The Seance by Heather Graham Page B

planchette.”
    â€œRight. Beau Kidd did it himself, because there is no copycat killer and he wants us to know he’s innocent,” Mike murmured dryly.
    â€œMaybe he didn’t do it,” Ana said. “And maybe his spirit did move the planchette.”
    â€œNow you’re scaring me,” Jed teased his cousin.
    She frowned, staring at him with a stubborn set to her jaw. “Oh, right, Mr. He-man. There’s no possibility that anything you haven’t seen for yourself could possibly be real.”
    â€œWhat’s the phrase? A ghost in the machine?” Tony said, his tone light, as if he were hoping to lift the tension that had suddenly filled the room.
    â€œIf there were a ghost here, it would be Gran, yelling at us,” Dan said, grinning, and evoking smiles from the others at last.
    â€œWas she mean?” Ilona asked.
    â€œHeavens, no,” Christina said. “But she had a very clear vision of right and wrong.” She flashed a smile. “I don’t think she’d be yelling. We haven’t messed anything up.”
    â€œWell, she wasn’t all that fond of the way I’m running my life,” Dan said, shrugging. “I tried to explain to her that I intend to be more than Raccoon Ralph.”
    â€œAnd you will be,” Christina said. “You’re going to be Zeus.”
    â€œRight. And Halloween is around the corner. I’ll get to play some pretty scary stuff,” Dan said.
    â€œThe three-year-olds are trembling in their boots,” Ana teased, then suggested, “Why don’t we ask the Ouija board when you’ll get your big break?”
    Mike groaned. “I’m getting another beer.” He started down the hall, almost crashing into Jed, who was still standing in the doorway. “Beer?” he suggested.
    â€œYeah, sure, one more,” Jed said, heading to the kitchen with him.
    A few seconds later, they heard a loud and startled clamor from the parlor.
    They frowned at each other and rushed back to the other room. Jed was in the lead, and when he reached the arched doorway, he was almost hit in the head with the planchette.
    â€œHey, who threw that?” he demanded. Ducking had saved him from a good shot right in the face.
    â€œShe did,” Ana said, pointing to Christina.
    â€œI did not!” Christina protested.
    Ana met his eyes, looking more than a little scared. “It…it was like it got mad and flew cross the room,” she said.
    â€œAna, get a life,” Jed snapped.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Mike demanded from just behind Jed.
    â€œWe asked it if Dan was going to get the part he wants,” Christina said.
    â€œAnd it spelled out ‘help’ again,” Ilona said, eyes wide.
    â€œThey’re pulling your leg, Ilona,” Mike told her.
    Ana let out a long, aggrieved sigh.
    â€œWhatever. Let’s put the stupid thing away,” Christina said. Without waiting for anyone to agree, she reached for the box.
    â€œThrow the stupid thing away,” Dan suggested.
    â€œChristina, throw an old treasure away?” Tony teased. “Never.”
    â€œIt’s a good thing I don’t throw anything away. You might recall a box I packed up when a few people forgot about it after one Christmas dinner,” Christina said, looking from Mike to Dan and smiling complacently.
    â€œYes, and we appreciate it,” Dan said, then explained to the others. “We got bonds for Christmas one year when we were kids. We forgot all about them, but Christina stuck them in a box and held on to it. Our bonds matured and ended up being worth a bundle.”
    â€œAnd we thank her for it,” Mike said, then turned to Christina. “Want me to help you pack anything up?” he asked as he turned up the dimmer switch.
    â€œNo, but thank you for the appreciation.” She rose from the floor as gracefully as ever.
    Dan yawned, then apologized. “Sorry, but