Read Ghostfinders 02 - Ghost of a Smile for Free Online Page A

him. He finally closed his mouth with a snap, swallowed hard, and nodded slowly to Kim.
    “Dear God . . . All these years, looking for ghosts and spirits, for some actual sign that the soul survives . . . but I never saw anything. Not even sure I really believed, deep down . . . But here you are. I was right all along. You’re a ghost. I can tell, I can feel it . . . Oh my dear, are you trapped here? Is something holding you to this world?”
    “Yes,” Kim said happily. “JC, my love, my very dear. Isn’t he wonderful?”
    “Get away from her, Gramps,” whispered Susan. “Don’t talk to her. She can’t . . . She can’t be . . .”
    “I’m not worthy of her,” said JC. “But believe me when I tell you, no-one is holding Kim anywhere against her wishes.”
    “Like to see anybody try,” said Kim.
    “How did you . . . die?” said Susan.
    “I was murdered,” said Kim. “But JC avenged me.”
    “You never believed,” Graham Tiley said to Susan, a slow smile coming to his lips. “Don’t worry; I always knew you were here to keep me company. So, a real live . . . real dead ghost. Right before us. What do you think of your old gramps now, eh, Susan? Not so daft in the head after all?”
    “We should get out of here,” said Susan. “We shouldn’t be here. This isn’t right! It isn’t natural!”
    “It’s only a ghost!” said Tiley. “A person, with the body removed. Get a grip on yourself, child, and stop embarrassing me. Talk nicely to the young lady ghost. She looks to be about your age.”
    “What do you say to a ghost?” demanded Susan. “Hi, nice to meet you, how’s your ectoplasm? Give me a break, Gramps, my whole world has just been turned upside down and inside out, and the pieces have fallen all over the carpet. You talk to her. I’m going to find a corner and mumble quietly to myself.”
    “Youngsters today,” said Tiley. “No stamina.” He smiled at Kim. “It is nice to meet you, young lady. Are you sure there’s nothing keeping you from passing on? I’d be happy to help . . .”
    “The only thing keeping me here is my JC,” said Kim. “And I wouldn’t be parted from him for all the worlds that may be. I had to die to find true love, and I won’t give it up now.”
    “Well, well,” said Tiley. “My first real encounter with a spirit. Not at all what I’d expected, but still, most exhilarating! Pardon me for asking, my dear, but if you’re a ghost, why can’t you speak to whatever ghosts might be haunting this place?”
    “Doesn’t work that way, I’m afraid,” said Kim. “There are all kinds of ghosts, and all kinds of hauntings.”
    “But you can act as a medium, help us make contact with what’s happening here?”
    “I don’t see why not,” said JC. “Kim has a foot in both worlds, the living and the dead. What better medium could there be?”
    “You have such wonderful ideas,” said Kim. “Let me see what I can do.”
    “Hold it, hold it!” said Melody, rushing over to her equipment. “I want to record everything that happens! If only so I can clear myself of all responsibility if it all goes pear-shaped in a hurry.”
    JC nodded for Happy to go keep Melody company, and the telepath moved quickly over to join her—and watch her back. Once Melody was immersed in recording something, she often became blind to more immediate dangers. And Happy also knew that JC wanted him to observe everything telepathically, from a safe distance. Just in case. Kim drifted quietly out across the open factory floor, not even bothering to walk, as she concentrated on the matter at hand. She faded away some more as she gave less thought to her manifestation and more to what JC wanted of her.
    Everyone looked round sharply. Nothing obvious had changed, but the sense of presence, or someone or something watching from the darkness, was suddenly that much stronger. Tiley called Susan back to him, and they huddled together, holding each other’s hands. Melody bent over her