“Are you a first-timer with the paranormal?” Joel asked, sitting cross-legged on the blanket.
“You could say that,” Maddock replied. “I take it you guys are veterans?”
“We’ve been doing this since college,” Larry said. “That’s how we met.” He looked around. “Aren’t there supposed to be more of us?”
“I’m here.” Bones’ voice drifted out of the darkness. A moment later, he and Sandra, the server he’d met earlier in the evening, appeared. Sandra, who had changed into street clothes, was already acquainted with Joel and Larry, and introduced them to Bones.
“This is going to rock,” Bones said, rubbing his hands together. “If this works, I’m totally going to have you guys ring up Jimi Hendrix.”
Joel frowned and Maddock quickly assure him that Bones was not mocking them. “He’s a believer and he’s always wanted to meet Hendrix.” The ghost hunter shrugged and turned his attention to Kendra. “We brought the PX. Want to use it?”
“What’s a PX?” Maddock asked.
“It’s a device that measures certain environmental conditions and matches them up with words in its database. It’s basically a Magic 8 Ball, but with several hundred possible responses.”
“We disagree on that,” Joel explained, “but it’s Kendra’s party so we’ll do it the old-fashioned way.” The meaningful look he directed at the digital recorder explained his meaning.
Kendra pressed her hands to her chest, miming a heart attack. “I get to be in charge!” But despite her moment of levity, she was quickly all business. She reminded everyone to turn off their cell phones. Next, she turned on the EMP monitor, adjusted the knob, and handed it to Maddock. “Keep an eye on the row of lights at the top, as well as the meter on the screen.” She tapped the green digital display, where a black arrow pointed to the left. “Hold it level in your lap where everyone can see it.” Next, she turned on the digital recorder and the flashlight, then nodded to Larry.
“Everyone adopt a spirit of welcoming,” Larry said, “and open yourselves to the spirit world.” He took out a tiny bell, and rang it three times. It produced a thin, high-pitched note, scarcely audible. Seemingly satisfied, he pocketed the bell and inclined his head toward Kendra. A thick canopy of silence drew over the six people seated in a circle.
“We invite the man called Caesar to join us,” Kendra said in a firm, clear voice. As they waited, Maddock realized his heart was racing a mile a minute, his eyes locked on the device in his hands. After a minute’s wait, Kendra asked, “Caesar, are you with us?”
Nothing.
She waited a few seconds. “We respectfully ask you to join us. We have questions that only you can answer.”
Sandra gasped and pointed to the flashlight, which flickered.
“Caesar, are you with us?” Kendra asked.
Maddock’s jaw dropped as the arrow on his digital display swept over to the right and the first three lights on the device lit up.
“Something happened,” he whispered. He suddenly felt clammy all over as if a pocket of cold, damp air had descended upon this spot.
“We saw,” Joel said, his voice serene.
“If you are the man who was known to some as the pirate called Black Caesar, turn off the flashlight,” Kendra said.
The flashlight flickered and the EMP monitor registered another hit.
“Wicked,” Bones whispered.
Kendra proceeded with a set of questions about Caesar’s life and death, all simple “yes or no” questions. The first few times she asked that Caesar turn off the flashlight if the answer was affirmative, then dropped the reminder after a few positive results. Every time the flashlight flickered, the monitor registered the result. Maddock knew it was possible that some sort of electrical interference could be causing both phenomena, but so far it had only happened immediately after a question. Not a single stray flicker of the light or result from the monitor. Finally, Kendra got down to business.
“Caesar, did you once own a special ring?”
This time the readout on the monitor was off the charts, the flashlight beam flickering strobelike.
“He has strong feelings about the ring,” Larry whispered.
“Did this ring have any special powers?”
Again, a strong result. Every light on the EMP monitor lit up for a full second.
“Are we upsetting him?” Sandra asked, reaching out to take Bones’ hand.
“It’s more likely that this is something he’s been waiting a long time to talk about. This ring must have been important to him,” Joel reassured.
Kendra cast a nervous glance at Maddock. He returned what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
“Caesar, turn off the flashlight if you died with the ring in your possession.”
Nothing.
“Ask about the island,” Maddock whispered.
“Did you hide the ring on your island in Florida?”
Again, nothing.
“Did you give the ring to someone before you died?” Bones blurted.
Everyone jumped as the flashlight began to turn itself on and off. Maddock held the monitor at arm’s length, watching the lights flash on and off.
Larry reached out and gave Joel’s hand a squeeze.
“Wow. You know what this means?” Larry whispered.
“If he feels this strongly, the ring might be the reason his spirit never departed,” Joel replied. “Maybe he’s been waiting for someone to ask him about it.”
The flashlight flickered again.
“I think he agrees with you,” Kendra said. “Caesar, did one of your captors take the ring from you?”
No reply.
“Did you give the ring to one of your crew members?” Bones asked.
Once again, the flashlight went crazy.
Despite his reservations, Maddock found himself caught up in the excitement. “Did you give the ring away before you were captured?”
Nothing.
“He doesn’t like you, Maddock,” Bones said. “Knows you’re a skeptic.”
Maddock tried again. “Did you give it to one of your fellow prisoners?”
Flashing lights, sweeping arrow on the monitor.
“How about we try the PX now?” Joel asked. “Maybe he’ll name the person he gave it to.”
“How’s he going to do that? You’ve got a limited number of words in that device and no proper names?” she asked.
“Phonetics,” Joel said.
“We’ll stick with yes or no for now. I’ve got the list of captives here,” Kendra said, taking a sheet of paper out of her bag. “But I can’t wait to play back the audio recording.”
“I’m going to try the PX anyway,” Joel said. “I’ll mute the audio so it doesn’t interfere with your recording.” He took out a small handheld device, flicked a few switches, and then pointed at Kendra.
She cleared her throat. “Caesar, did you give the ring to…” One by one, she went down the list, naming each of the pirates. None of them produced a result. Finally, she came to the last name on the list. “Did you give the ring to Israel Hands?”
This time everyone jumped. The flashlight flashed on and off over and over again. All the readings on Maddock’s monitor shot up to the red and remained there. After ten seconds, the flashlight went black and the readings on the monitor flatlined. No one said a word.
Kendra put a hand on Maddock’s knee and gave it a squeeze.
“Amazing,” Sandra marveled.
“Caesar,” Kendra said tentatively, “are you still with us?”
They waited, but whatever force or presence had been with them had gone.