Page 18 of Dead Calm (Cold Case Psychic #38)

Ten was frozen to his bones. If he lived to be a hundred, he’d never forget the look of pure hatred on Ronan’s face when Everly was trying to get rid of the spirit possessing him. Ronan’s response had been getting sick to his stomach, while Ten felt like his blood had turned to ice in his veins.

Leaving Jude to take care of Ronan, Ten, Cope, and Everly were in the kids’ bedroom, surrounded by unicorn stuffies and Ezra’s toys.

“What do we do next? Cope asked, still looking shaken.

“We need to find a way to bring that spirit back without the risk of it trying to possess someone else. Is there a way to do that?” Ten’s eyes were on Cope. He had a feeling the only way to handle this spirit was through the use of spells.

“We could use a spell jar,” Cope said.

“What’s that?” Everly wore an excited look on her face.

“You take a jar and fill it with pebbles or broken glass or coffin nails and command the spirit to count every pebble in every river or every nail in the world. The trap keeps the spirit occupied and would break any haunting the spirit had on this hotel.”

“We could use sand. We’ve got plenty of that on the beach,” Everly suggested.

“That’s a great idea. What do we use for a jar to contain the spell and the spirit?” Ten asked.

“I don’t suppose anyone brought a mason jar. I know we didn’t.” Cope frowned. “I’ve got it! Remember the first night we were here and had drinks at the bar?

Ten nodded. “Could we use a beer bottle?”

Cope shook his head. “There’s no way to reseal the cap once it’s popped off, but I saw Lainie use bottled club soda for a patron who wanted a vodka and soda. It had a screw cap. I think that might work.

“Let’s head down to the bar and grab one. Have the hotel charge it to our room.” Ten was on his feet. He saw Jude sitting with Ronan. He sat beside his husband on the sofa. “Babe, we need to go to the beach.”

Ronan shook his head. “This isn’t exactly a beach day with the rain and high surf.”

“I know, but Cope has a way to trap the spirit to keep it from harming or possessing anyone else. We need sand from the beach.” Ten pressed a kiss to Ronan’s forehead. “Let’s go.”

Ten could feel his entire body buzzing with energy just like it had the last time he and Everly helped Cope with a spell. He ushered everyone out of the hotel room and into the elevator. “We need to make a quick stop in the bar before we head to the beach.”

Ronan wore a confused look, but Jude just laughed. “I just go with it when Cope gets like this. It’s faster and easier not to ask questions.

When they got off the elevator, Ten ran into the Taproom and walked behind the bar, grabbing one of the club soda bottles. He quickly unscrewed the cap and dumped the liquid into the bar sink.

“Are there any napkins and pens back there?” Cope asked, taking a seat at the bar.

Ten quickly found a stack of cocktail napkins. He grabbed a few and set them in front of Cope. “Is this enough?”

“Yeah, I only need one.”

Ten walked further down the bar and found a beer glass filled with pens. He grabbed two of them. “Here you go.” He watched as Cope began to write the spell on the napkin. Ten grabbed one and left a note for the bartender to add the club soda to their room bill.

“What did you write, Uncle Cope?” Everly asked.

“I forbid the malignant spirit of Hurricane Pointe to cross our path or to harm our families. We command you to count every seashell in the ocean, count every grain of sand on every beach beside every ocean, until the sun rises and shines upon you. Begone evil one!” Cope rolled the cocktail napkin and placed it into the bottle before screwing on the cap.

“What we need to do is fill this with sand and shells. We’ll read the spell and put the cap on.

I’ve seen this spell done before, but have never tried it myself.

I’m not entirely sure what will happen.”

“We trust you.” Everly patted Cope’s hand. “Let’s go do this!” She hopped off her stool and ran out of the bar. Ten and Cope followed behind her.

Ronan, Jude, and Fitz were waiting by the back doors leading to the porch and the sea beyond.

“I’m glad you’re here Fitz. We need you for the spell.” Cope went onto the porch.

“Why do I need to be here?” Fitz asked. “I haven’t got a magical bone in my entire body.”

Jude snorted. “I bet Jace would disagree.”

“Asshole.” Fitz rolled his eyes and headed outside.

“Is this gonna work?” Ronan asked Ten.

“Yes. Cope wrote a spell to keep all three families safe, which is why he was glad Fitz was with you. He knows what he’s doing, so follow along and do what he says, okay?”

“Okay.” Ronan opened the door and was hit with a blast of wind. He took Ten’s hand and pulled him outside.

It was no surprise to Ten that they were the only people on the beach.

The wind sandblasted his face and arms. Thankfully, he’d worn jeans and not shorts.

Giant waves broke against the shore. Ten wasn’t a meteorologist by any stretch of the word, but he could see Sophie was on their doorstep, ready to rock and roll.

When Ten and Ronan reached the others, they were beachcombing.

“Each of you try to find a small shell that will fit through the mouth of the bottle,” Cope said. He knelt on the beach with his back to the wind and the ocean.

Ten and Ronan quickly found two small snail shells and brought them back to Cope.

“What I need you to do is pass around the bottle. Add your shells and some sand. When the bottle comes back to me, I’m going to read the spell and screw on the cap. Got it?”

There were nods all around. Cope handed the bottle to Jude, who added his shell and some sand.

Fitz, Ronan, Everly, and Ten did the same thing.

When Ten handed the bottle to Cope, he added his own shell and enough sand to fill the bottle.

“I forbid the malignant spirit of Hurricane Pointe to cross our path or to harm our families. We command you to count every seashell in the ocean, count every grain of sand on every beach beside every sea, until the sun rises and shines upon you. Obey my order, evil one!” He screwed the cap onto the jar and set it on the beach, it immediately started rocking back and forth before bouncing into the air.

“I’m guessing that means it worked?” Fitz asked, getting back to his feet and backing away from the bottle, which continued to move.

“It definitely worked,” Cope agreed. “What we need to do now is figure out what to do with the bottle.”

“Throw it in the ocean,” Ronan suggested.

“No way,” Ten said. “With the way this storm is pounding the coast, it’s likely that the bottle will break on the rocks or on the shore when the tide comes back in.”

“Let’s bury it. That way the sun can’t shine on it,” Jude said.

“No! That’s my son!” a voice boomed out of nowhere.

Fitz grabbed Jude’s arm. Both men looked scared to death. It was obvious they’d heard the voice as well.

“Who are you?” Tennyson shouted. “Show yourself!”

An older man appeared on the beach. He was dressed in grey, woolen pants, with a matching greatcoat and black top hat. “Davidson Holbrook, at your service.” He bowed and doffed his hat. “This is my home and that is my son, Henry! I command you to release him at once!”

“Have you been aware of Henry’s behavior toward guests of this hotel? Did you see what he did to my husband this morning?” Ten asked.

The angry look drained from Davidson’s face.

“Henry was always a difficult child. He grew into a young man who seemed to have no place in this world. When the war began, he joined the 2 nd Rhode Island Infantry Unit. I’d never been so proud of my son.

It seemed the war changed him overnight.

The letters I received from him were upbeat, never once asking to come home.

He was promoted after Bull Run. Fell in love with a nurse who was caring for his fellow soldiers. They planned to get married.”

Tennyson knew this was where the story turned darker. “What happened?”

“The nurse sent Henry a letter telling him that she’d married someone else.

My son was destroyed. I cautioned him not to let his heart rule his head, but he didn’t listen to me.

According to a letter I received from one of Henry’s friends, he fought like a beast at Gettysburg.

He was reckless and didn’t seem to care if he was killed, which is what happened on the third day of the battle.

July 3, 1863. Henry was twenty years old. ”

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Holbrook. No father should ever lose a child.” Ten meant every word. As Holbrook spoke, he’d been able to feel the man’s pain. It nearly broke Ten. He had no idea how the man carried that burden.

“Thank you. I agree.”

“What we need you to understand is that Henry has been hurting people. Possessing men working at the hotel and assaulting women. He possessed my husband this morning and he came close to harming our daughter. He can’t be allowed to continue this reign of terror.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but how do I help Henry to rest in peace after all this time?” Holbrook looked broken hearted.

“I can help with that,” Everly said. The white light appeared behind Holbrook.

Tennyson could see dozens of Union soldiers standing guard, waiting for their lost compatriot to join them. “If we release Henry, will he go into the light?”

“I’m not sure,” Cope said. “Speak to him, Mr. Holbrook. Tell Henry what he needs to do in order to find his rest.” He picked up the bottle, which continued to twitch and move.

“Henry, this is Papa. Your temper must cease. It is time we leave this cursed place and find peace. Let me take you to paradise.”

As Holbrook spoke, the bottle stilled in Cope’s hand. He unscrewed the cap and dumped the sand and shells onto the beach. The spell fell out with it. Cope picked it up.

Henry materialized beside his father. He was dressed in his Union blue uniform, looking impossibly young. His hands were balled into fists as his sides. “The light doesn’t want me. It never did. It appeared for others but not for me.”

“You had unresolved anger that needed to be dealt with,” Tennyson said. “I promise the light is here for you now. Your regiment is waiting for you to join them.” Ten pointed behind the soldier.

Henry turned to look at them and gasped. “How is this possible?”

“With love,” Everly said. “I can feel how much you love your Papa.”

Henry wrapped his arms around his father and hugged him. “I’m sorry I hurt so many people.”

“We forgive you, Henry. Go be happy with your friends. Let your soul fly free.” Everly smiled at the spirit.

“Thank you,” Davidson said, leading his son into the light.

“Holy shit!” Fitz grabbed onto Jude. “Is that what happens every time you help spirits? I saw the light. The actual light.” He sounded stunned.

Everly giggled. “Yup.” She reached for his hand. “Let’s get back inside and dry off, Uncle Fitz, I’ll tell you all about what happened.”

Nodding, Fitz walked away with Everly.

“Speaking of going inside and drying off,” Ronan said, looking out over the ocean. “It looks like this storm is strengthening. I know we said we’d leave tomorrow, but I’m thinking today would be better.”

“Me too,” Jude agreed. “We’ll get the kids from Jace and get packing. We can stop for lunch when we hit Providence. I’ll feel much better when we’re away from the ocean, and this place.”

Ten couldn’t argue with that rationale. “There’s one more thing I need to do. I’ll be up in a minute.”

Jude nodded and took Cope’s hand. Both men headed for the hotel.

“What’s the one more thing you need to do?” Ronan asked.

“Walt,” Ten said. “After the spirit left your body, you said it wasn’t Walt who’d possessed you. I think he’s still here. I can’t leave until I make sure he’s at rest.”

“Make it fast.” Ronan grinned and pressed a kiss to Ten’s temple.

“Walt? Are you here? Henry’s gone. He can’t hurt you anymore. Please come to me.” Ten turned around in a slow circle hoping to see the young spirit.

“I’m here.” A young man dressed in torn pants, suspenders and a shirt which once had been white, but now was black with dirt. “Henry forced me to do dreadful things to Vivienne. I didn’t want to kill her, but I wasn’t able to stop him.”

“Henry’s been stopped for good, now. It’s time for you to crossover. Find your family and some well-deserved peace.” As Ten spoke, the light reappeared.

“Thank you, Tennyson.” Walt turned toward the light. “Vivienne?” He ran toward her, lifting her off the ground.

The last thing Ten heard was Vivienne’s musical laughter. He took Ronan’s hand. “Let’s get the hell out of Dodge.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Ronan grabbed Ten’s hand and ran toward the hotel.

Tennyson felt light as a feather, as if he could fly. He’d sent three spirits to their eternal rest. It didn’t get much better than that. All of his jumbled emotions faded away as he and Ronan ran toward the warmth of the hotel.

Toward his family.