Page 58 of Phobia
Pulling up to the massive black iron gates, Larkin slowed his SUV to a stop and rolled down his window.
“How’d you know where he lives?” I asked. After being unable to locate the elusive doctor at the hospital or at Tennebrose, Larkin suggested we try his house. Even if Dr. Corbin wasn’t home, we were hoping someone would be able to get me in contact with him. But until we were actually sitting in front of a stately residence in the middle of nowhere, I hadn’t thought to ask how we were going to get his address.
“Did a ride along with Chief Treadwell at the beginning of the semester,” Larkin replied. “It kind of stuck out on his tour of important places in Winslow.”
“I can see why.”
“I wonder if there’s a call box or something?” The words had barely left his lips when the gates swung open. “I guess maybe there’s a sensor? Or cameras?”
I shrugged.
Larkin maneuvered his SUV through the gates and headed down the long drive.
The Corbins’ mansion looked like it belonged in a fairytale. Massive, old stones made up the construction, complete with turrets and diamond-shaped windows. Ivy covered one side of the building and there were balconies and chimneys galore. It was magnificent.
We’d just climbed the front steps, poised to bang one of the heavy iron rings on the intricately carved door when Dr. Corbin appeared from around the side of the house, a small brown and white goat frolicking beside him on the perfectly manicured lawn.
“I thought I heard a car,” Dr. Corbin said with a smile. “What can I do for you?”
“It’s about a ghost,” I said, cutting right to the chase. When Dr. Corbin’s gaze flicked to Larkin, I backtracked a bit with a wince. “He knows. I told him… about me. He won’t say anything, I promise.”
Larkin nodded in agreement.
“Ah. I see.” Dr. Corbin glanced between us again. “Come in, then. Don’t mind Kevin. He should be in the stable, but he has a fondness for the kitchen and it’s almost impossible to keep him out.” He opened the front door and gestured inside as the goat darted ahead of us.
We followed Dr. Corbin—and Kevin—to the kitchen and sat where directed.
“Tea? Coffee?” he asked politely, though the last thing my frazzled nerves needed was caffeine of any kind.
“No thank you,” I replied.
“I’m good,” Larkin added.
“Well, then. Straight to the matter at hand.” Dr. Corbin slid into a seat across from us and folded his hands on the table. “What can I do for you?”
“Do you remember when you first told me about all of this ghost stuff my freshman year?” I asked, to which Dr. Corbin nodded. “There’s a ghost that won’t leave me alone. And ‘mortem obire’ isn’t working.”
He frowned, rubbing one thumb over the knuckle of the other. “Tell me more about this spirit.”
“Uh…” I stole a glance at Larkin, not sure how much I should actually say about this ghost in particular.
“Is it someone you know?” Dr. Corbin prompted.
“Kind of.”
“An acquaintance with a fairly recent passing?”
“He’s not an acquaintance… exactly…”
“He tried to murder Jamie when we were kids,” Larkin said bluntly. His hand slid over my knee beneath the table, but his gaze was fixed on the professor.
“Oh.” Dr. Corbin’s eyes widened. “That does change things.”
“What do you mean?” My heart plummeted.
“Normally spirits are neutral beings, even benevolent if they choose. But a murderer or similarly evil person is much more likely to continue to inflict damage in the afterlife. The fact this one has a personal link to you only makes it stronger.”
“Is that why the words didn’t work?”
