I’m an astronaut.” Cope rolled his eyes. “If I had the commendable ethics of my friend, I never would have seen the second book percolating in that brilliant mind of yours. I think it’s a winner. Come see me, my friend Tennyson, and the other psychics at West Side Magick, whenever you’re ready to start on the research.”
Jamie wore a stunned look on his face.
“I’d better get a signed first-edition.” Cope grinned
“You got it. I’ll give you anything if you can somehow manage to pull my reputation out of the mud.” For the first time since his company arrived, Jamie smiled.
“I’ll get to work on that, but in the meantime, get yourself a laptop. No more haunted antique typewriters for you.”
“In this case, it would kind of fit.” Jamie started to laugh.
Mission accomplished. Not only had Cope gathered vital new clues, but he and Jude had also given a deserving man a new lease on life. He didn’t need his gift to know the new book, about a crime-solving psychic, was going to be a best seller.
18
Jude
Jude was pacing around the kitchen, with Wolf tucked against his shoulder, while Cope made dinner. It was a garden salad with avocados and chopped chicken from last night’s dinner. He’d even whipped up his own homemade balsamic vinegar dressing.
“What’s our next step?” Jude asked. He still wasn’t one hundred percent comfortable being in their house with the ghost writer. The thought of spending another night with Ten and Ronan didn’t make him feel comfortable either, so their home seemed to be the lesser of two evils.
Cope carried the large salad bowl to the table. “I have an idea, but I don’t think you’re going to like it.” His tone was matter of fact.
Reluctantly, Jude set the baby in his highchair and gave him a handful of Cheerios. He’d had his dinner an hour ago but Jude wanted him to feel like this was a family dinner.
“Tell me.” Jude took the salad tongs and started heaping salad on his plate, careful to avoid the chunks of avocado. They weren’t his favorite.
“This spirit has some message to convey. We need to find out what it is.”
Jude understood there was something on the spirit’s mind. “Why is the ghost only able to communicate with song lyrics?”
“That’s the first thing we need to ask.” Cope took the salad bowl and served himself. He shot Jude a dirty look when he started piling the avocado on his plate.
Jude knew his husband was just trying make their diet healthier. It would be good for Wolf to grow up with proper eating habits, but Jude wouldn’t eat avocados if they were the last food on Earth. “I’m not trying to be a dick here.” For once, Jude couldn’t help thinking, “But how are you going to ask this ghost writer a question if they are incapable of responding to you?”
Cope speared a piece of avocado on his fork and popped it into his mouth. Jude stomach pitched at the thought of that slippery texture on his own tongue. “I’ve got two theories about communication.”
“Do tell.” Jude ate a bite of chicken. To be honest it was the best thing he’d ever eaten. This healthy living wasn’t so bad, but he still missed burgers and fried food.
“My first thought is that this spirit doesn’t think I’m asking the right questions.” Cope wore a frustrated look on his face.
“You mean like those dickheads who don’t give you the time of day if you’re using the wrong grammar or the word effect when it should be affect?” Nothing pissed Jude off more than a grammar snob.
“Maybe. But I was thinking more along the lines of focusing on the wrong thing.”
“I don’t understand.” Jude didn’t have time for this sort of bullshit. He and Cope needed to figure out who this spirit was and what was keeping it tethered to the typewriter.
“I asked the spirit who it was. Maybe I should have been asking what it was? You see the difference?”
“Yeah, I do. It just seems like playing semantics to me. If you have the ability to communicate then communicate. If you’re a restless soul, say it. If you’re an angry spirit bent on revenge, just tell us. This cloak and dagger shit is for the birds.”
“Da!” Wolf were a shocked expression. One Cheerio was stuck to the tip of his nose.
“We’re going to have to start watching our language.” Cope laughed. “Wolf looks positively scandalized.”
Reaching out to snatch the Cheerio off his son’s