Chapter 10

Vicki reluctantly put out her hand to take his. She gave Coreen a look that said, this is your help?

Coreen gave her the 'don't be mean' look right back. "Vicki, Maxwell is a sensitive. He can feel spirits, even if the essence is depleted."

"Depleted?" Vicki didn't like the sound of that.

"If it was there and gone, like if Henry left the house to go somewhere. You know Henry's trying to get back here as hard as we're trying to get him back. Right?"

"Of course, I do! I just wish he was back here right now. Not sometime in the indefinite future." She turned her smile on the boy, "Maxwell, are you ready to go try?"

"Yes, Miss Nelson, I am."

"Maxwell, please, call me Vicki." The smile made the boy weak in the knees and Vicki thought, You have no shame, do you? And answered herself. Not when it comes to getting Henry back, no, I don't .

Minerva Winchester's wheels were turning in her little brain. If she could just get them to leave her alone for a couple of hours, she could get what she came for and disappear. "You don't need me, Ms. Nelson. I'll just stay here with Coreen." Minnie said.

The smirk on Vicki's face said it all, "Oh, I don't think so, but nice try. You're coming with, because if it comes down to it, and I have to trade you for Henry, you're going back to where you belong."

"No! I'm not going back there! You can't make me." Minnie's voice began to take on a bit on an hysterical edge, "I can't! Those people--" she stopped herself, but not soon enough.

"What people?" Vicki's eyes narrowed.

"The ones that were chasing me, I told you, they thought I was a witch. If they found me, they'd kill me."

Vicki's look of skepticism was clear, "And I suppose they'd do that without benefit of a trial."

"Oh, I'd get a trial all right. And I'd be found guilty. They always are. Whether they're guilty of witchcraft or not." She shook her head and whispered, "they're always found guilty."

"Fine. I'll protect you from them, but you're still coming with us. You might be able to help communicate with, or find the portal." She turned, and said over her shoulder, "wait here." Vicki motioned to Coreen, "I need to talk to you first."

She went into her office, without closing the door. She didn't trust Minnie not to rabbit, given the first opportunity. "Get on the computer, find out everything you can about her in this world. Call me with what you find, as soon as you find it."

"Gotcha."

She walked out of the office, grabbing her two companions by the sleeves, "Come on kids, we've got some detecting to do."

As she walked out with them, she said over her shoulder, "call me as soon as you get anything."

tbc