Fortunately since Ford had asked the question, he saw her return volley coming far enough in advance to prepare a response. It was even almost an honest one, though couched in enough humor not to be taken seriously: "My father, definitely," he replied with a shrug and a chuckle, as though it wasn't something he'd already given a great deal of thought to. "I'd ask him where the rest of my inheritance was hidden away."

More like: What were you thinking? When did it start? What happened? Why didn't you tell me? But it wasn't as though people could really speak to the dead, if they hadn't stayed on as spirits, so it didn't merit thinking about how his father might have answered. He'd never have answers to those questions, and it wouldn't have changed anything about his present situation if he had, so it wasn't worth lingering on.

"But no, I don't think it works," he continued, and took another drink. "It'd be interesting if it did, but I don't think it's possible. It would change everything we know about ghosts if we could talk to the people on the other side of things," he pointed out.

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