sympathetically.
“I have to be,” Ellen replied. “I did give my uncle our address and the phone numbers to the house and to my cell phone.”
Allyson grinned before saying, “That’s fine.”
“Anyway, if we’re through here, there’s something I want to do before it gets too late,” Ellen said.
“And what are you planning on doing?” Allyson asked.
“Andie’s uncle lives a couple of blocks from us, and I’m going to talk with him… in Andie’s behalf,” Ellen explained.
“Ellen, you shouldn’t be involving yourself in other people’s family matters,” Allyson told her.
“Andie shouldn’t be on those drugs that her parents have her on,” Ellen retorted. “And I’m going to do what I can to convince Andie’s family of that—without getting myself into legal trouble.”
Allyson sighed before saying, “If your mind is set on talking to Andie’s uncle, I have no doubt that you’ll find a way; however, if I have to bail you out of jail because of it…”
“You won’t,” Ellen interrupted. “Getting myself into trouble won’t help Andie or me, and if I don’t at least talk to Andie’s uncle or do what I can within reason to help Andie, then I would feel like… like a lifeguard who had allowed a drowning swimmer to drown.”
“Fine, go,” Allyson told Ellen in a defeated tone. “We’re going out to eat in an hour, so be back before then.”
“Okay,” Ellen said as Jessica and Karla stood up.
Ellen glanced at Jessica and Karla before turning towards the exit and walking away. Everett, Jessica and Karla followed Ellen out.
Chapter Five
Ellen, Everett, Jessica and Karla had found Cole Middleton’s house fairly easy. A car was parked in the driveway, and after the four had stepped up to the front door, they could hear a piano being poorly played.
Ellen took a breath before ringing the doorbell. The piano had stopped for a brief moment before continuing.
Ellen was about to push the doorbell again, but as she was in the motion to do so, the doorknob turned. As the door was opening, Ellen pulled back her hand.
When the door opened wide, a man in his early thirties with brown skin, straight black hair, a week’s worth of black whiskers and facial features that screamed ‘India’ looked at the four at the door.
“May I help you four?” he finally asked, with a slight southern accent.
“Are you Cole Middleton?” Ellen asked.
“I’m guessing that you four are here because of my ad; however…” Cole was only able to get out.
“We’re not here about any ads, Mr. Middleton,” Ellen interrupted. “We’re here in Andie’s behalf.”
“Andie who?” Cole asked.
“Your niece Andie,” Ellen replied.
Cole expression became serious before asking, “What about her?”
“We met her yesterday, and we learned that she’s on medication when I know for a fact that she shouldn’t be,” Ellen said.
Cole took a breath before asking, “What do you know for a fact?”
“I own some diaries of my ancestors, and I knew before meeting Andie that there was a spirit attached to them,” Ellen began. “I thought that the spirit was my great-grandmother—she had owned the diaries before me, but after meeting Andie, I know that the spirit is Eleanor Thorne. And Eleanor Thorne is my ancestor who had lived in the 1400s.” Cole slightly nodded in acknowledgement. “Anyway, my point is, Andie is on medication for her delusions of seeing spirits, and I know for a fact that she can see spirits. She is a medium and she shouldn’t be on that medication.”
Cole took a breath before prompting, “You and your friends would be?”
“I’m Ellen,” she began before pointing out the others. “They’re Jessica, Karla and Everett.”
“Ellen… Jessica, Karla and Everett, what you four had learned about my niece last night, I had learned ten years ago,” Cole said.
“So you know that Andie is able to see ghosts?” Karla questioned.
“I know,” Cole began. “It’s my sister who refuses to see the truth.”
“And you’re allowing Andie to be medicated when you know for a fact that she shouldn’t be?” Ellen demanded to know.
“When it comes to Andie, I have no input whatsoever,” Cole said. “My sister had made that clear when she took a restraining order out on me. I’m not allowed twenty feet of Andie until she reaches her eighteenth birthday. I’m sorry, Ellen, I can’t help you or Andie. In fact, the only thing that can help Andie is if Andie suddenly stops seeing ghosts. So perhaps you four can create a charm that can prevent Andie from seeing them.”
“Excuse me?!” Ellen demanded.
“I don’t see ghosts, but I can hear them,” Cole began. “In fact, Mary, the woman who had this house before me, had actually died here. Mary’s spirit has never moved on, and she is currently screaming witches in my ear. Mary has never lied to me either, so I’m assuming that at least two of you are witches… good witches I might add since you four are here on Andie’s behalf.”
“Mary might not lie to you, but she can be wrong, and in this case she is very wrong,” Jessica rattled out before Ellen could respond.
Cole grinned before saying, “You four wouldn’t tell me differently anyway, and regardless, I would love to help Andie, but I can’t.” Cole then gestured behind him. “Anyway, I have a student at the piano. So I need to get back in there.”
Before Cole could step away from the door, Ellen continued with, “You can hear ghosts and Andie can see and hear them, so apparently the ability to communicate with ghosts runs in your family.”
“Insanity is what runs in our family, Ellen,” Cole said. “At least that’s the official… diagnosis. My mom had hung herself when I was nine months old because she was tired of the voices. Each of her siblings is on some kind of medication for having psychosis. My mom’s dad was institutionalized from a court order when I was ten. He’s still alive and is kept so drugged up that he can’t distinguish reality from his dreams, and his dad had also killed himself to get away from the voices.”
“Your family members have certainly been… misunderstood and crucified for their ability over the generations,” Ellen commented.
“They have,” Cole agreed. “In any case, you four have a good day.”
“Good day,” Everett, Jessica and Karla echoed.
With a troubled expression on her face, Ellen thought for a moment before taking
