27 Father and Ray Go Reaper Hunting
George and Ray paid a visit on Father Adair. After sending the boy and his mother off, they had returned to the church. Ghosts it seems once they start a cluster tend to stay together. George had been afraid they would be gone, but she had nabbed more than a dozen and sent them all over. Maybe three or four got away. She now knew how to really make some progress in her goal of purging Seattle of loose ghosts, with a few exceptions, or maybe just this one. Ray looked ill, something hard for a ghost to manage. He didn't like what they, what she was doing. She wouldn't admit this to Ray, but he had got her to thinking. But not enough to deflect her from what she knew had to be done.
Now she wanted to get the lay of Father Adair's church. She hadn't seen ghosts there, but now that she fully understood how much warning she gave off she would give his place a try. It was so close. What was the ghost equivalent of cheese in a mousetrap?
She introduced Ray to the Father allowing the Father to see Ray and to talk freely. Ray asked if he could go into a confession. That was unexpected. Ray was reformed, but she had no idea he was that reformed. The two went into the box. She looked out at the rows of empty pews. One looked like the other. She moved out along a row far enough to make sure she couldn't hear and sat down. She pulled out her phone. She created a zone within which Ray and the Father could talk in the confessional but well out of her earshot. She had never been in a confession and didn't know how long it was supposed to take. After 35 minutes her patience and battery were wearing down. They emerged. They were way too chummy heading towards her and both smiled. She waited for the little surprise the two must have concocted.
The Father dropped into a serious face. "George. Can we talk?" Ray was standing just off to the side. He wasn't smiling anymore either.
"Sure, Father. Do you want me to go into the confessional?" She would take this ambush with a smile.
He smiled back. "You know how amazing it is the way God works? Sometimes he does things in a direct way, but sometimes he works through people to do good works, and many times in ways and by paths that one wouldn't expect."
She narrowed her eyes. She was being targeted for something unpleasant. She had lots of practice from Rube for this kind of shit.
"Do you know, George, I have trouble getting used to this on again off again change in your appearance? Your eyes are brown now and you look like a different woman entirely."
"And?" He was trying to divert her attention before the punch came her way. "It's me, Father. Blue brown it's me."
"Nothing. Just noticing. Can we talk?"
She looked over at Ray, who was in on this. She was sure. "Father. We're talking now. Why don't you just ask? You've got something in mind."
"Well, George, I have an idea about how we can help so many more people than I ever thought possible."
"We?"
"With your help I want to hold confession here for the ghosts in this neighborhood. Who would more need to talk to a priest than someone who's died, and who's alone...facing eternity?"
Ahhh. Ray was doing an end run with his idea of promoting peace and harmony between her and the local ghost community. "Father, I was thinking to use this Church as a way to help more ghosts find their way into those lights. I'm pretty sure that they have a confessional service on the other side. Maybe even something better." She smiled at the both of them. "And I would so like more ghosts to make their way into those lights. Why should they wander around here in purgatory, lost, when God is waiting…just on the other side?" She smiled again.
"That's a pleasant enough thought, but George, isn't it a voluntary thing this passing over? They have to go of their own free will into those lights. I do remember you allowed two ghosts to leave that house back in LA."
She looked over at Ray. "Those don't count. I didn't reap them." Ray shrugged. She turned back to the Father. "You know about the Meigan problem and what they did to John..."
"But not all ghosts are so inclined. Why don't we try it and see what happens?"
"Because what happens, when it happens could be lethal for John and Tommy." She saw his reaction. "But I'll discuss it with Rube."
"George, for now, could you not hunt any ghosts here? I would appreciate it. I would like to make this a sanctuary and with your cooperation maybe we could help many more souls than I certainly ever thought possible." He seemed so very pleased with these thoughts of adding lots of ghosts to his congregation. Too bad he couldn't tell the Vatican or the local Bishop or whatever about all these wonderful potential lost souls he was returning to the fold and to the Church.
By the time she and Ray got out to the SUV she had calmed down. She was angry at first but there were other churches nearby. And she didn't need Ray to drop in on a few ghosts and help them get closer to God. Yes, that was a much better way to think of it. She was helping lost souls get up close and personal with God.