Page 36 of Spark
“I guess that would be okay, then,” Mary said.
Sophie blinked at her in surprise. “You mean you believe me? About seeing ghosts?”
Mary shrugged. “I don’t see how letting you visit the cells is going to do any harm, especially if there aren’t any lighted candles or burning incense involved.”
“Even if there were, I’m a firefighter, and this is a brick building,” Matt objected. “It would be perfectly safe.”
Mary made a face. “I can’tstandthe smell of incense. How about you?”
“Good point,” Matt conceded.
Knowing that most of the people living on the Grizzly Creek Ranch had extremely sensitive noses, including her stepdad Mitya, Sophie had never gotten in the habit of wearing perfume or using heavily scented soaps or lotions.
“Besides,” added Mary. “If Sophie can get rid of those creepy footsteps, I think we’d all be grateful.”
“I’ll do my best,” Sophie promised, hoping desperately that she wasn’t about to make a fool out of herself.
The only other person inside the station was Annika, who was busily typing something on her computer. The deputy gave Sophie a thumbs-up as she and Matt followed Mary out of the sheriff’s office and headed for the stairs at the back of the building.
The police station was located on Main Street, near the library. The building was old—it had originally been a bank, with thick brick walls constructed on a masonry foundation. At some point it had been converted to a dry goods store, and finally, it had become the headquarters of the Bearpaw Ridge Police Department.
The detention cells were located in the basement. It was cool down here, and felt dark somehow, despite the bright fluorescent lights.
Mary led the way to the cell where Silvio had been detained, and unlocked a heavy barred door that reminded Sophie of a cage door.
The cell was approximately the size of the walk-in closet in her bedroom, furnished only with a minimalist stainless-steel toilet, a small washbasin, and basic cot with a pillow and blanket.
As soon as Sophie stepped into the cell, she felt the same intense chill as she had in the hotel room where Laura Tringstad had died. And there was an identical feeling of something lurking nearby, watching the three of them.
“You're shivering,” Matt said quietly.
Stepping close, he put his arm around her. Just like Chris had, a few days ago, she remembered with a pang of guilt.
And just like Chris, Matt felt warm, solid, and very reassuring.
Mary crossed her arms and leaned against the nearest set of bars.
“Whenever you’re ready,” she prompted.
Oh God, I hope this works, Sophie prayed silently.I don't want to make a fool out of myself in front of Matt and Sheriff Jacobsen.
“Um, Silvio?” she began, not sure which would be worse: looking stupid because nothing happened…or coming face-to-face with a possibly-angry ghost. “Silvio Ornelas, are you here? Can you hear me?”
Her voice echoed disquietingly.
Just when she thought nothing was going to happen, Matt stiffened and Mary came suddenly alert, straightening out of her relaxed posture.
Then Sophie saw it, too: an amorphous mass of gently glowing mist gathering in the center of the small cell. Her heart began beating faster.
I did it! I actually summoned a ghost!
After a moment, the mist resolved into a semi-transparent human shape, which then sharpened further, until a figure with recognizable human features stood before them.
Silvio Ornelas was a handsome young man with a strong family resemblance to his nephew Eddy Ornelas, with smooth brown skin, high cheekbones, and aquiline nose.
Strikingly, he was also dressed in a jaguar skin like an ancient Maya warrior, the cat’s snarling head worn like a helmet over his long dark hair.
Beneath the jaguar’s snarling fangs, the ghost’s eyes glowed shifter gold as they fastened on Sophie. Her heart was pounding so hard now that she was shaking with the force of it. It was hard to breathe.
