by Alexie Aaron
Kiki nodded. “I’ll give it some thought,” she promised.
Cid finished cleaning up and ran the water in both sinks to make sure there were no leaks before he left her cabin.
Kiki looked around and turned out the lights. She put the three found rings in her toolbox and locked it. She kept glancing at the laptop and the phone. She had a lot of thinking to do. How did she feel? She wasn’t angry. Did she need a shrink? Should she talk to whomever was attached to Cid’s friend and ask advice? There were too many questions for her tired brain. She set her phone alarm and got into bed. The last thought she had before falling asleep was, “Goodnight, Jake.”
Chapter Twelve
“Thought you had the day off?” Jesse greeted Cid as he slid in beside him at the diner.
Cid waved at Shirley who brought him a cup of coffee. “Bacon, crispy, and keep them coming,” Cid said.
“No, your mother would slap me silly. I’m bringing you a healthy breakfast and bacon,” Shirley said and turned on her heel and left.
“Well, she told you,” Jesse said.
“She won’t even butter my toast,” Walrus commented. “She brings out the toast and makes me butter it myself.”
“That’s what you get for only tipping fifteen percent,” Gut said next to him.
“How did you manage a day off?” Walrus asked.
“I took on an extra job,” was all Cid would say. “I’m going to save it. I have trim board to cut now.”
“Just don’t try for the 4th of July. Kiki is a bitch about giving that day off,” Walrus informed him.
“Duly warned,” Cid said and sipped his coffee.
Shirley came back with a three-egg omelet, bacon, and a quarter of melon, instructing, “Eat that first.”
“Yes, Shirley,” Cid said.
“I think she likes you,” Gut said.
“Do you think she dates contractors?” Cid asked loudly.
“No contractors, truckers or salesmen,” Shirley said. “But thanks for the offer.”
Gary and Pete paid for their meal and stopped at Cid’s table before they left for the job site.
“Cid, would you mind giving me a consult?”
“No problem. I’ll look you up when I get to the house.”
“Thanks,” Gary said and walked off.
“I wonder what that’s about?” Cid asked the men at the table.
“I kind of ratted you out,” Walrus confessed. Gary’s got a paranormal problem. “He’s got a superstitious group to manage. They won’t go into the east sitting room.”
Cid remembered Kiki’s hanging man and nodded. “It has a bad feeling to it. Maybe Feliks could handle the repairs?”
“He’s way too expensive. Kiki saves him for the delicate work,” Walrus said.
“He is absolutely an artist. Did you see what he did with the plasterwork around the main hall chandelier?” Jesse asked.
Cid nodded, his mouth too full to comment.
“I heard that his next job is in Rome,” Gut said. “Feliks is going to bring his mother to meet the Pope.”
“His mother? He’s got to be pushing seventy,” Jesse said, amazed.
“She’s alive and kicking. She survived two wars. Hid her Jewish neighbors at the family mill. They wanted to give the old gal a medal, but she waved them off. Feliks said she told them that she only did it because good Bridge players were too hard to find,” Gut said.
“What a lady,” Cid said, and the table agreed.
~
Kiki walked into her office, dropped her messenger bag, and walked out again. She followed her nose to the kitchen where some kind soul was brewing coffee. She waited her turn in line, mug in hand, trying to figure out what had happened to her very adequate single life. She only dated when she wasn’t working, and most of the dates rarely led into a relationship. This was primarily because Kiki didn’t want to deal with all the crap that went on with long distance relationships: who visited who more, the misplaced jealousies, and a multitude of other problems. So she picked professionals who weren’t interested in more than someone to eat and pass the non-work hours with. Sex wasn’t great, but you really can’t expect great sex when you don’t take the time to get to know the other person.
Then along comes Jake. He’s happy to watch a movie, have conversations, and be friends with her. “But he’s dead,” Kiki mumbled.
The plumber in front of her turned around. “Were you talking to me, Boss?”
“Oh, no. I’m just trying to figure out a book I’m reading. How anyone can carry on with a dead person is beyond me.”
“Are you reading about necrophilia?”
Kiki’s eyes shot open. “No! I was reading a paranormal romance and the heroine fell in love with a ghost.”
“Oh, my wife reads those. Vampires can turn or kill you. Werewolves, well, I won’t go into that kind of thing with a lady, but ghosts… You can’t get knocked up, sister.”
Kiki started laughing.
The plumber poured his coffee and filled her mug up. “My wife says that it takes a special person to see beyond the dead thing. After all, eventually, we all die. That movie The Ghost and Mrs. Muir… Go watch that movie, and maybe it will give you another perspective.”
“I will. Thanks for the advice.”
“No problem. Hey, you know this house is haunted don’t you?” he said quietly.
“I heard.”
“Stay away from the stairway. I got shoved hard. If I weren’t three hundred pounds, I coulda been haunting my missus by now.”
“So it’s gotten that bad?”
“Not as bad as I’ve seen, but you may want to call in a priest. It may calm the plasterers down. I hear they’re planning on walking out if forced to work in the east sitting room.”
“We can’t have that. Thanks for the info. Say hello to your wife for me, and tell her she’s got a smart husband.”
“She’d never believe it,” the plumber said. “But thanks just the same.”
Kiki carried her coffee to the hall, stopped, and stared up the stairs. She wanted desperately to see the monster that would dare try to hurt her crew. She sipped her coffee and glared.
He saw her standing there. Her eyes seemed to lock with his. They were full of censure, and for a moment, he felt a chill that he hadn’t felt since he lived. The woman was of mixed heritage. He had seen her kind in the cities out west. Unlike her forefathers, she did not walk with eyes cast down. She carried herself well and seemed to be in charge. He felt, if he could get rid of her, then the noise would stop. If not forever, maybe long enough for him to remember what peace felt like. It had been so long.
Kiki turned around and entered her office. She gathered up the invoices, sat down, and opened her laptop. It connected instantly to the internet which pleasantly surprised her. Hal’s cell tower wasn’t yet completed. She knew that they were testing out the satellite feed, so she should expect some interruptions. But still, her laptop had connected. The little envelope was open. She clicked on it and saw it was from Jake.
Did you know?
I don’t need flesh and blood to feel,
I can’t run, I can’t jump, but I can fly.
I’m sorry that I crossed a line, but it was with concern.
Can’t we consider this a hard lesson learned?
Jake
Kiki smiled. She set her fingers down on the keys and typed.
We aren’t in a race,
give me some space,
but in any case,
you’re a rock n roll bass.
She pressed send. An immediate response popped up.
Take all the time you need,
I see you’re on a satellite feed.
Confession time, I’ve never had a girl,
Let alone a woman.
To me you are scary and all this is a bit hairy.
But whether we begin or this is the end,
I will always consider you my friend.
Kiki sat back. She needed to talk to Cid, but she ha
d given him the day off. She picked up her cell and found his number.
“Cid Garrett.”
“Clark, do you have time to talk?”
“I’m in the east wing up to my elbows in sawdust. Can it wait?”
“Would it be odd if I called Mia? I really need a woman’s perspective.”
“I think she’d be pleased. There are far too many men around her. I think she would welcome the chance to speak with you.”
“Good. Why are you working?”
“I thought I would save the day off for when I’m waiting for the plasterers to finish a room.”
“Smart man.”
“I’m going to text you Mia’s personal cell number. I’ll let her know you’ll be calling her.”
“Thanks, Clark,” Kiki said and ended the call. She got up and decided to take this call outside. She pulled on her new boots and grabbed her rain jacket. The sky was cloudy and there was rain forecast, so she wouldn’t go far, just out of earshot.
The air felt heavy so Kiki opted to walk to the site of the servant cabins. There were a few walls still standing which would give adequate cover overhead if a light rain should start.
She punched in the numbers Cid texted and waited.
“Mia’s home for wayward boys.”
Kiki laughed. “You should try managing a construction site full of wayward boys.”
“Whoa, not up to that challenge. Cid said you wanted to talk?”
“I like your directness.”
“Most don’t,” Mia confessed.
“I want to ask you something, and feel free to tell me it’s none of my business. First, let me tell you about what’s been happening with me and Jake.”
“I’m intrigued and listening.”
Kiki told her everything. She poured out her heart and her feelings on being watched.
“My husband, Ted, has been eavesdropping on me since he’s met me. It can be a pain, but it has saved my butt more times than I can count. Also, Murphy tends to show up and listen in too.”
“It’s about Murphy I want to talk.”
“Okay, as long as our conversation goes no further.”
“You have my promise. I just assumed that you would be mum about my side of the conversation too.”
“You would be correct.”
“You see, I really like Jake. I mean really like him.”
“He’s a good guy.”
“But he’s dead, like Murphy.”
“Actually, there is a difference. Murphy can take on a sort of physicality. Jake is happy existing in the computer and the internet, so far. It’s who he is. I doubt that he would leave his hidey-hole unless we were in need. I’ve seen him take over Curly, our investigating robot, but that’s not exactly existing outside the confines of the computer.”
“Cid mentioned that Murphy has feelings…”
“Yes. For a while, he was in love with me. I think he loves me still, but he understands that I’m committed to Ted. It’s a delicate balance, but we’ve been able to all live together. Murphy came first, so Ted knew this coming in.”
“Have you had a sexual relationship with Murphy?”
“Not beyond a kiss, and whoa, was that some kiss,” Mia said and started laughing. “I was in a relationship with Burt Hicks at the time, and I felt so skeevy. But I did enjoy that kiss.”
“Why didn’t you choose Murphy as your lover?”
“Because I didn’t want to damn us. You see, ghosts aren’t supposed to make love to the living. Most can’t. No matter how much I love him, I wouldn’t want to do anything to take him away from his trees,” Mia said softly. “In order to keep myself in order, I think of him as dead. I don’t do the dead.”
“I admit that I wasn’t at all bothered by Jake spying on me once I found out he was a ghost.”
“That’s very grown up of you.”
“I have to be grown up all day, but when Jake and I were watching movies together, I was a kid again. Honestly, I need this. Am I using him?”
“I think if you express that you need human contact too, but you do enjoy his friendship, he’ll understand that. I could talk to him if you want?”
“That’s tempting, but I’m a big girl. I’ll talk to him.”
“If you do need me, call. How’s our Cid doing?”
“He’s a great contractor. He gets along with everyone.”
“Saint Cid.”
“I can see why that moniker sticks,” Kiki admitted. “But there is more there under that fabulous body and quick mind.”
“Yes there is. I don’t think even Ted knows everything about Cid. He is very complex. You know about his hearing?”
“Yes. It has already saved my butt and sanity a number of times.”
“Just remember, if you’re within a hundred yards of him, you have no secrets.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“What are you going to do about Jake?”
“I think we both will set up some boundaries and see where it goes. I like having a friend who appreciates me.”
“There is nothing like it. Oops, I see my son Brian has taken a crayon and is heading for the living room. Time for me to save the walls.”
“Bye, Mia,” Kiki said and put her phone in her pocket.
Kiki looked around her as she thought about Jake. The ruins of the cabins were pretty much picked over. Kiki wondered if the servants had been happy here. She liked the idea of them being housed away from the main house. In the house, they would have been on call twenty-four/seven.
Faye had followed the woman out of the mansion. She needed to keep track of that broach. She sensed it was still in the desk, but she shadowed the dark-haired woman to make sure she wasn’t hiding it somewhere or, worse, chucking it back down the well.
The ruins of the cabins frightened Faye. She remembered these being boarded up when she first came to work on… work on… She almost had it! She came here to work. What work? Was she a maid? A caterer? A prostitute? Faye swung her hips from side to side as she walked and broke down in a fit of giggles. Imagine her a prostitute!
Kiki heard giggling. It was faint and in the wind. Had she unknowingly stumbled in on a lovers’ trysting place?
“Unless you’re on the payroll of this construction site, I suggest you leave as soon as possible!” Kiki shouted. “I will have you arrested.”
Faye stopped her flouncing around and walked quietly behind the woman. She didn’t want to get picked up on a vice charge. What would her mother think?
Chapter Thirteen
Cid sat listening to the concerns of the plasterers. They had made an excellent point. The workers would be very vulnerable on the ladders.
“The east sitting room is very tall. Two stories. A fall from that height would be fatal.”
“What if you were to circle the room with salt?” Cid asked.
“Salt, why salt?” the leader, Mansueto, asked.
“If it’s a ghost you are concerned about, most ghosts can’t cross a salt line, and if you toss a handful of salt into a ghost, most will experience a lot of pain and will leave,” Cid explained. “Another trick is a bit more difficult. It involves wearing a garment made with iron and silver. Ghosts don’t like to touch iron because they will lose their power.”
“Iron? I have never heard of such a thing,” Mansueto admitted.
“Once, I was on an investigation, and there were so many ghosts. We managed to swing a rusted rake and move them away from us. But that only should be used if you’re being attacked. Why upset a benign ghost?”
“You said most ghosts won’t cross an unbroken salt line. Are there ghosts that can?” Mansueto asked.
“They would have to be very powerful. My friend Ted has been ghost hunting for quite a few years, and in that time, he only ran into a few that were that powerful.”
“What happened?”
“Research was done, and they found out why the ghosts were acting up. Many times, they were able to help and actually move the gho
st on. A few times, the bones were found and burned. No one that I have worked with has died by ghost.”
Gary looked at his crew who were becoming calmer.
“Has this ghost ever shown itself to any of you?” Cid asked. He waited. “How do you know it’s there?”
“I can feel it in my gut,” Mansueto said.
“That comes in handy,” Cid said. “I sometimes can hear them.”
The plasterers perked up.
“You can hear them?” Mansueto asked.
“Usually it’s the ones that are just pictures of the past. We call this a residual haunt.”
“What are the mean ones? The ones that pinch and shove?” another worker asked.
“Active haunts. They may be trying to get your attention or are just being mean.”
“There is a mean one on the stairs. I hear he tried to push the mustachio man down.”
“I would hold the rail. Do you get the same feeling around the stairs-ghost as in the east sitting room?” Cid asked Mansueto directly.
“Yes. It’s the same. So you see why I no want my men in there?”
“Let me get my gear. Would you go with me to the room?” Cid asked. He could tell that Mansueto didn’t want to go but wouldn’t decline in front of his crew. He had to be the brave one.
“I go.”
Cid jogged over to the contractor’s room and picked up his bag. As he walked back, he looked inside to make sure he had everything he needed. He stopped and looked up the stairs. He put on the glasses he and Ted had designed and looked again. He could tell there was a distortion. Whatever it was, it wasn’t very strong, or it was hiding. He walked into the library where he was meeting with Gary’s crew and nodded to Mansueto. “I’m ready if you are.”
“Your glasses, they are funny.”
“It helps me to see ghosts. Here…” he said, handing Mansueto the pair.
The elder man put the glasses on. “The light is strange.”
“It’s the strange light that helps me to see smudges and sometimes full-bodied apparitions.”