Love, Like Ghosts: A Bay City Paranormal Investigations Story

in high-waisted pants, suspenders and shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Pale hair spilled in a riot of curls over a wide brow, and a huge smile split his handsome face. One foot was planted on the front bumper of a gleaming—and expensive-looking—car, and his arms were crossed over his chest.
Now that Adrian saw it, he remembered his one quick glimpse of it before it was removed for the haunted house. Hardly a typical portrait to hang in the hall of one’s castle, but the gleam in Sir Lionel Groome’s eyes instantly labeled him a maverick, so Adrian supposed he’d be one to hang a scandalous portrait if he damn well pleased.
Walking closer, Adrian studied the photo in detail—the line of the neck, the curve of the jaw, the tilt of the smile. He grimaced. “It’s him, all right.”
Greg pressed against Adrian’s shoulder, staring at the picture in fascination. “So you think he really murdered Lyndon?”
Adrian nodded. “His face is the one I saw in Lyndon’s memory. I’m sure of it.”
“And you’re positive that what you saw is the memory of Lyndon dying?”
He was, he knew it in his bones, but… “Well, I didn’t see the whole thing, so I can’t really say for sure, I guess. I need to see more of the memory to be certain.”
“Okay. Then you’ll just have to get Lyndon to show you all of it.” Greg marched toward the back hallway with the fire of resolution in his eyes.
Adrian followed, grinning. Greg’s enthusiasm was contagious. Especially since it was so unexpected.
They had to let go of each other’s hands to climb the stairs to the tower room. Adrian led the way, since he’d occasionally opened the door in the past to find Lyndon already hovering in the musty air. If Lyndon decided this was a day to manifest without being called first, Adrian wanted that extra second to prepare Greg for what he would see.
If he sees Lyndon at all , Adrian reminded himself, remembering the day he’d met Greg.
At the top of the steps, Adrian turned the knob and swung open the door. Sunbeams cut through the dust set swirling by the door’s motion. Lyndon wasn’t there.
Adrian reached out with his senses and felt the familiar energy sparking close enough to touch.
Excitement raised the hairs on his arms. Today, he would finally have all the answers he craved. He knew it, as surely as he knew his own name.
“Adrian? What the hell’s that?”
Greg’s voice was sharp with a mix of curiosity and fear. Turning toward him, Adrian took his hands and squeezed. “Tell me what you’re feeling.”
“It’s like…” Greg trailed off, brow scrunching in concentration. “I don’t know. Like electricity, only not really. The weirdest thing is, I could swear I’ve felt something like this before. It seems familiar. Which is just wrong .”
“No, it isn’t.” Pulling Greg closer, Adrian wound an arm around his waist and kissed him. “What you’re feeling is my psychokinesis. It acts up every time I get turned on, so you’ve felt it plenty of times before. And that ability is linked to other psychic abilities, such as the ability to sense spirits. I was using that just now to see if I could sense Lyndon’s energy. You picked up on that and recognized it.”
Greg’s eyebrows went up. “Wow. There’s a mind fuck if I ever heard one.”
Laughing, Adrian let Greg go. “Don’t let it bother you. I can put that connection to some very interesting uses.”
“Cool. I’m totally holding you to that when we get home.” Greg shot him a filthy leer, then wandered over to lean against the nearest windowsill. “All right. So, what happens now? I mean, I know you’re going to try and contact the ghost, but how do you do it? Is there some kind of ritual?”
“Not really. I usually just sit on the floor, close my eyes and do a few breathing exercises to clear my mind and relax my body. Nothing terribly exciting.”
Greg nodded. “I think I’ll just sit over here, if that’s okay.” He sat on the floor, leaned his back against the wall and looped his arms around his drawn-up knees.
“That’s fine.” Seeing the nervousness in Greg’s eyes, Adrian gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine, and I seriously doubt anything’ll happen other than Lyndon hovering in the air. That’s all he ever does.”
“Okay.” Greg gnawed on one thumbnail. “What’s he look like? I heard he’s all bloody and stuff.”
Shit. That’s right. Adrian gave himself a mental smack for not having