Restitution (Haunted Series Book 17)

by Alexie Aaron

  Burt put his arm around Mia, and they followed Audrey and Mike into the next room.

  ~

  Mia was resting in a chair with her feet up and her eyes closed in the front office. Audrey and Cid were doing a tour, hoping to catch a glimpse of what the hackers referred to as the babes. Murphy was following them, making sure nothing untoward happened. Mike found Mia there and stared at her a moment. She was just a woman. Right now, she was just a woman dealing with grief and an angry friend. He didn’t understand why Murphy was angry with Mia, but the two’s history was a strange one.

  “Cooper, you look like someone stole your last Zebra Cake.”

  Mia opened her big green eyes, studied Mike for a moment, and closed them again.

  “No, you’re not ignoring me. Not after that stunt you pulled in the interview.”

  The corners of Mia’s mouth twitched. “It was Burt’s and Ted’s idea. I was just being a good employee,” she said.

  Mike sat down in an office chair and scooted it over and banged into Mia. “So how did the reunion with the ex go?”

  “Oddly. But the more I think about it, it probably went the best it could go. I’m glad I didn’t have to cross them. It’s nice to know they’re in the ether somewhere, giving a hacker or programmer hell.”

  “Heads up, Mike, Murphy is headed into the office,” Ted said. “Mia’s got her com off.”

  Mike tapped the earcom. He saw a slight distortion moving in slowly from the doorway. He held up his hand to the ghost to make him stop his advance into the room.

  Mia’s back was to the door, and she didn’t seem to be picking him up.

  “Mia?”

  “Yes?”

  “Tell me why you left Big Bear Lake the first time?” Mike asked.

  “Aside from having nowhere to live and because I burned my family’s home to the ground, you mean?”

  “Yes.”

  “I was in love with someone no one could see. I couldn’t touch him, and he couldn’t touch me. We rarely spoke because it took too much energy away from him and shortened our time together. The farmhouse was abandoned, and yes, I could have squatted there, but I didn’t want to be dragged out and put in a mental hospital, so I left. Murphy was fine. He had his farm and his trees. He would be there for eternity. I had to find a way to live with my disability.”

  “Disability? It’s a gift, Cooper.”

  “That’s not how I saw it. I drank a lot. Mike, when I’m really drunk, I mean stumbling drunk, I don’t see ghosts, unless they are mega powerful ones like Murphy. I could stagger along the city streets and have a taste of what it was to be normal. That’s when Lobo found me. I was leaning against the wall in an alley, trying to sleep it off. He never asked why I was there; he just took me in.”

  “Why did you finally come back to Big Bear Lake, a place where people knew your crazy past?”

  “I came back for Murphy. Whether it was the curse or something else, there wasn’t one day when I was away that I didn’t think of him. I had spent years running away from being Crazy Cooper only to return, build my sanctuary, and spend as much time as I could get away with at the farm. I saw the renovation start. I even got a job cleaning the place up after the dry-wallers left, just to be around him.”

  “So you didn’t worry about the consequences of loving a ghost then?”

  “No, not until Father Santos sat me down and explained what happened to ghosts that crossed the line and mated with the living. I didn’t feel it was fair that Murphy should pay for something we mutually wanted. So I had to rein it in. It would be a crime for him not to have his farm. Ted and I have worked out a trust with Alan, ensuring that the house and property will be protected long after Ted and I are dust.”

  “That’s a very loving thing to do, Cooper.”

  “You’d do the same, Dupree, if you were in my shoes. My heart breaks for Murph. It must be hard to live an existence in which you see your beloved property age and fall apart, watch the people you have gotten to know age. I just saw three guys who haven’t aged, but I could tell they were surprised by how much I had. My grandfather is five hundred and two years old. He’s seen lovers age and die on him. Angelo, I’m not even sure how old he is. Our human bodies were given a time clock, Dupree. We will age, and we will die. All to make room for our children and theirs. It’s the natural way.”

  “Will you age normally?”

  “Hell, I don’t know. I don’t think I’ll live that long to find out. I’ve chosen a path that is very dangerous.”

  “I know, living with Ted and Cid could get you killed.”

  Mia laughed. “They are mad scientists after all. Murph’s there, keeping an eye on them. He’s learning a lot about this world. It’s amazing to see him change and grow with all the knowledge he is taking in. If he was born in this time, Mike, he would have been something.”

  “He was something,” Mike stressed. “That house was built with the latest conveniences of the time. The foundations are solid, and the roofline is as straight as when the rafters were enclosed. It’s a beautiful house. Mia, why are you so sad?”

  “Murph and I had words. I regret something I said.”

  “What?”

  “I said I left because he couldn’t take care of me. That was hurtful and unkind. He would have tried. I just didn’t believe enough in myself to make a go of it then.”

  “You were the Romeo and Juliet of this age. Star-crossed lovers who couldn’t even touch, and yet you touched each other’s hearts. Now, Cooper, that’s a romance,” Mike said, getting up. “Get some shut-eye. I have a feeling this investigation is going to be a long one.”

  “See you on late shift,” Mia said and closed her eyes.

  Mike left the room, but not without encouraging the distortion he knew was Murphy to go to Mia with a wave of his hands.

  Murphy moved closer. Mia opened her eyes. “Hello, Murph. Aren’t you supposed to be protecting Team B?”

  “Nothing to worry about. The ghosts here are so weak that it would take a week of concentration to move a grain of sugar.”

  “Should we energize them, so we can get them on film?”

  “That’s up to Burt, I suppose. Mia, I heard what you told Mike about leaving.”

  “So you’ve taken to the Martin way, eavesdropping,” Mia commented, closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples.

  “They called me a goon, your friends. It made me angry.”

  “Murph, a goon in Billy-speak is a protector. It was a compliment.”

  “I didn’t know. I felt like I was some rube who was embarrassing you.”

  Mia opened her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t pick up on that. I was just trying to balance being called wife by a ghost. I can only imagine what Ted was feeling. It’s given me a migraine.”

  “How come you can talk to Mike about these things?” he asked.

  “Maybe it’s because we’re sinners hanging in a virtuous crowd. Mike understands me as I do him. He accepts that I’m not perfect. I don’t have to worry about his feelings. When I’m mean, he calls me a bitch. When he is out of line, I call him on it. We’re friends. Like you and I are, but I’m a lot nicer to you.”

  “Poor Mike,” Murphy said.

  This caused Mia to laugh. “I think what I like most about Mike Dupree is that I can be an irresponsible, temperamental child around him, and he can be the same with me. I think that’s why we fight so much. We’re brats.”

  “Mia, thank you for being my friend.”

  “It’s a pleasure, Murph. Thanks for putting up with me.”

  “My pleasure.”

  Mia put her earcom back in. “Mia Martin is on com. Over.”

  “Mia, Burt’s going to be entering the old grain elevator,” Ted said softly in her ear. “He asked if Murphy could check the place out first. Over.”

  “Burt wants you to check out the grain silos.”

  “Why are they going in there?” Murphy asked.

  “Maybe they like rats,” Mia said mischievou
sly. “Wait until one runs across Audrey’s foot.” Mia touched her earcom. “Mrs. Ted to Ted, Over.”

  “Ted here.”

  “You’re going to want to protect your ears. Audrey doesn’t like rats. Over.”

  “Thanks for the heads-up. Speaking of heads, how’s yours?”

  “Attached but aching.”

  “Pharmacy Hicks is here…”

  “I better stay off the meds. I don’t want to jump Mike on the late shift. It wouldn’t help with partner and employee relations. Over.”

  “You could drop by the truck for some partner-employee relations on shift change, pumpkin.”

  “I’ll look forward to it. For right now, I’m going to sleep and dream of you, Teddy Bear. Over and out.”

  ~

  Jake watched Mia as she watched the monitors. After seeing her in the game, he understood why Ted was so smitten with her. She was a superhero.

  “Hello, Jake. What can I do for you?” she asked, staring into the mega eyeball.

  He changed into Marvin and had hearts in his eyes.

  “Oh no, not you too! I’m flattered, really I am, but I could use a friend. You see, I’m trying my best not to fuck up my marriage and my friendships. I’m always doing something wrong. If there were code that could be installed in me, I’d sign up.”

  Marvin shook his head. He pulled his heart out of his chest, and it sprung arms and legs. It then lassoed the little Martian and pulled him along.

  “You’re saying that I lead with my heart? Very wise. But don’t you think I should use my brain?”

  Marvin opened up his head and searched around until he found a pea. He showed it to Mia.

  She laughed. “Gee, thanks, Jake.” Her eyes caught something on the sugar room feed. She opened up a channel to Burt, Mike and Cid. “The babes have shown up in the sugar room. I’m talking a dozen or so women, dressed in the style of World War II. Over.”

  She tossed an empty Dr. Pepper can over the file.

  “Ouch!” Ted said.

  “Wakey, wakey, we have ghosts. An even dozen, Snoring Bear.” Mia’s fingers danced on the keys. “Audrey darling, time to put on a face. The competition has shown up, and they are gorgeous. Over.”

  “Mia, I’ll be right with you as soon as I can,” she yawned and added, “Over.”

  Mia put the controls onto the iPad and walked out of the truck, into the large warehouse, and shouted, “Murphy, wake up!”

  Murphy was at her side in seconds. “I don’t sleep.”

  “We have a lot of women wanting your attention in the sugar room,” Mia said. “I sense they all went at once. As soon as Audrey can put a whole sentence together, I’m going to have her look into the history of the place to see if there was an explosion or gas leak. In the meanwhile, go and entertain the ladies.”

  “I feel so cheap,” he said and tipped his hat before he left.

  “So you’re ordering your boss around?” Ted asked behind her.

  “No, I’m wearing the headset of power; I can order them all around, including you,” Mia said. “Get on that console, and see if we can get a clearer picture of those dolls.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Ted said, amused.

  Mike walked over. Mia looked at him before she jumped down. “Where’s your comb? Dupree, come on, you’ve got a room full of horny women, and your hair’s a mess.”

  “Cooper, you and I are going to have a chat,” Mike growled.

  “I’m wearing the headset of power. Get the lead out; Burt’s waiting on you. Where the fuck is Cid?”

  “Cid’s here,” the investigator said sleepily. “I just got to sleep.”

  “I need you to back Murphy up,” Mia ordered, tossing him a few energon cubes. “Those ghosts will drain him. I counted twelve, but there could be more,” she said.

  “Aye aye, Cap’n Bligh.”

  “Don’t you give me that. You know I prefer Cap’n Crunch. I shall have you chained to the galley.”

  “Ted, Mia’s talking sexy to me,” Cid called.

  “Rat!” Mia exclaimed.

  Audrey walked over and smiled. She liked seeing Mia so animated. “There was an accident during the war. The room that is now called ‘the sugar room’ had stored flour. Did you know that flour is combustible? Someone snuck a cigarette on break, and the place exploded. Fourteen women lost their lives.”

  “I think a crossing over is needed. Those girls had families. Where did they bury their remains?” she asked Audrey.

  “It doesn’t say. I’ll have Jake run the names with the local graveyard lists and see if we get any bites,” Audrey assured her.

  “Fabulous! Now, am I forgetting anything?” Mia asked.

  “Mia, come to me, Mia,” Michael’s voice filled her head.

  “Now?” Mia asked herself in frustration. “Of course now,” she answered.

  Audrey watched Mia. She looked like she was frozen to the spot. Mia took off her jacket. “Ted, I’ve got to go. Take the headset of power, please.”

  Ted jumped out and grabbed that and the iPad as Mia extended her wings.

  “Call Santos. See if he can come and cross the women over,” she said and blew Ted a kiss as she touched her neck and disappeared.

  “Wow, I can’t believe what I just saw,” Audrey said, putting her hand through the space where Mia had stood just seconds before.

  “Her boss must have called her,” Ted said, worried. “I hope it’s not a battle.”

  Mia found herself in a large stone room. It was cold despite the effort made by two giant walk-in fireplaces. She looked around at the expensive furnishings and realized she was in a meeting room of some kind. She was the only one there.

  “You came,” Michael said, walking into the room. “You can drop the wings. Here, you must be cold,” he said, tossing her a fur robe.

  Mia retracted her wings and put the robe on.

  “I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything important.”

  “Just… No, sir, nothing important,” Mia said, staring at the confident man before her.

  “Mia, don’t lie to me.”

  “I was in the middle of rallying the troops to cross over fourteen WWII era women. I think they can handle it. What’s going on?”

  “I couldn’t sleep.”

  “Angels sleep?” Mia asked, puzzled.

  He started laughing. “You don’t know much about angels, do you?”

  “No.”

  “Well, Mia, we sleep, we love, we eat, we fly, we die, and we don’t heal. But recently that has changed. Sariel told me how he got his sight back.”

  “I hope there isn’t a mass killing of elemental dragons going on,” Mia said, concerned.

  “Seems to me you’ve been dining on dragon meat yourself.”

  “Yes I have. I don’t recommend it. It makes me very aggressive.”

  “Aggression is good in a soldier.”

  “Is that what I am?”

  “I’m not exactly sure what you are. Take off your clothes.”

  “Whoa, big boy, what do you have in mind?” she asked nervously.

  “Don’t question me. Take off your clothes, and bring forth your wings. Sariel reported something to me, and I want to see it for myself. We could do this in a room full of angels if you prefer.”

  “No,” Mia said, turning her back on the archangel. She quickly disrobed and pulled off her boots. She brought out her wings more to cover her nakedness than to follow orders.

  “Rise and turn your back to the sun,” he ordered. “It’s coming through the east window.”

  Mia did as she was told. A dreaminess started to come over her.

  Michael rose and watched as the sun brought forth the creature Sariel told him about. Mia looked at him as if she could devour him. He understood why Sariel was afraid of being alone with her in this state. “Mia, listen to my voice. I’m your boss. You’re not to seduce me or any of my angels.”

  “Yes, Michael,” she said.

  He cringed as her voice dripped with human
wants and needs. He studied her closely, aware that her eyes watched him as he examined her. He put his head to her forehead. He absorbed Mia’s entire life in a second. He pushed back further and saw the four entities that produced her. He saw the demon who took Orion’s mother to bed, the superhuman woman who lay with the birdman, and then he saw the angel giving birth to a child who shouldn’t have been. All this made up the woman who was before him. He could end her with his sword or bed her and make her his. But he sensed that she, with training, could learn to control this aspect of who she was, and that the intelligent Mia Cooper Martin could get control of the seductress and be an asset to their cause.

  “Mia, look at me.”

  She did.

  “What do you see?”

  “I see power, arrogance and loneliness. I see a male that I want inside of me.”

  “No, Mia, you don’t. Mia wants her husband inside of her. You need to find that Mia right now.”

  “K,” she said dreamily. “She’s frightened of you. She sent me.”

  “My god, there are two of you,” he realized.

  “There are many Mias,” she said. “This Mia wants to feel your power, take your power, and reduce you to ash.”

  Michael moved away quickly. He drew his sword. “Mia, push the demon away. You can do it. You can expel the demon from your body.”

  Mia heard a strong voice, and she opened her eyes. Before her stood a part of herself that was hungry, all consuming. She looked further and saw Michael with his sword drawn. Mia drew courage from Sariel’s feather and moved towards the demon Mia and pushed. The demon pushed back.

  Michael saw the two Mias in combat before him: the demon who was nourished by the dragon heart, and the human who was fueled by her love for her husband, child, and friends. They fought until human Mia forced the demon out. It reached for Mia, but Mia flew higher. It looked for another body to use as a host. It jumped at Michael and died upon the end of his ready sword.

  Michael watched as the demon fell to ash. What was left of Mia twisted in agony, but she managed to stay aloft. She moved through the window and out into the morning sun. Michael followed her. She soared towards the sun, but another light grabbed her. Mia was held suspended between the solar sun and something much more powerful, each light fighting to claim her.