Reckoning Day - Book Tour and Giveaway

Reckoning Day
A Jennifer Long Series Novella
by J.J. Carter
Genre: Paranormal Mystery 

Investigative Reporter, Jennifer Long, stumbles onto a high-level corruption scheme among three local corporations. They are attempting to find a gateway portal between our world and the supernatural-paranormal, and killing Mediums in the process who don’t comply. While she is left for dead and unsure if her family is alive, she seeks the help of a new team, the SPA (supernatural paranormal agency), to expose this deadly truth before it’s too late and the world is run over by supernatural-paranormal forces that could be uncontrollable. This story is a novella, not a novel. It is approximately 31, 355 words. The story finishes with NO cliff hanger. It is action packed with mystery, romance, thrills, and the paranormal!


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Chapter 1
October 23rd, 2010
​
Jen typed away on her laptop at the Shelby Times newspaper. She had to get
her story in before seven pm or it wouldn’t make it to print. And she wouldn’t get
paid this week. It had been slow. Fall always was. As she finished, her eyes widened
as they caught the sight of the time on the right corner of the taskbar on the laptop.
“Oh my, is that time?” she questioned.
She finished the story she worked on about KCI corporation for her boss, Michael
Turner. She printed the document and tapped her fingers on her desk impatiently. Jen
never had very good patience. The printer finished printing and she grabbed the stack
of paper. She left her office and jogged to Michael’s office that was adjacent to hers.
She hurried the door open, smiled to him, and tossed the papers down to him. He
picked them up and glanced over them.
“KCI Corporation Jen? Really? You’re still on them?” Michael asked.
“Well, yeah. I mean there’s something sinister going on there Mike.”
“And you think it’s up to you to find out?”
“Yeah! I am the best investigative reporter you got.”
“Jen, I like you, I really do. But I truly don’t think there’s a story here.”
“Just read it and let me know. I have to go. My mom’s coming home and so is my
hubby.”
“Oh yeah it’s your birthday. Happy birthday.”
“Thanks. Please, just read it and print it for me.”
“I’ll let you know when we go to print.”
“Thanks!”
Jen hurried home. Today was going to be a totally amazing day. Not only was she
going to get to see her husband, but her mom as well. Both were the most important
relationships in her life next to her best friends, Karen Logan and FBI Special Agent,
Zander Cole.
Her husband, Brian Long, had been away out of state at a Realtor conference tour
for the past couple months. Her mom had been on a long term assignment out of the
country for the company she worked for, KCI Corporation.
KCI Corporation was the largest Jeep door panel maker in the world. They were
stationed here in Shelby, MI but had offices overseas. Her mom was in Japan for half
the year. So, Jen just focused on her job.
Being a reporter for the Shelby Times gave her the action she had so desperately
craved. She was an action movie junkie. Action movies always had the best
soundtracks as well. She played one of her favorites, the soundtrack from the Last
Action Hero, starring her favorite actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in her four door
Jeep as she headed home from the paper.
The party was to start at around eight pm. Of course she wasn’t supposed to know
about this but Zander spilled the beans. But Jen was glad he did. It had been lonely for
her.
As she arrived home, she ran through the ranch style home to her room. As she
checked the time, she realized she was running later than expected. She decided to
call Karen to let her know.
“Hey Karen, I’m running late. Work ran late. Anyone there yet?” Jen asked.
“We are all at your mom’s house per her orders. Funny, this was supposed to be a
surprise!” Karen snickered.
“Don’t blame me. Blame Z. He spilled the beans. Anyone picked my mom or Bri
up?”
“Yeah, Z is supposed to.”
“Damn it. Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Hopefully Rene and Brian get here before you. Thankfully, neither of them
know you know.”
Jen laughed. “You and Z are truly my best friends! I love you guys!”
“Love you too. See you in a bit!”
Jen hurried in the shower. She was finished fifteen minutes later. Always a ton
boy, that was all she did to get ready. She threw on her good blue jeans and wore her
favorite KISS t-shirt and her brown knee-high, leather boots.
She drove the short drive to her mother’s house. Her stomach danced with
excitement. But she knew how to calm herself. In a few minutes, she arrived. She saw
Zander’s truck in the driveway. They were all here. She knew to act surprised because
not only would her mother be disappointed Zander spilled the beans but so would
Brian.
As she made her way to the front door, she knocked. Karen opened the door.
They wrapped each other in a warm embrace. Karen smiled wide to her best friend.
“Everyone’s outside!” Karen squeaked.
“Great!”
They walked through the home and went out to the back patio. Karen went first to
alert everyone Jen had arrived. When Jen stepped out onto the patio, everyone yelled
in excitement to her.
“Surprise!”
Jen’s eyes widened at seeing Brian first. Then her mother. They both hugged her
deeply.
“Glad you are surprised!” Brian and Rene said.
“Thank you guys! I’ve missed you both so much! This is the best birthday ever!”
Jen squealed.
“Come on inside. We have everything in there!” Rene said.
“I can’t believe you both did this and you’re both finally home!” Jen stated
loudly.
“We’ve missed you!”
They went inside and had dinner. After everyone finished, Rene and Brian got out
her birthday cake. And they all sang happy birthday to her. Turning thirty was a big
deal in this world. Her mother made sure she’d have the best birthday.
After Jen opened her presents, she was still shocked at how they were able to
throw this together on such short notice. It truly made her birthday that much more
special. One she’d never forget.
“I’m so excited to see everyone! It had been a lonely couple months,” Jen said.
“But I had Karen, Z, and Max, and the two boys and Devon. It’s been hard but now
that you’re both home, I’m just so happy!”
“We’re glad you’re happy. You got a ton of cool gifts!” Brian smiled.
“Thank you all. I love you all so much!”
She finished unwrapping the presents. Brian helped clean up the wrapping paper
mess. Jen stacked all her presents neatly in a pile. Her mom began to clean up. And
she knew she better help her.
She followed her mother in the kitchen and helped her clean up. It had been a
warm day for once in October on her birthday. Rene had all the windows open in the
house, even the big bay one in the kitchen. Her favorite heavy metal music was
playing loud through Rene’s four hundred watt sound system from the living room.
“Mom, I really can’t believe you did this while you were in Japan!” Jen cried.
“Well, Brian helped me. You know, I know it’s been hard not having your dad
around. And I know all the stuff that went down with Eric was hard on both of us. But
Jen, I never believed his lies.”
Jen’s eyes widened. How dare she bring that horrible excuse of a man, Eric
Lenshoff, up. That just brought up two horrible years of flashbacks. Those who knew
Jen, knew she never liked to talk about those years. But her mother had been away for
awhile.
“I’m sorry,” Rene began.
“Why did you have to bring that up!?” Jen snapped.
Jen closed her eyes and desperately tried to shove those nightmarish memories
away. She screamed when she felt a warm touch on her shoulders.
“It’s just me, your mom,” Rene said. “Still after all these years?”
“Yeah. Every now and then.”
“Is June helping you?”
“Yeah I know what to do when flashbacks happen mom.”
“That’s good. She’s been amazing. I tried to get her to come but she can’t because
of the relationship she has with you.”
“Oh yeah doctor patient thing right?”
“Yeah something like that. Are you okay now?” Rene asked.
“I’m okay now.”
“I love you Jen. Even though I might have always been away, and being your
only parent, I’ve always loved you. I know sometimes you’ve hated me.”
“Well, yeah. I mean one thing I really wanna know. You still have never told
me.”
“What is it?”
“You never told me exactly when my father died. I know it was just before I was
born. How come we never go visit his grave?”
“I, just can’t okay. I loved your father more than anything. And I’ve never been
one for cemeteries.”
“Really mom? That’s an excuse.”
“Please don’t! It’s bad enough to lose him the way I did. I just can’t!”
“I’m sorry mom.”
“It’s okay. Why do you want to dig on this?”
“Well, I need to know. I think I have a right to know how and when my own
father died!”
“Jen, don’t go digging around this.”
Jen smiled wide. “You just gave me my next story mom!”
“No! You can’t go digging around that!”
“Why not?”
“I forbid you.”
“I’m a thirty year woman old mom. You can’t control me!”
“You’re right.”
“Wait a minute. Dad was in the military right? Please, tell me, how did he die?”
“Jen, now is not the time.”
“Why, why can’t you tell me!?”
“Just know he died a hero. He was a veteran. He served. He was a good man.”
“Mom! Really, why can’t you tell me?”
“Jen, you need to stop. This could lead you down a very dangerous road!”
“But mom. I’m gonna need a new story for next week.”
“Find somewhere else then. I need to finish those dishes.”
Jen got a phone call. She checked her smart phone and it was her boss calling.
She knew that perhaps he would finally submit her suspicion on KCI Corporation and
something about the paranormal world.
“I gotta take this mom.”
“Okay.”
Jen answered. “Hey Mike, what’s up?”
“Sorry Jen, I can’t use your story. There’s nothing there.”
“What? Come on Mike, I need this!”
“I’m sorry, you need to lay off KCI. Find something else. That’s an order!”
“Really, dang. I really need this to be submitted Mike!”
“Sorry, no can do.”
He ended the call. Jen shook her head in frustration. She knew something had
been brewing there but could never get proof. Perhaps that was why Mike rejected her
story.
“Bad news?” her mom asked.
“Yeah, want a beer?”
“Yeah.”
As she went to the fridge and opened it, her eyes widened. Her mother had her
favorite Kroger dip hidden behind her favorite beer. She moved about eight bottles of
beer aside to get to the dip. She grabbed it and two beers.
When she finally pulled herself out of the fridge, she placed the dip on the island
next to the bowl of chips she had been snacking on. She set the two beers down as
well. After she twisted off the caps, she realized her mother wasn’t in front of the sink
like she left her. And she heard what might have been an eerie, almost ghostly like
voice maybe? Or the wind whipping in from the window being open. Whatever it was
Jen couldn’t put her finger on it.
“Mom!?” she yelled.
Jen walked around the left side of the island. Her eyes widened. Her mouth hung
slightly open. There lay her mother, lifeless, slouched against the island. She tried to
scream but no sounds came out. Her chest seized. She grabbed her chest and placed
her hand on the island. Then she finally screamed for help.
“Help! Someone help me!” she cried.
Jen bent down and pulled her mother into her arms. But Rene lay limp and Jen
held her tight. The tears streamed down her face.
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Come on mum! Come on, wake up!”
Of course Jen didn’t see the black residue on Rene’s forehead just yet. Not until
everyone met her there.
“No!” Jen cried. “Come on mom, wake up!”
Jen tapped her mother’s cheeks and there was still no sign from her. Zander bent
down to her on one side and Brian bent down on the other.
Zander inspected Rene’s forehead. He noticed the strange, black residue. Before
he put his finger on it, Karen stopped him.
“Dude, look, it’s alive,” Karen said.
“What?”
“Look, it looks like it’s suction cupped on her and sucking her life.”
“No! What the heck is it?”
“Paranormal,” Karen replied.
“What? Come on, you expect me to believe that?” Zander laughed.
“This is no joke. Look at it.”
They all looked at the black residue that slithered across Rene’s forehead. Jen
refused to believe it as well. Everyone felt the same devastation for her but knew to
keep that in check, to be strong for her.
“NO! No, no, no, no, no! It’s just a scratch! She fell and maybe slightly cut her
forehead,” Jen cried out.
“Jen, that’s not the case,” Brian said.
Tears fell from his eyes heavily. The tears flowed from everyone else as well. But
they attempted to push them back. The rest of them tried damn hard not to cry to still
be strong for Jen.
Zander proceeded to call 911. He put it on speaker phone.
“911 what’s your emergency?” a female voice asked.
“Um, I’m not sure how to explain this but there’s something black, like a plasma
that’s attacking my friend’s mom.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yeah, send the paramedics over here!” Zander yelled.
“You want me to send someone for attacking plasma?”
“I don’t know what it is but it’s alive and sucking the life force from my friend’s
mom!” Zander screamed.
“Sir, this channel is reserved for emergencies only. If this is some kind of prank
-”
“No prank! Get over here!”
Zander took a photo of Rene’s forehead. But whatever was on Rene’s head did
not show up in the photo. And the 911 operator checked to see if Zander was still
there.
“Hello?”
“Look, this is FBI Special agent Zander Cole, send someone over here now!”
Zander ended the call and called his friend Del Maningham from a group known
as the SPA (Supernatural Paranormal Agency) next.
“Who you calling now?” Karen asked.
“Del.”
“Um, who is Del?” Jen questioned.
“A friend. His team deals with this.”
“Whatever it is, we should get the hell out of here!” Karen said.
They all ran out of the home. Jen couldn’t fathom what just happened. What did
just happen? What just killed her mother? She never believed in the supernatural or
paranormal.
Del and his team arrived. They inspected the home and Del found more of the
black residue on the kitchen counter. It seemed like it was seeping in from the
window. He went outside and inspected all around the back. He found more. It
seemed as if this substance was shot from a special weapon.
After he finished, Del and his team met them outside and he introduced everyone.
He had a small sample of the black residue he put inside a sealed glass jar he found.
“Look, I found some of it on the kitchen window,” Del said. “This has to be
paranormal,” Del mentioned. “I found more around the window outside. And it
appears it was shot out of some kind of weapon.”
“Well, I’m the EVP (Electronic voice phenomenon) specialist here. The place has
a ton of it going on. So I for sure agree, it’s definitely paranormal. Did you ever
realize your mom’s house was haunted?” Becky asked.
“No,” Jen replied.
“Look at this guys. I had a heck of a time picking it up. I had to use a toothpick.”
Del explained. “Zander, you said it was slithering across her forehead and was
sucking the life from her?”
“Yeah.”
“I saw this type of substance before.”
“What?” they all said.
“Yeah in Russia,” he stated.
“Russia, so, what is it?” Mike asked.
“I’m not sure boss.”
“This is what you’ve been working on?” Mike questioned.
“Yeah.”
“Paranormal? That’s crazy. Why would it suddenly attack my mom?” Jen
demanded.
“What was your mother into?” Del asked.
“She worked for KCI Corporation.”
“No way. We’ve been investigating them forever!” Chris Thompson stated.
“Seriously?” Jen questioned.
“Yes. What did your mother do for them?” Del asked.
“She was James Roberts secretary.”
“Holy shit!” they all said.
“What’s going on here?” Jen questioned.
“Jen, KCI under the surface has been researching the supernatural-paranormal.
They’ve been looking for a portal,” Del explained.
“A portal?” Zander questioned. “Come on.”
“Look Z, I know you don’t believe in this stuff but it’s real. And KCI may just be
on their way to finally merging the worlds. They use Mediums. Was your mother a
Medium?” Del asked.
“I don’t know.”
“She had to of been. In my research, this new substance only attacks Mediums.
But I haven’t been able to find the source. Every time I get close, the leads shrivel
up.”
“I’ve been investigating KCI as well. I always felt there was something sinister
going on there,” Jen said.
“Are you a Medium too?” Del questioned.
“Me? No. I don’t think so. I’m an Investigative Reporter for the Shelby Times.
Every time I do an article on them, my boss, Michael Turner shoots it down.”
“Every time?” Del questioned.
“Yes!”
“Jen, we’re so sorry this happened. We’ll investigate this and get back to you,”
Del said.
Jen’s body trembled. She wanted to know why her mother? Why her, what did
she actually do for James Roberts? She never wanted to believe her mother would
deal in dirty stuff like this.
Brian took her home and Jen just couldn’t sleep or eat. She had to get away. She
didn’t leave Brian a note and just took off. As she drove, she kept seeing that slime
attacking her mother. And she drove for what seemed to be all night long.






Chapter 2


Jen’s eyes began to burn. She needed to stop. She realized she ended up in Port
Huron. She got a hotel room and checked in under one of her many aliases she had
purchased throughout the years from her Deep Web contact, Arie Mansfield. After
settling in, she went to the local liquor store.
She came back from the liquor store and checked all around the hotel as far as her
hazel green eyes could see. She hated being almost blind. Having to wear glasses
since the second grade, she wished she could get lasik but she feared it. And she knew
her eyes were beyond that. She went in her hotel room and put the twenty four pack of
Miller Lite in the fridge. She grabbed two bottles and put them on the round table that
sat across to the right of the bed near the window.
As she twisted the cap off one, that image appeared again of that slime crawling
across her mother’s forehead. She closed her eyes and took a few swigs of the beer.
Jen decided to contact her friend, CIA Agent Steven Reddington, she met on the Deep
Web a few years ago under the pseudonym, Natasha Longmere. This was a name used
just for the Deep Web and her blog she had made that discussed her thoughts on
conspiracy theories and the supernatural-paranormal stories her mother always told
her. They never met in person but they chatted a ton on the Deep Web and on the
phone. Maybe he had more of a solid reason for her mother dying. She prayed he’d
answer.
“Hello?” he answered.
She smiled at hearing that smokey voice of his.
“Steven?” she sniffed. She drank more of the beer.
“Nat? Is that you?”
“It’s me.”
“What’s going on?”
“Something just happened.”
“What happened?”
She told him everything. Needless to say the stunning news left him speechless.
He couldn’t muster a word.
“Steven?” she checked.
“Where are you?”
“Well, I’m not at home. Have your CIA contacts heard anything about this?”
“No. Sorry.”
“Nothing at all? Aren’t you in Russia?”
“I am.”
“This guy Del thinks this substance comes from there.”
“Did he say where?”
“No.”
“Nat, you sound bad.”
“Well what do you think, my mother just died! I’m up here in Port Huron. I just
had to get away from it all. I don’t believe any of it!”
“What, the slime?”
“Yeah. They said it may just be paranormal.”
“That’s out of my league girl.”
“Look, I need you to meet with me!”
“No can do. I’m stationed here in Russia.”
“The team of investigators say they are an agency. They call themselves the SPA?
Ever hear of them?”
“No.”
“Seriously? Del Maningham has the substance. He’s supposed to investigate for
me.”
“Then let him investigate. I’m already on a case I can’t break it Nat.”
“Thanks.”
The call ended. What was she doing up here? She’d have to plan her mother’s
funeral. But she still had a hard time believing any of it. There was no real
explanation for this. She was like Zander, and still didn’t believe in the
supernatural-paranormal. Even though her mother always told her stories about both
worlds. And she blogged about it. She had a huge following because of this. There
were many fans of hers who believed heavily in the supernatural-paranormal and
some who didn’t.
She finished the one beer and started on the other. She kept seeing the vision of
her mother. No matter what she did, it would never leave her. Being up here, alone,
didn’t help. Unsure of why she came up here, she just needed to run away from it all.
Jen never ran from anything. But this, this was so unlike her. She finished that
beer and drank another. Her phone rang, it was Brian calling. It was late. It was about
two am. She didn’t answer. It went right to voice mail. She grabbed another beer.
There was nothing no one could do for her.
Nothing.
No matter what anyone said. No matter what anyone did, nothing would change
the fact. And she knew she’d have to answer to Brian sooner or later but she needed to
be here. Alone. Being alone was helping her. She drank another beer.
After her seventh beer, she passed out on the bed. The next morning she woke
screaming that substance was attacking her in her dream. Jen hurried to the bathroom
and ran the faucet. She tossed some cold water on her face. What was this? She knew
her phone would have been blowing up with messages from Brian, Zander, and Karen
but she needed to solve this new mystery.
She went to the office of the hotel and got the complementary breakfast. And
after she ate, she went back to her room. Her phone was off. She just didn’t want to
deal with anyone still. She drank more beer. And the next day turned into a week,
then that week turned into almost a month. It was now November 23rd and Jen was
drowning fast in her own sorrow. She missed her mother terribly. And being an only
child with no other living relatives but her mother’s mother, Rose, she knew she’d be
alone forever.
Sure she had Brian, Zander, Karen, and their families. But she had no one but her
Grandmother. She drank more after finishing the last beer, she went to the bathroom.
She tripped on the white cloth rug on the floor that laid first just as the door opened,
narrowly missing her head on the sink to her right. She hit the floor hard as her left
knee came crashing down and scraped against the small tiles of the colored flooring.
She flopped to her left and grabbed her knee. While howling in utter pain, Jen stayed
there for many moments just wishing she’d just bleed out.
Unsure of how long she stayed on the floor, the tears never stopped flowing from
her eyes. The tears continued and they almost choked her. That was when she heard a
familiar voice.
“Jen!? Jen!?”
Her Superman. She attempted to muster a word to tell him where she was. But
nothing came out. Her palms turned clammy, her body temp was lowering fast. She
wheezed out a few harsh breaths to finally be able to speak but nothing came out
again. Her eyes opened and she saw cloudy visions, almost shadowy visions of a
person maybe?
“Jen!? Oh my God!”
She attempted to open her eyes once more but they closed again.
“Jen!? NO! Come on, I got you!”
Brian held his wife in his arms and caressed her long brown, shoulder length hair.
He sat on the floor with her in his arms as Zander and Karen met him there.
“Help me!” he cried.
They hurried in.
“Is she hot Bri?” Karen asked.
“No, she’s growing cold.”
“We need to lift her up but gently. Come on, on three!” Zander exclaimed.
They lifted her as Karen counted to three. They placed her on her side on the bed.
Her head on her left toward a basket in case she vomited. They helped stop the
bleeding of her left knee and wrapped it with an ace bandage from Zander’s medical
kit he always kept on him.
“Why did she do this!?” Brian yelled.
“Perhaps her mother’s death was the last straw,” Zander said.
“I know she’s been through a lot but to go this far!? Damn it!” Brian said.
“I’m calling 911,” Karen told them.
She got out her phone and called 911. Brian rode in the ambulance with his wife
to tell the EMTS what they needed to know. Karen and Zander followed. They arrived
to the hospital and took Jen right into surgery. A few hours later, the doctor came to
see them.
“Hello, Brian Long?”
Brian rose from the chair in the waiting room.
“I’m Doctor Manchester.”
“How is she? How is my wife?” Brian questioned.
“She’ll be fine. It was lucky on her that you all found her when you did.”
“Can I see her?”
“She is up now and we finally got her hydrated. I’ll allow one at a time. It’s best
not to upset her.”
“Thanks doc.”
Brian followed the young female Doctor to Jen’s room on the third floor.
“Has this ever happened before?” Doctor Manchester asked.
“No. First time. I mean she does like to drink occasionally.”
“What’s occasionally?”
“Like maybe three or four on a Friday night.”
“Might I ask what brought this binge on?”
“Well, her mother died a month ago. Right in front of her eyes on her thirtieth
birthday.”
“Oh my God. How horrible!”
“Yeah.”
They arrived to Jen’s room. She was sitting up talking with her nurse, nurse
Christy Masters. Jen blew out a few breaths at seeing Brian enter.
“I’ll give you both some time. I’m right down the hall at the nurses station if you
need anything,” Christy smiled.
“Thank you,” Jen smiled. But that smile turned to a frown when she saw Brian.
And she expected the ridicule. “I know what you’re gonna say.”
“I’m just happy we found you when we did.”
“You’re not gonna yell at me?”
“No Jen. I understand. I get it.”
“So what happens now?”
“Well, I haven’t heard. I just came in. Zander and Karen are here too.”
“I’m so sorry!” she cried.
“It’s okay Jen. All that matters is you’re alive and here with me!”
He sat next to her and caressed the hand without the IV in it. She turned to him
and smiled wide. He was truly the best man she’d ever been with.
“We put the funeral on hold. We figured you’d want to plan it,” Brian started.
“Yes. Did you contact my Grandma Rose?”
“Yes.”
“Oh no. She’ll be so pissed.”
“She understood. She’s waiting for you to recover.”
“Oh, whew.”
“Jen, what drove you to drive up here of all places?”
“I dunno. I just needed to get away from all it. It just happened.”
“I get it. Look Jen, I’m not mad. Like I said, I’m glad we found you. It wasn’t
easy. You need to come clean with me.”
“Come clean with you on what?”
“When I held up your photo to the clerk at the check in counter of the hotel, he
told me you where but under a different name? What’s up with that?”
“I didn’t want anyone to find me.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to die.”
“Die, why? Isn’t our love strong enough to keep you living for that?”
“I wanted to die because I realized that I would have no one left. It may be hard
for you to understand but I mean all I have left is Grandma Rose. And I just, I just
couldn’t deal with being the only one left.”
“I guess I understand.”
“You at least have Barb, your older sister, your brother Tommy and their kids. I
feel like I’m invading. I feel like, I just feel totally alone.”
“I’m trying to understand.”
“My mother was killed by a paranormal force. I don’t know why! She was my
mom! We were tight! I just…”
Jen’s eyes moistened with tears. Brian held onto her hand tight. No one could
understand.
“Jen, I love you! Zander and Karen love you too. Their families love you! Isn’t
that enough?”
“I know it should be. But now, now it’s all different.”
“I’m still trying to understand.”
“You won’t.”
“Then help me understand, please. If I ever lost you, I’d feel the same.”
“You can’t. You have a family that loves you.”
“Please, help me understand why it’s different for you.”
“I never knew my father. I never knew any one else in the family but my mother
and her mother, Rose. See now?”
“I’m trying. Just promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Never do this again! I’m your family. My family is your family. Zander and
Karen are your family. Their families are your family. You have a huge family Jen.
And that should be worth living for. Say you promise!” he cried.
She smiled to him. He truly did love her. Their love was like no other. Even with
this, he still loved her. He still stood by her side. And that meant the world to her!
“I can’t promise that!” she said.
“Why?”
“I just can’t.”




Chapter 3
November 29, 2010


Having missed Thanksgiving, Jen hated the Holidays even more now. She just
wanted to fast forward everything. But she knew her mother wouldn’t want that.
Nothing like spending Thanksgiving in the hospital. She was kind of glad though
cause the Holidays now just sucked even more.
They had her mother’s funeral shortly after her five day hospital stay. Her
Grandmother Rose agreed to this and knew Jen wanted to be there. She had grown
closer to her Grandmother more now than ever.
She had also been seeing her regular therapist once again, June Haven. And June
suggested a service dog to help her cope with her new depression and anxiety. But Jen
felt she didn’t need no damn service dog. She didn’t want to have a life like that.
However, June wrote her the letter anyway.
But Jen never acted on it. She felt she didn’t need this dog to do the things she
could normally do. June knew she could force the issue but also knew Jen was strong
and was able to possibly beat this.
As she sat in her home office in the back bedroom of her home she lived in with
Brian, her phone rang. She saved Del’s number from when she first met him and his
team. She smiled and hoped he’d have some news for her.
“Hey Del,” she smiled.
“Hey Jen, how are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. Whatcha got for me?”
“Well, I’d like to come and meet with you once more if I could.”
“You have something?”
“Yeah. Is your mother’s house still in your family by chance?”
“No. It’s been sold.”
“I understand. Look, can we meet?”
“Why do you want to meet?”
“Well, I have a proposition for you.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I’ve been reading your articles on KCI Corporation and your thoughts
about how the supernatural-paranormal don’t exist.”
“Oh, you read my column in the Shelby Times? How did you find out about my
blog?”
“Your keywords led me to it. I just put two and two together and believe that this
Natasha Longmere was you. Am I right?”
“Yup. Damn you’re good.”
“I’ve become a big fan. Look, I think we can work together on this.”
“I’m quite happy at the Shelby Times Del. Plus I get good dollars from that blog
you mentioned.”
“So, I can’t meet with you? I’d love to see you and talk more about this. I’ve been
trying to get a hold of you for almost three months now.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Where you been?”
“Well, long story. I sort of went into lockdown mode once all that went down.”
“I get that. You were tight with your mom huh?”
“Yes I was.”
“I’m so sorry. Can we still meet? At least hear what I have to say?”
“Okay, you can come to my home.”
“Oh, cool. Okay text me your address.”
“I will. See you soon?”
“Yeah, in a bit.”
“Thanks Del.”
“Bye.”
Jen smiled. Perhaps he had more than what he was leading on with? She sure
hoped he did. She continued doing her research into KCI. She knew her mother was
James Roberts’ secretary. But what else did she know?
She took a break and went to the living room for a bit. Brian wasn’t home yet.
He’d been putting in extra hours at Thomas Realty because he wanted to retire before
he turned fortyish. She agreed. She grabbed some cheese from the fridge and got the
box of club crackers from the top of the fridge and put out a plate for her and Del. As
she finished cutting the cheese, she turned around to the island in the center of their
maple wood kitchen and her eyes widened. She about fell over and the plate of cheese
and crackers almost tumbled to the floor.
“Mom!? What the actual fuck? How is this possible? What are you doing here?”
Jen questioned.
She squinted her eyes. She closed them and rubbed them. Every time she opened
them, her mother’s ghost was standing there before her. She took off her glasses even
and shook her head. When she put the glasses back on, her mother was still there.
“How, how is this possible?” Jen demanded.
‘Your brush with death Jen. Is it true, you really want to die?’ her mom
questioned.
“Well, that was before. How am I talking to you?”
‘You have the gift. You’ve always had the gift. I need to tell you something.’
“Look, I’m having company over.”
‘I know. I know Del is a good guy. I’ve been communicating with them through
Chris Thompson. You need to take this job Jen.’
“What, how is this possible? I just, I don’t know what to think!”
‘Listen to me. I was killed because I found out the truth of what they were really
doing!’
“Wait what, you’re a Medium?”
‘Yes. I’ve always been, just like you.’
“No! I’m no Medium!”
‘Yes you are. You can talk to and see me. But Jen, KCI, Thomas Realty, and the
Shelby Times have been evading taxes for years to pour that money in their research
with Siondome.’
“I really don’t believe this. Wait, what? You mean my boss and Brian’s boss are
both in on this?”
‘Yes. Do you have my trunk?’
“I do.”
‘Go through it. I was more than James’ secretary.’
“Oh?”
‘I also kept his books and did other things. I was in charge of recruiting Mediums.
But I didn’t know what was going on until it was too late.’
“What where they doing mom?”
‘They were torturing and killing Mediums. I didn’t catch on to it until the day
before your birthday. I was going to go to Zander with this but I needed proof.’
“Did you get it?”
‘I got some. In my journal in the trunk, I documented it. I also have some
photographs. And Jen, they are all connected to a big crime boss in Russia.’
“Who mom?”
‘Mikael Veriskoff.’
“I know him. He’s a very popular and well respected business man.”
‘Exactly but he’s dirty too. Jen, you need to hook up with Del. Trust me on this.
This hook up will answer all your questions.’
“Were you really in Japan three months ago?”
‘No. I was undercover in Russia.’
“That slime, is that what you were working on?”
‘Yes. I brought it back for James. But I tried to get out Jen, I really did.’
“What do you mean?”
‘When I was undercover, I found out exactly what they were doing. And when I
came back, I told James I wanted out. But he threatened me if I did.’
“Did you have sex with him?”
‘Jen, that has nothing to with this!’
“Did you?”
‘Only because he was blackmailing me.’
“How was he blackmailing you?”
‘I wanted out before I went to Russia. He told me he needed me.’
“What dirt did he have on you?”
‘He discovered I was a Medium and if I didn’t do what he said, he’d have me
locked up for being crazy.’
“Holy shit! What a fucking douchebag!”
‘Exactly.’
“So why hasn’t he come after me?”
‘He doesn’t know you have the gift yet. You’re safe for now. Don’t let it be
known you’re a Medium. If you do, he’ll come after you for sure!’
“Why, why is KCI killing Mediums mom?”
‘They believe the Mediums will stop their plan of searching for a permanent
portal that will bring the evil paranormal-supernatural here. If they do find one Jen,
there would be nothing to stop them. You have to help the Mediums. They are our
only hope to survive.’
“Me, no. I don’t want any part of this!”
‘Jen, trust me. You have the ability to protect them, if you join the SPA. This is
your true destiny.’
“No! I just want to live my life with Brian!”
‘I’m sorry Jen. But you can truly save the entire universe. Trust me. I love you.’
“I love you mom.”
She didn’t want to believe any of this. Her life had already been planned out
without her having a say so? No. There had to be some way out of this.
Jen went to her office. She went to her laptop and went on the Deep Web. She
researched and cross referenced KCI with Mikael Veriskoff. She had a bit more info
now thanks to her mother’s ghost. There was still no explanation for her that would
make her realize the truth of all this. The doorbell rang. She ran through the home and
knew it was Del. She let him and they met in the kitchen.
“So Jen, nice place you have. This a three bedroom ranch?” Del asked.
“Yeah. My hubby and I have had it for over six years now.”
“So, I’ve been researching that slime. Actually it’s not slime.”
“Oh, why couldn’t you say this over the phone?”
“I figured it was sensitive. Look Jen, we could really use you on this.”
“Me, why?”
“Well, you already have experience with it. Thanks to you, we have this lead. I
can’t believe they sold your mother’s house already!”
“Yeah.”
“Even with it being haunted?”
“I don’t think it was haunted. It might have just been from that slime or whatever
it is you think it is.”
“It’s dirt from an unconsecrated cemetery. Like from someone cremated.”
“What does that mean?”
“That means not holy. Look Jen, I think you’re connected to this somehow.”
“You think?”
“Yes. Well, not only just your mother but something else. And this dirt came
from a body cremated. It’s hard to explain. I tracked it down to Russia.”
“Russia?”
“Yes. Do you have any relatives there?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
Jen checked around the kitchen for her mother. But Rene’s ghost was gone. She
left or perhaps went somewhere else?
“What is it?” Del asked.
“Well, tell no one of this, I can trust you, right?”
“Of course.”
“You’re good friends with Zander right?”
“Yes!”
“Well, tonight, I just learned I’m a Medium. So yeah, I’m for sure connected.”
“Oh, well, we can for sure use you!”
“I can’t leave my job. I have a lot of readers. I love it.”
“Jen, we could use another Medium.”
“I heard your coworker, Chris Thompson is one. Did she ever mention that she
talked to a Rene McKenzie?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. That’s why I’ve been trying to call you. Jen, you have to
join us!”
“I don’t know. My mom said I should too but I can’t just up and quit. I’ve got too
much invested.”
“I get that.”
“And I’m not into that supernatural-paranormal.”
“But your blog? Your mother, you still don’t believe?”
“Nope. I find it hard to. If you can’t produce a person who killed my mother, then
I’d like you to leave!”
“But Jen -”
“Please, I just can’t do this right now!”
“Very well. I’ll see if I can produce a person for you. I know this was shot out of
some kind of weapon. I’m still working on that. I’ll be in touch.”
Del left with the substance in his hand. Jen shook her head. She knew her mother
would be upset with her. But Jen had to figure this out. Now she could talk to ghosts?
Why now? Just because she had a slight brush with death made her a Medium? She
needed more info. There had to be some place that knew more about this stuff

​

JJ Carter (also known as C.A. Michaels) is a lifelong resident of Michigan and currently lives in South Eastern Michigan with her husband whom she calls Superman. She began writing and drawing stories in the sixth grade. She's since then tried many different things, music, having a Rock N Roll band in the early nineties, and learning graphic design since 1999. She typed her first manuscript back in 2010. However that will never see the light of day.

It was when she got great feedback from a helpful agent, she became passionate about writing once again. She took that former manuscript and turned into the first of the Pathfinders series. She is always on her laptop listening to Rock n Roll, Heavy Metal and yes even some Country while she creates new exciting worlds. She does love to take breaks every now and then to visit her friends, hang out, play cards, games, enjoying hot summer nights by a bonfire with a beer, and even do a little Karaoke. e better.


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