Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

left and went down below for his axe.  He walked back and gave it to Kevin and explained that Mia wanted it.
“Take care, son.  I hope this is what you want for your eternity.”
“I’m doing honest work.”
“Son, this is a pirate ship,” Kevin said.  He watched as Mia took advantage of the excitement of the arrival of the large slaver to move quietly to the bow where the harpoon gun was bolted to the deck. “There is no honest work on a pirate ship.”
“Still, I’m working, using my muscles.  I’ll earn a portion of the takings and be able to exist on this side of the veil.  I can eat and…”
“You can die here.  And when you do, there will be no light to take you to Heaven.  There will be no Brian to jump, overjoyed, each time he sees you.  There will be no PEEPs to protect as they rush into situations they should have tiptoed into.  There will be no Mia to tempt away from her husband.”
“Did you call me?” Mia asked.  “I thought I heard my name.”
“My son has brought you his axe,” Kevin said, ignoring Mia’s red, swollen eyes.
“Thank you.  Let’s slip away while they’re busy.  I fed Crocker’s mind a fantasy that I don’t want to have to live up to.”  Mia turned and held out her hand.  “It’s been a pleasure, Stephen Murphy.  I wish you every happiness.”  Mia took the axe and climbed down the ship into the skiff where Fergus had been patiently waiting.
“When you realize what you’ve lost, concentrate on the axe, and it will bring you home,” Kevin assured him.  “Mia doesn’t do anything without a reason.  She knows it will be your candle in the window.”  Kevin hugged his son and left.
Captain Crocker was elated with his trades.  He walked into his cabin, disappointed to not see Mia waiting for him.  Instead, he found the finely crafted demon dagger that Mia surrendered to the quartermaster with a long chain of gold wound around it.  Under the dagger, he found a note written in a careful hand.
This precious gold chain is payment for the three birdmen.  The dagger is a gift from me to protect you from the men on The Risen.  Lastly, the farmer named Stephen Murphy wasn’t the man we were looking for.
Kind Regards,
Mia Cooper Martin, Assassin

Chapter Twenty-three
Mia moved with haste to the barrier, angled the boat, and crossed it.  The waves on the other side startled her for a moment. The challenge of navigating through them took her mind off the misery she was in.  She had done as much as she could.  She couldn’t fight a whole ship on her own.  She had to trust that the birdmen found their way out and that Murphy had made the right decision for himself.  He had hurt her, but Kai had warned her this may happen.
Kevin didn’t know what to feel.  He too started to lose his hold on his emotions while he was on the other side of the veil.  Was it that easy to lose a love that had kept his son at Mia’s side even after she married and had children?  He nudged Fergus when he saw Mia clutch her heart again.  “Something’s wrong. Take control of the motor,” he said, scooping up Mia as she fainted.
Mia woke up in a breezy little room.  Bright colors masked the machines that were taking constant readings of Mia’s heart and other vitals.
“Ted?” she asked.
“I’m here.  You had us so worried,” he said, kissing her face.  “Maybe the strain of crossing was too much for a living being.”
“What happened?”
“You had a heart attack,” the doctor said, entering the room.  She was an islander who went away to study and came back to minister to the people of St. Kitts.  When the blonde was brought in, her heart bore symptoms the doctor had seen in her elderly patients.  It was called takotsubo cardiomyopathy, apical ballooning syndrome. In slang terms, this young woman almost died of a broken heart.
“Mrs. Martin, we’ve been very worried.  Have you had any other symptoms?  Have you been under a lot of stress?”
“Some,” Mia admitted.
Ted grabbed her hand and spoke up, “We got separated in the hurricane.”
“That would do it,” she said.  “I’m going to ask you to spend a few days with us before flying home.  Do you have children?”
“They’re with their grandparents.  Two little boys and an adopted teenager,” Ted said proudly.
“Maybe the grandparents can keep them a little longer or come and stay,” the kind-faced doctor recommended.
“We do have a lot of help at home,” Ted assured her.  “How bad is this?”
“It’s a significant event,” the doctor said.  “Mrs. Martin, you have to rest.  Put your problems in God’s hands for a while.”
“Yes, Doctor,” Mia said meekly and closed her eyes.
The doctor touched Ted’s shoulder.  “Mr. Martin, let her rest.  I’d like to have a word.”
Ted’s knees were weak, but he managed to follow the doctor to her office.
“Mr. Martin, your wife has something metallic fused to her spine, so we can’t give her an MRI.  I’m certain that she experienced a singular event, but you may want to have your regular physician check her out.  Her blood is good, a bit strange, but very healthy.  This makes no sense.  She is so young and fit.”
“I promise to follow through on this.”
“I believe you, or you would get lecture number two,” she teased.
“I was so shocked when this happened.  Mia is normally the strong one.  She takes a beating and keeps on ticking.”
“My mother was the strength in our family, but, Mr. Martin, it takes a toll.  Share the burden.  She’ll fight you on this, but it will keep her healthier.”
“I will do my best,” Ted promised.  “I’d like