I could a tale unfold - 15

"What's wrong," Kirk asked from the door of the costume shop.

Ross spun around to look at him. "Otis here just told me he was murdered."

"Who?" Kirk walked over, looking at Ross warily. "Who's Otis?"

"He the young man…" Ross frowned when he realized Otis had vanished. "You didn't see a guy standing here when you came in?"

"Nope. Just you, talking to yourself." Kirk rested one hip on the corner of the desk, staring at Ross.

"I was… Hell, this is weird." Ross checked the desk and sighed softly in relief, picking up the pad of paper, handing it to Kirk.

"Okay," Kirk said after reading the words. "You're saying this Otis person wrote this?"

"Yes! He can't talk, but apparently writing's allowed." Ross went on to explain to his very dubious lover exactly what had happened.

When Ross had finished, Kirk shook his head in disbelief. "So you're telling me this Otis was murdered and now he's a ghost." He smiled slightly then. "I told you he was after the first time he showed up, but I was just kidding."

Scrubbing his hand over his face, Ross sighed. "I don't know what to believe. If this is a hoax, why? On the other hand, if he really is a ghost, and I'm having a hard time believing that, what does he want? Why show up now after all these years?"

Kirk was about to reply when he gave a shout of surprise. Something pulled the pad of paper from his hand, placing it back on the desk, and then the pencil rose and scribbled across it. They both looked at what was there, and then at each other.

"Find my killer," Ross said quietly.

"A bit hard to do, since whoever it was must be dead by now," Kirk commented.

"Besides which, we don't know who was killed, other than a first name, or even when it happened."

Kirk looked at Ross and chuckled. "You're really believing this and thinking about doing it."

Ross shrugged. "Maybe."

There was a brief stir in the air and Otis reappeared. Kirk jumped in shock then studied the young man. "He's kind of cute, you know," he told Ross.

"Only you—" Ross shook his head in amusement. Turning to Otis, he said, "I think you heard what we were saying. If we're going to find out who killed you there are some things we need to know."