Page 24 of Widow’s Walk

Mason, of course, zoomed in on Amy with his camera.

Amy felt everyone’s eyes on her. “What do they mean?” she asked, keeping her voice steady.

Rhiannon turned back to the group with a grave expression. “The house’s protective energy has been here a long time, tied to the structure itself. Carved into its wood. But this door,”—she gestured toward it—“is like a breach. Whatever was outside before? Now it has a way in.”

Matt, who had followed them into the foyer, crossed his arms and whispered again to Sully. “That’s convenient,” he muttered under his breath.

Amy shot him a look, but deep down, she felt the same unease he did.

“Was it keeping out a more recent spirit?” Kaitlin asked.

The medium turned to Kaitlin and read something on her face. “Ahh the doctor and his hound? Is that who you are referring to?”

Kaitlin nodded, her face pale.

“He’s moved on. It was you he showed himself to? After his sins were revealed, he was free to go.”

Kaitlin’s eyes welled with tears, and she stepped away. Matt found her in the dim light and she slipped quietly into his arms.

Rhiannon continued unphased. Her eyes moved past the door, as though she could see through it to whatever lay beyond. “The being outside is… menacing. Angry, very confused. But it hasn’t come in yet. Not fully. I think it tested itself not long ago? It came into the basement. Did it try to hurt someone here?”

Amy’s throat tightened. She glanced at Sully, who looked skeptical but nodded to the medium. Barely an acknowledgment of Garrett’s brief imprisonment in the basement.

Mason looked like Christmas had come early.

The medium turned away from the group. “There is a room upstairs.” She walked away, heading to the staircase Sully had carefully made safe for the nighttime adventures with a temporary banister while he worked on the replacement.

They followed Rhiannon up the stairs to the east master bedroom, where they’d recently found many symbols beneath the floorboards and behind the casings.

She dramatically swept her hands around the room, as if sensing the walls. “Here, this was her sanctuary. Here she was safe. I’m sensing you found the symbols in this room?”

“Yes,” Amy answered.

“Here, under the floorboards and along the windows? They form a circle,” she said, twirling around the room. “Oh yes, it’s the female. This was her bedroom. I see her now. Very attached to this house, wanting to keep this safe, keep everyone safe, a refuge. She’s very fearful.”

Amy stepped forward, intrigued, her bracelets jingling softly. The medium opened her eyes to gaze directly at Amy. “You.”

She stopped mid-step, caught off guard. “It’s you. She likes you, what you have planned for her house. She approves.”

Rhiannon’s gaze lingered on her for a moment and she frowned. “But you need to be careful.” A shiver tingled up Amy’s spine as all eyes in the room turned to her. “You are very much like her. He may not realize that you are not her…”

The group followed Rhiannon’s slow and deliberate steps as she moved around the room, her fingers brushing the walls like she was searching for something just beyond reach. The house felt alive, listening. It felt like they were intruding.

Rhiannon paused [where?]. She tilted her head to one side as though hearing a distant call. She looked upward, toward the ceiling above.

“There’s more,” she said softly. Her whisper still seemed to fill the empty space.

Amy followed her gaze, her heart tightening. She didn’t like the look in Rhiannon’s eyes, as though she were seeing something none of them could.

Rhiannon turned to face them resolutely. “I need to go to the widow’s walk.”

Sully, who had been leaning against the door jam with his arms crossed, straightened. “That’s not a good idea,” he said flatly.

Rhiannon arched a brow, unshaken. “Why not?”

“Because it’s not safe,” Sully said firmly. “The railings up there are rotted. They’re not stable, and the whole thing needs to be replaced. I won’t even let my crew go up there, let alone…” He gestured to her flowing scarf and sandals.

Amy saw the faintest flicker of amusement cross Rhiannon’s face, but it was gone in an instant. “It’s important,” she said simply, as though that settled the matter.