Lure Read Free Page B

the ghosts talk?" Alton said. "Typical woman. You talk too much."
    Sam just glared at him. "Ignore the oaf with the camera. Isn't there anything you want to tell us, anything you want the world to know? Can you see the future? Do you even know you are dead?" Somehow Sam knew that Alton was opening and closing his fingers in a rapid motion, his imitation of what he called birds chirping. "I know you're doing that, Alton."
    "How did . . . " he started to ask, but then he stopped mid-sentence. "What the-"
    A sudden light blazed, forcing Sam to avert her eyes, "Hey."
    "Which one of you did that?" Alton asked, his voice betraying fear.
    "Did what?" Shells asked.
    "C'mon. Which one of you touched my neck? It was you, wasn't it," Alton accused, pointing his flashlight at Sam.
    "Get that light out of my face," Sam said. "Neither of us moved. You saw yourself when you turned on your light. We were both sitting right here, weren't we?"
    "I don't like this shit, man," Alton said, refusing to turn off his flashlight. "Something touched me. I think I'm gonna jet. Y'all can finish this without me."
    "Whoa. Wait. You can't just go all chicken shit on me. Did it hurt you or something? Do you want me to check you out?"
    "No," Alton said, and the light played over his face as he shifted. His eyes darted back and forth, and Sam was pretty certain he wasn't making anything up.
    "So what's the matter, then?"
    "It felt good," he said quietly.
    "What?"
    "The way it touched my neck," he snapped. "I liked it. It kinda turned me on, and that is freaking me out ! I gotta get out of here."
    Trying hard to keep from laughing, Sam did her best to persuade him to stay, "Wait, man. Don't go. It's just The Corner Bar, remember? We've eaten lunch here a hundred times and closed it down almost just as many. You have nothing to fear here; you're around friends."
    "A little too friendly," Alton said, but at least he didn't look like he was going to run for the door any more.
    "It seems there is a female presence here that likes you," Sam said.
    "Better be female," Alton replied.
    Shells snorted. "Oh yeah, there's a gay ghost haunting The Corner Bar, and it's coming onto Alton. That's friggen' perfect. I should be writing this shit down."
    "Shut up, Michelle," Alton said, knowing she hated to be called that.
    Shells couldn't keep from giggling, and Sam shot her a dirty look.
    "Give us a sign of your presence. Let us know if you are really here."
    Silence.
    "Move something, make a noise, touch one of us," Sam said.
    "Touch one of them," Alton said, and then there was again the soft sound of a mug moving.
    "Did you hear that?"
    "I didn't hear anything," Alton said, and then Sam was certain she heard a gulp and then the same sound again.
    "Turn on the light," Sam said.
    "Uh uh."
    " Turn it on. "
    Relenting, Alton turned on the flashlight and pointed it at Sam and Shells. Shading her eyes, Sam stepped forward and grabbed it from his hands. "Give me that." Then she looked at the mugs, starting with the one closest to Alton, which, though empty, appeared to be sweating, the chalk ring wet and smeared. "Alton."
    He just belched in response.
    "No more beers during the investigation," she said. Shells surprised them both and kept her mouth shut for a change. "You all right?" Shells remained silent, and Sam moved closer. "Shells," she said softly. "You OK?"
    "Something touched me," she said. "Real tender and sexy like. I have to admit, it's kinda freaking me out too."
    "Great. I got felt up by a bi-sexual ghost. That's just great. Or wait-"
    "Shut up, Alton," Sam said, never taking her eyes off of Shells, and holding the flashlight so they both could see each other.
    Sam leaned forward, the neckline of her t-shirt dipping low. Shells' eyes dropped low for a moment before meeting Sam's eyes once again. Sam pretended not to notice, and she even stayed in that position long enough to afford Shells a second glance--it seemed she couldn't resist. For some reason Sam was very