The Ghost Who Stayed Home

by Anna J. McIntyre

  It wasn’t until the next day that they were able to leave the hospital. Danielle was anxious to return to Oregon, but she couldn’t leave Chris; the doctors didn’t feel it was safe to move him quite yet. To help her friends get home quickly, she hired a plane to take them back to Oregon—yet first she asked the FBI agents to check out the pilot. Her friends were all a little gun-shy when it came to chartered planes.

  “I wish you were coming home with us,” Lily told Danielle as she gave her a hug goodbye. The two friends were alone together in the hallway outside Chris’s hospital room.

  “I can’t leave Chris. As soon as I can arrange the transportation and the doctors say it’s safe to move him, I’ll come home. We need to get him in a hospital near us. According to Walt, his spirit is back in Frederickport, and if we get him with his body again, maybe it’ll work like it did for you.”

  “Dani, are the doctors going to listen to you? I mean, you’re not his wife or anything.”

  Danielle smiled. “Remember when I donated that money to Chris’s foundation, and I was revising my will?”

  “I know you gave me the power of attorney and then named Chris after me, but that doesn’t work in reverse.”

  “I never mentioned it to you, but Chris also gave me his power of attorney. He’s like me, he doesn’t have any family.”

  Lily reached out and squeezed Danielle’s hand. “It really doesn’t surprise me. I’m glad he has you to watch over him.”

  “I called his attorney this morning. He’s helping me make some of the arrangements, and he faxed the hospital the necessary papers.”

  “It’s funny the kidnappers didn’t seem to take anything out of our purses—aside from our money.”

  “It would have been nice had they left our cellphones,” Danielle grumbled.

  “Oh…that’s right! What are you going to do about a cellphone? How will I call you?”

  “I’ll run over to K-Mart after you leave and pick up a few things, including a throwaway phone. I’ll call you on the landline at Marlow House.”

  “What are you going to use for money? I thought you cancelled your credit cards this morning when I did mine.”

  “Yes, although I was tempted not to when I found out they hadn’t used them. But like the chief reminded us, they still had our numbers and could sell them online.”

  “So what are you going to use for money?”

  “They didn’t touch my checkbook, and there’s a couple of banks within walking distance of the hospital.”

  “You think they’ll cash an out-of-state check?”

  Danielle shrugged. “I’ll ask to speak to the manager and work out something. And then I’ll go to K-Mart and pick up a phone and some other things I’ll need.”

  “Who knows, maybe our cellphones are still on the plane with our suitcases,” Lily said.

  Down the hallway, past the nurses’ station, the elevator opened and out stepped Edward, Joe, Ian, Kelly, and Carol Ann. The weary travelers made their way towards Chris’s room.

  “Our ride’s here,” Ian said as he approached Lily and Danielle. “I wish you were coming with us.”

  “I do too, Ian. But I need to stay.”

  “I understand,” Ian said as he wrapped his arms around Danielle and pulled her close. After kissing her forehead, he whispered words of encouragement in one ear. Just as the embrace ended, the rest of her friends moved in to give her a final goodbye hug, even Joe. No longer able to hold back the tears, Danielle let them slide down her face unfettered.

  THIRTY-ONE

  “I’m so sorry about this,” Kelly told Joe as she snapped on her seatbelt. She sat next to him in the private plane. In the seats behind them were Lily and Ian, and behind them, Carol Ann and Edward. Turning in his seat to face Kelly, Joe reached out and cupped her face in his hand. Their eyes met—hers watered from unshed tears.

  “Sorry about what?” he asked in a whisper.

  She looked into his dark brown eyes—so caring. That was one thing she adored about Joe—aside from the fact she found him utterly sexy with his dark good looks. “You wouldn’t have spent the last week in hell if I hadn’t talked you into this trip. I know you really didn’t want to go.”

  Joe leaned to Kelly and brushed his lips over hers. He smiled softly. “Kelly, don’t be silly. None of this was your fault. And while I might have been a little hesitant at first, I was looking forward to going.”

  The pilot interrupted their conversation and reminded the passengers to buckle up.

  After checking his seatbelt one last time, Joe reached over and took Kelly’s hand in his. He held it tightly and leaned back in the seat as the plane taxied down the airstrip.

  “I have to admit I’m a little nervous,” Kelly whispered.

  “You mean because we have to fly?” Joe gave her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

  “Yes.” Kelly leaned toward Joe and rested her head on his shoulder. “I really thought we might all be killed. I wonder why the kidnappers just left us.”

  “Considering they didn’t leave anything behind—other than us—my guess, someone or something tipped them off. They knew the police were on the way. Hopefully, they left behind some fingerprints—or something. Difficult to spend that much time living in such a small space and not leave some DNA behind.”

  “You know what’s funny, Joe?”

  He let out a snort. “Not a damn thing.”

  “Oh, I don’t mean funny ha-ha.”

  Joe briefly squeezed her hand again. “I’m sorry. Go on.”

  “This is the most we’ve talked since we took off last Monday. Well, aside from at the hospital. I guess we talked a lot then.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  “It was a very peculiar—isolation,” Kelly told him. “We were all in the same building—but other than the chief’s twice-a-day roll call, we never were able to talk. I envied Danielle and Lily having each other.”

  “I felt pretty damn helpless,” Joe grumbled.

  “I heard my brother and the chief say the same thing. Ian is my big brother, and he has always felt that he needs to take care of me. And considering your profession, as well as the chief, I can see how it’d be especially frustrating for you.”

  “The one thing I kept holding onto was the fact we hadn’t seen their faces.”

  “We saw the pilot’s,” Kelly reminded him.

  “True. But after I thought about it for a while—and we had lots of time to think—my guess, it was a fake beard and hair color. I imagine if we ran into the guy now, he would be clean shaven with shorter hair and a different color. I doubt we’d recognize him.”

  “I would recognize his voice,” Kelly insisted.

  THE PLANE WAS up in the air and had already crossed into Nevada airspace.

  Lily, who sat directly behind Kelly, tilted her seat back and purred, “I never thought I’d say this, but this seat is sooooooo comfortable.”

  Ian chuckled. “I have to agree. Compared to where we’ve been sitting—sleeping this past week, it’s damn comfortable.”

  “My butt is bruised.”

  “Really? Can I see?” Ian teased.

  Lily laughed and swatted his arm. “Maybe. But first I’m going to eat a steak dinner when we get home.”

  “I’ll buy it for you.”

  “And a baked potato. With butter, sour cream, and chives. Oh…and that yummy bread they serve at Pearl Cove. Maybe I’ll get lobster with it…”

  Ian laughed.

  “Oh, and that volcano chocolate cake they make!”

  Ian leaned over and kissed Lily’s nose. “It sounds delicious. And I’ll be happy to see you get it.” He then settled back in his seat and stared ahead.

  “You’re too good to me, Ian,” Lily playfully quipped.

  “Yeah, I take you on amazing vacations,” he said with a snort.

  “I think this was our first real vacation, and it sorta sucked.”

  “Yeah, sorta,” he said dryly.

  “T
he only thing that’s marring our homecoming…”

  “Chris?” Ian asked in a whisper.

  “Yes. I wish he and Dani were on the plane with us.”

  “On the bright side, so far the tests that’ve come back on him look good. I’m just glad he’s in a hospital with real doctors.”

  “Carol Ann tried to do her best,” Lily whispered, glancing behind her to see if Carol Ann had overheard what Ian had just said.

  “I understand that. But even she would agree with me.”

  “I suppose you’re right. She seemed pretty happy to get Chris in the hospital.” Lily let out a sigh.

  “She has been by his side all week. Not surprising she feels protective of him, especially considering her profession.”

  “Ian…do you think Chris is still in danger? Aside from his obvious medical issue.”

  “Why do you ask that?”

  “They haven’t caught the kidnappers. When he gets out of the hospital, do you think they’ll try it again, to get the money out of him?”

  “I’m still trying to figure out how they thought they’d transfer that kind of money. And if it was a transfer, I have to assume they intended to use a computer to make it.”

  “According to the chief, there was no electricity hooked up to the place where they kept us. Just a few solar panels that helped run some of the lights in the trailer. Of course, a laptop doesn’t need electricity if it has a charged battery.”

  “It needs Internet,” Ian reminded her.

  Reaching to her waist, Lily unhooked her seatbelt and then turned in the seat, sitting up on her knees so she could look over the seat at the chief.

  “Hey, Lily,” MacDonald greeted her when he looked up and noticed Lily peering over at him.

  “Did those FBI guys or cops mention anything about that place having Internet?”

  “When I talked to them, they said all the power was turned off; so I assume that included Internet.” He glanced at Carol Ann. “Do you know if they had Internet service in the trailer?”

  Carol Ann frowned. “I never saw anyone using a computer.”

  “We have to assume they intended to use the Internet in some way to transfer that money of Chris’s,” Lily explained.

  Carol Ann shrugged. “I don’t know. They pretty much kept me in the room with Chris with the door locked. I don’t really know what they had in the trailer.”

  Lily flashed Carol Ann a smile and then sat back down in her seat. She looked over at Ian. “I don’t think they had Internet there, which leads me to believe they must have been using another location in Havasu.”

  THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN under way for over an hour. Next to the chief sat Carol Ann, who silently stared absently into space. He reached over and gently touched her knee. Unprepared for the physical gesture, she lurched in surprise.

  “I’m sorry,” Edward quickly apologized, his hand still on her knee.

  Carol Ann smiled sadly at him and patted his hand. With a weary sigh she said, “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be this jumpy.”

  “You’re just tired; we all are. This has been…well…traumatic seems too tame. But I worry about you. Are you sure you’re okay…nothing happened? Because if anything did, you need to know I’m here for you.”

  Placing her hand over his, Carol Ann looked into Edward’s eyes and smiled. “No. Nothing happened, at least, nothing like that. Like I told Lily, I really never saw much of the kidnappers. I spent my time locked in the bedroom with Chris. They were actually very polite. I don’t believe they ever intended to hurt us.”

  “Carol Ann, they did hurt one of us.”

  “Yes…yes, I know. But I heard them arguing about that. They were very upset Chris got hurt.”

  “Sure they were upset,” Ed scoffed. “With Chris unconscious, he couldn’t give them what they wanted. But I don’t believe for a minute if a bullet in Chris’s—or any of our heads would have gotten them what they wanted, we would all be dead now.”

  Carol Ann shook her head. “No. I mean, they were wrong. And yes…criminal. But I don’t believe they were killers. Look, they let us go, didn’t they?”

  “Carol Ann, one thing I love about you, you always try to see the good in people.”

  Her eyes widened. “Did you just say you love me?”

  He smiled. “Umm…yes. I guess I did.”

  Smiling, Carol Ann leaned to him, placing a kiss on his cheek. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  He returned her smile and said, “The feeling’s mutual.”

  They each leaned back in their seats and looked toward the window. Clouds obscured the view below.

  “You think your brother’s going to meet us at the airport?” Ed asked.

  “No. I told him not to bother coming down. There’s really no reason to.”

  Ed turned to Carol Ann. “I’d think you’d want support from your family, considering all you’ve been through.”

  “No. It really isn’t necessary. All I want to do is get home.”

  “Considering how close you two are, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is waiting at the airport.”

  Carol reached over and patted his hand. She then took it in hers and held it. “I bet you’re excited to see your boys.”

  “You have no idea. I was hoping they didn’t know what was going on, but I guess our being missing was the talk in Frederickport, and there was really no way to keep it from the boys.” Ed let out a weary sigh and looked blankly at the seat ahead of him.

  “Oh no…you didn’t tell me that.” Carol turned in her seat and studied Ed’s face. He continued to stare forward.

  “There was so much going on when we got to the hospital. With all the questions and then everyone calling their families, and getting this plane arranged. I just didn’t want to mention it before. I figured we all had enough on our plate.”

  “Oh, Ed, I feel horrible that the boys thought something had happened to their father. I absolutely hate that.”

  “That’s why I didn’t say anything before. I remember when you told me how difficult it was for you when your dad died, because you’d already lost your mother.”

  “And I wasn’t even as young as your poor boys. They must have been terrified.”

  “At least now they know I’m alright and coming home. So I guess that’s the important thing.”

  THIRTY-TWO

  From the entry hall came a repetitive thumping sound, as if something was being dragged down the staircase. Getting up from the sofa in the living room, where she waited with her husband and eldest nephew, Sissy walked to the foot of the staircase and looked up. It was Evan, wearing his pajamas, and in one hand was his suitcase.

  “What are you doing?” Sissy asked.

  “I’m bringing my suitcase downstairs.”

  “Evan, we need to pack first. Take it back upstairs.” Sissy pointed up to the second floor.

  Ignoring his aunt’s instructions, Evan continued down the stairs. “I already packed.”

  “What do you mean you already packed?”

  “I packed too. Should I go bring my suitcase downstairs?” Eddy asked. Like his brother, he was wearing his pajamas. He now stood next to his aunt, looking up to his little brother.

  “Why would you boys do that? You’re going to have to get your clothes out of the suitcase in the morning, and now they’ll be all wrinkled.”

  “We have to unpack when we get home anyway,” Evan said when he reached the first floor.

  “You boys aren’t going home tonight.” Sissy reached down to take the suitcase from Evan.

  “Yes, we are. You said Dad was going to be here pretty soon,” Evan protested.

  Setting the suitcase back down on the floor, she looked from Evan to Eddy. “Boys, there is no reason for you to go home tonight. You’re already in your pajamas. I imagine your father is exhausted and just wants to get home and get some rest.”

  Eddy shook his head. “No, Dad said he was really excited to see us.”

  “Of course he is.” Sis
sy reached out and ruffled Eddy’s hair, to which he wrinkled his nose in a frown and took a step back away from her.

  “I imagine your brother will want to take the boys with him,” Bruce said from the archway separating the living room from the entry hall.

  “Bruce, really, can’t you be on my side for once?”

  “I didn’t know this was a matter of taking sides.” He stepped into the entry. “But come on, Sissy, think about it. The boys have been worried sick about Ed; you really can’t blame them for just wanting to go home.”

  “I-I-I suppose not,” Sissy stammered.

  Bruce reached out and took the suitcase from his wife. He looked at Eddy and said, “Go ahead and get your suitcase. But when you’re upstairs, take another look around, and make sure you didn’t forget anything. You too, Evan.”

  “Okay!” Eddy raced up the stairs. Evan followed him.

  “Bruce, really…” Sissy let out a sigh and turned from the stairs, making her way back to the living room.

  Bruce set Evan’s suitcase near the front door and then joined his wife. “Come on, Sissy, you know I’m right.”

  “I know you are. And I’m so relieved my brother’s okay. But I’m going to miss the boys, and I really did think Ed might enjoy a night of peace. He’s been through so much.”

  “Does this mean you aren’t going to be telling him what’s gone on this week?”

  “I have to tell him. But I hate doing it right when he gets home.”

  Bruce shrugged. “So don’t.”

  “I’m sure Brian will tell him if I don’t. And if he does, then my brother will probably be mad at me for not saying anything.”

  “True. I’m sure Brian will tell him about Evan breaking into Marlow House. So he’s going to find out one way or another.”

  “Evan needs to apologize to Danielle Boatman,” Sissy insisted. “So I suppose I should be the one to tell Ed.”

  “Is that necessary? I mean really, the poor kid was scared to death about his dad.”