Nigel took an unconscious step back, so he was shoulder-to-shoulder with Oscar. Dr. Lawson stared at Montague with a shocked expression that, he thought, probably matched the one on his own face.
“Patricia,” she began.
“No!” Montague drove her cane into the ground. Since the ground was sand, it was less impressive than it might have been, but her winter-cold eyes made up for it. “We left things undone, Ruthie, you and I. We abandoned Robin to haunt this wretched island year in and year out. Do you want to prolong her suffering?” When Lawson seemed about to protest, she repeated, “Do you?”
Dr. Lawson’s mouth snapped shut. “No. Of course not.”
Nigel’s surprise transmuted to sympathy. Dreaming of Robin, realizing she’d left one of the women she cared for as a trapped ghost…the guilt must be overwhelming.
Oscar seemed to have come to the same conclusion, because his voice was gentle when he said, “I’m sorry, Ms. Montague. Robin will be our first priority. I won’t leave Gloria to linger, either, if I can help it.”
Though Nigel itched to know why Ullman had killed his friends, Oscar was right. As for whatever Gloria considered to be treasure, if it even existed, they didn’t have all the time in the world to wander around the island. They needed to do their work and leave before the storm drew too close.
Montague inclined her head regally. “And you intend to contact Robin on the veranda, I understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Then Ethan and I will join you.” Her mouth pursed unhappily. “The seance last night didn’t go as well as any of us hoped, but at least this way perhaps I’ll have the chance to say good-bye.”
Dr. Lawson took Montague’s hand. “I’m coming, too.”
“Of course,” Oscar said. “We’ll do this together.” Turning to Nigel, he added, “Let’s grab some more coffee and get ready to start as soon as the sun is down.”
CHAPTER
THIRTY
Oscar led the way through the library and out onto the veranda. He could almost feel the tower looming above, but refused to look up and remind himself just how far Robin had fallen.
Clouds had crept in around sunset, blotting out the moon and stars. The strengthening wind moaned around the eaves. His senses were on high alert, but he didn’t feel Gloria nearby.
In an attempt to warn them if she approached, they’d broken out their newest equipment: EMF rope and a REM—Radiating ElectroMagnetism—pod, in addition to the PolterPal.
They’d moved the PolterPal into the second floor hall near the stairs; if Gloria passed by her, either the temperature or EMF sensors would go off, prompting the doll to speak. Chris had left a hot mic with it, so Tina could warn them if the PolterPal went off.
On the first floor, they’d stretched out the EMF rope, leading up the stairs. The EMF rope was a simple device that consisted of sensors spaced along a wire, powered by a portable battery pack. The individual sensors would flash and make noise if a spirit disturbed their fields.
Nigel had placed the REM pod just inside the library. The cylindrical device generated its own EMF field, and would flash lights and make a sound if anything interacted with it.
If Gloria wanted to come after them—or Robin, for that matter—she’d have to pass the PolterPal, EMF rope, and REM pod to do it. Hopefully that would give them enough warning to prepare.
“Do you have your salt ready?” Nigel asked, looking around at everyone.
He was answered by nods and people holding up either baggies or canisters of salt. Montague and Lawson stood shoulder-to-shoulder a bit apart from everyone else. They looked nervous, which Oscar understood. If Robin were here, trapped by her failure to banish the spirits during the first investigation, it would mean they’d abandoned her all these years. Not on purpose, but if he’d been in their place, the guilt would have eaten him alive.
Oscar took up position on the veranda, not far from where Robin would have struck the ground after her dizzying fall. “I’m going to try and reach Robin now,” he said.
No one spoke; even the wind seemed to grow quieter. Oscar closed his eyes, though he could still make out the light from Chris’s camera through his lids.
Three deep breaths. Feel the pavers under his feet, the earth beneath. Always there, always solid. His mind stilled.
There.
He turned and opened his eyes. A figure stood just feet away, colorless and oddly flat, like a projection laid over reality. Her face was familiar from the tapes they’d watched.
Montague let out a small gasp.
“What do you see?” Oscar asked.
