Page 76 of Ghost of a Chance
“I’ve got lots of contacts for independent bookstores.I’ll see what I can find.”Gia tapped a note on her phone.
“Jasper, did the course information jog any memories?”Kirsty asked.
“No.I need to dig into it a bit more.I’ll start doing that tomorrow,” he said.
Kirsty nodded and jotted more details on her notepad, her face scrunching as she concentrated.He loved it when she looked serious.
“I’m going to speak to another medium tomorrow afternoon.I want her to see if she picks up anything I’m missing with the book,” Kirsty told them.
“I thought you were an expert,” Dan said.
“I’ve never done this before.I mostly write fiction books about it,” she said sharply.
Dan held his hands up.“Sorry.Find out if I can film her.I think we need the entire story, whatever this is.And it’ll make for a good piece of the story.”
“I will ask her.She might not offer anything new.I really just want a second opinion,” Kirsty said, her voice cagey.
The pitchers of beer and glasses arrived.Gia glanced around the table and lifted her glass.“To Paul, for bringing us all together.”
They all clinked their glasses in a toast.
* * *
It was an odd night, and Kirsty couldn’t help feeling in flux, a sensation that kept dogging her this year.She’d never sat around like this enjoying such easy company.Growing up there hadn’t been money for her to eat out with friends, so she and her mom tended to eat at home.It wasn’t that she’d never been in a restaurant, but as an adult she’d kept the habit, especially when writing was so solitary.
She liked it.There were lulls in the conversation, but everyone was having a good time.Somewhere along the way the four of them had transitioned from colleagues to friends.
Gia’s eyes met hers and she gave one of her signature silly grins.“So, Kirsty, favorite movie of all time?Prepare to defend your choice.”
“What’s all this about?”Dan asked.
“Perfect.While Kirsty thinks, you can go first instead, Dan,” Gia said to him.“I bet it’s something creepy.”
“No.Is that my vibe?”he asked her.
She shrugged.“You seemed really into the ghost hunting footage and techniques.So I’m guessing you like horror.”
“I don’t hate it.But my favorite film would have to be one that Roger Deakins did the photography on.He’s the best cinematographer of all time.”
Kirsty had never really paid attention to that.“What are some of his films?”
“RecentlyThe Goldfinch, but my top film he did isBlade Runner 2049.The way he shot it is breathtaking and I’ve watched it at least a dozen times.There’s something magical in the way he captures light and shadow.”
“Interesting.”She’d never thought much about photography before.The way Dan’s eyes lit up made him seem more approachable.“What do you think, Jasper?”
“Yeah, I like that movie.I’m not as into how it’s shot.I’ve been vibing withStar Warsand I’d have to say and I know it’s not popular but for meThe Last Jediis my favorite.Though I did really likeAndor.”
“What?The Last Jedikilled Luke.I mean really?”Kirsty couldn’t contain her shock.She liked some of the things that Rian Johnson had done in the movie especially with Leia but there were betterStar Warsmovies.And the sexual tension between Rey and Kylo Ren aka Ben Solo had been off the charts.
“Yeah but he needed to die like Obi Wan inA New Hope.”
“Oh no.Do we have twoStar Warsnerds here?”
Dan raised his hand.“Count me in as well.I agree with Jasper on this.Luke had to die.”
“Well, my mom was super pissed about it,” Kirsty said.She’d spent a whole week mourning.
“What about you?What’s your favorite movie?”Jasper asked her.
