Page 9 of Ghost of a Chance
“Of course you do,” she said.“Well the PA already took care of everything, so you can leave.”
It didn’t seem like he was in charge of her segment or anything that could harm her reputation.Although now she was freaked out all over again.
“Uh…”
“Uh?”
“I sort of need your help,” he said.
“With what?”
“This.”
He thrust a book at her.Instinctively she reached out to take it and then wished she hadn’t.It was heavy and the pages were yellow with age.A battered copy of a textbook,University Physics with Modern Physics with Mastering Physics.Convoluted title, but then all science felt that way to her.“I don’t do physics.”
“Great.I need you to get the ghost of my roommate out of the book.He died junior year and has been haunting me ever since.”
Of course he did.Maybe this was a setup from the show.He’d been playing her this morning with the TV and now had a book with his dead roommate in it.
Was this concocted?Had Bri sent Jasper to “meet” her last night to make her appearance more interesting?
Or…
Was Bri trying to prove that Kirsty was a fake?The bottom dropped out of her stomach.Was Bri O’Brien the one who’d dispel the rumor she could talk to the dead?
Her hands were sweating and shaking.She put the book down.Crossing her arms under her breasts to hide it she gave Jasper her most severe glare.
Whether this was a joke or an attempt at throwing her some good publicity, she had to refuse.She wasn’t pretending to exorcise this guy’s roommate on TV.“No.”
“You saw how chaotic my life is with him.Last night and this morning.The TV and the lights…”
There were notes of frustration and sincerity deepening his voice.Jasper definitely believed his roommate was trapped in that book.
“I saw a fan who’s a little too into my books.You know that everything that happened in your apartment was pulled from them.I’m here to talk to your boss about my latest release.If you leave now and don’t speak to me again while I’m here, that’s all it will be,” she said.
His shoulders fell as he shoved his hand through his thick hair, giving a hint of resemblance to the guy she’d met last night.A part of her almost wished she could help him.But she was an author, not a ghost whisperer.
“I can’t take this anymore.”
“Me either.Get out,” she said.
“I’m serious, Kirsty.I didn’t know who you were last night or I would have talked to you about Paul then.”
“Paul?”
He gave her a hard look.“My roommate who’s trapped in the book.Supposedly that’s what you do, right?Talk to ghosts that can’t pass on?”
“I’m a mystery author, not a clairvoyant,” she pointed out.“I’m here to talk aboutRoses for the Dead.Not an actual dead person.”
“Yeah, but even your bio says occult experiences are a part of everyone’s life.”
That damned bio.Her white lie may have helped her career.But the consequences…
“The answer is still no,” she said.
“Fine.”He glanced at her, desperation plain on his face.“And if we hadn’t met last night…”
“The answer would still be no,” she admitted.
