Tara
Lyle let out a breath. She had a first name. That was a start, but he needed more.
"'Tara' what? Do you have a last name?"
Portman
Tara Portman... Lyle closed his eyes and balled his fists. Yes!
"Why are you here, Tara? What do you want?"
Mother
"You want your mother?"
Lyle waited but no answer appeared. He felt the chill drain from the air, the tension uncoil from the room.
"Tara?" he called. Then again, louder. "Tara!"
"She gone," Charlie said. "Don't you feel it?"
Lyle nodded. He did. "Well, at least we know who she is. Or was, rather."
Lyle closed his eyes and realized he wasn't as tense as he'd been a few moments ago. He was no longer dealing with a nameless, violent entity. Knowing the name of the being that had invaded their house made her less threatening. She'd been someone, and something of that someone remained. He could deal with what remained.
He could help her. And she could help him.
"Right," Charlie said. "We got her name. Now what we do with it?"
"First thing we do is get hold of Gia and see if the name Tara Portman means anything to her."