Ghost Writer(55)

I smiled at the memory. Riley was cute.

“Stay with us, Jen,” Franchot said, summoning me back to reality.

A sharp point scraped my foot.

“Hey!”

Gravell was a little gentler on the other foot.

I was released from the board and Franchot reached under me to manipulate my spine. He executed the task with professional indifference. Next he tested my ability to move arms and legs. Finally the brace came off. I was allowed to sit up and ice arrived for the lump on my head. Feeling slightly nauseous, I looked around the room carefully. The ghosts were still hanging around. Great.

A crewman came in and spoke to Franchot in heavily accented French. I only caught a few words. “X-ray” and “Nottawasaga” stood out.

“I fainted,” I said, just in case anyone was interested.

“And hit your head on the rail,” said Gravell.

“How long was I out?”

“We're not sure. Lil was looking for you. I suggested the foredeck and accompanied her. There you were.” His tone was tight, controlled, all business. “Why did you faint?”

“Good question.”

Gravell wanted better answers. I looked at him, then beyond him to the ghostly crew. Margolo grinned sheepishly. Dawes and Naire appeared apologetic. The others were impassive. I focussed my gaze back on Gravell.

“I want to go to bed. I know I can't go to sleep for a while, but I want to tuck up in bed. I'm cold and shaky.”

Gravell nodded to me. He understood. He explained to Franchot. I got the tail end as he walked back to me.

“Dr. Stern wants her in sick bay for x-rays. He’s agreed it can wait until the morning, but he wants her under observation.”

“I'll stay with her tonight.” It was a statement that did not invite opposition.

“Works for me,” I said, swinging my legs to the side and sliding toward the floor.

Three men and seven ghosts started towards me.

“Hold it!” I yelped, pulling myself upright with the help of the stretcher. “I'm okay. Skipper, let Doc know I'll see him as soon as possible tomorrow. I’ll need help to my cabin and my shoes back. Chief Gravell, can you meet me there with coffee? I’m serious. Coffee, not tea. And maybe something plain to eat, like croissants.”

Then I forgot myself momentarily.

“The rest of you, give me some peace, okay?”





Chapter Thirty ~ Revelations



Lil helped me to the cabin and offered to stay with me. I declined. As I pointed out, Gravell would insist in staying anyway. No point in two people being tied up.

“I could use some help before he gets here.”

I really wanted a shower. Just a quick one to warm me up. Although I felt less shaky, I knew I’d catch all kinds of grief if I showered alone. After, Lil helped me get into my nightshirt and tucked up comfortably, all while keeping up a steady stream of tales when she had been injured in embarrassing ways. She was telling me about rear-ending a cheating husband she had been following when Gravell arrived.

“I felt so bad, but there was nothing I could do. I hit a patch of black ice and just slid until I hit his car. Awkward. Worse, he was so nice about it. I felt like a real heel when I turned over photos of him and his lover to his wife.”

“Did he ever know it was you?”

“Never saw him again, thank heaven. Now, I better go so Gravell can have his way with you. Let me know if you want me to pick up the pieces later.”

Gravell was not a happy camper. He rounded on me the moment the door closed behind Lil. “Never, ever, go off by yourself again. If I’m not unavailable stay with the group.”

“No one attacked me. I fainted, for heaven's sake.”

“Why? Did the ghost possess you again?”

He said it like he really meant, ‘Did you have a delusional episode again?’

I stared at him. Thoughts were buzzing around my head like angry bees. They made my brain ache. Why did I trust Gravell with my secret? What if he was right about me being delusional? How dare he get mad at me when I hadn’t done anything wrong?

Finally there was acknowledgement that Gravell had a point. I shouldn't be by myself. Whether it was ghosts or delusions doing it, I had passed out twice and almost been killed two other times.

“Fine, however, unless I'm working or in a group, it will have to be you watching my back. I don't want anyone else thinking I'm a nut-bar.”

“I don't think you're a nut-bar, Madame Kirby,” he said, his tone gentle and suddenly tired. He sat at Dora's desk and poured tea for himself and coffee for me. He brought to mugs over and gave me one, then sat at the edge of the bed.

“Was it Minton?”

I shook my head.

“It was the rest of them. They were rather overwhelming. With the exception of animals, I've only ever seen one ghost at a time and even then, excepting Minton, not since I was a teen. This evening I had seven closing in on me.”

“Why?”

“I don't know.” Yes I did, I thought. “They want something from me.”

I narrowed my eyes at Gravell, weighing what to say and what to keep to myself. It was disturbing the way I mistook Margolo's spirit for someone living and how real ghostly whiskers had felt when they tickled my neck. One moment I was alone, the next, I was surrounded. I shivered with the memory.