"Great," Steven said, a little sarcastically. "Just make sure that rat doesn't get out of that cage."

Steven told Roy all about his adventure in the bas.e.m.e.nt of Mason Manor with Claire as they drove to Olympia.

"Claire sounds a little too goody two shoes for my tastes," Roy said.

"No," Steven said, shaking his head. "No, she's not, I'm making it sound worse than it was."

"She seemed a little smug when we met her in Oregon before," Roy said. "And that Volkswagen. I'll bet she's one of those peace and love people. They always think they're better than everyone else."

"No, you've taken this the wrong way. It wasn't like that."

"Quit defending her."

Steven knew he wouldn't win this argument either. Roy was always cra.s.s and abrasive. It was a miracle Eliza had tolerated him being stuck with him overnight. Then again, Eliza seemed to get along with everybody, and he knew Roy liked her. Maybe he went easy on her.

"Gotta hand it to you, collecting that matter with the knife sounds rough," Roy said. "I'm proud of you for seeing it through."

"I'm not proud of myself," Steven said. "I felt horrible. I tricked the guy, then I took it from him while he was being eaten."

"I'll bet hippie Claire standing there giving you s.h.i.t for it didn't help," Roy said.

"She didn't give me s.h.i.t for it," Steven said. "She didn't have to. It was awful regardless."

"Everything in this world either eats or gets eaten," Roy said. "Sounds to me like the creature was right. That boy can finally have some peace instead of slitting his throat all night long. So it's not as bad as all that."

"You didn't have to drag that blade along his legs," Steven said. "It felt wrong in every way. Like I was stealing something from him by slicing it off him. Imagine if I came up to you and cut off part of you."

"The way you told it," Roy said, "he was a minute away from being swallowed whole. So what's the difference?"

Steven thought about this. He kept thinking of ghosts as people, but they weren't, not really. The rules that applied to humans didn't apply to ghosts. And the only reason humans weren't devoured by other creatures was because they'd reached the top of the food chain. Apparently ghosts hadn't. Maybe that's just the way it is, he thought.

"Pete and Sarah doing OK?" Roy asked, changing the subject.

"Yes," Steven said, "they pa.s.sed along their best wishes to you. The hotel was full. It was strange to see the dining hall full of people for breakfast."

"Yes, that would seem odd," Roy said. "I got so used to it being empty."

They chatted more about the manor; it made the drive to Olympia go quickly. Soon they were pulling up at Tall Pines.

They got out of the car and walked to the main building. It was night, and there were lights illuminating the landscape. It looked nice.

"You ever put me in one of these things," Roy said, "I'll disinherit you."

"It's actually quite nice inside," Steven said. "I was surprised."

"Yes, that's how it starts," Roy said. "Mark my word: dis-in-her-it," he said, emphasizing each syllable.

"As long as you're well behaved," Steven said, "I can't see any reason to lock you up in one of these. But step out of line..."

"Bah," Roy said. "You'd be back every day wanting help with this, that, or the other," he said, opening the front doors and stepping inside.

Steven could see the change in Roy's face as he saw the plushness of the lobby. Roy was surprised, but he wasn't going to let Steven know. He wiped a scowl back over his face.

"What a dump," Roy said, glancing around.

They made their way to the receptionist, telling her they were here to visit Garth. The receptionist called up to Garth's apartment and spoke with him briefly.

"Mr. Wilmon is on the third floor," the receptionist said. "Take the elevators behind me to the third floor, and turn right when you exit. He's in number thirty-seven. Please use the bell to ring the door, don't knock."

"Why can't we knock?" Roy asked indignantly.

"Because many of our guests are hard of hearing, while others are not. We've fine-tuned the bell for each guest to be loud enough within their apartment so they can hear it, but not so loud that it will disturb other neighbors, which loud knocking might do."

"Well, that's very well planned out," Steven said. "Sounds like you've really tailored things here for the needs of older people, to make it comfortable for them."

"That's enough," Roy said, pulling Steven away from the reception desk. "Come on."

They walked to the elevator and took it to Garth's floor. When they found his apartment, the door was ajar. Steven opened it and walked in.

"Garth?"

"Come in," Garth said from inside. Steven and Roy walked down a short hallway and into a large living room that was immaculately decorated. Floor to ceiling windows overlooked the bay. The furniture looked expensive and the artwork on the walls made Steven feel he needed to be careful what he touched. Garth was behind a bar on the other side of the room.

"Come in, sit down!" Garth said, waving to the sofas in the middle of the room. "I was just making myself a drink. What can I make for you?"

"Gin and tonic," Roy said without hesitation. He walked over to a nearby leather chair and sat.

"You must be Roy," Garth said. "Steven told me about you."

"Good things I hope," Roy said.

"The best," Garth replied. "And Steven, what can I make you?"

Steven really didn't feel like drinking, but he didn't want to seem impolite, and since he hoped Garth was going to offer them some help, he felt he'd better stay on Garth's better side.

"A vodka and water, on the rocks," he said.

"Coming right up," Garth said, his hands busy behind the counter of the bar. They heard the clink of ice as Garth mixed.

"This is impressive," Steven said. "Very nice place, Garth."

"Thank you," he said. "You can tell I was lying to you earlier when I told you I didn't have money."

"Apparently," Steven said. Garth came around the bar with a gla.s.s in each hand, giving one to Steven and the other to Roy, who thanked him. He returned to the bar to retrieve his own, then approached them for a toast.

"Here's to what I hope will be a successful plan," he said, raising his gla.s.s. Steven and Roy joined him and they all drank.

"You said you thought you might have a solution?" Steven said.

"Yes," Garth said. "Sean."

"Sean?" Steven said. "Your brother?"

"Yes," Garth said. "He died many years ago, when he was forty. About Daniel's age."

"He'd have to be a ghost," Roy said, "or it will be extremely hard to rouse him."

"Oh, he's a ghost," Garth said. "I talk with him all the time."

Steven looked at Roy. He didn't know if Garth really did talk with Sean, or if some dementia was showing. Garth had seemed lucent and coherent when they had talked with him days ago. Old age plays funny tricks on people.

"How do you talk to him?" Roy asked.

"I close my eyes," Garth said, "and I think about him. Eventually he comes, and we talk. He's always been very protective of me. That seems to have carried over after his death."

"How often do you talk to him?" Steven asked.

"We used to speak two or three time a week, before he pa.s.sed," Garth said. "That didn't stop after he died. We kept talking."

"When was the last time you talked?" Roy asked.

"Last night," Garth said. "I told him all about your visit, Steven. He was very concerned. He felt very badly that Frank was escaping the cage. I haven't yet told him the latest."

"You think Sean will be interested in helping Daniel?" Steven asked.

"I think so," Garth said. "I think he'd jump at the chance to be able to physically move again. He's mentioned it many times. I think his desire for that is one of the reasons he hasn't moved on. And me, of course."

"Yes," said Steven. "Do you think he realizes he'd be sharing a body with someone else?"

"I don't know, we'll have to talk to him about that," Garth said. "I was thinking, if you two are agreeable to it, that we should try contacting him now and ascertain his interest. If he's willing, you've got your solution to bring Daniel back."

"Would you mind if I go into a trance while you speak with him?" Roy asked. "And Steven as well? We should be able to join you in your conversation with him, provided he's willing to speak to us."

"Yes, please do," Garth said. "Is there anything you need from me?"

"No," Roy said. "I'll put on this blindfold. If you'll proceed to contact Sean, I'll be able to witness it. When Sean appears, I'll signal Steven, and he'll join my trance."

"Good, that sounds fine," Garth said, rising to dim the lights. He returned to his chair and sat down. "Everyone ready?"

Steven tied the blindfold around Roy's head. "Ready here," he said, standing behind Roy. Garth closed his eyes.

Steven turned to look out the windows. The dim light from the bay illuminated the three men inside the apartment and Steven's eyes adjusted to it quickly. He could see lights on the bay; boats, restaurants along the sh.o.r.e, the taillights of cars on Highway 101 in the distance. He stared out at the beautiful sight for several minutes, expecting it to take a while before contact was made. He was startled when Roy spoke.

"Steven?"

"Yes, I'm here," Steven answered.

"Would you go down to the car and get the cage?" Roy said.

"Shouldn't we speak to Sean first?" he asked.

"We already have," Roy answered. "He's agreed to help."

"Wow," Steven said, "that was fast. Usually takes longer."

"Not this time," Roy said. "Sean's been with us since we walked into the apartment. He's ready to go. Can you get the cage please?"

"On my way," Steven said.

He slipped out the door, leaving it ajar so he could get back in without disturbing the two men. He went down to the car and retrieved the cage. The receptionist smiled at him as he returned, but eyed the covered cage he brought back with him. Steven made his way to the elevator quickly and back into Garth's apartment. He set the cage on a coffee table between Roy and Garth, and removed the cloth.

"The cage is here," Steven said.

There was silence for another minute. The rat was sitting quietly, but suddenly became very active, squealing and banging against the wire sides of the cage. Then as suddenly as it had started, the rat calmed, and sat quietly again in the cage. Roy removed his blindfold.

"Can you get the lights, Steven?" Garth asked. "They're against the wall there."

The switch was within arm's length of where Steven was standing. He flipped the switch and the lights in the room slowly rose to their previous levels.

"That went smoother than I expected," Roy said.

"The rat didn't seem too happy about it," Steven said, walking towards the cage.

Garth rose from his seat and approached the cage as well. He stared into it, looking at the rat.

"So Sean is in there?" Garth asked.

"I believe so," Roy said. "Steven, would you call Eliza? Tell her to have everything ready when we get back. We'll want to do this quickly."

"Would you mind if I come with you?" Garth said. "I'd very much like to see this. I can hire a car to bring me back after."

Steven and Roy looked at each other. "I don't see why not," Steven said. "Get your things and we'll go."

Chapter Twelve.

When they arrived at Steven's, Eliza had Daniel ready to go. He was laid out on the guest bed, naked, with a towel draped over his waist. A thin, clear, mucus-like substance was waiting in a large salad bowl on the nightstand, along with a Mason jar filled with a clear liquid. Roy brought the cage into the room and sat it at the foot of the bed, next to Daniel's leg.

"It worked?" Eliza asked.