“Dealing with a territorial ghost held all the appeal of embarking on a course of court-ordered therapy with an inveterate wife-beater.”
“I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection.”
“He sat up, going still. “Am I wearing a wife-beater, Lizvetta?” He gaped down. “Oh, come on!”
“It's all about the writing, and of course, the ghosts.”
“He gives me one of those my-wife-needs-sex-addiction-therapy looks.”
“Appeal. Guy's like you get all excited about the appeal. Don't you see that I view the very existence of an appeal as a disastrous failure? No much worse, a personal affront of the highest order for which I blame you.”