Ghostly Play

by K E O'Connor

  Eva was also absent, as was Camilla, so I couldn’t check with them to see if Alex had already left the house for the day and forgotten to let me know. My misgivings about this job increased the longer I waited.

  Greg was also nowhere to be seen. After his fright last night when I revealed Eva had liked him, he hadn’t returned. Maybe I’d scared him off? Would that be such a bad thing? It would be nice not to have to worry about solving a ghost’s problem, especially since I had one back home I should focus upon.

  I stood and looked out the office window. Flipper was sound asleep on the plush green carpet. Everything was quiet outside. Spring continued its battle with winter as a few fluffed-up sparrows hopped around on the grass.

  I decided to do one more circuit downstairs to see if I could find Alex. He had to be somewhere. I had been tempted to go upstairs and try his bedroom, but if he was having a lie in, it would be rude of me to drag him out of his bed. He was paying my salary, and so long as he kept doing that, I guess he could keep his own hours. It made me wonder what on earth I was doing here. If things didn’t improve over the next few days, I would get in touch with the recruitment agency and see if they could find me something new.

  Starting in the lounge, I decided to open the half-drawn curtains and let light in. Opening a window wouldn’t be a bad idea either. The room smelled of cold baked beans and beer.

  I walked over to the first window and yanked the curtain all the way back.

  Something stirred behind me, and I jumped. On the couch lay Alex, a coat thrown over his head.

  Flipper ran over and investigated Alex. He didn’t move.

  I took a step toward him and then stopped. Had he spent the night on the couch?

  I looked over to see the wide-screen TV was still on and the computer game paused. Alex had probably been playing most of the night and crashed with exhaustion.

  It couldn’t do a person good to play computer games for that long. We would have to work on Alex’s time management and put his priorities in order. He might run a successful business now, but if he spent his days and nights playing computer games, it wouldn’t last long.

  The screen behind me bleeped. I turned and looked at it. There was a message sitting there.

  Can we talk?

  I stared at the screen and then looked back at Alex.

  “Do you mean me?” I felt silly talking to a screen.

  Yes. You. Are you alone?

  I looked around the room. How could the computer hear what I’d just said? “No. Alex is asleep on the couch, and my dog is with me.”

  Then we can talk. A freaky image of an alien’s elongated head appeared.

  What did I have to say to an alien? “Okay. Let’s talk.”

  “I’m Mickey Kill,” said a robotic sounding voice.

  “You can hear me?”

  “I can. There’s a web cam embedded into this screen, along with a mic.”

  Now, I really was getting freaked out. Could Mickey Kill see what was going on in here the whole time? “How are things with you, Mickey?”

  “Not great. Greg’s dead.”

  “So I’ve been hearing,” I said. “Did you know him?”

  “He was a good guy. An amazing gamer. He even beat me a few times. He’s a loss to the online community.”

  I checked Alex was still asleep before continuing. “His death was unusual.”

  “It was.”

  “Do you know anything about it?”

  “I might.”

  “Would you like to share?”

  “Can I trust you?”

  “I should ask you the same thing,” I said. “I’m talking to an image of an alien. You could be anybody.”

  “So could you.”

  “I’m sure a talented guy like you can check me out if you want to,” I said. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

  “I’ve looked into your background.”

  I tried to hide my surprise. “What did you find?”

  “You’ve had a lot of jobs.”

  He was right, but it wasn’t out of choice that I had to leave so many of my previous jobs. Changes in circumstances with previous employers, not to mention the interference of ghosts, often led to me looking for new positions. “My work takes me to different places.”

  “Just before you leave, a murder often gets solved.”

  I swallowed. Mickey Kill was scarily good at digging up information. “How odd.”

  “Were you involved in solving that gold heist?”

  I opened my mouth, wondering whether to lie. “I have a friend who works in the police. He helped with that.”

  “More like you did,” said Mickey Kill. “You help people in need. You help people, who have had bad things done to them.”

  “Wouldn’t anybody?” I asked. “If you knew someone was in trouble or had something bad done to them, you’d want to help.”

  “I guess so.”

  “So, why is it so odd I do that?” If he started talking about me being able to see ghosts, I would have a meltdown.

  “I think you’re different.”

  “I’m the same as anyone,” I said. “Nothing special.”

  Mickey Kill was silent for a moment. I wondered if he’d gone off-line. “I don’t think Greg’s death was an accident.”

  I took a deep breath. “What makes you say that?”

  “He was a good guy but inexperienced. He let people take advantage of him. Greg wanted to change the world with his ideas. He had so many. He shared them with anyone who’d listen to him. That made him vulnerable.”

  “Do you think he shared his plans with the wrong person?” I asked.

  “I do.”

  “What do you think that person did? Stole his plans?”

  “That’s exactly what happened,” said Mickey Kill. “They didn’t just take his plans; they claimed it was theirs, so they could have all the money.”

  This was interesting. “Who would do that?”

  “Why don’t you check out the online app Alex made all his money on?” said Mickey Kill. “That’s the reason Greg’s dead.”

  Chapter 7

  “What’s going on?” Alex rolled onto his side and fell off the couch.

  I looked at the computer screen, still stunned by Mickey Kill’s revelation. “Are you okay?”

  Alex sat up abruptly and scrubbed a hand through his messy hair. “I’m fine. It happens all the time. I thought I heard talking.”

  “You must have dreamt it.” I helped him to his feet. “Do you always sleep down here?”

  “Some nights,” said Alex. “I get distracted by the games, and it’s just easier to crash here than stumble upstairs. Besides, Mom doesn’t like me waking her by making a noise if I go to bed late.”

  “What happened to Piers and Harriet?”

  “I sent them home,” said Alex. “Harriet can be a bit... distracting. I don’t think she’s really into her games. I need someone around who gets why I do this.” He tucked his crumpled shirt into his jeans and then pulled it out again as if undecided as to which way looked better.

  “From what I’ve been hearing about your friend Greg, he loved games as much as you do.”

  Alex stretched his arms in front of him and then rolled his shoulders. “Yeah, Greg loved his games. It was how we got to know each other. We set up the first computer game society at our school. Those computers were such a joke when I think about them. Hardly any memory and no color. But we loved playing games. We learned how to write basic code back then. Greg was always coming up with some new trick or coding sequence to make the games better.”

  I sat on the edge of the couch. “That sounds like fun.”

  “Most people would find it tedious,” said Alex. “Are you sure you’re not a secret gamer?”

  “I used to play when I was a kid,” I said. “Not so much now.”

  “You should,” said Alex. “They’re great. It’s a good way to forget yourself and try living in a different world, with different rules and
people. It’s eye opening.”

  “It sounds it,” I said. “I’ve been hearing about your online dating app. Did you design that with Greg?”

  “Not really,” said Alex. “I could murder a cup of tea. Tell you what, I’ll open the dating app. You have a look while I go make some tea for us.”

  He surprised me. I’d expected him to ask me to make tea. “Tea would be lovely.”

  “Give me a minute.” Alex changed the view on the computer screen and opened the Internet. He clicked on an image and a green screen appeared. “This is the basic layout of the app. You put your details in using the keyboard, and I can guarantee you’ll find your soulmate.”

  I laughed. “If only it was that easy.”

  “I promise you it is. Spend a bit of time on the information you input. The algorithms will do the rest. Love isn’t so tricky. Just make sure you’re honest,” said Alex, as he walked to the door. “If you tell the computer you love long walks on the beach and cozy nights by the fire, when you actually like raving and eating fish and chips, you will not get your life partner.”

  “I’ll make sure I tell the truth.” I grinned at him as I entered my details. Data couldn’t be that accurate. Love had to be more than simply filling in a few boxes and letting a computer do the rest. Falling in love was about chemistry and romance, learning to deal with your partner’s strange little quirks, such as having a dead wife haunting your house.

  Ten minutes later, I’d filled out a dozen boxes. Alex returned with two mugs of tea and an enormous bowl of muesli.

  He handed me my tea. “I hope you’ve already had breakfast. I didn’t bring you anything to eat.”

  “I’m fine. I ate a while ago. So, what next?” I gestured at the screen.

  “Hit the enter button and find your dream man.”

  I laughed again. “I already found him. You’re going to be disappointed.”

  “Don’t be so sure about that.” Alex took a slurp of his tea as he settled on the couch next to me. “This app is ninety percent accurate. People just have to let go of a few hang-ups and embrace the magic of the system. It works.”

  I pressed the enter button and waited as the computer hunted for my Mr. Right. “Did you find Harriet on here?”

  Alex grimaced. “She’s not on here.”

  “How did you meet?”

  “At a party, I think.” Alex scrubbed his chin. “I can’t remember. She’s always just sort of been there. She turned up at the same places I went to, and we’d hang out. She likes to party. Harriet is always trying to drag me to the latest premier or the opening of some fancy new restaurant. That’s not my thing. They never serve the sort of food I like and are full of people showing off their latest fashions or cars.” He looked down at his crumpled clothes.

  “You must like her, though. She seems keen on you.”

  “Sure, she’s nice enough.” Alex’s eyes brightened. “Look, your results are in.” He grabbed the keyboard and scrolled through the results. “Okay. So you like outdoorsy types of guys.”

  I smiled. “I do.”

  “You like guys who are practical and hands-on.”

  “Again, that’s right.”

  “They must be an animal lover.” Alex grinned and looked over to Lucy, who was asleep in the corner on a giant fluffy bed.

  “That’s an absolute definite.”

  “You’ve put here that they have to be single and can’t have been married before.” He raised his eyebrows. “Is them being married before a deal breaker?”

  I gritted my teeth. Was it? I was trying hard to convince myself it wasn’t. Zach’s revelation about Amelia had really knocked me. “I guess I can handle it. So long as they are definitely divorced and the former wife is out of their life, preferably on another continent.”

  Alex nodded. “Fair enough. I’ve filled in any who are separated. No baggage required.”

  “Who does that leave me with?”

  “These four guys.” Alex brought up a picture of four men.

  My eyes widened. It was like looking at pictures of Zach’s brothers. I lowered my cup. “You have got to be kidding me?”

  “You don’t like them?” Alex frowned and scrubbed a hand through his hair, making it stand on end. “Maybe there’s something wrong with the data.”

  “No, it’s not that.” I read through the profile of the first guy. He loved nature and walks in the woods. He had two dogs and a house in the country. He also owned his own graphic design business and had a side-line in Japanese garden design.

  “Is he your sort of thing?”

  “Show me the next one.” Alex’s dating app was good.

  “This is hunky bachelor number two.” Alex showed a picture of a dark-haired guy with stubble and piercing blue eyes. In his profile picture was a happy looking mongrel sitting next to him.

  I groaned, not wanting to read about this one.

  “Is he also no good?” Alex scrolled through the page. “It says here he owns a nature conservation business and spends his weekends camping. He owns a camper van and wants to run a rescue center for unwanted dogs when he retires.”

  “That sounds awful.” Actually, it sounded like heaven.

  “We could try hunky number three.”

  “No! I’m fine for hunks. I have all the hunk I need back home.”

  “If you didn’t have a guy, would any of these fit your preference?”

  “All of them sound too good to be true. How have you managed to be so accurate?”

  Alex grinned and relaxed back in his seat. “I mine data from across the Internet. I collate your history, searches, cookies, that sort of thing, run it through the dating algorithms, and we come out with your perfect partner.”

  “Is that legal?”

  “Sure. Do you remember seeing little messages about things called cookies when you look at websites?”

  “I do. I ignore them.”

  “They don’t ignore you. Everything you search for is remembered. For example, if you were looking for camping holidays, the cookies remember. If you like going on walks and were looking for a new route, that piece of data would be legally saved for me to come along and use it to find your Mr. Right.”

  “No wonder you made money on this app. It’s incredible.”

  Alex’s grin widened. “Thanks. I’m glad it’s helping people find a soulmate.”

  “Has it helped you find love?”

  Alex shook his head. “Not yet. I’m not ready for all that grown-up stuff. I’m too busy with the business. Speaking of which, I’ve been thinking about our working relationship.”

  “Do you have things you want me to help with?”

  “Not as such. How about you take the rest of the week off?”

  My eyebrows shot up. “That’s nice of you. Don’t you need me here?”

  Alex shrugged. “You seem like a nice lady. I’m just not sure what to do with you.”

  I let out a gentle sigh. Alex calling me a lady made me feel about sixty. “You could let me take a look at the business admin. Didn’t your mom say it needed pulling into shape?”

  “The paper stuff is a mess. I scan everything, though. I have a copy of every piece of business paperwork I’ve ever received if the tax man comes asking questions.”

  “Even so, it can’t hurt to have the paper copies neatly stored.”

  “That’s boring.”

  “It’s what you’re paying me for.”

  “I’d feel guilty giving you something so dull to do. Like I said, take some time off; get to know the area. Maybe we can hang out together next week.”

  “Alexander Harold Hudson, don’t you dare do that!” Camilla stood in the open doorway, her arms folded over her chest.

  “Mom! I didn’t know you were in.” Alex spilled tea on his pants.

  “I was in the garden. I overheard you trying to get rid of Lorna.” Camilla walked into the room. “That will not happen. She’s important. You must make good use of her.”

  “She doesn’t wan
t to do the filing,” said Alex. “No one wants to file.”

  “I’m happy to file,” I said. “In fact, I like it. It makes me happy bringing order to chaos.”

  “Then you’ll be in seventh heaven when you see the mess of Alex’s files. Plus, there are dozens of unanswered RSVPs to important events Alex is supposed to go to.” Camilla stood in front of Alex. “I know you don’t like the social scene, but there will be all sorts of opportunities you’ll miss if you don’t attend. Why not pick one event and go to that?”

  Alex groaned and rubbed at the tea stain on his pants. “I’ll think about it.”

  “More action less thinking,” said Camilla. “It’s time for you to rise above the rest and get going.”

  “I’m about to act,” said Alex. “I’ve got a new level on my game to crack.” His fingers inched toward the controller on the coffee table.

  “Absolutely not!” Camilla snatched up the controller and tucked it under her arm.

  “Mom! This is important.”

  “Not as important as keeping your business going. Ever since that incident with Greg, you haven’t applied yourself.”

  “You mean, ever since Greg was killed.”

  Camilla gave a dramatic sigh. “His death was a horrible accident. I understand you need time to mourn your friend. He wouldn’t want to see you wasting your life like this. You always had such great ideas when you worked together.”

  “Maybe I need Greg to make the ideas happen,” muttered Alex. He stuffed an enormous spoonful of muesli into his mouth. Milk dripped on his shirt.

  “You’re fine on your own.” Camilla gestured to the screen. “Not addressing the problems you have will not help.”

  “I don’t have any problems,” said Alex. “Neither do you. This is the house you wanted us to live in, so I got it for you.”

  “We all wanted this house,” said Camilla. “It’s a great location. You can make it into a family home when you’re ready to settle down. Have you thought any more about finding a steady girlfriend?”

  Alex’s cheeks colored, and he shot me an apologetic look. “I’m working on it.”

  “Work harder.” Camilla slapped the controller against her thigh. “You can’t slack at every aspect of your life. Discipline, hard work, and focus, that’s what you need. You must stop playing around.”