Free Innocent Blood by Graham Masterton

somebody’s spiritual presence very close to you, somebody who needs your help. It’s as though you’re all charged up with psychic energy, like static electricity.’
    As if one were shuffling over a great rug .
    Frank’s mouth felt dry. ‘Do you think it could be Danny?’
    â€˜Danny? Your son? Very possibly, although I can’t see very clearly who it is.’
    â€˜I don’t believe in this. Danny’s dead.’
    â€˜I don’t know what to tell you, Frank. If you don’t believe it, that’s it, there’s an end to it. But I can sense a spirit and I can sense that spirit’s need. I can also sense your need. You think you were responsible for Danny’s death, don’t you, and you can’t think how to make amends.’
    â€˜Did Detective Booker tell you that?’
    â€˜He didn’t have to, Frank. You’re wearing your pain like a placard.’
    They walked a little further until they reached the gates. Then Frank said, ‘I guess you can understand that this is causing me some very big problems with my wife.’
    â€˜Well, naturally.’
    â€˜Like . . . what it amounts to . . . our marriage has run into a concrete block at a hundred miles an hour. It’s over, as far as Margot’s concerned. She suffered complications when she was pregnant with Danny. He nearly died, and when he was born the doctors told her that she could never have any more children. So, Danny was her only chance at natural motherhood, and I’m supposed to have killed him.’
    â€˜I’m really very sorry.’
    Frank turned his head away, almost as if he were talking to somebody standing on his left. ‘What I was thinking was . . . I know what I said a moment ago about not believing in the world beyond and everything . . . but I was wondering if you could come round and somehow show Margot that Danny’s still with us. I don’t know – do you ever do that kind of thing?’
    â€˜You’re talking about psychic communication. What some people might call a séance.’
    â€˜I guess so. I mean, is it possible for you to talk to Danny, to find out what he’s feeling now?’
    â€˜It depends if he wants to or not. We don’t talk to the spirits, remember. They talk to us.’
    â€˜I admit that I’m skeptical. But I’m prepared to give it a chance.’
    â€˜So what do you need to know about Danny? Do you need to know that he forgives you for letting him die?’
    Frank took a deep, steadying breath. ‘Maybe.’
    â€˜And you think that if Danny forgives you, then Margot might find a way to forgive you, too?’
    Frank exhaled like a man stepping chest-deep into cold water.
    â€˜All right,’ said Nevile. ‘I’ll give it a try, if you really want me to. I’m afraid I don’t do it for nothing. Five hundred and fifty dollars, plus expenses.’
    â€˜That’s OK, that’s fine.’
    â€˜Give me your number and I’ll call you tomorrow, when I’ve finished with Lieutenant Chessman. And by the way, you don’t have to worry.’
    Frank, handing his business card over, said, ‘Worry? Worry about what?’
    â€˜I’m single, unattached, and always looking for the perfect partner. But I’m not gay, and so that perfect partner won’t be you.’

Five
    B efore he left The Cedars, Frank walked over to have a word with Lieutenant Chessman.
    â€˜That was very interesting,’ he said.
    â€˜Don’t tell me he’s converted you already.’
    â€˜Well, let’s put it this way. I didn’t much care for the guy when I first saw him, but there’s a whole lot more to him than meets the eye.’
    â€˜He’s very good, no question. One of the best in the world. He came over to California about ten years ago, to help with the Santa Monica Strangler investigation, and he’s