fears and help the woman locate the book she was looking for, with a smile, as always.
While Emily was away, Melinda noted a familiar look spreading across William’s face. He was listening to something no human could hear.
“What?”
“Be right…” before she heard back , he sped away so quickly, no human eye could have seen him. A minute later, William returned to her side, as if he had never left.
“There is something in this bookstore,” he informed her. “Something not human. Something dead I do believe. We may need Michael’s assistance after all.”
“You mean, like a ghost?” Melinda clarified.
“I believe, yes.”
“Can Michael even read a ghost? There’s no body for him to touch.”
“I am unsure as he has never tried.”
“Okay. So do we focus on the ring, or the ghost?”
“Both,” answered William. “Perhaps this spirit has some interest in the ring? It might be the reason you did not see what was attacking Emily. I also think it necessary to have a chat with her father.”
“Okay,” agreed Melinda. “Should I try to reach Charlie and Michael?”
“Not yet. We will investigate first.”
William walked next to Melinda, at human speed, back to the front of the bookstore.
“Find anything?” asked Emily, alone again after her customer’s departure.
“Not really. Look, Emily,” said Melinda. “We’ve got some things to look into. Why don’t you just go about your day, try not to freak out, and call me on my cell if you think of anything that might help us figure out what’s so special about your ring.”
“And do not take it off,” reminded William, kindly.
“Yes, sir,” she saluted, attempting bravery. “I’ll just stay here,” she called after them as they left the store. In a small voice she whimpered, “and try not to think about the fact that you just told me I’m gonna die.”
CHAPTER SIX
The jeep bounced as Michael drove he and Charlie out of town, edging their way toward the outskirts of The Demon Isle. He made a turn toward the ocean, passing by the harbor where a ferry was just arriving full up with early arriving tourists.
Michael tossed a dazzling smile to a few bikini-clad twenty-something’s leaning over the ferry’s railing, waving to anyone watching from the shore, excited to spend a day on the Isle. “ Jesus… ” he groaned, watching them bounce around on the deck. One thing I might miss just a little when I leave. There’s other beaches… he reminded himself.
Michael glanced at Charlie and shook his head. He hadn’t even noticed the half-naked women waving at him, his gaze straight ahead and focused. Michael sped up, jetting down the road before the cars could start pulling off the ferry, jamming up the traffic.
They continued on, after a couple more miles, passing by the entrance to White Pines National Park, which included Fort Ridgley, a fort that had been mainly used as a commerce port during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
After another mile of winding roads, they came to a fork. One direction led to a lighthouse, the other, toward Bloodsucker Bay. About five miles down the road Michael slowed to nearly a stop, taking a sharp turn down what appeared to be an old, infrequently used dirt pathway. It was dotted with mud-filled potholes, which splattered the sides of the jeep as they drove across.
After another thirty minutes of bouncing across the poorly maintained road, Michael pulled the jeep off to the side and parked. Just ahead sprawled the rocky beach of Bloodsucker Bay.
The bay consisted of both fresh water, which leaked in from a nearby lake, and saltwater , which leaked in from the ocean during high tide. The lake was infamous for its bloodsucking leeches; leeches which had adapted to living in both fresh and saltwater .
“You sure this cave will be easy to find?” Charlie asked Michael as they readied their diving gear.
“Got a crystal ready to go. Should be easy.” Michael took it out of