The high-tech hiking boots sat on their shelf like a tidy row of disciplined soldiers. I touched one, reluctant to disturb the neat, multicoloured arrangement. "Somehow, I doubt this is a good idea. Isn't rock climbing dangerous? I remember reading that each year, dozens of alpinists fall to their death."

Matt shook his head in mock exasperation and ran a hand through his brown curls, ending with his trademark straight-out-of-the-bed tousle. "Why don't you tell this to your boyfriend? By the way, Lou suggested hiking, not rock climbing. Even though mountains will be involved, it's not the same." A roguish smile tugged at his lips. "And I'm sure he doesn't plan to push you off a cliff."

I couldn't help but smile, too. My friend—and business partner—was right, of course, and I was grateful he volunteered to help me buy adequate equipment for my upcoming outdoors adventure-date. Still, the prospect of my first holiday with Louis bothered me. We had been together for almost two months now and never spent a single day amongst ourselves. That fact itself seemed worrying enough to me, but I didn't dare tell Matt.

A shop assistant passed by, carrying a stack of shoe boxes. She consumed my partner with her eyes and almost fell over a footstool placed in the middle of the aisle. I suppressed a giggle. With his boyish and innocent looks, Matt was an all-time favourite with girls and ladies, but he didn't even acknowledge her. His gaze remained fixed on me.

I sighed. "Look, you know how much I appreciate Lou inviting me for a romantic outing. But we could spend it in a wellness oasis or something. I'm convinced there are cosier places and things to do than hiking up a mountain pass and sleeping with dozens of sweaty strangers in an isolated hut."

Matt shook his head. "I bet Lou booked a double room in a nice place. You'll like it."

I searched for further arguments but decided not to bring in the Caribbean side of my ancestry. This would be ridiculous, since I knew the Alps had been high on the list of things my late grandma Elise had loved in Switzerland.

Matt didn't wait for additional protests but chose a pair of grey boots with orange lining from the shelf to shove them into my reluctant hands. "Here, try these. And San, you might have noticed by now Lou's high-end backpacker hostel is fitted with a generous and well-equipped wellness area." He added a wink. "If you want to sit in a sauna or a whirlpool with him, you can do this every day after work—or even during lunch break."

"Sure, we could." And we already did. "But we would get interrupted by some desperate guest in need of laundry chips." It had happened, and it was on top of my list of things that killed any budding erotic tension. Not only for me, but for Lou, too. All things considered, he might be right. It would be best to flee to the remotest mountain area available to advance our yet fragile relationship. And to do this, Lou had suggested I buy adequate shoes at first.

Determined to end the dreaded shopping ordeal, I sat down on the footstool and slipped into the boot. To my surprise, it was light and quite comfortable. My fears of the upcoming adventure suddenly seemed to be on the wild side. I didn't hate sports, I just preferred a good book to exercise. Nothing wrong with that, right? Still, I wanted to give the relationship with Lou a chance. If this was best done by climbing a mountain, then so be it.

Matt grinned. "Now, that's better. I already doubted I'd get you to try on anything today. How do they feel?"

"Nice, I guess? What else do I need? Ropes and a shiny pickax?"

As I'd hoped, he burst out laughing. "Here is the San I was missing, not afraid of anything and determined like a steam engine. Check first how the shoes feel when walking. You're going to wear them the whole day, so they must fit like a second skin."

A sliver of doubt troubled my newfound determination. "I wish I could wear my sneakers, then."

"I bet. But you'll want a stable sole and that extra ankle support in rocky terrain. These are not so far from sneakers if you got the right pair, just more robust and protective if you hit a toe."

Another point for Matt. I stood, walked a few steps along the aisle, putting a determined spring into my step—and winced.

Matt chuckled. "Where do they hurt?"

I stared at my feet, analysing my sensations. "They pinch my toes. I should try the next size up." He was right, the same rules applied as when buying new running shoes. It would have been a far greater sacrifice if Lou had asked me to wear high heels on our first tête-à-tête.

Matt picked up another pair of boots, this time light blue ones. I liked the fresh colour. "Try these first. This brand builds them broader, or at least they used to."

"How come you know so much about hiking boots?" I had learned soon Matt was an absolute wizard wherever electronics were concerned, but I'd never taken him for the outdoorsy type.

His grin grew wider. "I worked in an outdoor equipment store when things got tough. Don't blame me—a guy has to live, and besides, I enjoy mountaineering."

"Wow. Perhaps we should change places. You go hiking with Lou instead of replacing him in the hostel while we're away."

The mischievous gleam in his eyes told me he prepared for more banter, but I was deprived of his answer by a blonde woman. She walked past us, stopped, turned around and tackled him from behind, dropping the pair of boots she had been carrying. "Matthieu Ruffieux. Is this really you, old rascal?"

She beamed like a child at Christmas while she turned him around and patted his shoulder. Her sun-bleached hair tied into a ponytail and a deep tan spoke of days spent outdoors, and her brown eyes sparkled with humour. Matt hugged her back, his smile softening. "Vicky girl, it's been forever. How are you?"

"Fine, now that I found my favourite ruffian again. How's life and what are you up to?" She scrutinised me and held out a hand. "Hey, I'm Vic, short for Victorine, but don't dare to call me that."

Her handshake was strong and warm. "Nice to meet you, Vic. I'm Sandrine, or San, Matt's partner." Her brows rose, and I wondered if I'd put my foot into my mouth. To judge by their greeting, Vic and Matt were or had been close. How close remained to be seen. "Well, his current business partner, to keep things clear."

A grin spread across her face. "Oh, anything else would have surprised me. May I ask what kind of business?"

"Vicky, stop pestering my friend. We just founded a start up together, it's still new and exciting. San, Vicky and I grew up next door, went to the same school, and had our shares of misadventures, as you can guess. Until she became all grownup, disappeared into the big wide world, and left me without a message. Not even a Christmas card."

"Hey, you make it sound as if it were a personal offence. I bet I've told you I'd strive for international experience since we were twelve and sitting in our treehouse. And since when do you care for Christmas cards?" She bumped a fist into his arm. "It was just two years to finish my postdoc. Since I drowned my phone on a boat ride in Norway with all my contacts, it was hard to get in touch. Lucky I came here to pick up some equipment." She stooped to gather the heavy pair of boots she had dropped earlier.

Matt pointed at the footwear. "Do you plan to go ice climbing?"

She threw up her hands with the boots dangling from their straps. "No, silly, I need them for my new job. It's personal safely equipment. The rules are pretty strict these days."

"You found a job? That's fantastic news." Matt nudged her. "As an archaeologist?"

Vic nodded, her eyes gleaming and her cheeks rosy.

I cocked a brow. "Congrats on the job. It must be hard to find something in such an exotic branch." With my recent job hunting trouble and unused master's degree in history, I knew only too well what I was talking about.

"You bet—I guess I can say I had a lucky streak. Now, I'm in charge of an excavation in Aventicum. It's thrilling to work on the site that kindled my interest in the Roman Empire and in archaeology when I was not much more than a toddler."

Matt rolled his eyes. "Some kindling. I'll never forget the day you chased me through that Roman sewer."

"Come on, it was great fun." Vic brushed back a strand of hair to reveal a pale scar. "And it was me who had to get stitches afterwards because I hit my head on a protruding stone."

"Yeah, and I had to explain to your parents why you came home from the school outing with half your hair shaved off and a gauze turban." Matt shook his head in mock exasperation, but couldn't hide his grin. "I was sure your mum was going to hit me."

"Nah, she had a soft spot for you, just like everyone else does. Right, San?" She winked, and it was my turn to laugh.

I already liked her. "Right, I've even met some ghosts that favour him."

A sudden shadow crossed her face. She tried to cover it up with a smile, but Matt had seen it, too. He reached out a hand. "What's wrong, Vicky?"

"Nothing, I think." She ran a palm over her face. "Matt, what I wanted to ask. Do you still believe in all that weird supernatural stuff?"

What a loaded question. The vertical crease on Vic's forehead and her pinched lips told me the answer mattered. Matt and I exchanged a quick glance. Unexplained paranormal activity was our specialty, the common interest that brought us together ten weeks ago. He gave me an almost imperceptible shrug before he smiled at his old friend, now all supportive. "Sure do. I always told you there are more things between the sky and the Earth than most humans dare to believe. I promise I won't laugh, and neither will San. So, what bothers you?"

"You'd not be the first to call me crazy." Her frown deepened, and she swung her boots back and forth by their straps.

Matt took her other hand. "Come on, Vicky, I know you, and I know to a T how crazy you are. Right now, something huge nags you and I want you to puke it out. What is it?"

She let the boots bang against her leg, closed her eyes for a moment and then locked her gaze with Matt's, taking a deep breath. "It sounds so stupid saying it out loud. Perhaps I'm getting paranoid, but I think—I think a ghost is haunting our dig site."