The brothers entered the room quietly, the banter from without being left where it belonged.

"I see what you mean about the wardrobe," Ethan said. "Big and old. Much like yourself."

So, most of the banter had been left.

"Shut up," Cass said.

Ethan did, recognising the tone. It said 'stop pissing about and take things seriously,' and was one he'd mocked his younger sibling about many times. Cass needed to chill sometimes. This wasn't one of them.

"Sorry, bro'."

"It's OK. I just... Never mind. Ignore me. Just be you, or part of you, anyway. The less annoying part."

"There's not much of that, ya know?"

"Oh, I know."

You two are funny.

Cassidy noticed the message first and waited for Ethan to see it, too.

"Fucking shit!"

"That's what I thought at first."

Ethan had stepped back suddenly. He slowly edged forward, back to his brother's side.

"That's so... I don't know... Weird? Cool?"

Weirdly cool, I hope.

"She can hear me?"

"I told you she could, you div."

"I know, but..."

I'm dead.

Not deaf.

Ethan opened and closed his mouth multiple times, as if the words were so confused, they couldn't decide what they wanted to say and, instead, could say nothing. He looked from his brother to the mirror and back again, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. He had believed Cass when he'd told him about all of this, but hearing and believing were totally different to seeing and believing. He leaned in to examine the letters. He could see the ridge they created by being on the glass rather than in it. If someone was playing tricks, they were not using a smart mirror. It was neither digital nor projected.

It was physical.

He pressed his index finger against the mirror and slid it to the side, across the text. When he didn't feel anything, he pulled back his head so he could see it more in focus. Glasses didn't suit him, he thought, so an optician's appointment was well overdue. It meant he had to have things a certain distance from his eyes to see them properly, but he wouldn't always do what was necessary. Pride was a shit sometimes.

He'd removed his finger when he moved, so returned it to the cold surface and dragged it across the message again. As he did, the markings moved out of the way, avoiding his touch.

"What the fuck?"

He tried again and, again, the letters moved.

"She's playing with you," Cassidy laughed. "Let's see if I can do it."

"Fine. Go for it," said Ethan, moving aside.

Cass ran his own finger across the glass, and the words. He held his finger up for examination. It was smeared red and, as they watched, the letters corrected themselves.

"Favouritism!"

"Well, it's about time someone liked me more than you. You always get the limelight."

"That's 'cos I'm better than you, of course."

"Whatever."

"What is it?" Ethan asked.

He took Cass's hand and sniffed the residue, then stuck out his tongue and licked it.

"Ugh!" exclaimed Cassidy, snatching his hand back. "How gross?"

"I was just checking if it was blood!"

"By tasting it? Was there any need? You could have just asked."

"I did. You didn't answer."

"You didn't give me a chance! It's bloody lipstick!"

"Bloody, eh?"

"Lipstick, you Muppet. Just lipstick."

"So, there's a spiritual cosmetics department over there? Charon instead of Chanel?"

"I wish the Ferryman would take you away!"

🤣

Are you always like this?

"I am," Cassidy said when he saw the new message. "He's usually much more of a pain."

"He just hates that I'm better looking than him. And funnier. And just generally more amazing."

Except you're not.

"Ha! Burned!" Cass laughed.

"Like I said. Favouritism."

You don't seem scared.

"I'm not," Ethan said. "Cass already told me about you. I know who you were. Sorry, are."

Still.

Ghostly messages on a mirror?

Not freaked out?

"Of course, I'm freaked out, but that doesn't mean I'm afraid."

"Good," said Cass. "I was hoping you wouldn't be."

"No. If you're not, there's no reason to be." Ethan looked at the mirror. "I'm sorry."

What for?

"For whatever happened to you."

Not you too.

It's fine.

Not fine, but fine.

"How did... you know."

Cass?

"She won't talk about it. It was... She was murdered. They didn't catch the killer. Amy wants it left alone."

"But we can help, can't we? We can find out who did it."

No.

"The police couldn't. Plus, it's been seven years. Anyway, Amy says no."

It's too dangerous.

I don't want Cass to get hurt.

"Or me, I assume?"

Or you.

"We can look after ourselves," Ethan insisted.

Against a murderer?

I said NO!

"Fishy, just leave it."

"OK, fine. I'm sorry. I just want to help. Cassidy and you."

Thank you.

"If it was me..." Ethan began, but stopped. "It's not me, I know. I'll leave it."

"Thanks," Cassidy said, putting his hand on the other's shoulder. "I appreciate it."

"No worries. I'm not the dead one, so I can't make the choice for any of you."

"I didn't think you'd be so accepting of this."

"Me neither. I figured I'd be all over the place. Not scared, more hyper. I feel calm, though. Like it's all normal, and this is a new sort of Zoom or Teams call."

"Microsoft would love this, if Apple didn't get there first."

"Wouldn't they just? Anyway, what's next?"

"Next?"

"Yeah," Ethan nodded. "What's the plan from now on? Amy, do you need to move on, or whatever you do? Cass, what's this mean for you?"

"I don't get you?"

I don't know.

"Maybe you guys should figure it out. Unless you want to keep talking through a pane of glass for the foreseeable."

"I hadn't thought that far ahead."

"You never do, bro'."

I thought I'd be alone.

Always.

Can't I just enjoy now?

For now?

"I'm happy to do that," Cass said. "Until you're ready to talk or anything."

And if I'm not?

"Then we've both got a new friend."

😊

Thank you Cass Cass.

"Cass Cass?" asked Ethan.

"Don't ask."

"Look guys. I need to get off. It was nice to meet you, Amy."

You too, Ethan.

Thank you for not losing it.

"He never had it to begin with."

"He's not wrong."

Bobby needs to go out.

Unless you want a puddle.

"Damn, I forgot about him!"

It's a good job I didn't.

"Thanks Amy. I'll be back in a bit."

Later, please.

"Ah, OK, later."

Cassidy ran downstairs, double stepping over seven. Ethan followed suit.

"You avoided that one on the way up. Dodgy step?"

"Yeah. I'll tell you about it later," Cass said. "Back in a mo'."

He called for Bobby and the puppy darted through from the lounge. The pair moved quickly to the back door, which Cassidy opened, and the dog ran outside.

Ethan was waiting with the front door partially open. When his brother returned, he pulled it open.

"She seems nice," he said.

"She is. You won't mention this to anyone, will you?"

"Not a word. Just be careful, OK?"

"Of course. But there's nothing to be careful about. It'll be fine."

"Fucker, don't be naïve. She's dead for a reason, right?"

Cassidy nodded, but his expression showed he didn't understand his brother's meaning.

"Someone killed her. I know you'll try and help. I want to, too. But someone killed her."

"I know that."

"Remember it."

"I'm not likely to forget, am I? I'm talking to her through a mirror."

"And that proves you're not seeing the whole picture. If she was murdered, and you go pushing... I don't want the same to happen to you."

"But you were going to get involved, too. What about you?"

"Look, Fuck Face. I'm not saying I won't get involved, and I know you're not likely to just ignore it yourself. Don't keep me out of the loop, OK?"

Cassidy nodded. He'd told Amy he wouldn't delve or push her for information. They both had. Could they, though, not do that? Together, they could be twice as stupid as individually. And twice as effective. The only detective experience either had was from movies and documentaries. It wasn't nearly enough.

So, they'd be careful. They'd work together, and they'd solve her murder.

It was an unspoken pact that Cassidy and Ethan were each agreeing to. Amy didn't need to know. She had taken control of his laptop and almost destroyed it. By her own admission, her reach extended only as far as the house boundaries. She would have no power over Ethan's. She would have no power over their cars or their phones or their feet once they were outside.

She'd thank them. She really would.

Wouldn't she?

https://youtu.be/HVr509hIhhw