Kimberly descended the staircase, drained and discouraged. The EMTs had found nothing physically wrong with Faith. The girl had stopped convulsing and appeared exhausted but normal by the time the ambulance pulled into the driveway—temperature and blood pressure were normal, and Faith reported she felt fine and had no memory of the instance. With nothing to treat, the EMTs left. Ruth tucked Faith into bed, then stood over the girl wringing her hands and looking at Kimberly to fix it. And she didn’t know how.
Kimberly crossed into the entryway, seeking the comfort Sterling would offer. Before she located him, she discovered Daniel speaking with a police officer.
“I’m sorry, sir,” the officer said as she drew closer. “Everyone in the group denies throwing anything. They all claim everything in your yard was here when they arrived this morning.”
“They’re lying!” Daniel said. “Look at that. Why would we do that to our own yard? We wouldn’t.”
The officer glanced over his shoulder at The Wantland Files van and then leaned sideways for a look at Kimberly. “Maybe some of the neighbors are disgruntled about the general hubbub disrupting the neighborhood?”
“No way. We’re good friends with everyone on this block. You can interview them all. Maybe they saw someone throwing things.”
“Well, I did knock on a few doors. People either weren’t home or didn’t happen to see anything.”
“But you can’t possibly believe we would throw trash in our own yard! That’s nonsense.”
“I understand your frustration, sir, but without photos or something to corroborate your complaint, I’m afraid it’s your word against theirs. And they have more ‘witnesses’ on their side.”
“But—”
“I know. I don’t like it either. I’m afraid my hands are tied, though. I’m sorry. If they act up again, try to record them doing it, get some irrefutable proof they can’t deny. Then we can run them out of here. Meanwhile try not to provoke them.” He continued to eye Kimberly, whether from sheer curiosity or in distaste, she couldn’t tell.
Daniel thanked him and shook hands, then closed the door.
“I’m so sorry,” she told him. The dejected look on his face was more than she could bear.
“Why should you be sorry? You’re here at our invitation trying to help us. The people outside should be apologizing. And cleaning up the mess they made. ‘Try not to provoke them.’” He shook his head and sighed. “And I should be apologizing. To you and to Sterling. I can’t understand it. I never raise my voice or insult another. That . . . wasn’t like me.”
She rested a hand on his shoulder. “I know. It wasn’t your fault. The stress is getting to you. And the negative energy of the crowd feeds the poltergeist, who then provokes the people around him, raising the negative energy more. It’s a vicious cycle that powers the spirit.”
Daniel shook his head. “And no amount of praying seems to help. I’m going to check on my girls. If you’ll excuse me.”
“Of course. Please do. Let me know if you need anything.”
She heard Sterling’s voice and followed it to the living room. He stood near the big front picture window, apparently recording a Confidential Corner. Even from across the room she could tell his heart wasn’t in it. The kitchen incident had shaken everyone. She couldn’t blame them.
“Something strange happened today,” Sterling said. “I’m a little rattled. I also got the results back from the toxicity screenings. All negative. No signs of environmental toxins in any of my samples. I won’t lie. I’m disappointed. But facts are facts, and I’d be a huge hypocrite if I attempt to refute or ignore them. I don’t have an alternative theory right now, particularly in light of what I witnessed today. But I’ll keep working on it.”
She hadn’t heard anything about the test results. As much as Sterling had been banking on environmental influences making the girl sick, he must be very disappointed.
Sterling caught sight of her and nodded slightly, his lips twisted in a slight frown. Stan lowered the camera, but Sterling gestured for him to keep rolling. He opened the curtains wide, the protestors framed in the window.
“You’re backlit,” Stan muttered.
Sterling shifted to one side, waited for Stan’s approval, then jabbed a thumb over his shoulder and continued. “This is unacceptable. Make no mistake. I don’t support or condone this in any way. If you think this behavior is tantamount to disproving psychics and other paranormal activity, you’re wrong. This is harassment and bullying, plain and simple. These guys claim to support religion and free speech. But apparently only their own. They want to silence Kimberly and anyone else they don’t agree with. I support the truth, and that mob out there isn’t preaching it.”
He indicated Stan should cut before crossing to the couch and flopping down. He dropped his head into his hands.
Kimberly hesitated, not sure if he needed company or needed to be alone. Stan caught her eye and tipped his head at Sterling, eyes giving her the signal to go to him.
She crossed the room and sat beside him. He leaned against her.
“I am so sorry,” he said. “I don’t know what happened back there. It’s so unlike me to lose my temper. I don’t know how Daniel got under my skin like that. There’s no excuse.”
“He feels the same. But it wasn’t your fault. It’s all the toxic energy from the crowd feeding the poltergeist.”
“The crowd has turned nasty for sure. I’ll give you that. How’s the little girl? I can’t believe the EMTs didn’t find anything wrong with her.”
“She’s in bed. She’s awake but won’t respond to anyone. And the EMTs didn’t find anything physically wrong with her. I know exactly why she’s ill.”
“I guess you heard the toxin screenings came back negative. I was so sure . . .”
“I heard. I’m not surprised, but I know you’re disappointed and I’m sorry.” She rested a hand on his back and rubbed. His storm of emotions crashed against her so hard she gasped.
“What’s wrong?”
“Worried about you. You’re all shaken up inside. Your emotional prism is refracted every which way.”
“My rainbow is a mess? Is that what you’re saying?” He cocked an eyebrow and chuckled softly.
Remembering the night she explained chakras to him and how their spinning, colorful energy rendered everyone a walking rainbow, she flushed. He’d taken her hand in his that night, looked at her for the first time with the burning intensity that rattled her to her core. Much the way he looked at her right now.
“I am shaken. You’re right about that,” he said.
“Take a deep breath.” As his lungs expanded, she pushed positive, soothing energy through her palm.
He shivered and sucked in a breath. “I love the results, but I’d still love to know how you do that.”
“I’m sharing my energy with you.” He wouldn’t believe her. But he claimed to value the truth so why not give it a go? “I’m holding back negative and sending over pure positive energy. You need a boost.”
“Mmmm the force is strong with this one,” he croaked in what she assumed was his best Yoda impersonation.
She giggled. “Not going to tell me how silly that is?”
“After everything that happened in the kitchen earlier? That’s the least bizarre thing I’ve heard today.” He raised an eyebrow and seemed to think carefully before speaking. “You know, electric eels have the ability to conduct bursts of electricity and shock nearby animals. I don’t know how they do it. I can’t do it myself. But I’d be a moron to deny they can. Maybe you have some unidentified ability that allows you to manipulate currents.”
Her jaw dropped. She almost felt the ground vibrate with the massive shift in his attitude. “Wow. I never expected to hear that. Not from you.”
“Yeah, well, I never expected to witness something like I saw today. Or feel . . . I don’t know. Warmth? Happiness? I feel something radiating from you. I know I’m not imagining it. It’s almost like a little jolt but not unpleasant like a shock. All this stuff about ghosts and demons, though . . .” He tossed his arms in the air and let them fall.
“I know. It goes against everything you believe. You didn’t grow up with this like I did. But I still think you may have some latent sensitive abilities. We should leave that for another day. Baby steps.” She gave him another dose of energy.
He sat up straight and gasped. “Seriously. That’s causing euphoria. A high almost. You’re like a drug. You’ll turn me into an addict.”
“Oops. Too much at once. Sorry.”
His hooded eyes burned, searching hers. What did he hope to see? “I can’t help but wonder what you’d be like in—”
“In?”
He shook his head and broke the penetrating gaze. “Nope. We’re having a nice moment. I’m not gonna ruin it by being a dude.” He took her hand. “I need you to tell me everything in the kitchen was all an illusion. Please. Otherwise I don’t know how to deal with this. None of this makes sense.”
“It’s not entirely making sense to me either,” she admitted. “Poltergeists normally aren’t out for revenge. They’re mischievous troublemakers for sure, and never easy to deal with. But this one has a mean streak. And I can’t figure out why. What am I missing?”
One side of his mouth curled into a wry grin. “We’re both talking in English but we’re not speaking each other’s language at all.”
She squeezed his hand. “I know it’s scary. I remember how I felt when I first realized I sensed things in this world no one else could. You’re finally witnessing it for yourself. It was difficult enough on me as a child. This goes against one of your core beliefs. Believe me when I tell you it’s going to be okay. I won’t let anything hurt you.”
His smile spread across his face. “My own personal ghost bodyguard? Tiny little thing like you? Somehow, I believe it. And I like that you want to protect me.”
She stood, overwhelmed by the situation. “I’m restless. I can’t just sit here. And I don’t think I can sit through footage review.”
Ruth walked past them, a box of trash bags in hand. “Faith seems to have fallen asleep. Daniel is going to stay by her. I need to do something with my hands. Something useful. I feel so helpless.”
“You’re going outside?” Kimberly’s heart skipped a beat at the idea of facing the angry mob on the other side of the door.
“I’m going to clean up the garbage those horrible people threw in my yard.”
“But they’re still out there. And wound up.”
Sterling joined in. “And probably empowered since the police didn’t do a thing.”
“This isn’t the first time Christians have been persecuted.” Ruth squared her shoulders. “And it won’t be the last.”
How ironic Ruth believed she was being targeted for her faith when this all started with people using misguided religious beliefs to accuse Kimberly of witchcraft.
“Wait,” she said as Ruth reached for the doorknob. “I’ll go with you.”
“What? No, you won’t!” Sterling insisted.
“You should stay inside where you’re safe,” Ruth agreed.
“No way. This is all my fault. I’m supposed to be helping and instead I’ve made it worse. I haven’t figured out how to clear the poltergeist, Faith is still sick, and I’ve attracted zealots. The least I can do is help clean up the mess.”
Sterling sighed. “Then I’m going too.”