Dust on the floor; ghost in my ear [Tess]

[Aidan O'Riley]

Aidan was on a natural high as he shuffled the paper work in his hands; it was a happy side effect from catching one of the city’s drug lords, whom, it just so happened, he’d been after for the past three months. He grinned widely at the detective who shared an office with him; dropping the files on his desk and lifting his black leather jacket off the hook by the door before leaning casually against the frame.

“Good work today man.” He lifted his chin in admiration to his fellow detective, who he’d worked on the case with and who’d also found one of the key components that lead to the criminals bust. “Really, it was a killer case but you drove the last nail on the coffin. I owe you one.”

The gray haired man smiled warmly, shaking his head. “You’re too modest O’Riley. I just picked up on a clue...you’re the one that pieced them all together.” He stood and stretched, rubbing a hand over his extended belly. “How about you buy me a beer anyway, we’re all heading over to the Pub for a cold one.”

Aidan shook his head and stood upright, tugging the light jacket on over his arms. “Not tonight O’Brian. I’m going over to Mom and Pop’s for dinner.” The young detective waggled his brows. “Its meatloaf night...”


As the detective waved to his other co-workers and turned the corner outside, his simple smile turned into an annoyed glower; his good mood dissolving just that quickly. There, playing hop-scotch in the pouring rain, though not getting wet in the slightest, was a translucent little girl with an angel face and a white dress; who stopped abruptly in her play to cast Aidan a mischievous smile.

Aidan didn’t stop; pulling his coat over his head and making his way over to the midnight black SUV. He fiddled with the key for a moment before slipping inside; not the least bit surprised that the pale little girl was now sitting comfortably in the passenger seat.

“Not tonight Susie.” He told her with a hint of exaggeration. “I told you I was going to my family’s for dinner. It’s hard to keep a straight face when you’re acting like a poltergeist all over the house. My mom would love any reason she can find to have me move home. Scolding thin air like a crazy person is one she’d use to full advantage.”

The ghost giggled innocently. “Ohhh Aidan, I promise to be on my best behavior tonight....PALEEEEASE?” The little apparition begged in a sing-song voice, already grinning ear to ear because she knew he would give in.

Aidan sighed and clenched his hands on the steering wheel, his blue-green eyes narrowed on the barely visible road ahead. It was raining cats and dogs, and cars were only moving a mile a minute.

The sound of the ghost's whining voice was like fingernails across a chalkboard. More correctly, like Freddy Kruger's knives across the chalkboard.
Now he wished he'd taken the detective up on his offer for a beer. At least then he could have a few minutes reprieve from the spectral harassment, for the little spirit never followed him into bars. In her words they were 'stinky, yucky, and noisy'

Abruptly, O'Riley steered his vehicle to the right, pulling it into the lot of a dirt on the floor kind of biker bar.

"What are ya' doin'?"Susie asked and without even looking at her, Aidan knew her little arms were folded across her chest.

"I'm going in there to get a little peace and quiet." Aidan replied in annoyance and climbed out of his SUV, pocketing the keys and pulling the collar of his coat out.

"But its meatloaf night! Aiddddaaaaannnn!" Susie whined in his ear as she floated beside him.

"I"ll only be a few minutes. Go wait somewhere else." The detective replied and swatted at her, knowing full well it would do no good.

Several patrons that had been gathered outside to get some air now stared at him in disbelief. Was the guy off his rocker? Who in the hell was he talking to?
Aidan forced a cordial smile as he went past them, leaving the spectre to her whining as he made his way inside .

Ah...the silence. It was blissful even though CCR was blaring over head and the the customers practically had to yell at one another to be heard.

"Can I get a beer, please?" Aidan asked as he slid onto a stool at the bar. "A Guinness if you've got it on tap."

[tessa]

Tessa turned into the parking lot of the bar. It was the typical hole in the wall kind of bar you could find anywhere. Some people might even go so far as to call it a dive. She didn’t care. It had been a long day and all she wanted was a cold beer and to be surrounded by noise that might drown out her thoughts for a little while or at least something to distract her and take her mind off things.

Pulling into a parking spot, Tessa stopped the old SUV. It was a sky blue Chevy Tahoe and was almost as old as she was. She could have had a brand new car if she wanted, but this one was special. It had been a birthday gift from her father to her mother when she was just a baby. The vehicle had been kept in perfect condition and she liked to use it when she went on road trips.

With a little sigh she pushed the door open and climbed out of the car. She shut the door behind her, clicking the button on the remote to lock the door and set the alarm. As she turned to head toward the door she noticed a bit of a disturbance in the small group of people who were milling around outside the bar. A man seemed to be having a conversation with someone and then swinging his hand through the air as if to shoo away a fly or something. By the looks of the people and the demeanor of the man, it didn’t seem like had been talking to any of them, but Tessa was too far away to know what had happened.

The man walked inside the bar and Tessa headed that direction as well. When she passed the clump of people by the door they were still murmuring about something. Pushing the door open she walked inside the bar. The music was loud, which was typical for a place like this so she wasn’t surprised. Making her way to the bar she pulled out a stool and took a seat. Looking over she realized she was sitting beside the man who had walked in just ahead of her. When he placed his order for a beer Tessa waved her hand at the bartender to get his attention.

“I’ll have what he’s having, please.”

She gave the bartender a little smile. Watching as the man behind the counter served up two glasses of beer and sat one down in front of each of them. Tessa, placed some cash up on the bar and waved off the change and waited until the bartender moved down the counter. She took a long pull from the glass before she glanced over at the dark haired man next to her.

“So… Did you have a little trouble out there? Some kind of argument? The natives seemed a little restless as I walked in.”

Not wanting to be too intrusive, Tessa turned back to face the bar. She picked up her beer and had another sip. Who knew what was going on with the guy. Could be he just had a hard day like she had and someone made a comment that he responded to. Whatever it was, something had brought a decent looking, clean cut guy like him into a bar like this. Things like that always intrigued Tessa a little bit. She was aware that people probably wondered what brought a girl like her here, she knew the answer to that one though. And it was one she most likely wasn’t going to share with anyone.

[Aidan O'Riley]

Aidan watched the bartender tip the large rimmed glass under the tap, and as all that dark, thick beer poured out, it seemed like his annoyance was dissolving just as quickly as the emptiness in the cup. He was in here and Susie was still outside, and the crowd in the bar was loud enough to drown out even the remembrance of her annoying voice in his ear. He -hoped- that it would take him long enough to finish the brew for the little apparition to get bored and poof off to…where ever she usually poofed off too, but the detective knew it wasn’t likely.
A movement in his peripheral vision drew his attention sideways, and he nodded casually to the petite female that was easing into the stool next to him. When she answered the bartender that she would have what he was having, the corner of his lip curved up a little and he nodded in appreciation. There was nothing like a stout Guinness to put hair on your chest, or your legs, or…whatever. Give you a nice buzz.

When the dark russet liquid was placed before him Aidan wrapped one hand around the glass and tossed a few bills from his coat pocket onto the counter for the tender.
The glass was brought to his lips and as soon as the bitter, chocolate beer hit his tongue, his shoulders relaxed and a moan of appreciation rumbled in his throat.
Yes. That was so nice.

But when the pretty brunette’s voice sounded from beside him and she asked about some kind of argument outside, he coughed, choking on the froth and almost spewing the beer from his nose. The coughing fit only lasted a moment or two and the detective was able to clear his throat and get a grip on himself before wiping the back of his hand across his lips and shaking his head, forcing a smile and as innocent a look as he could muster.
“Trouble? I don’t think so…” Aidan snorted and then felt utterly ridiculous for the noise, coloring a little and quickly bringing the beer back to his lips while he formulated an acceptable excuse.

The man wasn’t able to lie. It just wasn’t in his genetic makeup. Instead, he went with truth with a few minor details left out. “I think they thought I was talking to them…or hitting on their women.” Again he sounded like a dufus, and he rolled his eyes turning a little in his stool to face the woman. “I wasn’t. I was…ah…a voice in my head.”

What. The. Hell.

Susie screwed him over when she wasn’t even there. Like he could honestly tell this lady that he wasn’t hitting on the biker women at all but answering the ghost of a little girl that followed him around on account he’d needed a heart transplant and had been blessed enough to receive hers.
“It’s been a long day.” He gave up and took a long drink of the Guinness, not even aware that when he pulled the glass away he had a frothy mocha colored mustache.

[tessa]

Tessa watched as the man seemed a little shaken by her asking about the problem outside. She turned her head to avoid watching as he sputtered a bit on his beer. To be honest she kind of thought it was cute in some weird wade but worked on trying to keep from smiling. She didn’t want to embarrassed the poor man. Clearing her throat a little she glanced down at her own beer and took a long drink from the glass. Not looking directly at him at first while he started to speak.

Taking another sip from her beer she listened as he tried to explain. His words were unsure, like he didn’t know what to say. She started to feel bad for putting him on the spot. Then she raised her eyebrow when he stumbled over something that sounded like

“… a voice in my head."

Tessa furrowed her brown thinking about that. Another sip on her beer as she pondered a little bit more what he was flustered about. She fiddle with the glass in her hands for a moment. Not sure what to say in response. Then he seemed to just give in on an explanation and she heard him take in a breath and then reply.

“It’s been a long day.”

Nodding her head, Tess turned to look at him watching as he took a drink of his own beer. Tessa cleared her throat but finally couldn’t hide the smile the slid across her face. Chewing on her lip she met his eyes. Reaching up her hand slowly, trying to be not to obviously about it as she indicated his mouth.

“Ummm… Hey, you got a little. Yeah, you have some foam right there.”

The smile turned into a grin and she took her hand and brushed her own lip to show him what she was talking about. She tried not to chuckle. But, he did look kind of adorable. A little flustered and now with a beer foam mustaches. She had to resist the urge to wipe it away for him. That probably wouldn’t be appropriate with someone she didn’t even know.

Taking a deep breath she took another sip of her beer to give him the chance to take care of cleaning his face in some kind of at least semi-private moment. After a moment she let herself glance back in his direction and gave him another small smile and a nod in acknowledgment agreement.

“Yeah, I hear you on that one. Long day. I can relate. Hence, the stop in here for a drink right? If you‘d rather I can leave you to yourself. I don‘t mean to interfere or make you feel uncomfortable if you would rather be left alone. But, if you don‘t mind sharing a beer and getting your mind off your troubles, I wouldn‘t mind that either.”

She paused for a minute as she gave him an appraising once over. He looked like a decent enough guy. A little out of place in this bar, but then again… She probably looked pretty out of place here too.

“My name is Tessa by the way, just in case you didn’t want to drown your sorrows alone.”

Tessa held her hand out in greeting and gave a little chuckle as she watched him.

[Aidan O'Riley]

Aidan was twisting the pint glass around in between his palms, savoring the taste of dark chocolate and hops the beer left on the back of his tongue when he caught the grin spread over the females face. Turning his head toward her to find the source of her amusement, his cheeks colored and the tips of his ears turned bright red at her indication of foam on his upper lip. Damn it. Why did he always forget to wipe his mouth after a heavy guzzle? Tonight wasn’t the first time this had happened, and it probably wouldn’t be his last. At least the woman was kind enough to tell him. The last time his drinking partners (a group of detectives, btw) had left him clueless until the suds had dried as a light brown mustache. He’d spent the rest of the night wondering why no one could look at him without turning away in quiet chuckles.

“Ooohhh..” Aidan swiped across his mouth with the back of his hand and then shook his head, smiling sheepishly. “Thanks. I was actually hoping I might start a trend with it. If we all walked around the bar with foam mustaches it would give everyone something to talk about. Of course, then some people might get jealous about the consistency of the foam. One person’s mustache would be thicker than the next guy’s and next thing you know a fight would break out.”

Smooth, O’Riley. Real smooth.

The detective shook his head in negation when she mentioned leaving him alone to drink his beer alone, and he took the dainty palm, shaking it gently. “Aidan and I don’t mind the company. It’s nice to meet you Tessa.”

Aidan took another sip of his beer, careful to remain suds free, and reached for the little bowl of peanuts set out on the bar for snacks. He tossed some into his mouth and munched, the growling in his stomach reminding him he’d be well into a big piece of mama’s meatloaf if it hadn’t been for Suzie. When he turned back to Tessa, it was with a more confident smile than before, the combination of beer, bar nuts, and the sound of conversation around him doing a good job of getting his mind off his annoyance.

“So….Tessa…what kind of sorrows are you trying to drown? Bad day at work?”
The detective wasn’t trying to pry into the stranger’s life already, but he’d never really be great at small talk. Hopefully, work was a good starting point for conversation. If not, well hell…they always had the beer.