#nikvirani

“They said it wasn’t a murder.” The spirit stood between his desk and the door, looking at Jude with desperate, furious eyes. He was young, college age, still carrying himself with the self importance of youth and the punchiness of the living. Jude would have mistaken him for a living person had it not been for their location; not just anyone would be allowed into his office. 

“I know you can see me.” 

Jude had no interest in speaking with the spirit. He rarely did. He sat in his chair with his hands over his eyes, taking in a deep breath; please, go away. They never did listen to him, not when he thought it, not when he said it out loud. So often they wanted something. He drew his hands away with a sigh and looked back toward his monitor, only to find the spirit directly in front of him. He jumped in his seat, causing it to roll back on the wood floor. “Leave,” he said, breathless and standing up, adrenaline rushing through his veins, “I can’t do anything for you, just go.”

“I’ll leave when you help me.” “I’m not helping you.”

It took another day before he gave in and found himself walking into the office of the medical examiner. He didn’t want to be there, that somber place where even more spirits lurked about. They all noticed him, somehow, they knew he saw them. Several swarmed around him and Jude drew in a deep breath, closed his eyes. He must have looked rather distressed, when he opened his eyes he was being stared at by who he could only guess was the receptionist.

“Sir? How can we help you?”

He shook his head, pushed his hair back and raised his chin. This was fine. He’d get rid of the boy after he did this and if he was lucky, none of these new spirits would follow him out. “I need to speak with . . . I don’t know, it’s regarding a Donovan Scott.”

“Donovan Scott? His autopsy was finished a few days ago, are you the family?”

“No,” Jude said, shaking his head, “I’m not. I need to speak with whoever determines the cause of death, I think. I’m not really sure how this works.”