Séance, Part Four

So back in the apartment I grabbed a Coke and sat down at my computer. And tried to think of what to do. When Rachel came into the office in sweats, I turned. “Hey, who was your friend who had séances?”

“Uh . . .” She rolled her eyes. “Jasmine.”

“Any chance you could find her? Or someone else who knows about séances?”

Rachel groaned. “I have work to do!” 

“I’m sorry!” I managed not to pound my fist on my desk. “I’m just trying to save people’s lives!”

We were both under a bit of stress from the lockdown.

“Okay.” She glared. “Give me a few minutes. But you’re heating up dinner. I’ll make sandwiches.”

I nodded. “Fine.”

In the meantime I started calling everyone on Marcus’s list. Marcus first. “Look, Natalie’s had a dream about Azar, and so did Anis. I don’t know what’s going on. I’m just trying to contact everybody before something bad happens.”

“Uh, okay.” Marcus sounded puzzled. And nervous. “I don’t think I’ve had any nightmares lately. I’ll ask my girlfriend. Is Anis all right?”

“She’s living with Joe Busch. So far she’s fine.”

“Really? I always though they didn’t . . .” He laughed. “That’s good, I guess. Glad they’re okay.”

I called Warren Pierce after that. “What do you mean, it’s back? I thought it was just a goof, just that one night. But . . .” He took a deep sniff. “I don’t know what to do.”

            “Let me know if you have any nightmares about the thing. Any time, day or night. Right now it only seems to be coming to the women in the group.” That could change, but I didn’t want to panic him. 

“Oh-okay.” He caught his breath. “Thanks for calling.”

Frank Starrett next. He was leaving for the day, and he thanked me for my warning. But he didn’t sound very concerned. 

Natalie McGinnis after that. She was working late. “Anis? Oh my god! Is she all right? We were—well, not best friends, but—wait, nightmares about Azar? Like me?”

“Apparently. Look, I’m concerned that the demon seems to be targeting women in their dreams. You, Anis, Charmaine.” I bit my lip. “I don’t know what to tell you. I’m sorry. I’m looking into this—”

“How do you know so much about demons and séances?” Natalie was sobbing softly. “I’m scared. Who are you?”

“This is what I do.” Sometimes I even save people. “I’ve got some experience. Stay safe, and I’ll be in touch.”

“Okay.” She gulped. “I though this virus was the only thing I had to worry about.”

“Yeah.” I wiped my forehead. “Me, too.”

During dinner—my split pea soup and Rachel’s sandwiches with cheese, avocado and tomato—Rachel’s phone buzzed. “Hello? Oh. Hi, Jasmine! How you doing?” 

I set down my sandwich as Rachel put us on speaker. “Just great! Hiding in my bunker under my pillows, fighting with my cats, binge-watching everything I can find. Have you watched Normal People yet? It’s great.” 

“Yeah, it’s on our list.” Rachel grinned. “Look, sorry to bother you. I know it’s been a long time—”

“Yeah, you kind of dumped me years ago. That’s okay. Sometimes things get too intense. What are you up to these days?”

“Oh, I’m just doing graphic design and websites, and stuff like that, you know? Boring.” She rolled her eyes. “But my boyfriend’s a private detective, and that keeps things interesting. Which, by the way—”

“Boyfriend? I thought—well, that was a while ago, huh?”

I lifted my eyebrows. Rachel glared and mouthed Shut up! “It’s about séances. We used to do them, remember?”

“Sure. You up for one tonight? I’ve got a Zoom session set up. I’ll send you an invite.”

You can do séances on Zoom? Of course. You can do everything on Zoom. 

“Wait.” I leaned closer to Rachel’s phone. “Jasmine, this is Tom. Rachel’s boyfriend. Can I ask you a question?”

            “Tom?” She laughed. “Of course. Nice to meet you. We’ll have to have coffee some time, after all this is over. All three of us.”

“Nice to meet you too.” I avoided Rachel’s eyes. “So, uh, is it possible—have you ever  . . . accidentally or otherwise . . . summoned a demon in a seánce?”

“Huh.” Jasmine paused. “I’ve never heard of that. But I suppose it’s possible. Anything could be floating around in the ether.”

That’s what I was afraid of. We hung up.

“Okay, here’s the thing.” Rachel sighed and picked up her spoon. “Yeah, we were girlfriends for a couple of months. It was fine at first, but then it got—like she said, too intense for me. We’re still friends, obviously, I just haven’t talked to her in a long time. And yeah, by the way, I’m bi.”

“I know.” I took a bite of my sandwich. “It kind of turns me on.”

She glared. “I knew you were going to say that. Jerk.”

I held up my hands, ready to duck if she threw her spoon at me. “Sorry!”

“But you knew?” She wiped her lips with a napkin. “I mean, I don’t care. But how?”

“I’m a detective, remember?” I finished my share of the soup and picked up a sandwich. “Mostly just the way you talk about friends. Like Carrie, no. But—who was that girl? Naomi? Felt like it.”

Rachel sighed. “Yeah, Naomi was nice. Right out of college. But I had boyfriends too.”

“I know.” Rachel was still somewhat secretive about her past, even after living together for several years. “I’m just glad I’m here with you. Uh, good sandwiches, by the way.”

She took a deep breath. “Thanks. I think there’s ice cream before the séance.”