There's A Ghost In My Bed

Ch. 2 Joining the Case

And we're back with another chapter! I can't begin to explain how happy I am to see that my story is already doing well: 84 views, 6 votes, and 1 comment within a week! Truth is that I hadn't really been into the idea of AHS until just this past summer. My sister told me about season 3, Coven, and convinced me to check it out. Witches and New Orleans- it caught my attention fast. After we watched it, I went online and checked out the other seasons too and I was hooked!

Anyway, let's start the story, huh?

Ch.2 Joining the Case

John was right when he said that he knew a better coffee shop. Just walking in, Megan could tell that it was better. For one thing, there was an actual line-up at the counter, and the place smelt of freshly baked morning pastries and other delectable goodies along with the aroma of brewed coffee. When they finally got to the counter, she ordered a hot mocha and blueberry muffin. She tried arguing with John when she tried to pay for her own things, but he refused, handing the cashier the money for both their breakfasts. Smiling at her, he grabbed his own drink and bagel and walked her over to one of the tall tables by the window.

"I hope you don't think I'm some kind of stalker or anything, but haven't I seen you around the hotel?" John asked. "I'm currently staying there," he added quickly when Megan gave him a startled look.

"Yeah," she replied. "Spring break- wanted a little change of scenery and get some work done for school and I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone, so I decided to come to L.A."

"By yourself?" John asked.

Megan shrugged in response."L.A. isn't really all that different that New York- that's where I'm from. Sure, there tends to be more celebrities hanging around on the streets here than in N.Y.C., but truth is that big cities all are pretty much the same." She took a sip of her chocolate-caffeine beverage and smiled at the taste. "Wow, that's good." John smirked before taking a sip from his own mug. "So what about you?Why would a L.A. cop who's supposedly lived his entire life here be living out of a suitcase in a run-down hotel?"

John's eyes grew wide before he set his cup down. "How could you tell?" he asked.

Again, Megan shrugged. "Oh,the signs are easy to spot: the circles under the eyes from countless nights working late, the constant look of being alert and cautious,the tiny stains from jelly-filled donuts on the lapel of the jacket..." As she listed the things off, John's hand came up to lightly touch at his face and his eyes glanced down at his jacket.Megan eventually laughed. "Plus, I heard them say something about a cop staying at the Cortez once or twice."

"And you just assumed that it was me?"

"Well, that... And the fact that I saw your badge strapped to your belt when you undid your jacket to sit down," Megan added cheekily. She noticed that he didn't really answer her question, but she let it slide. Maybe it was just a sore subject.

John glanced down at the piece of metal at his waist and laughed. "You're good," he grinned.

"After nearly three years of advanced criminology courses at college, I sure as hell hope so,"Megan said.

"Criminology, huh? Not a bad subject. Major or minor?" John asked.

"Major, with a minor in psychology," Megan answered before taking a bite of her muffin. "I actually chose Hotel Cortez specifically because of its history."She noticed the confused look on John's face and frowned. "You don't know it?"

"History wasn't exactly my best subject," he admitted.

"Well, it all started with the creator of the hotel- James Patrick March. The guy was a big oil tycoon back out East, but decided to move out here so that he could pursue a better use for his so-called 'talents'. Self-taught decorator, he had the hotel built. But it wasn't just because he wanted to create the greatest hotel that there ever was... He made it to be the perfect alibi.