Read Online The Night Is Watching by Heather Graham - Free Book Online Page A

reached for her purse; her food might be free, but she wasn’t letting a server work for nothing.
    “Don’t you dare leave money. Next time, you can give me a tip if you want. Sloan tipped enough for five tables,” Liz told her. “Seriously, don’t you put down a dime!”
    Jane didn’t want to insult the woman and she was afraid that insisting might just do so. “All right, thank you. But, please—”
    “Next time!” Liz said.
    Liz moved on, efficiently taking orders from the crowd now seeking chairs and bar stools.
    Jane didn’t see Henri Coque, Jennie or any of the actors yet—just the people who’d been in the audience. She headed for the stairs. She glanced around to see if the slightest hint of an apparition might appear; none did. She was convinced, however, that she’d seen the image of a woman there earlier.
    The ghost in her room? The spirit of Sage McCormick?
    And had Sage been busy in the bedroom while she was gone?
    Jane turned the key in her lock, opened her door, flipped on the light and looked around. Nothing seemed to have changed in the room. “Hello,” she said softly.
    “Hey!”
    The shout came from the hall. Startled, Jane swung around. Brian Highsmith was opening the door to the room beside hers. “You all right, Jane? Were you expecting to greet the resident ghost? If you’re worried, I can check out the room for you.”
    Brian was serious; he seemed worried that she might be frightened, even though he knew she was an FBI agent.
    “Just because you know how to use a gun,” he said, walking down the hall toward her, “doesn’t mean you might not be afraid of the theater’s reputation.”
    “Brian, I’m pretty sure every old building has a reputation for being haunted.”
    “But this is Lily. ”
    “Yes, yes, it is.”
    He paused, looking a little disappointed. “You don’t understand. This town...well, it saw a lot of violence. The whole place is haunted, inside and out. Are you positive you don’t want me to check that there’s nothing—no one—in your room?” He leaned against the wall, presenting her with a come-on smile. Was he trying to use this as a pickup line? Did he think she’d ask him to protect her, so he could offer to sleep by her side?
    He was dark and handsome, and although he played the villain, he had a pretty-boy flair to him. She was disturbed to realize she was comparing him to Sloan Trent. Trent was far more seductive, even in his awkward courtesy when he’d pondered opening a door for her. She liked his looks, but she was still debating his reversal, from hostility to polite and genial conversation this evening. Well, he’d wanted a seat to have dinner. It could be as simple as that.
    “Jane?”
    “Oh, no, Brian, thanks. I had my door locked. I’ll be fine.”
    “You’re not afraid of ghosts?”
    “Not tonight. I’m too tired.”
    “You really should take the haunted hayride trip tomorrow night,” he advised. “You’ll hear about all the ghosts haunting this town. Pretty scary.”
    It was the second time she’d been told she should try out that particular Lily attraction. Maybe she would. She’d enjoy learning more about the history of the town.
    She smiled at Brian. He was young and earnest—if a bit too persistent. “And yet,” she said, “you seem to be okay. As do the other actors.”
    “Well, we’re not sleeping in her room,” he said.
    “I’ll take my chances tonight.”
    “If you need me, just holler. I’ll be here in a second,” he assured her.
    “I appreciate that,” she told him. “But I’m quite tired. Traveling all day, you know. I’m sure the room is empty—and that I’ll go right to sleep. A lot of people believe Sage ran away to Mexico, right? If so, she’s not here.”
    “Okay, but don’t forget. Just scream if you need me. Some people don’t believe she ran off.”
    “I’ll do that,” she promised solemnly.
    With a reluctant nod, he returned to his room down the hall as Jane entered hers