Spookshow 11 by Tim McGregor

Author:Tim McGregor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tim McGregor
Published: 2021-07-13T09:53:04+00:00

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They drove up the escarpment, west along Ridge Road to take in the view of the city and the lake beyond. He showed them the vast gorge of the Devil's Punchbowl, their voices echoing down into the bowl of shale rock. Back in the city, they had stopped to look at two vacant storefronts listed in the newspaper. Both would have suited Mary perfectly. Late afternoon, they got take-out from a burger stand and went down to the waterfront for a picnic.

Watching the gulls glide over the harbor, Mary relaxed into a rare bubble of contentment. The day was bright and clear, the food good, and her complicated little family didn't seem all that complicated anymore. Hope was not something that Mary Agnes indulged in very often. It always came with caveats. Try as she might, she could not see one this time. She was a psychic, after all. What was she missing?

"What's the catch, Frank? What am I not seeing?"

His laughter was quiet. "That's your paranoia talking."

"No, it's history. Yours and mine."

"Then it's the Catholic in you," he said. "You won't let yourself be happy."

Mary looked out over the grass to where their daughter was picking daisies. "You have to admit, this all seems too good to be true."

"I get the skepticism. Lord knows I've given you plenty of reasons for it. But things are different now. I'm different."

To her credit, Mary Agnes did not roll her eyes. Above them, the gulls circled and called.

"Last April," he said, "I woke up on my birthday and realized how lost I was. 32-years old, and living like a goddamn hobo. I thought about giving up, just pulling the plug because of the mess I'd made. That was when I met Evelyn. Everything changed then."

Mary considered herself fairly skilled at detecting bullshit. It came in handy with clients. And with Frank over the years. She didn't detect any now. The man was choking on his words, almost close to tears.

"Evelyn?" she said. "The guru you mentioned?"

He laughed. "Guru isn't the right word. Teacher. Mentor, maybe."

"And she turned your life around?"

"She made me see how I had screwed up so bad, the flaws that kept tripping me up. And all the pain I had caused to others. First and foremost, you and Billie."

Her radar pinged for the first time. Not exactly bullshit, but something unsaid. "This Evelyn," she said. "She's your girlfriend? Lover?"

Another laugh bubbled out of him. "No, nothing like that. She is probably the wisest person I've ever met. And I want you to meet her."

Another ping. Mary became diplomatic. "Yeah. Maybe someday."

"No, today. I want you to meet her today. Before you head back." He scrutinized her face as he said this, knowing his intent was not getting through. "This is important to me. I value your opinion. I want to know what you think of her. Everything hinges on that."

"What does that mean?"

"Just say yes," he said. "Please?"

How many times had she given in when her gut was screaming the opposite? Too many times to count.

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