The Seance by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page B

dark and stormy night…no, it was a dark and foggy night, with a strange, full moon rising above the mist.”
    Her light banter didn’t seem to be helping her mood any, she thought, and apparently it was obvious.
    â€œYou okay, Christie?” Mike asked.
    â€œI’m fine,” she snapped.
    â€œMy fault,” Mike said. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”
    â€œMike, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at anyone. I guess I’m just tired.”
    â€œYou’re really okay?” Dan said softly.
    â€œYes, of course. Come on, Ana. Let’s do this Ouija thing and be done with it, okay?”
    â€œHello, Ouija board,” Ana said, as if she were greeting an old friend.
    Christina forced a grin, then set her fingertips very lightly on the planchette, which took off, slowly spelling out “Hello, good evening.”
    â€œIs there a spirit in you tonight, Ouija board?” Ana asked.
    â€œIs she for real?” Christina heard Tony whisper to Dan.
    â€œWho knows?” Dan replied.
    â€œReal? Real is what we make it,” Mike put in.
    Christina knew that she wasn’t moving the planchette, so Ana had to be the one causing it to spell out the answer.
    â€œY-E-S,” Ilona read softly.
    â€œWho are you?” Ana asked.
    They all stared as the planchette began to move again and Dan read aloud, “B-E-A-U-K-I-D-D…Bookid?”
    â€œIt must mean boo, kid,” Mike said. “Boo, like Halloween. Kid, like a trick-or-treater.”
    â€œNo,” Dan murmured. “B-E-A-U. Beau, like a man’s name.”
    â€œLike General Beauregard, the Confederate military leader,” Tony offered. “Right?”
    â€œBeau Kidd. The detective who was supposedly the Interstate Killer!” Dan gasped.
    â€œYou did that on purpose!” Mike accused Ana.
    â€œThe hell I did,” she retorted adamantly.
    â€œThe thing moves by the power of suggestion,” Mike said impatiently.
    â€œAsk him what he wants,” Dan said. “Watch—it will spell out, ‘I was framed. I’m innocent.’”
    â€œWhat do you want?” Ana asked the spirit softly, ignoring Dan.
    Christina gritted her teeth, longing to lift her fingers from the planchette, but somehow she couldn’t quite bring herself to do it.
    The planchette continued to move.
    It was Ana, damn her. She had to be forcing it.
    But what was really unnerving Christina was that she didn’t think Ana was forcing it.
    Dan whispered behind them, “Puh-lease. You’d think we were still teenagers, telling scary stories out in the woods.”
    â€œBe quiet. It’s spelling something,” Ana said impatiently.
    â€œH-E,” Mike began.
    â€œL-P,” Dan finished.
    â€œHelp,” Ilona breathed.
    â€œHang on, it’s not finished,” Christina said.
    â€œThey must be moving it,” Tony whispered to Ilona. “But they’re good. Spooky, huh?”
    â€œâ€˜Help,’ again,” Mike said. “It’s getting kind of monotonous, don’t you think?”
    What other letters added to “help” would make another word? Christina wondered as the planchette kept moving.
    â€œâ€˜Help me please,’” Dan whispered.
    The planchette was practically racing around the board.
    Help me please help me please help me please….
    Then, suddenly, it came to a definite stop in the middle of the board.
    The room fell dead silent, even the doubters momentarily spellbound.
    A thunderous knocking broke the silence and brought a scream from Ilona’s lips. As if in response, the planchette seemed to rise and soar straight into the air.
    And then they heard the front door burst open.

3
    â€œW hat the hell?” Dan demanded.
    Jed stared back at his old family friend, wondering why he looked so spooked. Okay, maybe he’d opened the door a bit more forcefully than necessary, but it hadn’t