Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

fun.  But Audrey warned her that he was notoriously slow when it came to picking up clues from lady kind.
“Tonight, I have a date with Tom,” she said aloud.  She should really go into the city to pick up some of her clothes, but she didn’t want to.  Somehow, returning to her apartment would bring into focus all she had to do, and then the vacation would be spoilt.  Instead, she ransacked Mia’s closets.  She didn’t find any cashmere aside from a maternity dress.  “Who doesn’t have cashmere?” Sabine asked the empty room.
“Mom is more of a Gap girl,” Dieter said from the hallway.
“Dieter!” Sabine called.  “I’m so happy to see you.  You’ve got to help me.”
Dieter walked in with Mark.
“Mark, you’re here. Have you seen Luke Stavros yet?” Sabine asked, dropping the clothes she had been holding.
“No, ma’am.  Why?”
“I don’t want to say anything until after you’ve seen him.  Maybe we can go over tomorrow.  That is, if you don’t have anything planned.”
“I’m not available for a few days,” he said.  “Tomorrow, we’ve got practice.”
“I’ll arrange something for the day after tomorrow,” Sabine said, distracted.  She looked around her and frowned.  “I have to find something to wear.  I have a date with Tom Braverman.”
Dieter and Mark looked at each other with raised eyebrows.
“Audrey dresses more like you.  Maybe call her and see if she can loan you something,” Dieter suggested.
“Why didn’t I think of this before?  I swear, I can’t seem to hold on to a sane thought these days.”
“Talk to her about us visiting and let us know.  We’re going to the aerie to watch some football films.”
“Nicholai is there,” Sabine said.  “Or he was last night.”
“We’ll keep it down,” Dieter said and left.
~
Murphy followed the boatswain up the mast.  He was going to show Murphy how to inspect the sails and the riggings.  It became evident that Murphy was not used to gravity’s pull as he pulled his body upwards.
“What’s the matter?  It’s easier than climbing a tree,” the boatswain complained.
“I’ve been dead. I haven’t felt gravity in a hundred and fifty years,” Murphy told him.
“Ah, here’s where being a land death-ghost is wearing on you.  That and you’re losing weight.  You’ve got to choke down the food or you’re going to be of no use to us.”
“Yes, sir.”
“We do have a feast after a good trade.  Maybe then you’ll develop an appetite.”
“When will that be?” Murphy asked, clinging to the mast.
“Soon.  For some reason Harley - he’s our navigator - is sailing us close to the veil’s edge.  He’s got a hunch there soon will be birdman activity.”
“Birdmen?”
“The captain loves to hunt these guys. Some of them have a wingspan of sixteen feet.  We used to get maybe one every few years, but there has been so much activity lately.  We’ve taken down three in a month.”
“Do they attack you?”
“No.”
“Are they your enemies?”
“No.”
“Why then?”
“They are valuable.  They bring us gold.  The Risen will pay in gold.  The captain likes gold.  We like keeping the captain happy.”
Murphy added this information to what he had obtained from his interview with the captain.  He didn’t abide with killing for sport’s sake, but he didn’t seem to be as disgusted by it as he had been previously.  Birdmen in the past had distracted Murphy from farm matters and took Mia’s attention away time and time again.  He started to see why ridding the sky of birdmen may a good idea.  When he thought of Mia these days, there was no warmth in his thoughts.  Mia was valuable to him, but he was confused as to why?
Mia wore a video-recording and transmission device that Ted did his best to disguise as a black button.  To make it a piece of jewelry, it could draw a pirate’s eye to it, and she could have it taken from her.
Kevin had decided to brave the sea and join Mia and Fergus on the small boat.  Before they boarded, Mia pulled the two aside and said, “From what I have learned, as soon as we cross into the GSD, the two of you will be alive.  You’re going to be thirsty, hungry, and you will feel pain.  If you die here, you cease to exist.  Also, the longer we are here, the more you will lose extreme emotions like love and hate.”
Mia waited for this to sink in before continuing, “They hunt birdmen, so I’ll be keeping my wings to myself, unless we have our backs against the wall.  I’m handy with a sword and will use it.  Also, when you refer to me, you’ll call me Emissary Cooper or just Cooper.  Our goal is to return with Stephen.”
“What if he wants to stay?” Kevin asked.
“Then he stays, we leave,” Mia said.  “I just want to know that things are his choice, don’t you?”
“Yes.  Can I ask you why you’re going to all this expense and risk?”
“You don’t know us that well, so I understand you asking,” Mia said.  “Your son has been looking out for me since I was a teen.  We have been partners in all things paranormal since PEEPs first came to the hollow.  I care about what happens to him. He’s part of my family.  I’m going to have a hard time existing without him, but I will as long as I know he’s happy.”
“Thank you for being candid.  I know there’s more, but I also know you’re wary of your audience,” Kevin said.
“If you guys are done whispering, I think we need to get aboard,” Fergus said.
Mia waved Ted over, and he filmed her with his cell phone.
“Hi, I’m Mia Martin from PEEPs.  I’m going to attempt to cross over to the Ghost Ship Dimension.”
Ted nodded and stopped filming.  He