that were quite startling.”
“What sort of things?”
She blushed slightly. “Oh, things about my love life for one. She also said she saw a black wind approaching the house. Maxwell was most impressed.”
“I’m sure he was.”
Sybelle kissed him on the cheek. “Now get dressed and I’ll meet you in the library.” “Dressed?”
“Of course,” Sybelle opened the door. “Didn’t I tell you? Our last dinner before our séance is always black tie,”
To Orient’s relief, it wasn’t necessary to make a speech. Neilson informally presented him with a check during the drinks.
“Your work is wonderful,” Hannah said. “My husband would have approved.” Her drawn, delicate face turned to the table set with eight chairs in the corner. “I hope that he can speak to us tonight.”
*Tm sure that if it’s possible that we’ll contact your husband.” As he spoke, Orient felt vaguely apprehensive. The desperate nature of Carl’s death could very well complicate attempts to reach him so soon.
A warm arm slipped into his. “It’s nice to lose to someone you like… but not that nice,” Lily whispered. Her brown silk gown was held across her breasts by a gold chain link almost the same color of her smooth skin.
“I’ll try to make it up to you,” Orient said, his lips suddenly dry. He was very conscious of the long, soft arm against him.
She threw her head back and smiled, her amber eyes glinting with some private amusement. “We’ll see,” she murmured.
Maxwell came up beside them. “Nice work,” he said. His smile was grudging. “Perhaps Owen’s talent will help us reach Carl tonight.” He pulled at his ruffled lace cuffs.
Orient felt Lily shiver slightly against his arm. “I hope it goes well,” she said.
Lily sat between Maxwell and Orient, but during dinner Andersen kept drawing her attention, talking in muted, intimate tones.
“There could be only one winner of the prize,” Germaine announced during dessert. “However, according to Carl’s wishes, we are pleased to welcome both Lily and Owen as members of SEE.” He looked around the table. “Welcome.”
Orient smiled. “Thank you.”
Lily looked up from her conversation with Maxwell.
“I’m honored to be in such distinguished company,” she said, glancing at Orient.
Neilson cleared his throat. “Then there’s only one service remaining for SEE to perform,” he said, extending his bullet head and peering around the table. “Are we all ready?”
They adjourned to the library and gathered around the prepared table. While Sybelle removed her sparkling rings, bracelets, necklaces, and brooches, Germaine burned a small bowl of incense, salt, and herbs to purify the elements in the room. Orient found it heartening that SEE’s members were thoroughly professional and respectful of the energy they intended to call up.
“After appropriate preliminaries,” Germaine explained to Neilson, “we will form a circle around the table, join hands, and concentrate while Sybelle engages her control. The control is a spirit messenger who helps find Carl’s soul.” He smiled. “When and if contact with Carl is established, Hannah will speak.”
“I hope Victor is feeling cooperative tonight,” Sybelle confided. “He was a great stage actor in his former life and he’s still quite temperamental.”
Germaine struck a match and fired the wick of a tapered candle in the center of the table. “We pray to the powers of the positive light to guide our undertaking,” he intoned.
Orient knew the prayer. He had heard it used once before in Marrakech. It was an invocation from the books of Pythagoras. Germaine went to the wall and switched off the lights.
“Be seated,” Sybelle said crisply. Her cherubic features were set with determination. Orient knew that her candy-sweet exterior obscured the fact that she was a skilled medium.
She bent her head low over the table in concentration. Orient fixed his eyes on the point of flame
“What sort of things?”
She blushed slightly. “Oh, things about my love life for one. She also said she saw a black wind approaching the house. Maxwell was most impressed.”
“I’m sure he was.”
Sybelle kissed him on the cheek. “Now get dressed and I’ll meet you in the library.” “Dressed?”
“Of course,” Sybelle opened the door. “Didn’t I tell you? Our last dinner before our séance is always black tie,”
To Orient’s relief, it wasn’t necessary to make a speech. Neilson informally presented him with a check during the drinks.
“Your work is wonderful,” Hannah said. “My husband would have approved.” Her drawn, delicate face turned to the table set with eight chairs in the corner. “I hope that he can speak to us tonight.”
*Tm sure that if it’s possible that we’ll contact your husband.” As he spoke, Orient felt vaguely apprehensive. The desperate nature of Carl’s death could very well complicate attempts to reach him so soon.
A warm arm slipped into his. “It’s nice to lose to someone you like… but not that nice,” Lily whispered. Her brown silk gown was held across her breasts by a gold chain link almost the same color of her smooth skin.
“I’ll try to make it up to you,” Orient said, his lips suddenly dry. He was very conscious of the long, soft arm against him.
She threw her head back and smiled, her amber eyes glinting with some private amusement. “We’ll see,” she murmured.
Maxwell came up beside them. “Nice work,” he said. His smile was grudging. “Perhaps Owen’s talent will help us reach Carl tonight.” He pulled at his ruffled lace cuffs.
Orient felt Lily shiver slightly against his arm. “I hope it goes well,” she said.
Lily sat between Maxwell and Orient, but during dinner Andersen kept drawing her attention, talking in muted, intimate tones.
“There could be only one winner of the prize,” Germaine announced during dessert. “However, according to Carl’s wishes, we are pleased to welcome both Lily and Owen as members of SEE.” He looked around the table. “Welcome.”
Orient smiled. “Thank you.”
Lily looked up from her conversation with Maxwell.
“I’m honored to be in such distinguished company,” she said, glancing at Orient.
Neilson cleared his throat. “Then there’s only one service remaining for SEE to perform,” he said, extending his bullet head and peering around the table. “Are we all ready?”
They adjourned to the library and gathered around the prepared table. While Sybelle removed her sparkling rings, bracelets, necklaces, and brooches, Germaine burned a small bowl of incense, salt, and herbs to purify the elements in the room. Orient found it heartening that SEE’s members were thoroughly professional and respectful of the energy they intended to call up.
“After appropriate preliminaries,” Germaine explained to Neilson, “we will form a circle around the table, join hands, and concentrate while Sybelle engages her control. The control is a spirit messenger who helps find Carl’s soul.” He smiled. “When and if contact with Carl is established, Hannah will speak.”
“I hope Victor is feeling cooperative tonight,” Sybelle confided. “He was a great stage actor in his former life and he’s still quite temperamental.”
Germaine struck a match and fired the wick of a tapered candle in the center of the table. “We pray to the powers of the positive light to guide our undertaking,” he intoned.
Orient knew the prayer. He had heard it used once before in Marrakech. It was an invocation from the books of Pythagoras. Germaine went to the wall and switched off the lights.
“Be seated,” Sybelle said crisply. Her cherubic features were set with determination. Orient knew that her candy-sweet exterior obscured the fact that she was a skilled medium.
She bent her head low over the table in concentration. Orient fixed his eyes on the point of flame
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