.

  The curtains had been pulled together, although not fully. A thin sliver of light was allowed in, lending the atmosphere an almost ethereal touch.

  “Lie back on the couch, Ellie,” Ailsa instructed, “place the pillow under your head, close your eyes and make yourself comfortable.” She had previously removed her shoes, revealing pale grey socks with a hole in the toe of one.

  “You and I need to connect,” continued Ailsa, “and we do that by breathing together, in for five seconds, and out for five seconds. That’s it, that’s correct. And again.”

  Ruby found herself joining in the breathing exercise, which was repeated several times.

  “Good, good, that’s wonderful,” praised Ailsa, her voice low, monotone even and as relaxing as the breathing itself. “Now we’re going to count backwards from ten to one, and with each number you’ll be going deeper into yourself, down, down, and further down.” The word ‘down’ was emphasised each time it was said. “Ten and down, nine and down, eight and down, good, good, that’s right, going down, deeper and deeper down, seven and down…”

  In the dimness of the room, Ruby felt herself growing drowsy too. Sensing this, Ness gently nudged her, a reminder to stay alert, to focus.

  When they had reached ‘one’, Ailsa started talking about a passageway and asked Ellie to describe it.

  “Erm… the wallpaper it’s got flowers on it but it’s not pretty. It’s brown as if it’s stained with nicotine or something. There are floorboards beneath my feet and some sort of runner. It’s dark and dingy too. Above me there’s a light, a bare bulb, it’s swaying slightly, as if it’s caught in a breeze.”

/>   “Good, good,” Ailsa was nothing if not encouraging. “Don’t be afraid, walk down that passageway, right to the end, that’s it. Notice how it slopes down. At the end of the passageway is a lift. The doors are open, step inside. On the right is a panel with numbers on it. Can you see it?”

  “Yes,” Ellie responded, her voice distinctly drowsy.

  “How many numbers are on it?”

  “Six.”

  Ailsa looked impressed. “Six? That’s good. Which number appeals to you the most?”

  There was silence for a moment, Ellie clearly thinking about it.

  “Take your time, there’s no rush, none at all, ask for guidance if you like, from your higher power. Six is the number of lives you’ve lived before, which one is it that you want to know more about?”

  At last Ellie answered. “Six.”

  “Six,” Ailsa repeated, “the life just before this one. Let’s go back there, shall we? Press the button with six on it and watch as the lift doors close and we descend, down through the floors, down, down, further down until we reach floor six, the lift lowering gently, taking you to where you want to be.”

  Ruby yawned; it really was hard to keep your eyes open. Ailsa’s voice was so soporific. She’d love nothing more than to curl up on the sofa too and fall into a deep sleep – a dreamless sleep that is and not a past life.

  “You’re on floor six,” Ailsa told Ellie, “the lift doors are opening, step out.” The last two words were a command. Ruby’s interest perked up, what was going to unfold? Even Ness seemed to be on tenterhooks.

  On the sofa, there was silence.

  “Is it day or night?” Ailsa asked her.

  “It’s… day, but it’s not bright.”

  “Is it cloudy outside?”

  “It must be.”

  “Is there a window nearby?”

  “Yes.”

  “Look out of the window. What’s the weather like?”

  “I… don’t know. I think it’s cloudy. Yes it is. It’s cloudy. Raining too.”