The Departed

through her shields. Felt his torment, his confusion—shit, he was almost as screwed up as some of her ghosts.
    Dez stared at him, her heart so full of fury, it took a moment to realize what she was seeing in his eyes. There was terror, yes, but there was also something else. Relief. And hope.
    One thought blasted at her shields, so strong and clear, she had to wonder if he had some sort of psychic skill — Oh, fuck. She knows . Shit, there was just too much stimulus coming at her here. It was driving her nuts.
    “Yeah.” She had to raise her voice to be heard over the water. “I know.” Flicking her wet hair back from her face, she glanced at his radio, then back at him. “What do you plan on doing about it?”
    He swallowed and glanced around, as though he expected the boogeyman to jump out at him. Then he just shook his head.
    “What’s that mean, kid? You plan on standing there? Doing nothing? Does it mean you’re not going to tell me?”
    “I’m not going to do anything,” he said, his voice shaking…but certain enough. He was pale and she was pretty sure some of the moisture she saw on his face was sweat and tears, not just water.
    She blew out a breath and studied his face. “Okay, then.” She couldn’t waste any more time. She’d already sent a message calling for the cavalry, although she had no idea when they’d get here. She’d dreaded sending that message, but if by chance somebody stopped her before she got up there…besides, as insane as this story was, she needed somebody to back her up.
    Crouching down, she unzipped her bag. One thing the past year had taught her—be prepared. For everything. That might include needing things like ropes and such. Once she’d had to go down into a cave—an unmarked one, unmapped, to help one of her ghosts.
    Yeah, the past year had been an eye-opening experience, all right. Standing, she met the boy’s eyes once more.
    He was staring at the rope, that odd look still on his face—dismay, confusion…and hope. Then he met her eyes. “Hurry. She’s been in there a long time. I…” He closed his eyes and swallowed. “Just hurry. And be careful. They’ve got things set to get all fucked up later tonight, but if they see you…”
    “I’ll be careful.”
    * * *
     
    “WHAT?”
    Taylor clutched the phone, certain he’d misheard Gina, because this couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not here . Not now . Not here …here, of all the fucking places. If Taylor had still believed in God, he just might have thought the big guy was pissed off at him, or trying to tell him something.
    This couldn’t be happening.
    “You heard me,” she said, sighing. Her voice was grouchy. “You have the information, as she sent it to me, word for word. A water park? French Lick, Indiana, of all places. I did a Google search on it. It’s in the middle of nowhere.”
    Taylor closed his eyes. Oh, he knew the place. He knew it well.
    “How urgent is this?” he asked, his voice gruff.
    “When I texted her back, she told me things were going to go FUBAR at any second, although she’s not giving me details.”
    FUBAR . Fucked up beyond all recognition.
    He blew out a breath. “Okay. Get a team together—Crawford, I guess. Keep them on standby. I’ll let you know if I need them here.”
    “Right away, sir…ah…did you say here ?”
    Taylor grimaced. “I’m exactly six miles from the hotel, Gina. I’ll be there in under fifteen minutes.”
    “Ah…excuse me?”
    “You heard me.” He disconnected and shoved the phone into his pocket. This wasn’t happening, damn it. He had to see Dez. Normally he was able to get somebody else to run interference—namely, Joss Crawford—but he couldn’t wait however long it would take to get Joss here.
    Not when he was all of fifteen minutes away.
    Damn it, what in the hell kind of trouble had led Dez to his town?
    A shiver raced down his spine and he glanced around the cold and forbidding family manor. Dez chased ghosts for a living now…they called to her. One must have called her here.
    Anna …
    No.
    He wouldn’t think about that.
    * * *
     
    SHE wouldn’t look down, damn it. Hell. If she did look down, if she fell, well…hopefully the rope and rig would hold and if it didn’t, she was high enough, she’d break her neck. Nice. Clean. Quick. Although she sure as hell hoped she didn’t do that to these kids in here…
    Dez flinched when she heard a shout.
    She’d been noticed. Shit. She’d known it would