Page 85 of Medium

There was a shocked pause, then Arch sputtered, “I’m sorry, what? You’re the ghost? We’re talking to aghost?”

Carlyle curled his lip. “I’m still a human being, you know. I’ve just moved on to the next level, or whatever the video game reference is, in case that makes it easier for your tiny brain to understand.”

Granny sniffed. “This new generation has no respect for their elders.”

“Wait, who’s that speaking?”

“I’d like to introduce you to Shane’s grandmother, Dimi Costa. She’s joined us too.” Ellis was losing his patience. “Something about our connection seems to have given Rory the ability to make ghosts visible and audible to others.”

“Holy shit! Um, I mean, wow.”

“I’ve heard swearing before, Uncle Arch. Don’t worry about it.” Pia’s voice dripped with all the disdain of a teenager. Damn. And she was only thirteen.

Granny disappeared.

Carlyle cleared his throat. “Right. As I was saying?—”

Granny popped back into the seat next to me. “I went over to their car, but they couldn’t see or hear me.”

“Good to know. Thanks, Dimi.” Rory glanced back at her with a smile.

“Wait, one of the ghosts was over here? I—” Ahead of us, Arch’s SUV slowed down, and I felt Rory take his foot off the gas so we didn’t crowd them.

Manny intervened. “Arch, shut it. You can have your ghost crisis later. Let Grandpa talk so we can take down Randolph Chamberlain.” I was a little worried about whether Manny would murder Arch if they had to spend the night in the same apartment. At least Ms. Jackson would be there.

“Ahem. Thank you, Manuel.” Carlyle glared out the window at the other SUV. “As I was saying, my friends Garfield and Mercy, who were Wonders before their passing, have been following?—”

“You mean haunting!” Manny called out.

Carlyle gritted his teeth for a second before continuing. “They have been following Randolph Chamberlain and my son, Hugo Blackbourne. Just before Pia’s rescue, Chamberlain showed her to Hugo, and we overheard Hugo ask Chamberlain to help him acquire a Wonder of his own. Since Chamberlain has had trouble, ah, keeping his captives alive, we believe he will get Hugo to take over the care of his next Wonder.”

“Wait. Sorry, excuse me for interrupting.” Arch must’ve taken a manners pill while Carlyle was speaking. “How did Chamberlain react to Pia’s disappearance? Did he search for her?”

Carlyle cackled. “Nope. Some of the staff helped Rory get Pia out, and they put some dead branches in the cage where she’d been held. Chamberlain didn’t question it.”

I chuckled along with everyone else.

“Anyway, today Chamberlain told Hugo he got a text from his contact for the auction. And, we can’t touch his phonewithout killing it, but, Arch, if you can hack into it, Mercy knows when the text came in so you can trace it.”

“Probably a burner phone, but it’s worth looking into, thanks.”

“He called Hugo right away, and they’re going to the auction together. Chamberlain’s already wired a deposit.”

I felt sick thinking of the Wonders who were being held prisoner and sold.

“Where’s it going to be?”

“He didn’t say the address, but it’s a warehouse on Chappell Street on the East side.”

I snorted. “Yeah, that makes sense. The cops don’t go down that way after dark.”

“Okay, thanks, Carlyle. Anything else?” Arch was in full professional mode now.

“Just that they’re supposed to get there at 10pm.”

“Got it. I’ll call my team. Thanks, and let me know if you find out anything else.”

Rory ended the call. “Thanks, Grandfather. I’m glad you ghosts hung around Chamberlain and Uncle Hugo.”