13 Ronan

Ronan couldn't figure out how the hell Tennyson had talked him into being Spencer Stephens's babysitter for the afternoon. He'd laughed when Ten explained that Aunt Effy Lou had been haunting her nephew, at least until his husband explained that Ronan would be the one to deal with the young man and Effy Lou's attorney.

He'd been at Effy Lou's house prompt, but Spencer hadn't been ready to leave the house. He'd answered the door in red flannel boxers and a torn Red Sox tee. Ronan had paced around the kitchen while Spencer got himself together. Finally, with only minutes to go before the appointment began, they'd left the house after an intense conversation where Ronan had to assure Spencer several times that he didn't need to bring Effy Lou's remains with him to the attorney's office.

As Ronan drove, he studied the young man. Gone was the bravado he'd displayed when they met two days ago. Left in its place was a more serious man, who looked like he could sleep for a month. "So, tell me what the hell was going on last night."

Ten had given Ronan a few details, but he wanted to hear about the experience from Spencer himself.

"Aunt Effy Lou was on my ass the entire night. I know you're gonna think I'm fucking nuts, but I could hear her voice just like I can hear yours."

"I don't think you're nuts,"

Ronan said.

"Really?"

Spencer asked, sitting up straighter in his seat.

"When I first met Tennyson, I was working on my first case for the Boston Police Cold Case Unit. The crime had taken place seven years before and hadn't even come close to being solved. Fitzgibbon assigned it to all new detectives in the unit to make sure we all understood that this job wasn't a cake walk. I was convinced I would lose my job if I didn't solve it, so I made an appointment to see Tennyson. He'd recently solved a missing person case where the kidnapped child had been brought home safely."

"Wow, I had no idea Ten used his gifts to help the police. Did you believe he had the ability to speak with the dead?"

Ronan snorted. "No, I did not. But I wasn't going to give up my job without a fight. If there was something Ten could do to help me figure out what happened, I was going to take advantage of his gifts."

"Did he help you solve the case?"

Spencer asked, sounding truly interested in the answer.

"He did,"

Ronan would never forget the day Tennyson was kidnapped by the killer. Not that Spencer needed to hear that part of the story. "The killer was apprehended and sent to prison."

Spencer also didn't need to know how close to home the killer was or that he'd later been killed in prison.

Spencer sat quietly for a minute with that information. "What was it that convinced you Tennyson had psychic gifts?"

"There had been a lot of little moments along the way where he'd spoken to the victim and knew things he couldn't possibly have known otherwise, but what really caught my attention was when Ten spoke to my mother, who at the time, had been dead for five years."

"Wow,"

Spencer said softly. "Do you believe that Aunt Effy is haunting me?"

"I do,"

Ronan agreed easily. "You absolutely came to the right place for help. Ten, Cope, and the other psychics at West Side Magick are very skilled at what they do, but I think the bigger question here is why Aunt Effy Lou has chosen to communicate with you in this way and what you can learn from this experience."

As he spoke, Ronan pulled into the law firm's parking lot. He found and empty spot and turned off the Mustang. "I get that you're young and have no direction or purpose in life. It would be so easy to live life like you've been doing without career plans or a future in mind, but maybe Effy Lou is trying to help rather than hurt you. Her methods might not make sense now, but they will in the future."

"Yeah, Ten said something like that too."

"Listen to my husband. As annoying as he can be sometimes, he's almost always right. I can't tell you how many cases he helped solve because of his brains and insight, rather than by using his gifts."

Ten's instincts were as well honed as Ronan's and after he'd gotten over himself and his ego, he and Ten had made an incredible team. They still did.

"Okay."

Spencer unhooked his seatbelt. "Thanks for the ride. I'll just grab an Uber to get home."

"No can do. Ten told me I have to go into the law office with you and I'm not sleeping on the sofa tonight, if you catch my drift."

"Okay,"

Spencer muttered and got out of the car. Ronan was right behind them.

After reading the building directory, Ronan hit the elevator button and waited for the doors to open. Getting off on the fifth floor, he easily found the office. He pointed Spencer in the direction of the receptionist who sat behind an ornate desk.

"My name is Spencer Stephens. I have an appointment to see Franklin Heywood."

His voice sounded strained, as if Spencer was feeling scared or unsure of himself.

"Of course, Mr. Stephens, please follow me."

The receptionist motioned him to follow her.

Ronan tagged along a few steps back. He felt a bit nervous himself. He'd had a few experiences with attorneys over his life, but worried what his role would be in helping Spencer with Effy Lou's estate. Ten mentioned something about Spencer needing a trustee, but Ronan had no idea what that entailed and very much doubted Spencer did either.

The receptionist knocked on a closed office door and popped her head inside. Pulling back, she opened the door wide to see a well-dressed man approach them.

"I'm Franklin Heywood. I assume you're Mr. Stephens."

He held his hand out to Spencer.

"I am and this is Ronan O'Mara, he's a detective with the Salem Police Department."

If the lawyer was thrown off by the appearance of a cop in his office, he didn't show it. "Detective O'Mara, I know you by reputation."

"It's nice to meet you,"

Ronan said, hoping the reputation he was talking about was his police record and not his performance at last year's Daddy/Daughter dance. Him introducing the kindergarten class to The Hustle was a day that would live in infamy at Salem Elementary School. He shook the lawyer's hand and took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Heywood's desk.

"I'm very sorry to hear of your Aunt Effy Lou's passing. She was one of my favorite clients. We worked closely together to ensure your future. She spoke highly of you."

Ronan snorted and tried to cover the rude sound with a cough. When Heywood laughed, he knew he'd failed.

"Okay, maybe Effy Lou didn't exactly speak highly of you, but she had all the confidence in the world that you'd be able to turn your situation around with a little push from beyond the grave."

Spencer's eyes widened. "Is my aunt communicating with you too?"

Heywood turned to Ronan, shooting him a quizzical look.

"It's a long story, Mr. Heywood, but my husband is a psychic medium and has been in contact with Effy Lou. He let me know she'd listed the need for Spencer to have a trustee available to assist him."

Ronan kept a close eye on the attorney's reaction wanting to see how the learned man took the news.

"I've heard of Tennyson as well. My wife had been to visit him when we were having trouble conceiving a child."

"Was he able to help?"

Ronan asked.

Heywood grabbed the picture frame and turned it around to Ronan. It was a photograph of a baby laughing at the camera. "He sure did. Not only do we have our sweet Sophia, but our second child is on the way."

Ronan grinned at the attorney. He was thrilled Ten had been able to help the couple. "She's beautiful and congrats on the second baby."

"I agree,"

Spencer said, "but if you don't mind, can we talk about Aunt Effy Lou?"

"Of course,"

Heywood reached for a manilla folder on his desk. "Effy Lou left her entire estate to you, however, there are conditions stipulated on how and when you can collect your inheritance which is where the trustee comes into play."

"Conditions?"

Spencer asked, sounding as shocked as he looked. "What, you don't just cut me a check or something?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple."

Heywood opened the folder and pulled out two packages of stapled documents. One he handed to Spencer, the other to Ronan. "As you'll read, Effy Lou stipulated that you'll get an initial allowance, to keep yourself afloat, but after that, there are conditions that need to be met before further disbursements can be made."

He flipped back through the folder and pulled out a sealed envelope which he handed to Spencer. Ronan assumed it was a check for the allowance.

Ronan paged through the packet, while Spencer sat looking gobsmacked. "I'm sure Spencer will sit with the document later, but can you give us the gist of these conditions? To start, how many are there?"

"I completely understand how difficult legalese can be to someone who's never read legal documents before."

Heywood cleared his throat and flipped through several pages of the will. "There are three conditions that need to be met."

Spencer's eyes widened, but he remained silent.

"You'll need to give of your money and your time and lastly, you'll have to do something selfless."

Heywood turned to Ronan. "Mr. O'Mara, it will be your job as the trustee to make sure each of these three things are done. You'll have to submit written verification that each of the conditions have been met. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that these are legally binding documents and there will be penalties if you claim Spencer has completed these items, when he has not. I'm also sure I don't need to tell Spencer that he has to prove to you what he's done."

Spencer sank lower in his seat. One more scoot forward and he was going to end up on the floor.

"Is there a time limit here?"

Ronan asked, worried that with Spencer's lousy attitude, time would run out before he got the loot.

"No, but if Spencer wants to collect his inheritance then it behooves him to get a move on."

Heywood offered Spencer a kind smile. "Do either of you have any questions?"

Spencer, still looking shell-shocked shook his head.

"I think we're good for now,"

Ronan said, getting to his feet.

Heywood handed him and Spencer a business card. "Please don't hesitate to call if there's anything I can do to assist you. If you need the names of reputable charities or places that could use volunteers, I'd be happy to provide a list, but I'm sure Effy Lou would want you to make your own decisions on who you'll help and why. After all, this is meant to be a lesson in personal growth."

Frowning, Spencer nodded. He looked completely lost, as if he had no idea where to start.

"I think Tennyson and I can help out with that. Thanks for your time."

Ronan gave Spencer's elbow a tug to get him moving.

"Yeah, thanks,"

Spencer said, sounding like he didn't mean it.

"I'll be in touch,"

Ronan said softly.

"Good luck!"

Heywood called after them.

Ronan knew they were going to need it. He had a feeling it wasn't going to be an easy task to get Spencer to understand why Effy Lou was making him jump through hoops to get his inheritance, but he had a feeling he knew exactly who could get through to Spencer.