P. Alderman - Haunting Jordan

He snorted, his expression derisive. “Other people don’t need you— I do. You told me you were taking a sabbatical, and that you needed to reassess . I assumed you understood.”

Malachi’s barking stopped. In the ensuing silence, Jordan forced herself to keep her eyes on Ted. “What about Didi? You’re dating her, aren’t you?”

“I told you, she’s just staying up here this summer. Why won’t you listen to me?” Ted’s agitation was clearly escalating.

Hattie floated forward, her expression alarmed, and Jordan put up both hands. “Okay, okay—I’m listening now, aren’t I?”

Ted ran a hand over his face. “I just can’t make you understand,” he muttered, resuming his pacing.

Keep him talking . “The private investigator says Didi lied about her alibi,” Jordan said. “Do you know anything about that?”

“Yeah, I heard you two on the phone with him at the pub. That’s when I knew I had to do something. If you’d just left well enough alone. But no . You had to investigate.” Ted laughed, the sound unnaturally harsh. “Didi was sleeping with our agent that night. He told her if she did, he’d get her a big movie contract. She didn’t want anyone to know about it.” He gave Jordan an accusing look. “She wouldn’t have needed an alibi if you’d just stayed away from that asshole you married—he wouldn’t have dumped her. Why’d you have to invite him out to your condo, Jordan?”

Jordan’s stomach clenched. “You killed Ryland?”

“What choice did you give me? I wasn’t about to let him move back in, but I could see you were wavering. He was in our way.”

“You followed him that night.”

“I’d been following him for weeks . I listened to everything, and I could tell you were waffling. So I cut the brake lines.”

Jordan felt a sharp pang for Ryland. “And then you told Drake about our argument to point the cops at me.”

“Of course. Clever of me, I must admit.”

Jordan took a calculated risk. “But your logic just isn’t holding up at all, is it, Ted? You murder Ryland, then you implicate me in his murder by telling the cops about our argument? If I’m in jail, I can’t be with you, now, can I?”

Ted shook his head. “No, no—you just don’t get it, do you, Jordan? I’m beginning to wonder whether you’re as smart as I thought you were.”

She spread her hands. “Tell me what I’m missing, because from where I stand, your logic sucks.”

“Don’t you dare criticize me !”

“Do you think it’s wise to provoke him, Jordan?” Hattie asked.

“Let me throw books at him!” Charlotte screeched, flying toward the bookcases.

“ No , wait!” Jordan said.

“Don’t order me around!” Ted snapped, waving the gun. “Do you really want to piss me off right now? I’m still thinking about shooting you.”

“No, no,” Jordan said hurriedly. She thought she heard a slight movement in the hall. “Listen, Ted, just explain it to me, why don’t you? How am I supposed to be with you when I’m rotting in jail for my husband’s murder?”

“Well, I can come and visit you, right?” Ted’s tone indicated he thought he was reasoning with a five-year-old. “And no one else can have you if you’re locked up. Plus, you would’ve been convicted in California, so you’d be brought back to a California state penitentiary. I can work with that.”

Jordan gaped at him, stunned. Rational Therapy hadn’t done a damn thing for him. If she decided to go back into counseling, she seriously needed to reassess her chosen discipline.

Ted suddenly moved toward her, and she jogged backward. He stopped, shaking his head. “See? Now that’s the problem—you just don’t get that you belong to me. Despite all your mistakes, I still loved you, you know. My world would have been complete with you in it.”

He was using past tense. Not a good sign .

“I don’t have to shoot you, if you’ll just come with me.” He leaned forward, his tone confidential. “I can call the cops off, you know. I’ve got contacts. I’m important.”

Jordan acted as if she were considering his offer while her mind raced. “Well, hell .” She made herself glare at him. “Get a clue, Ted.”

Ted’s face turned red. At that moment, Jase edged around the library door, his expression grim, just outside of Ted’s line of sight.

Jordan signaled with her hand for him to wait. “You know why some people become therapists, Ted? No? It’s because they’re so messed up, they need to figure out how to fix themselves. And I’m that messed up, believe me.”

He scowled. “No, you’re not . You’re just a little off track right now. We can fix that.”

“Off track? I don’t think so. I’ve got a Four-Point Plan for Personal Renewal, did you know that? Around here, we call it the FPP for short. And you know what? It’s in shambles.”

“What’re you talking about?” he asked, confused. “You’ve always run your life perfectly. And you can do the same for me—”

“Oh, please.” She threw her hands up in the air. “I can’t even handle my own life, much less someone else’s.”

“That’s not true!”

“I’m the laughingstock of the town.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ted said.

“You are not the laughingstock of this town,” Charlotte said loyally. “How could you think that?”

“Shut up and wait.”

“Don’t use that tone with me,” he snapped, but he seemed less certain of himself.

Jordan turned back to him. “Here’s the thing, Ted—I’m delusional. I see ghosts.” His eyes widened. “That’s right,” she nodded, smiling triumphantly. “Ghosts.”

Jase again took a step forward, looking alarmed. She gave a slight shake of her head. She’d counseled Ted for months, and she knew every one of the jerk’s hot buttons.

“You’re just trying to trick me,” Ted said nervously.

“It’s no trick—I not only see ghosts, I can tell them what to do .” She turned her head slightly. “Charlotte, go for it.”

“Who are you talking to?” Ted’s voice rose.

Charlotte stopped pulsing spastically, her expression confused. “Go for what?”

Jesus . “Take him out,” Jordan rephrased.

“Out where?”

“Shut up, or I’ll shoot,” Ted shouted, his eyes wildly darting around the room.

“Attack, for God’s sake!” Jordan yelled.

“Well, why didn’t you just say so?”

An entire wall of books flew at Ted, and he screamed, dropping the gun and putting his hands up to protect his face.

Malachi and Jase launched from the doorway, and all three of them went down in a heap of flying fur, growls, and thudding fists. Jordan dove, scrabbling for the gun. More books flew off the shelves, hitting her in the back, almost knocking the wind out of her.

“Charlotte, stop!” she yelled, rising.

No one listened. Jase and Ted rolled, locked in combat. She jogged backward, avoiding being flattened by them while she fumbled with the gun.

Ducking more books, she closed in and stomped her running shoe on the back of Ted’s right wrist, pointing the gun. “Freeze , or I’ll shoot your hand. You’ll never caress the valves of your horn again.” Steadying the shaking gun with her other hand, she added as an afterthought, “You fucking creep.”

Ted froze, and Jase landed a solid punch that had his eyes rolling back in his head.

Malachi grabbed Ted’s neck and held, growling. More books flew.

“Charlotte!”