The Medium (Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy #1) by C.J. Archer Page B

miss?"
He looked over my head, saw no one, and raised his eyebrows. "Who you speaking
to then, eh?"
    "Is there a
law against talking to myself, constable?" I didn't want to deal with him.
I was still mad at Jacob although it struck me how selfish my own feelings were
on the matter. He'd rescued me and I should be grateful. I was grateful.
    The policeman's
eyebrows rose further, almost disappearing into his tall helmet. "Er, not
that I know of. Good afternoon, miss."
    I walked off, Jacob
at my side. "I'll take that as meaning you're perfectly well," he
said, picking up our conversation.
    "A little
shaken," I said quietly in case anyone else was lurking in doorways. "But
otherwise unscathed. Thanks to you. I owe you my life, Jacob."
    His pause
weighed heavily between us. I tried to look at him out of the corner of my eye
but only saw his profile, staring ahead. "Don't," he finally said.
    "Don't
what?"
    "Don't talk
about it. Anyone would have done the same thing."
    That may be so,
but why did he sound so upset? Not angry, just... I sighed. I couldn't even
pinpoint the emotions simmering off him let alone determine their reason. Nor
did I think I'd get an answer out of him. His face was closed up tight.
    So I started a
new thread of conversation, a safer one. "Did you see where Maree went?"
    He shook his
head. "She was gone by the time I reached the street."
    If he'd run
after her immediately, he might have seen the direction she took, but he'd
stayed with me to see if I was all right. No matter how hard I tried, I
couldn't be sorry about that.
    "Who do you
think she stole the book for?" I asked.
    He shrugged. "Who
knows? Her brother, a friend, or just because she liked the look of it and
thought it would fetch a good price. Whoever it was, there's a good chance they
were the ones who cursed the amulet, or will know who did. We have to find
them."
    I nodded. "I'm
not sure if our research can help us there though. George and I learned that
the demon was well known to gypsies across Europe. They used to summon it then direct
it to destroy their enemies, or the horses of their enemies."
    "So we can
strike gypsies off our list of suspects."
    "Why?"
    "Gypsies
pass down their customs through the generations by word of mouth. They won't
need a book to tell them how to summon a shape-shifting demon."
    The street grew
busier as we drew closer to the Kings Road precinct so we strolled in silence although
my mind was in turmoil. I was still a little shaken by the incident with Maree,
and even more shaken by the knowledge that someone was directing a demon based
on whatever knowledge they could gain from one book.
    But there was
something even more troubling. No, not troubling as such, but it occupied my
thoughts almost to the exclusion of all else. "George told me about your
family," I said to Jacob eventually. We were only a block away from my
house and I didn't know when we'd have a chance to speak so openly to one
another again. I'd expected Jacob to disappear and let me walk home alone but
he'd remained by my side the entire time. Was he still worried about the
incident with Maree? Did he expect me to faint out of fright at any moment?
    He said nothing,
so I went on. "Not that George knew much, but he did tell me they're
very...distressed about your death because your body was never found, you see,
so they can't have peace." I was rambling, the words tumbling out of my
mouth without me thinking them through first. I was afraid that if I did think
about them, I wouldn't say anything, and I desperately wanted to broach the
topic with Jacob. It seemed vital somehow, but to whom, I wasn't sure. Him? Or
me? Or his family?
    "That isn't
your concern, Emily," he said, striding ahead. I had to walk fast to keep
up with him. His legs were very long.
    "Nevertheless,
I am concerned. I'd like your permission to speak to them—."
    "No!"
    "But I can
help them move on. They need to know you're dead, Jacob, or they'll be forever
wondering."
    "Leave