Page 51 of Shenanigans

I repeated the words and a portal appeared.

The doorway’s iridescent glow drew the lost souls like a magnet.

“Go! Now!” I cried.

The spirits obediently ran into the light.

Pain erupted in my cheek. “Kandi! Snap out of it!” Dutch shook me. “Kandi.”

My psychic connection with the esoteric plane snapped abruptly, and Dutch’s worried face came into focus. I grabbed the front of his shirt. “People have died there. Horribly. So many people. And the animals. The things they do to the animals. They have to be stopped.”

“They will be. You have my word. They’re all going to prison for a very long time,” Dutch replied and wrapped his arms around me. “Don’teverscare me like that again.”

“I’m not making any promises.” I clung to him as tremors shook my body. “The spirits made me relive their deaths again and again. If it wasn’t for the Lieutenant’s cross, I wouldn’t have survived the ordeal.”

“It sounded like you were being killed. Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

“Other than a headache, I’ll live.”

“No more talking to the dead until you know what you’re doing and have more control,” Dutch stated, rubbing my back soothingly.

“You won’t get any arguments from me.”

Lieutenant Wilson asked, “Do we need to call the paramedics, Callaghan?”

“No. She’s okay.” Dutch released me. “Promise me you’ll keep your powers locked down for now.”

“Promise.” I noticed the other officers in the motorhome eyeing me warily as if my head would start spinning at any moment.

I sighed. “You don’t need an exorcist. I’m psychic not possessed.”

Lieutenant Wilson handed me a chocolate bar. “This always helps my wife’s sister when things go badly.”

“Thank you.” I tore off the wrapper and practically inhaled it.

Another cop handed me a bottle of pop. “Sugar’s good for shock.”

“Thanks.” I took a long swallow, enjoying the ice-cold liquid sliding down my throat.

Dutch placed the back of his hand against my forehead. “You’re still a bit overheated. Drink all of it.”

In the helicopter Dutch had made me drink four bottles of water. I seriously needed to pee now. I drained the bottle. “Bathroom?”

Dutch pointed at the narrow hallway. “First door on your right.”

“Thanks.” I gave the men an embarrassed smile and hurried into the tiny bathroom. Surprisingly, my shrieks hadn’t roused Tinkerbell. She still sounded like a hibernating grizzly bear.

After taking care of business, I washed my hands and glanced at the mirror. Holy shit! I looked like I had been to hell and back. In a way, I had. My eyes were haunted, I was white as a ghost, and crap, I was crying. The horror of what I had seen replayed in my head and a sob broke from me.

Dutch knocked on the door. “You okay in there?”

“Hunky-dory. Peachy keen. A-OK. Copacetic.” And seriously freaked out.

“How many souls did you help today?”

“I didn’t count them,” I answered. Sucking in a deep breath, I fought for control. Lopez and his ghouls were going to pay for what they had done.

“If you’re not up for critter control, we’ll give the SWAT team the go ahead,” Dutch stated quietly.

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