Chapter 3

For a while Marilyn mulled over what had just happened. Then very slowly her thoughts coalesced. "You know Will, for you to hear another's cry there has to be some sort of a connection. A bond between you."

"I agree," interjected Valerie. "I'm sure that you and the young girl have some sort of bond."

"Bond?" I asked.

"I get it," said Tom. "Someone you know or have helped in some sort of way. Someone you've talked to."

"But," I disagreed, "I don't know any young children or have much of a contact with them ... let alone a young girl."

Just then, to complete our group, Tammy misted in. She materialized, in the center of the conference table, sitting cross-legged, head tilted back, laughing.

Finally she looked over at me as her laugh faded saying, "You guys have it all wrong."

I tried to read her mind but got zilch. Nada. "What is she talking about?" crossed through my brain.

Pretty much everyone felt the same thing, "What???"

"First off," Tammy admitted, "I've been listening to all of you since this thing started. Second; You're right about that 'connected in some way' idea. What we have to figure out is -- What's the connection."

"I think that's where we were Tammy," I explained.

"There's only one thing where closies count ... and this ain't Horseshoes," Tammy added. "You guys aren't even close to getting the situation we have here."

"OK, Miss Bright Light," said Stacey, "What's your spin on this?"

With that, we all heard the forlorn cry once more. Chills ran up my spine and I felt the same come from my friends. As we all looked around at each other, Tammy admitted she was the one who repeated it.

"None of you are tuned into the person who sent the message. Valerie had it right, but only partly so.

"Yes, it's a girl who is in distress but it's not a child. My guess is it's someone who's a bit older ... late teens or early twenties. But not much older than that."

Involuntarily, "How do you know that?" popped through my head.

I got a stern look from her and offered, "Sorry," quickly followed with, "But how?"

"In due time," she answered. "In due time."

Then after a short pause, she continued. "Listen to the scream and what follows it a couple of times more. But listen carefully. Hear and feel what's happening."

We all heard it repeat three times as if it was coming from right inside the Conference Room and not in our heads.

As we all looked around the room, searching for the place where the scream originated she softly explained, "Remember, I've been at this a lot longer than all of you. Poltergeist and all. That's why I could bring the scream right into this room.

"Think about the scream ... how it sounds. What's happening. Feel what she feels. Hear what she hears.

"Sure, it's obvious she's in distress. Like you Marilyn, I can feel it's a 'She' not a 'He' but try and 'FEEL' what she is feeling. That's part of what I am talking about.

"Replay it in your head.

"Listen carefully."

After a few moments Stacey said, "I see what you mean.