For fans of the "Laying a Ghost" series...

[wesleysgirl]

janedavitt and I are 17k words into the final book in the John/Nick trilogy, set ten years in the future and featuring a visit from Nick's half-brother Josh.

(For those of you unfamiliar with the series, these are books e-published by Loose Id Press. The first book is Laying a Ghost and the second is Giving Up the Ghost.)

Additionally, Nick, one of the main characters, makes a not-insignificant appearance in a story I wrote for an anthology that Torquere Press published, called To Serve and Protect. This story, called "Trace Evidence", is a sort of prequel to "Laying a Ghost" in that it's set while Nick is still in America and traveling with his partner at the time, Matthew. ("Trace Evidence" is about 28k words long, and is one of the four novellas in the anthology.)



Mitch slowed down as the neared the public parking lot that was adjacent to the park. "Here we are."

"Okay." Nick took a steadying breath. "Are we close to where her body was found?"

"Not really. It's on the other side, over there." Mitch pointed. "Don't worry, I have a flashlight and stuff. It'll be fine."

Nick smiled grimly. "Oh, don't worry, Detective Anderson. I stopped being afraid of the dark a long, long time ago."

Made sense. "Well, good. And it's Mitch."

They walked across the park through the twilight -- it was strangely quiet, when this time of day should have been one of the most crowded. Mitch supposed it was because of the news reports; things like that spooked people, and probably with good reason. The fact that they didn't know Paige hadn't been killed in the park didn't help. Despite his claims that he wasn't afraid of the dark, Nick stuck close, to the point where his arm bumped Mitch's a couple of times.

"You okay?" Mitch asked the third time it happened.

"A little nervous," Nick admitted. "I don't usually do this without Matthew."

"We don't have to," Mitch said. "We can go back and get him, if you'd -- "

"No," Nick said. "As long as I can trust you. I can, can't I?" He looked at Mitch, expression serious.

"Yeah, you can. I'll make sure nothing happens."

Nick made a little dismissive sound. "You can't do that. Just don't leave me here. If I start to freak out, try not to let me hurt myself, and if I stop talking, wait it out. I'll be back sooner or later."

It was all starting to seem more complicated than Mitch had been counting on. "What do you mean, hurt yourself?"

"If I get... lost enough, I could walk myself into a tree," Nick said. He glanced around. "Oncoming traffic's less likely to be a threat here."

"I think I can stop you from doing that much." Mitch slowed down as they neared the wooded area where he and Leo had found Paige's body. "It was over here."

"Paige?" Nick said, like he wasn't talking to Mitch, and Mitch froze.

"Is she here?" It felt natural to ask, but as soon as he had, he was glad they were alone, because from a practical standpoint it made him sound kind of crazy.

"No. I don't know." Nick tilted his head to the side, listening. "I know she wants to tell me. She wants us to catch this guy. She's confused, scared. He... he took her to his apartment. It's close by. Small. The walls are off-white, and the paint is scuffed in some places." He took a few uncertain steps in the direction of the tree where Paige's body had been hidden, and Mitch reached out and took hold of his elbow. Right away, Nick turned toward him. "Help me," Nick whispered, and Mitch wasn't sure if he was talking to him or to Paige.

"I will," he said anyway. "I'm right here. Whatever you need."

Nick's head tilted down, his forehead coming to rest on Mitch's chest, and Mitch's hand went up automatically to the back of Nick's neck.

"It's okay. Nick? Tell me what to do."

"Don't let me," Nick said, but left the thought unfinished. "I need to get closer."

Mitch walked with him until they were only a couple of feet from the tree. The police tape was gone, but if you knew what to look for you could see where the leaves and ground had been disturbed. The last rays of sunshine were fading away, Mitch's eyes adjusting to the darkness. He looked around, but they were still alone.

As far as he could tell, anyway.


Order To Serve and Protect from Torquere Press. It's only $5.95 in e-book format and it's also available as a paperback for $13.95.

Comments

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

You're so good to me. I wish I could mainline you 24 hours a day (although I'd probably become unbearable very quickly, so probably it's best that I can't!) *Hugs* They're very special boys, aren't they. *Pets them*

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

I just wish we lived closer! :;snuggles::

Sometimes, I think back to AoN and remember how it all began. In fact, why not:

As he reached the top, another man, this one wearing an unfastened mac and an attitude so casual that he seemed not to feel the rain at all, came out of the large building headed toward the minicab.

The man looked at him, nodded, and reached for one of the cases, taking it from Giles' hand before he could protest. "Needing a ride?" the man asked, not waiting for an answer as he unlocked the boot of the taxi and set the case inside as if it weighed very little. "John McIntyre," he said, holding his hand out toward Giles.

“Rupert Giles,” Giles replied automatically. The hand he grasped was warm and calloused and the handshake friendly and brisk. John looked as if he was in his mid thirties, with eyes that were very blue against his tanned face. “Yes, thanks. I’m staying at Traighshee House and I’d rather not arrive soaked through.”

He wondered if John would consider that reluctance strange, given that the man was oblivious to the rain, but he knew he was incapable of walking any distance, with or without the burden of his luggage.

"Well get in before you're washed away then," John said, taking the other suitcase from him and putting it in the boot with the first one.


:;hearts John::

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

*Hearts all over John* He's really just one of my favorite characters anywhere. I was so pleased to see this little excerpt and be able to read it again. :-D