Page 6 of Thunder Road

“Could be worse,” a third spirit replied, this one older than the rest with graying temples. “I’m not downstairs. Wasn’t counting on upstairs. Better than I deserve.”

“You don’t look good, Carter,” the fourth ghost said. “Gonna be heading our way soon.”

Edwards gripped Simon’s hands tightly. “That’s why I called you. I don’t have long, and someone else can get a little more time.” He paused, and when he spoke again, his voice was steady. “I thought you might know how I can find the one we made the deal with and ask him to take me next.”

Simon heard the murmur of distant voices as the ghosts conferred among themselves. “We fade here,” one of the spirits replied. “It feeds.”

A shudder went through Edwards, and Simon didn’t fault his reaction.

“They screwed up when they made the deal,” Edwards said. “Didn’t mind the details.”

“We’re not much for lawyers,” the first ghost said, and their laughter chilled Simon.

“Can I do it? Can I get a message through to the dealmaker? Can you ask him?” Edwards pressed.

Simon felt the ghosts tire and knew he couldn’t keep the connection much longer.

“We’ll pass it along,” the third spirit replied. “No promises.”

“Thank you.” Edwards slumped with relief. “See you soon.”

Simon felt the four ghosts depart, but another presence lingered at the edge of his perception. It wasn’t human, but it was definitely interested, although it made no move to get closer.

“Who are you?”Simon asked silently.

“He called, and I answered,”the entity replied.

“You’re the dealmaker?”

“I have been many things.”

“Did you hear his request?”Simon sensed that whatever creature had answered the call was powerful and ancient, and probably never human.

“I did. I will consider it. The time has come to take another offering.”

Courtesy when dealing with immortal spirits was essential for self-preservation, something Simon took seriously, but the lore was clear that thanking the fay could imply an unwanted indebtedness.

The ghosts and entity vanished from Simon’s Sight, leaving him drained. Edwards gasped, and Simon held up a hand to keep Pete from coming closer.

“Stay back. I haven’t opened the wardings yet.”

Simon spoke the incantation to cleanse the space and dispel ghosts and any other powers attracted by the séance. He dismissed the call to the spirits and thanked the ghosts, making sure to strengthen the protections in case the entity thought about coming back. Simon wasn’t sure what Edwards and his club had summoned, but Simon hoped he never dealt with it again.

He sensed when the energies cleared and felt relieved when Edwards straightened his shoulders.

“Thank you.” Edwards let go of Simon’s grip. “That’s as much as I can ask for.”

“You know that the entity is feeding on the ghosts.” Simon felt the need to make that point clear.

“I’m not surprised. We don’t call it that in the club, but on some level, I think we all know. Maybe it’ll take me next. Maybe it won’t. But at least I tried—and I got to hear from my boys again.”

Edwards’s craggy features softened a bit, looking less agitated. Whatever crimes he had committed and however he had paid for them, the biker seemed at peace. “Helluva thing you can do, raising ghosts like that. I wasn’t sure you were the real deal when I walked in, but you’ve got what my grandma called the shine.”

“You’re welcome,” Simon replied. “Go in peace.”

Edwards paid for the session. Simon and Pete watched him leave.

“What did you make of that?” Pete asked.

---