Southern Belle by Stuart Jaffe

the room to make sure nobody paid extra attention to them. In a low whisper, he said, "I think most of his story was true. I think he had met Dr. Ernest and worked with him well before Joshua Leed came into the picture."
    "I agree. But then why not tell the full story? Why stop before getting into the witch coven? Worse, he lied about that. He purposely made it sound like that part of the story never existed."
    "That's why I agreed to this break in. We've got to keep playing along with him until we know more of what's going on."
    "I don't like it. These late-night things never turn out well for us."
    "If you've got a better idea, please tell me."
    Sandra stuck out her tongue.
    "It's those mature responses that make me love you more." Max kissed her tongue.
    "Be careful."
    "Of course."
    "No, you need to be more careful than usual. Drummond is lying to us and he's lying about something that surrounds a murder. That's stressful and confusing. It means he's got pressure building inside him. I may not be able to help much when it comes to witches and curses, but I know ghosts. Pressure like that — the kind that comes from having to face the secrets of your past — that's the kind of thing that can turn a ghost."
    "Turn? That doesn't sound good."
    "Not all ghosts are sweet and friendly."
    "I'd hardly call Drummond sweet or friendly."
    "Good ghosts, kind ghosts, can lose themselves, lose whatever made them decent. They turn. Become evil."
    "Like what? Haunted houses, poltergeists?"
    "Or worse. A ghost like Drummond, one who knows us well, could cause us both serious harm. He would be like an insane psychotic that still remembers the key details of our lives but has no empathy, no morals, nothing that would stop him from abusing that knowledge."
    "I get the picture. What do we do to stop this?"
    "I don't know for sure. I've never been in a position to try stopping a ghost from turning before. But I know that the worse this pressure builds upon him, the more likely he is to turn."
    "Well, you're full of great news." Max rubbed his face. Now he had to worry about Drummond going crazy. And Agent Stevenson expected him soon. He needed to get going.
    Sandra dismissed it all with a wave of her hand, but her eyes didn't believe. "I'm probably being paranoid. Don't worry about it unless Drummond starts showing cracks."
    "Cracks?"
    "Just an expression, hon. Not literal cracks. At least, I don't think real cracks would form." She trembled out a grin and kissed him.
    "I know it's boring but please go back to the office and wait for Drummond. If I haven't returned when he gets there, call me. I've got some more research to do."
    "Yes, sir," Sandra said with a mock salute.
    Once she left, Max gathered his things together and waited at the entrance. He watched her as long as he could, then waited another three minutes after she left his view. The idea that he hid from his wife wriggled under his skin, but until he knew what the FBI wanted, he wouldn't dare give voice to his concerns. They had enough to contend with. No need to get Sandra fired up with more worry, too.
    As he walked to his car, he saw no sign of her. He drove off campus onto Silas Creek Parkway, a stretch of road that made a long arc around the city, until he hit Peters Creek Parkway. A left turn towards downtown brought him straight to the BB&T Ballpark.
    He had no trouble finding a parking space — mid-week, afternoon, minor league baseball games never packed the seats. The park had been constructed less than ten years ago and still bore the feel of newness about it. Not really good for a ballpark. The seats were too new, the paint too clean. The place lacked the sense of history which was part of a baseball game experience.
    Except I'm not here for a ball game.
    Max strolled around toward the left field seating entrance. Partially to stall and partially out of need, he stepped into the men's room. While standing before a urinal he heard the crack of bat and heard muffled