Read Online In Sickness and in Death by Jaye P. Marshall - Free Book Online

straw was when you were apparently recovering. She had to do something quickly, so she induced a chilled dialysis solution much too rapidly.”
    “But how could she do such a thing? I loved her!”
    The older man shook his head. “In the physical world, people get so involved in achieving materialistic goals that they forget all about what they went there to achieve. A shame really, since it’s much quicker to accomplish what we want when we have to face the physical temptations. If you really love her, you can try to influence her to change her ways while she is still there. You can’t really force anything, however. It all has to be done of her own free will.”
    “But what can I do?”
    “I don’t know what to advise you. Maybe the best thing for her immortal spirit would be to get caught and have to face the earthly laws and whatever punishment they come up with.” He shook his head. “I just don’t know what’s best. I’m still only learning myself.”
    “How do I get back there to find out what’s going on?”
    “Just think about the person you’re concerned about and you will instantly be with them. Of course, they won’t know you’re there. They can’t see you or hear what you say. The only influence you can have is through their dreams or as thoughts you suggest to them.”
    “I’d better hurry and get back there. I’ve been gone a long time already.”
    “No. Relax. You’ve got plenty of time. Remember, time doesn’t work the same way for us as it does for those of the flesh. Come on. Let’s get together with the rest of the family. You can meet the grandparents you never knew, and reunite with others who have previously crossed over here.”
    So, Brian spent a long period of time walking through beautiful meadows lit by a crystal clear light. When he met his unknown grandparents, he felt as if they were friends he had known for years. At length, his father turned to him.
    “I think it’s about time you checked things out,” he said.
    Brian thought about Adrienne and immediately found himself hovering alongside as she walked down a corridor of the medical center. He thought of Dr. Harris and found that he was looking over his shoulder as he filled in his Death Certificate. He watched as he wrote ‘Kidney Failure’ in the Cause of Death blank. A light tap on the door and Adrienne swept through it.
    “Ah,” Dr. Harris said, “I was just about to call you. I’m just finishing up Brian’s Death Certificate.” He signed the document with a flourish of the pen, made a copy of it on his desktop scanner and handed it across the desk.
    Adrienne’s eyes went directly to the Cause of Death space. “Perfect,” she said. “Now, Dr. Harris, I need to find out about another thing. You see, Brian hadn’t written a will, but I know he always wanted to be cremated—”
    “I did not !”
    “—and I need to know how to go about such a thing.”
    “Well,” Dr. Harris said slowly. “Disposal of the body, either burial or cremation, is usually a decision for the next of kin. Didn’t Brian have any living relatives?”
    “He’d never been married. No children. I know his father’s dead and his mother . . . I don’t even know where she is. They never saw each other and I don’t think they’ve even spoken in years.”
    “That’s not true!” Brian protested. “We were close. We talked all the time! Even when you didn’t know about it.”
    “I know he doesn’t have any siblings and any other relatives . . .” She let the sentence die away. Then she smiled brightly. “He made me the beneficiary on all of his insurance policies. That should count for something, shouldn’t it?”
    “Doctor,” Brian shouted. “Order an autopsy. I’m sure they’ll find something suspicious.”
    “I suppose so. I haven’t had any other inquiries about him. Have you?”
    Adrienne shook her head. “Not one. I’ll have to notify his boss. He’s been working at home most of the time, you know.