Ghost Writer - Pandora Pine Page 0,56

so he’d go check out the noise and he claimed he didn’t hear it. I was petrified someone was trying to break into our house and my useless husband rolled over and went back to sleep.”

“I hate to ask, but was the banging still going on when you woke your husband up?” Jude was lightly tapping his pen on his notepad.

Peg nodded. “I could hear it clear as a bell.”

Cope had a feeling she was going to say that. “What happened next?”

“It went on and on, getting worse over time. I figured out, through the process of elimination, that the banging was coming from the third floor, in the old servants’ quarters. I wouldn’t go up there for a million dollars.” Peg shivered with obvious dread. “Anyway, every time I woke Marc, he never heard it.” Tears slipped down her sallow cheeks. “He thinks I’m crazy and I’m starting to think he’s right.”

“How did you find out about us?” Cope asked.

“A friend of mine at work comes here all the time. She books psychic readings with Carson but said the two of you are some kind of ghost detectives. I did some research about you online and read articles about cases you’ve solved here in Salem.”

Jude shot Cope a questioning look, when he nodded, Jude turned to Peg. “We have a confession to make.”

“What do you mean?” Peg warily eyed both of them. She seemed ready to bolt any moment.

“When we asked to hear your side of the story, it’s because we already met with your husband.” Jude wore a guilty look on his face.

“You what?” Color flushed Peg’s cheeks. It was the most animated Cope had seen her since she’d walked into the shop. “Marc contacted you?”

“Through our website.” Cope reached out a hand, setting it on top of Peg’s. Using his gift, he knew she was more scared than angry. All she needed was some time to calm down and she’d be able to listen to what happened when they met with her husband.

Peg reached for the coffee with the other hand, taking a shaky sip. She grabbed one of the paper napkins to catch a drip that escaped the lid.

“We have a website where potential clients fill out a form to request our services. We get most of our cases from internet traffic. The rest come from walk-ins, like you,” Jude explained easily.

“And you’re saying Marc contacted you about the haunting in our house?” Peg seemed stunned. “What happened? Can you tell me or is it private, like between a doctor and patient?”

Jude eyed Cope warily.

“He told us you thought the house was haunted. Marc admitted he didn’t think it was.” Cope’s stomach fell at the defeated look on Peg’s face. He wondered if he should even tell her the rest of it. Thankfully, Jude saved him.

“You mentioned thinking that Marc might be trying to make you feel crazy, I believe that’s exactly what he’s doing.”

“Does that mean you were able to contact the spirit in the house?” Peg’s devastated look turned hopeful.

Cope shook his head. “No. I didn’t detect anything in the house, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything there. In fact, it only confirms my suspicion that something is haunting your house.”

“Now you’ve lost me. How could you not finding a ghost mean there’s one in my house?” Peg looked absolutely defeated.

“The ghost not wanting Marc to know it’s there is odd, but it not showing itself to me means it’s hiding on purpose.” Cope gave Peg’s hand a squeeze. He could feel her jumbled emotions pouring into him.

Peg sighed. “I still don’t understand.”

“Most spirits run to Cope because they can tell he’s a conduit. They know he can see and hear them. Many of the spirits we encounter want to say hello to loved ones or pass on one final message from the other side. This ghost wants to keep itself hidden because it has some endgame in mind.”

Peg sat back in her seat. She looked as if she didn’t know if she was coming or going. “Why me? Why is this asshole ghost after me, and not Marc?”

“I might have the answer to that.” Jude’s eyes met Cope’s. They were serious, not one sign of snark.

Cope trusted Jude completely. If he had a theory as to what was going on, Cope was content to let him run with it. He nodded briefly.

Jude wrung his hands together under the table. Peg couldn’t see them, but Cope could. He must really know something crushing