The candlelight illuminated Oscar’s features with its warm glow. “We are here tonight to speak with the spirit of Gloria Ullman,” he said. “Gloria, you’re welcome to join us. Robin Sawyer, you are also welcome. No other spirits may enter this space.”
A long pause. Then he went on, “Draw on the energy of the circle if you need to do so. Gloria, Robin, if you’re here, let us know with a knock.”
A loud rap immediately sounded from just behind Nigel.
Nigel’s fingers twitched and his breath hitched. The close air of the room began to cool, as if the seasons were racing by and autumn setting in.
“Gloria has joined us.” Oscar’s throat worked as he swallowed. “Gloria Ullman, if your intent be peaceful, you may speak through me. You may not take over my body, only use it to communicate.”
He closed his eyes. A slight tremor went through the hand wrapped around Nigel’s.
Then his eyes flew open, revealing only blank, white orbs.
Even though he’d expected it, the reality almost made Nigel jerk away and break the circle. Oscar’s face had gone as blank as his eyes, and when he spoke in a soft voice in a higher register than usual, it made all the hair on the back of Nigel’s neck stand up. As if his boyfriend had been replaced by an imposter badly playing a part.
“Hello,” Gloria said through Oscar. “I’m glad you’re here.”
His heart thudded, but Nigel forced himself to speak. “Why is that, Gloria?”
“Because I like to talk to people.” Her white gaze fixed on Dr. Lawrence. “I talked to you before. But you didn’t listen.”
Dr. Lawrence licked her lips. “Gloria…did you kill my friend? Did you kill Robin?”
“Yes.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
“I told you!” Montague said. Her eyes reflected the candlelight, and she looked more than a little wild. “Didn’t I tell you?”
Horror turned the blood in Nigel’s veins to ice. She’d warned them, yes—but he hadn’t believed, not really. Gloria was just a little girl, after all. What harm could she do?
He’d looked at her with an adult’s eyes, forgetting just how vicious children could be.
Dr. Lawrence nearly pulled her hand free from his. He gripped her fingers tighter to keep the circle intact.
Lawson swallowed, her throat clicking audibly from dryness. “Wh…why? She was trying to help you!”
Oscar’s mouth twisted into a snarl. “Because she wanted to hide the treasure! Everyone wants to hide it!”
“Lies,” Montague said, her voice shaking badly. “You killed Robin for no reason!”
Heavy footsteps pounded up the stairs to the landing. The candles flickered wildly, their flames shrinking, and the shadows seemed to thicken.
Gloria’s head whipped around, and she leveled a look of pure hatred in the direction of the door. “He’s coming.”
The door shuddered in its frame from a powerful blow. Then another, and another, as if the spirit outside meant to shatter it.
“Get out.” The low voice, almost a growl, caused Nigel to shrink back from the direction of the door. He was no medium; for him to hear Ullman’s voice meant the spirit was spending every ounce of energy it could gather. “Get out get out get out!”
Oscar’s hand jerked in Nigel’s, snapping his attention away from the door. His lips were drawn back from his teeth, and the expression of loathing wavered on his face. His eyelids fluttered wildly—then he pitched forward, tearing his hands out of Nigel and Tina’s grasp.
Nigel dove for one of the alligator clips. But before he could attach it to the iron railing, Oscar lifted his head, revealing his usual brown eyes.
Nigel flung his arms around Oscar. “Are you all right?”
Oscar’s skin was filmed with sweat, as though he’d been hard at work instead of sitting in a chair. He hugged Nigel back, then nodded. “Yeah. I’m okay. Just really tired. I had to eject Gloria before she was ready to go.”
