Call On Me by Angela Verdenius Read Free Book Online Page B

ahead of them, the van was cosy, soft
rock played on the radio, and he was content.
    Two hours later
they pulled onto a dirt track that led further into the bush.
Having scouted the area a few days ago, Ghost new exactly where he
was going. The track led almost right up to Screaming Pond. Once a
favoured place for fishing and camping, it had been derelict for a
few years. The bushes had reclaimed a lot of the track but it
remained useable thanks to men like Old Parker, who still came down
here now and again for fishing or doing well, who knew what,
exactly? All Ghost cared about was that, supposedly, it was now
haunted.
    Haunted was
fun.
    Gaze fixed on
the dirt track, Ali straightened.
    After going as
far as he could take the panel van, Ghost pulled over and switched
off the engine.
    Ali peered
forward. “I don’t see a pond.”
    “That’s because
we’re not there yet, honey. Out you get.” Opening the door, Ghost
got out, shutting it behind him and stretching leisurely, breathing
in the bushland.
    The scurrying
of animals in the underbrush, the sway of the trees in the warm
night air, the scent of wattle, the feel of being a small being in
a big world, the unknown…the press of Ali against his side.
    Lips twitching
in amusement, he glanced down to where her head bobbed level with
his shoulder. “So, how’s my ghost hunter?”
    “Fine,
fine.”
    So fine, in
fact, that she was as close as she could get against him while she
looked around.
    Glancing up,
she saw his smile and frowned. Straightening, she stepped back and
placed her hands on her hips. Yep, totally rocking the tough chick
persona. He loved it. Arching one brow at her, Ghost waited.
    “Right,” she
said, “so where is this pond?”
    “Screaming
Pond?”
    “Yes. Screaming
Pond.”
    Giving her hair
a ruffle, which sent several loose strands of hair tumbling down
her back, he ignored her oath and walked around to the back of the
van. Opening the door, he leaned in and retrieved the torch from
the box beside the esky. The esky reminded him of other things,
just as much fun, and he opened it to investigate the contents by
the torch light. Score!
    Pulling out a
cold, homemade meat pie, he straightened and took a hearty bite. Oh
God, say what you wanted about volatile Ali, but the woman could
cook to make the angels sing.
    Coming up
beside him, she slung the video bag over one shoulder and reached
into the esky to pull out another meat pie. Taking a bite, she
peered up at him. “Ready?”
    “Yep.” Placing
a couple of snack packs of mixed dried fruit and nuts into the
backpack, he dropped in a couple of juice boxes and a bottle of
water, along with the wrapped sandwiches. Closing the door, he
flicked the torch light around the bushes.
    Bright eyes
winked back at them before disappearing. Unfortunately, wildlife
tended to be shy, so finding out what it was in the dark was a
no-go. Even the moonlight wasn’t going to bring out the wildlife
when humans were present.
    “Okay, honey,
let’s go ghost hunting.” Slinging the backpack over his shoulder,
he took another bite of pie. “Ready?”
    “Absolutely.”
Her eyes sparkled in the light of the torch.
    They walked
down the rutted dirt path side by side. As they left the van behind
and the bushes started to close in, Ali shifted subtly closer to
Ghost. A little more, a little more. He waited, aware of her
movements. Yep, there she moved, a little closer, and wait for
it…wait for it… Her hand slipped into his and automatically his
fingers curled protectively around hers.
    Not that she
was afraid. God above, never would Ali Mackay admit to fear. She
loved the ghost watches, scared the crap out of her sometimes, but
she loved it nevertheless. She always did them pressed up against
his side with her hand gripping his in a hold so tight even the
Grim Reaper wouldn’t be able to part them with his scythe.
    He certainly
didn’t mind. Ever since their first ghost watch as over-excited
teenagers, she’d