Jude McCoy continued to watch the man in disbelief and anger. She thought, not for the first time, that he knew the truthhe knew itbut didnt want to accept it.
Suddenly, his face changed. He reached out as if to place a hand on the ghosts shoulders.
And, of course, he touched nothing.
Ghosts could surprise you. They could learn to make noise, to displace air about, to move objects...but they werent there in substance, as flesh and blood. They were energy, capable of so muchand yet never again would they have bodies that could be touched.
My God, Jude breathed.
He didnt sag onto the floor. He just stared at the man, almost as though he wished Byron would disappear.
He seemed to hope that the ghosts presence was impossible, a figment of his imagination.
Alexi thought she saw him wince. Saw a slight trembling seize his body.
And then he looked at the ghost again, at Byron Grant, and said, I dont suppose youre going to be able to tell me who killed you?
No, the ghost said. Theres only one thing I can tell you with absolute certainty.
Whats that? Jude McCoy asked.
The killer is on this ship.