Shani Struthers - 44 Gilmore Street

Ness looked at her watch. “You’re right, I have got clients to see, but if you need me, Ruby, I’m on the end of the phone.”

“Thanks, Ness.”

“As for Ellie, I know you’re reluctant but, as Theo guessed, I do know a woman who specialises in past life regression. She’s rather brilliant at it.”

Despite herself, Ruby was curious. “Has she ever tested her skills on you?”

Ness’s smile faded. “Actually, yes, she has. I was psychic in a past life too apparently. A rather unfortunate time to be psychic: the seventeenth century.” As she said it, she glanced pointedly to the right, towards Lewes Town Hall. Formerly The Star Inn, from 1555 to 1557, ten of a group of seventeen people were imprisoned in the cellars there whilst waiting to be burned at the stake, not for their paranormal powers but for their religious beliefs – it didn’t do to admit to being anything other than Catholic during the reign of Queen Mary. When the time came, they were dragged outside to a jeering crowd and set fire to. Ruby could barely imagine a worse way to go. A memorial to them was finally erected in 1901 on Cliffe Hill. Although it was set in the distance, the obelisk was deliberately visible from the spot on which the martyrs had been killed, a reminder of intolerance should anyone bother to look. Their deaths were also marked on Bonfire Night for which Lewes was famous; a burning cross lit for each of them and carried through the town.

Remembering that, Ruby was stunned. “You were burnt at the stake too?”

There was a strange look in Ness’s eyes, as though she’d become disconnected but rapidly she came to. “No, of course not, I’m just kidding. Besides, witches weren’t burnt in England, only heretics were. They were hanged instead.” She reverted back to their earlier conversation. “Now, if you change your mind about the regression and you want my friend’s number, let me know. She’s called Ailsa Isaacs. I’m sure she’ll be pleased to help out.”

As Ness walked away, her figure clad in dark clothing and so slight, so fragile, Ruby was still trying to come to terms with the ‘joke’ her colleague had made. Considering the history of their town it was insensitive, and Ness wasn’t an insensitive person. She was equally as aware of the residue of terror, shock and pain that lingered a few feet down the road, had indeed remarked on it several times. Such feelings took time to dissipate, although thankfully it was just the feelings that remained, and not the poor, tortured spirits themselves, endlessly reliving their plight. Just kidding? Ruby didn’t think so. She shook her head. It was even more reason not to get involved with Ellie, or Ailsa for that matter. The past should stay exactly that.

Sitting in Ness’s living room – the first time she’d ever been here surprisingly enough, despite having known her for nearly four years – Ruby could hardly believe it. How had she got roped into this? If Cash were here, she’d direct one of her hard ‘Paddington’ stares in his general direction. It was him she held responsible for changing her mind. It was Thursday and ever since Monday evening he’d been trying to persuade her to take Ellie’s case on. Last night the excuse of being ‘too tired to discuss it’ had started to wear thin. She’d felt obliged to listen to him at least.

“Don’t get me wrong, spirits and the paranormal world, it’s fascinating stuff but reincarnation, that’s a whole new bag isn’t it? The very thought that we return here, to this world, time and time again is incredible. Why is it do you think? What’s the lure? Is the beer really that good? The pizza?”

Trust Cash to relate everything back to food – he was obsessed with his stomach and the process of filling it.

“ This pizza’s good,” she said in reply, her mouth full. He’d made it, right from scratch, the base and everything. His obsession had a flip side at least.

Warming to his subject, his dark eyes had grown serious. “Do you think we return because we want to or because we have to? Do we get a choice?”

She placed her knife and fork down. “Cash, I really do find it sweet the way you think I’m some kind of authority on this subject, but I’m not. I’ve got as many questions about reincarnation as you have.”

“I know, I know, but come on, you’ve got a better idea than most.” The caramel skin around his eyes crinkled as he smiled at her.

“I haven’t.”

“You have.”

“Cash!” As much as she loved him he could be exasperating at times. “Look, for what it’s worth, and I’m guessing just as much as you are here, is that we don’t have to return, we choose to return. Perhaps it’s because we feel we haven’t quite developed enough to enter a higher plane, perhaps it’s as you say, because we love it in this realm, we want to enjoy it—”

“Or endure it.”

“Or endure it some more. We could return due to unfinished business—”

“Ah, unfinished business. That’s what Ellie’s on about.”

“Pardon?”

“That whole unsolved crime angle. She’s got a feeling something bad happened to her in her past life, perhaps she was murdered, buried in the cellar or something and her body never found. She wants vengeance, justice to be done, so she’s started to remember things, stuff that will lead her back to her killer. He might have reincarnated too, and she’s chasing him through time and space. That’s her purpose for returning and you can help fulfil it.”

Ruby grew tired just listening to him. She leant back in her chair and closed her eyes as she sighed. Cash was immediately all concern.

‘Ruby, what is it?”

Perhaps Theo was right, she did need a holiday. She felt drained, exhausted, wanted to continue keeping her eyes closed, to sleep. What should she do? Be honest and say that was the reason she didn’t feel like taking it on, because she was so knackered? She decided to go for it.

“Cash, aside from this bloody pizza, I’ve got enough on my plate at the moment. I honestly don’t think I’ve got the energy to devote to this one.”

“Then sit on the side-lines, observe. Let that woman Ness knows do all the work.”

“But why?”

His insistence really was mystifying her. Perhaps he was mystifying himself. He wrinkled his nose, shrugged. “Because this case is different , that’s why.” He faltered. “Because… she seemed as if she really wanted your help, but more than that, as if she needed it. And that’s what you do, Ruby, you help people, dead or alive. That’s what you’re good at.”

She got up and started clearing their plates; he was virtually finished anyway. “And because of that I’m supposed to help everyone who comes knocking at my door am I, who looks at me like the cat from Shrek ?”

“The cat from Shrek ?”

“Yeah, the one who turns on the big sad eyes whenever it suits him?”

Cash got up too, took their wine glasses to the sink and emptied the dregs. “Okay, forget I said anything. If you’re not interested, you’re not interested.”

“It’s not that I’m not interested.”

“You could have fooled me.”

“It’s because I’m tired, Cash!” She shouted the words at him.

“Then let’s book a bloody holiday!” He was clearly getting pissed off too.

“No… I.” She sighed again, heavily this time. “I suppose I could pass on Ailsa’s details.”

“You could.”

“It wouldn’t do any harm, would it?”

“None that I can see.”

Coming up behind her, he put his arms around her waist. She leant back into him, relished how solid he felt, the familiarity of him. She’d never been with a man as long as she’d been with Cash. In the past, boyfriends had tired very quickly with her ‘other-worldly’ dealings. The fact that Cash was fascinated by it was a bonus, but perhaps too much of one at times.