Case One ~ The Deceit (Trudy Hicks Ghost Hunter Book 1)

by Lori Zaremba

  What an ordeal. Once Vanessa settled down in her bed, a small grin slid across her face. What a crazy night she had, and what a sweet man Nathan was. She wasn’t sure when she had called the Drake Hotel that he would get or even respond to her message.

  She giggled herself into a deep slumber.

  ***

  When she woke many hours later to the smell of chicken frying, she stretched and realized how hungry she was. Nothing was better than Sunday dinners at the Holland house. Connie made all her favorite Southern specialties, and the whole staff shared the meal in the dining room. It was very relaxed, and it was Vanessa’s favorite meal of the week.

  Chelsea appeared as she was coming out of the washroom. “Miss Connie says it’s time to get dressed. We have company coming for dinner.”

  “Company?” Vanessa asked. “Who’s coming for Sunday dinner?”

  Chelsea just lifted her shoulders in a shrug as if she didn’t know. Usually, Vanessa would go down to the Sunday meal in one of her favorite lounging around the house outfits, but these were not appropriate for the presence of a guest. Instead, she pulled on a loose-fitting pair of palazzo pants in a breezy ice blue that Raul had made for her and then buttoned up a sleeveless top that matched before slipping into a pair of kidskin slippers. It may not be something she would wear to a party, but it was comfortable and acceptable for Sunday dinner.

  Curious about the company that was coming for dinner, Vanessa quickly pulled her hair back with a blue ribbon and applied stain to her pale lips before heading down to find Connie.

  She skipped down the stairs, and as she reached the fifth step, her foot landed on Caesar’s rubber ball. She had a moment of sheer panic as she almost took a tumble. She steadied herself with the wrought iron railing.

  “Caesar!” she bellowed.

  The sleepy, guilty Caesar almost crawled down the steps to retrieve his forgotten ball.

  “How many times do I have to tell you not to play ball on the stairs?” she scolded then melted at his big, sorry, brown eyes. She bent to ruffle the fur on his large head. “Come,” she said as Caesar trotted happily behind her, knowing he was off the hook. He gave a quick bark as the large knocker on the front door sounded.

  “Well, I guess I’ll find out who’s coming to dinner,” Vanessa said to Caesar as she pulled open the large door and was surprised to see Nathan. She stared at his tan leather dock shoes and up the baggy linen pants he wore with suspenders. She liked how the short sleeve button shirt clung to his muscular shoulders. He wore a flat cap at an angle which complimented his rugged good looks.

  When she finally met his eyes, he asked, “Do you approve?” He smiled, tipping his cap with his forefinger, and caught her “yes” by briefly touching his lips to hers.

  A growl from Caesar cut his kiss short. He released her, raising his brow to the dog who Vanessa now shooed away to shut the door. Connie arrived to greet him with a curtsy, and he took her hand and lifted it to his lips with a bow.

  “It’s nice to see you again, Connie, and thank you for inviting me to dinner.”

  “It’s nice to see you too, Nathan.” She chuckled as he handed her a wrapped box that Vanessa guessed was chocolate.

  Connie took Nathan by the elbow and led him to the parlor, dismissing Vanessa to help Chelsea set the table.

  Vanessa smiled. She could hear Nathan’s low voice and Connie’s giggle. Several times, she heard them both burst into laughter, and somehow, she knew they were talking about her.

  Carl carried a colossal pitcher of Connie’s Louisiana tea that they would enjoy with their meal. Chelsea covered her giggle with her palm as Vanessa poured half of a fifth of bourbon into the pitcher. Stirring the concoction, she poured it into ice-filled glasses. She passed them around to the staff and carried three drinks on a tray to the parlor. Nathan took a long swallow and almost choked as the alcohol burned his unsuspecting throat. Connie raised her eyebrows to Vanessa.

  They had an enjoyable meal with lively conversation. Vanessa and Leo argued over politics, Connie and Nathan spoke about Paris, while young Chelsea shared her dinner with Caesar who was illegally hiding under the table. Poor old Frank looked exhausted as he ate his food in silence. They all enjoyed the delicious fried chicken Connie had prepared. She put out quite a spread. In addition to the chicken, she served her famous candied sweet potatoes, collard greens, Creole rice, lemon bars, and chocolate mousse.

  Nathan leaned back in the chair. “That was the best meal I have enjoyed since coming to America.”

  Vanessa delighted in the blush that crept up Connie’s cheek and the sparkle that lit her eyes.

  Later, after all the dishes were cleared away and everybody went their separate ways, with Connie off to visit a friend and Chelsea taking Caesar for a walk along the lake, Vanessa and Nathan found themselves alone.

  “I have something for you in my bedroom,” Vanessa murmured softly.

  He raised his eyebrow. “Really, what could it be?”

  They climbed the two flights of steps hand in hand, and feeling giddy, they burst through the door. Once inside, their lips met, and their hands found each other. Buttons popped and fabric ripped in their haste to feel each other’s skin.

  Their lovemaking was sweeter than the last time, and this time, it meant something. Vanessa had loved intensely before, but it had been one-sided with Douglas, as his heart belonged to someone else. With Nathan, it was different. She felt she had a kindred spirit, someone who would be her friend, her lover, and her partner in crime. Someone who only expected what she was able to give.

  After they made love a second time, Nathan studied his palm where Vanessa had pressed her mouth in a fiery kiss, leaving behind a perfect outline of her red lips.

  “I may never wash my hand again,” he teased, watching as Vanessa slipped naked from the bed.

  She went into her closet, pushing clothes out of her way, and pressed firmly on the top right corner of the wall. It popped open to reveal a small safe tucked between the wall joists. She turned the dial, 32-32-16, and the safe opened easily. From a stack of cash inside, she counted out one hundred and twenty-five dollars, the amount she owed for the fines Nathan paid.

  He refused it and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Why don’t you use it to help your new friends?”

  Once Nathan left, Vanessa went out on the balcony to enjoy the slight breeze coming off the lake. The sun caused the waves to glisten like a million diamonds, and she lifted her face to feel its warmth.

  She thought about what Nathan said and made a plan to change her new friends’ lives. She watched the road below, seeing Connie climb wearily from the back seat of the car as she arrived home from her visit. She brushed away Frank’s offer to assist her as she stumbled a bit on the first step up to the house. Yes, her plan would help Connie as well. It was time to get Connie some much-needed help.

  Vanessa went back into her bedroom and lay down on her bed.

  She didn’t know she had fallen asleep until she heard Connie screeching in a voice that could wake the dead.

  “Vanessa Wilcox Holland!”

  Chapter 15

  Trudy

  Trudy heard the scream, saw the newspaper Connie was holding, and sat straight up in bed. She reached her hand out through a fog of confusion and realized no one was there.

  “I was dreaming,” she said to the air, rubbing her hand over her eyes. Once the cobwebs dissipated, she looked around the room, bewildered. She noticed the door to the bedroom was wide open.

  Trudy kicked off the covers, and just as her feet hit the floor, she looked up and saw Dana and Jason at her door. The look on Dana’s face was curious, while Jason looked alarmed.

  Jason said, “I was in the kitchen having a cup of coffee when I heard someone yelling up on the third floor.”

  Dana giggled. “Oh, that was Connie.” She looked at Trudy with laughter dancing in her eyes. “Do you want to tell us about it?”

  “I will tell you about it if somebody gets me
a cup of coffee.” She slipped out of bed, realizing she was only wearing her underwear and a t-shirt. She grabbed a robe she had draped at the foot of the bed. Jason, who was busy staring at her curvaceous form, snapped out of whatever he was fantasizing about and agreed to go down and get the coffee.

  Trudy went into the bathroom, washed her face, and changed her clothes. By the time she came back into the bedroom, Jason and Leslie had arrived with a tray of cups, sugar, creamer, and a pot of coffee. They sat around the bedroom as Trudy told them about her dream. There were parts she couldn’t quite remember, but Dana was able to fill in the blanks.

  At the end of the story, she shook her head. “I saw the newspaper, and I heard Connie scream, which is what woke me up.” Contemplating for a moment, Trudy lifted her shoulders. “I don’t know what was in that newspaper.”

  She looked to Dana for an answer.

  “I think it has something to do with Vanessa getting arrested and a picture on the front page,” Dana provided as she stood to put her empty cup on the tray.

  Trudy also stood and walked to the closet. “I wonder if the Johnsons found the safe while they were remodeling.”

  Inside the closet, she pushed on the corner of the wall as she saw Vanessa do in her dream, but nothing happened, so she tried again and this time met with success. The wall popped open to reveal the safe.

  She let out a “Whoop!” which brought all of them into the ten-by-six-foot area. Her delight turned to disappointment to see the safe was open and empty. When she noticed the look of bewilderment on Leslie’s face, Trudy realized what she thought was just a dream was something much more.

  When the group left her room, Trudy was still feeling a bit shaken. She threw on a thick sweater and walked out onto the balcony for a bit of fresh air.

  Jason knocked gently on the French door to get her attention before he joined her. He placed an arm around her shoulder as they admired the calming lake.

  Pulling her close, Jason said, “Would you like to go out with me later today? Maybe we can take the Harley and do some sightseeing.”

  She looked up at him, smiling. “Isn’t it too cold for that?”

  “I’ll keep you warm,” he teased. “Besides, we’re expecting a heat wave today. They say it’s going to be sixty-four degrees.” When she hesitated, he sighed. “Trudy, I need to get away from this ghost hunt for a little bit.”

  Something in his voice had her agreeing. “Okay, but you have to promise to help me with some research tomorrow.”

  “If that’s what it takes, I’m all yours.”

  Turning to go inside, she asked, “So, what’s the plan?”

  He shrugged. “Nothing specific, but have you ever ridden on the back of a bike?”

  She smiled. “Does a dirt bike count?”

  “No,” he scoffed. “No, it does not. You haven’t ridden a bike until you’ve been on a Harley.”

  Trudy was smiling as she went back into the house. She dug into her limited wardrobe to figure out what she would wear on her first date with Jason. She showered, blow-dried her hair, and slipped into her favorite faded denim jeans. She borrowed a black cold-shoulder sweater from Leslie that hugged her curves and showed off a bit of skin and grabbed a heavy lined denim jacket that she purchased on a whim at a little boutique back home. The coat was a black and white pony print accented with silver grommets. It had a little black belt that she tied loosely, and it accentuated her slender waist. Pulling on a pair of leather boots and adding a touch a lipstick, she was ready to go.

  Trudy walked out of her bedroom and down the first flight of steps then stood at the top of the staircase.

  Looking down at a waiting Jason, she thought about Vanessa and how many times she had graced those stairs with her presence and dazzled her gentlemen callers who watched her descend. Trudy walked slowly and as gracefully as possible down those steps to greet Jason. He didn’t take his eyes off her, and his intense stare made her knees a little weak and her imagination a bit wild.

  Shaking and a bundle of nerves, she kept her hand firmly on the stair rail.

  Trudy found herself admiring him as well, dressed in close-fitting jeans and a plain black hoodie under a thick leather jacket. He looked rugged and downright sexy. As she approached him, he pulled from behind his back a little black helmet for her to wear.

  They walked hand in hand out the door and to the bike.

  “Your chariot awaits, madam.”

  She looked over the black and chrome motorcycle with the Harley Davidson logo proudly displayed.

  He explained, “It’s a Softail.”

  Trudy chuckled when he called it a Fatboy. She was skeptical when she looked at the smallish seat that they both had to squeeze on. “Are we both going to fit?”

  Jason smiled. “I sure hope so, Hicks.”

  Showing her the pegs where she could rest her feet and warning her to keep her legs away from the exhaust pipes, he climbed on, and so did she.

  Jason put his helmet on and fired up the engine. After Trudy wrapped her arms around his waist, he took off slowly down Calumet Street. They made their way along the shore outside the city limits where they found the road became less busy, and they were able to open it up a good bit. Trudy decided that she liked speed. No, she loved speed. She held her arms up, enjoying the freedom.

  After being on the interstate heading north for well over an hour and crossing over into Wisconsin, they took an exit that led them to the little village of Wind Point. They drove down the main street, passing quaint shops and brick houses. At the end of town, it appeared a community fair was going on.

  Jason found a place to park, and they walked hand-in-hand toward where the crowds were gathering. Booth after booth and table after table were lined up to display artistic wares, home-baked goods, antiques, and locally grown produce. They stopped at one tent where a woman was showing crystals, rocks, and jewelry pieces of a spiritual nature.

  While chatting with the woman, Jason said, “Trudy here chases ghosts for a living,” and went on to tell her all about Trudy’s line of work.

  Unfazed, the woman immediately went to a table that held bracelets and produced a piece she felt Trudy should wear while investigating. It was a lovely silver cuff bracelet with a carved scorpion and a black onyx stone set on its back.

  “The scorpion and the onyx will protect you from any harmful entities that might try to attach to you while you’re working,” she explained.

  Jason immediately checked the price tag and paid the woman, telling Trudy, “This purchase is a sound investment in your future.”

  Feeling a bit giddy, she admired the stunning bracelet. It had been a long time since a man had bought her such a gift.

  They passed more booths that contained leather goods, baskets, and paintings. Finally, the last stall they entered was a local couple who made blown glass objects. Trudy, an avid paperweight collector, found a beautiful little ball that had several shades of blue and green glass ribbon winding around inside that matched Jason’s ever-changing eyes perfectly, so she purchased it. A keepsake that would always remind her of him and this day, she tucked it into her bag.

  After buying a couple of bottled waters and a bag of kettle corn, they toured Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wingspread house and decided to head over toward the Wind Point Lighthouse, overlooking Racine Harbor.

  From somewhere, a woman screamed, “He stole my purse!”

  Both Jason and Trudy were surprised by the commotion when they turned and saw a young man running toward them with a brown leather purse tucked under his arm. When the thief saw Trudy was set to block him, he turned skillfully and started in another direction.

  Trudy headed in a full run to cut him off.

  “Trudy, what the hell are you doing?” Jason called from right behind her, but she was in her zone.

  Just a few feet away from the crook and closing ground, the guy sensed that she was coming closer, and as she approached, he bellowed over his shoulder, “Get the hell away from me.�
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  By screaming obscenities at her, the thief lost momentum. Never taking her eyes off the purse, Trudy reached out to grab it as her shoulder made contact with the man’s ribcage, sending him stumbling and flopping to the ground.

  Trudy lifted the purse over her head in victory as Jason detained the crook down on the ground. Scowling up at her, Jason grimaced when the young man tried to get up.

  “You okay over there, Young? Don’t let him get away,” Trudy teased.

  She came over and placed her hand on the young man’s shoulder muscle. When he continued to struggle, she squeezed hard, which made him yelp and immediately sit still.

  The woman whose purse Trudy now held rushed over full of thanks, just as a squad car parked nearby. Once the young purse snatcher was cuffed, they enjoyed some good-natured ribbing with the cops.

  Trudy snuck a quick glance up at Jason’s stern face and asked, “Do I get a meal on this date?”

  Jason stopped to study her and asked in a concerned voice, “Hicks, do you always do crazy shit like this?” He reached out to grab her hand. “The kid could have had a weapon.”

  Shaking her head, Trudy’s eyes locked with his. “I knew he didn’t.”

  “How?” Jason asked gruffly, causing her to smile up at him.

  “You know, those old habits of mine,” she replied, quickening her step and asking, “Now can we eat?”

  After conferring with several locals, they decided on a place called Cliff’s.

  The locals warned them not to be put off by the rough exterior, and truthfully, they didn’t even notice, as the enticing aroma wafting out to greet them on the street all but blinded them.

  They found themselves inside and seated immediately with two iced teas on the way by a very attentive staff.

  With the food ordered, Trudy reached across the table to place her hand on Jason’s. “We good?” Their eyes met and held. Trudy thought to herself this was real and this was happening. A strange current tingled in her hand and surged up her arm and, stunningly, went straight to her heart.