Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(127)

“I don’t want them hurt,” Belle said softly.

“Belle –” Jack started but she shook her head.

“Or afraid,” Belle went on. “I don’t want them hurt or afraid.”

“Poppet, you said Lewis was there and he saw something. We need to know what he saw,” Jack replied gently.

“I know, Jack, but I don’t care. They’re children,” Belle said.

“They’ve been around for two hundred years,” Yasmin put in.

Belle looked at Cassandra and Angus. “That’s true. Do they age mentally?”

Angus looked like he was biting the inside of his lip. Cassandra took in a deep breath.

“Well?” Belle pushed.

“They’re arrested,” Cassandra answered. “They experience life on our plane and they learn, say, about cars and fashions and news. But, they don’t mature. At least not in my experience. Angus?” she turned to the Scotsman.

“No, lass, they’re still wee ones,” Angus replied. “Like Cass said, arrested, psychologically and emotionally.”

Belle looked back to Jack and repeated, “I don’t want them hurt or afraid.”

Jack studied her a moment then looked at Angus. “Does that tie our hands?”

“A bit, lad,” Angus replied. “We’ll have to get creative.”

“Then get creative,” Jack demanded.

“What happens now?” Joy asked.

Everyone looked at Angus and Cassandra.

It was Cassandra who spoke.

“First, we have to know what we’re dealing with. Is there another entity, or not?” She glanced around the table and then went on, “Second, if there’s another entity, we need to know who he is and what his purpose is here. And, once we know that, we need to decide what to do with him.” She looked around the table again and then continued, “Third, we need to understand what the children know about this other entity and their own situation. Our goal is to release them but we’ve no idea how to do that. There are ways to dispose of ghosts but that means disposal. We want these children to go to the next plane. To do that, we have to find out how to help them get there. It’s different for every ghost, what will send them to the next plane, whichever one they’re destined for. From local lore, the children seem to have some idea which is good, most ghosts don’t. We’ll need to piece it all together and see what we can do.”

She stopped talking but everyone kept looking at her.

“That’s it?” Yasmin asked.

“It isn’t an exact science,” Cassandra answered.

“It isn’t science at all,” Dad muttered.

Angus ignored Dad and added, “I think we may need to bring in reinforcements.”

“How much is that going to cost?” Gram asked, her voice rising.

Angus opened his mouth to speak but Jack got there first.

“Do it.”

Angus closed his mouth and his eyes swung to Jack.

“Do it, I don’t give a f**k who it is, how sane they are or how much they cost,” Jack clipped. “Just do it. I want this done.”

Angus nodded but he said stoutly, “Lad, The McPhersons charge by the job, not the hour. It’s the same flat fee for everyone.”

“And I’m knocking my rate down fifty percent, because, well,” Cassandra stopped talking, her eyes hit Belle, Belle’s cheeks became hot and Cassandra looked back at Jack, “just because.”

“Dude and dudette, I don’t know if you read the papers,” Dad informed them, “but Jack’s loaded. He drives a Jag. I know, I rode in it yesterday. It’s sah… weet.”

Before Belle could take exception to her father encouraging the Ghost Helpers to overcharge Jack, her mother perked up.

“Speaking of cars, Jack, I’ve been meaning –”

Belle’s blood pressure soared and, as it did so, her mouth said, “Mom –”

“In a minute, honeypot,” Rachel didn’t even look at Belle but kept talking to Jack, “See, her car –”

“Mom!” Belle snapped.

“What about her car?” Dad asked and then he looked at Belle. “Isn’t it safe?”

“It’s safe, Dad,” Belle assured her father and looked at her mother. “And Mom, shut up.”

“What’s this about?” Jack asked, his eyes narrowed.

“Rachel wants you to buy Belle a Jag. British racing green.” Yasmin explained helpfully and Belle’s heart squeezed.

Belle clutched Jack’s hand which still held hers and said urgently, “Jack, you don’t have to buy me –”

But Jack was looking at Olive, “See to it.”

Belle’s mouth dropped open.

“Yee ha!” Rachel shouted.

Olive nodded and said firmly, “Done.”

Lila grinned at Belle.

So did Joy.

“And Rachel and I want to be car twins,” Yasmin added, pressing the advantage. Belle heard the blood rushing to her ears and wondered if you could fight back a stroke.

“What kind of car do you drive?” Dad asked.

“Audi TT coupe,” Yasmin answered.

“Sah… weet.” Dad smiled.