“We find out why,” Ling said. “Why do we all have these powers? Where do they come from? Why now? Why us?”
“It used to be that I could only get a few seconds’ worth of secrets,” Evie said. “And it was patchy—like watching a movie shown through a broken projector. But in the past six months, it’s grown much stronger.”
Memphis said, “I couldn’t heal since… for a long while. But now it’s coming back, and yes, it’s much stronger.”
“Same for me,” Sam said. “When I took that soldier down, he was really gone.”
“Ling and I—our powers were stronger when we were together,” Henry said.
“It seems that we’re all connected,” Ling agreed. “Like atoms coming together to make a new molecule.”
“But why?” Theta said. “What for?”
“It must mean something,” Memphis said. “Was it Henry and Ling battling Wai-Mae in the dream world that got rid of those wraiths? Was it Evie reading those bones and us burying Wai-Mae’s remains in the Trinity Church cemetery so she could be at peace that ended the haunting? We don’t know.”
“You buried her where?” Ling said, eyebrows drawn to a tight V.
“Trinity… cemetery?” Sam said.
Ling threw her hands up. “You can’t bury someone in the city! That’s bad luck.”
“I’m sorry,” Sam said. “I didn’t stop to read up on it.”
Memphis continued. “All we know for sure is that it took all of us to stop it for good.”
“Has it?” Evie said quietly.
“Has it what?” Memphis asked.
“Has it stopped for good?”
And with that, the conversation broke down into shouting and squabbling. Jericho tried in vain to restore order. He brought the gavel down hard, cracking the table. Sharp static burbled from the Metaphysickometer, silencing everyone. The needle jumped erratically.
“What’s that?” Sam said. “Why’s it doing that?”
“I don’t know,” Mabel whispered.
The front door to the museum banged open and shut, the slam echoing through the old mansion.
“Quiet!” Jericho whispered. Everyone crowded together around the table. Jericho lifted the fireplace poker from its holder and held it like Babe Ruth, ready to swing. The clack of shoes echoed in the hallway. The door swung open.
Framed in the doorway, Will stopped short, his gaze traveling from person to person. “Are you starting an orchestra?”
“Will, I—” Sister Walker came up behind Will. “Oh. I didn’t know you had company.”
“Neither did I,” Will said.
Memphis squinted. “Sister Walker?”
“Hello, Memphis. I’m happy to see you here. I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a long time now.”
Will acknowledged Evie with a terse nod. “Hello, Evangeline.”
Evie folded her arms across her chest. “Uncle Will,” she said coldly.
“Well, Will. Looks as if they’re all here at last,” Sister Walker said.
She took off her hat and shut the door.