Coalescence (Camden Investigations Book 1) by Gary Starta Read Free Book Online Page A

seems to have pushed a button with DJ. He’s been showing her some
photos from his iPhone. They’ve been laughing. More specifically, she’s been
laughing.” Iris was flummoxed. His reasoning to call a meeting had nothing to
do with what she suspected. Some psychic she was turning out to be.
    “Okay, I see. I’ll put a stop to this.”
    Iris grabbed Mitchell by the wrist as he attempted to
leave.
    “No. I’m not explaining this correctly. DJ has been living
like a shut in. Only leaves the house for work. No thought of boys. No thought
of continuing school like she’d planned before my stepmother’s death. If she
can connect with Darian, it’s going to go a long way in her recovery. And in
time, she may entertain the possibility of using her gift again.”
    “Which means we might obtain some answers from your
spirit after all: like what is the dial and how did that video get recorded?”
    “Exactly, so we need to further things along.”
    “I can ask Darian to ask her out
sometime . . .”
    “No, that’s too slow. They need a date—tonight.”
    Mitchell texted Darian, requesting that he text DJ to go
for a cup of coffee. Iris was certain DJ had her phone about her person— at
all times.

 
 
    DJ RESPONDED to her phone’s chime. “Excuse me, Darian.”
    The text read: I could use a paranormal break. How
about getting some coffee? Your new bud, Darian.
    She texted: I like your break. Let’s get out of here  . . . like now  . . .
    DJ gave Iris another reproachful look upon slipping out
the door. The sisters were joined telepathically. DJ realized this was a setup.
Yet, she went anyway, realizing Iris was also a sister who loved her very much.
    Their playful banter continued throughout the ride to the
coffee shop. DJ and Darian never once had to wade through uncomfortable periods
of silence. It was as if they had ridden the bus together at school and shared
small talk.
    Favorite subjects at school; music, clothing styles, and
food dominated the discussion. What DJ liked most about Darian’s conversational
skills was that they didn’t include any inquiries about ghost hunting or how
she came to talk with the dead.
    An order was placed for two mocha lattes. After the
waitress departed, DJ began fumbling with a napkin. It was the first
apprehensive moment she had spent with her new acquaintance.
    “Something going on with that napkin I should know
about?” Darian asked.
    “Ooh. Caught me fiddling. My teachers never appreciated
it either. Some thought I was lost in a daydream, but when I fiddle with
things, I’m actually in the moment, formulating ideas and such.”
    “I think I can relate.” Darian dislodged two packets of
sweetener from a dispenser.
    “Well, I just wanted to let you know I appreciate your
self control. You’ve got to be busting to ask me about my gift. Everyone I ever
meet eventually learns I’m a medium and can’t stop asking me about it. It’s as
if I’m some sort of walking reference library. I want to tell them I’m not a
field of study, I’m a damn person. Oops. There goes myself
control.”
    “I haven’t asked because we’re supposed to be on break
per Mitchell’s orders.”
    “Do you always follow instructions to the letter?”
    “Detail is important. They say the devil is in the
detail. I hate idioms, but it is wise to learn everything you can about the
subject at hand.”
    “So, I guess you guys are pretty stumped about the dial.
I mean, how can you study something if you can’t find its definition?”
    Darian lifted his eyes to the TV screen. It was placed
above DJ, out of her view. “Well, sometimes definitions are wrong or they are
skewed. Take the TV news, for example. They give snippets of a story, leaving
out a whole lot of details. People seem to accept their conclusions. Their
conclusions or definitions are consequently inaccurate, sometimes for the sake
of brevity, sometimes for the sake of an agenda. So just because we can’t find
a