Call On Me Read Free Page B

tea.”
    “The usual for
you as well, then, I see.”
    Ghost’s brows
rose. Hmmm, seemed like Tommy was having problems of his own. Tommy
avoided looking at either of them and simply walked off.
    “Charming,”
Ghost remarked. “Luckily he’s the boss or he’d have to fire himself
for poor customer care.”
    “He’s having
issues.” Ali looked after Tommy’s retreating figure before
returning her attention to Ghost. “So, how goes the monster
slaying?”
    “Hang on a
minute.” Ghost leaned his forearms on the table top and linked his
fingers together. “What’s going on with Tommy?”
    She placed a
fingertip against her lips. “Secret.”
    “Are you sworn
to secrecy?”
    “Yep.”
    Damn. If there
was one thing Ali was good at, it was keeping other people’s
secrets. Some she found out by some weird method she had, some she
was told by the person themselves. Not once had anyone ever lived
to regret telling Ali their secret. Still…“Name anything you
want.”
    “World
domination.”
    “That’s a bit
steep, isn’t it?”
    “You
asked.”
    “Fine. World
domination. You have it. Now what’s the secret?”
    She simply
smiled that slow, easy Ali smile that never failed to make him
smile back. Her green eyes sparkled with laughter, making warmth
slip through him.
    Ali had always
provided him with not only amusement and annoyance, but an easy
camaraderie that made him relax in her company as he seldom did
with anyone. He had only a handful of people that he completely
relaxed with, and she was one of the privileged few. It probably
stemmed from the fact that she’d never thought him and his ideas
weird, and many was the time she’d stood up for him at school even
though he hadn’t needed it. Ali had been his champion as much as
he’d been hers.
    And he’d known
her long enough to know when to surrender. “Okay. I give up.” With
a sigh, he sat back in the booth.
    “Didn’t take
long.”
    “I know when
I’m flogging a dead horse.”
    Plucking a
paper napkin from the holder in the centre of the table, Ali
commenced folding it into intricate patterns. “How goes the murder
and mayhem business?”
    Ghost watched
the movements of her dexterous fingers. “Good. In fact, I’m going
to seek inspiration tomorrow night.”
    She glanced up,
interest sparking in her eyes. “Really? Where are you off to?”
    “Screaming
Pond.”
    “Screaming
Pond.” Ali pursed her lips. “Never heard of it.”
    “Formerly known
as the little pond off the river.”
    “Since when has
that been known as Screaming Pond?”
    “Since a little
known legend was told to me by Parker.”
    “Old Man Parker
isn’t really all there, you know.” Ali tapped her temple. “Sweet
old man, but…”
    Ghost glanced
up as Tommy appeared and placed the cups of hot coffee and tea on
the table. Without bothering to place them before Ghost and Ali,
Tommy walked away. Ghost stared after him before turning back to
Ali with his brows raised in query.
    Ali merely
placed her finger against her pursed lips.
    “Right.” Ghost
sighed. “Secret.” He loved secrets. Loved finding them out, but
again, no use asking Ali.
    Pulling the cup
of tea in front of her, Ali ripped open a couple packets of sugar
and shook them into her cup before stirring it briskly with the
teaspoon. “So, what did Parker tell you that has you slavering at
the mouth to go to this Screaming Pond?”
    “Maybe I have
my own secrets,” Ghost replied smugly.
    She snorted
derisively. “Yeah, right.”
    He laughed.
    “Come on,
spill. Must be something nasty to have you planning a midnight
rendezvous with something nasty.”
    “I do love your
choice of words. A nasty something for a nasty something.”
    Ali threw the
napkin at him.
    Catching it, he
chuckled.
    “If you’re not
going to tell me-”
    “Of course I’ll
tell you, honey. Don’t I tell you everything?”
    She crossed her
eyes at him.
    Growing
serious, Ghost leaned his folded arms on the table top and