GHOSTBOUND - Love is Stronger than Death: 1

Can there be hope for love beyond the grave? Elizabeth is stunned. Daniel, the handsome detective she´s met while researching a mysterious series of murders in London, was killed right in front of her. But she soon learns that Daniel´s ghost is stranded in this world and that she´s the only person who can see and hear him. They team up to find his murderers and come to realise that things aren't what they first seemed to be. There's only one question that bothers Elizabeth even more: Has fate really given Daniel and her a second chance? Or is this just a brief respite from the inevitable?

***** Excerpt *****
She wondered whether Daniel had believed in life after death. What was it like for him now? His old life, his family, his friends – in one fell swoop, everything was out of reach. And all he could do was stand by and watch. While the only person he could communicate with was a woman he had only just met, nobody he really knew, nobody from his life. A wave of sadness washed over Elizabeth as she realised how lost Daniel must be feeling. He was stranded in this world like Robinson Crusoe on his island. And she was his only contact. If only she had met him earlier, and had had a chance to become a part of his life …
"Pretty spot you’ve picked here." Daniel's voice came from her right side, and seemed very close. She couldn’t see him, though, since the sun was still shining, even though it was starting to set.
"Hey, Danny." Elizabeth smiled in relief. It had been a good idea to have some time to herself. Her anger had completely gone, and she was just happy that he was back. "Where have you been?" There was no answer. "Danny?"
"I tried to find out why the funeral is going to be held on Monday,” he answered softly.
"Oh." Uncomfortably, Elizabeth lowered her eyes and frowned. "Is that so unusual?"
"Yes,” Daniel sighed. "Very much so. As a rule, murder victims are kept in the forensic lab for about two weeks, sometimes longer, if required by the investigation."
"And did you find out why they are in such a hurry?"
"No … And, interesting choice of words."
"What do you mean?"
"I couldn’t help but think that someone must be in a big hurry to have me six feet under," he answered with another sigh.
Suddenly Elizabeth could not only hear Daniel, but see him as well. It was breath-taking. The sun was disappearing in a spectacular sunset behind the Houses of Parliament and the last rays made Daniel glow in shades of orange and gold, as if the light was coming from inside him. For the first time, he really looked like a supernatural being. Unreal. Almost magical.
"Unbelievable …,” she whispered in awe. The urge to reach out and touch him was almost painful, so she clasped her hands in her lap.
Daniel looked down at himself. "Wow,” was all he said as he moved his hand in front of his eyes and watched the play of colours.
All too soon the sun went down, and Elizabeth felt utterly disappointed that Daniel looked like a normal human being again.
"Well, that was something,” he murmured, still completely stunned.
"You can say that again,” she agreed with him, no less amazed. Then she smiled at him and said: "It's nice to see you again, Danny."
"It's nice to be seen as well."
"Though I would bet that you wished it was someone else who could see and hear you. Someone you know better than you know me,” Elizabeth said quietly, returning to her previous train of thought.
Daniel cocked his head and looked into her eyes, before he said almost in a whisper: "That's a bet you would lose, Liz." He hesitated for a second, then asked: "Do you wish I would rattle my chains somewhere else, as you put it so nicely yesterday?"
"No, of course not,” Elizabeth blurted out and, much to her astonishment, she realised how awful even the thought of Daniel disappearing from her life again felt to her. *******************

C. M. Singer works as a Marketing Manager in the IT sector. She has always been a globe trotter and loves to explore different countries, cultures and culinary specialties. She is also very interested in the supernatural and aims to integrate magic and paranormal aspects into her stories as seamlessly and believably as possible.