Scarlet had her eyes closed as she mumbled whatever it was mediums uttered to connect to the other side. Daisy tried to curb her impatience. She studied one of Scarlet’s paintings. The woman painted surreal desert landscapes with vibrant colors that never existed in the real world. They hung all over her modest home. She took another sip of coffee and turned her gaze back to the medium. Scarlet still had her eyes closed. Daisy let her gaze drift to Cousin Bridgette.

The redheaded telepath eyed her and nodded. “Incoming.”

Mere seconds later, a figure shimmered into view. A ghost. This one stood a few feet away in familiar gray slacks and white blouse, ethereal face pinched with worry. Though Noah had seen a ghost before, he still let out a tiny gasp of shock.

Daisy placed a hand on his forearm and smiled toward the ghost. “Hi, Gran. You remember my husband, Noah.”

“Yes. Nice to see you, Noah.”

“Nice to see you again.”

“I was hoping you’d get Scarlet to call on me, Daisy. Ian told me he came to you.”

“Yes. He said Mom’s in trouble. What’s going on? How can she be in trouble?”

Gran looked distraught. “She’s missing, Daisy.”

For a second, she thought she’d heard her grandmother wrong. “What do you mean missing? How is that even possible? She’s dead.” This had to be some sort of misunderstanding. Souls couldn’t just disappear from the afterlife. Could they? Unless she’s been reborn. But why would Uncle Ian and Gran worry if Mom moved on to another life? Maybe it’s not her time. Maybe she’s supposed to wait for me. Dad’s still in the afterlife. So why would she move on without him? But the dead were notoriously closed-mouthed about details. A voice brought those runaway thoughts back to the gray-haired ghost and Scarlet’s family room.

“Penny couldn’t drop off my radar unless she’s been soulnapped.”

Despite the worry that filtered up, Daisy almost chuckled at that expression. “That’s absurd, Gran. No one can kidnap a ghost.”

“I’m sorry, dear. But you’re wrong.”  less