Free Day Four by Sarah Lotz Page A

a bit out of it for a while. I’ve been worried about you.’
    ‘No need to worry.’ She waggled her fingers at the two older women. ‘I’ve been hanging out with my new friends, isn’t that right? Just us girls, getting to know each other.’
    ‘Any headache, weakness or numbness in your limbs, Celine?’ Jesse asked.
    ‘Nope. All shipshape, doc.’
    He pumped up the cuff. ‘I’m just going to ask you a few questions, that okay? Let’s start with an easy one. What is your full name?’
    She gave him a wide, toothy grin. ‘Celine del Ray, medium to the stars. What’s your name?’
    ‘Dr Zimri.’
    ‘Zimri. Unusual. King of Israel, am I right? And your first name, doc?’
    ‘Jesse.’
    ‘Jesse. After the outlaw?’
    ‘ Ja . My father was big on Westerns.’
    ‘That so.’
    She certainly appeared to be on the ball. ‘Can you tell me today’s date, Celine?’
    ‘Depends what time zone you’re in, doc.’
    ‘Who is the president of the United States?’
    ‘What’s with all the questions?’ Celine pressed her fingertips to her forehead. ‘Wait . . . I’m getting . . . Someone’s stepping forward from the other side. Who’s the young woman in your life who’s crossed over, doc? There’s a sadness about her. A betrayal of some sort. And pain. Physical pain.’
    Jesse blinked, the sensation of icy breath tickling the back of his neck. ‘I’m not sure what—’
    ‘She’s a medium,’ Maddie said.
    ‘I see dead people,’ Celine said with an exaggerated wink. ‘Only, as I always say, there is no death. Isn’t that right, Maddie?’
    Jesse cleared his throat. ‘Any pain in your head or neck, Celine?’
    She cackled. ‘No pain, no gain. You know, doc, I’ve always wanted to die holding the hand of a handsome ship’s doctor, after eating a poisoned grape.’
    The British woman gasped.
    ‘That mean something to you?’ Jesse asked her.
    ‘It’s a quote. Blanche Dubois. From A Streetcar Named Desire .’
    ‘Helen sure knows her shit, don’t she?’ Celine howled in an exaggerated Uncle Tom voice that made them all wince. ‘Oh lawdy, yes she does!’
    ‘Celine!’ Maddie glanced at Jesse apologetically.
    ‘I think it’s time we left,’ Aunt Spiker – Helen – said. The two women got to their feet.
    Maddie, who was still staring at Celine in a mixture of exasperation and relief, stood up to see the two women out. ‘Thanks for everything.’
    ‘You’re welcome, Maddie,’ Helen said stiffly. ‘Good night, Celine.’
    As the women exited, Jesse heard Celine mumbling something under her breath. It sounded very much like: ‘Sleep tight, don’t let the rug-munchers bite.’ She winked at him again. ‘Do I get a clean bill of health, doc?’
    ‘For now. I’ll come and check on you tomorrow.’
    ‘Lovely. Can’t wait.’ Celine gestured at Maddie. ‘Could you get me my comb from the bathroom, Madeleine?’
    ‘Of course.’
    Jesse packed his sphyg back into its case. ‘I think that’s it. Let me know if—’
    Celine’s hand shot out and grasped his wrist. She pulled him towards her with surprising strength. ‘You’ve been a naughty boy, haven’t you? Time to put things right. You’re gonna be tested again, doc. You’re all gonna be tested. Question is, will you pass or won’t you?’

The Keeper of Secrets
    The girl continued to sob, her make-up running down her cheeks in muddy tracks. She picked at her hair, attempting to disentangle the devil horns stuck at an angle on her head. ‘How did it happen? Was it an accident? Did she have a fall when the ship stopped or something?’
    ‘It was not an accident, Ms Williams,’ Devi said, glancing at Ram for approval. His superior had instructed him to reveal as little as possible about the facts of the girl’s death.
    ‘Oh God. Oh no. She didn’t do herself in, did she? Kill herself?’
    ‘Is there a reason why you would jump to this conclusion, Ms Williams?’
    ‘Emma. My name’s Emma. No . . . God. Did she,