The Mystery at Sag Bridge

Chapter 35

Cora's words tumbled out in a rush as she tried to keep Angel away from Cisco. "He won't come here. I made him promise. He'll stay where he is. He's only watching me. He loves me, Meg, like you do. He wants to protect me, same as you do. He's no threat to me-no threat to you either. You're wrong to suspect him. Please, come and sit down. I can tell you what you want to know. I know it all now, and I want to tell you." Cora gathered her coat around her and made a great show of sitting again, to convince Angel-and herself-she was in control.

Cora could see Meg's energy fluctuate as she struggled with her fury, in, out, in, out, in, out, in; then she dropped slowly, her feet touched the ground again, and she glided back to the grave, resumed her seat near it, and waited silently.

"I brought a letter that tells it all, and I'll read it to you. But I want something from you. If I tell you what you want to know, if you know everything, will you promise to never harm anyone I know? Not to take vengeance? Ever again? Will you promise that?"

"How can I?" Meg insisted, in a soft, almost normal voice.

"I can take care of myself, and I have others who protect me. If I convince you of that, will you promise?" Could she change the spirit's convictions? She had to try.

Meg stared at Cora, then dropped and raised her eyes. The last time she and Meg talked, that sign had meant agreement.

"Okay then," Cora said. She fumbled in her pocket, drew out Cavanaugh's letter, squirmed in the brown, damp grass. Meg checked to be sure Cisco hadn't moved, and then turned her unfocused gaze to the grounds behind the church as Cora began to read.

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From his car, Cisco watched Cora walk across the cemetery to an area devoid of standing headstones. He supposed the grave markers there were recessed in the ground. A fence separated the graveyard from an area of sparse trees and brush, and beyond it a two-lane road could be made out through bare tree limbs, an infrequent car passing by. Someone sat on the ground where Cora was headed, but he couldn't tell if it was a man or woman. Cora didn't seem to see the person yet. Who would sit on the ground in such weather? Was that Angel?

After all they had been through, and all the evidence pointing to the existence of a spiritual entity, despite all they had learned, the possibility of actually laying his eyes on a spirit was surprisingly unsettling.

This can't be real! It can't be happening!

As Cora approached the figure, Cisco found it harder and harder to remain in the car. He stifled an urge to run after Cora, to drag her away, run off with her. Only his promise to Cora, and the fear that his actions would make matters worse, kept him still.

His heart pounding, he bit his lower lip and watched. Cora was talking to the person now, and sat down on the ground too. It seemed peaceful. Then suddenly the person jumped up and seemed to shimmer in front of him, with glowing pulsations, and floated off the ground, twirling like a top, then stopped suddenly and moved rapidly in his direction!

Cora jumped up too, waved her arms frantically, and he heard her call out, although he couldn't make out the words. The spirit-he had no doubt of this now-halted, and turned back toward Cora.

Cisco reached for the door handle, alarmed, ready to rush to Cora's aid, although he had no idea how to protect her from a spirit known to be violent and possessing unearthly powers. At least they would be together when Angel took vengeance. But the spirit seemed calmer, so he paused, and it lowered itself to the ground, glided toward Cora, and both sat on the ground again. Cora reached into her coat and unfolded the letter, as she told him she would do if all was well, and he took a deep breath and leaned against the car seat, but did not relax his vigil.