by Carly Winter
“I'm sorry to hear that,” I said.
“You know, we've got an attorney from California upstairs,” Ruby said, a slow smile crossing her face.
Oh, my gosh. She was right.
“What are the chances of two fancy-pants lawyers from California being in Sedona after a murder?” Ruby mused. “And he did say that his meetings were private. What could require more privacy than meeting with your client about murder?”
“What's wrong, Bernie?” Adam asked. “You look pale. Are you feeling okay?”
I held up a finger as I stared at Ruby. Yes, what were the chances? How huge of a coincidence would that be? My guess hovered right at zero.
“I... I just thought I heard someone come into the house,” I lied, completely unprepared to reveal the lawyer he spoke of was in my home at that exact moment.
“Should we go check?” Adam asked, glancing at the bedroom door.
“No, it's fine,” I replied. “So how are you going to crack the case?”
Adam smiled and stared at me sheepishly. “Well, I've been through all the reports. I've watched the interviews, and like I said, I'm at a loss.”
I nodded, my mind still focused on the fact I most likely had Belinda and Nancy's lawyer staying with me. Mr. O'Malley obviously hadn't recognized my name. There had to be some sort of legal problem with him representing two suspects and staying with a witness. Right? I didn't have a law degree, but it seemed like a definite conflict of interest.
“I really don’t know what to do at this point, Bernie. I guess I’ll start at square one. Interview everyone again, go over the reports for the millionth time. Someone has to slip up at some point and reveal the killer.”
“Poor copper,” Ruby said. “Sounds like he could use some help.”
I agreed, but I had no idea how to assist Adam. I ran a bed and breakfast, not an intelligence agency.
“And to make matters worse?” Adam continued. “Frank, the sheriff's second in command, is retiring. Sheriff Walker is going to be filling that spot and he's mentioned that I may be up for the promotion. If I can solve this case, I have a better chance.”
“Old Bruce Walker should be the one retiring,” Ruby said. “What's he... ten years older than Frank? That man should be put out to pasture.”
“I wish I could be a fly on the wall of the suspects’ rooms,” Adam said. “They’re all staying at the Sedona Grand Hotel. One of them is a murderer. They have to be talking about it. They have to make a phone call or something and give themselves away.”
“I’m sorry, Adam,” I said. “I wish there was something I could do.”
“I’ve got to get going,” he said, standing. “It was so good to see you, Bernie. I miss you. Hopefully I’ll catch whoever did this and we can spend more time together.”
Our embrace lasted a long while, and Adam’s desperation and disappointment of not being able to solve the murder was almost a tangible force.
I walked him to the front door and then headed back to my room. “I feel so bad for him,” I said, sinking into my rocking chair once again.
“We can help him,” Ruby said, a slow smile crossing her face. “I have an incredible plan.”
Oh, no. That never meant anything good. “Help him how?”
“Well, he said he wished he was a fly on the wall of the suspects’ room, but obviously, he can’t turn into a fly. However, I can be in any room I want to be in without anyone knowing it. Well, except you, of course.”
Staring at Ruby, I couldn't believe my ears. Was that legal? “You... you want to... spy?”
“Sure! This is right up my alley,” Ruby said, rubbing her hands together. “It’ll be more fun than the time I gave Cher a reading and we ended up having margaritas out by her pool. That woman’s a hoot!”
While alive, Ruby had made her living as a psychic and done very well, even becoming a minor celebrity and having her own phone-in psychic line.
“What about my alley?” I asked. “In case you forgot, outside of this house you can’t go more than fifteen feet away from me. I have to be close to you. What happens if I get caught while you’re spying?”
Ruby shrugged. “Nothing happens. You just go on your way. No one knows you have a ghost with you who's listening in to help a cop at the end of his rope.”
“I... I don't know if I'm comfortable with this,” I said while Ruby twirled around in a circle. “Isn't that cheating somehow?”
“In a way, yes,” Ruby said. “But the only ones who’ll be aware of it are you and me.”
“What about Adam? You said you wanted to help him. Wouldn’t we have to tell him what you discover?”
“Hmm… I suppose so. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?
“This is a stupid idea,” I muttered, shaking my head.
“Don't be a downer, Bernie! We'll be like Starsky and Hutch. Frank and Ponch!”
“More like Scooby and Shaggy,” I murmured as I shut my eyes and rubbed my temples.
I wanted to help Adam succeed. But I truly had a moral dilemma of whether I should use my ghost to gain access to information he shouldn't know about. “No matter what bits and pieces you may or may not overhear, Adam still needs to prove someone's guilty. No one can be convicted on the word of a ghost.”
“You're right,” Ruby said. “But at least we can give him an idea of where to concentrate his efforts. The more information he has, the better chance he’ll have of solving the case.”
“What do you think you’re going to hear?” I asked. “Someone confessing?”
“If I’m lucky!”
“Oh, man, Ruby. I can’t believe you.”
“This is the most exciting thing that's happened around here since we found the body upstairs,” she said. “Help out Adam. Help me out of this perpetual boredom you call your life. Let's do this.”
“It may be illegal,” I hissed. “I don't want to go to prison for anything.”
Ruby threw her hands up in the air. “For what? What are you going to prison for?”
“For doing something illegal!”
“Existing is not illegal, Bernie. No one is going to realize that you have a ghost tagging along. If anyone should be worried about doing something wrong, it's me, and I'm certainly not concerned in the least bit.”
“Why doesn't that surprise me?” I shook my head.
“Come on, Bernie. Just think... you could be dating the second in command at the sheriff's office. How sexy is that?”
I turned my stare to the window while considering my situation. First, I had the lawyer upstairs representing two of the murder suspects. Ruby could garner a lot of information from him. But not everyone involved was staying at my home. In fact, every other suspect except Jack was at the Sedona Grand Hotel. Ruby was aware of that, and honestly, it was probably the best place to eavesdrop.
“What are we going to do, Bernie?” Ruby asked. “Are we going to play cops and robbers and help out that fella, or are we going to watch from the sidelines?”
Chapter Eleven
I spent the next morning cleaning Darla's apartment and Jack made the call to shut down the diner when he noticed a roach scurrying across the floor. The employees were rightfully furious, but Jack felt he had to protect Darla and her livelihood, and frankly, I agreed. Until her mother arrived and made some hard decisions, we were going on instinct.
While mopping, vacuuming, and scrubbing, I tried to mind my own business. I truly did. But when I dropped a stack of books and found a diary, I had to take a peek. Tears came to my eyes as I tried to decipher the gibberish. I hoped she found the help she needed and got well soon.
In the afternoon, Ruby and I stood in front of the Sedona Grand Hotel, my palms sweaty, my chest aching with anxiety. How in the world had I allowed her to badger me into this plan?
With the hotel’s white pillars and large windows. I had to admit, Ruby was right. I understood why it reminded her of a mausoleum.
“When I was alive, you wouldn't catch me dead in here,” she
muttered. “Bunch of pretentious jerks sitting around talking about golf and the stock market. Now that I'm dead, I'm actually walking through the doors.” She let out a long sigh. “The things I do for you.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Ruby, don't you dare try to make this about me. You’re so excited to do this, you couldn't hide that smile if you tried.”
“But it is about you,” she said. “Adam’s only going to fall more in love with you than he already is when he finds out you’re a regular Columbo.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I muttered. “Adam’s not in love with me.”
“Of course he is, dingbat,” she said glancing down at her mumu. “I sure feel underdressed for our adventure, though. I need a trench coat and a fedora like Columbo.”
I felt the same way, even though I'd worn the only blouse I owned instead of a T-shirt. But with my jeans and sneakers, I didn't fit in. Those entering the establishment wore tennis skirts, slacks, and dresses. I didn't belong, and I had no problem with that. I wanted to get in and out without an issue. “Just a little reminder—no one but me can see you. The trench coat and fedora wouldn’t be noticed.”
“Then give me a gun like in Charlie's Angels. I can already kick butt with my fists.” Ruby with a gun would be a disaster of epic proportions and watching her punch the air and swing and kick her legs MMA style with her purple mumu flowing around definitely amused me. I stifled a giggle.
“How about if we just go inside before I change my mind?” I asked.
“Lead the way! I'm going to put James Bond to shame!”
As I strode in through the front door, Ruby trailed behind me humming the theme song to the Streets of San Francisco. The fact that I recognized it only indicated I needed to watch more television made in my lifetime instead of hers.
The large, white marble lobby gleamed as the sun shone in through the floor to ceiling windows leading out to a pristine blue pool. The golf course lay beyond that. A beautiful property, but definitely not Ruby's and my style. I'd never stepped foot in the hotel, either—never had a reason to.
“Dang, it's bright in here,” she said. “Like that light at the end of my tunnel.”
After Ruby died, she'd walked toward the light, but she'd never reached it. She did believe it was the gateway to heaven, but they wouldn't let her in.
“What room did Mr. O'Malley mention when he was on the phone?” I asked. While I cleaned Darla’s place, Ruby had spent most of the morning in the lawyer’s room listening in to his calls and reading his private papers over his shoulder.
“Three-twenty-two. Or wait a minute. Was it Two-thirty-three?”
I stopped in the middle of the lobby and scanned the area to make sure no one was paying us... well, me... any attention. “Please remember which one,” I whispered.
“Okay, it's three-twenty-two.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes and no. But mostly yes.”
I followed her to the elevator and we waited as people crowded around us. A woman moved into Ruby's space next to me.
“Watch it, sweet cheeks!” Ruby yelled.
The woman glanced at me, then stepped away as her nose crinkled. Ruby's distinct scent had that effect on some people.
We rode up the elevator to the third floor and found room three-twenty-two. When we stopped outside, I glanced to my right, then my left. No one could see Ruby, but I felt more exposed than a naked guy at church.
“I'm going in,” she said, rubbing her hands together.
“Just a minute,” I hissed, still scoping out the area. The doors to each room didn't sit flush to the wall, so there was a little space for me to hide. I wouldn't be visible to anyone unless they walked by.
With a deep breath, I whispered, “Okay, let's go.”
Ruby raced a few steps ahead of me and ghosted through the door. I tiptoed up to it and tucked myself into the enclave. At first, I focused on the hallway to assure myself I wasn't about to be discovered, but soon I heard voices coming from the room—a man and woman. They spoke in low tones, so I couldn't make out what they said. I wondered who was with Belinda? Maybe Mr. O'Malley? After cleaning Darla’s apartment, I’d stopped home to change before coming to the hotel, but I hadn’t seen or heard him. A secret lover? Room service? I leaned my head against the panel to hear better, but my effort was futile.
A few moments later, Ruby came out.
“What happened?” I whispered as I followed her toward the elevator.
“Nothing,” she replied, shrugging.
“What did they say? I couldn't make out anything. You weren't in there very long.”
“They were discussing their son.”
“Their son?” I furrowed my brow in confusion.
“Yes. Apparently, he's decided to quit college and start a band. Mom and Dad are pretty upset, but I don't see why. Let the kid have some freedom and work his creativity. For all they know, they have the next Paul McCartney waiting to blossom.”
As we waited for the elevator, I tried to put the pieces together. Belinda was discussing her son... with whom? Did she have a child with someone other than Harold? Did they even have kids? It didn't make any sense. I glanced over at my ghost, the truth finally dawning on me. “You were in the wrong room, weren't you?”
“Darn right. It's two-thirty-three.”
Figures.
Once we arrived on the second floor, the long brown hallway stretched silently in front of us. We found room two-thirty-three and I assumed my position as Ruby disappeared inside. Again, my attention was drawn to the voices behind the door, but this time, they were loud and clear. Well, Belinda was loud, but not very clear. In fact, she sounded drunk.
“I'm going to miss him,” Belinda wailed. “Oh, Harold!”
“Of course you are,” Nancy comforted. “He was your husband for many years.”
“He was so awful, though.” Belinda sniffled. “Such a jerk.”
“Yes, he was.”
“But he was my jerk. He was good to me. He loved me. I have to tinkle.”
A loud bang sounded from just inside the door. “Who put that wall there?” Belinda muttered. The bathroom obviously sat off the entry and she was a little unsteady on her feet.
“Do you remember that time he shorted our gardener because he cut the hedges too small?” Belinda called.
“I do.”
“And the time he told the kids’ foster organization that he'd donate if the kids came and did some work around the house and earned the money?”
“Oh, yes. You were mortified.”
“He was an awful human being,” Belinda said, her voice fading. Perhaps she'd gone back into the main room?
“Belinda, I'm here for you,” Nancy said. “You're going to make it through this.”
“Did you know I've never pumped my own gas?” Belinda slurred. “He filled my gas tank for me every single week. I have no idea how much money I have. I don't know which bank it's at.”
“We'll get it worked out,” Nancy said patiently.
“I have no idea how to pay my taxes!” Belinda keened. “Or my bills! He took care of everything for me and now he's gone! What am I going to do?”
“I'll teach you how to do all those things,” Nancy said. “Surely, Harold has everything organized in his office. We just need to find the paperwork and I can help you figure it all out.”
“And they think I killed him!” Belinda shouted. “I didn't! I'd thought about it before, but I'd never follow through! Is there a wife around who hasn't thought about killing her husband? They can be so difficult sometimes, but I couldn't do it. Never!”
“Yes, husbands can be quite difficult. That's why I divorced mine.”
“I just want to go home!”
“We'll be able to leave soon,” Nancy soothed. “Shh, Belinda. You're upset, and rightfully so, but you have to try to relax.”
“I'm dying of a broken heart.”
“You aren't dying,” Nancy said, sounding exasperated. “We'
ll get through this together.”
Silence stretched for a long while, and I wondered where Ruby was. Glancing out into the hallway, I noted I was still in the clear—no one approached.
“I think I've had too much wine,” Belinda said. “I'm so tired.”
“Then go to sleep. I'm right here and I'll watch over you.”
A few moments later, the television came on at the same time I heard voices down the hallway.
I couldn't be caught just standing in the enclave. As they approached, I stepped out into the hall and bent over to tie my shoe, hoping it didn't appear like I'd been hiding.
“Hello,” I said, glancing up to find two hotel security guards coming toward me, one burly and muscular, the other thin and wiry. Both wore black pants and a white golf shirt with a nametag I couldn't read, either because of anxiety or I suddenly needed glasses. I swallowed back my fear and smiled.
“We have reports of someone yelling from this room,” the burly guy said, pointing to Belinda's. “Are you staying in there?”
I shook my head. “Nope. Just tying my shoe.”
“It seemed like you came from in there,” the skinny one said, narrowing his gaze on me.
“Sorry, you're mistaken. I'm just leaving.”
“What room are you in?” he asked, pulling out a phone. “Are you even staying with us?”
He most likely had the ability to look up a guest and find a corresponding room number with a few taps of his fingers. If I made up a room number, I'd be caught.
“I was visiting a friend,” I replied, actually impressed with myself for lying so easily. “She's down that way, but I can't remember her room number.”
They exchanged glances and nodded, which I took to mean I had been dismissed.
Ruby cursed our tether behind me as I hurried down the hall. “Slow down, Bernie!”
I shook my head and moved faster, wanting to put as much space between me and the security guards as possible before they called me back to question me further.
Instead of waiting for the elevator, I jogged down the stairwell. When I reached the lobby landing, I took a deep breath and smoothed down my blouse.
Ruby stood next to me and grinned. “That woman was a cork high and a bottle deep. It looked like a lot of fun.”