Page 58 of Dead Serious Case 4 Professor Prometheus Plume

Roger blows kisses to Danny and struts off, his perky little bottom swaying provocatively. As Bertie walks past, she slaps Dusty’s arse. “Marvellous,” she repeats, and the two of them disappear before Dusty can say anything.

“The bloody nerve!” Dusty huffs indignantly. “This place is a mad house.”

“You’re telling me.” I shake my head. “What was it you came to tell me?”

“I’ve completely bloody forgotten.” She blinks and sighs. “I’ll be back when it comes to me.”

I open my mouth to say something but she’s disappeared too.

“Are they all gone?” Danny asks.

“Yeah.” I sigh.

“Who on earth was that slapping me on the back?”

“Do you want to come for that walk with me?”

“Not going to have your breakfast first?”

I look down at my plate, but my appetite is gone. “Not really,” I grumble sourly. “Are you ready?”

I watch as he picks up his juice, looks around suspiciously as if afraid someone will end up slapping him on the back again, then tentatively downs the rest of it and stands.

“Come on.” He holds out his hand for me. “Let’s go get some fresh air and you can tell me what level of craziness we’ve tripped and fallen into this time.”

14

“And that was when they both disappeared,” I finish, my breath a foggy mist in the freezing cold air.

“So the house is haunted by dozens of ghosts according to–”

“Roger.” I nod as we follow the shingle path around the building and away from the carpark.

“The–”

“Tennis coach.” I nod again.

“Who died in 1954 when he choked to death on a pair of Swedish meatballs?” Danny says slowly.

“Apparently,” I confirm.

Danny blinks. “So much for the ghost-free weekend away.”

“That’s exactly what Dusty said.” I shrug. “I’m beginning to think I should just stop fighting it. I don’t think I’m ever going to be free of spirit activity. I’m like a bloody paranormal magnet.”

“As much as I hate to say it, I think you might be right,” Danny muses as we amble along together companionably.

“About which part?” I frown.

“The magnet. They’re probably attracted to your light.” He glances over at me.

“Okay, thank you, Tangina. Have you been watchingPoltergeistagain?”

“It’s a classic.”

“It’s also woefully inaccurate… probably.” I let out a frustrated growl. “Urgh, I just don’t know. I don’t know what I’m doing most of the time. I think I’m having some sort of crisis, only I’m too old for teenage rebellion and too young for a midlife.”

He stops and turns me towards him, holding my upper arms as I pout. “Tris, you’re too hard on yourself. It’s only been a year and personally, I think you’ve been incredible. Not many people can find themselves in a position where they’re suddenly hounded by dead people and not end up having some kind of a breakdown. Okay, you’ve been frustrated and you’re a little more sarcastic than when we first met, but you help these spirits, even when you’re tired and don’t understand what’s going on. I think you’re amazing.”