Chasing Shadows Read online

  Cam wrapped her hand tightly around Avery’s arm and tugged on her. Seeing where Cam meant to lead them, Avery stopped and shook her head.

  “No?” Cam’s face was crestfallen.

  Grinning, Avery looped a hand around Cam’s waist and pulled her back so that their hips touched. “I’m not saying no to you, sugar.” She dropped a kiss on the tip of Cam’s nose. “I’m just not going to make love to you for the first time on a couch.”

  “Oh,” Cam said softly and then added and “Oh!” as Avery’s words seemed to register. “Well, then...” Cam trailed off as she took Avery’s left hand and led her out of the living room and down a long hallway.

  By the time they reached the bedroom, Avery had already shucked out of her pants and was pulling her shirt over her head, clothes too much for her feverish skin. She twirled Cam around and danced her backward toward the bed, leaning down to capture her lips in a kiss as they moved. When the edge of the bedframe stopped their progress, Avery lifted Cam and bounced with her onto the mattress. They landed with an “oof” and for a moment Avery stilled, fearing as she heard the mattress springs groan beneath their weight that she’d broken the bed.

  “Sorry,” she said sheepishly.

  Cam smiled in response. “And here I thought I was excited.”

  Avery rose to her hands and knees over Cam. Methodically, she began to unbutton Cam’s shirt from the bottom up, pushing the thin fabric to the side as she progressed. When the last undone button revealed Cam was wearing the frilly bra that Avery had seen a flash of the first day they’d met, she gave a wolfish grin. “I was hoping you’d be wearing this,” she murmured, tracing a finger along the edge of the lace.

  Cam arched an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”

  “Mmhmm.” Avery’s gaze swept across the soft curve of Cam’s breasts visible above the bra. She cupped her hands beneath each one, making them seem fuller than they were, and then bent down to kiss a path across the top of Cam’s chest. Cam’s breath caught and she arched her back as if wanting more. Avery was inclined to give it to her. In one swift movement she removed Cam’s shirt, made short work of removing her bra, and tossed both to the side before quickly adding her own to the pile. Avery lowered her head again, teasing the tips of Cam’s nipples with the tip of her tongue, pausing occasionally to capture one between her lips. While her mouth made love to Cam’s breasts, Avery traced the side of her ribs with her hands in long, rhythmic motions, the skin there trembling beneath her touch.

  “Dear…Lord,” Cam moaned. Avery grinned and glanced up to see Cam fisting the bed’s quilt with both hands, her head fallen back on the mattress to expose the delicious flesh of her neck.

  Avery inched her way up Cam’s body, kissing and licking as she moved until they were face to face, groaning at the exhilarating feel of Cam’s naked skin against her own. She pushed Cam’s tussled hair out of her face and gazed into her eyes. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”

  Cam blushed in response, and Avery took her lips in a hungry kiss, groaning when Cam’s mouth parted to allow Avery’s tongue to spar with hers. She brought her hand up to cup the back of Cam’s neck, deepening the kiss as their bodies melted together. She breathed in the heady smell of Cam’s perfume, pushing her senses to the brink of overload. Craving more still, she allowed her hands to resume their exploration of Cam’s body, drifting down Cam’s side, crossing lightly over her hips before reaching the soft flesh of her inner thighs. Avery groaned as her questing fingers stroked through damp heat, moving effortlessly through Cam’s swollen folds to brush her clit.

  “Avery…” Cam moaned, lifting her hips in response.

  Avery rubbed two fingers over Cam’s clit in slow circles while her lips moved to Cam’s exposed throat. She kissed and licked at the skin there as Cam writhed beneath her. She slipped two fingers inside Cam’s intoxicating wetness, her own body aching with need. That would come later. Now what she wanted more than anything was Cam’s pleasure. Avery began thrusting, three fingers now, in and out, in long desperate strokes. Cam’s moans became louder, spurring Avery on. She drove deeper into her, using her thumb to flick Cam’s clit with each thrust. Moans became screams and Avery shifted to cover Cam’s lips in one last voracious kiss before Cam clenched around her hand and shuddered her release.

  ****

  In life, Cam had learned over the years, fantasies rarely came true. Crushes seldom amounted to any more than afternoon daydreams. Money doesn’t buy happiness. And yet here she was, waking up in bed next to her high school crush. So maybe the snoring that currently echoed from the bed beside her had never been part of any daydreams, but how much more could a girl ask for?

  A month ago—hell, a week ago—Cam would never have been so bold to make the kind of advance she had on Avery last night. But two weeks spent around death and the recently departed had given Cam a newfound zeal for the living. One living being in particular.

  She rolled onto her side and moved closer to Avery, who lay on her back. A quilt that had been in Cam’s family for generations was pulled to her chin, with one leg that had errantly escaped hanging half-on, half-off the bed. Cam began to toy with Avery’s hair while absently planning out the day ahead.

  First she needed something to wear for the show. Cam hadn’t brought a ton of clothes with her from California and certainly none that she’d ever imagine wearing during filming, but she did have a fairly new blue dress that should do nicely.

  Then she—

  Cam blinked and smiled back at Avery, who had awakened at some point and was now staring dreamily at her.

  “Hey,” Cam said, continuing the run her fingers through Avery’s hair. “I was just thinking about all the things I need to do before the show tonight.”

  “I was just thinking that I must have been blind in high school to have never noticed you.”

  Cam felt the heat rise in her cheeks at Avery’s words.

  Avery turned over in the bed and looped their fingers together. Holding Cam’s hand in her own, her thumb rubbing lazy circles on Cam’s wrist, Avery smiled. “So, tell me about today.”

  “Well, I think I’m going to wear the blue dress I have hanging in the closet, and maybe my red heels along with it. They’re pretty comfortable to walk around in.”

  “I’ll take your word for that.”

  Cam grinned. “Yeah, I’ve never pinned you for being one to wear high heels.”

  “You’d be correct,” Avery said, her eyes dancing.

  “So, we also need to stop by your place before we head to the Johnston house. I need to get the diary.”

  “Hmm. I think it may be better if we left that at home for safekeeping. Nobody knows we have it, so they shouldn’t go looking for it while we’re away.”

  “No,” Cam said, moving closer to Avery. “I think we should take it to use as a trigger object.”

  “Trigger object?” Avery shifted one arm to wrap around Cam. “What is that?”

  Cam bit back a yawn. “It’s an object that ghosts actually had in their possession—like you know, before they became ghosts—that are supposed to encourage them to make an appearance. We’ve done it on the show a few times.”

  “If that’s what you want to do,” she said, her voice taking on the husky tone of sleep. “But we need to be careful with it. The diary is the only physical evidence we have, really.”

  Cam nodded. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to it.”

  “Good. Now, it’s still early, and we have a big day ahead. Seeing as how somebody kept me up all night, I’d like to get a little more sleep.”

  “I’m sorry, who kept who up all night?”

  Avery tightened the arm she had around Cam and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Sleep, sugar,” she murmured and then, yawning, closed her eyes.

  Sleeping in was not something that she did much of back home in California. But then, there were worse ways to spend a morning, Cam decided, snuggling back into Avery.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

>   Shooting was supposed to start right after dark, which that time of year was around seven-thirty in the evening. As they drove toward the Johnston house, Avery could tell Cam was nervous, plucking at a fold of material on her dress. She put a hand over Cam’s and smiled as she looked up questioningly.

  “You okay?”

  Cam nodded and relaxed a little against the back of the seat. “I always get edgy before we shoot, but tonight is worse than usual. For one thing, I’m convinced this house is truly haunted, and it’s my first investigation since I know that not only are ghosts real, but I can see and talk to them. I’ve seen this ghost and what’s more, poor Chuck Jackson did too. I mean, he had a heart attack last time for goodness sakes—what are we thinking letting him be a part of this?”

  “Hey, calm down.” Avery placed her hand over Cam’s in what she hoped was a comforting gesture. “I know what you’re saying, but he insisted he not only wanted to come back to the house, but he wanted in on the séance. He’s a persuasive guy, and he thinks it’ll maybe help him to sell that old house. I don’t think he’s had so much as a nibble at it in months. Besides, he’ll help to round out the group. It might have looked odd for the only participants to be three sheriff’s deputies.”

  “And that’s another thing that makes me nervous,” Cam grimaced. “Knowing that one of those deputies is a potential murderer.”

  “Yeah, there is that.” She squeezed Cam’s hand again. “Look, don’t worry. I’ll be there the entire time. Everything will go according to plan, I promise.”

  Cam nodded, still looking a little distracted, but the closer they got to the house, the more her demeanor began to change. By the time they were pulling up the long gravel driveway to the house, she was much more poised and self-confident, and the nerves she’d displayed earlier might never even have existed.

  They stopped close to the house and without another word, Cam stepped out of the car and went over to the line of white vans parked outside to greet Shaye and her ever-present clipboard. Avery sat an extra moment or two in the car and admired how Cam filled out the simple yet stylish navy dress she was wearing, along with those distracting red heels. Maybe after everything was said and done tonight, she’d help her out of that dress.

  Avery was startled by a sudden rapping on the glass by her head.

  It was her grandmother and Jane, both of them bright-eyed with excitement.

  Oh, good lord. Avery rolled down the window. “You scared me half to death. What are you two doing here? I told you when we were by the house earlier to stay put tonight. We’ve only got about an hour until the show is supposed to start.”

  “Yes, yes,” Mildred tutted, “but listen, there’s a flaw in the plan.”

  Seriously? Of all the times for Mildred to pull one of her antics, now was not it. Avery sighed. “What kind of flaw, Grandma?”

  “Well, me and Jane got to talking about it. We figure that you’re making a mistake putting all your eggs in one basket. I know that you plan on Cam doing her hoopty-do or whatever it is she does to summon the spirit of the Johnston girl, but what if it doesn’t work?”

  Avery cut off the ignition and looked up at the Johnston house. Even though it was evident that someone had recently worked on the landscaping, in the fading shadows of daylight the place still looked spooky. Recalling the sounds she and Cam had heard over the ghost box the day before, Avery said, “I’ve got a feeling it’s going to work, Grandma.”

  “Now look,” Mildred huffed, “we’ve seen some of those ghost shows on TV before, haven’t we Jane?” Jane nodded vigorously, giving steam to Mildred’s words. “Why, if I had a dollar for every time those so-called ghost hunters sit in the dark half the night and not hear a thing, why I’d…I’d… Well, I wouldn’t be in this sorry little town. Ghosts aren’t on a schedule, you know, and I imagine they have other concerns.”

  “Like what, Grandma?” Avery smirked. “The high cost of ectoplasm?”

  “Young lady,” Mildred narrowed her eyes, “nobody likes a smart ass. Now, listen. The thing is, what are you going to do if you knock and nothing happens? You could just be sitting there on national TV, knocking your brains out all night until everybody gets bored and turns the channel. No, Jane and I think you need a little insurance.”

  It was Avery’s turn to look skeptical. “What do you mean by insurance?”

  “Well, this is where our plan comes in. I’m going to sit in on the séance—”

  “Not happening.”

  Undeterred, Mildred continued, “Let me finish. I’m going to sit in on the séance, and Jane will hide in a closet upstairs. I’ll have my phone under the table. Nobody pays much attention to old ladies, so nobody will even notice. Cam can call out real loud and say, ‘If anybody’s here, knock three times!’ You know, like they do on TV. I’ll be sure to sit next to Cam so Jane can hear her loud and clear. Then, if nobody knocks after she says that a few times, Jane can spring into action and knock on the floor. It’s a foolproof plan! What do you say?”

  Avery climbed out of the car, slamming the door behind her. “I say you’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you and Jane get involved like that. This isn’t a game, you know. This is real life and death stuff here.”

  Mildred stood her ground. “Exactly why you need us to help out!”

  Avery tried to stare her down, to no avail. She’d dealt with Mildred long enough to know that if she was determined to get involved in something, there was no stopping her. Avery sighed and shook her head in defeat. “I must be crazy.”

  “I keep telling you that, but you don’t like it when I say it.”

  Avery shot her an exasperated look. “All right. Go ahead. But put Jane a chair in that closet so she can at least sit down. The séance is right at the end and it’s an hour show. And make sure no one sees her either! That’d be all we need.” At the look of glee on her grandmother’s face, Avery added, “And if stuff starts going down during the séance, I want you to dive under that table and stay down, understand?”

  Jane clapped her hands, her eyes wide with excitement. “Ooh, do you really think something’s going to happen?”

  “Obviously not, or I wouldn’t allow this. But just in case, okay? You do exactly as I say.”

  “Yes, dear,” Mildred said meekly, not even flinching as Avery rolled her eyes.

  “Okay, I’ll let Cam know what’s going on.” Avery frowned. She expected that Cam would be just as thrilled as she was about Mildred and Jane’s involvement in all this. “Go on inside and pick out a closet. One over the dining room, preferably, because that’s where the séance is taking place.

  “Roger that, good buddy,” Jane chirped.

  “What?”

  “Jane,” Mildred said irritably, “don’t make a fool of yourself, that’s CB talk. On police shows, they say 10-4.”

  “Oh, well then, 10-4, good buddy.” Jane beamed an eager smile at Avery. “How do you say we’re going back to work?”

  Avery sighed deeply. “10-8.” Lord, help us all…

  “10-4 and 10-8. We’re on it.”

  The pair turned and hurried off to the house. Avery watched them go, hoping she hadn’t unleashed something she couldn’t control. She’d have sent them home if she thought there was any chance they’d actually go. It was probably better to keep them here so at least she’d know what they were up to. Somewhat.

  “Are you about ready, Detective?”

  Avery turned to find Cam beside her, along with a crew member she hadn’t seen before, a petite woman with dark burgundy hair and tattoos lining both arms.

  “Avery, this is Louise. She does makeup.” The woman gave a little wave in response. “She wants to touch you up a little.”

  “What?” Oh, hell no. “No, I’m fine like I am.”

  “No, you’re not,” Cam insisted. “The camera will wash you out. Just a hint of blush and some lip gloss. That’s all, I promise. Everyone on camera is getting the same treatment.”

  “Oh, all right,�
�� Avery grumbled and allowed herself to be pulled aside to a table and chair that had been placed behind one of the open van doors. Avery sat stoically while Louise the makeup woman dabbed at her cheeks with first powder, and then a rosy-colored blush. She put her own damn lip gloss on, though, and there was a tense moment involving a curling iron. At the end of the ordeal, Louise finally stepped back and declared herself to be satisfied.

  As Avery walked away from the van, she saw Shaye waving at her from the front porch and went over to meet her.

  “It’s almost time,” Shaye said anxiously. “What time did you say the deputies will get here?”

  Avery glanced at her watch. It was few minutes after seven. “I’d have thought they’d already be here.”

  A sheriff’s car pulled in the driveway just then, and they both watched as Chief Ramsey and Bishop climbed out. Avery noticed with satisfaction that Bishop looked nervous.

  “Oh good, there you both are!” Shaye called out, waving her clipboard at the men. “Come on up here to the porch. I was about to tell Avery what’s going to happen.”

  They came up the steps to the porch and, though Chief Ramsey gave Avery a head nod, she got more of a glare from Bishop. Had Shaye not been there, Avery was sure that he would have made some smartass remark.

  “Now, the filming is about to start,” Shaye said, pacing back and forth on the porch as she spoke, glancing occasionally down at her clipboard. “We’ll be live, so we have to start right at eight on the dot. I’d like you gentlemen to be inside the dining room. Go ahead and have a seat at the table, if you will. Avery, I’d like you to be in the main foyer. Cam will be on the porch with Frank, the primary camera operator, introducing the show, and then she’ll come in to see you. She’ll say your name, blah, blah, blah, and tell the audience you’re investigating with her. Then things will get rolling. Try not to look or interact with Frank unless you have to. Just talk to Cam and, of course, any ghosts you might see.” Avery arched an eyebrow at that last, but Shaye seemed perfectly serious. “Okay, five minutes. Gentlemen, please go in the dining room. Avery, you’re in the front hall.”