Spectral Files

SSA Rain Christiansen used to be the agency's golden boy. It just takes one moment of weakness, one slight, tiny, itty-bitty paranormal sighting, and all of a sudden he's the agency's embarrassment. His boss gives him one last chance to redeem himself-go down to Brickell Bay, play nice with the local police, and leave the ghost sightings behind. Rain is determined to do exactly that, even if it kills him. Cold-case detective Daniel McKenna's latest investigation is going nowhere fast. Five years earlier, high school student Amy Greene went missing after leaving her part-time job and was never seen again. Daniel is glad to finally have the FBI help that his department requested, even if it does come in the form of his ex. It doesn't help that Rain is pretty sure he's falling in love with Danny all over again-if he ever stopped. Add to that the frustration of seeing ghosts at every turn while he works a case that's stalled in its tracks, and Rain is starting to wonder if second chances and happy endings are just for fairy tales.

No one said being a medium would be easy. Rain Christiansen, former FBI agent and current cold case detective, is starting to think it's the hardest job he's ever had-and the most important. He's determined to accept all the changes in his formerly well-ordered life, but that means embracing a whole lot of weird. There's no instruction manual for meshing his work with his medium duties, and he's painfully aware that he's flubbing the job. So are the ghosts, who are becoming increasingly impatient. And stronger. To complicate matters, he's not sure what these spooktacular developments mean for his relationship. It certainly seems like Daniel McKenna, his partner in work and life, is in it for the long haul. But Rain can't help but wonder how long that patience will last . . . and what he'll do if Danny decides the intrusive ghosts are just too much. Rain thought accepting his supernatural gifts would be the solution to his troubles. But he's starting to realize his problems are just getting started.

Being insatiably curious is a good way to end up dead. Rain Christiansen, cold case detective and reluctant medium, is very aware of that fact. But when infamous serial killer Thomas Kane wants to meet, there's no way Rain can say no. He also can't refuse Kane's offer-find his missing wife, Delilah, and he'll reveal the location of his victim's bodies. Rain has never turned down a good quid pro quo, and he doesn't intend to start. The hunt for Kane's wife leads to yet another cold case, three copycat murders, and an investigation where nothing is as it seems. Soon, Rain is dealing with a ghost unlike any he's ever dealt with before . . . a ghost capable of doing things he shouldn't be able to do. How can Rain control something he doesn't even understand? And what will he do when the unknown threatens the safety of the most important person in his life? Rain is starting to realize that he can only battle the supernatural with the supernatural, and that is spooky business indeed.

Rain Christiansen isn't sure he'll ever fully understand the supernatural. But he's finally finding his groove as a reluctant medium and cold-case detective. That's not to say everything is going smoothly-there's a wedding in the works, after all. He's finally taking that enormous step with fellow detective, Daniel McKenna, and he couldn't be happier...about the marriage. Not so much the wedding. The hoopla is enough to make him wish for a quick flight to Vegas and an Elvis officiant. At least work is keeping Rain and the PTU plenty busy. Their latest case involves Hannah Caldwell, a silent ghost who can't-or won't-speak. She still manages to request that they find her dear friend, Cherry Parker, so that she can say goodbye. Piece of cake. Finding people is pretty high on the list of things that Rain does best. But when it comes to ghosts, nothing is ever quite what it seems. Before long, his simple missing person's case takes a dark and twisted turn. And Rain realizes he's been so busy trying to protect Danny that he forgot to protect himself. If he doesn't turn things around-and quickly-his spooky life might be cut short for good.

Rain Christiansen is settling into married life with fellow cold case detective, Daniel McKenna, and life is good. Better than good, even. But when it comes to the topic of expanding their family, Rain isn't so sure he's ready. Yes, a new addition could enrich their lives. But it could also tear down the delicate balance they've worked so hard to achieve. Do they really want to take that risk? He'd love to brood over that a little more, but murder never takes a day off. A decade-old mystery of the missing Parker family is heating up. Most seem to think the Parkers pulled a disappearing act to get out of financial debt. It isn't before the PTU finds out the reality is far grimmer than that. It seems that Quinn stumbled upon something better left hidden. Now that Rain has stumbled upon it, too, he has to be careful that he doesn't meet the same fate. Sometimes it amazes him how far he's come from strait-laced FBI agent who couldn't admit-even to himself-that he saw ghosts. He's done the work, learning to get some measure of control of his paranormal side. And while his relationship with ghosts may not be perfect, it's evolved into something symbiotic . . . which is a very good thing. Because in order to protect himself from the living, he might need a little help from the dead.