Two Ghosts & a Love Song (Dead by the Numbers Mysteries Book 2)

by Jennifer Fischetto

  "There are no guarantees in life, Gianna."

  Don't I know it.

  "Okay, look," she says. "I've never dealt with anything like this before, and this is the only book I could find that even mentions banishing ghosts. Not demons but spirits. So this is all we have. Do you want to try or not?"

  I wish I had a choice. There is the possibility that he left after my speaking with his daughter last night, but I'm not betting on it. And I really want him gone. While his time here so far could be worse, the stress of knowing he's around is ridiculous. Not to mention the guilt. I feel responsible for his return. If I hadn't slipped, fell, and died in the freezer all those years ago, he wouldn't have latched on to me.

  Latched on to me? I think to when I visualized him in my car, and he appeared. We are connected in some weird way. Perhaps this won't be as difficult as I think.

  "Well?" Aurora asks.

  I shrug. What do I have to lose? My sanity, a finger if it becomes frostbitten…nothing too important. "Fine. What do I do?"

  She smiles. Freezer Dude isn't bothering her, so I can only imagine that her enthusiasm pertains to trying out this banishment.

  "Stand in the circle," she says.

  A cold sweat washes over me. "What? You want me in there with him?"

  She walks over to the book and looks down at the open page. "Yes, but just long enough to call him forward. Once he materializes, you step out. He won't be able to."

  Okay, that sounds easy enough. I step over the ring of salt and take center stage.

  She holds up her hand. "Wait. Before you call him, don't let him touch you. If you do, he won't be bound to the circle when you jump out. He'll be able to hitch a ride with you."

  Seriously? I hope she's read every word on those pages several times. "Great. Any more creepy details before we begin?"

  "Be careful not to swipe away the salt when you jump out."

  That goes without saying. "And?"

  She shakes her head. "That's it."

  I close my eyes and think of Freezer Dude. The white hair, blue eyes, foul mood.

  It's only seconds before I feel my finger start to tingle. I open my eyes, wanting to know the exact second he's with me. There will be no time to waste. Once he figures out what we're doing, he'll do something squirrely, like jump inside me.

  The tingling gets stronger, and it quickly turns to throbbing. "He's coming," I whisper.

  From the corner of my eye, I spot Aurora shift. I bet her stomach is flipping and twisting as aggressively as mine.

  Then, just like we hoped, Freezer Dude appears. But instead of floating inside the circle with me, he's across the room by the back wall. We stare at one another. This is not how it should be.

  Aurora gasps, and he glances down at the salt circle.

  For the briefest moment, his brows become one. Next, he chuckles loudly and obnoxiously, and then he vanishes.

  * * *

  There's no sense in trying again, so I leave Aurora's, with plans to figure out another way, and go home to shower and change for dinner at Enzo's. I plan to meet Julian at my brother's, and when I arrive, his black SUV is already parked out front. Carly's and Enzo's cars are in the driveway, so I park behind Julian.

  I don't bother knocking. I turn the knob and walk straight inside. This time an unlocked door makes sense. As I step over the threshold, the tantalizing aromas of onions, bread, and beef greet me.

  "Hello, dinner," I whisper.

  It feels like Sundays at Ma's. The men are in the living room cheering and shouting at the television, where a loud sport is playing, and the women, or in this case Carly, is in the kitchen cooking.

  I wave to the guys. Enzo gives me a head nod. I don't mind. He's my brother. But if Julian does the same…

  He gets up, pulls me close, and plants a kiss on my face, which lands at the corner of my mouth. That's much better. "Hi," he says in a low, throaty way that makes my knees buckle.

  "Hi. I'm glad you're here."

  He smiles, and it radiates off him. "Glad you invited me."

  Enzo jeers the TV, startling me, and calls Julian back to watch.

  Julian kisses the tip of my nose and returns to his seat.

  Since I am not a fan of sports in any capacity, I join Carly in the kitchen. She's wearing a black skirt, pumps, and a red blouse. Over that is a full apron that she must've brought from home because I've never seen it here before.

  "Hey," I say and set my purse on the only empty counter.

  The rest are covered with various cooking items—bowls, peelers, knives, spoons, and empty boxes. From the looks of it, Carly has made a two-layer vanilla cake, which is cooling, and a can of chocolate frosting sits beside it. There must be a salad in the fridge because lettuce and tomato remains are on a cutting board behind her. She's currently pushing potato chunks through a ricer. Yum, mashed potatoes. And a huge pan of something covered in tinfoil sits on the back of the stove. It looks like we'll be eating soon.

  "Wow, you really went all out, huh?"

  She smiles, and from her profile, I spot her cheeks flush. "I like being domestic, and cooking is a lot of fun. Do you cook?"

  "I don't usually do all of this, but I make a mean sandwich."

  She giggles. "Sandwiches aren't the way to a man's heart."

  Is that what this is all about? She wants Enzo's heart?

  She must realize what she said because she widens her eyes for a split second and adds, "I don't mean with your brother. We're just good friends. But for you and Julian. He seems like a great guy. You don't want to let him get away."

  Wow, she and Ma would really get along if Ma knew how to let go.

  I change the subject 'cause I fear we'll be talking about babies soon. "Do you need any help?"

  "No, I'm almost done. I just need to add the butter and cream to the potatoes, frost the cake, and get the dinner rolls out of the oven. Enzo can carve the roast."

  Yum, a roast.

  "And how's the job?"

  "It sucks." She laughs. "Being a receptionist is boring as heck, but doing it for a used-car lot is probably the worst. The boss is one of those loud, over-the-top men. I guess he has to be to sell cars, but it gets annoying. Most days I leave work with a headache."

  I lean my hip against the drawer of utensils. "But you stay?"

  "The pay is decent, and the hours are cool, but I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life."

  "What would you rather do?"

  She gives me a sheepish grin. "Get married and have lots of babies."

  Ha, I guess I'm not escaping this topic. I'm just glad we're discussing her babies and not mine.

  Carly's mouth downturns. "Not any time soon but eventually." She must be thinking about her breakup.

  I'm about to ask her what happened when my cell chirps. I dig it out of my purse as Carly pours a small pot of heated cream and butter into the potatoes. My stomach growls at the sight. This is going to be a fantastic meal. I look down at my phone. It's a text from Serena. My interest piques a thousand percent.

  It reads: Going to ask Zoe about Kit tonight when she gets home from Sparks. Want to join me?

  Heck yes. If there's any chance Zoe is Kit, Serena shouldn't be alone with her.

  I reply: Absofreakinlutely!!!

  :) It won't be until late. Around midnight.

  That gives me plenty of time to have a relaxed dinner and even a few kisses with Julian. And I'll have Julian wait outside, in case things get heated.

  Perfect. See you then. Don't start without me.

  "Something has made you happy," Carly says.

  I look up, and she's smirking. Then I realize I have a huge grin on my face. I laugh. "It's a…" I start to say friend, but that's hardly what Serena and I are, and I'd like to not lie about everything just because it's easier than explaining the truth. "It's a coworker."

  Carly frowns. "From the deli? I thought that was only family."

  I slip my phone back into my purse. "Oh, it is. I have a
second job."

  She grabs an oven mitt, opens the oven, and pulls out a pan of dinner rolls all nestled close together. "To make ends meet. I totally understand. Where is it? And are they looking for help?" She chuckles and sets the pan on the front burners of the stove.

  I look to the doorframe and listen for the guys' voices. They're still cheering at the TV. Just the same, I lower mine. "I got a singing gig at that club, Sparks."

  She raises her brows. "I didn't know you sing."

  A chuckle rolls up out of my chest. "Neither did I. It happened quite suddenly."

  She cocks her head to the doorway. "And no one else knows?"

  I lower my head, feeling shameful for keeping quiet. "Just Julian. I haven't told the family yet." I look at her from under my lashes. "I'm nervous that Ma may feel jealous."

  "Of her daughter?"

  "I know it sounds crazy, but singing was always her dream, and instead of going off and doing it, she got married and had us. What if she's resentful?"

  Carly walks over to the cake and pops the top off the can of frosting. "Look, based off of the silent treatment from Sunday, as well as the glares she threw my way…"

  Yikes, I didn't know it was that bad.

  "Your mother loves you guys something fierce. Even if she had a moment of regret for her own choices, I doubt she'd place them on you."

  I look up fully and smile. "That's sweet. I'm sorry she made you feel uncomfortable."

  Carly dips her butter knife into the can and plops a wallop of frosting on top of one layer. "I don't like it, but I get it. I hurt Enzo many, many years ago." She emphasizes the second many and smiles.

  "Yeah, you'd think she'd let it go by now."

  "I might hold a grudge with my kids some day."

  I watch her frost the rest of that layer, then carefully place the second one on it, and frost the top and sides of the whole thing. When she's done, she stands back and admires it.

  With a wink, she asks, "Hungry?"

  "Starved."

  I help her carry the bowls to the dining room table, which is already set for four. She brings in the roast on a large serving tray, and I wonder if she brought over all of these serving bowls and platters because I'd swear Enzo didn't own this kind of stuff. She's so efficient.

  We call the guys in, and the television goes off. Their eyes light up at the spread.

  "It looks delicious," Julian says.

  "Thank you. Enzo, will you carve the roast?"

  It doesn't take long for Enzo to do his job and for the rest of us to pass and scoop enormous amounts of food onto our plates. Well, Carly takes dainty portions, but I think I may have one more spoonful of potatoes on my plate than Enzo has on his.

  We fall into silence with several moans and sighs of yumminess for a few minutes. It's just too good to take the time to open my mouth to speak.

  "This is incredible," Enzo says. "Thank you."

  Carly bats her lashes and smiles. It's more cute than flirty. "You're welcome. I love cooking. It relaxes me. Plus, it feels good when people enjoy what I make."

  "You always enjoyed cooking," Enzo says, then glances at me. "Do you remember those cookies she'd bring to our house?"

  I think hard for a moment, really not wanting to take my concentration off the roll I'm mashing to bits with my teeth, and then I remember. "The peanut butter ones with chunks of chocolate. Oh my God, they were heavenly. I think I ate my weight in them one summer."

  "You did. That's why Ma had to buy you all-new school clothes in August."

  I playfully jab my fork toward Enzo's hand. He chuckles.

  "I remember that summer. I also had to get new clothes because my girls grew, and Izzie's hand-me-downs no longer fit in the bust area. That wasn't from food. Not all of it."

  Enzo scoffs in disgust. "I do not want to talk about my sister's puberty during dinner."

  Carly giggles, and Julian smiles. He gives me a dirty look. I know he doesn't mind talking about my girls. Warmth creeps into my cheeks. The last thing I want is to get him all hot and bothered at the dinner table. We can save that for later. So I change the subject.

  "That same summer, Enzo proved he could sleep through anything."

  Carly frowns. "What do you mean?"

  "Ma burned bacon on the stove, and it filled the kitchen with smoke. The detector went off, and it wouldn't shut up. Izzie and I awoke immediately, but Enzo slept through the whole thing. It blasted for a good fifteen minutes."

  "Good thing there wasn't really a fire," Julian says.

  "Yeah, I'm pretty sure my sisters would've let me burn."

  I shrug. "Maybe for just a minute or two."

  Carly's smile widens. "I love hanging with you guys. I miss how much fun you are. All those times you'd sit in a dark closet or bathroom waiting for the perfect moment to jump out at one another. I never laughed so much."

  Enzo gives me a side eye. "Yeah, she got me the other day."

  I'm surprised he's bringing it up. He usually doesn't like to admit when I get him good.

  Carly wiggles in her seat, and her eyes light up. "What happened?"

  He explains my reaching out and grabbing his ankle, and she and Julian start laughing. I join in because it's still funny as heck.

  "I was only getting him back for the prank from earlier when I came by and let myself in and found him on the kitchen floor with a knife in his arm and blood under him."

  The laughter dies, and Carly looks stricken. "What?"

  Enzo's chest moves up and down with a few deep chuckles. "It was a joke. I held the knife in my armpit, and the blood was ketchup. I saw her park out front."

  Carly giggles and places a hand over her mouth. "Oh my goodness, you're so bad."

  "Yes, he is. I started dialing 9-1-1."

  We all laugh then. Even though it was a crappy thing to do, he pulled it off beautifully, especially on such short notice.

  "It sounds like you three had a great time as teens," Julian says.

  Enzo and Carly share a fleeting glance that tells me they're both thinking of how their relationship ended, but they push the darkness away and smile just as fast.

  "I loved spending my time in the Mancini household," Carly says.

  "You were always with us," I say. "I loved that. You weren't mean to me like my siblings."

  "You were young and annoying," Enzo says while shoving a chunk of meat into his mouth.

  Part of me would like to show him that's still true by taking my hand and ruffling his hair, but I refrain and ignore him. To Carly, I say, "I loved playing with your dolls."

  Enzo winces. "How could I forget about your doll collection? They were scary, and you had so many of them."

  Carly grins and doesn't seem to be insulted. "You never appreciated them."

  "What kind of dolls?" Julian asks and sips the beer Enzo had given him while watching TV.

  "Those creepy porcelain ones," Enzo says.

  Carly lightly laughs. "I had all kinds. I especially loved my American Girl dolls."

  Julian sets down his fork. "Oh, my grandmother had one of those. The doll had long brown hair, and her name was Sam."

  Carly's expression glows. "That's Samantha Parkington. She was one of the first three dolls ever released. Your grandmother must've liked the doll or been a collector? The line didn't originate until 1986."

  Julian chuckles. "Yes. She didn't grow up with it. She just liked that doll in particular. She had a few other kinds, like a Raggedy Ann and one of those baby dolls that drink their bottle and wet their diapers. I think she had them because they were all originals. Maybe she thought they'd be worth something some day."

  I smile. I love stories of his grandmother. She meant a great deal to him and vice versa.

  "Did she ever cash them in?" Enzo asks, finally putting his fork down and leaning back in his chair, which signals he's done eating.

  Julian shakes his head. "No, I have them in storage."

  That I didn't know. Those months I lived with him, I
never saw them. They must hold a lot of sentimental value.

  "They're probably worth a fortune now," Carly says. "I never kept mine preserved. I loved dressing mine." She puts on a sheepish grin. "I was a teen when I first got mine. The American Girl doll I had came out in 2000. But my father saw it and knew I'd like it, so he picked it up for me. Dad wasn't home a lot. He worked on the road. So it meant a lot. I think he thought the dolls were created after real people, but it was just the historical events that were true."

  I don't recall her ever telling me that. I do remember that she spoke highly of her father, but he was never around. "That was sweet of him. So which one do you have? She's blonde, like you, right?"

  "Yeah. That's why Dad picked her up. Her name is Margaret Mildred Kittredge, but her nickname is Kit."

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  I stare at Julian. The lump in my throat takes on massive proportions, and I think I'm going to die from suffocation. Carly's doll is named Kit. That's a coincidence, right? I then look to Enzo, who has a grief-stricken look on his face.

  He glances to me, quickly, like he's guilty of something and doesn't want me to know. Oh my God, he heard me say Kit to Julian on the phone. This afternoon at the police station, when he asked if I was getting a cat… He knows that Carly is Kit.

  No, this doesn't make sense. Zoe is Kit. Carly works as a receptionist at a used-car lot. And Serena works as a server and an escort. Having one job doesn't mean she can't have two. My mind flashes to that day Izzie and I were at lunch, and Carly came in wearing a gold skirt. She'd been out all right. Out with a client.

  I stand up, grab Enzo's wrist, and twist it until he rises. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"

  "Ow, ow," he whispers while I drag him back to his bedroom.

  Once inside, I shut the door and turn on him. "You knew she's Kit?"

  He runs his fingers through his hair. "I recognized the nickname. She only talked about that stupid doll a trillion times while we were dating, but I don't know if it's the same Kit you were talking about. I don't even know why you were talking about a Kit, other than it being candy."