“We hope so.” Claudia noted the slight hint of derision in his voice. She glanced at Martin who rolled his eyes.
Alex stepped forward and shook hands, flashing a pained smile. Claudia could have sworn from the young PA’s stance and expression she didn’t want to be there. Julia sat down, followed by Paul.
“I was away filming up north when Julia called to say you were coming,” Paul said. “I’m not sure I believe in ghosts, other than the one who walks on payday.”
“Payday?” Alex asked.
Paul smirked in a condescending fashion. “Theatrical tradition, dear heart. We actors say ‘the ghost walks’ when we get paid.” He turned back to the others. “Personally, I think it’s someone out to play jokes.” He gestured at Julia. “Jules had problems with a stalker last year. It’s why she had the security system installed.”
“This is no ordinary stalker, Paul.” Julia’s voice dripped with tenseness.
“I’m sorry, dearest.” His voice took on an instant smoothness. Claudia could tell from that comment alone he was a professional actor. “I’m just trying to lighten the atmosphere, that’s all.”
Julia shrugged. “I appreciate it, but it’s not working.”
Paul gestured to Martin. “Well, let’s let the expert do his thing, and we’ll see.”
Claudia held up the case containing Martin’s equipment. He nodded. “I’ll set up a few devices throughout the house and see what we get.”
“You’re on holiday or honeymoon here?” Paul asked. When Martin nodded the affirmative the actor looked at him quizzically. “Why did you bring all that stuff with you, then?”
“We’re taking the opportunity to look at some places in Britain while we’re here.” Martin smiled. “It’s probably the most haunted country in the world.”
“Whatever, but I’d rather you don’t put any of those things in our bedroom.” Paul smiled, but Claudia caught the dangerous glint in his eye. “What happens there is for no one else to know but Julia and me.”
Martin stared incredulously at the actor. “If I’m to be of any help, I’ll need to put at least a digital recorder and electromagnetic energy detector in your room, including the bathroom.” He spread his hands wide. “I’m sure you could transfer to another bedroom without too much trouble, given the size of this house.”
Paul flushed angrily and looked about to speak again. Julia tugged on his arm. “We’ll move to the next room,” she said, her voice firm. Claudia could see who wore the pants in the household. She gave Paul a hard glance. “It won’t be a problem.” He conceded her point with a sulky look.
“That’s fine,” Martin said. “I’ll get set-up now. Claudia? Can you give me a hand?”
* * * *
Over the next hour they distributed the recording devices throughout the main living area of the house. When they got to the main bedroom, Claudia hesitated.
“It’ll be okay, love,” Martin reassured her with a smile. “I don’t think whoever tried to contact us means any harm.”
“What about whoever—or whatever—raised that gust of wind?”
“I’d say there’re two spirits here, at least, in conflict for some reason.” He stood in the middle of the room and closed his eyes, his head tipped back. After a few moments he shook his head. “No. No one’s presenting themselves.”
He set up a digital recorder and electromagnetic energy detector and added a web cam. Claudia watched him work. “The first spirit started to spell out a word. C-H-A.”
Martin nodded. “It could be Charles or Charlotte.”
“We’ll have to look it up to see if anyone with either of those names lived here.”
“We will.” He stood back, gauged the angle of the camera lens, and then adjusted it a little. “That Paul’s a bit of a tit, don’t you think?”
“He’s very much a regular asshole.” Claudia grimaced. “He’s so full of himself.”
“Many actors are, or so I read in the papers. I think it goes with the territory.”
She reached out and rubbed his arm. “You’re not finding it too hard watching him and Julia together?”
“A bit.” He drew her into his arms and kissed her. “You understand me.”
“I should hope so by now,” she retorted with a smile.
Martin shrugged. “I do feel a kind of wrench inside when I see him acting so familiar around someone I was once so familiar with.”
“It’s human nature, I guess. But I get the impression Julia’s not as fond of him as she might have been once. She certainly wears the pants in this house.”
He nodded. “Julia’s not one to tolerate fools gladly. I don’t think Paul loves her that much, anyway. I guess actors have to be more in love with themselves than anyone else, or they wouldn’t be actors.”
“What of the PA, Alex? I feel she doesn’t want to be involved in this.”
Martin pursed his lips. “She could just be humoring her boss. It’s possible she might know something. We’ll have to ask her on the quiet.”
Claudia went out into the bedroom and looked around. “I think this must have been the main bedroom since the hall was built.” She looked out the window. “It has a nice view out front.”
Martin came out of the bathroom. “I think you’re right. Whoever has been groping Julia probably has a strong tie to this room. We’ll see.”
“It’s odd to think of ghosts being sexual,” Claudia mused as they left the room. “Although, obviously, they were once human, with all the emotions and urges we have.”
“True, and like humans, there are some more sexually driven than others. There are plenty of spectrophilia incidents listed. It’s not all one-way traffic, either.”
“Kind of like The Ghost and Mrs. Muir?” she asked with a whimsical smile.
“Exactly, although in that example they never got physical.”
“Too bad! Rex Harrison made a very hot ghost.” Claudia gave a dirty chuckle. “A little kinky ghost sex could have really helped that movie’s box office.”
Martin shook his head and flashed a look of fond exasperation. “Naughty girl. You need a right good spanking…Hmm, I wonder some days why I put up with you.”
She pouted playfully. “Because you love me?”
He winked. “Ah, that would be it.”
*
After the others had left the room, Julia looked at Paul. “I hope you’ll be more civil to them,” she said. “Martin’s an old friend from college, and he’s here to help.”
“Frankly, I think you’re being taken for a ride.” He shrugged. “But it’s your house, as you’re so fond of saying.”
Before she could reply, he turned on his heel and stalked out into the hall. Julia didn’t follow. His cell phone chimed at that moment. Glancing at the screen he saw the name of his stockbroker and decided discretion was in order. “Hey, Greg, wait one. I’m not private.” He headed out onto the front steps, leaving the door open so he could see if Julia came near. The air felt cold and he shivered. “Okay, Greg. Speak and make it quick, ’cause it’s fucking cold out here.”
“Hi Paul, I’ve lined up the deal for you,” Greg replied without preamble. “Fifty thou in BlackThorn Holdings. Is that still okay?”
Paul thought quickly. “Yeah.”
“They’ll need proof of funds by next Tuesday.”
“Not a problem.”
“You sure? What about your better half?” Greg sounded skeptical. “Last time she wasn’t up for even loaning you lunch money.”
“Jules is a sweetheart.” A movement out the corner of his eye attracted his attention. He glanced through the door to see Alex had just left the sitting room. She looked at him and he blew her a kiss. Alex grinned, responded in kind and went toward the stairs. “No,” he went on. “I’ll have Jules eating out of my hand again before then.” He watched Alex climb the stairs. Same as I’ll eat out that sweet little pussy there.
“Okay, I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Don’t wo
rry, Greg. I have the straight dope on this. Besides, I’m up for a really meaty role next month, should bring in a cool million in residuals.”
“Here’s hoping you get it,” Greg retorted and hung up.
“Dickhead,” Paul said to the open line.
He thought he heard someone chuckle close by, but when he swiveled to look, he saw no one.
* * * *
“Hey guys.” Alex stood in the passageway as Claudia and Martin left the bedroom. “Julia asked me to tell you both you can have the room opposite,” she said with a smile. “I’ll show you the facilities.”
“Thanks.” Martin returned the smile.
Alex opened the door of the other bedroom and entered. Claudia was struck again by the younger woman’s androgynous appearance. Her slender hips hardly swayed as she walked. They followed her and found themselves in a cheerful corner room that overlooked the back of the house. Alex showed them the usual features. “I’ll bring your things up for you.” She turned to leave.
“Please, don’t trouble yourself,” Claudia said quickly.
“In fact, we’d like a word with you about what’s happening here,” Martin put in.
Alex’s face twitched. She appeared to be steeling herself to say something disturbing. “What can I tell you?”
“Has anything unusual happened to you in this house?” Martin asked.
Alex clasped her hands in front and pursed her lips. “It’s difficult for me to say anything,” she managed at last. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I’m not sure I believe in ghosts and all that.” She shook her head. “Even so, I…do think there’s something happening here.”
“Can you be specific?” Martin took out his tablet. “I’d like to record this, if I may.”
“Please don’t!” Alex cried, flushing pink and holding up a hand. She flicked her bang of fine ash-blonde hair out of her eye and glanced at the door. “I’m sorry, but I’m a career woman. I’m not comfortable with the idea of having this held against me if it gets out.”
Martin nodded, put the tablet away, and took out his notebook and a pencil. “As you wish. I make it strictly optional when speaking to potential witnesses.”
“Thanks.” Alex gave him a relieved smile. She closed the door and calmed down. “Okay, I’ll tell you what I experienced here. I live in Cambridge. Most times I commute, but I stay over occasionally when Julia has a lot of work for me. My room is next door, diagonally across from Julia and Paul’s. A couple of nights, around the small hours, I’ve heard pebbles thrown against the window. The noise woke me up. When I peered out there was no one there, but I could swear I heard singing.”
“Singing? Interesting.” Martin made notes. “Could you identify the tune?”
“Not specifically, but it sounded like a sea shanty.”
Claudia blinked. “Of all the tunes you could’ve named, I didn’t expect that.”
Alex shrugged. “I couldn’t make out words, but I know enough about music to identify the rhythm.”
“That’s cool.” Claudia nodded. “It gives us something to work with. Is there anything else you could tell us?”
“Both times I went back to bed. After a few minutes I heard the window open. They’re sash windows, like the rest of the place, and make a distinctive noise when they open. Both times the window was shut and the drapes closed and unmoving. Again, there was no one there, but the air felt cold somehow.” She hesitated. “I…sensed someone watching me, as if they were puzzled by my presence.”
“Like, you weren’t who they expected to find in that room?” Claudia asked.
“Exactly!” Alex’s eyes lit up. “It was weird.”
“I can imagine,” Martin said. “You didn’t notice anything else, like a smell or sound?”
“No, nothing else. It only happened twice, but it felt pretty freaky each time.” She seemed anxious to leave. “That’s all I can tell you. May I leave now?”
“Yes, certainly,” Martin said. “Thanks for your help. Your testimony will be kept strictly confidential.”
“Thanks.”
Claudia closed the door when Alex exited and turned to Martin. “So, Marty, we have a groping ghost, and what seems to be another who pays visits to single women in the small hours of the night. What do you make of that?”
Martin put away his notebook and smiled. “I think it’s adding up to quite an interesting experience.”
Claudia and Martin spent the evening with their hosts and Alex. Paul acted in a pleasant fashion, and Claudia could see he had charm if he chose to use it. Julia seemed rather withdrawn, coming to life only when Martin asked her about old friends and acquaintances. Claudia intercepted a knowing glance between Paul and Alex, and wondered at its meaning. Soon after, Alex took her leave, heading home to Cambridge.
At the end of the evening they took their bags upstairs to their room. Martin opened his and took out his toiletries. “I thought that went reasonably well; although, Jules is not quite her old self.”
“Paul behaved himself.” Claudia slowly started to undress. “Alex seemed quiet, but that may just be her personality.”
Martin came over to unhook her bra. The cups fell away, and Claudia sighed with relief. “What do you call these things? Over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders?”
“That’s right.”
He grinned, cupping her breasts and kissing her. “I would never be so indelicate as to refer to your gorgeous breasts as boulders, though.”
“I should hope not!” She wrapped her arms around him. His thumbs played over her nipples, bringing them to life. Their tongues entwined and she felt warmth spreading in her pussy. “You owe me a good long session of love-making, mister. Time to cash the rain check from this morning.”
“With pleasure,” he purred. She could feel his hardness against her.
She knelt and unbuckled his belt, dragging his pants down over his thighs. Martin held onto her shoulder for balance, and she stroked his legs, working up to his underpants. “You have a helluva bulge here, sir!” Gripping the band she tugged his underpants down, allowing his cock to spring free. It jutted out, long and hard with a slight upward curve. She rolled back his foreskin and took his cock into her mouth, savoring his taste and delighting in the hardness as her tongue slicked his shaft. Martin groaned and jerked his hips back and forth. Claudia allowed him his pleasure for a moment, taking his shaft deep into her throat, tasting his manliness. Then she slipped it from her mouth, stood up, and dropped back onto the bed. Spreading her thighs, she reached out to him with open arms. “Come and take me!”
Martin stepped closer then knelt by the side of the bed. She felt his strong hands upon her thighs as he lowered himself to his knees between them. His hot breath gusted against her wet pussy, and then his tongue began to work its magic. Claudia shuddered with increasing pleasure as Martin’s lips and tongue slid all over and around her cunt, teasing her clit and labia. When his tongue slid deep inside her she gasped and writhed slowly, her hands clasping his head against her mound, her fingers entwined in his hair.
She felt thoroughly moist when he rose and laid upon her, his cock brushing along her thigh until the head touched her opening. She reached down and took him in her hand. Guiding him, she felt Martin enter her with a slow, smooth thrust that took him balls-deep. For a few moments they lay joined, savoring the small, silent time before the passion to come. Then Martin thrust and withdrew, as her hands slid over his hips to clasp his firm ass. She rocked hard against him, meeting and matching him move for move, her yoni enfolding and accepting his hard shaft and anointing it with her juice.
Their passion rose as one, and Martin’s thrusts became quicker, harder, deeper. Claudia moaned in the back of her throat as fire spread through her belly. Her brain fizzled with ecstasy, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
Marty gasped and grunted. Claudia felt his cock grow bigger, throbbing harder inside and knew he was about to come. She couldn’t hold back either and they came as one. Marty buried his face in
her shoulder, his cries of liberation muffled by her flesh. Claudia did the same, her thoughts scattering in wild confusion as her orgasm surged throughout her body.
Sometime later, as they lay warm and drowsy in each other’s arms, they heard the sounds of an argument close by. “Oh, my!” Claudia whispered. “Sounds like Julia and Paul are having a row. Can there be trouble in paradise?”
“Seems so.” She glanced at his face. Her husband looked troubled. “I hope he isn’t the violent type, or I’ll have to go and have a word with him.”
Claudia knew “go and have a word” to be a Briticism meaning to seek a fight with someone. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“So do I. You know I don’t like violence.”
Some seconds later two doors slammed in quick succession. Claudia strained her ears. She could make out sobbing from the adjoining room. “I think Julia’s quit the bed of love.”
“We can’t interfere,” Martin pointed out. “Not unless Paul tries something stupid.”
“I don’t think he would.”
Eventually the sobbing quieted then stopped. Claudia drifted off to sleep, sated and happy. As she rolled away from Martin he wrapped an arm about her and began to snore softly. Claudia rolled her eyes, smiled, and fell asleep.
A soft tapping woke her. Martin stirred and mumbled something. The tapping sounded again, and she realized someone was knocking on the door. Thoughts of a spirit making the noise tumbled through her waking mind and the surge of adrenaline brought her to full wakefulness. She nudged Martin awake and switched on the bedside light. Julia spoke through the door. “Martin? Claudia? Are you awake?”
“We are now,” Claudia muttered as Martin got out of bed and fumbled for his robe. Putting it on, he opened the door. Squinting, Claudia saw Julia silhouetted against the passageway light. Even at first glance she seemed agitated.
“I’m so sorry to trouble you two at this hour, but I really need to talk.”
“Sure, come in,” Martin said, standing back. Claudia drew the covers up to her neck as Julia entered and he closed the door. “What’s the matter?”
Ghosts and Lovers Page 3
