Page 36 of Haunted Eclipse

That’s…me…

I know. I’m sorry, but you didn’t survive the crash.I wasn’t sure what else to say to him.

My wife! My kids! What will they do?He gave me an anguished look.Please don’t sue them—they didn’t do anything. This was my fault.

I promise you, I won’t sue them. I only want coverage for my car and if we have any injuries. Do you want me to tell your wife anything?

Looking relieved, he nodded.Please…I love her. I love the kids. I’m so sorry this happened.He paused, then added,Can you tell her to look in a safety deposit box at the Midnight Point Credit Union? Box 225. The key’s in my sock drawer. There are documents there she’ll need. He paused, the whispered, What do I do now?

I scrambled, trying to think of what to say, but then I saw an older woman walking in the middle of the street, directly toward us. There was a remarkable resemblance and, as she drew closer, I saw that she, too, was transparent. She had a shocked look on her face.

Will! Oh, honey, it’s too soon. You shouldn’t…I thought it would be so much longer before I saw you again.She smiled sadly and held out her hands.Come with me, my dear.

He stared at her for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.Mom. You came for me?

Of course I did. I told you I’d be watching over you. Now take my hand, and let’s get out of here.She turned to me.Thank you. Please, talk to Marlene. She’s going to need support now, as well as my two grandbabies.

And with that, she turned and silently led Wilson away. They walked off into the snowstorm, and a moment later, vanished into the mists.

“Maisy? Are you all right?” Brenda startled me.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and said, “I was talking to the driver. He didn’t survive. He lost control of the car.”

“He talked to you?”

“He didn’t realize he’d died. But his mother came to get him, and he’s gone now, so all is well. I guess. Except for his family. He asked me to give his wife a message, so now I’ll need to contact her and explain that I can talk to the dead.”

“That’s not all that easy of a conversation to have.”

“No. I know that in Midnight Point people will believe me more than they would in a different town, but still… Having some woman show up on your doorstep, telling you she talked to your late husband seconds after he died? That’s a hard stretch for a lot of people. Especially for someone who’s grieving.”

Brenda started to say something but at that moment, the medics headed our way, along with one of the cops. I was surprised they hadn’t immediately come over to my car, but then again, we were standing calmly in the street—as calmly as we could—and neither of us looked hurt. Triage ruled, and given Wilson’s car was mangled, he had been the higher priority.

“Who was driving?” the cop asked. “I’m Deputy French.”

“Me. I’m Maisy Tripwater. This is Brenda Kline.”

“Are either of you hurt? The medics should check you over,” the deputy said. “They’ll be here in a moment. Unfortunately, the driver of the other car didn’t make it.”

“I figured as much,” I said, then stopped as the sheriff’s car pulled up. Stuart hopped out and, seeing me standing there, hurried over.

“Maisy! Are you all right?”

I tried to smile, but only managed to shiver. “Yeah, I think we are, but I’m not sure. He came sliding across the intersection, through the red light. I was in the middle of a left turn?—”

“We have witnesses to corroborate what she says,” Deputy French said. “I’ve already talked to several pedestrians who saw the whole thing happen. The other driver didn’t survive.”

Stuart caught his breath. “I’m so sorry. Maisy, why don’t you let the medics check you out? We want to make certain you’re okay.” He motioned to the medics’ EMT unit.

“Thanks,” I said. “Brenda, you go first.” As the medic took her aside to sit down on the end of the EMT unit, I turned back to Stuart. “Listen, I have to ask something.”

“Anything,” he said, smiling. His eyes were warm, and his care, genuine.

“I talked to Wilson and he has a message for his wife. I want to know how best to deliver that. I don’t feel I can just show up on her doorstep.”

“You mean, he was alive after the crash?” Stuart asked.

I shook my head. “No. I mean… I talked to his spirit. Right after the crash, he came over to me.” I told him what happened. “So, I need a message delivered to his wife. I assume, living in Midnight Point, that she believes in ghosts, but…”

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