by Jo Gibson
Melanie Carpenter’s mother was already a client, but she’d never told her husband and daughter. It would be a real coup if Mrs. Carpenter would bring her husband, the mayor, in for a reading. And then there was Ronnie Hughes. If he spread the word, it could lead to a lot of business. Ronnie’s grandparents had raised a large family, and there were several generations living right here in Foothill.
Jennifer’s parents wouldn’t be interested. They had a reputation for being levelheaded. But Susie Romano might bring in some business, especially if her parents talked it up at the deli. And Brian Garvey’s parents were naturals. Brian’s younger sister had died of cancer last year, and if Brian told them that she had contacted Kelly’s spirit, they might call to arrange a séance for themselves.
Most of Zada’s leads came from checking the obituaries and she kept careful files. It always helped to be prepared, and there was usually something in the funeral notice that she could use in a séance. Kelly’s had certainly been useful. That’s how she’d learned that lilacs were Kelly’s favorite flower. There had even been a picture, and she’d studied it carefully before she’d left the bookstore. If anyone asked questions about Kelly’s appearance, she’d be able to answer them accurately. There was no way anyone would suspect that she hadn’t known Kelly Bridges at all.
Zada knew they’d expect her to dress the part and she slipped into her black séance dress. It had wide, flowing sleeves, which came in handy for hiding things that would appear to materialize from thin air, and a voluminous, floor-length skirt.
Jewelry was a must and Zada clasped several pendants around her neck. She’d found an art student who’d made them for her, copying the designs from a book of celestial symbols. She’d wear a veil. It made her look much more mysterious and it had the added benefit of hiding her expression. And high heels were necessary if she wanted to appear tall and imposing.
Essential oil was next. Zada took the cap from a small bottle of patchouli, and wrinkled up her nose as she dabbed some on her wrists. Patchouli was rumored to be the same essence they’d used in Egyptian burial rites, and she’d be sure to mention that fact. It was probably true. The scent was strong enough to overpower anything, no matter how rank, and it always impressed the clients.
A glance in the mirror and Zada was satisfied. She looked dark and forbidding, just the way a psychic was supposed to look. She picked up a tattered leather book that she’d filled with scribbles and turned to head for the door. Zada Tilitch was ready. The séance could commence.
She was alone on the second floor. Zada had heard everyone else go down the stairs several minutes ago. She’d flick off the lights when she got to the head of the stairs and then she’d make her entrance.
Zada was smiling as she thought about their reaction. She’d go down several steps. Then she’d light her candle and call out for them. When they gathered at the foot of the stairs, they would be greeted by an eerie sight. A figure in black would be descending the staircase, holding a sputtering candle. At first they’d be frightened, but then they would realize who it was. That would convince them that things were not always as they seemed, and put them all into the proper mood for the séance.
Lightning stuck just as Zada was stepping out into the hallway. It was a perfect night for a séance. The lightning would make them all nervous and they’d be even more receptive when Kelly’s spirit contacted her and asked to join them.
When Zada reached the top of the stairs, she snapped off the lights and listened. There was a group of students in the lobby, and although she couldn’t hear what they were saying, she was sure that the topic of conversation was the séance.
Two voices floated clearly up the stairs and Zada smiled as she realized they belonged to Jennifer and Tim. They were alone in the kitchen, and they were definitely discussing the séance.
“I’m not sure about the séance, Tim. Zada’s a professional medium. Maybe I should ask her to lead it.”
“No, Jen. We’ve got it all planned out. Zada’s expecting you to lead the séance, and you can’t ask her to take over now. She said she was coming because she wanted to protect us in case something happened. And she was very definite about just wanting to watch.”
Zada smiled, highly amused. She would be doing a lot more than watching, but they didn’t know that. She had a few tricks up her sleeve that would make this séance an event they would talk about for years to come.
Jennifer would start the séance, and everyone would concentrate on her. That would give Zada time to set up her special effects. They would be very startled when the spirits called out for Zada, and Jennifer would be very grateful to have her take over. And then Zada would run the séance exactly the way she’d planned.
Zada’s foot slipped a bit as she went down the first step. She wasn’t used to wearing high heels and the stairs were highly polished. She steadied herself by clutching the handrail, but she was beginning to have second thoughts. It was dangerous to go down the stairs in the dark.
Zada was very careful as she went down the second step, and then the third. And then she heard the sound of someone breathing behind her. She whirled around, trying to see who was following her, but it was too dark.
Lightning struck again, and Zada caught a glimpse of a pale, disembodied face, but the flash of light was gone so fast she didn’t recognize who it was. If someone followed her down the stairs, it would ruin her entrance.
Zada let go of the handrail and moved to the far side of the step. She steadied herself against the wall and whispered softly. “Go down and join the others.”
But the figure didn’t pass her as Zada expected. He just moved to the other side of the step with her. And then she felt hands gripping her shoulders.
“What are you doing?”
There was no answer, but before she could ask again, the person shoved her, pushing her forward down the stairs. Zada cried out as she fell, a scream of pure terror, but her cry was covered by a loud crash of thunder. And then she was tumbling head over heels down the long staircase, arms reaching out desperately, trying to grab something that would stop her fall.
But there was nothing to grab, only empty air, and Zada’s head crashed into the newel post at the base of the stairs. The blow was so severe it snapped her neck, plunging Zada Tilitch into the same realm of darkness she’d spent her whole career pretending to contact.
They were all gathered around the huge stone fireplace, sipping mugs of hot chocolate. Jennifer glanced at her watch and frowned. “I wonder what’s keeping Zada? It’s been almost an hour.”
“I’ll ring her room.” Brian stood up and headed for the reservation desk. “She looked really tired when she got here. Maybe she fell asleep.”
Jennifer had a terrible feeling of foreboding as Brian rang the telephone in Zada’s room. Zada had hiked five miles up the mountain so that she could be here for the séance. Surely she wouldn’t have fallen asleep!
“There’s no answer.” Brian came back looking puzzled. “Do you think we should check on her?”
Tim stood up. “Come on, Jen. Let’s go.”
Jennifer’s legs were shaking slightly as they walked across the lobby. The lights were off in the hallway and when they rounded the corner, she flicked them on. And then they both stopped, frozen in their tracks.
“Oh, my God! It’s Zada!” Jennifer’s voice came out in a frightened whisper. “Is she all right?”
Tim didn’t answer. He just hurried to Zada and knelt down to check for a pulse.
Jennifer reached out for the wall to steady herself. Zada was very still. She looked like a crumpled rag doll at the bottom of the stairs, and her neck was bent at a very strange angle.
“Should I call for a . . .” Jennifer’s voice trailed off. She couldn’t call for an ambulance. The phone lines were down and there was no cell phone reception. But she couldn’t just stand here shaking. She had to do something to help. “Tim? Do you want me to ask if anyone knows first aid?”
“First aid
won’t help, Jen.” Tim looked very serious as he got up and walked back to her. “Zada’s dead.”
Jennifer opened her mouth to say something, but there was nothing to say. And then Tim was holding her tightly as she started to cry.
Tim held her for a moment and then he turned her around and gave her a gentle shove toward the door. “Go back to the lobby and stay there with the girls. Tell the guys to come out here and help.”
“Help?” Jennifer didn’t understand. “How can the guys help Zada? She’s dead!”
“The road’s blocked, Jen. And it could be a couple of days before we can call someone to pick her up. We can’t just leave her here at the bottom of the stairs.”
“Oh. I see.” Jennifer tried to move toward the door. But her feet didn’t seem to be cooperating.
“Go, Jen.” Tim gave her another shove. “You’ve got to tell them . . . okay?”
Jennifer took another step. This wasn’t the time to be timid. Tim was counting on her. When she got to the door, she turned back, her eyes unconsciously memorizing the scene. “I think there’s a tarp on the top shelf in the kitchen. Shall I have the guys bring it?”
“Good idea. Thanks, Jen. I’m glad you’re not the type to fall apart in a crisis.”
Jennifer carried the memory of Tim’s words with her, all the way back to the lobby. And she was calm as she told everyone what had happened. Pete and the guys left to help Tim, and Jennifer even managed to comfort Susie, who couldn’t seem to stop shaking. But during it all, while she was being calm and responsible, Jennifer’s mind was whirling with unanswered questions. The lights had been off and it was possible that Zada hadn’t known where the switch was. But she’d been carrying a candle and matches. Why hadn’t she lit the candle so she could see? And why hadn’t she held on to the handrail when she’d started to fall?
Suddenly, a thought popped into Jennifer’s mind. It was so frightening that she gasped out loud.
“Are you okay, Jen?” Lexie looked concerned.
“I’m fine.” But she wasn’t fine, not at all. The pieces fit and she could imagine exactly how Zada’s death had occurred.
Zada had been coming down the stairs in the dark, grasping the handrail to balance herself. She’d been planning something special for the séance, and that’s why she was dressed in her long black dress and veil. She hadn’t lit the candle because she’d wanted to make an entrance.
Someone had come up behind Zada while she was on the stairs. And Zada hadn’t wanted that person to spoil her grand entrance. She’d decided to let that person pass her and she’d moved to the side, where the steps were narrower. But that person hadn’t gone past her. This person had stayed right there in back of her, and pushed her down the stairs to her death!
But why would someone kill Zada? No one in their group had even met her before tonight. What possible reason could anyone have for wanting her dead?
The séance. Jennifer shuddered at the thought, but it was the only explanation that made sense. Zada was a psychic and someone had believed she’d use her power to contact Kelly’s spirit. That someone had murdered her before she could reveal the secret that Kelly had taken to the grave!
“Jen? Did you hear me?”
Jennifer jumped as Tim touched her shoulder. She’d been concentrating so hard, she hadn’t even heard him come into the lobby. “What did you say, Tim?”
“I said, Pete wants us to go ahead with the séance. It’ll take our minds off what happened to Zada.”
Jennifer glanced around, but no one was paying any attention to them. She moved closer to Tim and lowered her voice so they couldn’t be overheard. “We can’t do the séance, Tim. It could be dangerous. The séance is the reason Zada was murdered !”
“Murdered?” Tim put his arms around Jennifer and hugged her tightly. “You’ve got it all wrong, Jen. Zada wasn’t murdered. She slipped on the stairs and fell. It’s awful, but it was an accident.”
Jennifer looked up, into Tim’s face. He seemed perfectly sincere. “Are you sure, Tim?”
“I’m positive. Come on, Jen. Let’s do the séance. Zada would want us to carry on.”
“Well . . . okay.” Tim was probably right. She’d been so upset over Zada’s death, she’d imagined the worst.
Tim waited until she was seated and then he placed Zada’s leather-bound book in her hands. “You should have this, Jen. I found it next to Zada’s body. She was bringing it down for you.”
As Tim went off to gather everyone for their skit, Jennifer frowned. She didn’t want to lead this séance. She didn’t even want be an observer. Despite Tim’s assurances that everything would be all right, Jennifer had the terrible feeling that they ought to leave Kelly’s spirit alone.
Her hands were shaking slightly as she held the book. Zada had told her that the book was a talisman. It contained ancient incantations that would protect her from harm. As she opened it, Jennifer half-expected to feel its energy. But nothing happened. Nothing at all. The book was just an old book.
Jennifer placed it, face-open, on the table. The strange symbols on its pages looked very mysterious and it made an excellent prop. Of course, the book was completely powerless. She had the ultimate proof: Zada had promised that it would protect anyone who possessed it, but it certainly hadn’t protected her when she was falling down the stairs!
Eight
Melanie was frowning as she took her place at the table. “The storm is getting worse. Why don’t we just forget about the séance and sit by the fire?”
“Good idea.” Cheryl nodded. “Zada’s not here and how can you hold a séance without a psychic? That’s like putting on a circus without any clowns.”
Dale laughed. “Unless we’re the clowns. How about it, Jen? Are we the clowns?”
“No, we’re not. And Zada wasn’t here to lead the séance. She just came up here to watch me.”
“You were going to lead the séance?” Melanie giggled. “Come on, Jen . . . you don’t know anything about the occult.”
“Yes, I do. I’ve done a lot of research and I’ve got Zada’s book. Tim and I have been practicing almost every day.”
“All right, gang. Let’s have some cooperation here.” Pete sat down in a wing chair next to the fireplace. “Tonight is a full rehearsal, and that means everyone gets the chance to do their skit.”
Melanie looked a little embarrassed. “Okay. I’m sorry, Jen. I promise I’ll cooperate. It’s just that without your psychic here, I know we won’t be able to contact Kelly’s spirit.”
“You mean you actually believed that Zada could do it?” Susie looked shocked.
“Well . . . actually . . . no, not really.” Melanie shook her head. “But she was a psychic, and I thought she stood a better chance.”
Lexie winked at Jennifer and then she turned to Melanie. “That’s what I thought, too . . . at first. But when I really thought about it, I changed my mind. If anybody can contact Kelly’s spirit, it’s Jen.”
“But . . . why?” Melanie looked doubtful.
“Because the spirits are attracted to a lively intelligence, an active curiosity, and a pure heart. Everyone knows that.”
Melanie stared at Lexie for a moment. “Okay. I really think you’re making this up, but let’s start the séance and see.”
Jennifer bit back a grin as she opened her séance book. Lexie had managed to say exactly the right thing. “All right, everyone. Tim will show you where to sit. I want you to put your arms on the top of the table and clasp hands while I light the master candle. We’ll all stare into the flame for a moment and let our collective spiritual energy build.”
“Do we hold hands through the whole séance?” Cheryl looked eager as she took Tommy’s hand.
Jennifer nodded. “Yes. If anyone breaks the circle, the spirits will depart. Whatever happens, don’t let go.”
“Don’t worry about that. I won’t.” Cheryl smiled up at Tommy. “Go ahead, Jen. You can start now.”
It was clear that Cheryl enjoy
ed holding Tommy’s hand. And Tommy didn’t seem to mind. Just a week ago, Cheryl’s blatant attempt to pick up on Tommy would have made Jennifer horribly jealous, but now she found that it didn’t bother her at all. Was Tim responsible for her change in attitude? Jennifer was almost sure that he was, but she didn’t want to make any decision about Tim and Tommy quite yet.
“Please don’t close your eyes.” Jennifer lit the master candle. “Concentrate on the flame, and try to remain calm and quiet. We must be perfectly receptive to the spirits who will join our table tonight.”
She glanced around the table to make sure they were following her instructions. Everyone was watching the flickering candle flame . . . everyone except Tommy. Tommy looked very nervous. He was clenching his jaw and Jennifer could see the lines of tension on his forehead. Was he afraid of what might happen at the séance? Was he worried about what Kelly’s spirit might tell them? There was only one way to find out, and that was to ask.
“Is there anyone here who is unsure about contacting Kelly’s spirit?” Jennifer let the question hang in the air for a long, tense moment, but no one said a word. And then, just as she was about to go on with the ritual, Tommy spoke up.
“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.” Tommy’s voice shook slightly. “I’m not sure we should try to contact Kelly.”
Tim turned to look at his brother in surprise. “But why? Come on, Tommy. It’s only a skit. And we’re certainly not hurting anyone.”
“Yeah. I know. I didn’t think it would bother me, but it just doesn’t seem right. It’s almost—uh—”
“Sacrilegious?” Lexie supplied the word.
“Yeah. Isn’t holding a séance sacrilegious?”
