Page 31 of The Haunting of Lockton

“Good morning,” he said. “You seem in high spirits today.”

“Do I?” I filled the mug he’d set out for me and took a drink, then nearly dropped said mug to check the notification as my phone buzzed in my hoodie pocket.

Skyler:Yep. We’re heading over there around 5:30-ish to set everything up. You should come hang out ;)

Me:Come hang out? Like help with the investigation?

Skyler:Yep. I talked to Jules, and he thinks it’s a good idea. I told him I have those sometimes lol

“You should go,” Alan said from behind me.

“Stop reading over my shoulder. Nosey.”

He smiled. “I was curious why you’re in such a good mood. You’re usually cranky this early. Well, until you have at least one full mug of coffee. But one message from him and you forget all about your coffee. Interesting.”

I took a drink, glaring at Alan over the rim. His smile only widened. A smile that turned to a raspy laugh as I got another text and fumbled with my phone to read it.

Skyler:Crap. Unless you gotta work? I didn’t think about that. You do night tours and stuff sometimes, yeah?

Me:I do the night tours mainly on the weekends. I get off at five today. No plans for later.

Skyler:Then your plan should be me ;)

My heart skipped a beat. Pretty sure I stopped breathing for a second too. Was he flirting?

No. Definitely not.

Me:Wouldn’t I get in the way?

Skyler:Nah. Another set of hands would help us out since the place is so big. Unless you’re too scared :p

He then sent me a GIF of an animated ghost dancing.

I chuckled.

“That’s a sound I don’t hear much,” Alan said softly. When I looked at him, that same softness reflected in his blue eyes. “You should go with them.”

“I don’t know.” I grabbed my coffee and walked into the living room, sitting on the couch. He appeared in the armchair. “I wouldn’t know what to do if I did. I’m not familiar with the equipment or how to communicate with ghosts.”

“Sure you are.” Alan grinned. “You’re communicating with one right now, ya goof.”

“You’re different.” A laugh rumbled in my chest. “I forget you’re a ghost most of the time. Well, until you randomly disappear or turn to mist.”

“I think it’s more like smoke than mist.” Alan turned transparent and examined his arm. I could see him—his shape and features—yet I could also see the material of the chair through his body. The outline of him pulsated and looked as though ripples of water passed over him.

“Mist,” I said.

He rolled his eyes and returned to a solid form.

I looked at Skyler’s and my chat thread, fighting with myself on how to respond. Goingdidsound fun. But what if I screwed up? Broke one of their fancy cameras? Or tripped during a livestream, showing them and their two million followers how much of a klutz I was?

I drank more coffee as though the bottom of the mug held the answer I needed. Then, once I was accurately caffeinated, I typed a response before I could change my mind.

Me:I’ll be there.

What had I just gotten myself into?

Chapter Five