Ghosts Know

Read Ghosts Know for Free Online

Book: Read Ghosts Know for Free Online
Authors: Ramsey Campbell
you have callers waiting in line?”
    I glance at Christine, who nods at the monitor. In a moment details of two callers appear on the screen, and I’m infuriated by the notion that Jasper is more capable of picking up cues from her than I am. “Answer me one question first,” I say. “Is it a chummy place, the afterlife?”
    “That’s kind of an English way of putting it. Can you say what you mean?”
    “Are all the dead on first name terms? Whenever you said you were in touch with somebody you never gave their whole name. Do we forget our last names once we’re dead?”
    “Most people forget stuff as they get older, don’t they? It’s part of the process of becoming what’s essential about each of us. All that matters is it never dies and we find peace.”
    I meant to show up another flaw in his performance, but I’ve handed him a notion he may not even previously have thought of. I need to be more alert, and I feel as if I’ve already overlooked some remark of his or something else about him. “Are we taking more calls?” he says.
    “In a moment.” I don’t want to be distracted from identifying whatever I failed to notice. “Let me ask you this,” I say to gain time. “Why did the lady get Josie for her, what’s the phrase you use, her spirit guardian?”
    “Don’t say you wouldn’t want it, Graham.”
    “I’m asking why she’d be favoured and not her sister.”
    “There’s no time and space in the forever. I’m sure Josie is with both of them.”
    Perhaps I can recognise the clue while he’s dealing with a caller. “Now we have Vic from Crumpsall,” I say. “What would you like to ask Frank Jasper, Vic?”
    “Do you reckon you’re clever?’”
    Jasper’s sad smile doesn’t falter, and so I say “Frank?”
    “Not him, you,” says Vic. “How many more silly tricks are you going to play to try and make him look bad?”
    “What tricks do you think you’ve been hearing, Vic?”
    “The lot of them. Don’t fret, Frank, anyone with half a brain can see what he’s up to. The likes of him should keep their gobs shut while you’re helping the police. You don’t want to be put off finding the lass that’s disappeared. You’re doing it for nowt, he might like to know.”
    “Is that right, Frank? You aren’t charging a fee?”
    “I hope you didn’t think I would, Graham.”
    “I just wanted to tell you we’re all with you, Frank,” Vic says. “You do whatever’s wanted to find the girl, God protect her.”
    “Thanks for your contribution, Vic.” I don’t know if this sounds ironic; my voice in the headphones seems too remote for me to judge. “Harry from Harpurhey, you’re on the air.”
    “Let’s be hearing you, then.” He gives me a moment to feel encouraged before he says “Let’s hear what he said to you at the Palace.”
    For just an instant I think Jasper isn’t anxious for it to be broadcast. I’m very much hoping to discover the reason as I set off the playback. “I’m getting an uncommon name …”
    There’s no question that he knew my discarded one but didn’t want to seem too obviously informed. Of course, he would have prepared for the interview by looking on the Waves web site, and he’d have recognised me at the Palace from my photograph. I let his monologue run to the end, stopping it just short of the single word I blurted. “What did you think of that, Harry?”
    “What do you? It’s meant to be all about you.”
    I could question whether it’s accurate and challenge Jasper to prove it is, but I’m goaded to enquire “How do you think he does it then, Harry?”
    “How he says. That’s if it’s true, and you’re not saying different.”
    I’m tempted to deny it is, not least because Jasper’s gaze is insufferably confident, but I could be shown to have lied. Am I really so desperate to expose him? Surely I haven’t run out of legitimate options, even if I’m reduced to asking Harry “What do you think is so

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