Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun Read Online Free PDF

way.”
    “You can actually talk to this girl?” asked the detective, his eyes traversing her body.
    “I can.”
    After a moment he sighed and said, “Fine.” Then he took my arm in one hand as he lifted the crime-scene tape with the other, instructing, “I’ll take you over there, but before you send her wherever you need to send her, I’ll need to ask her some questions about what happened to her.”
    I pulled my arm out of his grip and stood back. “It doesn’t work like that, Detective.”
    “What do you mean, it doesn’t work like that?” he asked, still holding up the yellow tape.
    “I mean that my primary directive is not solving your case. My job is to relieve her suffering. Right now she’s completely lost and confused, and if I don’t get to her quickly, she’s going to start to panic and freak out. Trust me on this: There is nothing worse than watching someone stuck in a ghostly state as they have a complete mental breakdown when they realize no one can hear them and no one can help them. She’ll soon become unreasonable and even inconsolable, and I won’t be able to help her until she calms down again—which could be years .
    “So you see, sir, I’m not going to risk sending her into that state of terror by giving her the third degree. If she’s willing to listen to me, I’m going to get her over to the other side. Pronto.”
    MacDonald lowered the tape and stood up tall. His eyes seemed to be taking my measure. Glancing down at my card, he said, “The way I see it, Ms. Holliday, you don’t have much of a choice. My lieutenant would eat me for lunch if he knew I let you close to the body, so if you don’t have anything else to offer me, then I’m afraid I’m going to have to follow protocol.”
    I looked over again at Sophie’s body, and I could see a thin vapor hovering around the crime scene. The vapor was shifting back and forth, and I realized that she was already beginning to get anxious. I could sense her emotions building and the panic beginning to form. “Damn it,” I swore, and looked back to the detective. “Fine, have it your way. I’ll ask her your questions, but the moment she begins to get too upset, Detective, I’m going to get her to move on, with or without your case wrapped up.”
    MacDonald lifted the crime-scene tape again. “After you,” he said pleasantly.
    I ducked low and stepped under, with MacDonald right next to me as he took firm hold of my elbow again. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes—the guy obviously thought I was some kind of liability ready to trample all over his crime scene—and I allowed myself to be guided over to within five feet of the sheet covering Sophie.
    We got a few curious looks from the uniformed cops and CSIs standing nearby, but MacDonald didn’t explain anything to them and ignored their inquisitive stares. “Okay,” he said softly when we came to a stop. “See if you can get her to tell you how she came to land faceup on the pavement.”
    I closed my eyes and reached out to Sophie. Sophie , I said in my mind. My name is M.J., and I’m here to help you. Can you hear me?
    There was a kind of mental nod in my head. I had her attention.
    That’s great! I encouraged, but even then I could feel her energy drifting back to the sheet, as if she were distracted by it. I knew she was uncertain as to why she felt such a strong connection to it. So far she hadn’t put two and two together, and I planned on keeping it that way for just a bit longer. Now, Sophie , I said, I understand something happened up in your hotel room.
    The energy wafting back to me registered confusion, or rather, it felt a bit slow on the uptake, so I elaborated. I’ve sent someone to check your hotel room , I explained. They say that they found it to be a mess. Do you remember someone coming into your room and maybe threatening you or trying to hurt you?
    Sophie’s vapory energy began to shimmer with alarm.
    “What’s she saying?” asked the