“Hey, bro?” Wyatt calls out.
“Who’s there?” one of the voices shouts back.
“The owner of this house” is Wyatt’s wry response.
I sidle up to him, squinting at the boat. A midsize motorboat,carrying two men in their early to mid-twenties. The moon is bright tonight, offering a good view of them. One is muscular and broad-shouldered with bushy brown hair and a thick beard. The other is wiry and blond, wearing a tank top from Mollie May’s latest world tour. So obviously I like him on the spot.
They cut the engine, their boat drifting closer to the dock. “This is your place?” the big one says. “Excellent! You would’ve heard Darlie last night then.”
“Who’s Darlie?” I ask curiously.
“She’s a victim of the lake.”
Okay.
I regret asking.
The smaller guy pokes the big one in the ribs. “Stop. You’re being creepy, Spence.” To us, he offers a reassuring smile. “Hold on, let me explain. I swear he’s not crazy. We’re paranormal podcasters.”
Oh, so they’rebothcrazy.
Wyatt nods at the men. “All right.”
All right? That’s all he’s got to say about…whatever this is?
“I promise you we’re totally normal dudes.” The small one quickly introduces himself. “I’m Spencer.”
“And I’m Spencer,” says the bigger one.
Wyatt and I share another look.
“Both of you?” I finally say.
“Yup,” confirms the bigger Spencer. “Spelled the same and everything.”
“College roommates too,” the smaller Spencer adds. “It’s like the universe knew.”
“Our middle names are different, though,” Big Spencer says. “Which is a shame. Imagine if we were both Spencer James Hands? How cosmic would that be?”
“I’m sorry, did you say Hands?” Wyatt shifts his gaze between them. I suspect his head is spinning in perfect sync with mine.
“Hanz. With a Z.” Little Spencer hooks a thumb at his partner. “Blame this beautiful asshole. I took his last name.”
That’s sweet. “How long have you been married?” I ask.
“Oh, we’re not married yet. I preemptively took it.”
Wow.
“So, um, about this lake victim?” I prompt. “Do you mean like a ghost?”
“Yes. One of many,” Big Spencer reveals. “This lake is teeming with ghosts.”
Now I’m intrigued. “Is it really?”
“Oh yeah. Tahoe is steeped in the supernatural. Have you never heard of the Tahoe Biltmore?”
“The hotel?” I say blankly.
