Eat, Drink, and Be Scary (A Ravenmist Whodunit Paranormal Cozy Mystery Book 1)

by Olivia Jaymes

  My closet. Since I was positive a real live human being didn’t live in my closet that could only mean that I had a ghost in there.

  And he’d seen me naked.

  “Terrence is a ghost.”

  I didn’t phrase it as a question.

  “He’s been in between since the 1920s,” Edward said. “He ran a speakeasy in town but was shot in a territory dispute by one of Al Capone’s men. At least that’s the story I heard. He might have died by choking, or from the flu, or food poisoning. It wasn’t hard to pass away early back then.”

  In between. An interesting turn of phrase for purgatory.

  “And he doesn’t pass over because…?”

  “He’s going the same way I am,” Edward said, his arms crossed over his chest. “He ain’t going to go into the light and neither am I.”

  Missy sighed. “You don’t know for sure.”

  “Neither do you.”

  Edward had a point. Missy didn’t know where they were going until they were on the other side. If they didn’t want to go, did it hurt anyone that they stayed here?

  “If Terrence exists, how come I’ve never seen or heard him?”

  Although now that I was thinking about it, my room did have lots of unexplained noises. I’d always put it down to it being an old house. In addition, my stuff was always moving around. I’d place my brush on top of the dresser and I’d find it on the bathroom vanity. Was Terrence playing a game with me?

  “He’s quiet, doesn’t say much. Plus, I already told you, we’ve been at rest for a long time. It’s only recently that we’ve become more active.”

  The sound of footsteps on the stairs had three heads whipping around. Immediately Edward slipped back into the bookshelf before Garrett could see him, leaving Missy and I appearing to be alone.

  Garrett pointed to the camera on the bookshelf. “I wanted to let you know that the camera is off. It’s been off for a few minutes actually, but I didn’t want to disturb you down here. Tyler said you might need to know right away.”

  “Thank you,” I said, standing on shaky legs. My body and brain were beginning to catch up to the events that had unfolded here a few moments ago. I’d seen a real live ghost. Okay, maybe not a live ghost but a real one. I’d seen and talked to him. Heck, I’d touched him. It was a dream come true. “It’s probably just a loose cable.”

  Missy bent down and picked up the cable. “And here it is. I’ve got it. Maybe we should break the investigation down for the evening anyway. I think everyone is pretty tired and we’ve got lots of recordings and footage to go through.”

  “That sounds like a great idea,” I agreed enthusiastically. I didn’t need to ghost hunt anymore. I’d found one. “I’ll start pulling the cameras. Sheriff, you can take Tyler home and get him to bed if you like. We’ve got this.”

  “Absolutely not. If my son wants to hunt spirits then he has to do the grunt work, too. We’ll get this done quicker with all of us helping.”

  The sooner we got out of here, the sooner I could go home and introduce myself to Terrence.

  Ghost in residence at the Ravenmist Inn. I needed to talk to him badly.

  Would he appear if I called to him?

  Chapter Fourteen

  It was freezing outside so in the spirit of teamwork and getting home where it was warm, everyone pitched in and helped break down the equipment. Tyler and Garrett helped us load Lloyd’s van, all of us moving quickly in the brisk air. Lloyd and Elliott were our resident tech-geeks and they maintained all of our gear and it was their basement where it was all stored. Someday we were going to get an office or headquarters but today was not that day.

  We’d placed the last monitor into the back when Garrett’s phone went off, startling all of us but the sheriff. In his line of work, he was sure to be used to calls in the middle of the night but it had been so quiet as we’d worked that the ringtone was completely unexpected.

  The brothers drove away as Garrett took the call, his expression sober. Ravenmist wasn’t rife with crime so I couldn’t imagine what had him so serious. Not another murder, surely? He hung up his phone and shoved it in his pocket, puffs of steam billowing from his mouth from the cold.

  “That was a friend of mine who is still a cop in Chicago,” Garrett said. “William Wagner is Jerome Bergstrom’s business partner.”

  Business partner. Interesting. That put a whole new spin on the case.

  “Then they must have been arguing about business that day.”

  Garrett shook his head. “We don’t have any idea what they were arguing about. Conjecture is a dangerous thing, Tedi.”

  “Okay, they probably were arguing about business. How’s that?”

  “Better, but we really don’t know. That’s why I’ll be talking to him tomorrow.”

  “Do you think he’ll really tell you the truth?”

  “I like to think I’d know if he was lying.”

  He would think that. There was no shortage of self-esteem there.

  “Good luck then. Maybe he’s the one.”

  “Maybe. Tyler, we need to get going. You have school tomorrow.”

  “I know, I know.” Tyler gifted me with a huge smile. “Thanks for letting me join the group, Ms. Hamilton. This was awesome.”

  I only wished that he could have seen a real ghost. Perhaps next time.

  “We’re happy to have you. You did a great job tonight. And please call me Tedi.”

  “Thanks, Tedi! Goodnight.”

  The teenager grinned and sprinted off toward Garrett’s vehicle, leaving me with the sheriff.

  “He’ll probably be up with the birds and no worse for wear,” Garrett grimaced. “I’ll be the one dragging all day. I used to be able to party all night.”

  I had vague memories of doing the same but these days I was happy to be tucked up by eleven at the latest.

  “My mom always says that youth is wasted on the young. I’m beginning to think she might be right.”

  “Funny how parents get smarter the older we get.” Garrett nodded toward my car. “I’ll make sure you get going safely.”

  “This is Ravenmist, Sheriff. No one is hiding in my backseat.”

  Unless it was a ghost. If my closet had one, I suppose my car could, too.

  “Did you even lock your car?”

  I pulled up the handle without the keys. “Nope. No one does.”

  “I do.”

  “Then you get the safety award. Seriously, I’m all good here. Thank you. And I meant what I said, you and Tyler did great tonight. Your help loading up was especially appreciated considering the temperature out here.”

  My cheeks and lips were going numb, as a matter of fact.

  “I’ll just make sure your car starts.”

  The only reason I’d even driven to the bookstore was because of the cold. Normally I would have walked.

  “That’s very gallant of you. Thanks. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I didn’t know why I’d see him tomorrow but his daily presence at my inn was becoming a habit.

  The inside of the car wasn’t much warmer than the outside and by the time the heat warmed up I’d be home. But I was out of the wind and that was something. Garrett was standing a few feet from my vehicle, his cold hands shoved in his pockets and his cheeks bright red. I waved as I backed out of the space, happy to be headed back to the inn.

  My ghost hunt wasn’t over. I wanted to talk to Terrence.

  The inn was quiet, all the guests asleep when I returned. The clerk at the desk tried to smile but ended up yawning. Night manager wasn’t the most coveted of roles but it was important. Audrey did an excellent job working in the wee hours so she could go to school during the day. I didn’t have any issues if she wanted to study on her shift as long as everyone was happy and taken care of.

  Tiptoeing to my own apartment, I hung up my coat and kicked off my shoes. Already my home didn’t feel the same since I now knew that I was sharing it with someone.

  Assuming t
hat Edward was even telling the truth. If he was the type that was worried about which way he was going in the afterlife, then I might not want to put too much stock into what he had to say.

  After making myself a hot chocolate, I padded on stocking-feet into my bedroom. As usual, in my haste to get to the bookstore I’d left my closet door wide open. Pulling up a chair from beside the bed, I sat right outside that door, prepared to coax out an introverted spirit.

  Was there such a thing as ghostly social anxiety?

  “Um…hi. I’m Tedi, but you probably already knew that. I just talked to Edward at the bookstore tonight and he mentioned that you were here and that made me really want to meet you. He said your name is Terrence. Did I mention that I’m Tedi? Oh yeah, I did, didn’t I? Well, it’s short for Theodosia, which is a ridiculous name, don’t you think? My mom is from the South and she named me Theodosia Elizabeth Virginia Evans Hamilton. Evans is her maiden name and Hamilton is our family name. I was married once but I never took his name, which was probably a good thing since we ended up divorced. He didn’t care if I took his name. He said it was old-fashioned and I guess it is, although I hadn’t given it much thought. What do you think? Anyway, I’d really like to meet you, Terrence. It would be great if you’d show yourself or at least talk to me.”

  That was quite the soliloquy and I needed to stop and catch my breath. How did one talk to a spirit? I’d spoken with Edward as if he was still alive, which is exactly what I’d told Tyler to do, but now that I was sitting here sipping hot chocolate and trying to convince a shy ghost to show himself I wasn’t as sure as before.

  “I get lonely sometimes and I thought you might, too. What do you do all day? Edward says he likes to read. I could get you some books if you want.”

  “I watch over the guests.”

  I heard the voice as clear as a bell but I didn’t see anyone. Yet.

  “They’re interesting aren’t they, Terrence?” I wanted to stand and look for the source of that voice but I forced myself to stay seated in the chair. If he was unsure about coming out I didn’t want to scare him. That was a funny turnabout. A ghost afraid of a human. “I could do a reality show just about all the people that come and go here.”

  “I don’t like your television.”

  I did watch too many baking shows. Clearly, Terrence found it boring. If I wasn’t watching baking shows I was watching old black and white movies.

  “It is sort of boring. What do you like to watch? I could turn the television on for you when I’m not here.”

  “Thank you, but there’s no need. I watch the guests and listen to them,” he repeated, the voice sounding closer this time.

  My fingers tightened around my warm mug and I sat as still as possible, even as my heart sped up with excitement. Two ghosts in one night? Amazing. I’d waited so long for this and had thought it might never happen. I had two ghost friends. Not many could say that.

  “Are any of them interesting?” I took a deep breath and plunged in. Patience had never been my strong suit. “Terrence, did you see who murdered Jerome Bergstrom?”

  No answer this time. Had I upset or angered him?

  “It’s okay to tell me,” I cajoled softly. “If you did or didn’t see anything, it’s all fine. But if you did, it would help us a great deal to find the killer. He or she needs to be brought to justice.”

  “Mr. Bergstrom wasn’t a nice man. He was mean to his wife.”

  I hadn’t known that. They hadn’t seemed like the happiest couple in the universe but they hadn’t been snarling at each other, either.

  “Did he hurt her, Terrence? Physically?”

  “No, but he wasn’t nice to her. He ignored her and spoke mean to her.”

  “Did you see him being murdered?”

  More silence, but then finally an answer.

  “No.”

  I was actually kind of glad that he hadn’t. That had to be an unpleasant sight even if you were already dead. Since he wasn’t going to cross over he’d have to live with it for the rest of his–

  Wait. He wasn’t alive. He’d have to deal with it for the rest of his in between.

  “Can you show yourself to me, Terrence? I’d really like to meet you. After all, you see me all the time.”

  I didn’t want to think about how I’d looked on some of those occasions. Better to block that out.

  More silence. I stayed quiet as well, letting him make the decision. I was sure that even if he didn’t show himself tonight he would eventually.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Okay,” I said in my most soothing tone. “That’s fine. Can we keep talking, though? How long have you been here, Terrence?”

  His answer was immediate. “Since 1925. My whole family was down with the flu and I died along with two of my sisters. There’s a rumor around town that I worked for Al Capone but it isn’t true. Not sure how it got started.”

  His story was so incredibly sad. I wasn’t quite sure what to say but it turns out I didn’t have to. He wasn’t done with his story.

  “They’ve all gone over to the other side. But I’m afraid to.”

  “Why, Terrence?”

  He probably missed his family terribly. Surely, he’d want to go with them?

  “I stayed to keep a watch over my mom and my other brother. Make sure they were okay. I was the man of the house.”

  Terrence said it so proudly and my throat tightened with emotion. A question about the whereabouts of his father was on the tip of my tongue but I bit it deliberately, not wanting to bring out any more bad memories for the man.

  Although he sounded young.

  “You can cross over now, if you want to. My friend Missy can help you.”

  “I’m used to it now. I watch the lives of the guests. And you too, of course. I was particularly fond of your grandmother Rose. She would tell me the best stories about growing up on a farm. She reminded me of my mom. You do too, a little.”

  Terrence had stayed because my grandmother Rose reminded him of his mother. Now my heart was aching along with the lump in my throat. In all the time I’d been ghost hunting I’d thought about the stories behind the people but this was far more. This was…personal.

  “Thank you, Terrence. I can’t tell you how much that means to me. You’re a very nice young man and I’m glad that you’re here.”

  Missy was going to kill me since I wasn’t trying to persuade him to go into the light but he seemed perfectly content. After I got to know him I might ask if he wanted to rejoin his family.

  “I didn’t see the murder,” Terrence said out of the blue. “But I did see a woman that looked like his wife walking around outside that morning. Early. You weren’t awake yet.”

  Lorna? That certainly wasn’t where she said she was. According to her, she was tucked up in her warm bed sleeping and she didn’t have a clue that her husband had left their room. Another interesting turn. There were no shortage of suspects for Jerome’s demise.

  “Thank you, Terrence. I appreciate your help.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  I wasn’t ready yet to say goodnight to my new friend. I’d been tired earlier when I’d left the bookstore but now I was wide awake.

  “Terrence, do you remember any of those stories my grandmother told you? I’m wondering if they’re the same ones that she used to tell me.”

  “I remember them all. Do you want me to tell you one?”

  More than anything. I’d loved Grandma Rose, too.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Angela arrived bright and early at the inn. Wearing a huge smile and her gold real estate blazer, she waved at me from the front desk as I stumbled toward the kitchen for my first cup of the day. I wasn’t sure I could take all that perkiness without massive amounts of caffeine, but it looked like I’d have to because she was making a beeline straight for me.

  I’d stayed up far too late talking with Terrence and had thoroughly enjoyed our walk down memory lane. It was clear he held my grandmother
in high esteem and anyone that loved her was alright in my book. I’d asked him if Grandma Rose had known of his existence and he’d confirmed that yes, she had, although quite late in her life. He’d never actually shown himself but they’d played silly games with each other. She’d place an object somewhere and he’d move it, hiding it so she’d have to look for it.

  I’d asked him why he hadn’t shown himself to her and he’d said that at the time he didn’t have the energy to do so. It had only been recently that he’d been able to do it at will. That went along with what Edward had said. Ravenmist had received an injection of paranormal energy from…something, someone, or somewhere.

  Now that I knew that ghosts were real I could turn my investigative energies to finding out why the spirits of our sleepy little town were suddenly waking up. But first we needed to find out who killed Jerome. I was sure it wasn’t a ghost but a real live person.

  “Tedi, I hope you don’t mind me dropping by so early but I just had to tell you that I think I’ve found the perfect house for you. I was hoping you’d have time today to see it. I think it won’t last long on the market.”

  Was there suddenly a real estate rush I wasn’t aware of? I didn’t have time to answer because Lorna had entered the lobby and she was pointing to Angela, her hand shaking with rage. Face bright red, she appeared to be trying to speak but couldn’t quite get the words out.

  “You,” Lorna finally screeched, her lip curled in contempt and her finger wagging under Angela’s nose. “You have some nerve showing your face here. You killed him. Someone call the police. This woman killed my husband.”

  That escalated quickly.

  From the look of disgust on Angela’s face if I didn’t intervene right away we were going to have a cat fight on our hands. Right here in the lobby of the Ravenmist Inn. It definitely wasn’t our first and it wouldn’t be our last, but it just might be avoidable.

  “Ladies,” I said firmly, holding up my hands in sort of a traffic cop stopping motion. “Let’s not throw around accusations and names. Let’s keep private business private.”

  I glanced over my shoulder to the dining room full of guests who would absolutely love a show to go with their meal this morning. Usually I just had a guy who played guitar on the weekends.