Esther
When I talk about the psychotherapy of space most people tune out. They don't see how the structures they inhabit enhance or deplete their well being.
But the moment people experience dark energy in a house and get the chills or suffer angst they know something is wrong.
When everyone who enters a house experiences the same thing, there has to be a physical cause and that's how I knew the strangulation sensation in Esther's Victorian house didn't require being a sensitive with spiritual discernment―we all ended up outside on the lawn gasping for air and trembling.
Now I was going back to explain to Esther what we found and I had a check in my gut about revealing anything significant to her friend Hannah. I decided to send my team home while I'd stay behind and try to navigate the tricky problem of disclosure.
Everyone was perplexed when I informed them of my decision but I promised to fully update them during the week and explain my course of action.
"I've got some leads I want to check out anyway," Nate said, "and hopefully, I'll have something to share next time I see you."
Greg and Poppy took it all in stride and weren't as upset, probably because they didn't go inside themselves but carried out the land survey and the photography.
As for Gail, she sensed something was amiss, but simply grasped my hand as she left and whispered, "Be safe.” That was the hardest thing for me to deal with, knowing she got the seriousness of the situation, but couldn't say anything.
As I watched the team pull away in Greg's van I felt a profound sense of abandonment but there was simply no other way to navigate a thorny situation.
I couldn't help but feel that everything I told the girls would be reported back to the Canadian government―not that I didn't trust Esther, but was wary of Hannah's connections.
How could I separate the two and simply deal with Esther? If I suggested her friend was untrustworthy I might lose her confidence.
I felt I had to lurk in the shadows and wait for a chance to confront Esther when Hannah wasn't present.
Just past four, the two girls showed up and of course, the first thing they noticed was the yellow police tape marking off the excavation in the garden.
Esther's face was pale and drawn. "What happened here, Professor Bloom?"
"Not to be alarmed," I smiled, trying to calm her, "We did a geophysical survey of the grounds and uncovered a skeleton. We don't know details yet, if it's ancient or modern, but police had to be called as a matter of law."
Hannah seemed unperturbed about the skeletal remains and simply asked, "What did you find from your investigation inside the house?”
I shrugged. ”Nothing conclusive yet, although we did notice negative air pressure but that could be the result of natural causes or a faulty HVAC system."
"Is that dangerous?" Esther asked.
"Well, for the moment we're considering it an anomaly requiring further investigation."
Hannah looked irritated. "So, basically you found nothing significant in the house after a six hour investigation?"
"These things take time I'm afraid and our efforts were hampered by the police investigation."
"Of course," Esther agreed with me, “and I understand you have to follow protocols when anomalies turn up."
"I told you this would be a waste of time," Hannah muttered under her breath, obviously displeased with the lack of progress.
Esther flushed with embarrassment at her friend's rude conduct.
"If you feel there's little to be gained by continuing, Professor Bloom, I'd completely understand."
"Not at all, Esther," I reassured her, "we've barely got going. Now with this obstacle out of the way it should be clear sailing."
Hannah rolled her eyes with displeasure but said nothing.
I consoled Esther who obviously felt awkward, "I'm sure next Saturday we should be able to make more rapid progress."
Hannah remained unconvinced but I was beginning to see Esther was the key to uncovering the mystery and possibly helping Abe to solve his cold case.
As for Hannah, her shadowy ties to the Canadian government were worrying. What was she hoping to cover up, or uncover?
Somehow I knew the answer to that was more than mere politics and in fact, could even be earth-shattering.