I whisked her to the Cafe Istanbul, assuring her that although it might appear funky, it had become the in place for discriminating gourmets. That wasn't a big lie, just a slight exaggeration to increase her enjoyment of dining in a joint that had nothing but belly dance music on the jukebox.
It turned out that Meg was fascinated by the place and relaxed her vegetarian discipline sufficiently to order moussaka. I had rotisseried lamb on curried rice. We shared a big salad that was mostly black olives that really were the pits and pickled cauliflower buds. I also ordered a half-bottle of chilled retsina. Meg tried one small sip, then opted for a Coke, so I was forced, forced, to drink the entire bottle myself.
It was over the honey-drenched baklava that I finally got around to the seance we were about to attend.
"I didn't know you and your sister were interested in spiritualism," I said as casually as I could.
"Laverne more than me," Meg said. "She's into all that stuff. I think she's had her horoscope done by a dozen astrologers, and she always sleeps with a crystal under her pillow."
"I wonder if she knows Hertha Gloriana, the medium we're going to visit tonight."
"I've never heard her mention the name, but that's understandable. Harry goes into orbit if anyone brings up the subject of parapsychology. He thinks it's all a great big swindle. Do you, Archy?"
The direct question troubled me. "I just don't know," I confessed. "That's one of the reasons I'm looking forward to the session tonight. Meg, do you believe it's possible to communicate with ghosts?"
"Of course," she said promptly. "I went to a seance once and talked to my grandmother. I never knew her; she's been dead for fifty years. But her spirit knew things about our family that were true and that the medium couldn't possibly have known."
"Did your grandmother's spirit tell you where she was?"
"In Heaven," Meg said simply, and I finished the retsina.
We arrived at the Glorianas' residence ten minutes before the appointed hour. The family was assembled in that rather shoddy living room, and I introduced Meg. The greetings of Irma and Frank were courteous enough, although not heavy on the cordiality. But Hertha welcomed Meg warmly, held her hand a moment while gazing deeply into her eyes.
"An Aries," she said. "Aren't you?"
"Why, yes," Meg said. "How did you know?"
Hertha only smiled and turned to me. "And how are you tonight, Pisces?" she asked.
She was right again. But of course she could easily have researched my birthday. In all modesty, I must admit my vital statistics are listed in a thin booklet titled: Palm Beach's Most Eligible Bachelors. And I could guess how she knew Meg's natal date.
Hertha was wearing a long, flowing gown of lavender georgette which I thought more suitable for a garden party than a seance. Irma Gloriana wore a black, wide-shouldered pantsuit with a mannish shirt and paisley ascot. Son Frank, that fop, flaunted a double-breasted Burberry blazer in white wool with gold buttons. He made me look like an IRS auditor, damn him.
No refreshments were offered, and no preparatory instructions or explanations given. We all moved into a dimly lighted dining room. There, leaves had been removed from an oval oak table, converting it to a round that accommodated the five of us comfortably. The chairs were straightbacked, the seats thinly padded.
I was placed between Irma and Frank. He held Hertha's left hand while Meg grasped her right. From the top of the table, moving clockwise, we were Hertha, Frank, Archy, Irma, Meg. An odd seating arrangement, I thought: the two men side-by-side, and the three women. But perhaps there was a reason for it.
Hertha looked around the circle slowly with that intent, unblinking gaze of hers. And she spoke slowly, too, in her low, breathy voice.
"Please, everyone," she said, "clasp hands tightly. Close your eyes and turn your thoughts to Xatyl, the Mayan shaman who is my channel to the hereafter. With all your spiritual strength try to will Xatyl to appear to me."
At first, eyes firmly shut, all I was conscious of was Frank's muscular handclasp and the softer, warmer, moister hand of his mother. But then I tried to think of Xatyl. I had no idea of what a Mayan shaman looked like-certainly not like any member of the Pelican Club-so I concentrated on the name, silently repeating Xatyl, Xatyl, Xatyl, like a mantra.
I thought five soundless minutes must have passed before I heard Hertha speak again in a voice that had become a flat drone.
"Xatyl appears," she reported. "Dimly. From the mists. Greetings, Xatyl, from your supplicants."
The next words I heard were a shock. Not their meaning as much as the tone in which they were uttered. It was the frail, cracked voice of an old man, a worn voice that quavered and sometimes paused weakly.
"Greetings from the beyond," Xatyl said. "I bring you love from a high priest of the Mayan people."
I opened my eyes to stare at Hertha. The words were issuing from her mouth, no doubt of it, but I could scarcely believe that ancient, tremulous voice was hers. I shut my eyes again, grateful for the handholds of Irma and Frank to anchor me to reality.
"Who wishes to contact one of the departed?" Hertha asked in her normal voice.
"I do," Meg Trumble said at once. "I would like to speak to my father, John Trumble, who passed on eight years ago."
"I have heard," the Xatyl voice said. "Be patient, my child."
We waited in silence several long moments. I must tell you honestly that I didn't know what to make of all this. But I confess I was moved by what was going on and had absolutely no inclination to laugh.
"Meg," a man said, "is it you?"
Now the voice was virile, almost booming, and I opened my eyes just wide enough to see that the words were being spoken by Hertha.
I heard Meg's sudden, sharp intake of breath. "Yes, dad," she said, "I am here. Are you all right?"
"I am contented since mother joined me last year. Now we are together again as we had prayed. Meg, are you still doing your exercises?"
"Oh yes, dad," she said with a sobbing laugh. "I'm still at it. How is your arthritis?"
"There is no pain here, daughter," John Trumble said. "We are free of your world's suffering. Have you married, Meg?"
"No, father, not yet."
"You must marry," he said gently. "Your mother and I want you to be as happy as we were and are. I must go now, Meg. If you need me, I am here, I am here."
The voice trailed away, and I could hear Meg's quiet weeping.
"Please," Hertha whispered, "do not let our psychic power weaken. Clasp hands firmly and think only of the other world."
There was silence a few moments, then I heard again the trembling voice of Xatyl.
"There is one among you who is deeply troubled," he said. "Let him speak out now."
"Yes," I said impulsively, hiding behind my closed eyes. "My name is Archibald McNally. I wish to contact Lydia Gillsworth, a friend. She passed over a few days ago." "I will summon her," Xatyl said. "Be patient, my son."
Once again we waited several minutes. I found myself gripping the hands of Irma and Frank so tightly that my fingers ached, and I was conscious of hyperventilating.
"Archy?" a woman's voice asked. "Is that you?"
After I heard my name I opened my eyes to verify that it was Hertha speaking, but I swear, I swear it was Lydia Gillsworth's sweet, peaceful voice. So dulcet.
"It is I, Lydia," I found myself saying, almost choking on the words. "Are you well?"
"Oh yes, Archy," she said, a hint of laughter in her voice. "It is as I told you it would be. Have you read the books I loaned you?"
"Some. Not all."
"You must read all of them, dear. The truth is there, Archy."
"Lydia," I said, eager to ask the question, "you must tell me another truth: Who killed you?"
There was no answer. Just silence. I tried again.
"Please tell me," I implored. "I can never rest until I know. Who murdered you, Lydia?"
What happened next shocked and galvanized us.
"Caprice!" Lydia Gillsworth's voice shrieked. "Caprice!"
Handclasps were loosened, four of us rose, stared at Hertha. She was still seated, head thrown back, bare throat straining. And she continued to scream, "Caprice! Caprice! Caprice!" But now it was her voice, not Lydia's.
Meg Trumble got to her first, held her arms, spoke soothing words. We all clustered around, and gradually those piercing screams diminished. Hertha
opened her eyes, looked about wildly. She was ashen, shivering uncontrollably.
Frank left hastily and came back in a moment with a shot glass of what appeared to be brandy. Meg took it from him and held it gently to the medium's lips. Hertha took a small sip, coughed, stared at us and her surroundings as if finally realizing where she was. She took the glass from Meg's fingers and gulped greedily.
We stayed in the dining room until Hertha's color had returned and she was able to stand, somewhat shakily. She gave us a small, apologetic smile, and then we all moved back to the living room.
Frank had the decency to bring us ponies of brandy, and since Meg wouldn't touch hers, I had a double-and needed it. I sat in one corner with Irma and Frank. Across the room, on the couch, Meg Trumble comforted the medium, her muscled arm around the other woman's shoulders. She spoke to her and stroked her hair.
"What on earth happened?" I asked Irma.
She shrugged. "Hertha heard or saw something that terrified her. And she became hysterical. It's happened a few times before. I told you she is a very sensitive and vulnerable spirit."
"Caprice," Frank said, looking at me. "That's what she was screaming. Does that mean anything to you, Mr. McNally?"
I shook my head. "A caprice is a whim, an unplanned action. Perhaps Lydia Gillsworth was trying to tell us that the killer acted on a sudden impulse, and her murder was totally unpremeditated."
"Yes," Irma said, "I'm sure that was it."
"I'm sorry now that I asked the question," I said.
"I didn't mean to frighten Hertha. But I did inform you that I intended to ask."
"No one blames you," Irma said. "There are many things in this world and the next that are beyond our understanding."
Hamlet said it better, but I didn't remind her of that. "You're so right, Mrs. Gloriana," I said.
She nodded. "Did you bring your credit card, Mr. McNally?"
I handed it over; she and Frank left the room to prepare my bill. I remained seated, finishing Meg's brandy and watching the two women on the couch. Hertha seemed fully recovered now. She and Meg were close together, holding hands and giggling like schoolgirls. I found it a bit off-putting.
Irma returned with my bill. I signed it, reclaimed my plastic, and took my receipt.
"I'm sorry the seance ended the way it did," she said. "But I would not call it a total failure, would you?"
"Far from it," I said. "Meg was able to speak to her father and I made contact with Mrs. Gillsworth. I'm perfectly satisfied."
"Good," she said. "Then perhaps you'd like to arrange another private session."
"Of course I would. Let me check my schedule and speak to Meg about a date that will be suitable for her. You'll be here all summer?"
"Oh yes. We have many activities to keep us busy."
"Then you'll be hearing from me."
"When?" she asked.
A demon saleswoman, this one.
"Soon," I said, stood up, and motioned to Meg.
I shook hands with all the Glorianas before we left. Meg did the same, but then Hertha embraced her, kissed her on the lips, clung to her a moment. In gratitude for Meg's sympathetic ministrations. No doubt.
On the drive back to Riviera Beach Meg was so voluble that I could scarcely believe this was the same woman who had been so reticent on our first ride together.
"What a wonderful medium she is, Archy," she burbled. "So gifted. She knew so many things about me. And it was so great to talk to dad. Wasn't it incredible to hear all those voices coming from her? And guess what: I told her I hope to become a personal trainer, and she insisted on being my first client. Isn't that marvelous
"Yes."
"And she's going to do my horoscope-for free! It must be scary having the talent to see into the beyond. She said she usually refuses to predict the future, but after she does my horoscope she'll tell me what she sees ahead for me. Isn't that fantastic? "
I didn't want to rain on her parade, so I neither voiced my doubts nor cautioned her against relying on the predictions of a seer. It seemed unnecessarily cruel to tell her my own reactions to what we had just experienced. Being essentially without faith myself, I think it rather infra dig to mock the faith of others.
We arrived outside Meg's apartment, and now her initial ebullience had faded and she was speaking calmly and seriously of spirituality and how she had neglected that side of her nature and really should start seeking answers to what she termed the "big questions." I presumed they included Life, Death, and why only one sock got lost in the laundry.
Somehow it didn't seem the right moment to remind her of her carnal promise of the previous evening. So, rather than risk rejection, I said:
"Meg, would you mind awfully if I didn't come in? I feel totally shattered by what happened tonight- hearing Lydia Gillsworth's voice and all that. I think I better go home and try to figure things out."
She promptly agreed-so promptly that she severely bruised the ego of A. McNally, who may or may not be suffering from a Don Juan complex.
"I think that would be best, dear," she said in the kindliest way imaginable, patting my hand. "I'm as emotionally wired as you. We'll make it another time, Archy."
So I drove home alone, howling curses at a full moon and wondering why Hertha Gloriana had granted Meg a farewell kiss and not the laughing cavalier who had picked up the tab. Did the medium bestow her osculations freely without regard for sex, age, race, color, or national origin? Was she, in fact, an Equal Opportunity kisser?