Free Spirit Read online

  “Don’t kill yourself now.”

  An absurd idea surfaced in her head and she laughed.

  “What?”

  “I was just imaging myself haunting this house with those two.”

  “Please, please don’t leave me this house in your will.”

  There was a gentle knock. Priory tore her gaze away from Jacey and to the woman standing in the doorway.

  “All done, Ms McAllister.”

  “Thanks, Meredith. You did a great job.” Priory stood and followed Meredith to the kitchen to write a check for the evening’s services. She returned to the sofa.

  She and Jacey both sat there quietly finishing their drinks while the caterers packed up the rest of their crockery and glasses and left. The house returned to silence. Priory thought she heard it breathe a sigh of relief. The refrigerator hummed happily and the upstairs toilet flushed noisily.

  “That guy was a total crumb.” Dylan’s appeared unannounced. “He was poking around in your stuff.”

  “I’m not surprised.”

  “He tried to put you behind the eight ball.”

  A piece of official-looking paper floated from the ceiling. It was the infamous contract no one could find.

  “Where did you find this?” It was a stupid question, really. She had a pretty good idea where it came from.

  “I caught him planting it in your office.”

  “My office? That door’s locked.”

  “Caught him trying to break in, so I helped. Wanted to see what he was up to.”

  “Good thinking, Sherlock. I should have shown you how to use my camera,” Priory muttered.

  “He took out a piece of paper and put it in a pile of paperwork. I don’t know if it’d done any good because you haven’t been in there since you put the lock on.”

  “Hey! I’ve been busy with other things.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Was he trying to give you the bum’s rush?”

  “As a last resort, I think, if he didn’t get the transfer to Australia.”

  “Australia? The guy’s a loon. Who’d want to go there?”

  Who indeed? Priory knew that Dylan was thinking 1930s Australia, which would seem almost a colonial existence to her, but even a 2016 existence didn’t seem worth the effort. “Covering my ass, huh?”

  “Yeah, well, you ain’t so bad, Convent. I think we can break you in.”

  Normally, Priory would grab on to that insult and worry at it like a dog, but tonight….

  “Think so? I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  Dylan stared at her stunned.

  “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

  Dylan shook her head. “Goof.”

  Priory’s gaze scanned the contract, and she was not surprised by what she saw. Edwards had been right. It favored the other company and it would have been disputed when presented, but the contract wasn’t something that couldn’t be resolved by the lawyers. So, was it Eddles’s intention to discredit her or was it merely a threat?

  Priory was about to tear up the document, but she stopped. What the hell. She’d keep it as a souvenir of the whole mess. Maybe even frame it as a lesson learned. She handed the paper over to Jacey.

  “Ah, so this is the little troublemaker.”

  “It’s not worth the paper it’s written on. Edwards knew everything apparently, so your job is safe.”

  “That bastard put us through that for nothing? Why, I’d … I’d….” Jacey’s face went red as her anger grew.

  “Don’t worry. What comes around…,” Priory replied.

  “What do you know that I don’t?”

  “That Australian post? Not as pretty as it seems, apparently. Mr Eddles will have to put in some effort on this one.”

  “Really?” Jacey laughed almost hysterically. “Oh, I needed that.”

  “I’ve been offered the post of CEO for this new company.” Priory studied Jacey’s expression carefully.

  “Oh.”

  Priory didn’t know what to make of that one syllable or the expression. Was she happy, sad, angry, or a bit of everything?

  “I’d like you to come with me.”

  “As what?”

  “Anything you want.”

  “Anything?”

  “Well, the CEO job is off the table but, yeah, anything.”

  “I’m not qualified.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short.”

  “Short. Are you saying I’m short?”

  Priory blinked. Jacey then smiled, taking the confusion out of the question.

  “What about this place? Isn’t commuting going to be a problem?”

  “Funny you should say that. Edwards said the new company would be located near here, so that won’t be a problem.”

  “Then working with you would mean—”

  “Moving into the area, yeah. I think I have a spare room to let out. I better warn you about the ghosts, though. Don’t want you thinking I’m a slippery customer.”

  “But—”

  “Come on, Jace. You know what I mean. I’m thinking about this new job, but it depends on you.”

  “I don’t want this to depend on me.” Jacey shifted slightly. “Take the job if that’s what you want to do.”

  “I would never take that job if it means losing you. It’s all or nothing.”

  A minute of silence passed, but it seemed like forever.

  “Could I be your PA? Someone has to watch your back.”

  “Here’s a chance to move up the corporate ladder. Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. I don’t want to go bald with stress before I’m forty.” Jacey seemed to consider what she’d said. “Although, working for you….” A pillow hit her in the face.

  “Will you move in with me?”

  “What about the bosses?”

  “Screw the bosses. Besides, Edwards knows and he’s not worried.” Priory placed her index finger under Jacey’s chin and tipped the fallen chin upwards. “Close your mouth or you’ll catch flies.”

  “He knows? Oh Lord!”

  “He thinks we’re a good team, and I think so too.”

  Priory stood and reached for Jacey’s hand. “Come on, time for bed. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

  They started to climb the stairs. “I think we deserve a holiday. What you do think?”

  “Holiday?”

  “Yeah, you know, a period of time taken off work to relax and recuperate. It’s been a hell of a few months.”

  “Me?”

  “You and me. Together. Maybe the Bahamas or Florida. How about it?”

  “Bahamas?”

  “If that’s too much, I can buy a blow-up pool for the backyard. It’s a bit chilly, though.”

  Jacey stopped on the last step of the staircase, pulling Priory to a standstill. “I mean it, Jace. A holiday for both of us. Edwards agreed.”

  “When?”

  “The New Year.”

  “You mean in a…?”

  “About a month, yeah. Too soon? I figured with this new company, anything later would be too hard to fit in. They’ll still be working on renovations while we’re gone. It’s a perfect time.” Priory looked uncertainly at Jacey’s forlorn face. Why was Jacey fighting it? “If you don’t want to, I’ll understand.” No, I won’t.

  “Can we talk about it more in the morning? It’s all so much to take in.”

  “Sure.” She wanted it settled there and then. Hesitation on Jacey’s part cast doubt in Priory’s mind. Maybe Jacey didn’t want this to work as well as she had hoped. Was she still harboring a grudge because of the Eddles misadventure? She thought she knew Jacey better than that. After all, she’d stood by her through the Christmas party when so many things could have gone wrong. No, maybe Jacey was really that tired and couldn’t think straight. It was a big step Priory was offering to take.

  Priory heard water from the toilet screech down the pipes.

  “Casper! Once and for all, leave the toilet alone! We all know it’s you.”
/>   “I didn’t do anything to the damned toilet,” Dylan responded angrily. “I keep tellin’ ya it’s the toilet demon.”

  “There is no such thing as a toilet demon!”

  “There is now. If you don’t believe me, check it out. I’m not going to take the fall for this one.”

  Priory was too tired to argue. “Later, but you better be right, Dumb Dora.”

  “I am not dumb!” Dylan thundered.

  “Of course you’re not,” Jacey interrupted. “Is she, Priory?”

  “Nope,” she said absently, utterly confusing those around her. “I’m exhausted.”

  “What’s the matter with her?”

  Jacey shrugged. Priory left the conversation and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She studied the toilet with some apprehension. “Hello?”

  Swirl. Gurgle.

  When she got a response, she involuntarily stepped back. “Who … who are you?”

  Drip. Pop. Whine.

  “Bova?” What in hell of a name was that? She shivered. Hell. Ghosts were one thing. A demon was another. “Why are you here?” Priory involuntarily giggled. It was like Ouija but without the board.

  Splash. Splash. The pipes chimed in, playing an almost musical counterpoint to the constant dripping and splashing.

  “I didn’t think hell kicked anyone out. What did you do to deserve that?”

  The toilet dripped quickly, much like a tap not quite turned off.

  “Don’t cry, Bova. It can’t be that bad. Just because they called you a sissy is no reason to expel you.”

  Drip. Gurgle. Swish.

  “You can stay here … for now. There aren’t any more of you hanging around here, are there?” The refrigerator sprang to mind.

  Squirt.

  “Thank God.” Priory looked at the bowl. “Now … errr.” This now posed a problem. How was she supposed to pee with that … thing … living in the bowl?

  Whoosh. Whoosh.

  “I don’t think I can, but I’ve got no choice. I’m soooooo sorry.” Priory took a pee and tried not to think about what she was doing. Once she finished, the toilet flushed itself. She quickly washed her hands, brushed her teeth, and left. “Sorry,” she mumbled as she closed the door. “Dylan!”

  “What? You don’t need to yell.”

  “How did she end up in there?”

  “Who?”

  “The she-demon living in our toilet.”

  “How do I know? Maybe there’s a notice board in hell with your name on it.”

  “Are you trying to tell me there is some infernal notice board down there with an advertisement for a halfway house? My house? Because if there is, I’m gonna—”

  “Gonna what? You can’t stop them. We can’t stop them. You know that. The best you can hope for is that no one’s heard of you. Maybe a ‘full house’ sign would help.”

  Priory could feel the beginning of a headache, so she reached up to rub the spot on her forehead.

  “Priory?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You coming to bed?”

  Despite the pain, Priory smiled. “Yeah.”

  Priory stripped off her clothes and slid under the covers. She gathered Jacey into her arms and kissed the top of her head. The house creaked a little as it settled down for the night. Finally, some peace and quiet.

  Pop. Pop. Pop. The sound of bubble wrap popping filled the air.

  “Arrgh.”

  Life was going to be one hell of a ride.

  THE END

  About the Author

  Erica Lawson

  Erica Lawson is a “dinky di” Aussie, born and raised in Sydney, Australia. She has worked as a secretary for most of her working life in a variety of interesting fields from a government scientific organization, the fire brigade, the film industry, and finally, for a psychiatrist. Many of her friends think she finally found her niche in the last job, gaining many helpful hints for her own state of mind.

  In her early adult life, she decided she wanted to be a film researcher, finding facts and information about various actors and films. However, such a job, in all likelihood, didn’t exist and, if it did, it was a matter of “dead men’s shoes”. While she did work in the film industry for a few years, she didn’t achieve her dream.

  Erica didn’t turn to writing until 2005, when she started posting fanfiction online. Her debut novel was published in 2009 and she has gone on to write eight more novels, finishing with Free Spirit in 2019.

  Erica is a Golden Crown Literary Society winner (“Goldie”) for three of her books: Possessing Morgan in 2010 (mystery/thriller), Soulwalker in 2013 (speculative fiction), and Reflected Passion in 2014 (historical romance). The Chronicles of Ratha: The Children of the Noorthi was a finalist in 2011.

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