than that, you are very lucky.”
“Yeah,” George tells the doctor, “the muggers didn’t even get my wallet.”
Maxwell whips back the curtain. “You were mugged?!”
The doctor steps around Maxwell. “The nurse will be back in a minute with your pain killers and the concussion pamphlet.”
“Thanks, doc.”
“You’re right”—Maxwell crosses his arms in front of his chest—“I don’t believe you. Nobody gets mugged in front of Blackvine Manor.”
* * *
W hen they return to George’s apartment, he limps over to his computer and shows Maxwell his website.
“So, you’re telling me a ghost embedded a picture of a gravestone to your video, ruining your credibility as a warning?” Maxwell is very skeptical.
“And when he didn’t listen to good advice”—Alexis prods George—“the ghost returned for a more physical warning.”
Maxwell notices all the comments underneath George’s posted video. “A lot of people have seen this. Whoa, your website is very popular. That’s insane!”
“Thanks,” George groans before collapsing on his Futon.
Alexis, feeling the prickles of irritation at Maxwell’s continued disbelief, has a sudden idea. “Insane or not, I’m sure your potential buyer would be very interested in the video.”
Maxwell makes a face at her. “Luckily you don’t know who he is.”
“Actually, I know him better than you do. And unless you help me follow my own ‘crazy’ lead, I will show him all the evidence of how haunted this building is.”
“He won’t care, he’s going to tear the place down,” Maxwell tries to say confidently, “but if you’re going to do something crazy you should probably have someone to watch your back. Where are we going?”
Alexis smiles. “Back to Lakeview Cemetery.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
M AXWELL GETS CAUGHT UNDER THE fence and comes up covered in dirt, “You really want to follow in your mother’s footsteps, don’t you? First all the clairvoyant stuff and now the arrest for trespassing.”
“Shh,” Alexis whispers, clutching her black onyx necklace.
“Wait, why are you nervous? Isn’t this supposed to be part of your deal now, graveyards at night and spooky stuff?”
She smacks him on the chest. “You’re not the one who’s going to see spirits. They don’t exactly ask me permission before they appear.”
“Hmm, you might want to work on that,” Maxwell tells her as he turns on a small flashlight. “Now is probably a good time.”
They start walking and Alexis tries not to flinch at every little sound. She holds tight to the black onyx, telling herself over and over again that she is protected and not open to communicating.
“Any idea how to find one headstone in all this?” Maxwell whispers loudly.
“Actually, yes. The image on George’s video had a year on it. After he cleaned it up and zoomed in he said it read 1893. So, we’re heading to the oldest section.”
“Great, the longest hike to the spookiest spot. Wanna play the same game as last time?”
Alexis stomps past him. “You mean the one where I proved my abilities and you completely ignored it?”
“Alright”—Maxwell shrugs and follows her—“I haven’t figured out how you did that. A reflection off my sunglasses?”
“It was cloudy and I’ve never seen you in sunglasses. Why can’t you just believe me?”
“Look, it’s not that unreasonable for me to want a little more evidence before I jump on the crazy train.”
Alexis starts walking faster. She can feel a buzzing around her and there are faint flashes of blue light. The more irritated she gets, the less focused she is on protecting herself and spirits are starting to break through.
“Why not just let me sell the place?” Maxwell asks her.
“I like my studio.”
“You think it’s the only way to find your mother. Just like you’re clinging to this whole clairvoyant thing because you think it’s the only way you’ll connect with her. Why not hire a real private
“Yeah,” George tells the doctor, “the muggers didn’t even get my wallet.”
Maxwell whips back the curtain. “You were mugged?!”
The doctor steps around Maxwell. “The nurse will be back in a minute with your pain killers and the concussion pamphlet.”
“Thanks, doc.”
“You’re right”—Maxwell crosses his arms in front of his chest—“I don’t believe you. Nobody gets mugged in front of Blackvine Manor.”
* * *
W hen they return to George’s apartment, he limps over to his computer and shows Maxwell his website.
“So, you’re telling me a ghost embedded a picture of a gravestone to your video, ruining your credibility as a warning?” Maxwell is very skeptical.
“And when he didn’t listen to good advice”—Alexis prods George—“the ghost returned for a more physical warning.”
Maxwell notices all the comments underneath George’s posted video. “A lot of people have seen this. Whoa, your website is very popular. That’s insane!”
“Thanks,” George groans before collapsing on his Futon.
Alexis, feeling the prickles of irritation at Maxwell’s continued disbelief, has a sudden idea. “Insane or not, I’m sure your potential buyer would be very interested in the video.”
Maxwell makes a face at her. “Luckily you don’t know who he is.”
“Actually, I know him better than you do. And unless you help me follow my own ‘crazy’ lead, I will show him all the evidence of how haunted this building is.”
“He won’t care, he’s going to tear the place down,” Maxwell tries to say confidently, “but if you’re going to do something crazy you should probably have someone to watch your back. Where are we going?”
Alexis smiles. “Back to Lakeview Cemetery.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
M AXWELL GETS CAUGHT UNDER THE fence and comes up covered in dirt, “You really want to follow in your mother’s footsteps, don’t you? First all the clairvoyant stuff and now the arrest for trespassing.”
“Shh,” Alexis whispers, clutching her black onyx necklace.
“Wait, why are you nervous? Isn’t this supposed to be part of your deal now, graveyards at night and spooky stuff?”
She smacks him on the chest. “You’re not the one who’s going to see spirits. They don’t exactly ask me permission before they appear.”
“Hmm, you might want to work on that,” Maxwell tells her as he turns on a small flashlight. “Now is probably a good time.”
They start walking and Alexis tries not to flinch at every little sound. She holds tight to the black onyx, telling herself over and over again that she is protected and not open to communicating.
“Any idea how to find one headstone in all this?” Maxwell whispers loudly.
“Actually, yes. The image on George’s video had a year on it. After he cleaned it up and zoomed in he said it read 1893. So, we’re heading to the oldest section.”
“Great, the longest hike to the spookiest spot. Wanna play the same game as last time?”
Alexis stomps past him. “You mean the one where I proved my abilities and you completely ignored it?”
“Alright”—Maxwell shrugs and follows her—“I haven’t figured out how you did that. A reflection off my sunglasses?”
“It was cloudy and I’ve never seen you in sunglasses. Why can’t you just believe me?”
“Look, it’s not that unreasonable for me to want a little more evidence before I jump on the crazy train.”
Alexis starts walking faster. She can feel a buzzing around her and there are faint flashes of blue light. The more irritated she gets, the less focused she is on protecting herself and spirits are starting to break through.
“Why not just let me sell the place?” Maxwell asks her.
“I like my studio.”
“You think it’s the only way to find your mother. Just like you’re clinging to this whole clairvoyant thing because you think it’s the only way you’ll connect with her. Why not hire a real private
Similar Books
