Page 17 of Private Exhibit
Like exactly what Ashworth-Grahams did to the nervous system. Andy had to shove that bitter thought aside, knowing he needed to focus.
Jess shivered and drew her knees up, hugging them to her chest.This can't be real, she whispered, shaking her head. Then she gasped.Oh my gods. My mom! She's gonna get the news–
The ghost vanished.
Where'd she go?Junior asked, looking all around.
Andy grimaced.She probably jumped right to wherever her mother is just from thinking about it, Andy pointed out.Tied to her energy.
Oh. Junior got a knowing wince on his face.Right.
Andy nodded. That in itself was going to startle the girl, vanishing from one place and appearing in another. It was something all ghosts could do automatically, but it was also another skill they had to practice. The first few times could be frightening until they learned to control it. Andy remembered all too well how scared Junior had been, jumping from Andy's side to his mother's and back, feeling out of control, not realizing what was going on. After four years of practice, Junior had no trouble anymore. But for a new ghost like Jess, it was going to take some getting used to.
Jess suddenly reappeared, stumbling and holding out her arms as though she needed balance. She frantically looked around, then spotted Andy.She can't see me. She can't see me! What am I gonna do? I can't tell her I'm still here. She's gonna be devastated!
Andy sighed as Jess collapsed into a sobbing mess once again. He strode over and tried to embrace the girl, then remembered she hadn't learned tangibility yet, so he still passed right through her. Andy muttered a curse, then glanced at Junior. He gestured the boy over.
Junior approached shyly. Was there even a blush on his cheeks?Interesting. Andy didn't know ghosts could blush. But he watched as the boy carefully touched the girl on the shoulder.
Jess wrapped herself around Junior and hid her face against his neck as she cried.
Andy gave his son a nod.Good lad. The ghosts were made of the same thing, whatever it was, so they could interact in a way that a ghost and a living person could not. Not yet, anyway.
What am I gonna do?Jess wailed.
We'll figure something out, Andy promised, though he wasn't entirely sure. Some people, despite being presented with evidence of ghosts, refused to believe in them. Jess's mother might never accept that Jess was still there if she couldn't see her directly.
Andy looked at his son.Gods. He couldn't imagine not being able to interact with the boy. Unlike him, his ex-wife, Lydia, was pure-blooded Agori, so she had zero contact with the telepathic plane. She could feel Junior if the boy touched her but could neither see nor hear him, so she didn't believe he was really there.
Still having Junior around was the only thing that kept Andy getting out of bed every day. He thought of Devon again, of how the boy said he'd had that ability taken away from him. Andy shuddered. If he lost the ability to see Junior, he'd kill himself without hesitation just to get his son back.
A sob tore through the silence.
Andy winced, glancing at the new ghost. He let out a sigh.Or would I?No matter how much he was tempted, he wasn't sure he could actually kill himself. This was too important. These ghosts needed him. They didn't have anybody else. Still, losing Junior might push him to do it. Short of that, though, nothing and nobody could ever make him leave this job. He'd failed the living, so this room of death was where he belonged.
When Jess finally calmed down a little, Junior took her outside to sit in one of the hospital's terrace gardens. Having the morgue to himself, Andy got on with the girl's autopsy, taking advantage of the ghost's absence. The process took him right up until his shift ended, and neither Junior nor Jess had returned.
Andy went home, took a long shower, ate some leftover pizza, and collapsed into bed. He slept fitfully, plagued by dreams of the boy with the exquisitely intense gaze.
When he woke the next morning, Andy was determined to put Devon out of his mind for good, no matter what it took.
He got to work and checked the morgue first. No new bodies had come in overnight, so he had nothing but paperwork to look forward to.Great. He let out a sigh and stepped into his office.
Mr. Bokin was there again, sitting behind his desk. “You're late,” the man pointed out.
“If you're here with another proposition,” Andy said as he headed straight for the coffee machine, “I'm not in the mood.”
“Good.” Mr. Bokin stood and buttoned his jacket. “Because I'm here with an order.”
Andy turned around and cocked an eyebrow.
“I've hired your assistant,” Mr. Bokin announced.
Andy scowled. “When?”
“Yesterday afternoon. I personally called each of the people you interviewed yesterday morning. All but one of them declined the job. The rest all said to thank you for the opportunity but they couldn't work for someone like you.” The man chuckled. “I'm guessing you were your usual gruff self, huh?”
Andy ignored that as his chest tightened.Oh gods. Not him. Please, not him.“All but one?”
