Giving Up the Ghost

by Marilyn Levinson

  He finally noticed Gabbie had moved. "And where do you think you're going? I haven't forgotten all this is your fault. Adele and me would be leading the good life, if you hadn't stirred things up."

  He raised the gun and pointed it at her.

  WhenTodd moaned, Jack turned to look at him.

  Gabbie dashed into the darkened den. "Cam, come here, I need you! Right now!"

  A bullet whizzed past her ear.

  She dove to the floor beside the desk as Jack stumbled into the dimly lit room.

  "Cam, huh? Cam can't help you. Where's that damn light switch?"

  Gabbie bit her lip, afraid to make a sound. She heard a car on the road and thought she heard it stop.

  Jack must have thought so, too, because he went to the window and pulled aside the curtain. "Can't see a damn thing," he muttered.

  It was now or never. "Cam? Cam? Show yourself now!"

  Jack grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet as easily as if she were a rag doll.

  "Let go of me!"

  "Sure I will." Jack tightened his grip and jabbed the gun into her back with his other hand.

  Gabbie gasped as she arched her back in pain.

  "Stay still," he ordered, "or I'll shoot you now."

  Cam materialized, barely visible in the dim light.

  Please God, don't let it be too late.

  "Nice going, Jack," Cam said. "You've got a real smooth way with the ladies."

  "Who--Who's that?" Jack's voice was thick with fear. The pressure of the gun against her back eased.

  "Don't you recognize my voice?" Cam taunted. "Use the light switch to the right of the door. You'll see me plain as day."

  Jack put on the light. "No, it can't be."

  She felt his body tremble, felt the gun barrel knock against her spine. Carefully, she eased out of his grip. The gun fell to the ground.

  He didn't seem to notice. His eyes were bulging as he stared at Cam. "But you're dead!"

  "I sure am, thanks to you. Were you so desperate for the money you had to kill me?"

  Jack covered his face with his hands. "I didn't mean to. I thought you were already dead."

  "So you finished me off and took the dough. Some good pal you turned out to be."

  When Jack didn't answer, Gabbie picked up the gun, hoping the shock of seeing the ghost of the man he'd killed had rendered him powerless.

  No such luck. Jack's hands curled into fists, his face contorted with rage. "Think you were a good pal, Cam? You conned your friends and grabbed the lion's share of every deal."

  "I set up the deals," Cam said. "You made more money than you ever would have because of me."

  "Always thinking you were so special. So damn sure your looks would get you any woman in town."

  Cam laughed. "Jealous, Jack? Was that the problem?"

  "Me jealous of you? I'm alive and you're dead."

  "And about to spend your life behind bars for two murders."

  Jack lunged at Cam. A blast of icy air stopped him in his tracks. He huddled into himself, wrapping his arms around his shivering body.

  Gabbie pointed the gun at him. "Jack, sit down on the couch while I call Darren."

  Instead of obeying, he lumbered toward her, right arm outstretched. "Give me that. You don't have it in you to shoot me."

  Gabbie stepped back. Her finger tightened around the trigger. "Keep away! I mean it."

  At a noise from the hall, they both turned. Todd had knocked over the small table pulling himself to his feet. He had one hand on the doorknob.

  "Stop!" Jack shouted.

  "Run, Todd," Gabbie shouted. "Call the police!"

  Jack grabbed her forearm. The gun went off, and glass shattered. Jack let her go and chased after Todd, who had escaped into the night.

  "Shoot him," Cam said.

  Gun in hand, Gabbie ran outside, determined to shoot Jack if he attacked Todd. The cold air numbed her hands and face. She blinked, trying desperately to make out Jack and Todd in the darkness.

  Headlights flashed, car doors flung open. Darren and Lionel took off after Jack.

  Gabbie heard grunts and groans and snapping branches as Darren and Lionel fought to subdue Jack.

  "Easy, man," Darren said between breaths. "There's no place to run. Todd, get in the front seat of the car."

  Jack cursed.

  Lionel yelped in pain.

  "Put your hands behind you, now." She'd never heard Darren sound so stern.

  The click of the handcuffs was reassuring, as was the sight of Darren ushering Jack into the back seat of the police car. Finally, he came to her. Gently, he uncurled her fingers from the gun and bagged it. A moment later he was holding her in his arms.

  "How did you know he was here?" she said.

  "I saw his truck in your driveway and knew that meant trouble. I peered through the window and was about to break in when Todd came running out."

  He studied her face in the glare from the police car's headlights. As much as she wanted to turn away, she let him see her vulnerability and fear, mixed with naked joy because he'd arrived in time.

  "You'll be okay?"

  She nodded, knowing he meant okay without him because he couldn't stay. "I thought it was Terry."

  "I thought it was Don." He ran his knuckles along her cheek. "I'll come back tomorrow and take your statement. Now I have to take Jack down to the station and deliver Todd to his parents. Go inside before you freeze to death."

  Feeling as weak as if she'd risen from a sick bed, Gabbie entered the cottage. Now that she was safe, the terror of what she'd been through nearly felled her. She wondered if she would have been capable of shooting Jack. Thank God, Darren had come in time. Her fingers trembled as she put on the kettle. What she needed was a strong mug of tea laced with brandy.

  It took several sips before warmth coursed through her veins and she regained some of her equilibrium. "It's finally over," she said on her way to the den. "Now everyone can relax."

  "Cam?"

  "I'm here." His voice was soft.

  She scanned the room until she saw him standing at the sliding doors, peering out at the Sound. "You-- You're transparent! I can hardly see you."

  He turned. "That's because I'm leaving this plane."

  "For good?"

  "Yep. It's over, as far as I'm concerned. Thanks, Gabbie. I'm eternally grateful."

  "But-but..." How should she finish her sentence or explain the tears filling her eyes?

  Transparent though he was, there was no missing his huge, audacious grin. "Don't tell me you've gotten used to my company and hate to see me go."

  "Something like that," she admitted.

  "You'll be fine without me. You have Darren."

  She squirmed. "Do I?"

  He came close enough so that the chill he gave off made her rub her arms. "What's even better, he has you." He turned serious. "Don't screw it up, Gabbie, like I did with Jill."

  "Cam, wait!" A trace of the old panic rose. "I'm only staying in Chrissom Harbor till school lets out. And Darren and I, we both have baggage."

  His laughter filled the room. "Who doesn't? Tell Tim Jordan you want a job next year. You're a hero. The school board will make you a guidance counselor, if they can't give you an English program."

  Gabbie blinked. She could barely make out his form. "How do you know so damn much about the high school?"

  "I made it my business to know everything about this town, and you should, too." He winked. "Being the great sleuth you are, you're halfway there."

  A tear trickled down her cheek. "I'll miss you Cam. This place won't be the same without you."

  Only silence answered her. He was gone and he wouldn't return.

  Gabbie reached into her pocket for a tissue and blew her nose. She felt sad and happy, agitated and relieved, and, above all, exhausted. She climbed the stairs, longing for sleep.

  Tomorrow the school would be buzzing about Jack's arrest for the two murders and the part she'd played in it. She grinned a
s she saw herself telling Tim Jordan she wanted to come back next year, after all. In which case, she'd find herself another place to rent--an apartment or small house closer to town--which she'd decorate and furnish according to her taste. It would be cozy and exclusively hers.

  She got into bed, and turned out the light. For the first time in ages, she had only good things to look forward to. And underlining it all was the knowledge that Darren would be close by.

  She didn't expect any more murders to occur in a small town like CH. But if they happened to crop up, she hoped Darren would let her help solve them. She yawned. Kind of like a consultant. After all, now she had experience in the field.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Marilyn Levinson is a former Spanish teacher and the author of several books for children. More recently, she has turned her hand to writing mysteries and romantic suspense. Suspense Magazine awarded her first mystery, A Murderer Among Us, a Best Indie of 2011. Marilyn and her husband have two sons and one daughter-in-law. She and hubby, Bernie, live on Long Island with their cat, Sammy.

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