Serial Fiction - Living Proof - Installment Six...

The crowd of some twenty people stepped back away from the door as they approached. On the door, scrawled in blood, was a message that read...I was drugged.

Just then a crash could be heard in the back of the studio. The leading man came running out. "That set almost hit me! Do something!"

Sharp and Keene, guns drawn, ran to the back of the studio to investigate. The security guard stayed behind to maintain crowd control.

Caroline snuck away and, skirting behind several unfinished sets, made her way to where the detectives were. "Did you find anything?"

Both men jumped at the sound of her voice behind them. "No, Ms. Fitzgerald, there's nothing here."

Just then a man screamed and something crashed at the front of the studio. Caroline and the detectives ran back up front to find a lighting beam had fallen from the ceiling. "I was directly under that beam, detectives." Whined Ken. "I could have be killed, again!"

Sharp examined the beam. The support cable had been cut clean through. "Do you have any enemies Mr. Langford? It appears that this cable has been cut. Seems more of a human endeavor than a supernatural to me, wouldn't you say Keene?"

"It would seem so. But we still have the message to contend with. I'd like to know where that blood came from." Keene began to look around for any sign of blood loss. He found it. There was a small pool of blood behind a half finished set about 100 feet from the door. "Whose blood is this? Did someone injure themselves?"

No one answered. A large burly man hid his poorly bandaged arm behind him as he tried to blend with the crowd. Jack didn't want to be any part of this. He had nothing against Harold. He sure hoped Harold had nothing against him for landing the bouncer role in SOUNDS OF LOVE. He knew Harold would be mad that he'd lost that key he gave him to give to Caroline. It was in his locker at the studio. He just couldn't figure how anyone could get it.

Suddenly, every light in the studio came on and they all shone on Ken Langford. Langford screamed again. She was such a sissy. "Help! What's happening. Make it stop!" Every time he tried to move, the lights followed him. Then, without warning, they all shattered, showering Ken and those closest to him with glass. Ken was whimpering.

Caroline was astounded at Harold's anger. She looked around and saw him leaning against one of the backdrops, arms crossed with a great big grin on his face. She walked over and whispered harshly, "what was that all about."

"I can't tell you Caroline. You're going to have to figure it out. I sure wish you'd hurry though. I'm getting rather tired of this ghost bit." Then he just popped out.

"Let's get back to the Coroner. There were no signs of drugs in the drink Mr. Dennis had and no immediate signs in his body, but there are other less obvious drugs that can be tested for." Keene swept the room with his gaze, noting everything and started for the door.

"What about me?" Ken Langford's voice had taken on a panicked tinge.

"It seems that the manifestations have ceased. However, you might be safer away from the studio for now. It looks like it's going to take a bit of cleaning up anyway." Sharp dismissed the man and left with Keene.

Once in their car, Sharp turned to Keene. "What do you think of Langford?"

Keene laughed. "Personally or professionally? Seriously, someone may be out to get him judging by the cut cables. However, that light display could have been our ghost. If the ghost is mad at him, then he's involved in his death in some way; I'm sure of it. The blood message could have been written by anyone. But, hopefully, whoever wrote it, just gave us another clue."

"I'm still having trouble wrapping by brain around the whole thing." Sharp shook his head as if to clear it. "Are we actually considering that a ghost could have used that blood to write a note to us?" Sharp looked a bit queasy. He'd seen lots of blood before; it certainly wasn't that. But ghosts? This wasn't in his job description. Mulder he was not.

After numerous tests, the Coroner confirmed the presence of a rare poison in Harold Dennis's system that was missed during the first autopsy. It explained why there was no water in Harold's lungs. He was dead before he was pushed into the pool.

Now the hunt was on for anyone with access to that drug. Keene rubbed his chin, staring out of the dirty office window.

Sharp flopped into his desk chair and the loose springs swayed back dangerously.

"I have an idea." Keene grabbed his jacket and was halfway out the door before Sharp could even close his mouth.

Suddenly, Keene stopped; and eyes raised, elbowed Sharp in the ribs. "My God Keith, what is that?