Roam agreed."After the paperwork we head to the convention and interview those three ghosts to understand exactly how this happened."
"Makes sense," Sean said."Once everything is secured and reported, we’ll have time to do a detailed investigation."
As the two men headed toward the cemetery their voices carried back across the square, already deep in discussion about incident protocols and proper documentation procedures.
Uma, Honey, and Maisie lingered near the treated ginkgo tree as the square gradually emptied around them.They worried about the sealed loophole site, but their conversation had turned to more personal concerns than dimensional security.
"I can't stop thinking about that poor ghost," Honey said with worry."Evelyn.The way she was crying, so terrified..."
"The way she flinched when we mentioned Cornelius's name," Maisie added."I've never felt that level of fear from anyone, living or dead."
"Something's not right about their relationship," Uma said firmly."The way he spoke to her, the way she acted...it's abuse, plain and simple."
"Maybe Evangelina and Lily could help," Honey suggested hopefully."They might know how to reach out to her, offer some kind of protection or support."
"That's not a bad idea," Uma agreed."Evangelina has experience with troubled spirits, and Lily has such a gentle way about her."
As they continued discussing ways to help Evelyn, Uma noticed Murphy standing near the edge of the square.He'd been waiting patiently, clearly wanting a private word, and now seemed like the perfect opportunity.
"I should head back to the pub," she announced."Da probably needs help with the evening preparations."
Honey and Maisie nodded absently, still deep in their conversation about ghost welfare.Uma approached her father, and when they were out of earshot of the others, she slipped a small container from her jacket pocket.
"I gathered a sample this morning," she said quietly, showing him the crystalline residue.“It’s from the gingko tree spot."
Murphy examined the substance, his expression grew thoughtful, then determined.He met Uma's gaze and gave her a subtle wink and nod.
"Aye, lass," he said quietly."I think I know what to do with this."
As father and daughter walked back toward The Boozy Cauldron together, their shared understanding requiring no further words, the setting sun cast long shadows through the ginkgo trees.Shopkeepers closed up for the day, residents headed home for dinner, and Cauldron Falls took on the serene atmosphere of a town where nothing unusual ever happened.
Chapter 14
The Family That Brews Together
In the back room of The Boozy Cauldron, surrounded by barrels of aging ale and shelves of potions ingredients, Uma looked at her father with concern.
“So do ye think the vapor caused the loophole?”She grimaced.
“Aye, I was worried about that.But no.The Ghost Draught Vapor can only affect a ghost, not the world between.I’ve already checked.”He chuckled.“Can’t say I wasn’t worried though.Gave me a slight heart attack this morn.”
“Good.But, I may have done something bad.”Uma explained how she'd discovered and collected the crystalline residue that morning.
The pair stood whispering in the workshop space which reflected decades of the O'Reilly's careful craft—ingredients organized by potency and compatibility, tools arranged for maximum efficiency, and reference books whose pages bore the stains of experimental batches.The air itself seemed saturated with the accumulated magic of years spent perfecting the art of beneficial brewing.
"I know I should have told Roam immediately," she finished, "but something told me I needed to keep it.That I needed to find a purpose for it.It was strange."
Murphy examined the small container with a mixture of pride and exasperation."Lass, ye shouldn't be swiping evidence from an official investigation, or yer brother," he scolded, though his tone carried more curiosity than anger."That said, I'm glad ye did.Maybe it will help that poor Sean fella.Let’s check it out.”
Uma smiled a the thought of helping Sean, and poured a small amount of the residue onto Murphy's workbench."We know it has something to do with a loophole," she said, studying the twinkling substance."It looks like captured starlight.But it's not entirely of this world, is it?"
"No, lass," Murphy agreed, his voice carrying excitement mixed with unease."This is otherworldly."
"Wait," Uma said suddenly, her eyes widening."Da, remember that scroll you brought back from Tibet?The one with the impossible recipe that mentioned using 'substance from a doorway of death'?"
Murphy's face lit up with recognition and apprehension."Aye, the one with that cryptic verse about souls!I kept it because it was the only text I'd ever found that mentioned such a thing.Maybe..."He gestured at the residue.
He hurried to the trunk in the corner, rummaging through scrolls until he found the parchment that seemed so fragile it might crumble in a strong breeze."Here it is," he said, spreading it on the workbench."We've got the water—it calls for 'possessed' water, which our falls certainly provide.But I never thought I'd actually identify this missing ingredient."
