The Soul Thief (17 page)

“Now, Ray here says you can talk to ghosts,” Odell said. Her voice grew a shade softer.

“Really?” Franklin asked, surprised. He’d never admitted to his ability to Ray before Adrianna had died, and he certainly hadn’t talked about it afterward to him. Just seemed cruel.

Plus, Adrianna’s ghost had never come to visit. He figured she went straight to Heaven.

“My Aunt Jamilla died a couple of weeks ago. Cancer,” Odell said. “Think I could talk to her?”

“It don’t work that way, ma’am,” Franklin said firmly.

“Then how’s it work?” Odell asked.

Franklin looked at Ray who shrugged.

It was Franklin’s choice just how much he told her.

“I work with ghosts who’s having troubles,” Franklin told her. “I help ’em with what they need to let go of this earth, pass beyond.”

Odell nodded at that. “And there’s some ghosts involved with this blade? It’s haunted?”

That sounded about right to Franklin, not without going into all kinds of details. “Yes, ma’am. It’s holding a bunch of souls right now.”

Every time Franklin thought about the blade, he felt the weight of it in his side. It weren’t always pain, like now, it was just pressure, a cold silver weight pushing him down.

“I ain’t worked with spirits before,” Odell said, glancing at Ray.

“You can always back out,” Ray said smoothly. “We’ll find someone else.”

“I didn’t say that,” Odell said. “I’m just saying it might be more complicated.”

“We’ll talk details after you finish the job,” Ray told her firmly. “After.”

Odell gave him a sly smile. “Just checking. You still got it, old man.”

Ray barked a laugh. “Thanks.” He paused, then added, “You need anything else from him?” He indicated Franklin with a nod of his head.

“Him being able to drive a car might be nice,” Odell drawled. “But I got it.” She fixed her hard look back on Franklin again. “You might want to think about stealing one.”

Franklin just shrugged. He couldn’t borrow any of his cousins’ cars without explaining too much. And he really didn’t want to bring Julie into any of this.

“By tomorrow morning, you should have the blade,” Odell said.

“Good. Thank you,” Franklin said.

Odell gave him a curt nod.

Franklin just hoped that he’d still be thankful by the time this was all over.

Ξ

Franklin was exhausted by the time he pedaled home, working alone at the fruit and vegetable stand after Karl had left early. It weren’t some kind of holiday weekend, but that’s what people were acting like, buying up everything they could.

Then Franklin had had to close down the stand and haul everything back to the fridges, lock them up tight. They’d never had any problems with vandals. Karl claimed it was because he came by sometimes at night with his shotgun, packed with rock salt, and just waited in the shadows.

He’d only ever had to use it twice, but word had gotten around.

Franklin had jumped just about out of his skin every time he heard a phone ring. But it had always been one of his customers, not the phone that sat heavy in his pocket.

Franklin was looking forward to a good long soak in his tub, though he’d keep the phone right next to him. He figured, knowing his luck, that Odell would call just after he’d fallen asleep.

But no, his luck weren’t even that good.

Julie’s car sat parked in his driveway, with Julie standing beside it, waiting for him.

Franklin weren’t sure, but he probably would have been happier to see Odell, what with the glare Julie was giving him.

Ξ

“Was you ever gonna tell me about being arrested?” Julie asked after they’d both gotten themselves a beer and had settled themselves out back, on the chairs there. The big bug zapper was tinging every few seconds, taking the mosquitoes out of the air that would have been eating Julie alive.

Franklin had never been that bothered with bugs—they just didn’t seem to like the taste of him.

He sighed and considered Julie’s question. He knew the right answer was to tell her that of course he would have told her.

But Franklin figured the truth would be better just then.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I didn’t want you to be worried.” He paused, then added, “And though you may not think it’s right, I’m glad it was Darryl, and not you, with me. I didn’t want you to get into trouble.”

Julie nodded. “I know you was trying to protect me. But you got to tell me things. If I’m feeling like you’re hiding and lying to me, we just won’t work out.”

“These things are dangerous,” Franklin pointed out. “The ghosts. And the doctor. I’d never forgive myself if you got hurt.”

“How do you think I feel? Knowing you’re going into this danger alone?” Julie said.

“Still better than you getting hurt,” Franklin said stubbornly.

“I can take care of myself,” Julie replied. “Better’n you, sometimes.”

Franklin opened his mouth then shut it again. There weren’t no way to win this argument. And he hated fighting with Julie this way.

On the other hand, he knew he was right. He wouldn’t put her into danger if he could at all help it.

After a long moment, Julie asked, “So how are you getting the blade back?”

“What do you mean?” Franklin asked. “I’m not trying to get the blade back.”

“Franklin Kanly, I know you well enough to know when you’re lying to me,” Julie said. “And I also know you’re too stubborn to just let that son of a bitch win. So how are you getting that blade back?”

“I can’t tell you,” Franklin said, knowing he was admitting to some kind of plan just by saying that much. They weren’t married. Sheriff Thompson might threaten her job or something if she didn’t testify against Franklin. And Franklin didn’t want to put Odell at risk either. She’d come after him if he did.

That was maybe another reason why he and Julie should get married. So she couldn’t testify against him. Though he didn’t think he should mention that to Julie just now.

“What do you mean?” Julie asked.

She didn’t sound mad. She sounded hurt.

“If you don’t know, you can’t be made an accessory, or something,” Franklin explained. “But I’m gonna get that blade back.”

Julie nodded. “So you don’t say anything. Let me guess. You found someone to break into Dr. Traeger’s place.”

“I can’t tell you that,” Franklin said. It surprised him how much he really wanted to tell Julie everything.

“So, what, they’ll meet you at a prearranged place?” Julie asked, her eyes narrowed.

Franklin felt uncomfortable under her gaze. Like she was trying to take him apart, following every twitch, every breath, as if she could see how hard his heart was pounding.

Telling himself to just relax like they did on those cop shows on TV wasn’t helping a bit.

He licked his lips, surprised to see how salty they were from the sweat that had broken out across the top one. “No, ma’am,” he replied. “Can you not ask me anything more?”

Julie reached out and took his hand, lacing their fingers together. “It’s okay. Someone’s gonna call you, since you don’t have a place arranged.”

Franklin stiffened. He knew Julie was smart. He hadn’t figured she was that smart.

“I can’t tell you,” Franklin said softly.

But Julie was nodding. “I know I’m right. So I’m just gonna sit here and wait with you until that phone rings.”

Franklin sighed. On the one hand, he really didn’t want Julie to come with. He wanted to protect her, keep her safe.

On the other hand, even if she was blazing mad at him, it was still nice to have her here, by his side, in the quiet of the night, watching the stars come out.

Ξ

Julie was on her second beer while Franklin was still nursing his first when the phone in his pocket chirped.

“You gonna answer that?” Julie asked.

Franklin sighed and dug the phone out of his pocket. He hadn’t been able to think of a way of ditching Julie all night. If he went out the back and into the fields, she’d just follow him. He couldn’t get away from her on his bike. She had a car.

He’d considered stealing it, but knew she’d never forgive him.

And as much as he wanted to keep her safe, he wanted for them to still be a couple even more.

He flipped the phone open. The message said merely, “Averson’s Fields.”

Franklin paused, blinking. Odell had managed to sneak back up the lane without them hearing her? Of course she had. But why was she wanting to meet in the fields next to his house?

At least she didn’t want to meet in his field. If there was to be a battle, at least his corn might survive that year.

He closed the phone and looked over at Julie.

“Don’t you even think about leaving without me,” she told him bluntly. “If you ride your bicycle out of here, I’ll just follow you. And you can’t really outrun me in my car.”

Franklin bit his lip. “Okay. Odell—shoot, forget I said that name—is over in Mrs. Averson’s fields. Waiting for me. You need to stay here, in the house. Where it’ll be safer.”

It wouldn’t be safe. Dr. Traeger knew where he lived. So did Odell, apparently.

But he had to protect Julie, somehow.

Was this how Mama had felt all these years? Why she’d had to stay, even past death, until she was certain he’d be all right?

Did he want to be like Mama that way?

“I’ll stay at the edge of the field,” Julie told him. “But if I hear you call out or anything, I’m calling Sheriff Thompson. Then I’m coming in to get you.”

Franklin would have preferred for Julie to stay away from the danger, but he couldn’t lock her in the house, no matter how much he might want to. He had to let her come.

He weren’t Mama. He knew Julie could take care of herself.

Though if Franklin got into some kind of trouble that Odell couldn’t handle, well, Julie probably wouldn’t be much good either.

Except as a nurse.

Ξ

The moon was less than half-full when they stepped from the house, not adding much light to the driveway. Cicadas screamed in the fields surrounding them. The interstate seemed quiet that night, the trucks already gone home. No frogs added their belching tune, probably scared away by Odell, waiting for them in the field.

Franklin had a windbreak of tall linden trees to the south, between his property and the Aversons’. While they could push their way through the twisted trunks, it wouldn’t be easy. So they walked up to the lane, then headed towards the neighbor’s fields.

Mrs. Averson hadn’t planted anything in the fields for years. But she did pay to have it regularly mowed. The wild grass grew past Franklin’s knees, hearty and thick.

It was good soil, there. Just a shame she wouldn’t lower her price, or let Franklin have those fields. He could grow some mighty fine popping corn.

Julie held onto his hand tightly. Franklin scanned the fields, looking for something out of the ordinary. As they approached the spot where Darryl said there’d been a parked car, a light suddenly appeared, far off across the field.

Franklin figured that was Odell, signaling where he should go.

When Franklin tried to let go of Julie’s hand, to give her a last goodbye hug, she held on, not letting go.

Franklin just stopped. “What do you think you’re doing?” he asked. “I thought you’d agreed to stay by the side of the road.”

“I lied,” Julie told him cheerfully.

Franklin stayed where he was, shaking his head. He didn’t want to be having this argument here in the middle of the lane, but he would, if necessary. Odell would be angry, but this was more important. “You’ve been saying how could you trust me if I don’t talk to you. Now I’m asking you, how can I trust you if you’re gonna lie that way?”

It seemed to Franklin that Julie had thought she’d been being cute or something, but it just sat wrong with him. It weren’t quite bullying, but almost.

Julie instantly stopped smiling. “I’m sorry,” she said. “And you’re right. I shouldn’t do things like that if I want you to trust me.”

“So you understand that you need to keep your promise, then,” Franklin said seriously. “Else I won’t be able to trust you.” And while his whole heart ached at the thought of not having Julie in his life, he needed her to be true. Or else their relationship wouldn’t be worth the effort.

Julie sighed and looked away. Franklin knew she was mad. But was she more angry at herself or the situation?

Finally, Julie nodded. “I’ll stay here. But something goes wrong—”

“Y’all come riding in like the cavalry,” Franklin said.

Julie suddenly let go of his hand and pulled him into a fierce hug. “You come back to me, Franklin Kanly. Or I…I don’t know what I’ll do. But you won’t like it.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Franklin said, holding her back just as tight. “Don’t want to lose you, either.”

Julie surprised him with the kiss she gave him—soft and sweet, like the promise of spring. Then she let go, stepping back. “I got my phone right here. And 911 as well as the sheriff on speed dial.”

“I’ll only be a minute,” Franklin promised her, knowing he was lying.

He didn’t imagine Odell would cross Ray. But what if she’d been forced to make that call by the doctor? She did have an aunt who’d recently died.

Then he turned and started across the field, the tips of the grass wet with dew and soaking his jeans through at the knees. But he marched on, like a soldier, going to battle.

Fighting for those he loved, with only his love as a shield.

Eleven

TIME SEEMED TO stretch out, like wet leather, just waiting for that final snap, as Franklin marched across Mrs. Averson’s fields. The pale moon above him gave off more light out here, unblocked by the trees. High, knife-thin clouds were stretched across the dark sky, hiding the few stars that were out.

The cicadas were deafening. Their cycling cry sent shivers up and down Franklin’s spine. The smell of the good earth, though, under his sneakers, grounded Franklin. Reminded him why he was doing this, fighting for the natural way of things.

The light came from an old-fashioned kerosene lantern. Odell had flattened a large circle of weeds and grass, and stood at the edge of it, the lantern at her feet.