Page 20 of Ghost of a Chance
“My heroine, Eva, noticed that every time she put fresh flowers into a particular vase she picked up at a garage sale, they immediately wilted.That was her first clue that something was amiss.What kind of strange events occur around your book?”Turning toward him, a strand of hair brushed her cheek as he met her gaze.For a minute, words just left his head.All he could think about was how her hair had brushed his face when they kissed.
“Jasper?”
“Uh…so the TV turns on once or twice a day, always toJudge Judy.Without anyone touching the remote, of course.There’s some random stuff like music suddenly playing from my smartphone or lights flickering on and off as well.And, well, you saw what happened in Bri’s studio.”
“Is there a pattern to the random stuff?”
“Like what?”
“Does music play when you are experiencing a specific emotion…like, are you a jock?”
“Huh?”
“You sort of have that vibe.”
“I played basketball in high school and have a pickup game when I’m home.”
“Knew it.”
That shouldn’t have made him feel special.But it did.No matter that he’d decided they were coworkers, he still saw her as a woman he wanted to get to know better and kiss again.
“So after your team scores, does ‘We Are The Champions’ play?”
Laughing, he shook his head.“More like when I have a long day at work ‘Batshit’ blares.”
“Whatever is that?”
“Oh, you’d love it.The band is called Sofi Tukker, they are electronic/dance.I’ll play it for you later.”
“Sounds good.So there is purpose to the music.”
“Odd I never realized.Probably because I like the songs so they don’t annoy me likeJudge Judy.”
“Maybe.What would be best is if we observe things around this house for a few days and establish a pattern.Next, we need to retrace Paul’s steps and understand more of who he was and what might be motivating his spirit to stay on this earth.What was he doing the night he died, that kind of thing,” she said.
“How’s that?”she asked Dan.
“You’re doing great.I set up cameras in the living room.The lighting needs to be turned on.Let’s go in there next,” Dan suggested.
Jasper had forgotten Dan was in the room with them.
Kirsty flipped open the cover of the book.“All of this stuff sounds weird, but most of it could be explained away by malfunctioning technology or accident.Does anything else unexplainable happen that might be easier to observe?”
“No,” he said.“I mean, other than the times when I’ve left the book on a bench or thrown it away.Each time it shows back up at my place.”
“How often has that happened?”
“Three times.”
“How do you know it’s the same book?”she asked, skimming through the text itself.
“That right there.”He pointed to an inky sketch of a tree that was clearly out of place.
“Good that you have that as a marker.Did Paul draw it?”
Tracing the sketch to avoid letting the sadness he felt overwhelmed him.He’d never had the chance to fully process his grief.The fight had filled him with guilt when Paul had died.
He’d freaked and lost it without Paul’s anchoring friendship.Then after he’d moved to a new apartment he’d noticed the book and of courseJudge Judywhich he only associated with Paul.
