The Ghost Detective Books 1-3 Special Boxed Edition: Three Fun Cozy Mysteries With Bonus Holiday Story (The Ghost Detective Collection)

by Jane Hinchey

  Galloway stood. “Get some rest, Audrey. I’ll check on you later.” Carrying his cup to the sink, he washed it, dried it, and put it away.

  “Pft, I’m fine.” I assured him from my position on the couch. It was a total lie, of course. My body felt like it had gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson and I wasn’t sure I could actually stand at this point.

  “Sure.” He grinned, then let himself out the back door with a wave. I listened as his footsteps faded and the house settled into silence once more.

  “Sorry, Audrey.” Ben sprawled on the sofa opposite me. “I got us into this. It’s my fault, not yours.”

  “You’re right.” I agreed, “It is totally your fault. But how awesome was today?”

  He frowned. “Awesome? Do you have a concussion?”

  I shook my head, holding up one hand as I ticked off on my fingers. “Involved in a bank robbery, conducted my first stake out and my first car chase.”

  Ben chuckled. “I’m not sure the car chase counts when it’s you being chased.” He pointed out. Fair call, but still, it highlighted something. “I need more training.”

  “You certainly need to get a gun license.” Ben agreed. I’d never given much thought to guns before, I wasn’t for or against them, they’d just never factored into my life but now I couldn’t help but agree. Today could have turned out differently if I’d been armed. But my concern that I’d accidentally shoot myself was valid.

  “And defensive driving training. I should be able to take a corner, at speed, and not roll.”

  “Car chases are not a big component of being a PI.” Ben pointed out.

  “Yet here we are.” I argued. “Your car is written off. And I’ve only been a PI for a few weeks.”

  “PI in training.” He pointed out.

  I brushed him off. “Semantics.” Just then my stomach grumbled, reminding me I had eaten nothing other than the bag of crisps I’d found discarded in Ben’s car during the stakeout. The painkillers had kicked in and I was feeling semi-human again. Pushing to my feet, I shuffled to the fridge and flung it open.

  “Bugger.” It was empty. Of course it was, I scolded myself, no-one lived here, why would there be food in the fridge? I turned my attention to the pantry. “Bingo!”

  Ten minutes later I was staring at a steaming plate of Annie’s Mac & Cheese.

  “Would be better if you added butter.” Ben leaned over the plate to take a sniff.

  “Yeah well, no butter here, so I’ll have to make do. Surprised you even had this in your pantry.”

  “Pays to have emergency rations.”

  “I’m not sure this classifies as an emergency, but whatever, I’m just glad you have food.” I blew on the plate, practically drooling as the aroma of the cheese filled my nostrils. Scooping my fork into the macaroni goodness, I shoveled it into my mouth, ignoring the searing heat as I chewed and swallowed. “So good.” Scoop, chew, swallow, on repeat until I scraped the plate clean.

  “You were hungry!” Ben said.

  “Yup.” Pushing back my chair, I stood, reached to pick up my plate only I didn’t get a good grip, and it crashed to the floor, smashing into pieces. I yelped and jumped back, thankful none of the shards got me.

  “Just leave it, Fitz. Sweep it up in the morning. You’re dead on your feet and you’ll probably end up slicing open a finger if you attempt to clean it up tonight.”

  I looked from my dead friend to the broken plate on the floor and as much as it pained me to leave it, he was right. I wasn’t even sure I could bend over to clean it up, anyway. “Thor won’t cut himself on it, will he?”

  “I’m not an imbecile.” Thor sniffed from his spot on an armchair.

  “Sorry, sorry, you’re right. Just be careful, don’t walk around here. If you get a sliver in your paw, then I’m taking you to the vet.” I eyeballed the cat, knowing how he felt about the vet. Not a fan was putting it mildly.

  7

  There was an insistent voice in my ear yelling, “wake up!” Instead I rolled over, tucking the covers up over my ears to block out the noise.

  “Audrey!” Ben insisted. I played possum, pretending I hadn’t heard him. If I ignored him long enough, maybe—hopefully—he’d go away. “You try.” I heard him say, then felt the weight of a four legged body as it walked along the length of me until it was balanced precariously along my upper arm, paws digging in. I’d have bruises for sure. Thor lowered his head to my ear and said, “you’re on telly.”

  I sat up in a flash, sending the cat flying. I caught sight of him as he trotted out the door, tail aloft, saying to Ben as he passed. “You’re welcome.”

  “What do you mean, I’m on telly?” I called after him. Flinging the covers back, I swung my legs out of bed and groaned as my muscles screamed in protest.

  “He means television.” Ben said, hopping from foot to foot in some mad ghostly shuffle of excitement.

  I rolled my eyes, “I know that much.” Duh. “I meant, why am I on television? And how do you know that?” Still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, I padded into the living room and picked up the remote.

  “News channel.” Ben said, brushing past me and sending an icy shiver down my arm. “I was two doors down, watching the morning news.” He explained. Since Ben couldn’t turn on the television himself, he’d worked out a system of visiting different homes in the neighborhood until he found one with the television on, and he’d hunker down and watch whatever was on, all without the hapless neighbor knowing they were being haunted.

  “The bank robbery?” I guessed, flicking through the channels until I reached the local news. Sure enough, my photo was on the screen behind the presenter. “Why do they have a photo of me?”

  Ben shrugged, eyes glued to the screen, “Dunno. They led with it. Local PI caught up in a bank heist.” He air quoted. I frowned, curious why no-one had contacted me for an interview, or even a quote.

  “Your phone’s dead by the way.” Ben told me, pointing to where I’d left my phone on the coffee table the night before. Correction. Galloway had retrieved it from the car wreck. I vaguely remember him telling me, but I was pretty zonked by that time. Of course my charger was back in my apartment.

  I nodded. “That explains why they didn’t contact me for my side of the story.” I said. “Good publicity though.”

  The news report on the bank robbery ended, no mention of me totaling my car while fleeing from who I assumed were the bank robbers. Thank God.

  “Local psychic Madam Myra was found dead in her shop this morning—” the news anchor read from the teleprompter. “Police confirmed foul play and anyone with any information is asked to contact the Firefly Bay Police Department.” Footage flashed on the screen of a crowd gathered around the outside of the psychic’s shop, Nether & Void. I spotted Galloway and peered closer. “Is that?” I blinked, then rubbed my eyes to clear my vision. “Is Galloway talking with Jacob Henry?”

  “Who?” Ben asked, moving closer to the television, following my pointing finger.

  “That guy.” I stepped up to the screen and jabbed a finger at the young man. It was definitely Jacob Henry, the teller from the Firefly Bay Community Bank, I was sure of it.

  “Looks like he discovered the body.” Ben said, crossing his arms and watching the scene that had obviously been recorded on someone’s phone, given the amount of camera shake going on. Looks like they’d zoomed in too, the picture was that grainy.

  “I’m going down there.” I declared, quickly running my fingers through my hair, ignoring the twinge in my shoulders and neck when I raised my arms.

  “Breakfast first.” Thor demanded, sitting in front of his food bowl. I still hadn’t replaced the cereal bowl I’d been using as a temporary measure, despite Ben constantly reminding me that human bowls were not meant for pets. I failed to see the problem with it, but it really made Ben twitchy and I admit that was probably why I forgot to buy Thor a new bowl, some days it was fun to see Ben squirm.

  After feeding Thor and cl
earing up the smashed plate from the night before, I smoothed down the wrinkled clothes I’d slept in and headed out the door.

  The screaming was coming from inside Nether & Void, and it was relentless. An ongoing wail that hurt my ears. “What is that noise?” I glanced around at the handful of bystanders who’d lingered on after the police had left, yet none of them seemed concerned about the blaring racket coming from Nether & Void.

  “What noise? I don’t hear anything—except for the waves.” A teenager in ripped jeans and tie dye T-shirt replied, indicating the wooden platform we were standing on and the ocean gently ebbing and flowing beneath. There were five boutique shops running the length of the boardwalk, with a large cafe at the end. Nether & Void was nestled in between a new aged shop called Nine, and a tattoo parlor called Inkognito.

  “Are you saying no-one else can hear that?” I waved a hand at the door, the wailing continuing from inside. What was it, some sort of alarm?

  “Lady, you’re nuts.” The teenager spun on her heel and ambled away, apparently having lost interest now the police had gone. I eyed the back of her tie dye t-shirt, wondering if they were coming back into fashion or if she’d found it in a charity store. I made a mental note to investigate further... I could definitely see a tie dye T-shirt in my future.

  A woman with long blonde dreadlocks, a black tank top that showcased a full sleeve of mandala tattoos, enough bracelets around one wrist to qualify as weight lifting, and a long, bright, floral skirt that brushed her ankles appeared in the doorway of Nine and gasped. “You’re her!” I glanced around to see who she was referring to, stumbled backward when she hurried toward me, grabbing my arm. “I saw you on the news! You’re that private investigator.”

  I blushed. “Oh, yeah,” clearing my throat, I threw out a fake smile. “That’s me.” I wasn’t used to being recognized, but now that I’d had my face plastered over the television, I guess I’d better get used to it.

  “I want to hire you,” she said over her shoulder as she tugged on my arm, giving me no option but to follow. Inside her store I was greeted with softly playing new age music and the distinct smell of incense. The shelves were stacked with books, jewelry, crystals, candles and oils, and in one corner a rack of clothing.

  “My name’s Ashley,” she turned, releasing my wrist. “Ashley Baker. I own Nine. And Myra was my neighbor and friend.”

  “Right.” I nodded.

  “And I want you to find out who did this to her.” Ashley continued.

  “I charge a fee.” I blurted. Smooth Audrey, smooth.

  She waved a hand, “Money’s no problem. Where do we start? And what’s wrong with your shoulder?” I paused where I’d been absently massaging my aching shoulder, quickly dropping my hand. “Nothing. So tell me about Myra. How long have you known her? You said you were friends, do you mean friends outside of being shop neighbors, or work friends?”

  The wailing sound from the other side of the wall intensified, and I frowned. “Are you sure you can’t hear that?”

  Ashley looked from me to the wall and back again, before crossing to the counter and rummaging behind it. She handed me a crystal. “Here. This might help. Your aura is all off. And there’s something wrong with your body.”

  I jerked my head back. “What?” How rude!

  “You’re carrying yourself as if you’re in pain.” Ashley explained. “Nine stands for the nine senses; sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, temperature, pain, balance, and body awareness. It’s my job to help my customers experience good health, happiness, and harmony.”

  “I thought there were only five senses.” I looked at the crystal resting on my palm. I’d never really believed all this new age stuff but considering I could now see ghosts and talk to cats who was I to diss it?

  “That’s what most people think, but there’s so much more. Let me give you a massage on the house, while I tell you about Myra. It’ll help with your pain.” She added when I hesitated.

  “You massage as well?”

  She pointed to a door at the back of the store. “I have a private room there. I also run meditation classes—you should come, you seem awfully tense.”

  “I’ll pass on the meditation thanks.” I’d tried it before, but I could never get my mind to shut up long enough to get any real benefit. “But I’ll accept the massage.” I handed the crystal back to her only it slipped from my fingers and bounced to the floor. “Sorry. Do you have anything that can help with clumsiness?” I added, doing my best not to groan as I bent and scooped the crystal from the floor.

  “Actually, I do. Come.” Her long skirt swished around her legs and her bracelets jangled as she strode to the closed door at the rear of her shop. Holding it open, she waited for me to pass through. “I’m going to make up a mixture of Ember Petal and Sogo Grass oils for your massage. While I do that, you can get undressed and make yourself comfortable on the table—cover yourself with the towel.” She’d closed the door before I could respond. With a shrug, I toed off my shoes and had shimmied out of my jeans when Ben walked through the wall from next door.

  “Ben!” I hissed, clutching my jeans to my hips. “What are you doing here?”

  “I know what that sound is.” He said, glancing around the room that was totally dominated by a massage table draped in violet towels.

  “Oh?” that caught my attention. “So you can hear it? I thought I was going crazy.”

  He smirked, shaking his head. “You? Crazy? Pft.” Then he crossed his eyes and twirled his finger at his temple.

  “Ha, ha. Look, I’m about to get a massage and find out all about Myra, the psychic who was killed, so make it quick.”

  “That sound? Is a woman screaming.”

  “What woman? Who?”

  “Myra Hansen.”

  “The dead psychic?”

  “The one and only.”

  “And I can hear her because...” I knew it. I knew what was coming, it was approaching like a freight train, bearing down on me and I was stuck, like a deer in the headlights, paralyzed, unable to move.

  “She’s a ghost.” He confirmed.

  The door opened, and Ashley poked her head in. “All set?” Seeing me standing there clutching my jeans to my hips, she blinked in surprise. “Oh. Sorry. I’ll give you a few more minutes,” and closed the door again.

  My head was spinning, and I needed time to process. “Can you get out!” I hissed, waving Ben away. “Go talk to her, calm her down. I’ll meet you out front once I’ve finished here.”

  “Sure.” Ben winked and stepped back through the wall to the wailing ghost next door. Shaking my head, I tossed the jeans onto the chair provided and pulled my t-shirt over my head, quickly followed by my bra before sliding beneath the towel on the table. “I’m ready.” I called out. The door opened immediately, and Ashley came into the room, carrying a small brown bottle with her. “So I’ve made you up a special mixture of oils,” she said, busying herself behind me, “Ember Petal is for healing, and Sogo Grass which is for balancing.” I watched over my shoulder as she removed the bracelets and placed them next to the bottle of oil, then expertly twisted her waist length dreadlocks up into a loose bun and secured them with a scrunchie.

  “Sounds good.” I said, placing my face in the hole in the massage table and looking at the floor beneath us. “Will this take long?”

  “Not long at all, I’ll keep it brief as I’m the only one in the store today. I locked the door so we won’t be disturbed but I’m keen to open again as quickly as possible since I’m betting we’ll get a lot of sticky beaks down here today wanting to know what happened at Nether & Void.”

  “What did happen?” I asked.

  Ashley folded the towel covering me down to my hips, exposing my back. I heard her startled breath.

  “What?” I lifted my head to stare at her over my shoulder.

  “You have some magnificent bruises here.” She gently touched my shoulder and ribs. “How did this happen?”

  “Car accident.
” I lowered my head back into position. “It’s all good, just soft tissue damage, nothing to worry about.”

  “I should have added more Ember Petal.” She muttered, then began gently kneading the oil into my flesh.

  “Relax.” She said. Easy for her to say. I wasn’t one for relaxing, wasn’t one for having strangers touch me, but desperate times called for desperate measures. “Tell me about Myra.” I invited, all the while processing the disturbing news that I could hear Myra, crying for want of a better word, next door. Did that mean I’d be able to see her, talk to her, like I did Ben? I wasn’t prepared for this. I thought I had a connection with Ben because we were best friends and that explained why I could communicate with him. But Myra was a stranger to me. How was this even possible?

  “We met a few months ago when Myra leased the shop next door.” Ashley’s words interrupted my musings, and I temporarily shelved them and listened to what she had to say. “We clicked immediately and were soon lunch buddies, closing up our stores and having our breaks at the Seaview Cafe.” The Seaview Cafe was the huge restaurant come cafe at the end of the boardwalk, popular among tourists and locals alike. “She’s a few years older than me,” Ashley continued, “but it didn’t make a difference. Myra said age shouldn’t be judged by a number. I guess considering her boyfriend is so much older than her she didn’t like people making judgements about age.”

  “How old is her boyfriend?”

  “She’s thirty-three, he’s fifty-one. It’s so sad you know, her dying, because I think Lee was about to propose.”

  “Oh?”

  “Mmmm. Myra was saying they had big plans, that things would change and that she was really excited about it, that she was just waiting on Lee.”

  “Were you friends outside of work? Did you see each other socially?” I asked through a groan as her supple fingers massaged my aching muscles. She was good, the tight muscles giving way to her expert touch. The aroma of the oils wasn’t half bad either.

  “Nah, not really. But since we’re both here almost six days a week, we saw each other plenty.”