“Why did you make such a mess?”
“Because I was in a hurry,” Wesley said. “I was afraid someone might come along and find me inside the house and think I was one of those people who robs empty houses after the owner dies. I didn’t want to get caught, that’s all. But I didn’t steal anything.”
“I believe you,” she said. “Not that it makes any difference when it comes to the underlying ethical issues involved.”
Wesley watched her for a long moment. He drummed his fingers on the table. “You really think she was murdered, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Like the others two years ago?”
“Yes.”
“I knew it. It’s perfect.” Wesley used both hands to rake his blond hair back behind his ears. Excitement lit his eyes again. “If you’re right, this could be huge.”
“I doubt it. If I’m right, all the victims were killed by paranormal means and that will be impossible to prove.”
“But that’s exactly what you’re trying to do, isn’t it? Prove that Evelyn was murdered by paranormal means. That’s why you’re hanging around Wilby. This isn’t about taking care of Evelyn’s estate. It’s about trying to find out what really happened to her and to that witch.”
“Louise Fuller.”
“Louise Fuller,” Wesley repeated obediently.
Gwen exhaled slowly. “It’s true—I’d like to find some answers.”
“Where does Coppersmith fit into this?”
“He’s a friend.”
“You’re sleeping together—I know that much,” Wesley said. “Hell, everyone in town knows it. But that’s not the whole story. I’ve known you for two years. You haven’t had a serious relationship in all that time.”
“I didn’t realize you’d been paying such close attention to my personal life.”
“I admit that after my divorce last year, I asked Evelyn about you from time to time,” Wesley said. “She made it clear that you were not interested in an intimate relationship with a man. I got the message.”
“Did you?”
“Well, I thought I got it. I assumed that you just didn’t like men in that way, that you were more interested in women.” Wesley frowned. “But when you showed up here with Coppersmith, it was obvious that something had changed.”
“And you’re wondering why him and not you? For heaven’s sake, Wesley, you’ve never had any deep feelings for me. We both know that. Two years ago I was a curiosity to you—a woman who claimed to have some paranormal talent. You wonder what it would be like to go to bed with me, that’s all. You’re looking at this through the lens of your ego. Give it a rest. Sometimes two people just don’t click.”
“But you and Coppersmith have clicked, is that it?”
“I think we’re getting a little off topic here.”
Wesley grunted. “Yeah, you’re right. Believe it or not, I’m here to offer you a business proposition.”
“I’m listening.”
“I have had an absolute brainstorm. Wait until you hear my new concept for the show. It’s going to take Dead of Night into the big leagues.”
“Let’s hear it,” Gwen said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
“Up until now we’ve focused on old legends that involve haunted houses and reports of mysterious paranormal events.” Wesley was very intent now. “But that’s gone stale. What the show needs is a new edge.”
“How do you plan to get that?”
“We’re going to refocus the series. We’ll investigate cold cases, crimes that have never been solved.”
“I hate to break this to you, but that’s not a new concept.”
“No, no, no, we’ve been doing historical murders. I’m talking about recent murders that have gone cold due to lack of evidence. Maybe some missing-person’s stuff, too.”
“Wesley—”
“Here’s the twist.” Wesley leaned forward and lowered his voice. “We will solve the cold cases using real psychic investigators.”
He threw himself back in his chair and spread his hands wide apart in a Voilà gesture. He waited for a reaction, smiling in expectation.
Gwen tried to think of something encouraging to say.
“I see,” she said. “This is a fictional series, right?”
“No, no, no. Don’t you get it? We’ll work with genuine psychic investigators to reopen cold cases and solve real crimes.”
“Where do you plan to find these psychic investigators?” she asked. “It pains me to say it, but there are a lot of fakes and frauds in that line.”
He winked. “But you and I know where to find the real deal—genuine psychics—don’t we?”
She sat very still. “Evelyn’s records?”
“I envision a small team of investigators composed of people like you and some of the others who participated in the Ballinger Study.”
“As I recall, you were never convinced that there is such a thing as the paranormal, let alone that people could use that kind of talent to solve crimes.”
“Between you and me, I’m still not entirely convinced,” Wesley said. “But that isn’t important. This is television. This will work. I know it in my gut. With Evelyn gone, I’m going to need your help putting the show together. The first step is to track down the psychics who participated in Evelyn’s study two years ago.”
“That’s why you searched her house, isn’t it? You weren’t looking for her last ideas for a new Dead of Night episode. You wanted to find her records relating to the Ballinger Study.”
“You want the truth, Gwen? I’m desperate and I need your help. Ratings are in the toilet. They’re threatening to cancel Dead of Night. What’s more, this isn’t just about me. If I don’t come up with a new concept and fast, we’re both going to be out of a job.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think this is a good idea, Wesley. I was okay with writing up scripts based on Evelyn’s research of historical crimes, but you’re talking about taking the show in a whole different direction, one that could cause a lot of legal problems.”
“What do you mean?” he demanded.
“Stop and think about what might happen if you go around the country trying to reopen murder investigations in a reality TV format. Law enforcement isn’t going to be at all cooperative. The families of the deceased will be upset. And even if you did uncover a for-real case of murder using psychic investigation techniques, how on earth would you go about proving it?”