I’m just saying. As her dead brother’s voice drifted in and out of her head from behind, the disembodied sound made her feel utterly crazy. You’re thirty-two years old, and instead of cozying up to some hot boy toy, you’re sitting here in the police station with sucky coffee—

“I don’t have any coffee.”

At that moment, the door swung wide and Billy rolled in. “Thought you might like some wake-up.”

Bingo, her brother said.

Shut. Up, she thought back at him.

“Billy, that’s really kind of you.” She took what the supervisor offered, the warmth of the paper cup bleeding into her palm.

“Well, you know, it’s dishwater. We all hate it.” Billy smiled. “But it’s a tradition.”

“It sure is.” She frowned as he lingered. “Something wrong?”

Billy patted the vacant chair next to him. “Would you mind sitting here for me?”

Grier lowered the cup. “Of course not, but why—”

“Thanks, dear.”

There was a beat. Clearly, Billy was waiting for her to shift around and was not inclined to explain himself.

Pushing the file across the way, she went to the other seat, her back now to the door.

“That’s a girl.” He gave her a squeeze on the arm and rolled out.

The change in position meant that she could see the filmy apparition of her younger, beloved brother. Daniel was lounging in the far corner of the room, feet crossed at the ankles, arms linked at the chest. His blond hair was fresh and clean, and he had on a coral-colored polo shirt and madras shorts.

He was like an undead model in a Ralph Lauren ad, nothing but all-American, sun-kissed privilege about to take a sail off Hyannis Port.

Except he wasn’t smiling at her, as he usually did. They want him facing the door so the guard outside can keep an eye on him. And they don’t want you boxed into the room. Easier to get you out this way if he goes aggressive.

Forgetting about the security camera, and the fact that to anybody else she was speaking into thin air, she leaned in. “Nobody is going to—”

You’ve got to quit this. Stop trying to save people and get a life.

“Right back at you. Stop haunting me and get an eternity.”

I would. But you won’t let me go.

On that note, the door behind her opened up and her brother disappeared.

Grier stiffened as she heard the tinkling sound of chains and the shuffling of feet.

And then she saw him.

Holy . . . Mary . . . mother . . . of . . .