Page 151 of Ghost

Chapter Fifty-One

"How much do you think they got?”Mason asked before popping a cool green grape into his mouth.

“I have no idea,” Ellen sighed.“From the deposit slips in the back of the ledger, I’d say quite a bit.”

Gerald popped into the room.“They are going to search the cellar.They have found some cables that have been run through the floor behind her desk.I’d say they are for the surveillance cameras they set up.”He then disappeared.

Francis slowly appeared next to Mason.“It is quite fascinating to watch the police of this age.One thing is for certain, they are very thorough.From what I have been able to understand, there is no doubt that the two of them are guilty.”

“Have the cameras been turned off?”Ellen asked.

“They have not, but the listening devices have been disabled,” Francis answered.“Unfortunately, I do not understand such technology or the jargon they use.I wish....”he trailed off.“I will return if I learn of anything else.”He smiled at Mason affectionately before quickly fading away.

“Why would they not disable the cameras as well?”Ellen asked.

“Because, my dear,” Gerald said suddenly appearing.“They are for insurance purposes.I am sure that you will find that it gives us a nice discount on all the insurance policies.I am also quite positive that only microphones were in the bedrooms because the camera surveillance is very expensive and not deductible for tax or insurance reasons.”

Mason pushed himself away from the table.“If you’ll excuse me, I think I need to lie down for a bit.”He rubbed his stomach with one hand and wiped his brow with the other hand.“I think the heat’s getting to me.”

When Mason entered his...theirbedroom, Gerald was there waiting for him.

“I need to speak with you, Mason.”Gerald had a gentle look on his face that Mason had not seen before.“You can’t ask Francis to stay again.He won’t be able to say no to you, especially now that he has returned to his beloved home.”

Mason looked around the room, the very room that Francis had grown up in.He looked at Gerald.“I don’t know if I can just let him go.I’m not sure I can.”

“Youmust, Mason.”Gerald walked towards him.“We have all discussed this and it cannot be.Please tell me that you will not try and make him stay.”

“Where is Francis?”

Gerald turned towards the window.“He and Ellen are in the rose garden.She is having the same talk with him as I am with you.”Gerald turned back to Mason.“You must let him go.”He shoved his hands into his pockets.“I regret not leaving soon after my own death.It was not fair to Ellen, and you know how much I love that woman.I was terribly wrong.So very wrong and selfish.”Gerald looked into Mason’s eyes.

Mason could see that Gerald’s eyes were shiny, as if were about to cry.He could only nod, otherwise he would start to cry himself.

Gerald also nodded and then slowly faded away.

* * * * *

Mason was lying in the bed, staring at the ceiling, the bed clothes pushed all the way down.There was a light breeze causing the curtains to flutter slightly making the moonlight dance across the floor.

“You know I can’t look at you, right?”

“And yet, I can see nothing but you,” Francis whispered.

“I promised Gerald something.”

“I am sure it is a promise that is similar to the one I made to Ellen.”

“Why is this so hard?”Mason quickly wiped away a tear that had escaped.

“Life,anddeath are sometimes hard, my love.”Francis let out a long breath, or what would have been a breath had he been a living being.“This is hard for me as well, Mason, but it must be this way.You have a very long life ahead of you and you must be free to live it.”

“But....”Mason started.