Chapter 23: Funeral

The next morning, Ed awoke in his bedroom at Ellen’s mansion.

He got up and enjoyed a shower in the adjoining bathroom. Once dressed, he sought Ellen in the family room.

“Good morning, Ed. Coffee’s on the table,” she said.

“Would you like I top up your cup?”

“No, I still have plenty.”

Ed sat down with his coffee. He took a long sip. “Ahh, so much better!”

Ed opened his laptop and checked his mail. He got one from his boss, thanking him for the update.

“So, what’s on your agenda today?” asked Ellen.

“I should talk with Catherine Clark.”

“Ed, I can get a detective to check on the psychic. Perhaps we should wait for dirt before you talk to her.”

“Good idea. I don’t want to admit her late husband sent me.”

Ellen picked up her phone and made a call.

“Done,” she said after ending the call.

“Now that my calendar is clear, what shall we do?”

“Ooh, giving me a choice! How about the Italian restaurant?”

“Another good idea.”

Ellen picked up her phone.

“They’re bringing your car around the front. We’ll do lunch there.”

Ed worked on his laptop, doing bug fixes. He wanted to make progress before lunchtime.

Ellen sat nearby, reviewing documents. Ed didn’t ask what they were. If she wanted to, she’d tell him.

Just before noon, Ellen turned to Ed.

“Ed, lunchtime?” she asked.

“Sure. Let me save my place.”

Soon, he closed his laptop and stood.

Ellen and Ed walked out to the front of her mansion. His car was waiting, with the key in the ignition. Ed helped Ellen get into the front passenger seat.

“They’ve cleaned my car,” he said.

“They’re thorough.”

Ed drove off, with an SUV following them.

It took Ed just over half an hour to reach the older part of town. They parked on the street nearby, with the SUV parked behind Ed’s car.

“We’re going inside that restaurant,” Ellen said to her detail.

Ed and Ellen walked inside together. Ed saw multiple ghosts sitting at tables in the back. He knew which tables were unoccupied, so he didn’t disturb any ghost.

The server left them a menu and went to get their drink order. Ed nodded to several ghosts sitting nearby.

“Are the ghosts present?” asked Ellen.

“Yes. I’m sorry you can’t see them.”

A few minutes later, Flora, the ghost, entered the room. She drifted over to Ed and Ellen’s table.

“Hello, Ed.”

“Hello, Flora,” said Ed. To Ellen, it looked like he was talking to no one.

Flora glanced at Ellen, and back to Ed.

“Flora, this is my friend Ellen.”

“Perhaps more than a friend? And you brought her to see us?”

“Yes. Would you like to join us?”

Flora floated into a seat, facing Ellen. “Ask her to look in my direction.”

“Ellen, Flora asks you to look over here,” said Ed. He gestured towards Flora.

Ellen looked at the empty chair. Flora, the lady in red, appeared.

“Wow!” said Ellen.

“I’m pleased to meet you too,” said Flora.

Ellen smiled. Flora faded from view as a server approached the table.

The server delivered their drinks and left. Flora re-appeared.

“I didn’t want your server to spill your drinks,” she said.

“I understand.” Ellen took a sip.

“I can’t maintain this for long, but I wanted to welcome you here. It’s been my home for well over a hundred years.”

“Thank you. Can you recommend anything here?”

“I suggest the penne pasta with a cream sauce.” Flora faded out again.

Of course, Ed could still see Flora.

“Ed, I like her.”

“Me too.”

“Huh, what’s that?” asked Ellen.

“I was answering Flora.”

“Oh, okay. Let’s order lunch. I’m famished.”

After lunch, Ed said goodbye to several ghosts, and they returned to his car.

Ed drove back towards Ellen’s mansion when his phone rang. He could see from the caller ID it was Washta.

Ed handed his phone to Ellen. “Please answer this.”

“Hello, Ed’s phone.”

“Hello, is that Ellen?”

“Yes, Washta. How can we help you?”

“We need his special help. Could you come over to my place?”

“We’ll be right there.” Ellen ended the call.

“Ed, change of plans. Pull over a moment.”

Ed pulled over, with the SUV behind them. Ellen stepped out and talked with her security detail before returning.

“Okay, we’re going to Washta’s place now.”

“Sure.” Ed pulled out and changed course.

Soon, they arrived outside Washta’s house.

Ed exited his car and opened the door for Ellen. By the time they reached the front door, Washta had it open and gestured for them to enter.

Ahote was waiting inside Washta’s living room.

“Ahote!” said Ed.

“Hello, Ed and Ellen. Please come and sit down. We can discuss.”

Ed and Ellen sat together on the sofa. Washta smiled at them and sat on a chair nearby.

“We’ve had reports of whispering and sobbing in the nearby woods. We believe it’s a spirit, so we called for your help.”

“Understood. I’ll go investigate the woods,” said Ed.

“Is it walking distance from here?” asked Ellen.

“Not too far. I can walk with you,” said Ahote.

“I have a security detail in the SUV outside. They’ll want to follow us.”

“That won’t be a problem.”

“Okay, let’s go then.”

Ed, Ellen, and Ahote exited Washta’s home. Ellen explained to her detail, and they set off for the woods on foot.

“Are the woods part of Duwamish lands?” asked Ed.

“Yes, for a long time. It’s close to several Duwamish homes.”

“So, the ghost could be Duwamish.”

“It’s quite possible. That’s something I’m hoping you can confirm. No one had the skills to find out until you joined us.”

After walking several blocks, they reached the woods. It was mid-afternoon, and there was plenty of light.

“Can you point me in the right direction?” asked Ed.

Ahote pointed in a certain direction. “Over that way.”

“Perhaps I should go in there alone. Too many people might scare the ghost. Could you all please wait here?”

Everyone agreed with Ed. Even Ellen nodded.

Ed walked into the woods. He tried to be quiet and listened intently.

Soon, he’d left the others behind. The woods had an overall sad feeling about them.

He almost missed it. A sobbing sound nearby. Ed adjusted his course.

Ed spotted a spectral form peering at him from behind a tree.

“Hello there. I’m Ed. I’m here to help you,” he said.

“You can see me?”

“Yes. I’m the medicine man. I can see spirits.”

The ghost inched forward.

“I died here long ago.”

“Yes. Do you remember your name?”

“My name was Shima. I haven’t used it for a long time. I don’t know why, but I can’t leave these woods.”

“Perhaps because you died here.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m just always so sad.”

“Well, things are going to change. I’m here to help you, Shima. I’m going to go talk with my friends, then I’ll return,” said Ed.

The ghost shrugged. Ed backtracked to where the others were waiting for him.

“I found the ghost. Her name is Shima,” he said.

“That sounds like a Duwamish name. What else did you find out?” asked Ahote.

“She died somewhere in the woods, long ago. She can’t leave the woods, and She’s always sad.”

“Hmm, it could be because her remains are here. We must find them and give her a proper funeral.”

“So, I can go back and ask her where her remains are located.”

“Good. I’ll get a shovel and something to carry the remains,” said Ahote.

Ahote walked away.

“Ellen, would you like to join me?” asked Ed.

“Sure, Ed.”

Ed returned with Ellen to the spot where he last saw Shima.

“Shima, I’m back. This is my friend, Ellen,” he said.

Shima floated out from behind a tree. “She’s pretty. Is she your woman?”

Ed avoided answering her question.

“Shima, we need to locate your remains. Do you remember where exactly you died?”