The next morning, the crew chatted as they prepared to record the final wrap segment. Kimberly had slept better than she had in a long time. The Johnsons reported sleeping well too. A morning news show played in the background as Stan and TJ readied cameras and crew members rolled up cords and packed away equipment.
Rosie watched her, a gleam in her eyes. Kimberly knew her best friend couldn’t wait to get her alone and find out where she’d slept last night. She enjoyed keeping the information to herself and letting Rosie’s imagination run wild.
“Hey!” TJ said. “The news is talking about us!”
Ruth turned up the volume as a photo of Kimberly transitioned to the Johnsons’ house. The caption at the bottom of the screen read REAL GHOST ON WANTLAND FILES SET?
The anchor’s concerned face stared gravely into the camera. “Did The Wantland Files have a real ghost on site? Or did a huge hoax lead to mass hysteria? That’s what local Guthrie residents are asking themselves this morning after an incident at a home being investigated by paranormal celebrity Kimberly Wantland for her show The Wantland Files. News Six is on site to learn more.”
The screen cut to a man in a T-shirt and ball cap who looked like he hadn’t showered in days. He spoke into a microphone held by Cathy Rickman, who stood beside him. “I dunno how they done it, but they musta drugged us or somethin’ somehow. I saw a ghost come outta that windo’ right there.” The camera followed where the man pointed—to Faith’s bedroom window.
The camera panned to Cathy. “While some observers believe the show is behind the mass hysteria in a bid for publicity, neighbors claim followers of an obscure religious sect disrupted the neighborhood for days, then staged the hoax to gain attention and deserve nothing but contempt. Did we have a real ghost right here in Guthrie, Oklahoma? Perhaps only Kimberly Wantland knows for sure. Liz?”
“Thanks, Cathy. I guess we’ll have to watch the show to see what happens. Across town—”
Ruth clicked the television off. “Well. The news just aired all our dirty laundry. Not sure I appreciate that.”
Daniel put an arm around her. “Might as well get used to it. Once the show airs, everyone will know all the details.”
Ruth sighed. “Perhaps our experiences will help others. I’ll have to stay positive about it.”
Michael looked like he’d been handed a winning lottery ticket. “We can’t buy publicity like this!”
Kimberly wasn’t quite as euphoric. “What about Ezekiel though? Will he be back?” They had seen only a few stragglers milling about in the street. She’d wondered all morning if the group would return, angrier than ever.
Sterling scrolled through Twitter. “Nah. They’re gone. Couldn’t handle the shock of something uglier than them. Zeke appears to be headed to his next location.”
“That’s it? He harassed me all this time and now he just leaves? And gets away with it?”
Sterling draped an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s focus on the part where he’s gone.” He held up his camera above them. “Smile.”
“Sterling!”
“Time for our morning Kimberling post.”
She glanced at Rosie. “I don’t think I can handle this.”
Rosie grinned. “I think you’re adapting.”
Rebecca and Faith bounded down the stairs, giggling and brighter than she’d seen them.
“Are you okay, Faith?” she asked.
Faith held out her arm. “Look! The rash is going away. Hardly anything left of it now.”
“Her hand too,” Rebecca said, flipping her hand over to expose the palm. “Look. It’s a little pink, but it’s going away.”
Sterling inspected the girl’s arm. “Wow. I can’t deny that looks much improved.”
Kimberly held out her own palm. “Mine too. Nearly back to normal already.”
Sterling ran a finger over the pink skin. “Remarkable recovery. But I’m glad to see it.”
“And James is gone for good?” Daniel asked. “He can’t come back?”
“He can’t return,” she reassured them. She shivered slightly at the memory of what awaited him on the other side. “He’s no longer hiding in the Nightshade. He passed to the next life, albeit unwillingly. I’ve witnessed crossings before, but never like this. I think he’s finally going to atone for his actions.”
“I know he’s gone,” Faith said. “I can tell."
“This morning over coffee,” Ruth said, “I noticed weeds sprouting in my garden under the oak tree. I haven’t been able to get anything to grow there for months now. I may leave the weeds just to enjoy something green there.”
Faith approached Sterling and shyly tugged on his sleeve.
He appeared startled by the interaction. “Yes?”
The girl held up a quarter and closed it in a hand. She waved the other hand over the closed fist. When she opened it, the quarter was gone. “Ta-dah!”
Sterling’s face lit up as he clapped. “Well done! Excellent!” He passed a hand behind her ear and held a quarter between thumb and forefinger, which he offered to her. “Here’s another to keep practicing with.”
Rosie rested a hand on Kimberly’s shoulder. “Girl, he is dreamy. How are you doing? Are you okay with this outcome?”
She took a moment to consider. “James had to go. We all agreed on that. And ultimately, though I played a part in his final crossing, I wasn’t the one who forced him. Wronged souls dragged him away to face justice.”
Michael shook his head. “That was truly the most incredible ending we’ve ever had. Wait until Randmeier hears about this.” He pulled his cell phone from a pocket and left the room.
“We finally have irrefutable proof of a ghost!” TJ said. “We even made the news! All those people are—”
Sterling cut him off. “All those people are looking for any explanation other than a ghost. Have you seen Twitter?”
“But people had their phones out. They got pictures and videos.”
“Won’t matter. If it were me, like it used to be, I wouldn’t believe it. Not a bit. I’d write it off as someone really good with Photoshop or graphics software. It wouldn’t have changed my mind.”
“But . . . you saw it! You have to admit you saw it.”
“I don’t want you to build this up and then be crushed when things don’t go the way you expect.”
“But it’s the truth!”
Michael popped his head back into the room, cell phone stuck to his ear, and waved at them. “Sterling? Need you for a second.”
He squeezed her arm. “I’ll be right back.”
TJ watched him walk away, then rounded on her. “We have him on record, terrified of seeing a ghost at Stone Lion. We can leak that footage and prove—”
“Please don’t.”
He blinked and sucked in a breath. “But we have him this time. He was your biggest critic. He called you a fraud so many times. This proves even complete skeptics can see ghosts.”
“I don’t want him publicly humiliated like that. Please, do this for me.”
“I don’t—”
“The dynamic of the show is psychic and skeptic. Sterling may be starting to come around and realizing there really is something to these investigations, but publicly we need him to retain his role of the cynical nonbeliever. That’s how the show works.”
TJ threw his hands up in surrender. “Okay. If that’s what you want.”
“Thank you.”
Sterling returned. TJ gave him some side eye and then slunk away, crestfallen.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“TJ and I had a minor disagreement about what should and shouldn’t be included in the episode.”
“And now he’s miffed at me? What did I do?”
“Nothing. He’ll get over it. What did Michael want?”
“He had me talk to Randmeier. The crew is buzzing a bit about us spending the night together. Wanted to keep things above board so we wouldn’t appear to be sneaking around. He, uh, suggested we could save money by putting us both in the same room from now on.”
“Oh.” She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Excited, sure, but that seemed like a huge step forward for two people who were just starting to know each other.
“I told him I didn’t think we were ready for that just yet.”
“Thank you.”
“Not that I’d mind.”
“I’ll remember that.” She turned to discover everyone in the room listening and blushed.
Ruth hugged Kimberly. “I’m glad I got to see Mom one last time. I wasn’t here when she passed away. I never felt like I got to say goodbye. Now I know she’s okay.”
“I understand. I’m glad too.” Kimberly so wished for the same opportunity. Perhaps someday.
Rebecca grabbed Faith in a massive hug, squeezing the breath out of the girl.
“Hey!” Faith squeaked in protest, arms waving in an attempt to escape.
“Sorry, not sorry,” Rebecca said. “I’m glad you’re better. I need my sister.”
Kimberly looked at Rosie and then threw her arms around her best friend.
“Hey!” Rosie squirmed. “What’s that for? You’re not usually a hugger.”
“We may not have the same parents, but you’re my sister as far as I’m concerned. I want you to know that.”
“Awww.” Rosie teared up. “I get to be your bridesmaid, right?”
Kimberly leaned back and rolled her eyes. “For Pete’s sake, Rosie.”
“What? I need to know. I can start planning your bachelorette party.”
“I’m not engaged! Stop planning my wedding!” She hazarded a glance at Sterling. His lips twisted into a grin. He looked entirely too amused.
Faith lifted her head from Rebecca’s shoulder. “Will I be your bridesmaid?”
“Duh,” Rebecca replied. “Wouldn’t have anyone but you. I better get to be your maid of honor.”
“Whoa,” Daniel said. “Hold up. No wedding plans, please, girls. Your dad isn’t ready for that just yet.”
Sterling shook his head at Michael. “Girls and weddings.”
“Right?” Michael agreed. “I wanted to be her bridesmaid!”
“You can be his best man,” Rosie suggested.
“Stop planning my wedding!”
Michael clapped his hands together. “As much fun as antagonizing Kimmy is, let’s shoot the end cap so we can wrap. Randmeier wants us to get back on the road. Next investigation will be our Halloween episode this season.”
“Halloween episode?” Sterling asked her. “Ghosts aren’t Halloween enough on their own?”
“We plus it a little bit,” she told him. “Besides, decorations will be up everywhere. We use it to our advantage. Where do you want us, Michael?”
“How about the front porch, house behind you?”
Daniel crossed to Sterling and shook hands. “Appreciate everything. I know you’re not into this stuff, but I will pray God blesses all of you. You deserve it.”
“Appreciate it, man. Always glad for prayers.”
The two of them followed Michael outside and allowed themselves to be posed on the front porch.
Sterling cleared his throat. “Are you going to exorcise the ghosts at Stone Lion? If there really is a little girl’s spirit wandering there forever, that seems really sad.”
“Sterling Wakefield, are you worried about that little ghost?” She glanced sideways at him. His concern absolutely melted her heart. “Gloria doesn’t want her ghosts sent away. She likes sharing her space with them. But I gave her some ideas for interacting with the girl a bit more. Engaging her might make her less mischievous.”
“Too cozy, Sterling,” Michael called. “Stand a little farther apart from Kimmy. And look skeptical. Cross your arms and scowl or something.”
Sterling shook his head. “My job is getting harder. I don’t want to scowl at you.”
“Yeah, well, that’s why you get paid the big bucks.”
He took a deep breath, placed his hands on his hips, and gave her a hard stare. “How’s this?”
She threw her head back with laughter and clapped. “You look ridiculous. I love it!”
Michael pinched the bridge of his nose. “Are you two about finished? I’d really like to wrap this up.”
“Sorry! Sorry, everyone.” She shook out her limbs and fixed her features back into a concerned yet compassionate countenance.
Michael shook his head. “You two are going to make my life hell. I think I liked it better when you hated each other.”
She faced Stan’s camera and waited for Michael to count her in. “The Johnsons’ house proved to be one of the most difficult investigations we’ve ever tackled. Wouldn’t you agree, Sterling?”
“Pretty crazy. I’m eager to review all the footage and determine what was really happening here. Plus, I intend to stay in touch with the family. I’m curious to see if Faith’s medical issues truly resolve, now that you’ve cleared the house of the supposed haunting.”
“Learning family secrets hidden away for generations was a shock. But that enabled us to purge the home and grounds of the ghosts from the past. We leave the Johnsons to cope with some startling news they didn’t expect. But I think the truth is always best.”
His lips twisted into a grin. “On that we agree. The truth is always best.”
Michael called to Sterling, “Want to give us your take on what’s happened here this week?”
Sterling cleared his throat. “I have no idea what happened. Yet. But there is only one way I’d like to see this episode end. Kimberly, I think you know what it is.”
He lifted one eyebrow. He’d been through a lot this week. She could do this for him.
She faced Stan’s camera, smoothed her hair, and clasped her hands together. “This house . . . is clean.”
The crew erupted in laughter. Sterling got his Poltergeist ending after all. Sort of.
“We will have the chance to uncover the truth again during our next investigation. Join us next time as we venture to Hannibal, Missouri.”
“And cut,” Michael called. “That’s it. Let’s hit the road.”
She descended the steps and headed for the van.
Sterling’s voice stopped her. “Where do you think you’re going?”
She turned and found him on the passenger side of his car, door raised. He gestured her in. “You’re with me now.”