The Ghost and Little Marie

by Anna J. McIntyre

  “Where is she?” Danielle asked.

  “She almost got away,” Lily explained, setting the cup back on the table.

  “At first we thought Sunny was running to find someone to escort us out of the building. But she was making her escape. She made it as far as Pilgrim’s Point before she was pulled over. She’s down at the police station now,” Chris explained.

  Sunny’s cheerful disposition was replaced with a more stoic and stubborn persona. She sat rigidly at the table in the interrogation room, her hands folded and resting on the tabletop before her.

  “I want that man arrested.” Refusing to meet the chief’s gaze, Sunny stared blankly ahead.

  “I assume you mean Chris?” The chief sat down at the table, across from Sunny.

  “He attacked me.”

  “Danielle was locked up in your storage room, unconscious.”

  “Well, I didn’t know that!”

  “Didn’t you?”

  She looked briefly to the chief, her eyes narrowed. “Certainly not.”

  “I just spoke to Danielle. She’s in the hospital, but they feel she’s going to be okay in spite of the drug you gave her and the fact she could have lost a limb the way you had her tied up.”

  “I had nothing to do with that. And if someone gave her a drug, I would suggest you find out what it was. Drugs can cause hallucinations, and if she thinks I had anything to do with abducting her, she must be hallucinating. After all, why would I want to hurt her? I barely know the woman.”

  “You had quite a bad accident a few years back, didn’t you?”

  Sunny stared at the chief. “So?”

  “You were on a lot of pain medications back then.”

  “What does any of this have to do with what happened to Danielle Boatman?”

  “I think you got addicted to all those pain medications, and when you couldn’t get them anymore—the legal route—you started taking them from your patients.”

  “That’s ludicrous!”

  “I think you believed Marie was onto your little bait and switch.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She shifted in her chair. Unfolding her hands, she stubbornly wrapped her arms around her waist, refusing to look at the chief.

  “That pain pill you gave Marie the night you killed her, it wasn’t really a pain pill. It was a vitamin. We found it in the pocket of the dressing gown she was wearing when you smothered her.”

  “I didn’t smother anyone.”

  “And then you killed Mabel because she told Danielle about the medications being switched.”

  “You can’t prove any of this!”

  A knock came at the door. A moment later it opened. Brian Henderson walked in and handed the chief a plastic evidence bag. Inside was a used syringe.

  The chief tossed the bag on the table as Brian left the room, closing the door behind him.

  “We found this tonight. You didn’t do a very good job covering your tracks. It has your fingerprints on it.”

  “So? It’s a syringe. I’m a nurse.”

  “I’m fairly certain the test will show it has Mabel’s DNA on the needle, proving you injected it in her shortly before she died.”

  Sunny let out a harsh laugh. “Yeah right. Good try.”

  It was reasonable for Sunny to assume the chief was calling her bluff. After all, what were the chances he would find the syringe that she had used to kill Mabel? While it was true, she should have been more thorough and worn gloves—or at least wiped down the syringe after killing Mabel, the fact was it all happened so fast, and she wasn’t thinking straight at the time. But it really didn’t matter, because she couldn’t imagine there was any way he had found the syringe she had used to kill Mabel.

  Unfortunately for Sunny—she was wrong. What Sunny hadn’t counted on was Doris’s spirit, who had witnessed where Sunny had stashed the murder weapon and then passed that information on to Chris.

  The chief stood up and began reciting the Miranda rights.

  “Wait!” Sunny interrupted. “You aren’t really arresting me, are you?”

  “That’s sort of the point of reading you your Miranda rights.”

  “You have no proof I murdered anyone! Just because you found my fingerprints on a syringe, that’s not enough to hold me. And you certainly can’t hold me just because you have some far-fetched idea that Mabel’s DNA will be on that needle! There’s no way you could’ve tested that needle for DNA already.”

  “But I do have Danielle’s testimony saying you’re the one who was holding her tied up in the storage room,” he reminded her.

  “But she was having a hallucination!” Sunny insisted. “Check the side effects of the drug she was given!”

  “You can tell that to your lawyer when you’re preparing your defense.” He then continued reading Sunny her Miranda rights.

  Forty

  Bill Jones wrestled with the freshly cut noble pine, lugging it toward the front door of Marlow House while its branches persistently poked his face and scratched his forearms. In that moment he realized shoving the sleeves of his red flannel shirt to his elbows had been a stupid thing to do before delivering a Christmas tree.

  Danielle had the door open when he reached the front stoop. “Oh, it’s beautiful! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this!”

  Bill paused at the doorway and glanced up to the top of the tree, trying to determine if it was going to be too tall for the Marlow House living room. Danielle had told him what height she wanted, but he was wondering now if she knew what she had been talking about. He didn’t think she did.

  “I’m going to have to cut it some more,” he grumbled.

  “No, it’s perfect. Bring it in!”

  Bill rolled his eyes but silently dragged the tree into the house and into the living room. Much to his surprise, when he reached the designated spot for the tree, he discovered that once in the Christmas tree stand, it fit perfectly and didn’t touch the ceiling, leaving room to place a top ornament.

  “Well, I’ll be damned,” Bill muttered, looking up at the noble’s top branches.

  Unbeknownst to Bill, he was not alone in the room with Danielle. Walt sat at the nearby sofa, watching. Stacked in the corner were boxes filled with Christmas ornaments, which Walt had brought down from the attic.

  “I really do thank you,” Danielle said, about to pull money from her wallet.

  Bill waved her hand away. “Save your money. The tree’s on Adam.”

  “Adam?” Danielle smiled.

  “Yeah, when I told him I was bringing you a tree today, he said he wanted to pay for it. After all you did for his grandma and almost getting yourself killed.”

  “That’s sweet of Adam.” Danielle dug back in her wallet and pulled out some money, handing it to Bill. “But let me give you something for bringing it over.”

  Again, Bill brushed her hand away. “Nah, consider it my good Christmas deed. I figure with all that you’ve been through, it’s the least I can do.”

  Danielle smiled at Bill and then tucked her money back in her wallet. “Gee, thanks, Bill. That’s really sweet.”

  “I always found Bill annoying,” Marie said when she appeared in the room. “But it’s nice to see that someone as irritating as Bill can do something nice.” She took a seat on the sofa with Walt.

  “No problem.” Bill shrugged.

  “This really did help me. I’d planned to put up my tree over Thanksgiving, but then after Marie was killed, all that sort of got pushed aside. And now that I don’t have a car…”

  “When are you getting a new one?”

  “The insurance company is replacing my Flex, and the one I wanted is on back order. Hopefully before Christmas.”

  “Well, Merry Christmas,” Bill muttered before saying his final goodbye and going on his way.

  Adam arrived at Marlow House an hour after Bill’s departure. He found Danielle seemingly alone in the living room, just finishing putting up the lights on her Christmas tree.
What he didn’t see was his grandmother or Walt. It had actually been Walt who had strung the lights—with Marie freely expressing her opinion on where they should be hung.

  “I wanted to see what kind of tree Bill brought you,” Adam said as he inspected the evergreen.

  “That was really sweet of you, paying for it.”

  With his hands shoved into his jacket’s pocket, he gave a nonchalant shrug. “I figured it was something my grandma would want me to do for you.”

  “I must say, those dream hops are paying off!” Marie beamed.

  Walt glanced over to Marie. “You told him in a dream to buy Danielle a Christmas tree?”

  Marie shrugged. “I just suggested it would be a nice thing for him to do, considering all that Danielle’s been through.”

  Walt chuckled.

  Resisting the urge to giggle at Marie’s remark, Danielle asked Adam, “Would you like some eggnog?”

  “You have any brandy to go with it?”

  Danielle laughed. “I’m sure I do.”

  Each with a cup of brandy-laced eggnog in hand, Danielle and Adam sat on the sofa facing the Christmas tree, its lights turned on. The strands of lights wrapping around the tree’s branches weren’t small twinkly lights, or white lights, but old-fashioned Christmas lights with larger bulbs in various colors of red, yellow, green, and blue.

  “Have you talked to your parents?” Danielle asked.

  “Yes. Dad was disappointed they weren’t going to bring charges against Sunny for Grandma’s death.”

  “Like the chief said, they didn’t have enough evidence. But they’re confident with Mabel’s case, since the DNA panned out, and then mine. I don’t see how she won’t be going away for a very long time.”

  “I can’t believe she murdered my grandmother to cover up her addiction.”

  “It wasn’t just her addiction, Adam. She was stealing from her patients. Even if she had managed to avoid jail time, she would have lost her job. Probably would never be able to get another nursing position.”

  “I guess she doesn’t have to worry about that now.” Adam sipped his eggnog.

  “So what are you going to do for Christmas?”

  “Jason asked me to come to Colorado, spend Christmas with him. By the way, he and Sondra broke off their engagement.”

  Danielle arched her brow. “They did?”

  “Yep. He didn’t say what happened, and I didn’t ask. But he mentioned she was moving back to Portland.”

  “Really?” Hmm, maybe it wasn’t really over with the ex after all, Danielle thought.

  “He didn’t seem too broken up about it. Oh, and he found another job.”

  “Good. What about your parents? Think they’ll go to Colorado for Christmas too?”

  Adam gave a snort. “I don’t think so. Not sure Dad is going to be able to save his business, even with the money I gave him.”

  “That was generous of you.”

  “Wasn’t generous. It was Grandma’s money, and I only gave him a hundred thousand.”

  Danielle almost choked on her eggnog.

  Adam frowned. “What?”

  Still coughing, Danielle couldn’t help but laugh. “You saying only a hundred thousand…I never imagined I would ever hear you say those words!”

  Adam grinned. “Yeah, I see what you mean. Damn, are you rubbing off on me?”

  “I just think it’s nice you helped your parents, even after all the heated rhetoric.”

  Adam’s smile faded. “Truth is, my dad still sees me in the same light—a stupid teenager.”

  “Adam, you’re a successful real estate broker, and you have a profitable vacation rental company, hardly some bum.”

  “You’re sweet, Danielle.”

  “Well, don’t get used to it. After Christmas I’m going to start being mean to you again.”

  Adam chuckled. “You’ve never been mean to me.”

  “Then I’ll have to make a New Year’s resolution to try harder.”

  “Thanks.” Adam chuckled again.

  They sat in silence for a few moments. Finally Adam said, “I’m really going to miss Grandma.”

  “She’s still here, looking after you. Trust me on that.”

  Adam smiled at Danielle and finished the last of his eggnog.

  “No, Adam, I’m serious. She is here looking after you.”

  The corners of Danielle’s lips twitched as she suppressed her grin, amused at the condescending smile Adam flashed in her direction. He has no idea I’m serious, she thought.

  “Are we going to finish decorating the tree now?” Marie asked after Adam left.

  “We’re going to do that tonight. Lily and Ian are coming over for dinner, along with Heather and Chris. They’re going to stay and help with the tree after we eat.”

  Marie frowned. “Don’t tell me Chris and Heather are a couple now.”

  Danielle smiled. “No, Marie. Heather just works for Chris, and they’re friends…and neighbors.”

  Marie eyed Walt while addressing her comments to Danielle. “I just think Chris and you make a good pair. You’ve a lot in common, he’s very good looking, and he did save your life.”

  “Marie has a point,” Walt begrudgingly admitted.

  Danielle arched a brow at Walt. “Really? You playing matchmaker now?”

  “I have to give him credit for not backing down and getting those keys from that deranged nurse. He didn’t take no for an answer when your life was at stake. How can I not respect that?”

  Danielle took a seat on the sofa. “While I appreciate both your opinions on my love life, I think I’ll have the final say in where my relationship with Chris goes—and frankly, I don’t see it going beyond close friendship. But you…” Danielle turned her attention to Marie.

  Startled, Marie asked, “Me what?”

  “Everyone knows you were really murdered, and while it can’t be proven in court, everyone pretty much knows who killed you and why.”

  “I’m not following you…” Marie frowned.

  “I love you, Marie. I’m going to miss you. But it’s okay for you to move on. You’ll be with your husband again, and I know how much you’ve missed him…”

  “Oh…that…” Marie slumped back in her chair and let out a sigh.

  “Oh that what?” Danielle asked.

  Marie let out another sigh and then sat up straight. Primly folding her hands on her lap, she looked at Danielle and smiled. “Do you remember the until death do us part in the wedding vows?”

  Danielle frowned. “Yes, what about it?”

  “I want that.” Marie’s smiled broadened.

  “I don’t get it?” Danielle glanced from Marie to Walt, who only shrugged as if he had no clue what Marie was getting at. She looked back to Marie.

  “The thing is, dear,” Marie explained, “my husband was kind of a schmuck.”

  “Schmuck?”

  “Who do you think Warren took after? It certainly wasn’t me!”

  “I thought you were in love with your husband?”

  Marie leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. “I suppose I was in the beginning, until I really got to know him. But, dear, we just did not get divorced in those days. It wasn’t done. A woman made a binding commitment with her wedding vows and she honored them. I honored mine. Until death do us part. But he’s dead. I’m dead. It’s done.”

  “Are you saying you don’t intend to move on?” Danielle asked.

  “I will eventually. I’d love to see my parents again, and there are some friends I’d like to catch up with. But for now, I’ve still got things to do here.”

  “Such as?” Danielle asked, suspecting Adam was the reason Marie wouldn’t be moving on yet.

  “If left to his own devices, Adam is never going to get married. And I really don’t want him to let Melony slip by. I think she might be the one.” Eyes twinkling, Marie studied Danielle a moment and then added with a smile, “And after I get Adam settled, perhaps I need to see what I can do about you.
”

  December had snuck up on Danielle. Marie’s hip surgery and then death had thrown November totally out of whack. Danielle felt as if she had missed Thanksgiving in spite of the fact her dinner table hadn’t been empty for the holiday.

  During the first week of December, when she had expected to have Marlow House already decorated for Christmas, she was instead being held hostage, bound tightly like a Christmas turkey. She then spent several days in the hospital, and it was almost two weeks after Thanksgiving before her Christmas tree was delivered.

  Unlike the previous Christmas, she opted not to take reservations and instead spend a quiet holiday with Walt and a few close friends. The close friends didn’t include Lily and Ian, who had gone to California to spend the holiday with Lily’s family. Chris and Heather joined Walt and Danielle, yet Marie decided to travel to Colorado with Adam and Melony, to spend Christmas with Jason. The pair had no idea they had a ghost tagging along.

  Staring wistfully at the decorated Christmas tree, Danielle murmured, “Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve.” The only one to hear her was Walt, who sat next to her on the sofa. They were alone in the house.

  “How do you feel about Marie sticking around?” Danielle asked, still staring at the tree.

  “I must admit I enjoy her company, and it’s not like she’s always underfoot.”

  “I don’t think she’ll ever be able to harness any energy and help me get these decorations put away,” Danielle mused. “Not how she’s constantly running around. She mentioned something about going out with Eva for New Year’s Eve.”

  “Good thing those two can’t harness any energy. Can you imagine the havoc they would cause?” Walt grinned at the thought.

  “No kidding!”

  “So how about another computer lesson?” Walt asked.

  Danielle stood up. “Okay, but I want to check my email first.”

  Several minutes later they were in the library and on the guest computer. Walt waited patiently for Danielle to finish reading her email so he could begin her lesson.

  She looked up to Walt. “You aren’t going to believe this.”