The Casebook of Elisha Grey IX

By Isabeau Vollhardt

Elisha Grey, polymath instructor at The Temple of Learning in Atlantis, along with Kiara Ptolmai, half-Atlantean diplomat's daughter and mother of his daughters, investigate mysteries and crimes which she chronicles. "The Mesmerist" puts Kiara Ptolmai in contact with a client who is hypnotizing her against her will, which her life partner Kamay Pellay, a shaman, and Elisha Grey, recognize and work to resolve. In "The Tainted Soil and Remembrance of Things Past", Kiara's son Tai instigates inquiry into garden soil that makes their vegetable garden sick, and in so doing, recalls how he died in his previous lifetime as Ishmael Endymion, chemist and colleague of Elisha Grey. "Constable Saukenuk Misses Her Lecture" forces Elisha Grey to investigate a former lover when she is murdered in a way that indicates the murder was sexual in nature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Isabeau Vollhardt
• Release date: Oct 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005477851

Isabeau Vollhardt

Isabeau Vollhardt received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and English Composition from the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, in 1980, where she studied Novel Writing with Charles Johnson, and the Philosophy of Science Fiction with Michelle Beer. She was exposed to the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke in a class on Existentialism presented by Eva Hagemeyer. A longtime reader of Victorian era authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle, she was writing The Casebook of Elisha Grey in part as an homage to Doyle and in part as a result of her readings of esoteric works on Atlantis, when she began studies at Samra University of Oriental Medicine in 1991. Graduating with a Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine and receiving licensure to practice acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, she then went on to receive training in Reiki, reaching level IV (Seichem) Reiki training. Energy work and intuitive work in a variety of realms have been part of her personal and professional life since 1985 and encompasses study of Kuang Ping style taijiquan, shuilong qi gong, feng shui, clairvoyancy, Western Astrology, Native American journeywork, and Iai-Batto-Ho. Her experiences resulting from her shui long qi gong practice resulted in a volume of poetry which is now published: Songs of the Water Dragon / Poems for Plants & Planets / and Others. She lives in Ashland, Oregon, where she has practiced Chinese Medicine and taught tai chi, qi gong, and Chinese Medicine theory since 1997. Her short story "Farewell at a Graveside" was published by Innisfree Magazine in 1990. She continues writing with her focus on speculative fiction, and an occasional poem, because 'poems happen'.www.facebook.com/pages/TheCasebookOfElishaGreywww.facebook.com/pages/IsabeauVollhardtEarthboundMysticwww.isabeauvollhardt.netwww.imdb.com/isabeauvollhardt

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THE CASEBOOK OF ELISHA GREY IX

THE MESMERIST

TAINTED SOIL AND REMEMBERANCE OF THINGS PAST

CONSTABLE SAUKENUK MISSES HER LECTURE

By Isabeau Vollhardt

Published by Isabeau Vollhardt at Smashwords

Copyright 2020 Isabeau Vollhardt

Cover image copyright 2019 Denise Hall Wells

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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THE MESMERIST

Sarkis stood in the doorway, his dark hair long and loose, his white tunic bright against his black scholar’s robe, his plate of breakfast in hand. No smile spread across his angled face – he had yet to smile in all the years he had lived with us. He glanced at Twylah as she put breakfast on the table for all of us to help ourselves. Thank you, Twylah.

She looked up at him and smiled as she brushed her long grey hair back off of her shoulder. You’re welcome, young man.

Father, could we have midday meal today at the Commons on the Temple grounds?

Elisha folded the early morning edition of The Bee and sat it down on the table beside his fork. Yes, he turned to look at our collective son. Fifth Mansion?

Will have to be halfway through that mansion, I need to meet with Verity Swan for my counseling session. Sarkis remained expressionless, the tone of his voice level and unemotive.

Elisha tilted his head, a wry smile spreading across his face. Then halfway through it is. I’ll be there, just look for me.

Sarkis glanced at all of us as we sat at the table. Good morning then. He bowed his head slightly and left, the screen door slapping shut behind him.

Elisha turned to look at me from his seat at the opposite end of the table. You must admit, his social skills, such as they are, have shown improvement over time.

I took a sip of tisane. True. The day when he can actually sit with all of us for a meal would be a definite landmark, as would a smile.

Elisha placed his palms together and rested his chin on his thumbs. You and I know that may never come to pass, considering his psychological assessment and the trauma he endured hiding in the house during his parents’ murder.

Karis sighed as she put honey on her biscuit. It’s so sad.

Kamay glanced at her. We need to let him do the best he can. He’s had a hard road, and maybe he always will. If we can help, he shrugged, then we help however we can.

Pono poured herself another cup of tisane. He doesn’t run away from me when I go down to the beach to play my kithara anymore, if that counts for anything.

Ah, Elisha winked at her, but does he hum along?

They both began to chuckle. No, Pop, he just says it’s silly noise.

Elisha picked up his paper again. A sure sign of progress, because he says what he thinks it is to him. Not a criticism directed toward your playing.

Pono beamed. Thanks, Pop. I knew that. It’s good to know that you know that.

Of course. You’re a gifted musician. Arcadia Redbird has been a good mentor for you.

She has. Pono took another sip of tisane and looked out the kitchen window.

Mama, we’re done, Aurora and Victoria said in unison, looking up at me with their large brown eyes and their short, reddish-brown hair, and all their other features making it so easy to confuse them – except for their differently colored clothes that Pono designed for us to dress them in. We need to go outside and check on our little alligator pear trees. They might have gotten lonely during the night.

Kamay reached out for Aurora’s hair. They’ll appreciate your concern, go, we’ll clear both your places – but you both get to take your dishes to the sink at midday meal, all right?

Yes, Matua, they spoke as one as Victoria opened the door and Aurora followed her out.

The screeching of Tai’s chair as he dragged it closer to where Pono sat obliterated the sound of the screen door slapping. He clambered up on top of it to stand so that he could put his arms around her neck. Eyes wide, she glanced at the three of us.

Pono, he ran his hand down the front of her burgundy damask dress, you know I love all the clothes you make for me, and my sisters, and you know that my first day at first school is coming soon, so you know, he kissed her cheek, I really would appreciate a new set of clothes and I really do like the colors you’re wearing today.

Pono reached up to grasp his hand only to find he had a good grip on her dress collar. Mama, can’t you get him to stop? Her clay colored skin glowed red with embarrassment.

Kamay bit his lip to keep from laughing as he looked at me.

I don’t see why I need to. I smiled at her, but she didn’t smile back.

She glanced at Elisha. Pop?

Elisha looked up from his paper to meet her gaze, a grin crossing his face. I don’t think I can say anything, because I really don’t see that he’s doing anything improper.

I started to laugh, and Kamay joined in. Karis covered her mouth, laughing to the point of tears.

It’s not funny! Pono looked around at all of us, exasperation in her voice.

Tai kissed her cheek again. Oh, please, big sister, make me a new suit, please?

Elisha began laughing as well.

Cousin! Pono shot an aggravated look across the table at Kamay.

Cousin, he loves you, he loves what you do, and he’s complimenting you in the most sincere way he can.

But he’s not acting like my little brother, he’s acting like he’s….a man!

We know, Elisha, Kamay and I said in unison.

If it’s any consolation, Elisha gave her a sober look, he wouldn’t treat just any young woman the way he treats you. I know this from experience. Truly, he wouldn’t.

All right, she patted his hand, but you’re sure about this color? I know you like that sea green tunic.

I do. But I really like what you’re wearing for a jacket. For the trousers, he ran his fingers down her braids, then stroked the shaved side of her head, I don’t know, what do you think?

I think, Twylah said as she stood at the kitchen counter, washing dishes, that whatever you made the twins’ trousers out of would be ideal. They’re quite durable, considering how much time they spend on their knees in the dirt and they always come out clean.

But a different style and a different color? Tai kissed her cheek again and smiled.

Tai, you’re only five, how do you know so much about fashion? Pono squinted at him.

He kissed her cheek again. From you, big sister! He laughed, let go of her, and clambered off his chair. He reached up to his plate on the table, peering over the edge, then carried it gingerly over to Twylah. Thank you for breakfast, it was tasty. He handed the empty plate up to her. I like your biscuits a lot.

Why thank you, she bent down to kiss his head.

Tai winked at Pono, looked at me and smiled, then went out the front door.

Pono took a sip of her tisane, sat back and closed her eyes, then looked at me. Does he do that to you?

I chuckled. No. I leaned forward on my elbows and met her gaze. Not yet.

There’s something I needed to ask you. It’s about my moving out. I’m at the age of majority, and there’s a place I could move to.

Kamay eyed her with caution. We’ve talked about how you need to live with someone, in case you have an episode of psychosis like I have had, since it’s genetic.

Yes, Cousin, I know. Rufus Rice, the other designer at Sylvian’s studio needs a place too, because he and his partner can’t live together for now. His partner needs to move back to his home town on the north coast to help with his mother’s care. There’s a space in the building where your studio is, Cousin, right next to it, upstairs like your studio. It just needs to be built out. It used to be a caterer’s kitchen.

I set my cup down. I can look at it sometime this week and see what I can do.

It puts you close to home, Elisha finished his breakfast, you can come home for midday meal anytime you like, and we would all be close by if you need us.

I hope I won’t, she stood up from her place. Sorry, she looked at Kamay. I didn’t mean it that way.

I know, Cousin. You’ve been fortunate to not have had episodes like mine. I hope it stays that way. We’ll work on exercises at our healing center together so that you can be stronger. Every week would be good.

Thank you, I appreciate that. I’ll be back midday. She left, the screen door’s slapping punctuating the now quiet kitchen.

Karis got up and took her dishes to the sink where she rinsed them. Matua, we have a meeting later at your gallery with some new clients. Before supper.

Thank you for reminding me, Bean, but you know they haven’t bought anything yet.

They will, she beamed at him. You’re bringing up new paintings?

Yes, Bean.

I’m going down to the beach. Thank you Twylah for breakfast. She reached up for Twylah, who leaned over to let her hug her neck and kiss her cheek.

Of course, dear.

Elisha glanced at us. I must admit, I can understand why Sarkis prefers to have breakfast alone in our flat. It’s been an exhausting yet entertaining breakfast, he stood up from his place and cleared it. And it brought back some memories, though I don’t remember that Ishmael was interested in women twenty years his senior. Odd to interact with his soul in the body of a five year old boy, yet not inexplicable. I need to go up to the Temple and prepare for my lecture, and I’ll finish perusing The Bee on the trolley. Good luck with the herd of small children. He winked at me, thanked Twylah and left, his black tunic billowing in the morning’s gentle breeze as he stepped outside.

Kamay and I cleared our places as Twylah put the remaining food away. We’ll finish cleaning up, I smiled at her.

Thank you, dear. It’s market day. She left to go to her downstairs flat. As Kamay and I stood at the sink washing dishes, we watched her cross the yard and leave through the front yard wrought iron gates.

Kamay handed me a clean plate. You know Tai is going to remember how he died when he was Ishmael, don’t you?

I dried a plate while I gazed out the window. Tai and his twin sisters roamed through the vegetable garden, dodging the chickens. I do. When do you think?

Soon. Most likely it will happen just before dawn some morning. When, he paused, looked down and washed another plate, when Ishmael, when … the, he swallowed.

I put down the towel and put my arms around him. The explosion. I know. It’s incredible how Karis knew Ishmael wanted to come back, and wanted us to help him do that.

Kamay kissed the top of my head. We’re lucky we could make it happen. It’s just hard to remember that night.

I leaned back so I could look up at his face. It will be hard on Tai too. We’ll have to explain. I pulled his head toward me to kiss his lips. We can take care of him. Even through his remembering.

Kamay wrapped his arms around me and buried his face against my shoulder, sighing. You’re right, you’re right. He stroked my back, then stood up and let go of me, tears in his eyes. Dishes, he reached for another plate to wash. A beeping from the