Jump When Ready (16 page)

My father’s eyes widened, then his face went red with
anger. “That son of a—” He stopped and took a breath to calm down. “Yes, my
brother and I are close. We always have been.”

The detective nodded. “What makes this case different is
that the perpetrator is really smart. That’s not how usually it goes. You’d be
amazed. But this Burke guy is some kind of tech genius. MIT graduate and all
that. Sounds like he had the whole thing incredibly mapped out. From what we’ve
gathered, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he’d gotten away with it.”

“Then what happened?” my mother said.

“Kind of a miracle, if you ask me. The officer in Trent,
Gary Roberts, said he just got a feeling about things. He said something kept
nagging at him so he went with his instincts. I have to say, you’re two lucky
parents. Most of these cases don’t end well.” The detective checked his watch,
then handed my parents his card. “Call if you need me.”

The detective walked down the hall, not turning back
while my parents hugged each other and closed their eyes.

~~~

Bethany woke up that evening as the sun was setting behind
the hospital windows. My parents had taken advantage of her time spent resting
to arrange a family celebration. While Bethany had slept, they’d gone out and
bought a cake and hung up streamers and a banner reading WELCOME HOME! Dr.
Jackson was beyond happy and he’d also explained that it might be the best
thing if they didn’t spend the night camped out in the hospital room.

“Bethany is going to be fine, but we’ll need to keep her
here for a day or two,” he’d said. “For observation, mostly. She’s likely to
show some withdrawal symptoms after being kept drugged like that. My advice is
to find a hotel where you can get some rest.”

My parents seemed fine with that and my father booked the
best suite nearby at the Hyatt. The plan was to head back to Richmond as soon
as possible but what mattered most right now was enjoying the moment. Finally,
my family had a reason to feel thankful and happy again.

I have to admit, I wasn’t totally okay watching my family
celebrate together after the hospital staff left them to themselves. I felt
invisible, a memory. Even worse, someone whose death would always cause them
embarrassment and guilt. It was great to see everyone happy but I’d really
hoped to set the record straight.

“Are you sure it’s okay for her to have cake?” my mother
asked, even as she handed Bethany a slice.

“It’s fine,” my father said. “Dr. Jackson gave us the
green light for having fun. Try to relax, honey.”

“Dad’s right, Mom,” my brother said. “Bethany is fine
now. Right, Bethany?”

Bethany smiled back at them. “I feel great. Give me a
fork!”

Bethany dug into her cake and everybody laughed.

“I know I said this a million times already,” my mother
said, “but we are so happy to have you back with us.”

“Say it as many times as you like,” my father said. “Our
girl is safe and sound. We have so much to be thankful for.”

“All together again,” my brother said, through a mouthful
of cake.

He didn’t mean anything by it. He just didn’t consider
his words carefully. But the effect wasn’t good. They all fell silent.

It took Bethany a moment, then she stopped eating. She
looked at the three of them. “It’s not what you think,” she said. “Henry’s here
too.”

No one knew what to do with that. My mother’s eyes
started to fill and my father stared at the floor. My brother looked at the
television across the room, which wasn’t even on.

“Guys, look at me,” Bethany said. “Henry saved me, with
his friends. It’s true!”

This was the moment, if there would ever be one. I closed
my eyes and thought about Jamie, Nikki and Curtis, hoping they’d show up.

“Honey, that’s so nice of you to imagine,” my mother
said, “but that police officer rescued you. Thank God he did. Who knows what
might have happened if he hadn’t come along and found you?”

“What Bethany means,” my father said, “is that Henry is
here with us in spirit, right?”

“Exactly!” Bethany said. “I bet he’s here right now.
Henry, are you here?”

My family exchanged nervous glances. You could tell they
thought she’d gone insane.

Bethany ignored them and searched the room with her eyes.
“Henry, you are here, right? I know you are. I can feel it.”

“Maybe we should call the doctor,” my mother whispered.

“She’s been through a lot,” my father whispered back.
“Try to be patient.”

Of course, Bethany noticed them trying not to be
overheard. “I know what you must be thinking, but I’m not crazy. Henry talks to
me. I can hear him. He’s the one who tricked them into not drugging me the
other night.”

My parents shot concerned looks at each other.

“But you were heavily drugged, dear,” my mother said.
“That’s what almost killed you. Now, maybe we should let you get some rest.”

“No, I mean a few nights ago,” Bethany said. “Honest,
somehow Henry managed to trick them into not drugging me. Then his friend
appeared too!”

“It’s okay,” my father said in his most soothing voice.
“Really, everything is going to be fine. Maybe we should ask the nurse to check
—”

“No! Really, you need to listen. Henry wants me to tell
you something. He told me last night, but I just remembered now.”

This was too much for my parents. My mother started to
cry and my father got to his feet. “Okay, I think that’s enough for now,” he
said. “You must be very tired. We should probably go get some rest too. Okay,
honey? We’ll be back first thing in the morning.”

Bethany sat up in bed. “You need to believe me! I
promised Henry I would tell you. Henry, I know you’re here. Tell them
yourself!”

I stood staring, frozen and helpless as my parents and
brother started toward the door. All I could think about was when I’d been at
home that week before getting Banished. They’d never truly believed it was me
then, so why would they now?

I kept looking around, waiting.

Bethany started to cry with frustration. “Henry, please!”
she called out.

In that same instant, Jamie, Nikki and Curtis appeared
standing next to me. I hadn’t been entirely sure, but they’d somehow known that
I needed them. What I hadn’t expected at all was for Simon and Naomi to show up
too.

Naturally, Nikki spoke up first. “What are you waiting
for, dork? Do something!”

Now that they were all here with me, maybe I could do
something. Maybe we could together.

I crossed the room and stood in the doorway facing my
father, mother and brother. “Mom, Dad, John, wait! It’s me, Henry. I know you
can hear me.”

They stopped in their tracks. It was strange to see all
three of them shake their heads in disbelief. My mother and father looked at
each other, checking to see if the other had just experienced something
strange.

I focused on my mother. “Mom, ask Dad if he heard
something.”

My mother hesitated, then said, “Honey, did you just hear
something?”

I turned to my father. “You’re not crazy. You weren’t
before back at the house, either. It really is me. Now, be honest with Mom.”

“Well, I might have,” my father said.

“Dad, be honest!”

“I mean, yes, I think I did. What did you hear?”

“Well, I have to admit, I thought I heard Henry,” my
mother said.

To my surprise, John started laughing. “Holy, crap. It
really was him,” he said under his breath.

Across the room, Bethany stared, her head cocked. “What’s
going on?”

Nobody answered her. My mother, father and brother
remained where they stood.

“Did you just hear Henry?” A smile spread across
Bethany’s face. “You did, didn’t you?”

“Well, something strange does seem to have just
happened,” my father admitted.

“Do you think there might be a gas leak or something
going on with this room?” my mother asked. “I wonder if we might be having some
sort of group hallucination. Maybe I should call the nurses’ desk.”

“Typical living people,” Nikki said. “They don’t believe
anything they don’t see with their own eyes.”

“Let’s see what we can do about that,” I said. “Mom, Dad,
John? Can you all go and stand next to Bethany’s bed? Please go along with it
for my sake.”

Really, what could they do but honor the request of their
dead son? They did as I asked.

This time I spoke to Bethany alone. “Now, please tell
them. I think it will freak them out less coming from you. And we definitely
have their attention.”

Bethany made eye contact with my father, mother and
brother. “Guys, Henry wants you to know he didn’t commit suicide. What happened
at the river was an accident. He did something stupid—”

“Hey!”

“Sorry, he used poor judgment going to the river that
day. But never once, for a moment, did he intend for anything bad to happen or
to cause us any pain. Do you understand?”

My father, mother and brother nodded like five-year-olds
listening to their teacher.

 “Tell them about my friends,” I said.

“Henry has some new friends,” Bethany said. “They’re dead
just like he is. They came to see me when I was being held at that cabin.”

I considered pointing out that really we were between
lives, but wondered if that would only make things that much more confusing. I
decided to let it go.

“Tell them their names,” I said. “Nikki, Jamie, Curtis,
Naomi and Simon.”

Bethany’s eyes lit with excitement, then she laughed.
“There’s more this time?”

I couldn’t help laugh too. “Yes, they all came—all the
kids I told you about.”

Bethany told my parents and brother who was there with
them, then I kept whispering to her so she could keep explaining things.

“Nikki is what they call a Reader,” Bethany said. “Which
means she can pick up on what we’re thinking. Um, I guess Henry wants Nikki to
do something. Hang on.” Bethany waited, my parents and brother staring at her.
“Okay, Henry says Nikki just read your thoughts. For example, Mom, you’re
thinking about that time when you were a teenager and smoked pot. How you had
really strange experiences. This isn’t like that. This is really happening.”
Bethany stopped and looked at my mother. “Really, Mom, you smoked weed? You are
so totally never going to live that one down.”

My mother gasped.

“Dad, you’re thinking that maybe all of this is somehow
connected to that couple who abducted me. Like they somehow hypnotized me or
something and now I’ve convinced you too. Wrong.”

 My father’s mouth fell open.

“John, are you really thinking about Kathy Adkins at a
time like this? Get your hormones under control, will you?”

John’s face went beet red.

“Jamie is here too. He’s what they call an Emerger. I
think this will help reinforce what Henry is trying to tell you. On the count
of three, he’s going to appear.”

“I really shouldn’t do this,” Jamie said.

Curtis surprised me by saying, “It’s okay. Martha said it
might be necessary.”

“Try to dress up a little,” I said.

Bethany counted, “One…two…three!”

“What the hell, then,” Jamie said. He Emerged wearing
cotton slacks, an oxford shirt and a blazer. He waved politely at my family.
They stared back, their mouths hanging open.

Jamie disappeared again.

Nikki turned to Jamie. “Wow, preppie. Kind of suits you,
actually.”

“A curse upon you,” Jamie said. “That was just for
Henry’s family.” He was already wearing jeans and a black T-shirt again. Band
logo, the Clash.

“There’s also Simon and Naomi,” Bethany said. “Henry says
they can’t prove they’re here. At least, not yet. So, I guess you’ll just have
to take his word for it.”

Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see
Simon smiling proudly. “There have been some recent developments,” he said.
“Naomi, why don’t you go first.”

“Okay,” Naomi said, then she vanished.

A moment later, I was just as amazed as my family to see
a flock of bright yellow butterflies appear out of nowhere—ten, at least,
although it was hard to be sure. We all watched as they circled the ceiling
three times, then faded away almost as quickly as they’d appeared.

 “Ahem,” Simon said. “My turn.” He pointed at the dark
television mounted to the wall. Suddenly, it came to life, the screen fuzzy at
first, the sound nothing but crackling static. Then Simon appeared on the
screen—blurry, definitely, but Simon all the same. He smiled, winked and looked
around the room. Then the TV went blank again.

I wasn’t the only one staring mutely at that screen, not
sure what to think.

Naomi giggled. “There hasn’t been a chance to tell you,”
she said. “But it looks like I can make things infest.”

“Manifest,” Simon said. “And, somewhat ironically, it
turns out I have a talent with electronic devices that weren’t even invented
when I was in my last life. It works on computers and cell phones too.”

It took me a few moments to get over my shock. It also
occurred to me that Nikki’s prediction might have been right. Simon’s new
annoyance capabilities were potentially limitless. I managed to get my act
together and looked at Bethany, who sat waiting while I decided what I wanted
her to say next. After I told her, she nodded.

“Lastly, there’s Curtis,” Bethany said. “He’s what’s
known as a Manipulator. Can you please step over to the bed? Henry’s going to
ask Curtis to do something.”

I asked Bethany to open the pad on her bedside table, the
one left by the detective earlier.

“Nice move,” Curtis said. “I was trying to think of
something but billowing the curtains didn’t seem like it would be all that
impressive.”

My parents and brother stepped hesitantly forward. They
watched wide-eyed as the pen floated into the air and hovered over the paper.

Curtis looked at me. “Hmmm. Not quite sure.”