by Rose Pressey
She ran over to the table by the sofa. There sat a small brass lamp. Charlotte rushed over to the lamp. Cold air whirled around the room, and I felt my energy drain. I knew Charlotte was using the energy around her to be able to move that lamp. Charlotte stretched her arm out and toward the lamp. With a loud crash the lamp hit the ground and rolled a short distance. Charlotte smiled with pride.
Patricia jumped, and without thinking about turning her back on me she raced over to the lamp. This was Heather’s chance and I hoped she took it. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Heather. Her eyes were wide and she placed her index finger up to her mouth to indicate for me to remain silent. No problem there. I was forgetting to even breathe. Heather had a vintage pullover sweater in her hand. I recognized it from my car. It was with other pieces of clothing I’d placed in the back to take to the shop. What was she doing with it?
“What is she doing?” Charlotte asked with a raised voice.
Peggy covered her eyes with her hands. “I can’t look.”
Heather was right behind Patricia. Though Patricia had the knife in her hand, she had stopped pointing it at me. She had no clue that Heather was right behind her. The ghosts and I watched in stunned silence. Peggy had uncovered her eyes. I knew she couldn’t keep from looking. Heather lifted the sweater high over Patricia’s head and yanked it down. I ran over and tackled Patricia. She screamed as she hit the floor. Now I had her pinned to the floor, but I had no idea what would happen next.
“You have to find a way to tie her up,” Charlotte said.
“Heather, do you see any rope?” I asked as Patricia struggled to get free.
“Don’t forget to get that knife in case she gets free.” Peggy pointed.
“There has to be something we can use,” Heather said, looking around the cabin.
“Maybe you should just call the police. I’ll sit on her until they get here,” I said.
“No offense, Cookie, but I don’t think you’re strong enough to keep her down,” Heather said.
Heather was right. I was already growing tired. The adrenaline had allowed me to tackle her down in the first place. Fear was creeping back in now, and I might lose control of her soon.
“We will both have to sit on her. The police are already on their way.” Heather rushed over and lay across Patricia’s legs.
Patricia groaned and used a few colorful phrases to impart her displeasure.
“Wait until the police get a load of this scene.” Charlotte laughed.
I imagined we looked ridiculous, but this was life or death.
Patricia struggled with the sweater over her head. “I can’t breathe.”
“So, I’m glad you found me,” I said as we sat on Patricia.
“I knew something was wrong. You accidentally dialed my number and left a voice mail. I heard you talking to the ghosts,” Heather said.
“Why do I keep doing that?” I asked.
“Why do you keep doing a lot of things?” Charlotte asked.
Patricia wiggled underneath us. I was getting tired. How long until the police arrived?
“Get this sweater off me,” Patricia yelled.
“Look out,” Peggy screamed.
Patricia had almost reached the knife. Heather had forgotten to pick it up. Heather reached for the knife and managed to get a hold before Patricia could get it in her hand. If she’d been able to take a swipe at one of us, she probably would have gotten the upper hand again. That was a close one. Sirens echoed in the distance. As the seconds passed they came closer and closer.
“Police, open up,” the officer yelled.
“We can’t open the door; we’re sitting on top of the perp,” Heather yelled.
A few seconds later and the door burst open. Officers stormed in with guns drawn. Dylan was the first one in. His shirt was covered in mud and he had a slight limp. The officers weren’t the only ones there. Ken was with Dylan. What was he doing here? Our eyes met. For a brief time he stared in shock. Next Dylan raced over to me. Another officer placed Patricia in cuffs. Ken watched from a distance. Heather and I were able to stand now. The cops pulled Patricia up from the floor.
“Impressive work,” Dylan said with a smile. “Why does she have a sweater over her head?”
“I thought we did a good job,” I said. “I couldn’t have done it without Heather. She saved me by putting the sweater over Patricia’s head. After that I tackled Patricia.”
Heather blushed. “It was you who figured out Patricia was the killer. Without you I would be going to prison soon.”
Dylan embraced me in a hug. “You shouldn’t have come out here alone.”
Yes, I figured I would get dirt all over my dress from Dylan’s dirty shirt. I hugged him tighter. Life was meant to get a little dirty sometimes.
“What happened to you? Why are you limping? Are you okay? I’m guessing it has something to do with your dirty shirt,” I said.
“I took a little tumble on my way here. I’ll be fine.” He brushed the hair away from my face.
“All’s well that ends well,” Charlotte said.
“That was real fatal attraction,” Heather said, brushing off her pants.
Catching a killer was dirty work, but someone had to do it. I stepped away from Dylan. Looking down at my clothing I realized I’d managed to keep my fabulous dress clean. Even better. Maybe this day would turn out okay after all.
“I have another question,” I said.
“What’s that?” Dylan asked.
“Why is Ken with you?” I asked.
Everyone looked at Ken.
“Thank goodness you asked. This was driving me crazy,” Charlotte said.
“I’ll let Ken explain,” Dylan said.
Ken moved closer to us. “After talking to you I decided to come looking for you. Whatever you were into didn’t sound safe. I happened to spot your car and Dylan’s. I took a chance and walked into the woods. That was when I spotted Dylan. He’d tripped and couldn’t get his foot out from under a log. I just helped him up.”
Dylan wrapped his arms around Ken’s shoulders. “He did more than that. He saved me and you and Heather.”
“Handsome, smart, and now a hero,” Charlotte said.
“Thank you doesn’t seem like enough.” I hugged Ken.
His cheeks turned pink. “I’m just glad everyone is okay.”
“Let’s get you all out of here.” Dylan guided me toward the door by placing his hand on the small of my back.
We walked outside with Dylan. Heather hugged me again as we watched the police put Patricia in the back of the police cruiser. Patricia made rude gestures our way. Ken and Dylan were talking. This was one of the few times I’d ever seen them exchange words. Usually, they stared at each other and nodded.
“That woman is pure evil,” Charlotte said.
“I’m so glad my life can be back to normal now,” Heather said.
“Why would you want it back to what you call ‘normal’?” Charlotte asked.
I was glad Heather didn’t hear that remark.
Dylan pulled me to the side. “Can I talk with you privately for a minute?”
I looked at the ghosts. Charlotte quirked an eyebrow but stayed put.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
The ghosts were still eyeing us suspiciously.
“Are they still here?” Dylan peered around.
I knew he meant the ghosts.
Gesturing with a tilt of my head, I said, “They’re right over there. Why do you ask?”
“I have information about Peggy’s murder.” His voice was low as if he still didn’t trust that the ghosts weren’t next to us.
“You do?” I asked with wide eyes. “What did you find out? Is Peggy not supposed to know?”
The ghosts had figured out that we were discussing them. Dylan and I shouldn’t have looked at them so many times. Now they were standing right next to us.
Charlotte tapped her foot against the ground. “Exactly what is going on ov
er here? You keep looking at us for a reason? Cookie, you’re not very subtle.”
“Dylan has information about Peggy’s murder,” I whispered. “They’re here now. Sorry.”
Dylan looked to my right. “Yes, that’s right.”
I thought it was adorable that he was trying to talk with the ghosts.
“Well, let us have it.” Charlotte waved her hand. “What did you find out?”
“I’m scared.” Peggy’s eyes were full of fear.
“No need to be worried,” Charlotte said. “You’re already dead. What’s the worst that can happen now?”
Charlotte certainly had a way with words.
Dylan turned his attention to me again. “We’ve located her killer. He confessed to his niece before he died. She’d been covering for him all this time. I’ve ordered a search for her remains.”
“Wow, after all these years. What will happen to him? Who was it?” I asked.
“Yes, I want to know why he did it,” Charlotte said.
Peggy stood a little straighter. “Yes, I want to know. I can handle it.”
I knew this news was a lot for her to take.
“Her boyfriend, Steve Walker, killed her at the theater. He dumped her in the woods. He said Peggy was cheating on him with another man. I suppose he snapped.” Dylan frowned.
“Yes, you could say that,” Charlotte said. “What is with everyone and the jealousy?”
“That’s terrible,” I said, glancing at Peggy.
“That wasn’t true,” Peggy said. “I wanted to break up with him because he was so controlling. I remember it all now.”
Charlotte attempted to pat Peggy on the shoulder. “Honey, we can talk about this. It’ll be okay.”
“So his niece was covering for him. Will she face any charges for that?” I said.
“Well, I guess we’ll see what happens. It’s up to the DA,” Dylan said.
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Charlotte said.
“Did you find out any information on Mike Harvey? Why was he creeping around?” I asked.
“I spoke with him. He was suspicious of Patricia, and wanted to alert me to her behavior. The guy was scared that she may come after him.” Dylan ran his hand through his hair.
“She probably would have if she’d known he talked to you,” I said. “By the way, on the table in the cabin there’s a bottle of poison.”
Dylan furrowed his brow. “And how do you know this?”
“Well, because Patricia tried to poison the cupcakes I bought from the bake sale. She wanted to kill me long before I came to this cabin. The cupcakes are in my car.” I was glad I had decided to put the cupcakes in my car earlier, thinking I would give them to Dylan after dinner.
“Also, the disguise she wore is in the cabin. Sunglasses and a big hat.”
“Thank goodness Patricia wasn’t clever enough. She couldn’t pull one over on us,” Charlotte said with a wink.
I owed Charlotte big time for what she’d done by spotting Patricia sprinkling the poison on the cupcakes. If not for her I would have been a goner. She would remind me of that plenty of times too.
“I’ll be right back,” Dylan said as he waved to another officer.
“I suppose my time here is now over.” Peggy looked down at her black and white saddle shoes.
“It doesn’t have to be. Look at me. I’m staying around.” Charlotte smiled.
“That’s because Cookie needs you,” Peggy said.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I asked. “I’m fine on my own. I can take care of myself.”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “As if I need to explain why you need help.”
“There’s no use trying to talk me out of it,” Peggy said.
I kept my eye out for a bright light. In the past other ghosts had disappeared that way. Nothing out of the ordinary appeared. Just the blue sky with the sun setting over the horizon. Without saying a word Peggy walked away. Charlotte and I exchanged a look.
“What is she doing?” Charlotte asked.
I shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“Let’s find out.” Charlotte took off, motioning for me to follow.
Charlotte and I soon caught up to Peggy.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I’ve decided to go back to the theater. I like it there. After all these years it feels like my home.” Peggy continued walking.
“You know you don’t have to do that, right?” Charlotte asked.
I looked back at Dylan and Ken. Dylan shrugged his shoulders and held his arms up. Clearly he wanted to know what I was doing. I pointed beside me. Dylan nodded. Thank goodness he understood about the ghosts and believed me. Would he tell Ken about my weird talent?
“I don’t see any other option. We can’t stay with Cookie. She has her own life and doesn’t need us hanging around all the time.”
Charlotte frowned. I saw the realization in her eyes. Was she now thinking the same thing? I wasn’t going to let Charlotte think that I didn’t want her around.
“Charlotte goes back and forth between the worlds. That’s her choice to come back and see me. We’re friends. Friends visit each other.” I smiled at Charlotte.
“Yes, that’s what friends do.” Charlotte winked.
“Really? Do you think I could do that too? Could I stop back in the theater any time I want?” Peggy asked.
I looked to Charlotte for the answer to that question.
“Of course you can. Any time you want.” Charlotte draped her arm around Peggy’s shoulders. “Come on. I’ll show you the way.”
“Thank you for everything, Cookie,” Peggy said.
“This isn’t good-bye, right?” I asked.
Peggy smiled. “Yes, I’ll be back soon.”
Charlotte waved as Peggy and she walked away. Soon they’d disappeared into the woods. I wasn’t sure if Peggy would really return, but I hoped that she would come back to visit. Ken and Dylan were still talking when I walked back over.
“This seems like an intense conversation,” I said.
“Just discussing last night’s game,” Dylan said.
I smiled. “Good. I’m glad.”
I’d given Dylan the cupcakes and he took them as evidence against Patricia. The police had also retrieved the poison from inside the house. The charges against her would be plentiful. With any luck she’d never get out of prison. The police pulled away from the cabin. Relief fell over me as I watched them drive away with Patricia. I hoped Heather was right and that things could now be back to normal. As normal as life could be while living with ghosts. Ken had been there to help Dylan. I hoped they could put their differences aside now and become friends. It looked as if they were off to a good start. Would Sugar Creek once again be a charming Southern town? Probably until the next murder.
COOKIE CHANEL’S STRATEGY
for VINTAGE SHOPPING ON A BUDGET
You don’t have to spend a fortune to buy vintage items. Plus, you can even score designer pieces without breaking the bank. So put away those credit cards and follow these easy tips to a frugal, yet fun vintage shopping experience.
1. Buy vintage items that were once trendy. People may think the style has come and gone, but you can always bring something back in style. An item can be paired with something classic and make a fun, playful look. By purchasing something less in demand you can save money. Though never try to bring those polyester suits back. Those are off limits.
2. Look for coupons or ask for a discount. Some stores might offer a group coupon online or feature a percentage off in an advertisement. Check your local paper for special offers. Also stores might have certain days of the week when they give a certain percentage off purchases. Be on the lookout for bargains.
3. Shop for off-season items. If you’re willing to wait to wear something until the season rolls around again, then you could definitely find some bargains. A lot of stores will mark down items as the season comes to an end. You can snag a cute sweater for ne
xt winter in the middle of July.
4. Shop online at auction sites or other vendors selling vintage items. Not only do they offer rare items and a large inventory, but they also offer bargains. You can find just about anything you’re looking for online. Though remember you can’t try on and a lot of places have a no return policy. So check the measurements.
5. Accessories are budget friendly. If you can’t swing the price tags for a full wardrobe, consider buying smaller items like belts, purses, scarves, or jewelry. These items can add color and style to any outfit and they won’t break the bank. Adding a colorful vintage handbag can change any ensemble from drab to fab.
6. Don’t forget sometimes you can buy vintage clothing in unexpected places. Consider looking at flea markets, yard sales, antique shops, and other unexpected stores. Since they don’t deal mainly with vintage clothing, these places might be more willing to negotiate on prices. You just might find a hidden gem.
7. Though most vintage shops or thrift stores won’t offer coupons, it doesn’t hurt to ask if the price is negotiable. Some shops will offer discounts after a certain number of days. So if you can wait you might get lucky and return for the item when it will be marked down.
8. Be on the lookout for vintage clothing swap meet-ups. There are other vintage clothing owners out there who are interested in trading. Maybe you have a garment that isn’t right for you but might be perfect for someone else. You might get lucky and find the perfect piece you’ve been looking for.
GRANDMA PEARL’S ADVICE
for CATS
Attention cats: avoid séances. You never know when a ghost might take over your body. The ghost will find ways to use you to communicate with the living humans. Then, if a ghost gets the upper hand you might be in a power struggle for which cat food tastes best.
Have some variety in your diet. Do you have to eat fish all the time? Ghosts get sick of that. Especially little old Southern ladies who are set in their ways.
Do you really need to groom your fur so often? The hair balls are horrendous. Now I know being neat and tidy is of the upmost importance, but this action seems excessive.
Furthermore, chasing mice and other rodents? This is vile, darling. Southern ladies don’t act this way. You should show grace and tact. At the very least wait until the thing follows nature’s course and then retrieve it, but this batting it around with your paws for hours just for amusement is sadistic behavior.