by Sean Michael
He pulled into the parking lot of the Silver Flyer Diner. He needed a beer. Or two.
MacGregor pulled in next to them, the man weirdly dapper with his neatly trimmed dark beard and his little round glasses. He looked almost old-fashioned. Like he belonged to the era when the MacGregor house had been in its heyday.
Now, was that the guy’s style, or was it because of the house? Of course, MacGregor was a librarian. That didn’t lend itself to modern, did it? Will probably wasn’t the right person to start interrogating MacGregor over his choice of clothing, though, given the circumstances.
He gave MacGregor a nod, trying to make up for his earlier jerkitude.
MacGregor came over to them, offering everyone a shy smile. “Hey.”
“Hey. I’m thinking a greasy burger and a beer instead of coffee and sweets. Anyone else hungry?” Will asked. Because now that they were here, his stomach was definitely more interested in an actual meal than some snack.
Blaine cheered. “We’re always hungry!”
Will laughed as they went in and all piled into a large booth. As luck would have it, he was at the wall end of one bench seat with MacGregor squished up next to him and Darnell in the aisle in the last seat.
“Sorry!” MacGregor pulled in, clearly trying to take up less room.
Okay, it looked like he had been that big of an asshole. “Not your fault, dude. We can blame Darnell on the end there.”
Darnell shot him the bird, and he laughed. MacGregor smiled, so Will did the same. It was easier, somehow, to relax here at the diner. Maybe it was the warm lighting and the smell of coffee, sugar, and fried things.
The waitress came, and they all followed Will’s example, ordering beer. Jason asked for a pound of wings for the table too. Will figured he’d order his burger when she came back with their drinks. Now that they were sitting here, hungry had turned into starving, and he was eager for that burger.
“How long have you guys been working together? How did you meet?” MacGregor was probably just making conversation, but he did seem genuinely interested.
“Flynn joined us last year, but it’s almost six years for the rest of us. Blaine and I have been friends forever.” Jason smiled at Blaine. “Darnell and Will we’ve known since high school. It turned out we all believed to some degree, and we were all interested in ghost hunting.”
“Wow. That’s cool. Do you want a TV show? Is that the goal?”
“It has been.” Jason shrugged. “And we got a show on an episode-by-episode basis after we had quite the experience with this abandoned hospital. But the last three ‘episodes’ have seen us debunking supposed hauntings, and the powers that be don’t think that makes terribly good TV.”
They weren’t gonna lie, though. Will and the others agreed on that. They all knew ghosts really did exist and any pretending they did would only hurt them in the long run. Tarnish their reputation as legitimate ghost hunters. No way were they risking their credibility for ratings.
They wanted to help people, they wanted to prove that ghosts were real, and they wanted to make a living doing it, if that was possible. Making shit up and pretending there were ghosts in a place where there weren’t any would bite that dream in the ass, sooner or later.
“We haven’t had too many jobs where we help an individual with their ghost problems, like we’re doing with you. But it feels….” Jason paused, clearly searching for the right words.
“Feel like the right thing to do,” Will suggested, surprised at himself. It was true, though.
Jason nodded. “Yes, exactly. Like it gives us a purpose other than ‘ooh, TV,’ you know?”
“I like that. I don’t…. It’s hard to be made fun of for what you do, you know?” There was a deep pain, a humiliation, in MacGregor’s green eyes. That no doubt explained why he’d been so sensitive to Will’s grouchy behavior.
“Well, we’re not going to do that,” Jason assured him. “To begin with, we believe you. In fact, we’re worried about you in that house. There’s stuff happening, and it’s not all good.”
MacGregor nodded slowly and swallowed hard. “My worry is that it’s getting worse, you know? More intense.”
“We felt that,” Will told him. Hell, the damn door had been impossible to open. Not stuck, not stiff—impossible.
“Yeah, it was like you were in the middle of two different entities, and they were both trying to use you.”
“I don’t understand. Seriously. Use me to do what?” MacGregor looked worried behind the wire rims of his glasses.
They all looked to Blaine. This was his bailiwick.
“That’s the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question here, isn’t it? If ghosts could just tell you, it would be a lot easier.”
“I guess so. Hell, I’d settle for them telling you.”
“It would be nice if it were that easy, and maybe they will, but I sense there’s something there that isn’t going to make anything easy. You’re feeling a lot better now that you’re out of the house, aren’t you?” Blaine asked.
“I always feel better out these days,” MacGregor admitted.
Blaine nodded sagely. “I’m not surprised to hear that. You might consider moving until we figure this thing out.”
“I can’t. That’s my house, you know?”
“Even if it’s hurting you?” Blaine asked.
Will didn’t get that, needing to stay in a place that was toxic, not even wanting to be out of it for a couple of days. Maybe MacGregor didn’t even realize what was happening to him while he was there.
“I don’t have anywhere else to go. Not really.” MacGregor shrugged his shoulders. “And I’ve poured myself into it.”
“What about a hotel? Or you could stay with one of us.” Jason made the suggestion again.
“Maybe I’ll find a hotel for the night. We’ll see.”
Will had a feeling MacGregor was saying that to get them off his back about it, but the minute he left here, he was going straight back to the house.
Jason looked satisfied with MacGregor’s answer, though. “I think it would be healthy for you to have a night away from the place. We’ll go back tomorrow during the day. Most spirits aren’t as strong in the light.”
Their waitress returned with their beers and a big plate of wings. “You guys want anything else?”
“Yes,” Will nodded. “I’d like a bacon cheeseburger, please.”
“With the pub chips?”
“Yeah, that works.”
“Okay. Anyone else?” She looked around the table, and to Will’s surprise, it was MacGregor who put in an order.
“I’d like chicken fingers with onion rings, please.”
“I love onion rings,” Will noted. He hadn’t thought to ask for them. “Can you change my pub fries to onion rings?”
“Sure. Anyone else?” she asked again.
“I’m good with the wings. What about the rest of you?” Jason gave them the same glance the waitress had, and Will had to bite his lip to keep from smirking or laughing outright. That was Jason for you. Sometimes he couldn’t leave his role as leader of the Supers at work.
“I’d like some fries, actually.” Flynn nudged Blaine. “You can share with me if you want.”
“Double up on them,” Jason suggested. “We’ll share all around. I know once they get here and there’s all this food on the table, I’ll want some. Oh, I’d like some ranch dressing, please.”
“Got it. It shouldn’t be very long.”
Will noticed she didn’t ask if anyone wanted anything else. He guessed they’d used up all their one-more-thing ration.
“Meanwhile we have wings.” Will grabbed one and dunked it into the pot of sour cream, then put almost the whole thing in his mouth and pulled the flesh off the bone. Damn, they were nice and hot.
“Impressive.” MacGregor chuckled, green eyes sparkling at Will.
He chewed and swallowed. “The trick is to get the right end in your mouth, and it peels right off.” It helped if you
had a big mouth and weren’t afraid to use it in public. And all that put together sounded way dirtier than any of it was.
“I….” MacGregor shook his head. “I got nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
Will shrugged. “That’s the trick. Like, for real.” He hadn’t been trying to be sexual or pull off innuendo or anything. Even though it had sort of turned out that way in the end. He grabbed another wing, dipped it in the sour cream, and ate it the same way he had the first.
“Wow.” MacGregor shook his head but smiled at him. So Will figured it wasn’t an insult or anything.
“It’s a gift.” He winked at MacGregor before licking his fingers. He’d wait until everyone had taken at least one wing before he grabbed his third. He was starving—sue him.
MacGregor nibbled on a wing, so careful. Okay, that was cute.
Will wondered if the guy ate everything delicately like that. Not him; he was a chow-down-and-demolish-his-food kind of guy. As evidenced by his one mouthful wing-stripping technique.
He hid his grin in his beer glass.
Jason smiled. “So tell us about you, Payne. What do you like to do?”
“I’m a librarian. I love books. I mean, I collect all sorts. I work from home these days, doing information collection. It’s fascinating—the way that the old-school skills and the tech skills have melded.”
“So like, full-time research?” Will couldn’t imagine. They did research on the places they visited, of course, but that was fun and didn’t really count.
“Research, organizing what information there is, dealing with making the information readable and accessible.”
“You working on any particular subject?” Flynn asked, using a knife and fork to pull the meat from his wing. Who did that? It was kind of morbidly fascinating.
“Right now I’m curating information about medical history—saving the books for the sake of history. You can’t risk leaving them lying around and having patrons believing the information’s current, you know?”
“Do people really look at those old books as if that’s accurate medical information they should follow?” Will always thought people in general were stupid, and this kind of confirmed it.
“Well, the thing is that even a few years can make a difference, right?”
“Yeah, I suppose. But with the internet, there’s always going to be that information out there, whether it’s out of date or not. Even if it’s like, the worst advice ever, it still exists. It still looks right.” A lot of people preferred self-diagnosing to going to the doctor, though.
“That’s what I’m doing—trying to clarify so that there’s less confusion.” MacGregor shrugged. “I know that not everyone thinks it’s worthwhile, but it’s important.”
“Good for you. It’s good to have something to do that you feel is important.” Like them and the ghost hunting. He fucking loved that stuff, and it mattered way more than delivering pizzas.
“I guess so, yes.” Payne shrugged. “I’m sure your lives are more interesting than mine. Tell me about your exploits.”
“Grass is always greener?” Flynn suggested.
Will laughed. “I gotta admit that I think our job is more interesting than MacGregor’s. Sorry man, but it sounds really dry to me.”
MacGregor nodded toward him with a distant smile and turned to look at Jason as he started telling stories. Then Blaine joined in, filling up the quiet.
Will added a detail here and there, all the while devouring wings. He felt guilty for a second as he was eating the lion’s share, but he figured if the others wanted some, they could totally have some. He wasn’t stopping them. He was even hungrier than he’d realized, though, because he totally still had room for his burger and onion rings when the waitress came back with plates full of food.
MacGregor ate very little—a couple of rings, one chicken strip—while listening to them silently, letting them all chatter. Will couldn’t tell if MacGregor was actually paying attention or off in his own world.
Will finished his meal and sat back with a happy sigh. He grabbed his beer and took a deep drink, feeling so much better now, more like himself.
“So what happens next? Will you want to come back later?” MacGregor asked.
Jason answered for them. “We make sure you get checked into a hotel, and then we’ll all go back tomorrow.”
“When it’s day,” Will added firmly. Fewer things went bump in the light.
“I can deal. Seriously. I’ll have to go get my laptop and chargers. Clothes. What time tomorrow?”
“We can go with you,” Jason suggested. “Like I said, we want to make sure you get settled in your hotel okay.”
“Nonsense. I’m a grown man, and you guys have better things to do than babysit me. I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t be stubborn, MacGregor. It’s all part of the service.” Will drank the rest of his beer. “It’s late enough you probably don’t even need the laptop and shit. We could drop you off at the hotel and pick you up in the morning, avoid the house altogether.”
“Do you mind letting me out, Darnell? I need to hit the head.” Darnell slid over and let MacGregor out. “Thanks, man.”
Will peered at the guys once MacGregor had left. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You really don’t like him, huh?” Blaine asked.
“What? I didn’t do anything but suggest the guy stay out of the house that’s doing shit to him!” Honestly that hadn’t been mean at all.
“You’re just so gruff. Does he remind you of someone or something?”
Will hated when Blaine seemed so concerned. Especially if it was aimed at him. “I’m just being me. He doesn’t remind me of anyone.” Yeah, he’d been a bit of an ass at the beginning. He could see that now, and he was putting that down to being hungry. But he’d been totally normal since then and definitely hadn’t been rude or assholeish since getting to the restaurant. Right? Dammit, now he was questioning himself, and that really would make him growly. Or, pardon him, gruff.
“Okay. Maybe we’re all just sensitive.” Blaine smiled at him, letting him know Blaine was willing to let it go.
“I will try to be extra gentle around him from now on, okay?” He rolled his eyes.
“Such a good boy.” Darnell patted his leg.
“Fuck off, butthead.” He bumped shoulders with Darnell, no heat behind his words.
MacGregor returned, and Will managed a wide smile. See him. See him be Mr. Nice Guy.
“I’m going to head out. I’ve paid the bill. I’ll see you all tomorrow morning at the house.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” protested Jason. “We’re not on the clock.”
“It was my pleasure. You guys have a good one. Night.” And just like that, MacGregor was heading out the door.
“You think he’s going to the hotel?” Jason asked.
Will snorted. “Nope. Not for a second.”
“I think Will’s right. I’m worried about what state he’s going to be in when we meet him there tomorrow.” Blaine sighed, and Flynn rubbed his back.
“Nothing you can do, love. We warned him.”
“More than once,” Will noted. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”
“He’s been dealing with it a long time, you know. Maybe he doesn’t have anywhere else to go.” Darnell shrugged. “Maybe he doesn’t know what to do.”
“We said hotel. That’s a place to go.” Will sighed. He didn’t think he was being unreasonable. He probably should shut up, though. “Anyway. We should do some more digging into the family and the house itself, eh? So we’re better equipped in the morning?”
“Yeah.” Jason nodded. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. Hopefully he’s there tomorrow, waiting for us.”
It was going to be a hell of a short job if MacGregor wasn’t. Will wasn’t entirely sure which way he was hoping it would go.
5
Payne went home feeling as stupid as a man could feel. It was obvious that these guys
were… oh, he didn’t know. He had no clue where his thoughts had been going. Maybe that they were good friends. Tight.
It didn’t matter anyway.
He was just a loser librarian, all by himself in a great big fancy house. Maybe he ought to do some more research himself. He knew the history of course, but he’d never delved too deeply. It had him frowning. He’d meant to. More than once he’d been in the process of digging for more information, but something had always come up.
He went into the library, determined to do some more digging. There were books all over the floor, as if someone had walked through the room and dragged their arms along the shelves, sending the books tumbling. He sighed and picked up the mess of books, carefully dusting each one off and putting them back on the shelf where they belonged.
He was getting used to this kind of thing. Maybe he should learn to live with it. Maybe if he did, it would ease up.
He grabbed his laptop, poured himself a glass of brandy—he noticed the ghost had never tossed the decanter and spilled it; at least it had good taste—and settled into his chair to get some work done.
He woke up to a banging on the door, the sunlight pouring in the window. “Hold up! Coming!”
The banging continued. “Come on, MacGregor! We’re going to break the door down if you don’t answer right now!”
“Coming!” He stumbled through the house, still feeling fuzzy from sleep, and opened the front door. “Sorry, I fell asleep.”
“Oh, thank God.” Jason tugged him outside. “Are you okay? We’ve been ringing and knocking for fifteen minutes.”
He frowned. Surely not for fifteen minutes. They were exaggerating. “I worked all night after I picked up the books.”
“Picked up what books? Jason asked, keeping him on the veranda instead of going inside with him.
“There were dozens on the floor. Three shelves worth.”
“Someone had a temper tantrum,” said Will.
“Yeah, not me.” He chuckled. “I just clean it up.”
“Does that kind of thing happen a lot?” Jason asked. They still weren’t going in.
“All the time. I need a cup of coffee.” And to brush his damn teeth.