Sound of Darkness

“My pleasure,” the guide said. “Megan is going to look at my first effort at a science fiction novel. I intend to mix it up with some history, which is my area of expertise. I mean, what if an alien had been around—and he’d swept down and taken John Brown away?”

Colleen looked downward, wincing. Historical purists wouldn’t like that one bit!

But their guide started to laugh.

“Just kidding. I have a group of Alpha soldiers heading out on the first Mars landing. Not so far from reality. But Megan really knows her history for a science fiction editor—”

He suddenly stopped talking, looking past them at the place where Boynton had lain after Mark had shot him.

“Um, sorry. Anyway, tonight is, well, good for another ghost story,” he said. “Thankfully, that of a dead killer and not an innocent woman. I should get going now. Megan has my information.”

“Thank you again!” Colleen and Megan called together. Mark and Ragnar echoed their words.

“Rickie!” Megan cried then.

And turning, Colleen saw the ghost who had tried so hard to help her.

“I really must learn to move something more than air,” Rickie said.

“You did,” Mark said. “You moved through time and space to warn Ragnar and me exactly where to go to find Colleen and the girl and Boynton. Colleen might have gotten off a shot but maybe not. We might have been on time but maybe not.”

“So, I might have saved a life,” Rickie said happily.

“Most probably,” Colleen told him.

And the ghost of the soldier smiled.

“I like that. I like that so much. A soldier has his duty. But it’s much better saving lives than taking them!”

“Much better,” Megan said, hugging the air, and yet knowing the soldier’s soul could feel the touch. “Much better and thank you!”

“So, um, maybe you’ll really take the ghost tour tomorrow night?” Rickie asked.

“No!” The word sounded unanimously from all of them.

“But we’ll be back! We love you guys,” Colleen promised.

“And I may be getting into some nonfiction soon, and you and your friends here have so very much to give! Discreetly, of course!” Megan told him.

He nodded. “That will do. Well then, children,” Rickie teased. “Off to bed. And I will look forward to our next meeting.”

He disappeared into the darkness.

Colleen knelt down to cuddle Red. Mark came to hold them both. Megan had to join in and Ragnar encompassed them all.

“To sleep, for what of the night is left,” Mark said. “And let’s pray Rory Ayers was referring to Gary Boynton as his protégé, and The Embracer story has finally come to an end.”

“Yes,” Megan said. “We can focus on the courthouse tomorrow. And then, I’m leaving you people! I love my quiet and peaceful NYC. And who in their right mind would ever think that anyone could say something like that?”

Colleen smiled. She looked at Mark.

Yes, it was insane. Their lives would continue to be crazy. But Mark and Red and Ragnar would always have her back.

And she would have theirs.

She wouldn’t change Mark if she could.

And that night, she knew he wouldn’t change her.

Crazy.

But she loved him.

It was the wee hours of the morning when they were finally back in their rooms.

They slept late.

Even Red.

But they were back in the Alexandria area by three, and thanks to a few machinations by their Krewe founder, Adam Harrison, they had a license by five.

Crazy.

They were married that night.

And as they lay together when midnight rolled around again, Colleen knew, yes, it was all crazy, but she was also madly in love and neither one of them would change it. This was the way she wanted to live the rest of her life, lying with him every night.

“No regrets?” he whispered to her, rising above her.

“None. After all, we had to make it all legal for Red and Jensen!”

Red and Jensen were happy to move in together.

They both laughed and fell back.

They had a few days to bask in their newlywed bliss.

They may have been back home, but they’d still make use of those days.