Page 63 of Cadaver Lab: Mind Over Murder

Even though Natalie wasn’t sure what a moon circle was, or if she could or should trust the advice of someone who spoke casually about her moon circle friends, Letisha was the only resource she had right now.

“And this friend of your friend, did she heal?” Natalie asked. “Did she get her abilities back?”

Letisha pressed her lips together then said, “Not yet.”

Afraid of the answer, Natalie allowed herself one more question. “How long has it been?”

“Ten years.”

At Letisha’s devastating answer, Natalie felt the blood drain from her face.

“It’s okay, Nat. We’re all here for you. We’ll deal with it. Whatever it takes.” The sudden sound of Gabe’s voice, out of nowhere, close to her, had her jumping.

Natalie felt a tingling cold spot on her shoulder and would bet that was from Millie or Harriett’s hand as they tried to comfort her.

The ghosts were here. Her ghosts. Right in this very room, standing beside her, supporting her, and she hadn’t even known it.

That knowledge, and the realization that this was to be her new reality, let loose the floodgate of tears once again.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Natalie’s early morning meeting with Letisha rolled right into the Village meeting, which Letisha chose to stay for.

Of course she did.

That wasn’t a surprise really. Even though Letisha had mentioned more than once how busy she was, the woman loved attention. Even more, she loved to offer her expert opinion to anyone who would listen and Natalie had assembled the perfect audience for her.

Natalie didn’t even mind. That’s how defeated she felt right now.

In fact, it was good Letisha was there and, apparently, more than happy to run the show, because Natalie was more than happy to let her. As the village residents eager to help arrived, Natalie had enough on her plate trying to dry her tears and concentrate on keeping a fresh wave at bay.

At nine o’clock there had to be two dozen Mudville residents in the meeting room. With more people than chairs, it was standing room only.

She didn’t know how many ghosts were there too because, of course, she didn’t know that kind of stuff anymore. And might never know it again.

Natalie felt fresh tears gathering and shoved that thought away.

Luckily for her Liam was there to help because those assembled seemed to have about a hundred questions—each.

Liam, thank goodness, fielded the demands for an explanation of how the brain got to be there in the first place. Brave of him since there were those in the crowd who would probably like to have the planning board ban his lab from the village, which she had no doubt they would happily do. Then he added how he believed the entity gained its power from small, rechargeable, easily accessible batteries, such as those in cell phones.

Next Letisha, standing up front straight and tall as Natalie slumped behind her against the pastry table, dazzled the crowd with her usual showmanship.

Natalie hated to admit it, but Letisha did a really great job of fielding questions and explaining things to those unfamiliar with the spirit world. She covered the more esoteric side of spirit-living interactions. Things such as how an entity without a body could physically attack a human being.

Like a tag-team, Liam jumped back into the discussion with Letisha, explaining the physical side of the attacks and what they did to the human body… and Natalie felt the sickening green fog of envy creep over her. Letisha was experienced and well-spoken, and she still had her powers.

What could Natalie add to this conversation Letisha and Liam couldn’t handle without her? Nothing.

Liam had whipped out his little ghost notes notebook to write down something Letisha had said about gaining her powers when she hit puberty and Natalie couldn’t even get annoyed at him for it. It was a fascinating tidbit. TMI, yes, but fascinating none-the-less.

Admittedly there were far too many things they didn’t know or understand about this world—the world Natalie used to be a part of. Of course the researcher in Liam wanted to explore answering all the many questions. She just hated he was now doing it with Letisha’s help instead of her own.

Natalie was deep in thought, and yes self-pity, when she heard her name.

Whipping her attention back to the proceedings, she said, “Hmm?”

“What’s your plan to get rid of this thing?” someone in the back said in a tone that was less than patient.