Those of the Margin: a Paranormal Suspense Thriller (Derek Cole Suspense Thriller Book 2) by T Patrick Phelps
Authors: T Patrick Phelps
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the man they were asked to contact."
"So the volunteers were attempting to contact the spirit of someone who never existed?" Derek asked.
"Exactly. And according to several involved, contact was made."
"Group hypnosis?"
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. During one of the last séances, reporters from a local newspaper were invited to watch the proceedings. The reporters were not given any insights to the case but were just invited to attend the séance and to report what happened."
"If I were a betting man, I'd bet that the reporters witnessed something," Derek asked.
"Indeed they did. At least, the article that was published in the newspaper the following day suggested that something unexplainable happened during the séance. When the truth behind the experiment was revealed, some of the volunteers were rather angry. They felt they were duped. Others laughed it off and considered that the contacts made with the fictional spirit were all in their head. But others, including the reporters and some of the team of psychologists, believe the experiment suggested something else."
"And that would be?" Derek asked.
"That we create ghosts and spirits, Derek. That our minds are more powerful than we ever imagined. That we actually have the ability to create an entity that exists outside of our imaginations."
"What was the name of the fictional spirit?"
"Phillip. His name was Phillip."
Derek's mind raced to a thousand different end points. "The fact that Ron White made a point of telling me the importance of the name 'Phillip,' and based on the conversation I had with him, I have to suspect that he may have had a lot to do with Robby's issues," Derek stated.
"What about yours and Ron's conversation makes you feel that way?" John asked.
"It was pretty obvious," Derek said, "that Ron White is a firm believer in ghosts. He went on and on about asking me if I've ever experienced a ghostly encounter. Almost seemed like he was trying to convince me that ghosts do exist. But the last thing he said really stands out."
"And that was?"
"He said that ghosts do exist, but that some are more real than others."
"That is an interesting comment and, based on what you've told me, I don't blame you for thinking that he put the idea of ghosts into Robby's mind."
The two men sat in silence for a few minutes. John was recalling as many details of his past conversations with Ron as he could, hoping to remember some comment, some suggestion that Ron had made that would prove to be important in Derek's case. Derek found his thoughts returning to Maggie.
Derek never needed help or incentives to keep focused to whatever case he was working on, but since meeting Maggie, he struggled not to imagine her in his thoughts. There was more to Maggie than just a beautiful woman desperate for answers that would help her son. There was a vulnerability, a silent plea for help that Derek, struggle as he might, could not help but strain to understand.
"Father," Derek said, "I hope I'm not acting like a gossip, but I get the feeling that Maggie and Jack's marriage isn't all that sound. Don't ask me for specifics. It's just a feeling I have."
John drew a deep breath through his nose, then slowly began to nod his head. After a long, thought-filled pause, he said, "Derek, I am not at liberty to discuss the marital conditions of Maggie and Jack Bryant. However, the fact that you went from sharing your suspicions about Ron White directly to your ill feelings about the Bryant's relationship tells me that you may think that, if their marriage is indeed challenged, that Robby is being affected by more than a possible and suspected conversation of two about ghosts."
"I'm no psychologist, Father, but I am pretty good at figuring people out. I like to think that this skill of mine makes me a good detective. The way I am thinking is that if I can pick up on something wrong with Maggie and Jack's marriage, then Robby must be feeling the same thing. Fortunately for me, my parents
"So the volunteers were attempting to contact the spirit of someone who never existed?" Derek asked.
"Exactly. And according to several involved, contact was made."
"Group hypnosis?"
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. During one of the last séances, reporters from a local newspaper were invited to watch the proceedings. The reporters were not given any insights to the case but were just invited to attend the séance and to report what happened."
"If I were a betting man, I'd bet that the reporters witnessed something," Derek asked.
"Indeed they did. At least, the article that was published in the newspaper the following day suggested that something unexplainable happened during the séance. When the truth behind the experiment was revealed, some of the volunteers were rather angry. They felt they were duped. Others laughed it off and considered that the contacts made with the fictional spirit were all in their head. But others, including the reporters and some of the team of psychologists, believe the experiment suggested something else."
"And that would be?" Derek asked.
"That we create ghosts and spirits, Derek. That our minds are more powerful than we ever imagined. That we actually have the ability to create an entity that exists outside of our imaginations."
"What was the name of the fictional spirit?"
"Phillip. His name was Phillip."
Derek's mind raced to a thousand different end points. "The fact that Ron White made a point of telling me the importance of the name 'Phillip,' and based on the conversation I had with him, I have to suspect that he may have had a lot to do with Robby's issues," Derek stated.
"What about yours and Ron's conversation makes you feel that way?" John asked.
"It was pretty obvious," Derek said, "that Ron White is a firm believer in ghosts. He went on and on about asking me if I've ever experienced a ghostly encounter. Almost seemed like he was trying to convince me that ghosts do exist. But the last thing he said really stands out."
"And that was?"
"He said that ghosts do exist, but that some are more real than others."
"That is an interesting comment and, based on what you've told me, I don't blame you for thinking that he put the idea of ghosts into Robby's mind."
The two men sat in silence for a few minutes. John was recalling as many details of his past conversations with Ron as he could, hoping to remember some comment, some suggestion that Ron had made that would prove to be important in Derek's case. Derek found his thoughts returning to Maggie.
Derek never needed help or incentives to keep focused to whatever case he was working on, but since meeting Maggie, he struggled not to imagine her in his thoughts. There was more to Maggie than just a beautiful woman desperate for answers that would help her son. There was a vulnerability, a silent plea for help that Derek, struggle as he might, could not help but strain to understand.
"Father," Derek said, "I hope I'm not acting like a gossip, but I get the feeling that Maggie and Jack's marriage isn't all that sound. Don't ask me for specifics. It's just a feeling I have."
John drew a deep breath through his nose, then slowly began to nod his head. After a long, thought-filled pause, he said, "Derek, I am not at liberty to discuss the marital conditions of Maggie and Jack Bryant. However, the fact that you went from sharing your suspicions about Ron White directly to your ill feelings about the Bryant's relationship tells me that you may think that, if their marriage is indeed challenged, that Robby is being affected by more than a possible and suspected conversation of two about ghosts."
"I'm no psychologist, Father, but I am pretty good at figuring people out. I like to think that this skill of mine makes me a good detective. The way I am thinking is that if I can pick up on something wrong with Maggie and Jack's marriage, then Robby must be feeling the same thing. Fortunately for me, my parents
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