Get Out or Die
By Kim Cox
Novella Two: Lana Malloy Paranormal Mystery Series
Will Lana be able to control the situation or will the ghost sense he can overtake her? Does she have other abilities she can rely on to save her?
Book Excerpt
“I can’t believe your husband is angry with you,” Lana Malloy said to her new client, Angelina Fuentes. “After all, he died almost a year ago and hasn’t haunted you until now. He hasn’t assaulted you or anything like that, has he?”
“No, Senorita. My Mario only moves things to where I can’t find them. He wants me to lose my mind or something?” A tear trailed down her cheek. “Why does he do this?”
Angelina was an exotic beauty with long black hair and eyes almost as dark. A young woman who’d lost her husband way too young.
Lana closed the space between them, holding Angelina’s hands between her own as she sat beside her on the flowered sofa. Angelina’s lavender scent permeated the air around them. “That’s not Mario’s intentions at all.” She closed her eyes to concentrate. “He came back to try to help you. To let you know it’s okay to live your life, and maybe one day to marry and be happy again. Little Mario needs a male influence in his life too.”
“Why does he say this? Does he not love me?”
“It’s because he does love you that he wants you to have a happy life. Even when that life must be without him.”
Angelina broke down. “I can’t. Mario was . . . is my everything.” Her shoulders shook as she sobbed loudly. Lana would never get used to the emotional strain of dealing with broken hearts.
“What about Rodriquez?”
At the sound of Mario’s voice, Angelina’s head shot up. She searched the room before bringing her gaze back to Lana.
“Where did that come from?”
Lana knew what was happening, but was incapable of stopping it. This was a first for her. Never had one of the spirits sent his voice through her.
“From me.” Lana felt her lips move beyond her control, but the voice wasn’t hers. She was a bit leery of this situation. One thing was for sure, Mario planned to get his point across. At first, she’d been stunned by the change, but then struggled to get control. Frustration overcame her and she tried as hard as she could to dispel the presence manipulating her.
Wrinkles appeared around Angelina’s eyes and she squinted as she stared at Lana. She snatched her hands from Lana’s, jumped out of her seat, clutched her rosary in her hands, crossed herself and backed away, praying silently.
“Don’t be afraid, it is only me, your beloved husband. I won’t harm you.”
“Is it really you, Mario? What do you mean? Rodriguez knows we can only be friends.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s your best friend and I love you. I always will.”
“Rodriguez has loved you for a long time, even before I did.”
“I swear, Rodriquez, we…I…never did anything to shame our marriage.”
“My poor Angelina, I know that. This is not what I mean. He is a true friend and you, a loving and loyal wife. But I’m dead now. Both of you should move on. He loves you. Let him make you happy.”
Lana’s heart went out to Angelina. As she smoothed her dark tresses with the tips of her fingers, her big brown eyes reflected the struggle going on in her heart.
Lana continued to struggle against Mario’s intrusion. This couldn’t be happening to her. She cared for Angelina and Mario but this was a violation of her body.
“Now, I must return to where I belong,” Mario continued. “Promise me you’ll at least try to move on, to live a good life.”
As Lana kept concentrating, she could feel the spirit start to leave and wasn’t sure if she was driving him out, or if he was leaving of his own accord. Just when she thought she’d rid herself of the unwanted spirit, it latched onto her again.
“I will.” Angelina dotted the tears from under her eyes with the pink tissue she’d held in her lap. “I will try. I promise.”
“Thank you, my love,” he said and then he was gone.
Lana dropped to her knees as the spirit left her and rolling onto her side, she coughed to clear her throat before speaking. “Are you okay, Angelina?” she managed to croak, her voice harsh. Her entire body trembled from the possession.
“Yes, I will be all right,” Angelina said as she knelt by Lana’s side and tried to help her into a chair, but Lana waved her away. “Are you okay, Senorita? You don’t look too good.”
“Yes. I’ll be fine. I just need a glass of water.” Lana tested her legs, but she wasn’t able to move them yet. Angelina rushed to the kitchen.
As Lana leaned on one elbow, she drank the water, the feeling began to come back to her legs and she was able to roll onto all fours. Lana allowed Angelina to help her stand upright, then lead her to the nearest chair.
“How did he do that? Angelina asked.
“I’m not sure. This was a first for me.” And not a thrilling first, either.
When Lana felt she could stand alone, she patted Angelina on the back of the hand and stood up. “If you’re sure you’re fine, I need to leave. I have a case coming up that I need to research before visiting the client’s home.”
Angelina stood and gave her a hug. “Thank you, Senorita. I appreciate all that you have done. Without you, I would not have known why my Mario was scaring…I mean, visiting me.” She smiled and held up her hand. “Please wait. I have something for you,” she said and walked into the kitchen.
Lana twirled around slowly, taking in the essence of the Fuentes’s spiritual home. On the desk sat a small statue of Mary—mother of Jesus, a crucifix and the Bible. She ran her fingers along the sacred book, thumbing through many well-worn pages and wondered why Angelina had come to her, but she wouldn’t ask, wouldn’t pry. That was between Angelina and her church.
Turning the other way, she saw family photos on the mantel of little Mario wearing a white gown. It must have been his first communion. There was another one of him between Angelina and a man Lana assumed was the older Mario. What a lovely family they’d been.
That was the problem with her gift; so much heartache surrounded those she tried to help. It was funny how she witnessed such grief day in and day out, but still never completely got used to it and she knew she never would.
Dark, rose-colored paint peeled from the walls of the apartment’s living room, but the home was spotless. The tables smelled of fresh polish and sparkled with her reflection as Lana leaned over them.
Angelina ran into the room, unfolded some well-worn bills and placed them in Lana’s hand. “Please take this.”
“I can’t. I told you, there’s no charge for this type of service.” Lana pushed the bills away.
“But, you have to make a living.” Her eyes pleaded with Lana.
“I make a fine living solving mysteries, and my aunt left me a few dollars when she passed over to the other side.” Lana smiled as she remembered her aunt was the one who had gotten her into this. Her first case had been to solve her aunt’s and her aunt’s fiancé’s murders, with, of course, her aunt’s help—not to mention that of the fiancé and the fiancé’s nephew. A nephew, Anthony Davide Calabria III, to whom she was now engaged. Funny how life worked out.
She could hardly wait to see Tony tonight and tell him about her new gift, and to get his thoughts on it. Maybe he could help her figure out a way to manage it. She’d always known the possibility of being inhabited was there, but it didn’t make the intrusion any less startling or easier to accept, and she’d thought all she would’ve had to do was will the spirit to leave her and it would. She hadn’t realized the lack of control that followed Mario’s possession of her.
Refolding the bills, Angelina shoved them into her apron pocket. “I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”
“Just be happy as your husband requested. That’s payment enough.”
A tear escaped Angelina’s eyes. Lana touched the woman’s cheek just before walking through the open door. “Take care of yourself, little Mario and of Rodriquez.”
“I will, Senorita,” Angelina said, waving.
As Lana walked outside into the late afternoon sun, a swish of wind whipped her hair into a frenzy around her face and a few of the fallen leaves into a whirlwind around her feet. She hopped around them and slid into the seat of her aunt’s old 1965 Mustang while wondering if that was Mario making an exit, satisfied his mission was accomplished. Although, she still felt badly treated by Mario, she did understand why he did what he did. She just wished he’d asked first.
Lana brushed her wind-beaten hair from her face and drove off, content to have helped one more person communicate with a loved one.
This case would definitely be easier than the next. She’d talked with the clients over the phone. They were beside themselves with fear, but still refused to leave their estate, even for a short time. It seemed their ghostly inhabitant wanted them out and not next week, but now. Lana hoped her new gift wasn’t available to this one. Maybe Tony could help her figure out how to block it unless she wanted to use it. It had taken her by surprise. More surprises, she didn’t need.
From what she could gather from her preliminary research of the estate and family, the house dated back to the Revolutionary War days, and the last occupant was Adam O’Kelly—a direct descendant of the Irish Lieutenant Jamie O’Kelly from the war. General Washington himself awarded the house to the Lieutenant for his valor during battle. The question was which descendant inhabited the house—Jamie, Adam or one of the others in-between? More documents awaited Lana tonight. She didn’t want to face an angry ghost without being fully prepared.
About the Author
Kim is published in novels, novellas, short stories and articles. Firmly believing she can do anything she sets her mine to, she has recently embarked on self-publishing and creates her own book covers.
Besides writing, Kim also works full time at a local workforce development agency. She is a graduate of Writer’s Digest’s Writing to Sell Fiction and NRI’s Fiction Writing, an associate degree graduate in the fields of Office Systems Technology and Web Technologies. She also has a Web Design Business at Kim Cox Designs. She loved college, or more accurately, learning so much that she continued and obtained a diploma in Medical Office Administration.
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