Page 22 of Ghostmaker

“Any contract is binding if both parties sign it and enter into it without being coerced.” Ronan shook his head. “What exactly did the contract say?”

“That’s where it gets even weirder. Crawford wouldn’t let her read it, saying it was just standard stuff and wouldn’t give her a copy of what she signed.” Cope shook his head.

“This woman could have literally signed her house and bank account away. Anything at all could have been in that contract.” Ronan looked stunned. “Why the hell would she agree to do that?”

“She was anxious to know about her boyfriend’s intentions on proposing, which makes no sense. It only would have cost her fifty bucks to come ask one of us, but the reading with Crawford was free, so I get her motivation, but you get what you pay for. All this woman got was trouble.” Ten wore a worried look.

“What the actual fuck?” Jude muttered.

“Wait, it gets worse,” Cope said.

“How can this get any fucking worse?” Jude found he didn’t really want to know.

“Pictures of the line outside Crawford’s shop from the morning he offered free readings were all over social media. He must have seen close to a hundred people that morning,” Cope began.

“You’re afraid that they were compelled to sign similar contracts?” Jude asked.

“Right,” Cope agreed. “Here’s where it really gets worse.”

“Don’t tell me this is how the zombie apocalypse starts?” Ronan sat forward in his seat, as if to hear Ten better.

“That depends on your definition of zombie,” Ten said with a shrug. “We think it’s likely that the so-called non-disclosure agreement would not stand up in a court of law, so it might not be legally binding, but Cope and I think it could be psychically binding.”

“Meaning what? That these clients could be compelled to empty their bank accounts or reveal national security secrets?” Jude was thunderstruck. What the hell were these people thinking, signing contracts they weren’t allowed to read?

Ronan shook his head. “Bank accounts are the least of our worries. You think Crawford could compel these clients to kill for him and that’s what the person ringing the doorbell last night was sent there to do.”

“That’s our biggest fear,” Cope agreed. “Which is why we wanted to talk to the two of you about this. We suggested Christie and her mother spend the night at a hotel, but that’s just a temporary fix. What the hell are they supposed to do tomorrow?”

“I know this isn’t the answer you’re looking for Cope, but is there any way you can put some kind of warding spell over these people?” Jude knew Cope didn’t want to use magic to manipulate people or situations, but it might be the only option left at this point.

“I could, but Crawford was strong. I think he’s the strongest force I’ve ever met. Not only are his psychic gifts off the charts, but he’s familiar with black magic and has the power to compel people to do his will.”

“That’s not completely true,” Jude said. “He compelled you to give him the death spell and not only did you refuse, you walked away from him. What was it in you that gave you the strength to refuse him?”

Cope was silent for a few seconds. “I’m not quite sure. I knew what he wanted the spell for and knew what he could do with it. I guess my sense of what’s right and what’s wrong won the day. Once I realized he was trying to trick me, his command over me was gone.”

“I’m thrilled that Cope’s such a Boy Scout, Jude,” Ronan said, “but how does this tactic help Christie and her mother? Wouldn’t we need to know who’d been compelled to kill her mother in order to stop them?”

“What if it’s not a someone? What if it’s Crawford himself?” Ten asked. “I could see how much he was enjoying the power he had over me, Cope, and Carson. Taking someone’s life is the ultimate form of control over another person. With the size of his ego, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he’s the man who showed up at the mother’s house.”

“These are all great theories,” Cope said. “What do we do now?”

Jude looked to Ronan, who shook his head. “In terms of the Salem PD, there’s nothing that can be done. No one’s committed a crime. The person ringing the doorbell last night could have been some asshole kid playing a prank or some drunk guy ringing the wrong person’s bell. I think the best bet is for the two of you to go to the hotel and ward them and the room. Make sure they don’t order room service and don’t open the door at all, for anyone, even if the fire alarm goes off.”

“I don’t know, Jude.” Cope stared at his husband. “If I told you to do those things before we met and you knew my gift was genuine, what would your reaction be?”

“Well, being the Chris Hemsworth of the group, I’d thank you for your input and then do whatever the hell I wanted, not believing for one minute that I was in danger from a rogue psychic or one of his minions.”

“I’ve gotta agree with Jude.” Ronan sighed. “Christie believed in psychics enough to go to one for a reading. We don’t know what the mother believes at all. Even if they agree to what you’re asking, what happens in the morning? Is Christie in danger if she goes to work? Is it safe for the mother to go home? We have no way of knowing.”

“Right,” Jude added. “We can’t expect them to spend night after night in a hotel with no guarantees that we can stop Crawford or even that he’s behind anything.”

“Fuck,” Cope muttered under his breath. “We’re between a rock and a hard place here. Let’s go to the hotel and ward it and the women.”

Ten nodded. “We’ll pick up dinner on the way home.”

“Do you need one of us to come with you?” Ronan asked.