Ex-Communication, Peter Clines [ebook reader online free txt] 📗

get ignored. They’ve got something important to say and they come up with the dumbest possible way to say it. I didn’t want to be one of those guys.

Okay, I said, a couple months ago I saw something weird—

And suddenly Max was there between us. “Please don’t,” he said.

Trust me, I told him.

St. George nodded. “Something weird. Got it.”

“He’s not ready to hear this, Barry,” said Max. “And you’ve got no way to prove it.”

I started to say something and bit my lip. So to speak. I think it makes a little sizzling sound in the air.

“You’ve got no physical evidence I’m here,” the ghost said. “None at all. And you know Stealth is going to demand proof once St. George tells her. So at best they’re going to think you’re making it up and wasting their time.”

I knew he was right. We’d had this conversation a dozen times already. This was the second time we’d done it one-sided in front of George. Once it was in front of Danielle. Heck, I’d just been having it in my own head.

“At worse, they think you’re losing it,” said Max. “And once they start thinking that, we’ll never convince them when we’re ready to do everything else.”

Yeah, I said without thinking.

“We’ve got to wait until we can prove it.”

George was still waiting.

You know what, I told him, you’ve got stuff to do.

“Sooooo … you didn’t see something weird?”

It was just … just a movie. I wanted to tell you about it. It can wait.

Max sighed in relief.

George nodded. “Okay. Maybe if we find some microwave popcorn out there we can do a movie night or something this weekend. We haven’t just hung out in a few weeks.”

I smiled, even though it’s wasted in the energy form. Well, I’ve been hanging out, I said with a wave at the electric chair.

He smirked. “Got to go. I’m supposed to check in with Stealth before we head out. We’re trying the chain mail today.”

Excellent, I said. If it works out, tell everyone I’m going to be pushing for a reenactment of Lord of the Rings. With all the stuff Peter Jackson left out.

He chuckled and stepped outside. I could see him through the walls. His aura flared and he sailed into the sky. I’ve always meant to tell him it does that.

And then I remembered the other important thing. Damn it, I mutter.

“What?”

I forgot to have him put the new DVDs in.

Max laughed. “Thanks for not telling him,” he said. “I know it’s a pain, lying to him.”

It’d be easier if you’d stop trying to butt into every conversation.

“Sorry.”

I nodded. So, we’ve got no new movies, I said. Let’s start figuring how we’re going to prove you’re real.

“Sounds good to me.”

Two smart guys like us, I said, how long could it take?

OKAY, SAID ZZZAP, I think I’ve got it this time.

Another burst of static roared from the stereo speakers. St. George and Danielle sighed. Stealth didn’t move a muscle, but impatience radiated off her like heat.

“Barry, come on,” said St. George. “I think this has gone on long enough.”

Hang on, he said. If this was easy everybody’d be doing it. He focused on the stereo again.

The speakers popped and said, “Work this time?”

Got it, said Zzzap.

“Oh my God,” said the stereo. “I was starting to think I’d never hear my own voice again.” There were a few quick snaps and a squelch of static. “Can you all hear me okay? You can understand me?”

St. George looked at Zzzap. “Is this it?”

The brilliant figure nodded.

“So, we’re hearing a ghost on your sound system?”

“Actually, you’re talking to a ghost on his sound system,” said the speakers. “I can hear you, too.”

“If this is intended as a joke,” said Stealth, “I do not find it amusing.”

“Ask me anything,” the stereo said. “I’ll prove it’s me.”

“You being Cairax,” said St. George. He glanced at Zzzap.

“Well, me being Max Hale, but that’s probably how you think of me, yeah.” The speakers popped twice. “George, you and I met down in Venice Beach right around Christmas. There were some rich kids beating up a homeless guy for kicks. I made two of them wet their pants. You were down there doing a random patrol and you thought I was attacking the kids.”

“I’ve told you this story,” St. George said to the glowing figure. “It doesn’t prove anything when you say it’s a ghost telling it.”

I’m just translating, said Zzzap. He’s doing all the talking.

“Sure he is,” said Danielle. She glanced at Stealth. “Y’know, the armor’s way behind in maintenance, and I don’t like trusting it to Cesar and Gibbs. I should probably go.”

“Barry,” began St. George.

“Cerberus, you and I never met,” interrupted the stereo, “but you ended up replacing me on one of the task forces in the fall of 2009. You’d been in L.A. for about a month and—”

“After three years,” Stealth told Zzzap, “there are very few stories regarding the past you can tell which we do not all know. If you wish to convince us you are speaking for a ghost, you will need to tell us something you could not know.”

I’m not talking. I’m just translating what he’s saying into radio waves so you can all hear—WHAT?!? Zzzap looked at St. George, then Stealth, and then over at the corner of the room.

“What’s wrong?” asked St. George.

The wraith looked at his friend again, then his gaze settled on Stealth. You’re Karen, he said. You’re the woman from dinner.

Danielle sighed again and Stealth crossed her arms. “This is nothing you could not have deduced on your own,” said the cloaked woman. Her head shifted to St. George for a moment before she took a few steps toward the rings of the electric chair. “It might be best if you returned to human form for the time being,” she said. “We should discuss certain matters which are better resolved before you resume—”

Max says you were on top last night.

Stealth froze. So did St. George. Danielle’s eyes went wide, and