Dead and Breakfast

by Kimberly G. Giarratano

  Maybe Liam could buy into the notion of ghosts haunting the Cayo, but the fact that Autumn could channel a dead girl—that seemed too insane, even for Key West.

  Liam stopped running. He would have to apologize to Autumn. Again. Despite the crazy crap surrounding him since he started at the Cayo Hueso, she was the only one who made him feel visible. He laughed. Funny, how it took a girl who thought she saw ghosts to make him feel noticed.

  Liam rounded the corner and headed into Louie’s Pawn Shop. Louie Casanova had been in business since before Liam was born. Pops used to say that Louie was shadier than the base of a willow tree. Unfortunately for Liam, there wasn’t a more honest racket in town. If he wanted quick cash, he’d need to go to Louie’s.

  When Liam opened the pawnshop’s front door, a cold blast of air assaulted him. Louie had the air conditioning turned all the way up. Liam had never been a fan of artificially cold air. He’d just as well take the humidity if it meant warm, salty breezes from open windows.

  Shuddering, Liam approached the glass counter on the far side of the shop. He nervously tapped his fingers along the display case as he examined rows of wedding bands, antique pocket watches, and silver coins—all someone’s treasures at one point. Liam wasn’t sure why he was so anxious. He’d pawned stuff before to make money. Old cufflinks of Pops he never wore. Some subwoofers his father had stored in the crawl space. Nothing potentially worth as much as Abuela’s ring, though.

  Liam glanced into the back office where Louie hunched at the desk, cradling a telephone against his ear and waving his arms in big exaggerated motions. Louie looked like a cross between a turtle and a rat. Louie caught Liam’s eyes and held up a thick pointer finger, letting Liam know he’d be with him in a minute. That minute felt interminable. Liam wanted to sell the ring and get out of there. But as he turned the smooth gold around his pinkie finger, he couldn’t help but think about Autumn’s performance this morning as she splayed out on the patio floor, her eyelids fluttering as if in a dream state. Was she really expecting him to believe that this ring somehow transported her into the body of a ghost?

  He shook his head, if only to answer himself. Nah. He was no fool. To believe Autumn channeled a spirit meant Liam was no different than the kooks in this town trying to sell the tourists on haunted tours. Like Pops’s old navy buddy, Ralph Blazevig.

  “Come on, come on,” Liam said under his breath, his patience waning.

  The brass bell on the front door chimed, and Liam craned his neck to see Mick Canton saunter up to the counter in pressed chinos and a designer golf shirt. Mick eyed Liam and sneered. Mick used to treat Liam with indifference when he was dating Victoria. But now, he was outright hostile.

  Within moments, Louie was off the phone and scurrying to the front of the store, bypassing Liam and extending his meaty hand to Mick. “Good to see you. What brings you by?”

  Mick’s presence took up so much of the space alongside the counter that Liam felt forced to move down. Liam studied the men’s bracelets in the case below and feigned interest as he listened to Mick and Louie’s conversation.

  “Some merchandise was stolen from one of my warehouses,” Mick said in a low voice. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that?”

  Liam watched from the corner of his eye as Louie backed away from the counter and held up his hands. “Now, you know I would never accept stolen goods.” Louie didn’t hear Liam scoff, or if he did, he pretended not to. “Especially anything that might have your stamp on it.”

  Mick grinned and Louie appeared to relax. “I’m not accusing you of fencing my property. But I know you hear things in this town.” Mick dropped his Cheshire-cat smile.

  Liam wondered what exactly had been taken. It didn’t have to be big money for Mick to come down to this dump. Mick didn’t let the smallest pawn get one over on him, even if it amounted to nothing.

  Louie shook his head. “Sorry, Mick. My intell isn’t what it used to be, but I can make some inquiries.”

  Mick leaned over the counter and patted Louie’s shoulder. “That’s a start.” Mick twisted his thick neck and narrowed his eyes at Liam. “That’s twice this week I’ve seen you. Let’s not make this a habit.”

  Blood bubbled underneath Liam’s skin as if he was an active volcano. He slapped the ring on the counter, and it clanged against the glass. “Louie, are we going to do business or what?”

  Louie gave Mick an apologetic glance, but Mick waved him away, as if to say, take care of the boy. Louie grabbed his jeweler’s magnifying glass from underneath the counter, but before he could examine the ring, Mick snatched it off the counter. His voice sounded tight, almost hoarse. “Where’d you get this?”

  “I didn’t steal it if that’s what you’re implying. It was in a box of my grandmother’s stuff.”

  “Doubtful,” Mick mumbled, but Liam heard him as clearly as if the man had screamed it in Mallory Square. Mick’s typical ruddy features drained of their color.

  “You look a little pale there, Mick. Feeling all right?” Liam said.

  “Don’t you worry about me.” Mick’s lip curled into a sneer. “I’m always okay.”

  “Whatever.” Liam gestured to Louie. “I’m on a break from work. I don’t have much time.”

  “Where ya working, kid?” Mick asked.

  “At the Cayo Hueso.”

  “Is that where you found this?”

  Liam gave Mick an icy glare. “I told you, it was my grandmother’s.” He turned to Louie. “Can you tell me what it’s worth or not?”

  Mick rubbed his big thumb along the diamond solitaire and laid the ring on the counter. “First rule of negotiating is never ask your opponent what something is worth. You tell ’em what it’s worth. What’s this ring worth to you?”

  Louie went to pick up the ring, his curiosity piqued, but Mick laid his hand on top and held the ring prisoner to the glass.

  “What’s it worth to you?” Mick repeated.

  Liam stuttered. “I, I.” In his head, he could hear Randall hiss, “Four grand.” But Liam’s tongue felt heavy in his mouth. This was a windfall for him, and he couldn’t even speak. He squeaked out his price.

  Mick’s eyebrow shot up. “It didn’t cost four grand when it was new, I bet you that much. Besides, what does a kid like you need with that much money?”

  Liam squirmed under Mick’s gaze. Don’t tell him. Liam rapped the counter with his knuckles. “Know what? I’ll come back later.”

  Mick held up his hand. “I’m done here.” He glanced once more at the ring before pointing at Louie. “Don’t forget to keep your ears open about my merchandise.” Mick watched as Louie’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He grunted in satisfaction and left, the bell on the door signaling his exit.

  As soon as Mick’s hulking figure had disappeared from sight, Liam and Louie both exhaled sighs of reliefs. For different reasons, of course.

  Louie slid a jeweler’s monocle over his eyes and peered at the ring. “Okay, Mr. Impatient. Let’s see what we’ve got here.”

  #

  Autumn found Aunt Glenda sitting at her vanity table, dabbing a drop of perfume on the base of her neck. For a brief moment, Autumn could see her aunt the way Uncle Duncan probably had—as a young, vivacious redhead.

  Autumn gently rapped on the doorframe. “Uncle Duncan must have been the envy of all his friends.”

  Aunt Glenda smiled in the mirror, although the smile didn’t seem to reach her eyes. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I’d like to think your uncle and I were like two puzzle pieces and only we fit together. His friends used to tease him about me—they said I was spacey and silly. One of his friends actually told him I was only good for one thing.” She arched her brow.

  Autumn balked. “That’s awful. I hope Uncle Duncan punched him out.”

  “I’d say he did.” Glenda chuckled. “Gave ol’ Mick a shiner right before he went home to his parents.”

  Autumn bounced down on the bed. She wanted to tread lightly here, but she was
curious. “Mick as in Mick Canton? Is that when Uncle Duncan and Mick stopped being friends?”

  Aunt Glenda slowly lowered the hairbrush. She looked thoughtful as if she was selectively choosing her words. “No. Not then. Anyway, I told Duncan not to worry about it.”

  “So they stopped being friends after the navy?”

  Glenda squirmed in her chair. “Yes, after. Although it wasn’t so much that they stopped being friends, it was that life happened. I mean, you get serious with a girl and then get married. When Ralphie met Lena, we hardly saw him anymore. And then Mick started making money, and he became a bit ruthless in that sense.” She leaned over and gently patted Autumn’s knee. “So . . . how’s school going? Are you making friends?”

  Ugh. Aunt Glenda was crafty. Just when Autumn thought she could make some headway, the old woman directed the conversation to school. Autumn sighed. “Not really.”

  Aunt Glenda joined her on the bed and smoothed out a wrinkle in the burgundy bedspread. “It’s because you’re different. I know your mom thinks ghosts are just make-believe, but she hasn’t had to deal with the spirit world her whole life.” She gently bumped Autumn’s shoulder. “You’ll adjust.”

  “Liam thinks I’m crazy.” To Autumn’s surprise, her voice shook.

  “You like William, don’t you?” Aunt Glenda sounded soft and maternal and nothing like Evelyn.

  Autumn picked at a loose thread on the comforter. “I don’t really get him. He insists he doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he’s been attacked twice already.”

  Glenda circled her arm around her shoulder. “I’d say that Liam and his grandfather have some trust issues. Leo loved Mariana with a fierce passion, but their marriage was riddled with problems. And Liam’s mother abandoned him when he was a toddler. The Breyer men have been hurt plenty for one lifetime. Try to be kind to Liam—he could probably use a friend as much as you.”

  Autumn stood and leaned against the tall, mahogany post. “I am being kind to him. I keep warning him about Inez, but he won’t listen.”

  Glenda’s eyes grew round. “Who?”

  “Inez Cruces. She’s the one who is trying to kill Liam.”

  Glenda leaped up and grabbed Autumn’s shoulders. “How do you know that’s her name? Did she tell you?”

  “Not really,” Autumn said slowly. “I mean, she did, but not at first. I sort of channeled her.”

  Glenda gasped. “Do you know how dangerous that is?”

  Autumn broke away from her aunt’s hold. “I do now. Timothy gave me an ear-full. Anyway, have you ever heard of her? Inez? I think she died in 1966.”

  Glenda bristled. “She was Mariana’s sister.”

  “I know,” said Autumn, anxious for new details.

  “Well, you should also know that she wasn’t a nice person. Not just in death, but in life. She nearly separated Liam’s grandparents,” Glenda whispered and her gaze flitted around the room. Did her aunt fear Inez? “I can’t believe she haunts this place. That can only mean—”

  “She died here,” Autumn finished. “You didn’t know?”

  Glenda paled. “She’d gone missing the night of the spring dance. She had a fight with her sister over Leo and stormed out of the gymnasium at St. Veronica’s. No one saw her again.”

  “When was that?”

  Her aunt clasped her hand. “Promise me you won’t take this further. Ignore her, and she’ll go away.”

  “I don’t think she will,” Autumn growled, tightening her grip on her aunt’s hand.

  “You’re hurting me, dear,” Aunt Glenda squeaked.

  Autumn snatched back her hand. “I’m so sorry.” A darkness rolled over her, reminding Autumn of storm clouds over the Atlantic. Timothy was right—Inez had taken residency inside her body.

  Autumn’s head swam with questions, but before she could interrogate her aunt further, Evelyn appeared at the door, looking put out.

  “There you are, Autumn. Cora needs help preparing dinner. Also, sometime tomorrow, I’d like you to tidy up the April room. We have a new guest checking in on Friday.” Evelyn’s voice sounded light. Interesting how only talk of new business could make Evelyn happy.

  Glenda pressed her hands into Autumn’s back and steered her toward the hallway. “She’ll be right there.” Then Aunt Glenda closed her door on both Autumn and her mother.

  Evelyn put her hands on her hips. “Well, that was rude. I wonder what’s the matter with Glenda.”

  Autumn glanced at her aunt’s now-closed door. Mr. Blazevig, Aunt Glenda, and, most likely, Leo Breyer were all keeping secrets. But was it because they feared Inez or were afraid of what Autumn would discover about Inez’s murder? Either way, Inez’s spirit wasn’t leaving anytime soon.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  On Thursday afternoon, Autumn held a photo in front of Liam’s face.

  He glanced at her. “What’s this?”

  “You tell me.” Her face reflected a mixture of impatience and mistrust. Liam wasn’t sure what to make of her.

  He had been sitting at the Cayo’s round kitchen table, eating a sandwich from a deli around the corner. It was his afternoon break, although he didn’t miss seeing Evelyn’s pinched face as she kept popping in with the excuse she was adjusting the dinner menu when really she was only checking her watch. He wiped his hands on his cargo shorts and took the photo from Autumn’s hands. Their fingers grazed and he felt a slight jolt.

  Liam stared at the photo of the four sailors. It was exactly the same picture Mick Canton had in his home office. He remembered seeing it when he and Victoria dated. “Where did you get this?”

  “I found it in the attic.” She pointed to the curly haired sailor on the far right. “That’s Uncle Duncan. He and my grandpa were brothers. My grandpa said I have his dark hair.” She smiled at Liam like she was proud of the connection. Liam loved his grandfather, but he was certain he never smiled with pride at the mention of genetic similarities between him and Pops.

  “I’ve seen this photo before,” he said. “So?”

  She gestured to the photo again. This time her finger zeroed in on Leo Breyer. “So, you look just like your grandfather.”

  He nodded. “I know.”

  Autumn shook her head in disbelief. “I mean just like him. You’re clones.”

  Liam scoffed. Leo Breyer was a crotchety old man full of cryptic pieces of caution that did him no good. When Liam decided to drop out of high school so he could work with his dad in the northern oil fields, Leo didn’t do anything to stop him. He only said, “See you in the summer, kiddo.” When Liam asked Pops about his mother, Leo kept his mouth shut. “Not my place to say.” Sure, young Leo Breyer and Liam might have looked identical, but the similarities stopped at the physical. Liam was going to make something of his life regardless of the deadbeats who gave him his start in this world. “Again, so?”

  “Flip it over,” said Autumn, annoyed.

  Liam sighed and turned over the photo. There was something written on the back. Buddies for life. Had his grandpa and his friends ever imagined one day they’d barely speak to one another?

  Autumn sat down at the table and ran her fingers over the scratches in the wood. “Liam,” her voice was soft, gentle as if she was his preschool teacher telling him his mother had not yet arrived to pick him up from school, “Inez keeps attacking you. You. Why would she do that?”

  Liam swallowed a bite of food. A hunk of salami scraped his throat. “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t you think it’s odd that she would come after you? You weren’t alive when she was alive. But—”

  “But what?”

  “But someone who resembled you was around in 1966.”

  Liam hated all this cryptic talk. “You’re saying my grandfather killed this girl.” The words sounded as ridiculous aloud as they did in his head. Pops wasn’t the aggressive type. He was the passive-aggressive type. The avoiding type. “That’s not possible.”

  “I don’t know your grandfather,” she said.

/>   “That’s right. You don’t.”

  “But, he definitely knew her.”

  Liam dropped his salami on rye on top of the wax paper it came wrapped in. He wasn’t hungry anymore. He realized that Autumn truly believed in the spirit world. But he was remembering Pops’s reaction the other night at dinner when he mentioned Inez’s name. That kind of visceral response couldn’t be faked. “You said yourself that she’s a confused spirit. She probably doesn’t know who killed her. Or what happened.”

  Autumn blew a strand of dark hair from her face. It would’ve been a cute gesture had they not been talking about his elderly grandfather killing a girl when he was a teenager.

  “Ask your grandfather about it,” she said quietly.

  “Autumn, I’m not—”

  “She named him.”

  Liam sputtered, “Wha-what do you mean she named him?”

  “The ghost, Inez, she named Leo Breyer as her killer.” Autumn uttered the words slowly and deliberately as if afraid Liam wouldn’t comprehend what she was saying. Truthfully, he couldn’t.

  “That’s impossible. Not to mention ridiculous.”

  Pops might’ve known the dead girl, but he definitely didn’t kill her. Liam stood and threw his napkin on top of his sandwich. “Seriously. I’m done with this.”

  “But—”

  “No! I don’t want to hear it anymore. My grandfather would never hurt someone. Let it go.” Autumn slumped her shoulders, but Liam wasn’t done. “Why are you doing this? Do you get off on calling people murderers?”

  “No! I need to make sense of this. You don’t understand what it’s like to be haunted all the time.”

  Liam thought about his mother. How her clothes still sat in boxes in the spare bedroom closet. How if he tried, he might be able to smell her perfume. He was haunted—just not by ghosts.