I Was Murdered Last Night (Olivia Brown Mysteries Book 1)

by A. J. Gallant

  Michael had been murdered more than a dozen years ago, not in the park but nearby. He opened his suit coat and showed her two holes where someone had shot him in the chest, able to make them manifest whenever he wanted. “The bastard demanded my wallet, and before I could get it out he shot me and then ran off with it. Son-of-a-bitch is here now. Imagine that. I'd like to give him a swift kick but I can't.” He shook his head. “I lasted a day and a half on life support before my body gave out, floating around the hospital room, observing the pain on the faces of my family. It was touch and go and then I went. Your wallet or your life–fucker took them both. I was more than happy to give him my damn wallet. I only had twenty-two dollars in it and a Visa card that was up to the limit. After talking to him here I have to admit that his life was awful, but that was no reason to take mine.”

  Perhaps it was silly, but she was surprised that a ghost could swear. Anita thought he was a handsome fellow, had a rugged look to him that she liked, and she sensed that he was a decent person. Not perfect but respectable. There were no perfect people, dead or alive. “Michael, why are we all still here?”

  The spirit shrugged. “I can't speak for all of us but guess I'm scared to go into the light. In life, I believed in nothing, and I was no saint. Imagine the shock when it all didn't just come to an end. I was disappointed.” He laughed. “A lot of people are disillusioned when they pass. Instead of forever nothingness, we end up like this. Not that I was a thug either, never killed anyone. I guess I'm scared that I'll end up in hell, burning for all eternity because if heaven is real why not hell? No one will answer any questions about hell so don't ask. I picture myself on fire, though how can you physically hurt a spirit? Perhaps it's mental torture.”

  I never thought about that. How can one burn in hell when a spirit is no longer physical?

  “When I first got here, I was soon disappointed that there are no answers, only opinions. I thought Jesus would show up one day and explain it all to me, but I'm still waiting. Instead of waiting for Godot I guess I'm waiting for Jesus. I believe I feel a pull towards him–Jesus, not Godot.” Michael smiled and nodded.

  Anita now saw the area of white light about five hundred feet from her.

  Robin Williams, the comedian, walked out of the light and smiled at them. He looked like he was waiting for someone and then went back inside.

  “Is that who I think it was?”

  Michael nodded. “I believe so.”

  Anita went to look at some nearby roses and Michael followed her; she bent over and could smell them but was incapable of touching. It felt as if she had walked over but perhaps she had floated.

  “Michael, what's time like now that we're dead?”

  “It's different. I'm not sure, but I don't think it exists. I've been dead over a dozen years, and it seems like ten minutes. No, not even ten minutes. You have to concentrate hard to feel time. I guess it's a good thing. Otherwise, we'd all be bored out of our minds. One fellow who was dead for two centuries thought he died last week.” He thought for a minute. “I think people pop up here because of the light, which only appears in some locations. I don't know. I'm just guessing.”

  A tall black man and his German Shepherd approached the light and, after hesitating for a second or two, he followed the beautiful dog into the glowing doorway, both killed as they had attempted to run across a busy street.

  An old man appeared on the ground, covered in blood, and immediately got up and walked into the light.

  And again Anita thought about her family and friends, remembering how she felt when her grandparents died. Only time could dull that pain, and for her family it had only begun.

  Chapter Two

  ANITA STOOD STARING AT THE TUNNEL of white light. There was a warmth to it, different than the summer's heat, more inviting and even comforting. It was the entrance to heaven and likely the gateway to her deceased relatives. In particular, she wanted to see her grandmother and grandfather, Fred and Elizabeth. How wonderful it would be to hug them and talk to them again, listening to her grandmother's voice. Both had died in a car accident when Anita was ten. She and her grandmother had been stuck together like glue, and every weekend Elizabeth always had something exciting planned for Anita, whether it was a trip to the zoo, a movie, or a flower garden. All she had to do was walk into the light, and she had no doubt Elizabeth would be there to greet her. Anita couldn't wait to see that happy face and those blue eyes. Would she be young again? That would be weird.

  What would it be like inside? Probably not angel wings and halos and fluffy white clouds, but likely the nicest place that she could ever imagine. No hurting, fighting, or misery of any kind. Only pleasant things, she believed. Whatever was inside would be the best place to be, she was sure of that. Anita admitted she was excited. A barn owl came from her left, flew over her shoulder and into the light, and vanished. Anita wondered how the bird died–natural causes, illness, or perhaps someone had killed it. It was pleasing to know there were animals in heaven. Otherwise, it wouldn't be heaven. Oh, that's right, her white cat Fluffy would be there! She had been such a loving cat.

  She felt a pull to the light but, unexpectedly, Anita also felt she should stay here. Pulled in two directions was not something she had felt before, at least not physically like this. She was getting feelings here that she'd never gotten when she was alive. A tougher decision than it should have been, after all, heaven awaited. If her family could only see her now, but only dead people have access to the afterlife. I see dead people. That made her smile, as she was one of them.

  Not your time.

  Had she imagined the voice in her head? Not her time for what? Certainly hadn't been her time to die. Again she thought a person should have a guide when one crossed over, not just be left to try to find one's way. So far this place wasn't well organized at all. A woman ran past her so fast she couldn't see her face and jumped into the tunnel, quickly vanishing inside, engulfed by the brightness, and leaving sparkles of light behind. No hesitation from whoever she had been and Anita was wondering what she was now experiencing. She envisioned a family reunion. And to be closer to God. What would it be like to be in His presence?

  Anita got closer to the light and felt the happiness from within, and then smelled flowers and honey? A field of flowers or maybe a beautiful garden. And then music. Andrea Bocelli was singing in there, but how could that be as he was still alive? Of course, someone was playing his music. Anxious and nervous but why? Perhaps it was the thought of impending judgment? No, that wasn't it. She felt a little like one of two magnets with similar poles placed in proximity, pushing each other away. Did Anita need to talk to someone or do something before entering? No, that was unlikely. Or was it?

  Time to take the leap as she needed to talk to her grandparents and get some comfort from them; they should be able to explain things to her. Anita stepped forward and took a deep breath, as least she attempted to, but suddenly discovered that the entrance, if one could call it that, was solid. So much so that she knocked on it. She backed up and ran and jumped. However, Anita bounced off the barrier and it kind of hurt. Not really, but the impact had been jarring. Denied access to heaven?

  Can't I get into heaven? But why? I'm not a bad person at all. Oh, no! No, no! Does that mean I'm going to hell? I won't go! I'll just stay here! That can't be what it means. Must be some other explanation. What if the devil comes and takes me to hell? Within this new existence, there was no way to know if she was overreacting or not. Whatever was happening, she didn't like it. She desperately needed answers.

  If Anita had a physical heart, it would be pounding. She turned and watched as they took her body away for further examination. The thought that it would now rot was upsetting. Such morbid thoughts. A comforting hand would be appreciated right about now, but there wasn't one. This afterlife left something to be desired, at least to this point. She just stared at the light.

  Detective Olivia Brown walked through Anita as she looked around, trying to get
a feel for what might have happened. Anita tingled slightly, like hair standing up on one's arms, although the detective didn't feel anything. It was difficult watching people talk and not being able to join in the conversation.

  Things appeared to fade as Anita walked out of the area with her profound thoughts, thinking of her family, questioning if weeks had already passed or if it was the day of her funeral. In this state, time was irrelevant. But they just removed her body so what was she thinking? The new reality began to take hold. It was the way of the world, perhaps even the universe for all she knew. Souls were eternal, like it or not. And not at all something that was easily grasped. Her present state might be the most natural, especially because of the short time spent on earth in comparison. Death might be more natural, like jumping from one stepping stone to another. If reincarnation was real, did she have a choice of where and when she would go back? Maybe she only returned if she wanted to go back? A myriad of questions and no one to ask, at least not yet.

  As Anita walked, things abruptly transformed. She found herself in a neighborhood that shouldn't be where it was as if positioned on top of Central Park. She had recently gone through this area and it hadn't been this. So what the heck was this? It should have been a different location in Central Park, but instead beautiful houses were surrounding a lake with the prettiest blue water. And palm trees! Palm trees could never survive New York's winters. A small speed boat was visible, and its engine heard past an empty plot of land with a water skier behind it. He appeared to wave at her and she awkwardly returned the greeting. After it had completed another circle the boat stopped at the dock, and both the driver and the skier walked toward her, but the older fellow turned and went into the house.

  “Hey there, I'm Shelden. Recently deceased, I see.” He ran up to her and stuck out his hand.

  Anita shook his hand and thought he was quite handsome–blond with blue eyes and a square chin, rugged looking. She wondered how he had died but perhaps it was impolite to ask. No need to be wary of anyone now that she was already dead. “I'm Anita. What is this place?”

  “You mean the neighborhood or the plane that we're on?”

  She shrugged. “Both I guess.”

  “Well, now that we're deceased we can create things in our minds, and they are just as solid as when you were alive, more or less. I guess we're in limbo here, but it's nice enough.”

  Why would I be in limbo? “How can you tell I died recently?”

  “You have that uncertain look about you. The trying to figure things out look. Newcomers always have that look. Some remain in shock for quite some time. Have you ever water skied?”

  “A couple times but I'm no professional.” He appeared to be looking her up and down and somehow it made her uncomfortable. A male and female thing back on Earth, but here? Human nature she supposed.

  “Would you like to try? You can't get hurt.”

  Anita shrugged. “I guess you can't be deader than dead.” The idea that her family was suffering her loss was not lost on her, but there was nothing she could do about it. She spent the next little while skiing and falling into the water, having fun until she'd had enough. Then they made their way to the porch and got comfortable on lawn chairs facing the lake. “So how did you die, may I ask?”

  “No, you may not.” Shelden smiled. “I'm just kidding. I died water skiing. A freak thing actually–my neck broke when I hit the water. And you?”

  “Oh, I ah, was murdered.”

  Shelden didn't seem to like that fact, as if something was wrong with what she said. Reading people here was hard. “You might not be here for too long then.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Shelden shrugged. “I wish I could help but some things you need to figure out for yourself. The unknown has great entertainment value here.” He looked annoyed and then caught himself. Apparently, she was the one appearing in his dreams. He was quite sure of it now.

  Anita was abruptly pulled away and found herself in the company of Detective Olivia Brown. It was midnight and Olivia was under the crescent moon, back at the scene of the crime, sitting on the bench looking pensive. She was going over what she knew about the case, which wasn't much. Murder in a public place could be difficult to solve, especially with no witnesses. Olivia occasionally got feelings about things, a nudge in one direction or another, but so far nothing. As if facing a brick wall with no way around it and too high to go over. Footsteps were approaching and she placed her hand on her gun, but it was only a young couple out for a stroll. They must not have heard about the murder. She asked them if they had heard or seen anything, but they hadn't. She got up and headed for home. Some cases bothered the detective more than others, and this was going to be one of them.

  Anita was now in the back seat of the Tesla Model S, and she gazed at the rather large built-in GPS, a luxury car that she would have liked to own. Just one of her boyfriend's dream cars. She wondered why she was traveling with the detective, pulled into her presence by an unseen force, but for what reason, she wasn't able to guess. Anita didn't seem to have free will as they made their way through the streets of New York. Maybe she would get to see the detective capture her killer?

  And now she was standing outside Detective Olivia's bedroom door. A time jump? Olivia was making out with a handsome thirty-year-old named Jack. They had finished, and as Olivia opened her eyes, she could see Anita standing in the doorway. She threw Jack on the floor, grabbed her gun from under the pillow and proceeded to search the loft but found no one. The doors remained locked and bolted from the inside. What the hell was going on? Had she fallen asleep in the middle of lovemaking? Wouldn't be the first time.

  “What the hell did you do that for?” said Jack.

  “You were done in any case.” She put on her clothes over her lean and muscular body, small but perky breasts, and headed for the kitchen. Olivia put on some Folgers coffee, trying to make sense of what she had seen. The face seemed familiar, but she couldn't place it. Olivia didn't believe in ghosts but if she didn't know better, she'd think she just saw a one. She must have dozed off.

  Jack sauntered into the kitchen in his Derek Rose, Brook Polka-Dot blue silk boxer shorts that cost him two hundred and fifty dollars. “What happened in there? Hey, do I get to stay over tonight?”

  Olivia shook her head. “Nope. I think it's time for you to go.”

  Jack looked disappointed. “I don't get to stay over again tonight?” He wanted to build on their relationship, but she wanted to keep him at a distance.

  He got dressed and left without saying another word. Olivia drank half a cup of coffee and went back to bed, thinking about the dead woman in the park. Tomorrow she would talk to the fiancé and then see if she could find a few more people who had come in contact with her before her death. After a half hour of tossing and turning she opened her eyes and saw the woman again, was tempted to go for her Glock 17, but didn't. Was she mouthing something?

  Can you hear me?

  Olivia was trying to read her lips but couldn't quite make it out. She sat up, turned on her lamp on the nightstand, but she had vanished. That asshole must have put something in my drink. Perhaps she should get a blood test and see if anything remained in her system? She turned off the light, turned around, and went back to sleep.

  Meanwhile, Anita was walking around the loft, looking confused.

  Chapter Three

  THE NIGHT BEFORE HER LAST DAY on Earth, Anita was in the dark ambiance of the Prohibition Bar. She had been sitting on a green stool talking to her girlfriend Felicia when she suddenly felt that the place had become too stuffy. She hadn't slept well the night before, and she got up and went out for some air as Felicia began talking to some guy who'd had a little too much to drink. Anita thought his breath smelled like he had a mouth full of rotten teeth, and could smell his rancid breath two stools over.

  Anita wasn't much of a drinker, even a couple of beers could make her feel overheated, and sometimes she babysat a single beer all nigh
t. She didn't like the feeling of not being in control; her father had warned her to use her faculties in all situations and to be aware of men who appeared overly friendly, especially strangers. A lot of them only want one thing and will do anything to get it, he used to say.

  Outside, Anita chewed some Trident gum and enjoyed the moderate wind. She wished her fiancé was with her, but a buyout had emerged and with it was an opportunity. The advancement would be life changing if the deal went forward. He was supposed to be here, but she imagined there would be other trips. Anita was going to cancel, but he had insisted. Jack always thought about her, and that was one thing she loved about him.

  It was July, but the night was a little on the cold side, though not too bad. New York was jumping as usual, always something exciting going on if one wanted to look for it. Lots of people on the prowl at any given hour. One guy walked by with a box on his head and she wondered what was up with that?

  New York was supersized compared to Orlando, especially the buildings, and it had a way of making one feel small. Before she left she would see a Broadway show, though she wasn't sure which one yet, likely a musical or comedy. And for everyone who made it big, she envisioned lots of struggling actors, some being taken advantage of, for sure. That was the way her mind sometimes worked, having to consider all the angles. She fantasized about the life, but no more than the average person. Fame came with its caveats of hangers-on, phony friends, and more money than one could spend.