The Old House (Haunted Series Book 16) (34 page)

Mia let Maggie off her lead.  They were far enough away from any roads.  She sat down and watched as the dog chased a few butterflies before getting the scent of what Mia prayed wasn’t a skunk.

“Sorry to be late,” Ted said from behind her.

She turned around to see Ted lugging a massive picnic basket.

“That’s large enough for a party. Are we expecting anyone?”

“No.  Just Cid being Cid.  Get up, and let me put a blanket down.”

Mia held on to the basket while her husband lay the coverlet on the ground.  He took the basket, and from inside he withdrew two small pillows.  He placed them on the ground and set the basket on the blanket.

“Come on, we’re missing the best clouds.”

“What?” Mia said, looking up.

Ted grabbed her and lay her head on the pillow and pointed upwards.  “That’s Thor.  See his mighty hammer?”

Mia could kind of see the Norse God as he was portrayed in the comics.  How about that one?” Mia pointed.

“Um, that’s a heart.  My heart to be exact.”

“That was romantic.”

“Good.  I suck at romance, Mia. I know I do.”

Mia rolled to her side and looked at her husband.  “I disagree.”

“You’re too kind.”

“There’s this picnic…”

“Cid’s idea.”

“The nice little pillows…”

“Audrey.”

“Well, you showed up,” Mia said.

Ted broke into a smile.  “But I was late.”

“Any particular reason?”

“I was writing this line of code, and time got away from me.”

“But you’re here now.”

“Murphy insisted.”

“I’m getting the feeling that romance, the Martin way, takes a village.”

Ted shaded his eyes and looked over at his wife and nodded.

“Any particular reason why you’re so resistant to being romantic?”

“I think it’s against my nature.”

“Could be.”  Mia lay back down and closed her eyes.  She was enjoying the warm sun on her face when a shadow moved overhead.  Expecting to see a cloud, she opened her eyes to see Ted above her.  “Tired of cloud gazing?”

“I saw one that looked like an angel, and so I was comparing you and it.”

“Oh, Ted, I’m no angel.”

“I know,” he said with a husky voice.

Mia giggled.  “You know the dog is going to watch.”

“Maybe.  All I care about is, we are far enough away that Superman can’t get his jollies off.”

“I can be quiet, Teddy Bear.”

“Not with what I have planned, you can’t.”

~

Maggie came back with a note tied to her collar.  Murphy escorted her to the farmhouse, and Cid rewarded her with a slice of bacon.

Murphy handed Cid the note addressed to him.  Cid unrolled it and started laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s from Ted.  It says: Don’t wait up.  I figured out the
thing.”

Murphy pushed his hat back on his head, scratched his beard and was speechless.

***

PEEPS
: Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners

Dupree, Mike
: Founding partner of PEEPs and on camera personality.

Garrett, Cid
: Contractor, investigator, cameraman, and technician.

Hicks, Burt
: Founding partner of PEEPs, lead investigator, and cameraman.

Jake
: Ghost, research and computers.

Martin, Mia Cooper
: Sensitive, lead investigator, and security.  Ted’s wife and Brian Martin’s mother.

Martin, Ted
: Lead technician, computers, and communications.  Mia’s husband and Brian Martin’s father.

McCarthy, Audrey
: Researcher and investigator.

Murphy, Stephen
: Ghost, translator and security.

Recurring Characters:

Alessandro, Father
: Jesuit Priest, mind reader, exorcist, sensitive, and friend of Father Santos.

Bainbridge, Matt
:  Pediatric doctor, Audrey McCarthy’s boyfriend, has ghost of his great-uncle in his home.

Bouvier, Beth
: Former PEEPs researcher, fired for trying to sabotage Mia.

Braverman, Susan
: Mega Chicago Bears fan, housewife, Tom Braverman’s mother and Brian Martin’s babysitter.

Braverman, Tom
: Deputy Sheriff, school friend of Mia.  Murphy brought him back to life, inadvertently giving him the
sight
.

Cooper, Beverly
: Professional Sensitive, associate of Father Santos, Mia’s aunt.

Day, Amber
: Former PEEPs investigator/phony sensitive.

Dupree, Glenda
: Mike Dupree’s mother, supporter of PEEPs, recent millionaire.

Ed aka He-who-walks-through-time
: Superhuman. Judy’s partner.

Elizabeth
: Birdwoman. Head Gray Lady, healer and associate of Angelo Michaels.

Jefferies, Alan
: Attorney for the Martins and PEEPs.

Judy aka Refugia
: Birdwoman.  Former Gray Lady.  Independent healer and Ed’s partner.

Maggie Mae
: Mixed breed dog of PEEPs who can see ghosts.

Maria
: Countess of Sardinia.  Angelo’s plus one.

Martin, Brian
: Son of Mia and Ted Martin.

Martin, Whitney
: Former Deputy Sheriff.  Mia’s high school crush and ex-boyfriend.

Mendelssohn, Ralph
: Musical stage designer, Mia’s godfather, married to Bernard Wesley.

Michaels, Angelo
: Birdman and associate of Father Santos.  Lead Warrior and librarian for the Brotherhood of the Wing.

Murphy, Chastity
: Deceased wife of Stephen Murphy.

Norwood, Sabine
: Sensitive, clairvoyant, and medium.  Associate of Father Santos.  Widow, cousin of Mia and mother of triplets.

Roumain, Judge
: Judge of Purgatory.

Ryan, John
: Sheriff, neighbor of Burt Hicks and friend of Father Santos.

Santos, Father (Paolo):
Roman Catholic priest, exorcist, mind reader.  Leader of a professional group of paranormal investigators.

Shem, Gerald
: Associate of Father Santos.  Businessman who trades in favors, Beverly Cooper’s paramour.

Stavros, Orion
: Birdman, scribe, researcher, field medic.   Mia’s grandfather, and Angelo Michaels’s friend.

Sticks
: Teenage demon.

Sariel
: Archangel.

Two Face Tony
: Demon of the Anderson Mill.

Walters, Doctor
: Emergency MD.  Mia’s doctor.

Wesley, Dr. Bernard
: Director of the Culture Department of Chicago’s Field Museum, friend of Father Santos, Mia’s godfather, and married to Ralph Mendelssohn.

Terms:

OOB
: Out of body.  State of bilocation.

Earcom
: Communication device worn inside the ear while investigating.

After traveling the world, Alexie Aaron, a Midwestern native, returned to her roots where she’s been haunting for years.  She now lives in a village outside of Chicago with her husband and family.

Her popular Haunted Series was born from her memories of fleeting shapes rushing around doorways, an heirloom chair that rocked itself, cold feelings of mysterious dread, and warm feelings from the traces of loved ones long gone.

Alexie also writes the Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries.  These mysteries, set in England and south Florida, combine action and intrigue with a liberal dose of humor.

Want more information?  Check out
www.alexieaaron.com