Suddenly Psychic (Glimmer Lake #1)(73)

“What if you drew him?”

“That would call him, but we want to get rid of him.”

“Right.” Val bit her lip. “I have no idea.”

“Well.” Monica pulled out her phone. “Pretty sure you can find anything on the internet.”





Two days later, Robin, Val, and Monica were still batting theories around. Grandma Helen had seemed to perk up with Raymond’s arrival, and there was a happy hum in the house. Helen was still in and out of consciousness, but between the nurses, the company, and the music and movies the kids had on, she seemed comfortable, even if she was sleeping most of the time.

Robin had nearly convinced herself that taking all of Grandfather Russell’s things out of the attic had done the trick. That was until she visited the attic again. The earthy smell still lingered, and the cold was even more pervasive.

“Sage.” Val put down a book she’d picked up from the library. “I’m pretty sure we need sage.”

“Are we going to cook his spirit out of the house?”

“No, for burning.” Val turned the book around. “It’s called smudging. I’ve read about it in a couple of different places now. I think we definitely need sage.”

Monica said, “I read about the sage thing too.”

“Is it the same sage you use for cooking?” Robin asked.

“If it is,” Monica said, “I’ve got a whole bunch of that. I dried it from the garden this summer.”

“I think it’s different.” Val looked at the book again. “I’ll keep reading.”

“I feel like salt keeps coming up too.” Robin stood and stretched her back. “Is anyone else reading a lot about salt?”

“Yes,” Monica said. “Salt in doorways and windows. But that’s supposed to keep ghosts out I think, and we already have one in.”

“Josh got Andy one of those salt guns last summer,” Val said. “Maybe that would work. We could shoot the ghost out.”

“Salt gun?” Monica frowned. “What—?”

“It’s for bugs. The boys think it’s hilarious. They shoot mosquitoes, flies—”

“With salt?”

Val shrugged. “I mean, is it any worse than those electric zappers?”

“Look at this.” Robin held out her phone. “Apparently, amethyst will dispel negative energy. Do you guys have any amethyst jewelry?”

“Do we really believe in crystals now?” Val asked. “Are we those people? Are we going to start putting crystal eggs in our vaginas next?”

“Good Lord!” Robin stared at Val. “Do people do that? Why?”

“I have no idea, but it seems like the same people who put crystal eggs in their hoo-has might be the same people who wear amethysts to dispel negative energy.”

“So we’re judging folk wisdom about gemstones now?” Monica just looked at her. “How’s your headache from the last telepathic vision, Val? You need any more aspirin?”

“Fine, point taken. Apparently we are the people who believe in crystals.” Val muttered, “I’m not putting anything in my vagina though.”

Robin said, “Considering how tense you’ve been, I’d say that’s pretty obvious.”

Monica snorted.

Val looked up with a smile. “Yeah, but you and Mark seemed to have made up, so I can’t say the same to you.”

“Thank God,” Monica said. “You are so much more relaxed.”

“No comment.” Robin glanced at Val, then at Monica. “You know who I’ve been thinking we should bring in on this?”

“Who?” Monica asked.

“Sully.” Robin didn’t miss the look of alarm on Val’s face. “Don’t you think he’d be helpful?”

Monica immediately picked up what Robin was doing. “You know, maybe. I don’t think he’d be as skeptical as he seems.”

“Both of you shut the fuck up. I know what you’re trying to pull,” Val muttered. “Just stop.”

“What we’re trying to pull?” Monica batted her eyes at Val. “What would that be?”

Val slammed her book down. “Okay, we had one… thing. A few months ago.”

“I knew it!” Monica said.

“And you didn’t tell us?” Robin asked. “What the heck, Val?”

“It didn’t go well, and we’re just trying to forget about it, okay?”

“I don’t sense things being forgotten.” Robin’s eyes went wide. “Monica, you’re Catholic!”

“Uh, yeah. Have been for years. What does that have to do with Val and Sully?”

“Nothing, but that means you know priests!”

“I know a priest. Father Frank.”

Val narrowed her eyes. “Neither Sully nor I are Catholic. What does that have to do—”

“I’m not talking about your love life anymore,” Robin said. “I’m thinking about priests.”

Neither Monica nor Val said anything.

“You know, priests who can do exorcisms.”

“Uh, Robin, I don’t really think Father Frank is trained in exorcism or anything. I mean, he doesn’t even teach the catechism all that well. Gil was the one who had to help the boys with—”