15. Sekani Aelor

Chapter 15

Sekani Aelor

B y the time I arrived at the hospital a little after three in the afternoon the following day, Barnet in tow, Callum was awake and sitting up in his bed.

He looked better than he had when River, Waylin and I had left him. He had a happy smile on his face. Flushed cheeks.

The doctors were probably wondering how someone who’d spent six months in a coma could be functioning so well.

They could classify it as a medical miracle for all I cared. It was just good to see him awake—alive and kicking. His family seemed to agree as they gathered around him.

Last night, I wasn’t sure my plan would work. I mean, in theory I knew it had a good chance, but I’d never attempted anything like it before.

The risks were numerous. But in the end, it looked as if my gamble paid off.

Of course, whether Callum remembered me and our time together remained to be seen. If he didn’t, I’d ask him for coffee when he was on his feet and see what happened.

No risk ensured no reward, after all. And after spending weeks on end in Callum’s company as we tried to put his memory together, I’d realized he was worth more than a little risk.

Callum wiggled free of his mother’s arms, gaze tripping around the room, snapping past me before jerking back. His eyes widened as a smile tipped up his lips.

“Sekani.” Callum reached for me.

I grasped his hands and smiled down at him. “Hey, Ghost Boy. Looks like you’re back among the living. How does it feel?”

“I’m a little tired but the doctors said that’s normal.”

“You’ll be on your feet in no time and when you are, you owe me a coffee,” I said, not really caring that his family was watching, that Barnet was watching and probably wondering what the hell was going on. As far as they knew, Callum and I were strangers. We had been, before his brush with death.

“I haven’t forgotten,” he assured me as he squeezed my hands. “Anything.”

“But do you remember ? That’s the real question,” I teased.

Did he know now who was stealing his art? Could he tell us anything about who ran him down?

My gut was telling me it hadn’t been an accident.

“Yeah. I mean—” He shook his head as his grey eyes met my blue ones. “I don’t know who hit me. But I was going to go see Professor O’Donnole because Luke was stealing my art.”

I sat on the edge of his bed and rubbed his arm. “I’m sorry. I know he’s your best friend. If you’d made it to your meeting and reported him, what do you think could have happened regarding his schooling?” I asked.

Because, thus far, since Luke had been stealing his art and was about to be reported for doing so, it looked as if he had a strong motive to hurt Callum. We just needed to connect all the dots so if he was the one who ran Callum down, he would pay for it.

“He would have been kicked out for sure,” Callum said, his fingers tightening around mine. “I remember noticing my sketch book was in his bag. And that he was making changes to some of my pictures. When I called him on it, he got mad.

“A few nights later another friend called me and showed me a painting Luke said he did. Only it was a painting that used to be in my house. So Luke and I started to text because I wanted to know what was going on. He called and things got heated.

“I told him I was going to see the Professor. He thought I should just shut up and let someone else win for once. ”

I glanced at Barnet. “Sounds like enough for a probable cause warrant to me. You?”

“You really think that’s worth trying to kill me over?” Callum asked.

“People get scared and they get stupid, Ghost Boy. He might not have been clear-headed at the time but he still needs to face the consequences. Plus, to be honest, the last couple of days, has he acted like a friend or someone who regrets their actions?”

Callum’s shoulders fell as he shook his head. I squeezed his hands and wished I could do more to comfort him, but now—with a room full of people—wasn’t the time or place. “He probably wishes I’d died and wasn’t just in a coma.”

“I’m sorry,” Clare spoke. We looked at her. “How would you know what Luke was doing the last couple of days?”

My lips tipped up as I looked at Callum. “Yeah. How would you know, Callum?”

Let him explain it to his mother.

“I . . .” He trailed off and glanced at me. “It’s like . . . uh . . . while I was here I also . . . wasn’t here. Not like I was asleep but like I wasn’t in my body.”

Everyone looked at him like he was batshit crazy and I swallowed a smile as he continued to talk. “I guess simply put my soul was roaming free and Sekani can see ghosts.”

His parents were looking at each other and Callum like maybe they needed to call a psychiatrist in to evaluate him.

“It’s true!” Callum said. “I was right there—” He pointed to the end of the bed “—when Sekani showed you the picture I had sketched of myself and you told him about finding my . . .” his gaze skipped to his father “—rainbow paraphernalia. I was here when you gave him my phone and my keys.

“You told him Aysha was stressing you out so you sent her home.”

“Mom!” Aysha whined.

Clare looked stricken as she stared down at her son.

“I’m a spirit medium,” I explained. “Your son contacted me eight weeks ago. He had no memory of himself or what had happened. The day I encountered you, Mrs. Maslow, I was here to attend to another matter.” The only time River getting possessed had turned out to be a good thing. I sure as shit wasn’t going to tell the fool that. “When I saw Callum in the hospital bed, I recognized him instantly.”

“This is a bit much to take in.” Clare swayed before she sat down.

“All you need to know is that Sekani helped me, Mom.” Callum reached out and Clare automatically grasped his hand. “He’s why I’m awake.”

“I can’t believe this shit,” Barnet muttered as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you saying all those gut feelings were ghosts?”

“Eh. Most of them?” I offered. She glared.

The fact that she wasn’t questioning the sanity behind all of this was proof just how good a partner she’d been, and still was when necessary.

“Luke’s going to be here in—” I checked the time on my watch “—twenty or so minutes. Maybe everyone should clear out before he arrives. If we can get him to confess, this can be wrapped up quickly.”

“Do you think he will?” Callum asked.

“He’s not very bright. Piss him off enough and he might. I’ll stay close with Barnet.” I wasn’t going to leave him open to another attack. “And New York is a one-party consent state so turn the voice recorder on your phone on. We want solid proof if he does confess.”

“Okay.” His voice cracked as he nodded.

I reached out and cupped the back of his neck. “You’re gonna be fine, Ghost Boy. I haven’t let you down yet, have I?”

He smiled and leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine as he closed his eyes. “I trust you, Sekani.”

I pressed a kiss to his forehead and straightened. “Let’s go in case he decides to show up early.”

Mrs. and Mr. Maslow leaned in, followed by Aysha, each taking a turn to kiss and hug him before we all left the room.

Barnet walked beside me, silent as we headed down the hallway. “So . . . no bullshit?” she finally asked. “You really see ghosts?”

“Since I was twelve,” I told her. “It’s not a secret. But it’s not something I put on my business card either so maybe keep it to yourself.”

I’d helped Callum but honestly, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get back into the business of helping ghosts. They were still assholes for the most part.

“Now I know why we always had a high close rate, at least. When the victim can tell one half of the team who murdered them, shit’s a whole lot easier. Wanna come back to the department?”

I laughed, slinging my arm over her shoulder.

“I know what you make. It’s not worth the trouble.”