Aug 16 - Spectral Investigations
Title: Day 16 - Spectral Investigations
Author: acswatwst
Rating: FR-13
Crossover: BtVS / Ghost Busters (1975)/ Secrets of Isis
Word Count: 1,156
Disclaimer: This is a derivative work. All BtVS characters and concepts belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox Television, and others. Funimation owns the original (1975) Ghost Busters and Secrets of Isis. Pete Patterson and Freddie Franklin? I'm not sure who owns those names. They're the names of the characters played by Abbott & Costello in "Abbot & Costello Meet the Mummy" - I'm borrowing them for names of the local Ghost Busters. This isn't really a crossover with that movie.
Notes: Andrea/Isis has a familiar (or something like it). A large black bird. It occasionally talks. Trivia: Rennie drives an old early 60s convertible. Andrea drives a yellow Trans Am, Isis flies, and Rick Mason drives a white Volkswagen Thing. The town Secrets of Isis takes place in doesn't seem to have a name (that I've found) but is in the mountains in California (sort of).
Summary: Joyce and Rennie check out the local ghost busters office.
Andrea looked across the table at Joyce, who was quietly nursing a large mug of coffee, and gazing curiously at the large black bird sleeping on a perch in a corner.
"You'll be careful," she said, "and let me know if you need help."
"Of course," Joyce said. "I have money for a pay phone, and your number at school." She pointed at the slip of paper and coins.
"Good," Andrea said. "And we'll meet at my lab at the school. Rennie knows where. We'll go to lunch."
"Will your Mr. Mason be there?" Joyce asked, tilting her head.
"Likely," Andrea said. "He'll be curious, even if he isn't sure about the existence of ghosts or spirits."
Joyce nodded. "I wasn't sure about them until I met one a couple weeks ago," she said. There was a high pitched honking.
"That's Rennie," Andrea said. "Off you go."
"I should have brought my travel mug," Joyce said, sighing, as she stood up. Taking a big gulp of coffee, she put her mug in the sink. Giving Andrea a small wave she, she hurried out of the apartment.
"We'll need to keep an eye on her this week, Tut," Andrea said to her familiar. "She may seem very mature but she's still just a kid." Tut blinked at her and muttered to her. "Yes, I have noticed something a little unusual in her aura. But that could just be from exposure to spirits."
----
"Morning, Joyce," Rennie said, sitting in an old convertible. "Ready for adventure?"
"Nice car," Joyce said. She didn't think her mother would let her have something like it, especially with Ohio winters.
"I got it running myself," Rennie, "with a little help from my brothers. It comes in handy out here outside of LA."
"I bet," Joyce said, nodding. "We should get started."
"Hop in. Check out their office first?" Rennie said. "Do you have an address?" Joyce got in Rennie's car.
"Yes," Joyce said, holding out a slip of paper. "Will that be hard to find?"
"I know just where that is," Rennie said, looking at the address. "It's a side street, near downtown. Old office buildings. It's not far from here."
"Great!" Joyce said. "They haven't been answering their phone."
"No one else nearby to check on them?" Rennie said.
Joyce shrugged. "Not that I was told. But if they're like my uncle and the others in his office, they keep to themselves. That whole stoic TV detective thing."
"So, grown-ups," Rennie said, laughing. Starting her car she pulled out onto the quiet street.
"Grown-ups," Joyce said, nodding in agreement.
They drove for several minutes before Rennie parked on the side of a street across from an old brick building.
"This is it," Rennie said. "Do you want me to wait out here?"
"I'm just going to knock on their door," Joyce said. "You can come with me if you want to."
"Wouldn't miss it," Rennie said, grinning. She and Joyce got out of her car and crossed the street. Quietly opening the door, they slipped into the building.
Inside, there was a lobby with mailboxes lining one wall, a couple doors with their glass covered in brown paper. A worn carpet covered the floor. In a corner was a door with 'Stairs' written on it in large brass letters.
"Looks a little seedy," Joyce said, looking around.
"It's perfect," Rennie said. "Looks like the perfect place for some ghost hunters. What floor are they on?"
Looking around, Joyce spotted a directory. Scanning it she found them. "It says third floor," she said. "So, up the stairs."
"Okay," Rennie said. She led the way to the stairs. Opening the door she poked her head in. "Up?"
"Up," Joyce said. She closed the door behind them and they walked up the stairs to the third floor. "Could do with a broom," she said, when they reached the third floor and exited the stairwell.
The office was at the end of the hall. The door read 'Patterson & Franklin Spectral Investigators' in gold.
"Interesting," Rennie said. "I wonder how that's different from ghost hunters."
"Ghost Busters," Joyce said. "They probably handle slightly different cases than my guys do. More high class, though it seems a bit worn down for that."
"The lights aren't on," Rennie said. "Is the door open?"
Joyce turned the doorknob, and pushed. There was a creaking noise and the door opened a crack. Something was blocking it from opening further.
"Something's in the way," Joyce said. She pushed harder, and the door flew open. Reaching inside, she found the light switch and pulled on it. A yellow bulb in the ceiling flickered to life.
"We probably shouldn't be here," Rennie said, looking around.
"We'll just look for a minute," Joyce said. She looked behind the door. A pile of mail covered the floor. "Looks like no one has been here for a while."
There was a low moaning sound coming from somewhere in the room. "What's that?" Rennie said.
"Not sure," Joyce said. There were two desks on the far side of the large office. Cautiously crossing the room, Joyce looked down at the papers on them, hoping for a clue.
There was another moan. "I think something is in here with us," Rennie said.
"It must be invisible," Joyce said, looking around. Spotting a Rolodex, she searched for a home address for either Patterson or Franklin. Spotting Franklin she grabbed a pencil and piece of paper and wrote the address down. "They live together," she said, finding Patterson's address.
"Yeah, something is in here with us," Rennie said, when there was another moan. The light flickered and a large hulking figure appeared in the center of the room. "Time to go?" she said, inching towards the door.
Joyce looked up and saw the large figure, which started shuffling in her direction. "Time to go," Joyce said, stuffing the paper in a pocket and rushing to the door. Not quiet running, she pulled the door shut behind them, and grabbed Rennie's hand and pulled her towards the stairs.
"I don't think it followed us," Joyce said, when they reached the bottom of the stairs. "But let's not stick around to find out."
"I'm with that," Rennie said.
Without any further discussion, they hurried to Rennie's car, got in and drove off.
"Now what?" Rennie said, once they were several blocks away.
"Does Andrea have a phone in her lab? Do you think she'll let me use it?" Joyce said.
"Of course," Rennie said. "She should be there now."
"Good," Joyce said. "I think I need to call my uncle, before we go back."
"Back?" Rennie said.
"Back," Joyce said. "We need to know what that was. But maybe we should check where they live first."
"To the lab first," Rennie said. "Miss Thomas might have an idea. She's really good at figuring things out."
"Okay, lab first," Joyce said, nodding.