Coalescence (Camden Investigations Book 1) by Gary Starta Page B

and their
motivations shifting about her consciousness, DJ wanted to approach the ghost
with an unbiased mind. That was easier said than done.
    Darian embraced her in a half-hug as she crossed the
threshold into the Morses’ house. It was clear to her, and the rest of the
team, that an emotional bond had been established between them. In most cases,
investigative teams would frown upon personal involvements. But DJ could sense
the teams understood she was extremely impacted by her car accident. Any
attempts to discourage future personal distractions would be quite
unsuccessful, if not cruel.
    Iris nodded to Darian after the young man disengaged his
embrace. DJ sensed her sister was fully supportive of their union. She could
also detect her sister’s attempt to alleviate Darian’s worries with just a mere
look. DJ was well aware how hard non-verbal communication between humans could
be. She’d watched her family dissolve because of this. If her whole family had
been psychic maybe they could have surmounted their differences.
    As DJ mounted the stairway, she kept telling herself this
was who she was, for better or for worse, she was a medium. She also might be
something more if her ghost mother was correct. She heard mumbling behind her.
No doubt they were reviewing protocols. Mitchell and his newly arrived friend, Evan,
would hold down fort in the home’s foyer along with Iris. The rest of the teams
would wait outside the home, hoping to evoke a sense of respect and peace for
the ghost.
    Iris had instilled the notion in everybody’s
heads—quite a few times during her commute—that peace was
paramount. She had not encouraged her sister to aid the team’s investigation
only to be injured by floating shampoo bottles. DJ failed to suppress a laugh
upon that announcement, sparking a cathartic release of pent up energy from
Kassidy and Rachel. DJ understood she was to flee the home at the first sign of
poltergeist activity. Yet DJ couldn’t shake the absurd image of a shampoo
product being manipulated as a weapon.
    To break the ice, DJ couldn’t resist making that her
first inquisition.
    “So, of all things, why throw shampoo at people? We were
here before, as we are here now, to learn who you are and why you’re here. So
please speak freely to me. I can hear you. My friends cannot. But we are all
here in peace. There is no need to try and dispel us with projectiles.”
    DJ glanced to her left and right, noting bedrooms at
either end of the hallways and a bath straight ahead. Now the oddness of what
Iris’s video had captured hit home with resonance. How could the camcorder have
taped rooms that didn’t exist in this location? The thought of the object crept
along in the recesses of her mind as if it were a spider, but DJ didn’t want to
put words in the spirit’s mouth.
    DJ tapped a foot on the floor to combat her anxiety. Yet
the medium was fully aware such body language would leave the spirit little
doubt how scared she was. Stop it!
    The ghost, now tapped into DJ’s consciousness, answered
in annoyed confusion. “Stop what? I thought you said you were to converse.”
    DJ straightened her posture. “ Yes, that’s correct. We
are here to converse. Will you allow me ask some questions? We just want to
understand your visitation.”
    “Ah, yes. You humans are so territorial. Well, we are as
well. But it’s different in my world. No matter. I understand I am intruding. I
don’t want this to continue for any longer than necessary. If I allow you to
ask me questions, will you consider helping me?”
    DJ winced. This wasn’t part of protocol. She could almost
hear Iris screaming in her ear right now. “ Certainly, I suppose it is only
fair.” Now DJ wondered if this was how diplomats felt. She doubted it. When
diplomats spoke to potential enemies they still had beating hearts.
    “I am glad you consider this fair. I have found many of
your kind to be unreasonable. Yet you need my assistance.
You . . . have