There was nothing but silence, not even the car radio, as Keith and I made our way back to New York, with Elliott secured in the back of the car. After we arrived at the station, Elliott was placed in a cell, and as it was getting close to midnight, we called it a day and went to our homes.
“So you got him?” Melanie asked as she formed before me in my living room for one final time. “And he killed me because I didn’t pay any attention to him?"
“Yes on both counts,” I told her. “But don’t think that it was your fault that he killed you. You can’t force yourself to like someone just because they want you to. Elliott has pled guilty to everything, and is never gonna see the light of day except through a cell window.”
“I want to see if something I’ve been trying to do works.” Melanie smiled while stepping back. She closed her eyes in concentration, and her form began to shimmer again, but this time, she became more solid looking. Her hand reached out, and it felt warm, almost lifelike. Then she hugged me.
“Thank you for everything,” she said. “I know that catching bad guys is your job, but you went way above the call of duty. If this is it, I’d ask you to tell Mark that his little sister misses him bunches, Tim that I will love him forever even from the Great Beyond, and Trisha that she was the best best friend a girl could have, but they’d think you’d lost your mind.”
“Fair enough,” I laughed. “If you see my wife when you pass over, tell her I miss her so much.”
“I will, but I think she already knows,” Melanie winked at me.
Then something happened that I will never forget as long as I live.
“OK, God, or whatever Superior Power in the Universe is there, I’ve been avenged. Where’s the light I’m supposed to walk into and head to Eternity?” Melanie asked, looking around for an answer.
Then it came: a growing portal of light, and two figures stepped out from it. Melanie immediately knew who they were.
“Mom! Dad!” she cried as she ran toward them and embraced them.
“Yes, baby, it’s us,” her father gently said. “It’s time to go.”
Mitchell and Sheila Taylor had returned to take their daughter to her long-delayed final rest. They walked hand in hand to the light, stepped through, and I never saw them again.
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