Ghost at Work Read Free Page A

that.”
    â€œSubtlety is the key.” Wiggins appeared troubled.
    I wondered if he was remembering unfortunate episodes with previous emissaries or if he feared I might be lacking in that quality.
    â€œSubtlety, of course.” I was as world-weary and wise as Barbara Stanwyck. Turner Classic Movies had given me a whole new world to emulate. Actually, here in Heaven she’s quite approachable.
    The flush faded from his face. He nodded benignly. “I will take that as a solemn pledge.”
    I raised my right hand. If the man wanted a pledge, I was ready.
    â€œVery well. We won’t talk of ghosts.” His nose wrinkled in distaste. He glanced down at his papers, thumbed through a stack. “Oh yes. I should mention that we sometimes have missions that do not succeed. Not”—he spoke quickly to preclude any misunderstanding—“that we would ever characterize any volunteer as a failure. Oh, Heavens no. But”—and he clapped his hands together—“there is a foolproof means of achieving success.”
    My expectant look was a model of the pupil eager to hear the master’s declaration.
    â€œAdhere to the Precepts.” His nod was emphatic.
    I was fascinated by the quiver of his walrus mustache.
    â€œFor example”—his look was stern—“there is an absolute stricture prohibiting casual contact with family members, such as your daughter, Dillon. We do not want the living preoccupied with the dead. It simply doesn’t do.”
    â€œOf course not.” I was righteously indignant. Besides, I felt quite close to Dil without making a special trip to earth. One of the lovely aspects of Heaven is that whenever anyone on earth thinks of you, you are there with them for that instant. Why, Dil had thought of me just this morning. She was driving too fast and clipped a hedge asshe came around a curve. As her husband cringed, hearing the scrape on the fender, she’d grinned. “If it had been Mama, she would have leveled that bush. Hold on, Mike, we’re late.”
    I didn’t share this with Wiggins.
    â€œHowever, there will be a special familial aspect to your first visit. As for the other Precepts, I’ll give you this copy”—he unrolled the parchment and slid toward me a cream-colored sheet embossed with gold letters—“which you can study while we prepare the materials for your visit. The most important Precept—”
    I leaned forward, ready and alert. It looked as though I might make the grade. As for the Precepts, I was good at following rules.
    Well, usually…
    Except when I forgot.
    â€œâ€”is this: You will be on the earth,” an emphatic pause, “not of the earth.”
    My, Wiggins certainly felt strongly about this rather simple concept. Where was the problem? I was quite sure I wouldn’t have any difficulty.
    â€¦on the earth, not of the earth…
    Simplicity itself.
    Wiggins tone was solemn. “If, after studying and mastering the Precepts, you still feel that this is the right path for you, you can come back—”
    Just then, a staccato dot dot dot erupted from the telegraph sounder on his desk.
    Wiggins listened, quickly tapped a response.
    A rapid clack clack erupted.
    He pulled a pad of paper near, wrote furiously, his face creased in concern. The minute the message ended, he was on his feet, gesturing to me. “Bailey Ruth, there is no time to delay. You must be dispatched immediately.”
    He moved hurriedly to the ticket window, grabbed a ticket, found a stamp, slapped it to the cardboard slip. “Here.” He thrust the ticket at me, then yanked at a lever on the wall. “I’m dropping the signal arm on the pole outside. The Rescue Express will stop long enough for you to board. Quickly, now. You’ll have to make a run for it.”
    A rumble announced the train’s arrival. I glanced at my ticket, which had a corner nicked off, but I