CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Gage had expected Dr. Brandt to ask where they had been and what they’d been up to, seeing as how dirty and grimy they were—especially him and Bryan. He didn’t know how Brandt could miss it—they all looked like they’d been digging up graves. But Brandt merely glanced up from his spot on the sofa, eyeing them briefly, then ordered them to get cleaned up before the séance.
Weird. Too weird.
“Snap, snap!” Brandt said cheerfully. “The room is ready for us except for the candles. I just need to get them from the basement.”
“I’ll help,” Gage offered. “It won’t take me but a few minutes to clean up. Bryan can use the shower first.”
Dr. Brandt seemed genuinely surprised by his offer, which confirmed Gage’s suspicions. He was hiding something. Had he been doing a little practicing of his own—without them? Allison had thought he might be, and Gage agreed. Until tonight, Brandt was the only one actively working on crossing Riley over into their realm.
Then why do the séance with us at all?
Easy. Because despite his efforts, Brandt had failed. He hadn’t told them about his work in the basement because they’d…
What? Stop him? Ask him why he was conducting séances without them?
“No,” Brandt said, voice no longer cheery. “I’ll get the candles. Get cleaned up. And find separate rooms. It’ll take too long if you have to wait on the others.” He glanced at Jess and Allison, who were waiting on the bottom stair. “Besides, the renovation crew broke a window and left everything a mess. I don’t want anyone injured.”
“Okay,” Gage replied. “It’s a good idea. We don’t have much time left before midnight.”
Brandt stood patiently in the Great Room. With a final glance, Jess and Allison headed up to the third floor. Bryan waited for Gage and they went to their own floor together.
“I’d bet anything he’s been holding séances without us,” Bryan said once they were out of earshot. “He’s been acting weirder every day. You think he’s using the Ouija board and trying to channel Riley?”
“No doubt,” Gage replied. “The question is who answered. Riley or some other spirit in the house? He’s clearly not himself.”
“What do we do, then? Do we go on with the séance?”
“Yeah. Right after we knock his ass out cold.”
Bryan laughed. “Dude. We can’t just knock him out.”
“He’ll be fine. We need something to tie him up with, though.”
“Yeah, well. I’ll think about it. I’m going to go to the next room and shower,” Bryan said, grabbing some clean clothes. “Maybe if we’re done fast enough we should check out what he’s been up to.”
“Good plan.” Gage avoided telling Bryan that maybe they didn’t really want to know what Brandt was up to—that it didn’t matter because he didn’t think Brandt was entirely Brandt anymore.