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I cleared my throat, unsure how much to reveal without making my information seem less credible. The police, especially around these parts, weren’t particularly keen on using the paranormal as legitimate evidence, so I had to tread carefully. I couldn’t risk him leaving and dismissing me and my claims because I told him a ghost told me.

‘A new friend of mine had reason to believe there were… dead bodies buried next door, killed by the owner. He also had reason to believe that the owner was his brother.’

‘This friend. What’s his name?’

‘Chance Weiss.’

He hummed again. ‘You said they were brothers?’ I dipped my chin in confirmation. ‘And do you know why they had different last names?’

‘I believe they were half-brothers,’ I admitted.

‘And what reason did Mr Wiess give to back up his conclusions about his brother?’

‘Blake’s wife, Kali, went missing seven years ago. She was recently declared legally deceased, but Chance…’ I paused, trying to find the best words to describe the investigation without bringing up the paranormal aspect of things. ‘I don’t know everything, but he said he was going to check out the house next door. He left yesterday morning, but he hasn’t come back.’

Another hum. I tried not to let it get under my skin, but I could see just how little this cop believed of my story. Was this a waste of my time? Was that poor woman trapped in the basement going to die because he wouldn’t take me seriously?

‘And the woman you claim is being held in the basement? What can you tell me about her?’

I shrugged. ‘Not much. She fits the victims’ MO.’

‘Which is…?’

‘Pale features. Like, as white as you can get. Platinum hair, pasty complexion, that sort of thing. Ghostly.’

He paused, his pen hovering over the pad he’d been using to write notes, and his eyebrows rose at my choice of words. ‘Ghostly.’

‘Or close to. I don’t know. That’s really all the information I have. I just know that Chance is dead, there’s a woman in the basement who’s next, and there are a bunch of dead bodies buried in the yard.’

‘And how did you come across this information, Mr Emeric?’ he asked, suspicion colouring his tone.

Shit… I didn’t have an answer for that. Not one that would work.

‘I was told,’ I replied, choosing to keep things vague. I should have known it wouldn’t work in my favour.

‘By whom?’

‘Uh…’ I drawled, stumped. ‘That’s… a little complicated.’

‘Then simplify it for me.’

I sighed. I’d backed myself into a corner here, and I didn’t know how to get out of it. So, I chose to go with the truth. He would either believe me or he wouldn’t. Either way, I would have done what I could.

‘A ghost told me.’

He levelled me with a deadpan look. ‘A ghost told you.’

I nodded decisively. If I was doing this, I might as well go all in. ‘Correct. Kali Dodd, to be specific.’

‘Kali Dodd, the wife of the supposed serial killer who’s been missing for seven years and presumed dead?’

‘That’s the one.’

He grunted, and I couldn’t tell if that was better or worse than the humming.

‘Look, I’m new to all of this, but I’m not far off the grave myself, and it seems that since I already have one foot on the Other Side, I can see ghosts now.’

His eyebrows rose again, not expecting that information. ‘How so?’