The Ghost and the Mystery Writer (29 page)

BOOK: The Ghost and the Mystery Writer

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D
anielle climbed
into bed and crawled under the sheets and blankets. Max slept soundly at her feetâshe could hear him snoring. Glancing down to the foot of the bed, she smiled at the noisy sleeper and then rolled over and closed her eyes.

When Danielle opened her eyes again, she was sitting on a blanket in a field of wildflowers. Hummingbirds buzzed nearby while chipmunks scampered over the blanket's edge. Overhead, white clouds dotted the blue sky.

“Do you know what is nice about this?” Walt asked.

Danielle turned to her right and found Walt sitting on the blanket with her. “It's beautiful.”

“Yes, but do you know what's especially nice about visiting a place like this in a dream hop?” he asked.

Danielle reached out and plucked a flower and then looked at Walt while taking a sniff of the blossom. “What?”

“No bugs.” Walt smiled.

“Bugs?”

“Certainly. You go find a field of flowers in Oregon and pitch your blanket. I guarantee you'll be covered with mosquitos, flies, and other annoying insects before you have a chance to sit down.”

Danielle laughed. “I suppose you have a point.”

Walt reclined on the blanket, propping himself on an elbow, and watched Danielle as she gently brushed the soft petals of the blossom against her cheek.

Danielle glanced up at Walt. “I've missed our dream hops.”

He smiled softly. “Me too.”

In the next moment the space behind Walt began to blur and grow hazy. When Walt noticed Danielle staring behind him, he frowned and turned to see what she was looking at. “What theâ¦” Walt began, only to be silenced when a man appeared, standing amongst the flowers. He was a handsome man wearing a black suit and red bow tie.

Walt stood. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

Ignoring Walt, the man looked down at Danielle and smiled. Although handsome, his smileâhis expressionâgave Danielle a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“You know who I am, don't you?” he asked in a silky voice.

Danielle said nothing.

Confused, Walt looked from the intruder to Danielle.

“I'm here to warn you, ghost girl. Stay out of my business. I don't want you ever discussing me with Hillary again.” He vanished.

Dazed, Danielle blinked her eyes and looked around. He was gone.

“Do you know who that was?” Walt asked.

Danielle nodded. “Yes. I believe we just met Hillary's muse.”

The Ghost and the Muse