All Dressed Up and No Place to Haunt

by Rose Pressey

“How sweet is that?” Alice said.

  “He is a doll,” Charlotte offered her opinion as she inched closer to Dylan. She’d been known to pinch him in the rear end—without his knowledge, of course, but to my great embarrassment.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked.

  Dylan closed the distance between us. He stopped in front of the counter and looked over my shoulder toward the covered Ouija board. Nothing ever got past him.

  “I swear he knows there’s something hidden under the shirts,” Charlotte said.

  Well, that wasn’t such a shock because I’d done a poor job of hiding the evidence. Dylan definitely acted suspicious.

  “I’m afraid I have bad news,” Dylan said. “I thought I’d tell you before you heard the rumor.”

  Charlotte laughed. “Yeah, right, he just wanted an excuse to see you.”

  If Charlotte wasn’t careful, she would make me blush.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  Dylan’s eyes saddened. “There were signs of trauma on Nicole’s body. Specifically, her neck.”

  Heather gasped. “What does that mean?”

  “Just as we thought, Cookie, it wasn’t an accident,” Alice said.

  A lump formed in my throat, and a pit of fear opened in my stomach. Who would have killed Nicole? Sorrow had fallen over the room.

  “Was it the boyfriend?” I asked.

  Dylan shook his head. “I can’t give any other information, but I wanted to thank you for sharing what you knew earlier.”

  I swallowed. “Of course.”

  Dylan stepped to the side as if he wanted to get a better look at what was behind me. I moved to my left to block his view.

  “If you’re sure you’re okay?” he asked again.

  “Yes, yes. I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay then, I’d better get back to the office. Call me if you think of anything else.”

  “You should think of something else even if you have to make it up.” Alice eyed Dylan.

  “I like the way you think,” Charlotte said.

  “It was nice seeing you again, Heather.” Dylan smiled and then turned away toward the door.

  I didn’t blame him for being suspicious.

  Chapter 6

  Charlotte’s Handy-Dandy Tips for Navigating the Afterlife

  Find batteries.

  As many batteries as you can find!

  Gather energy from batteries

  and other electronic devices.

  “I can’t believe someone was murdered in Sugar Creek again. What is happening around this town?” Heather said.

  Charlotte marched past us. “It’s been fun, ladies, but I have a prior engagement.”

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “Sorry, it’s a secret,” she said.

  Heather looked at the door in an attempt to see which ghost I’d been talking to.

  “Charlotte isn’t sticking around,” I said.

  “She’s leaving for good?” Heather asked with wide eyes.

  I picked the shirts up off the Ouija board and folded them. “No, she’ll be back. She wouldn’t say where she’s going though.”

  Alice was wandering around the store looking at all the clothing.

  “Too bad,” Heather said as she grabbed the Ouija board and tucked it under her arm.

  “I haven’t figured out where she goes,” I said, placing the shirts onto a display table.

  “Did you ask her?” Heather said.

  “Sure, but she just smiles and floats away.”

  Heather helped me straighten the shirts. “We still don’t know what the new ghost wants.”

  “Alice, it’s Alice. And I told you I just want to help Cookie.”

  I placed a shirt down on the counter. “There’s more to it than just helping me, Alice.”

  Heather got the gist of the conversation. “Yes, there has to be more.”

  Alice strolled across the floor toward us. “If a ghost isn’t prepared for her death, then maybe there are some things left unsaid.” She studied my rack of sale items.

  “So you’re saying you have unfinished business?” I asked.

  “That’s usually why they hang around,” Heather said. “It says that in all the books I’ve read.”

  “There’s no book that can tell you what it’s really like,” Alice said without looking over at us.

  “What’s your unfinished business, Alice? Is it lost love?” I asked.

  Heather pointed. “I bet that’s it. It’s almost always lost love.”

  Alice put her arms around herself, a lonely hug. “I had someone who was special to me and I never told him how I felt.”

  “So it is lost love?” I asked.

  Heather jumped up. “I was right.”

  “This isn’t a contest to see who’s right,” Alice said.

  “Of course not,” I said, then repeated for Heather’s benefit, “It’s not a contest to see who is right.”

  Heather backed off. “No, not a contest.”

  “Just remember one thing, Cookie, never lose your true love,” she said, looking me in the eyes.

  I laughed. “I don’t have a true love to lose, Alice.”

  Heather snorted. “You got that right. The girl doesn’t even date. Her idea of a night off is going to the local café for takeout and then home to look at magazines and write on her blog.”

  I frowned. “It’s what I like to do.”

  “It would be a lot more fun if you had someone special to share it with.” Heather folded her arms in front of her chest. Her bracelets jingled with the movement.

  I busied myself sorting through the mail that I’d left on the counter.

  “So you’ll just have to help Alice find her true love,” Heather said with a wave of her hand. The bracelets rattled even louder this time.

  I shot Heather a glare.

  She shrugged. “Maybe then the ghost will be able to move on.”

  “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble,” Alice said with a bat of her eyelashes.

  Heather and Alice looked at me expectantly. It looked as if I was outnumbered.

  “No, no problem at all,” I said through gritted teeth.

  Alice clapped her hands together. “Okay, we can go find him now.”

  “Whoa, I can’t do that right now. I have to close up the shop and take the cat home. Plus, it’s been a long day.” I blew the hair out of my eyes.

  Alice looked disappointed. “Of course. Yes, I understand.”

  If she was trying to make me feel bad, it wasn’t going to work.

  “Of course, in return I am going to help you solve the murder,” she offered as an enticement.

  “Why are you going to help me? I am not involved in this investigation. I don’t have to solve the murder,” I said.

  Alice quirked an eyebrow. “You owe it to Nicole.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  Alice crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Okay, then I owe it to her because she was wearing my dress.”

  “That’s not a very good reason,” I said. “And I repeat, I don’t need to solve the murder. I’ve been there, done that, and don’t want to do it again.” I rubbed Wind Song’s head as she purred.

  Alice placed her hands on her hips. “I’m not leaving if you don’t.”

  I stared at her. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Dead serious.” She smiled. “Pun intended.”

  “What did she say?” Heather asked.

  “She said she wouldn’t leave until I solve the murder.”

  Heather shook her head. “Well, you heard her. I guess you’ll have to do it. You get a lot of stubborn ghosts.”

  “I’m not stubborn, just determined,” Alice said.

  “That means you’re stubborn,” I said.

  Why should I risk getting involved? I knew why. Because I couldn’t say no to someone in need. Alice looked at me like a lost puppy, and my heart said yes. Besides, I would want someone to do the same for me. But if we we
re going to solve the murder and find Alice’s lost love, then we would have to get to work right away—without Detective Dylan Valentine finding out. I was yet again sticking my nose where it didn’t belong. I hoped I didn’t get in trouble.

  “I’d better go. Call me later.” Heather headed toward the door. “Bye, new ghost,” she said as she walked out the door.

  “Oh, she’s just doing that on purpose.” Alice scowled.

  “Sometimes she forgets.” I tried to make an excuse for Heather.

  Alice grimaced. “Not this time.”

  As soon as I opened the carrier for Wind Song, she marched right in. This was the first cat I’d ever seen who willingly agreed to be in one of these things. Wind Song loved to travel though, and she knew this meant we were headed home. I grabbed my purse and the carrier.

  “Where are we going?” Alice asked.

  I placed the carrier on the floor and opened the front door. “I guess you’re coming home with me.”

  Alice floated out the door. Great. Charlotte still popped in and out of my house too. It was a good thing they didn’t need beds because I wouldn’t have the room. I locked up and then placed Wind Song in the backseat of my car. Alice was already waiting in the passenger seat for me.

  As I started the car and shifted into gear, Alice said, “I’m looking forward to solving this murder. We should talk with that boyfriend, Preston, first.”

  “I’m not sure how we will do that,” I said.

  Alice watched out the window at the green trees and historic houses as we passed by. “Oh, you’ll figure out a way.”

  Within a few minutes, we arrived at my house. It was on the outskirts of town, but my backyard overlooked a new shopping-center parking lot. I had a small two-story white frame house. It had window boxes with red flowers and a couple trees in the front yard. Alice was waiting for me by the front door as I got Wind Song out from the backseat. I shoved my keys into the lock.

  “That’s a cute keychain,” Alice said.

  It had a pink flamingo on it. Very fifties kitschy. “Thanks.”

  I set my purse on the small table next to the front door and then let Wind Song out of her carrier. She raced across the floor and jumped up onto the sofa to take her spot on the back. She loved to stare at the birds from the front window.

  “This is my place,” I said with a wave of my hand.

  Alice touched the upholstered chair and then moved over to the fireplace. “It’s cozy.”

  “Maybe it’s small, but it’s plenty for just me.”

  My decor consisted of a lot of vintage items with a distinct fifties flair—no surprise there. A silver sunburst clock adorned the far living room wall. My cream-colored sofa was new, but I certainly had a large collection of vintage furnishings. A kitschy plaster peacock wall hanging was displayed opposite the sofa.

  Alice followed me into the kitchen.

  After the long day, I was starving. I decided to make tomato salad and lemon-baked salmon for dinner. Of course I had to bake cornbread too. That was part of my family tradition.

  As I prepared my dinner, Alice sat at the kitchen table. “By the sound of the argument, I’d say that Preston was cheating on Nicole and she found out about it.”

  I sat down across from her with my plate. I took a bite of my food and swallowed. Then I said, “That’s not much of a reason to kill her though.”

  Alice tapped her fingers on the table. “Some people don’t need a lot of reason. Maybe there was more to the argument than we heard.”

  “That might be true, but I doubt there’s a way for us to find out.”

  After finishing my meal, I rinsed off the dishes and placed them in the dishwasher.

  “I have to do some work,” I said as I walked into the living room. “You’ll have to make yourself at home.”

  I pulled out my laptop and settled onto the chair by the fireplace to do a little writing on my blog. I usually posted several times a week. At Charlotte’s urging, sometimes I included photos of the items I found or sightings of celebrities wearing vintage items. Charlotte had been sharing her marketing advice with me, and her tips were paying off with increased traffic to my site.

  Alice paced back and forth across the living room floor as I tried to concentrate.

  I looked up from the screen at her. “That’s not exactly occupying yourself.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know what to do. Can’t you keep me company?”

  Releasing a sigh, I closed the laptop and pushed to my feet. It looked as if I wasn’t going to get any work done. I was tired anyway.

  I glanced at the sunburst clock on the wall. “It’s getting late. I should go to bed.”

  I faked a yawn. I wasn’t sure what Alice would do while I was sleeping, but I had to catch a few winks.

  Once I entered my bedroom, Alice sat on the stool at my makeup counter. My room wasn’t a refuge anymore since Alice and Charlotte had entered my life. I had found a delicate antique floral embroidered quilt to cover the bed, and romantic vintage lace curtains hung on the windows. I had an antique crystal vase on the nightstand that I kept filled with flowers. I’d bought them for myself. I grabbed pajamas from the drawer. It was pointless to ask Alice to leave the room while I changed, so I went into the bathroom. I needed my privacy.

  “Of course we can talk to everyone on the set too,” Alice said through the closed door.

  “Alice, you do know it’s time for sleep, right?” I opened the door and pointed my toothbrush at her.

  She waved her hand. “Sure, sure, don’t mind me, I’m just thinking out loud.”

  Yeah, I hoped she stopped soon. After turning off the bathroom light, I slipped into bed. Alice was still sitting on the stool. I felt her eyes on me.

  “Of course I don’t know if we’ll be able to talk with that crazy woman Vera Lemon. I may have upset her just a teensy bit when I slapped the hat off her head.”

  I tried not to laugh, but a little snort slipped out. I didn’t want to encourage Alice, but she talked and talked. At around midnight I dozed off while she was discussing recipes. She probably continued the entire time I was sleeping. As long as she was hanging around I would have to buy earplugs.

  Chapter 7

  Cookie’s Savvy Vintage Fashion Shopping Tips

  Finding quality vintage garments

  doesn’t have to be difficult.

  Things to check for: hand-sewn,

  handset zippers or bound buttonholes.

  These are just a few of the signs

  of a well-made item.

  When the sun flooded my bedroom, I forced myself out of bed. I’d had nothing to drink the night before, but with Alice’s nonstop yammering, I felt like I had a hangover. Once in front of my closet, I had to pick out my outfit for the day.

  “You should wear the blue dress,” Alice said from over my shoulder.

  “I think I want to wear the yellow dress today.” I pulled the hanger from the closet.

  “No, you should definitely wear the blue one. It is a blue dress kind of day.”

  I sighed, placed the yellow dress back in the closet, and then took the blue one from the rack. It wasn’t that I didn’t like the blue dress; it’s just that I wasn’t in the mood for it today. It had a cinched waist and white trim around the sweetheart neckline with a full swing skirt. I paired it with straw wedge heels and a matching purse. Looking in my full-length mirror, I decided the outfit worked okay.

  “Don’t forget the lipstick,” Charlotte said from across the room.

  I jumped and my purse fell to the ground.

  “True. You never know who you might see,” Alice said.

  “Will you please stop doing that?” I said. “You nearly scared me to death.”

  “That’s highly unlikely,” Charlotte said.

  Alice laughed. I felt a headache coming on. I picked up my purse from the floor. “Come on, ladies, I have to get to work.”

  “I call shotgun because I get car sick in the backseat,” Charlott
e said.

  “That isn’t possible,” Alice said from over my shoulder. “See, this is exactly why I didn’t want to be second ghost.”

  “It’s like I told you, dear, you’re already second. There’s nothing you can do to change that now.” Charlotte marched out ahead of us.

  Alice sat in the backseat, next to Wind Song in her carrier, with her hands folded on her lap. If looks could zap Charlotte into the next dimension, she’d be out of here. On the ride to town Alice came around to talking with Charlotte though. Charlotte had a way about her that charmed everyone.

  “Charlotte,” Alice said, “You have to help me. I want Cookie to figure out who killed Nicole Silver.”

  “Oh, was her death a murder?” Charlotte asked.

  “Definitely,” Alice said.

  “Cookie is good at talking with people. She’ll say she doesn’t want to do it, but if you push her she will. She just needs a little nudge, that’s all,” Charlotte said with a wink.

  “I am so glad that you have me all figured out,” I said.

  Charlotte tapped her fingers against the leather seat. “It’s the truth.”

  I pulled up in front of the shop, shoved the car into park, and got Wind Song from the backseat. Alice and Charlotte were still discussing the best ways for me to investigate the crime. I didn’t wait for them as I headed inside. Right before I opened the door, I spotted Preston Hart walking down the sidewalk.

  “There he is,” Alice yelled from over my shoulder.

  I had hoped she wouldn’t see him.

  “You have to go talk with him,” she demanded.

  “Put the cat inside and go talk to him before he gets away.” Charlotte motioned with her hand.

  It was two against one, and there was no way they’d stop harassing me if I didn’t talk with the man. I was surprised that the film star was out walking around in Sugar Creek. Wasn’t he worried about being recognized? A big, muscular man walked beside him. With his towering height and thick mane of dark hair flowing all the way to below his shoulders, he looked like Bigfoot.

  Preston looked even more handsome in person. His hair was perfect, his skin was perfect, and his features were perfect. I couldn’t spot a flaw anywhere. I guess that was why he was a celebrity. I got Wind Song out of her carrier, and she hopped up in the window as if she wanted to watch the scene unfold. Luckily for me, Preston was walking in the direction of my shop.