“Psychic, remember?” Ten laughed. “What’s up?”
“My father is back and scaring people on the Ferris wheel. Little kids were coming off the ride screaming and crying. We had to shut it down for the day. There are reporters here interviewing park guests in the parking lot and asking about what they witnessed. I’ve gotten phone calls from three different local television stations and another from CNN wanting to interview me. I declined. What the hell am I going to do? We’ve only been open for a month, and if I can’t get my father under control, we won’t last the summer. I need your help.”
When he and Everly encountered Kotter Brighthouse’s spirit on the Ferris wheel, only the two of them could see and hear him. Ronan couldn’t see or hear him at all. The same went for Cope and Jude, who were in the car below them. Kotter had apparently upped his game. “It’s obvious to me he has a pointhe wants to make. Something to tell you or your mother, and he’s doing everything in his limited power to get that message across.”
“What’s the message?” Baxter asked, sounding tired.
“I might have an idea about that. Kotter visited my daughter last night.”
“He did what?” Baxter sounded beside himself. “Why the hell didn’t you call me?”
Ten couldn’t help thinking Baxter sounded like a spoiled brat in need of a nap. “Uh, because the last time you and I were in the same room, you and your mother kicked me out and told me not to come back.”
“You have to help me,” Baxter begged. “I’ll pay for your services, you know, like the Ghostbusters. Just get rid of my father’s ghost.”
Ten rolled his eyes. It was useless to try to explain that he couldn’t make Kotter Brighthouse go away. “I’m not a Ghostbuster, and there’s no need to pay me. Ronan and I can meet you tomorrow around ten. I’ll tell you what I know and see if Kotter is more put together than he was the last time I spoke with him.”
“What do you mean, more together?” Baxter asked.
“He seemed discombobulated. As if he didn’t know where he was or what was going on. Some spirits have a hard time accepting that they’re dead. Others fight like hell to have their last message heard. It feels like your father has a foot firmly in each camp. Text me your phone number, and I’ll let you know when we’re on our way.”
“Okay, and thank you, Tennyson.”
“Sure thing.” Ten ended the call and tried to think of the best way to present this latest development to Ronan. His husband wasn’t going to be happy that another visit to Fun-A-Rama was in his future. One that didn’t include taming the Viper or chowing down on a metric ton of chicken fingers and ice cream.
15
Ronan
Ronan had listened to Tennyson’s recap of the call with Baxter with an open mind. It was clear the man needed help, but why did it have to be Tennyson? There were at least a dozen other mediums in Salem who would have been more than happy to lend a hand in exchange for a piece of the public attention that would come with such a high-profile amusement park and the murder of a beloved member of the community. He’d done what a good husband would do and told Ten he’d go with him in the morning and help settle this matter once and for all.
He wanted Jude and Fitzgibbon to come with them. Thankfully, both men agreed. Ronan wanted Fitz to be there to make a record of what he saw and heard, and he wanted Jude’s muscle. Mary Lou Conrad had seemed a bit volatile, and he knew Jude would be the perfect person to talk her down if things got rough.
“Dad?” Everly walked into his bedroom while Ronan was buttoning his shirt. “I want to come with you to see Mr. Baxter.”
Ronan sighed. He had a feeling his daughter wanted to put her Miss Marple hat on again. “Not this time, honey. I didn’t like the way Baxter and his mother treated us when we tried to help them, and I don’t want to go to jail for punching their lights out for being little shits to you.”
“That’snotfair.” Everly’s eyes flashed with anger.
“I know it’s not. Do you remember when you FaceTimed us when we were helping Marie Fairbanks?” Ronan remembered that Everly’s call had come at just the right time.
Everly nodded but stayed silent.
“If you have any information about this case, ask Uncle Cope to use his phone to call me, okay? I have a feeling these people are dangerous, and there’s no way in hell I’m putting you in the line of fire.”
“I know you’re trying to protect me, but I can take care of myself. I’m tiny but mighty, remember?” Everly stuck her chin out defiantly. In that moment, Ronan saw a glimpse of the woman she would become.
Ronan chuckled. “You certainly are, honey.” He wasn’t sure where to go next. Nothing his daughter could say would make him take her with him today. “Kotter Brighthouse came to see you yesterday. I have a feeling he’ll do the same thing again if he needs help. You’re our secret weapon.”
“Me? A secret weapon?” Everly looked delighted by the idea.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Ronan grinned at his daughter. “You have this way with spirits who need help. They trust you.” Ronan took a deep breath. “And so do I. It’s the assholes around you I don’t trust as far as I can throw them.”
Everly climbed into Ronan’s lap and hugged him. “I love you, Dad, even when you’re annoying.”
Ten hooted a quick laugh from the hallway. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“Everly wants to come with us today, and I was giving her reasons why she can’t.” Ronan hoped Ten would side with him on this one, but if Ten really wanted Everly to come, she would.
