“Do you mean a psychic?”
“More like a medium.”
“He’s, uh, for real?”
“From what I’ve seen, yes. He’s not one to show off his skills and hasn’t gone trying to get his own show or anything,” he adds with a chuckle. “Let me give him a call.” He’s already pulling out his phone and sending a text before I can say anything. “Henry lives in Philly, so you’d have to drive into the city.”
“I’m from the city, so…”
“So it’s on your way home.”
If I thought the ghost club meeting was a sign, then this has to be too. I pick up my coffee and take a sip, wincing from how hot it still is.
“Oh, he’s texting back already,” Mike says as he looks at his phone. I watch him read the text, heart speeding up just a bit. It’s stupid to put any hope into this mysterious guy, but dammit, I want answers.
I want them bad enough I opened a fucking rift.
Mike looks up from the phone. “He says he can meet with you tonight.”
* * *
“Areyou sure this is a good idea?” Jac asks. I just got home and filled the guys in on everything. I talked to Henry, the medium, on my way home, and while I can’t make a judgment from just talking on the phone, I didn’t get the feeling the guy was a fraud. He doesn’t want attention, and even made a point to ask me not to post about anything that happens on social media because he doesn’t want word getting out about him and his abilities.
“The worst thing is the guy’s full of shit and nothing comes out of it,” I tell him, raking my fingers through my hair. I drove home with the windows open, enjoying the warm June air. Now my long locks are a tangled mess. “And I won’t go alone.”
“I’ll go,” Thomas offers with a smile.
“We’ll be fine,” I assure Jac. “The guy lives in a nice part of town that I’m familiar with. And don’t forget I’m a cop. I can take care of myself.”
“I know,” Jacques sighs.
I rip a tangle out of my hair and decide it’s good enough. “We should head out,” I tell Thomas. “You need a shirt and shoes.”
“On it.” He disappears upstairs and comes down a minute later wearing a white T-shirt and carrying his shoes. He put the concealment charm around his neck and his wings have disappeared.
Gil tips his head, looking at his twin. “I almost forgot how good I look without wings.”
“You’re looking at me, dumbass,” Thomas quips.
“I know. And I’m the better looking one. So as good as you look without them, I look even better.”
Thomas rolls his eyes and I stifle a laugh. The two are thick as thieves and their constant banter is part of it all. It’s entertaining, endearing, and oddly comforting. It’s like all is right in the world when those two are trading insults, because when they’re not joking around, then shit must be serious.
“I’ll call you when we leave.” I step over to Jac and kiss him, meaning to give him a quick peck on the lips. But as soon as my mouth makes contact with his, I’m sucked in and my arms fasten around his neck. His tongue slips into my mouth and a soft groan escapes from deep inside his throat.
I have to shake myself and pull away, saying bye to Gil and Hasan as well before Thomas and I take off. Henry lives just a few blocks away from the station. People are out and about on this nice night, taking advantage of the warm early evening.
“What is your plan?” Thomas asks as we walk up to the house.
“I’m not really sure,” I admit. “If he’s the real deal, I think he’ll pick up on things, right?”
“Seems like that’s the way it works.” Thomas takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. I inhale, pushing my shoulders back. It’s weird how I don’t feel like Detective Bisset right now, walking up to a house with the confidence I usually have. Instead, I feel like Acelina the witch, unsure of what’s going to come.
And the latter feels right.
She’s who I’m supposed to be, which is as shocking as it is reassuring. Work was my whole life before, but now that I know who I am, it feels so good to finally be me. The wooden steps to the porch creak under Thomas’s weight, and Henry answers the door right after I ring the bell.
“Ace?” he questions, not opening the screen door just yet.
