Small Town Ghosts by Kevin Johnson

Author:Kevin Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kevin Johnson

11

They sat in a booth near the front, eating and chatting as the early morning breakfast crowd thinned to nothing and the food on their plates dwindled. Mike’s back was to the window that looked out onto Broadway. Kayla stared over his shoulder, watching cars pass slowly by.

“I’m going to put on weight if I’m here much longer,” she said.

Mike slid his empty plate aside and leaned back, patted his stomach. “Same here. Good thing you’re leaving in a few days.”

The words came out with little thought, but Mike wished he had them back. He preferred not to entertain the prospect of returning to his previous existence, spending too much time in the grocery store or staring at darkened corners wondering what might pop out. Before long, Audrey would probably get the regional job, and since Dave’s career wasn’t dependent on where he resided, there would be nothing holding them here. They would move and then it would just be Mike and Monotone Checkout Girl, but even she was likely destined for bigger and better things.

“Are you looking forward to getting back home?”

Kayla’s shrug was so slight he almost missed it.

“It’s a long way back,” she said.

Mike could hear the weariness in the words and was about to ask if she was all right when she looked at him and smiled.

“Are you busy tonight?”

“I’ll have to check with my assistant, see if my calendar has an opening.”

“Right. If there’s room, I’m treating you to one more dinner as a token of my appreciation for everything you’ve done for me.”

“There’s no need —”

Kayla cut him off with a raised hand.

“Yes there is. Clear your schedule because I’m picking you up at 7:30.”

“You’re picking me up?”

“Of course,” she said. “I’m handling everything. All you have to do is pretty yourself up and enjoy the evening.”

Mike snorted laughter. “I’ll see what I can do.”

When they left the diner, bat man was standing on the corner a block up by the stoplight, waving at cars as they passed. It was unusual for a Monday; normally he was only seen on the weekends.

Kayla waved as they drove by.

In the driveway at her mom’s house, Kayla unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle.

“Don’t forget — 7:30 sharp.”

“I won’t,” Mike said as she climbed out and turned to face him.

“Text me your address.”

“Will do.” Mike gave a thumbs up as she closed the door and walked away.

After she disappeared inside, Mike shifted into reverse, backed out, and drove straight to the hardware store where he bought a roll of duct tape and a decent flashlight. He had an idea for later that night, one that would seem ridiculous to the casual observer, but, to him, made perfect sense. All he had to do now was kill some time. Ten hours to be exact.

----

For the rest of the morning, Mike alternated between staring at the unopened laptop on the coffee table and flipping through channels. At noon, he considered a trip to the library to bug

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