by Lotta Smith
“Me too,” Karina chimed in. “I’m glad to hear you weren’t romantically involved in the past. I know you’re happily married to Rick, but seeing your current beau’s ex face-to-face is always awkward, isn’t it?”
My jaw dropped. “Wow, is Rob dating you?” When Rick patted my upper arm, I realized that I’d potentially blurted out something really rude. “Don’t get me wrong. It’s just… you know, I’m having a hard time comprehending the fact that my high school classmate is dating a celebrity like you.”
“Mandy, you’re hilarious!” Karina let out a hearty, throaty laugh.
“Am I?”
“Yes, you are,” Jackie and Rick said in unison.
Sitting on the sofa across the coffee table from us, Karina fanned herself with her hand. “Wow, love is in the air!” She looked at me with a smile. “When are you expecting to welcome your child? Is it a boy or a girl?”
“The estimated due date is sometime in late October or early November, and we’re expecting a girl,” I replied.
“Sweet.” Her smile widened. “Keira and Amelia will be welcoming a new friend to play dress-up.” Then she glanced at her own attire. “Oh, speaking of dressing… how embarrassing to look like I’ve just crawled out of bed. I was running late, so I took a cab while still dressed in my costume. If it was a bigger production with a costume section, I’d be in trouble. Sorry about my messy attire.”
“No, you’re not messy at all,” I said.
“What program are you in?” Rick asked casually.
“We’re currently showing Hamlet,” she replied.
“So, it’s Ophelia’s costume,” Jackie cooed by my side. “Hi, Karina! How have you been? Remember me? I’m Jackie. Ooh, you look as gorgeous as you did when we worked together in Much Ado About Nothing.”
“So, it’s Ophelia’s costume,” I said, relaying Jackie’s words.
“Yes, it is.” Karina nodded. “You know a lot about Hamlet, don’t you?”
“Not much, unfortunately.” I shook my head.
“Really? You can pretend to be a theater aficionado by utilizing my expertise.” Jackie tsked by my side.
“Okay, the play itself isn’t that relevant, but Robert is playing the part of Horatio, our tragic hero’s bestie,” Karina explained. “When Rick solved a cold case on a live TV show, Robert spotted you, telling me he used to go to high school with you. He seemed surprised to see you costarring on that show with Rick.”
“Oh, I think I looked fat on the screen,” I muttered, prompting Rick to laugh.
“You were already pregnant at that time without noticing it, so it was the baby weight if you looked slightly puffed up on the screen,” he said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. Then he addressed Karina. “Well, Karina, I heard you’re having some ghostly issues. How can I help you?”
“Right. We’re not gathering here to have small talk,” Jackie, the queen of small talks, chimed in.
“Yes, I need your help.” Karina’s face turned serious. “And I’m sure you’re the only person who’s capable of helping me. There’s a ghost haunting our current program.”
“Of course there is,” Jackie said. “In Hamlet, the protagonist’s deceased father opens the act as a ghost.”
“If I recalled it right, it’s the ghost of Hamlet’s deceased father who opens the first act, right?” I asked.
“Yes… I mean no!” Karina shook her head frantically. “I’m not talking about a fictional ghost. It’s the real one I’m having trouble with.”
“Oh,” I muttered, exchanging glances with Rick.
“Can you tell us more about that?” he said.
“Yes, of course.” Karina nodded and started telling us about the ghost.
According to her, the first time she saw signs of the ghost was approximately three months before, when her theater company, Magic Lane Theater, was showing their signature program, The Bright Shadow of the Oak Garden.
On the very first night of the show, Robert Hall, starring in the second largest role of the play, had a serious situation. The most important lines he was supposed to deliver at the end had suddenly evaporated from his brain. This incident scared not just Robert but Karina, the queen of the company. As a result of the adrenaline and excitement, mixed with a touch of fear and edginess, the star actress and the up-and-coming actor ended up having a little adult-themed extracurricular activity afterward.
While I listened to her story, I felt my cheeks burn—not just because of the slightly X-rated details about how things went on, but because I felt like a total idiot for blowing whistles and screaming, “Homewrecker alert!” when she ended up just being a woman in love with my high school classmate. Considering we’d just met, she seemed to be giving us too much info, but maybe that had to do with her profession. Jackie had always been super straight-forward since the moment we discovered each other. As for the baby, she wiggled and danced around as if she truly enjoyed listening to the actress’s story. The scariest part was how she moved like she was giggling when the story started to reveal its sexy parts.
Rick’s face was unreadable while Karina talked, but he must have had similar thoughts as he looked at me, wiggling his eyebrows when she went into the part about getting intimate with Rob. He didn’t say anything, but even without words I could tell he wanted to say, “So, where’s the homewrecker?”
“Hmm, so far, the ghost your beau encountered seems like a good guy,” he commented when she finished talking.
“He’s right, Karina,” Jackie chimed in. “Still, I don’t think you begged your cousin to arrange this meeting just to brag about your latest romance?” She tilted her head, sounding like she was questioning herself.
“At first I thought so myself, but… that was just the beginning of weird incidents happening to the company on a daily basis.” Shaking her head, Karina looked at Rick with her intense blue eyes. “Rick, I need your help.”
I clasped Rick’s hand tightly. It was like a knee-jerk reflex. She wasn’t crying, but her eyes were brimming with moisture. Despite having listened to her latest romance with my high school classmate, the way she stared at my husband was something even an idiot would take as a sign that the woman was seriously interested in him. Karina definitely had smiles and begging stares that could convince any man to believe that she was deeply in love with them.
“So, Karina, you’ve signed the nondisclosure agreement form, right?” he said, giving my arm a comforting squeeze.
“Yes, I did. Whatever’s discussed here will remain here, and I will never give out any information I come across while I work with you.” She nodded earnestly.
“Good.” Rick glanced my way before continuing. “I have something to tell you. I can’t help you with the ghost because I don’t have the skill to communicate with dead people.”
“Excuse me?” Karina inhaled sharply. “But… you solved that case on live TV….”
“With the help of my wife,” he said, pulling me closer to him. “I couldn’t have done that without her.”
“Oh my God.” Karina’s jaw dropped, but then a knowing look crossed her face. “That was the reason she came with you. I thought you were afraid of letting your husband meet with a woman with notoriety as a homewrecker without your presence.”
I continued to smile because I didn’t want to come out and say, “Wow, are you a mind reader or what?”
“Actually, the timing isn’t good as she’s pregnant and her condition changes on a daily basis,” Rick interjected. “But I can refer you to Brian Powers. He’s not just an exorcist but one of very few people who can talk to dead people. How does that sound?”
Karina was silent, then inhaled and looked over at the ceiling as if an answer was written there, and then she turned to me with the same eyes and facial expression she’d previously directed at Rick.
I opened my mouth and then closed it. I knew referring her to Brian was the best possible option. Unlike me, he didn’t have a temperamental child who’d kick his bladder whenever she tried
to have her way. Also, he didn’t have a big belly and wasn’t prone to hungry or crying spells. Not to mention he didn’t have to pee more often than generally considered appropriate. But…
My child kicked me again, that time encouragingly, prompting me to say, “Don’t worry, Karina. I’m more than happy to help you.”
CHAPTER 4
The next evening, Rick, Jackie, and I were visiting Playhouse 69 Theater off Broadway, where Magic Lane Theater was based. According to Karina, things that could hurt the cast and staff—for example, heavy objects that were securely tied falling, and the opening of the stage leading to the basement, which was supposed to be closed, somehow being kept open—would happen on a daily basis. Jackie and I were going to see if we could find any ghosts haunting the theater or the company itself. At the same time, the series of potentially sabotaging incidents could be committed by living humans, and Rick was there to look for any signs of foul play.
On the stage, the corpse of Hamlet was being carried and raised by the soldiers while wrapped in a Danish flag. The deep sound of a cannon being fired in the distance could be heard over the crowd.
Hamlet’s corpse was then wheeled up toward the ceiling—implying that he was transported to a better place. As the drums played in the background, the curtains closed and loud applause came from the audience.
The enthusiastic applause continued for several minutes.
“Oh God.” The corpse of Hamlet stepped down to the floor, panting—or rather, the actor playing the part of Hamlet panted. “Hey, why did it take longer for the curtains to close than last night?”
“Oh, did it? I don’t think so. Maybe you’re extra tired, or maybe you’re getting old,” Karina said playfully, touching the actor’s arm.
“Ha-ha, that’s so funny!” He laughed, drying the sweat with a towel handed to him by one of the staff.
“All right, everyone. It’s time for the curtain call!” Karina announced, and the main cast proceeded to the stage.
I was sitting in a corner of the backstage area where I could see the stage without being seen by the audience.
“Jackie, is everything okay?” I whispered as the ghost let out a sigh.
“Of course, I’m fine,” she said, forcing a smile. That evening, she was dressed to the nines in a hot pink taffeta dress with a sash ribbon and a pair of sky blue high heels. But for some reason, her shoulders were sagging, and she was uncharacteristically quiet.
“What’s up?” Rick whispered, touching my shoulder. He was standing, as there wasn’t much extra space. In the past few months, I’d found out having a big belly had its perks, such as being allowed to sit when seating spaces were limited.
“It’s Jackie. She looks depressed,” I whispered back.
“I’m not depressed.” She crossed her arms, pouting. “It’s just that I feel a little frustrated that the audience can’t see me performing.”
“Oh… I’m sorry,” I mumbled, reaching for her. She was murdered just after landing a big role on Broadway, and seeing living actors showered with applause must have been tough for her. Thankfully, everyone around us was busy, so I was sure no one was really paying attention to us.
“Don’t be. I’m trying to learn to cope with my dead status.” She moved her hand so it looked like she was holding mine.
“Jackie,” Rick interjected before I relayed her words, “you’ve been a great help for us, and that’s quite something. You might be missing your acting career, but in my opinion, a guardian angel is an even more impressive career.”
“Hmm… you have a point.” Jackie nodded, smiling. “Thanks for being such a cheerleader.” She flew over to him and planted a kiss on his cheek, prompting him to shiver for a moment.
“Also, you’re a crucial part of our family,” I added.
“Thank you!” She flew back to me and moved her arms in a bear hug.
Meanwhile, the curtain call was going flawlessly. The main cast had greeted the audience together, and now each actor was presenting themselves on stage individually.
I caught Robert Hall, who played Horatio, walking toward us while he waited for his turn to present himself to the audience.
“Hey, Mandy!” Waving at me, he came scurrying toward us. “Oh my God, you haven’t changed at all since high school.”
“You’re kidding, right?” I said. “For starters, I’m pregnant.”
“Right.” He laughed. “Karina told me you’re expecting a girl. Congratulations!”
“Thanks.” I smiled. Then I indicated Rick. “This is Rick, my husband.”
“Hi. Nice meeting you. Wow, your baby is gonna be photogenic,” Robert exclaimed.
“You think?” Rick responded with a wide grin, then said, “Hey, I liked your Horatio.”
“Thanks.” Robert beamed before glancing at the stage. “It’s my turn. See you later.” He turned and walked away.
“Do you feel anything?” Rick said, indicating the stage.
I shook my head. “So far, I feel nothing special.”
“I can feel the joy, excitement, pride, and envy, scattered with disappointment and despair,” Jackie commented, squinting at the stage. Then she looked up at the ceiling. “Mandy.” Her voice grew tense.
“There’s something cold up here,” I informed Rick.
“Does it seem dangerous?” His knuckles grew white as he clutched the backrest of my chair. He wasn’t thrilled when I accepted the case, even went so far as to try having a talk with the baby in my womb. Except she wasn’t moving at all while he told my belly about the importance of helping Mommy rest well and avoid potential danger. I was sure she slept through her dad’s lecture.
“I don’t know.” I shook my head.
Robert returned to us just then.
“You’re totally loved by the audience!” Jackie gave him a thumbs-up, and I relayed her words as mine.
“Glad to hear that.” He grinned. “Sometimes I find myself sort of lost on stage, to the point that I actually forget where the audience is.”
“Hey, who’s gonna step out last in the curtain call?” Rick said. “Will it be Karina or Timothy Beck?”
Timothy Beck was the actor playing the part of Hamlet. Considering the show’s title was Hamlet, he should’ve been the starring actor. According to Jackie, Karina was considered to be the higher-class actor in terms of her skills, delivery, and achievement; however, she wasn’t playing Hamlet.
“Usually they both go out together.” Robert answered, and just then I caught Karina approaching Timothy.
According to Jackie, who flew over to the two stars on the show, Karina and Timothy were having a casual conversation like this:
“Can you wait here tonight?” Karina said. “I’ll go on my own, and then you go alone in closing.”
Timothy’s eyes widened. “Sure,” he said with a huge smile.
“Doing the curtain call in closing is a great honor reserved for the star of the show,” Jackie informed me after telling me about the stars’ dialogue. “Karina’s letting him have the limelight.”
“I see.” Nodding, I relayed her explanation to Rick.
“Okay.” Crossing his arms, he looked skeptical. “What’s the reason for the sudden change of mind?”
“Her reputation isn’t all about her being a sweet saint, but she definitely had a sweet side when I worked with her,” Jackie said.
As I passed on her comments, Karina responded to the applause with grace and elegance. When she seemed to have had enough attention for the night, she strutted off stage.
I rubbed my upper arms, suddenly feeling a chill.
“Are you cold?” Rick took off his jacket and wrapped me in it.
“Thanks.” I looked up at the ceiling. The coldness was coming from above. “Rick, can you see the smoke-like white thing over there?”
He shook his head. “Smoke? No, I don’t see anything. Just the ceiling.”
“Look at that, Mandy.” Jackie pointed toward the stage where Timothy was heading. “The
cold, white mirage is seeping over there, and it’s….”
“Getting bigger,” I mumbled, clasping Rick’s arm.
“What?”
As we watched, a massive snow fell off the grid in the ceiling. With a closer look, I realized it wasn’t real snow but some kind of stage effect made of shredded white paper. As if it had its own will, a wad of fake snow fell directly onto Timothy’s head, covering him in white paper.
The audience seemed to take it as part of the entertainment, and they roared with laughter.
Apparently annoyed, Timothy glared at the ceiling where the snow came from, but he was a professional, so he made some pantomime-like movements, causing the audience to laugh even harder. After taking one last bow, he came back behind the curtains, waving at the theater patrons.
“Hmm, I’m going to go check this out. You’re gonna stay safe, okay?” Rick patted my arm and turned for the stairs leading to the grid. He had the backstage map and knew his way around.
“You too. Take care.” I waved at him.
“Sure.” Blowing a kiss, he left.
Meanwhile, Timothy started cursing the moment he was out of sight of the audience. “What the hell is going on? Do you think it’s funny when Hamlet turns into King Lear?”
“You know Rick Rowling from USCAB is helping us resolve the current issues, right? He just went to check out the grid to see what went wrong. Also, Bob will be looking into the problem as well,” Karina said, brushing paper snow off Timothy’s shoulder. “I’m sorry that happened. Ooh, you poor thing. Your beautiful face is all covered in snow, but everybody knows you’re fabulous.”
“Enough sweet talking. Someone must have targeted me,” he spat. “I can feel the wraith.”
“No way. It must be some kind of equipment malfunction.” Karina shook her head, but the starring actor wasn’t convinced.
“If that was a malfunction, it was a damn good one.” He snorted. “With great aim and everything!”
“Okay, we’ll work it out and make sure this kind of mishap will never happen again.” She gently patted the diva actor’s arm. “For now, we’ve got to appear in front of the audience one last time, so….”