Always love a good crossover, and “The different detectives interacting on a case” was what spoke to me this time. Just a couple of hungry girls having their snacks right in the hot zone of a crime scene. As you do. Don’t mind the crumbs.
@fyeahghosttrick Ghost Swap treat for @gavinnersroadie!
I went with your role swap prompt and there are so many great possibilities here, but I landed on a end-of-ch. 9 scenario now with Prisoner D-99/Detective Alma, Inspector Emma, our confused ghost Lovey and with a couple other references to others you will see here.
Hope you enjoy and happy Ghost Swap!
Detective Alma was now free and Lovey found herself left with a newly empty cell and confused guards and no more answers than more questions and a single look of recognition before the shutters came down. Did Detective Alma know her? And had helping her escape been the right thing to do? The detective was a criminal so they said, but Ray believed in her. That had to mean to something as long Lovey’s trust in him wasn’t misplaced.
The detective hadn’t seemed much of a criminal to Lovey anyway. She’d seemed sad and worried and when the chance came determined. Lovey thought there was anger there too, but it remained an underlying feeling that would have remained unknown had it not been for the revealing nature of the ghost world. All of that, but not murderous, so trust she kept for now.
And as of now there was no reason to stay here any longer. It was time to hop a phone back to the guard station and decide her next move, whatever that would be. She needed to report back to Ray and then what? At least one plan took flight anyway; his hero was free now.
The guard room was much as she’d left it. Bailey still danced that odd dance; only now his partner sat in Bailey’s chair. Then the phone rang. What could that be? She darted over with a tiny seed of hope that just maybe something might lead her to her next step. So many important calls had happened already; why not this one?
It was and it seemed their second meeting was to happen far sooner than expected. There was Detective Alma on the other side in a new place she hadn’t seen before.
“Lovey, if you’re there, I need you to come here as soon as you can.”
“Uh, who is this, ma’am?” asked the guard.
Alma’s voice sweetened. “Oh I’m sorry I seem to have gotten the wrong number.”
“Hey! Huh.” The guard set the phone.
“Who… was that?” panted Bailey.
“Just a wrong number I guess,” he answered with a shrug and slumped back into the chair.
It was a wrong number for them, but not for her. There was no time to waste and she dove into the line leaving the dejected guard and his dancing partner.
And there, on the other side of the line under the shining moon, it seemed their plan had crashed as soon as it took off. There Alma stood and across from her stood the Inspector.
"Emma," Alma said. “I'm sorry, that's Inspector now, isn't it?"
"To others certainly."
"Why are you here?"
"There's an execution tonight dear." Emma tipped a hand. "And yet here you are. Here's to a cunning and daring escape."
Enough was enough. Lovey jumped into Alma's core and the world took on the blue shades of the ghost world.
"Ah there you are," Alma said. "I'm sorry Lovey, I truly do appreciate your efforts, but it seems some things really can't be changed."
"I don't understand. After what I’ve seen tonight, I don't believe you would have done it."
"You can't know that," Alma said with a sad smile.
"But I've heard stories tonight. You and the Inspector were friends. I’ve heard the same of the Justice Minister. Would they really believe it? Would they let you die?"
"Everything pointed at me and now I’m an escaped criminal. From her point of view she is doing the right thing. How can I expect anything else from her or Caba—the Justice Minister? There are some days I almost start to believe it myself.” Sorrow wrapped around them. “That I killed my husband. That I killed the minister’s best friend. That I’m a simple murderer in two old friends’ eyes.” She shook her head and the sorrow faded, not gone, only muted. “You’ve done enough for me. You have a mystery of your own to solve.”
And she meant it too. No lies in the ghost world and Alma’s sincerity rang true.
“Then can I ask one question?” Lovey said. “When you saw me you recognized me, didn’t you? How do you know me? Who am I?”
Alma stared at her for what felt like a long moment if time existed here and confusion coloured the world. Then she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t have answers. I thought I knew your face but that can’t be. I don’t know you.”
“I see.” So there was a dead end here too, but it wasn’t the end. There had to be another path somewhere. And as for the detective. “Isn’t there something more I can do for you? We’ve come this far.”
“No. Thank you.”
And just like that their connection was cut. “Well?” Alma spoke to the Inspector. “I suppose you’ll take me back in now?”
Emma brushed some speck of dust or similar from the coat sleeve. “On this night of all nights? Oh no, I thought we would pay a visit to our Mr. Minister. He’ll want to see you.”
Alma’s hand flew to her mouth. “But that’s…”
“That’s not a problem is it, dear?”
“I…” Alma’s eyes narrowed and her hands fell by her side. “I can’t object, can I? I’m in your custody after all.”
“You could run,” Emma said. “A dramatic chase under a full moon. Why, can you imagine the drama of it?”
Alma’s mouth twitched and Lovey got the impression she’d just struggled to hold back a laugh. “Five years and in some ways it seems you haven’t changed at all. Shall we go?”
“A moment.” Emma approached, took Alma’s hand and pressed something into it. Lovey caught only a glint of gold until Emma stepped back and Alma examined the item.
“A watch?” She flipped it open and stared at it, eyes widening briefly before returning her gaze to Emma. “I’m hardly the person to give this to under the circumstances.”
“It’s a gift,” Emma replied. “To old times’ sake.”
“I… see.”
There was something there, Lovey thought, but she couldn’t say what—only that she felt she’d missed some important connection, something just happened between them. Alma flipped the watch closed and pocketed it. Emma stepped aside.
“After you.”
Alma stepped ahead but paused and reached out. “Lovey?”
“I’m here.”
“Go back to Ray. I know you two can help each other if anyone can. I can’t say what will happen tonight. Nothing is as it seems. Trust your eyes and what you see. I believe you will find answers.”
“I’ll try. Are you really all right?”
“I am.” There was an underlying tension but there was truth too and Lovey wondered again just what it was she missed.
How many more mysteries would reveal themselves this night? Alma left followed by Emma and they soon disappeared into the night leaving her alone in the courtyard. Whether that had been a step in the right direction she couldn’t say; she could only hope something would work out. She fulfilled her part and somewhat did as Ray had asked. It was time to return to the detective. Lovey slipped back into the phone and into the rest of the night. To answers and to new lives.
Ghost Swap pinch hit for @gavinnersroadie, kid versions of characters without canon kid versions! Same Hair rule applies but I couldn’t bring myself to give bb Alma the textbook dead anime mom hairstyle... Jowd’s punches are faster than a speeding bullet so maybe he has some training?
