by Morgan Brice
“Old magic. I suspect they’ve been part of the store since it was founded. Robert must have had a source to renew them now and again. I don’t know anyone local with that kind of power.”
“Huh. That’s interesting.” Erik toyed with his mug as he thought. “I think that the ghosts have come back because they’ve got unfinished business. If I had to guess, I think they want a shot at whoever caused their deaths. So…what can you do to keep me safe while I try to figure out how to lay the ghosts to rest?”
Alessia reached into her purse and withdrew two medallions on leather strings. “One for you…and one for your soulmate.”
Soulmate? His surprise must have registered, because Alessia’s brow quirked upward.
“You didn’t know? Or do you make a habit of falling in love practically at first sight?”
Erik was torn between feeling gobsmacked at the idea that Ben was his soulmate and feeling invaded that this stranger seemed to know something about him that he didn’t know himself.
“What does that even mean?”
“It means that you’re supposed to be together. Destined. Made for each other. However you want to put it.”
“That’s really a thing? I thought it only happened in fan fiction.”
“Oh, it’s a ‘thing’ all right,” Alessia assured him. “It doesn’t happen to everyone. But I’m betting you can think of some people you know whose bond seems so strong it’s a little spooky.”
Erik could think of several couples who seemed like two halves of a coin. He’d always envied that a little, but figured it was like striking gold or winning the lottery—a one in a million bit of luck. Maybe not. If Ben is my soulmate, does that mean he’ll want to stay?
“What does the medallion do?” Erik accepted the amulets hesitantly, waiting for a vision or some reaction from his gift. He didn’t see any images, but a sense of peace and well-being came over him.
“It can protect you from some supernatural evil and enhance your own gifts. It won’t turn you into Gandalf, but your abilities have a defensive aspect, as well as a practical one. This should help you access that with more ease.”
Erik didn’t know what Ben would make of the necklaces, but Erik resolved to bring it up over dinner. “Thank you,” he said, slipping one of the amulets over his head and the other into his pocket.
“As for the ghosts, it sounds like they want justice, however long overdue. Help them get that, and I suspect they’ll move on.”
“Why now? They’ve all been dead for a long time. So what brought them back now?” Erik could not contain his curiosity.
Alessia shrugged. “Artifacts are powerful. If their ghosts are bound to items that have recently come to light, that could be enough. Especially if they felt that someone could champion them.” She gave him a look that made her meaning completely clear.
“Is there anything else I need to know?”
Alessia winked. “More than we have time to cover today,” she assured him as she got up. “But being part of a community means there are people who can help you learn. Welcome to Cape May.”
She held out her hand, and Erik shook it. A tingle of energy ran from their joined hands up his arm, like hitting his funny bone.
“What just happened?”
“Think of it as the energy equivalent of texting each other phone numbers. A circle of practitioners is a powerful thing. This is how we stay connected.” With that, Alessia let herself out.
Erik wasn’t sure how he felt about either the amulet or the mystical connection. He pulled out his phone and texted Ben. Interesting morning. How’s yours going?
Much as he wanted to hear Ben’s voice, Erik knew his boyfriend needed to take care of business. Dinner seemed like a long time to wait, so he resolved to keep himself busy.
Erik avoided the “spooky” closet, resolving to tackle it last. To his relief, few of the other items he cataloged prompted any visions. Some of the pieces had a trace of ghostly connection, but the energy was faded, more of a repeater. Certainly nothing like he’d experienced with the Commodore pieces.
Throughout the day, Erik snapped pictures of odd items and sent off-handed observations to Ben via text. The entire morning had passed before Erik realized that Ben hadn’t responded to any of his messages.
That was strange. Ben usually responded within minutes. Then again, Erik had been monopolizing Ben’s time when he was just getting settled in at his new job. Not that Ben had seemed to mind, but if Erik wanted Ben to stay, he needed to succeed, and that meant letting Ben take care of business.
Still, Erik fought a niggling doubt. He tamped down on the insecurity, telling himself he was making far too much over things. Ben could be in meetings. His phone could have died. He might be out walking properties. Or he could just be really busy. Chill out.
Erik skipped lunch, happy he was closing in on finishing the inventory. When he was down to one last set of shelves, he decided to take a break. A glance at his phone told him that Ben still hadn’t responded, and Erik fought the urge to call.
No one likes a clingy boyfriend, “soulmate” or not. Get a grip. It’s only been a few hours. It’ll be dinnertime soon.
Instead, Erik called Simon, who answered on the first ring. “Hi, Erik.”
“Good guess. Was that from caller ID or Psychic Friends Network?”
“Funny. What’s up?”
“Do you have a few moments? I can call back if you’re busy.”
“Pete can handle the store. Something I can help with?”
“How permanent is bad juju?” Erik asked. “If a place has seriously bad energy—maybe even cursed—is there a way to fix it?”
Simon was silent for a moment. “It depends. Curses and haunts are certainly real. Usually, there’s a way to dispel them, although it may take a practitioner with unique skills in a difficult case. Some places are just born bad.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ever hear the term ‘genius loci’? It means ‘spirit of a place,’” Simon replied. “People have gotten vibes about places being especially good or particularly bad throughout history. Sometimes it’s not because of anything that happened, but because the energy is either very healthful, or twisted and malicious. If it’s twisted, the best you can do is cordon it off—keep people away. Why?”
Erik told Simon everything that had happened since their last call. Simon heard him out, and it made Erik nervous when his friend didn’t react right away. “Simon?”
“I need to do some digging,” Simon replied. “It sounds like you’ve got a dark genius loci, so simply getting rid of it probably isn’t an option. There might be more that can be done to contain it than your new friends have been able to do. Let me look into the lore and make a few calls. Just…be careful. That kind of bad energy isn’t anything to fool around with. And neither is the Mob.”
“Yeah. I know.” Erik raked his fingers back through his hair. “Believe me, I’m playing it safe. And I’ve sent emails to the folks I’m still in touch with from the art world to see if any of the people I helped put away got out. Just in case this is really about what I used to do, instead of the Commodore.”
“You think that’s possible?”
Erik shrugged, then remembered Simon couldn’t see him. “Maybe. I don’t know which is worse: thinking one of those scumbags put out a hit on me, or believing it’s the local Mob tying up old loose ends.”
“There’s something else bothering you.” Simon didn’t make it a question.
Erik hesitated, then sighed. “Your boyfriend Vic is a cop, right?”
“Homicide detective.”
“How did you win him over? I mean, Ben understands about seeing ghosts. And he’s cool with the images I get from pieces—at least, he says he is. But he sorta freaked when I started talking about mediums and witches.” Erik dropped his voice. “I don’t want to lose him, Simon. I think he could be it for me.”
“Well…” Simon drifted off. “I’m probably the wrong person to ask for advice.
In our case, I almost died. That kinda forced the issue. It’s not a dating technique I recommend.”
“I’d rather not try that. Two close calls in one week are enough for me.”
“I don’t have any psychic insights into your love life,” Simon said. “Although Ben sounds like a good guy. Maybe he just needs time. You haven’t known each other very long.”
“Can you see anything? About the future?” Erik hated the lack of confidence in his voice.
“About you and Ben? No. And remember, the future is always in motion. Everything we do makes changes. So predictions aren’t guarantees.” Simon let the silence play between them. “The only thing I see is an old warehouse, and I get a strong sense of danger. So…stay away from big old abandoned buildings.”
“I think I can promise to do that.” Erik felt oddly dejected that Simon hadn’t said anything that confirmed Alessia’s “soulmate” comment.
“Don’t overthink things,” Simon said.
He’d known Erik long enough that his advice probably came from understanding how Erik’s mind worked as much as it did any psychic abilities.
“Trust your gut. I believe in you.”
“Thanks. I’d better let you get back to work. Say ‘hi’ to Vic for me.”
“Come visit a real beach, where it gets warm enough to actually swim,” Simon teased. “Always good to hear from you.”
Erik stared at his phone for a moment when the call ended. He’d almost hoped that a text or call from Ben would have interrupted his conversation with Simon, but it hadn’t. There was still an hour before Ben was due for dinner. Erik debated whether he needed a second shower or just a change of clothing.
Susan tapped at the glass, and Erik saw she had a tray from Crumble. He let her in and inhaled the smell of coffee, vanilla, and nutmeg.
“I thought you could use an afternoon pick-me-up,” she said, handing off one cup to him. “I know I can!”
Erik gave her a tour of the more interesting items he had cataloged, and they joked about the odd pieces. By the time he had finished showing her everything and had savored the coffee, his mood had lifted considerably.
“I should probably go change clothes,” Erik said. “Ben’s bringing takeout.”
“I’m so happy you two hit it off,” Susan replied, patting his arm. “He seems like a good guy.”
Erik’s phone buzzed. He grabbed it a little too quickly, and read the text, expecting something snarky and sexy in response. Then the words registered, and he felt the bottom drop out of his stomach.
Susan stepped closer. “Erik, what’s wrong?”
Erik swallowed hard, re-reading the text to make sure he hadn’t misunderstood. “It’s Ben. He’s standing me up for dinner.”
“Oh, Erik,” Susan said. “I’m sure that’s not—”
Erik forced himself to ease his grip on the phone before he snapped it in two. “Something’s been wrong all day. We usually text, and he hasn’t responded to anything. And now…”
“Did he give a reason?”
“He said ‘something came up at the office’ and he’s sorry.” Erik knew Susan could hear the hurt in his voice.
“And that’s probably true,” Susan returned. “You know how easy it is to misinterpret an email or a text. It’s probably nothing more than what he says it is.”
“I’ve just had this feeling all day, like the other shoe was going to drop,” Erik said. “I didn’t expect him to ghost on me.”
“Well, his missed opportunity is my good fortune,” Susan replied, brightening. “Because I happen to have a roast chicken in the oven, complete with stuffing. And now I won’t have to eat it all by myself.”
“I…”
“Of course you can!” Susan took his elbow and gently led him toward the door. “I insist. So lock up and come with me. You can help me with the salad. We’ll make an evening of it.” When Erik hung back, Susan gave him what he could only describe as a “mom” glare.
“Come on. Otherwise, you’re going to stick around here and mope and make the whole thing into something bigger than it deserves to be. Things come up. Schedules change. I’m sure there’s a good reason. In the meantime, you can have a good meal with a fascinating companion,” she added, with a joking pat to her hair, “and we’ll watch a movie. You’ll feel better with a full stomach and a little wine.”
Erik let her lead him to the front and locked the door without really thinking about it. “Thank you,” he said, remembering his manners in spite of being preoccupied.
“I raised sons of my own, you know,” she said. “I’m experienced.”
Erik appreciated Susan’s kindness, and he did his best to push his fears to the back of his mind, trying to be good company. They chatted as they worked together to get the meal ready, and Erik found that the wonderful aromas made his stomach growl, when he thought he might be too keyed up to eat.
Susan pressed a glass of wine into his hand. “You only have to walk across the driveway, and it goes well with the chicken. Enjoy life a little.”
“I’m trying.” Erik wanted to keep Susan talking. “Tell me about your kids. They’re all grown, right?”
“My youngest went into the military a few years back, and the oldest went into law enforcement,” she said as she wrapped up her tales. “They’re good boys, and they come over when they can, but they’ve got their own lives, and that’s what’s supposed to happen. It’s nice to have you next door. Like having another son.”
Erik knew Susan missed her late husband. Photos of the two of them and of their family were scattered throughout her comfortable living room. Susan seemed so full of life, practically bursting with enthusiasm as she told him about her new yoga class and the week-long getaway she’d had recently with a group of old friends from college. Erik couldn’t imagine bouncing back like that after losing a partner after decades together, especially since the fond tone in Susan’s voice told him that she and Keith had been very close.
You can’t lose what you don’t have. Ben isn’t here. He ghosted.
Susan seemed to sense the shift in Erik’s mood. “You know, when Keith and I first started dating, we danced around each other before we both knew what we wanted. I know times were different, but maybe not that different. People are people, after all. And I think what spooked both of us was that we realized this wasn’t just another date. We knew it could be the real deal, and as much as we wanted that, it was a little scary. It took time, I guess, for both of us to work up our nerve.”
Erik took a sip of his wine. The meal had been fabulous and filling, the homemade cookies were warm out of the oven, and he had enjoyed himself much more than he expected. Still, worry about Ben’s intentions dragged him down.
“I would really like this to work out with Ben,” he confessed. “I’ve never fallen for someone like this. The way he makes me feel when we’re together…I didn’t think I’d ever find a guy like that. And I know we’ve been moving fast, but I don’t want to lose him.”
“A little advice, if you don’t mind, from someone who was happily married for forty years,” Susan said. “Don’t invent stories in your mind to explain things the other person does or doesn’t do. If you do that, you’re usually wrong, and you can work yourself up into a tizzy. Before you know it, you’ve got your partner tried and convicted in your head, and then you blast them, and it might be you’ve had it all wrong.”
“Did you and Keith ever do that?”
Susan smiled wistfully. “A few times, early on. Until my grandmother took me aside and told me what I just told you. She and Grandpa were married for seventy years, and they were still sneaking kisses and copping feels like teenagers. When we stopped writing those scripts in our minds, we stopped fighting. We started asking and listening and explaining. So…give Ben a chance before you come to dire conclusions.”
Erik nodded. “You’re right. It’s just that…my last relationship didn’t end well.”
“Which isn’t Ben’s fault. It never works to
keep fighting the last war. Don’t worry—no matter how smitten you both are, there will still be plenty of things to disagree about!”
They watched a couple of episodes of a remodeling show and finished off the bottle of wine. Erik started to drowse and realized it was going on eleven. He set his empty glass aside. “I’d better head back. Thank you. You were right—this was just what I needed. I hope I wasn’t bad company.”
Susan grinned. “You did me a favor, helping me eat that chicken dinner! And you’ve been excellent company. Someday I want to hear more about all the interesting places you’ve been and those fantastic museums. But there’s time for that. So go get a good night’s sleep, and things will look better in the morning.”
He saw himself out, insisting that Susan stay curled up on the couch to watch the end of the episode. As Erik walked across the driveway toward home, he resisted the urge to check his phone again for a message from Ben.
If Alessia is right, then we’ll find our way to each other. And if she’s not, and we have to build a relationship the regular way, I’m willing to fight for that.
A gray SUV pulled up in front of Erik, blocking his route to the house. At the same time, a man wearing a ski mask stepped out of the bushes and leveled a gun. “Get into the car.”
“What the—” Erik spun toward the man, forcing his gun hand away, and slammed a fist into the gunman’s jaw. He brought his knee up to the groin, hard, and his heel down on the instep, hearing the crunch of bone.
He heard the slides on two more guns and another voice. “Get in, now, or we’ll drop you right here.”
Erik’s self-defense training didn’t make him an action hero. He thought about resisting—better to die quickly here than face a worse fate somewhere else. But self-preservation overrode, and he let them herd him into the SUV. All three men wore masks. The vehicle was already moving as one attacker held a gun on him while the other zip-tied Erik’s wrists and pulled a cloth bag over his head.
“You’ve got the wrong guy,” Erik protested.
“Don’t think so,” the man next to him said. “Now shut up.”
Erik tried to remember the route, but without being able to see, he quickly lost track of the turns. The bag made it difficult to breathe, and Erik fought panic to keep his breaths slow and regular.
