After lunch, as long as she was in town, she could stop by the police station and see if Captain Harper had dug up any other information.
They decided to meet at Cow Burgers, which had become the carnivorous townspeople of Leaning Tree’s favorite burger joint. Anabel’s mouth started to water at the thought of one of those thick, juicy hamburger patties, but since she’d given up meat, she’d opt for a vegetarian entrée.
Once she ended the call, she turned to see Tyler watching her, his form much less substantial than usual.
What had she just done? Trying not to panic, she managed a smile. “Are you all right?”
“I think so.” His shuttered expression made her wonder if he too was full of regret. Oddly enough, thinking he might be helped. “All that physical manifesting apparently has drained my energy. It’s taking every bit of strength I can dredge up to remain here with you.”
Now would be the perfect time to tell him to take himself off and get healed, but she couldn’t make herself say the words. She both wanted him to leave and wanted him to stay.
Good night, she’d become even more of a mess.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. A quick glance at his still-flickering form revealed he was studying her, a hungry look on his rugged face.
Her stomach lurched. No, no, no.
It’d be so much easier if he’d simply pretend nothing had happened, wouldn’t it? Or would that hurt even worse?
She no longer knew which end was up. “I’m meeting a friend in town tomorrow. While I’m there, I thought I’d stop at the police station and see if the captain took me seriously.”
“Good idea.”
“I thought so.” She settled on deliberately cheerful, even though her insides were churning.
“I used to love a Triple Cow Burger,” he said, still watching her. “Ghosts don’t get hungry and we sure don’t have to eat, but I’d give a lot if I could just taste a single bite of one right now.”
“I haven’t been in a long time,” she said. “But if I could figure out a way to make you solid again, I’d bring one home for you.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized what she’d said. Her entire body blushed. “I mean, so you could eat. But since you can’t, I’ll just have to enjoy a burger for you—though a veggie burger.”
“Oh, I’m going with you.” His tone left no room for argument. “There’s no way I’m letting you try and face that crazy Doug guy without a little ghostly help.”
Still in shock from the sudden onslaught of feelings, she glared at him. Panicked, she wanted to push him away, make him leave, give her time to regain her bearings. “Not this time, okay? I think you should go back out in the forest and search some more. Actually, I need a bit of a break from all this.”
Tyler had gone awfully still. “How is confronting Doug Polacek taking a break?”
“It’s time,” she said firmly. “I don’t know what his problem is, nor do I care. But he needs to stop. Besides, if he confronts me, what are you going to do, anyway?”
Tyler’s furious expression told her she might have gone a bit too far. “You know what? You’re right. I’m nothing more than a spirit, a specter, a shade. I’m absolutely powerless to do anything without your help. And I should let you know how seriously pissed off that makes me feel.”
Though she almost reacted in kind, with anger, she reined herself in again. For an instant she wondered if she should say more, like how terrified their burgeoning—and impossible—relationship made her feel. In the end, she decided to simply repeat her earlier apology. “I’m really, really sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” he said tightly. “Nor mine. Someone up there is playing a giant, cosmic joke on me. All I wanted to do was try and save my sister, not get tangled up emotionally with you.”
Before she could even think of a way to reply to that, he winked out and disappeared.
Leaving her aching and confused when she should have been relieved. His words haunted her. Tangled up emotionally? Really? Clearly, she wasn’t the only one having feelings she shouldn’t be having.
People in town already believed her crazy. Well, she definitely would be if she allowed herself to fall for a ghost.
Tyler had stated the facts very well. They needed to work together to save his sister. Once that had been accomplished, Anabel could go back to her empty, lonely life. And Tyler could return to being...dead.
Chapter 12
Cow Burgers had just begun to fill up when Anabel arrived the next day. It had just turned eleven thirty, so the die-hard lunch rush wouldn’t start for another half hour.
Head held high, ignoring the few people who cast her looks, censuring or otherwise, Anabel searched the interior. Hopefully, Denise would already be seated so Anabel could simply slide into a booth and hide behind a menu if she wanted.
Except she didn’t. She’d actually begun to grow weary of always hiding. Since she didn’t see Denise yet, she approached the front desk and asked for a table for two.
The teenage girl nodded her pink-tipped head, clearly not recognizing her. Laughing at herself—did she really think she was such a celebrity that everyone in town knew her name?—Anabel followed the hostess to a table, rather than a booth. She pulled out her chair, taking a seat facing the entrance. She decided to wait on looking at the menu until her friend had arrived. Since she worked as a cook, she didn’t go out to eat much and she decided to enjoy this rare treat.
Instead of hiding away, she kept her head up and gazed around the room. Several people openly stared, though they looked away when she met their gaze. She refused to let them ruin her day. Heart light, she smiled and waved as Denise walked in.
Her friend looked exactly as she had the last time Anabel had seen her. Tall, with an angular prettiness and close-cropped blond hair, the crinkles around her bright blue eyes a testament to her ready smile.
Anabel jumped up and they hugged. Denise still wore the same perfume, a fragrance that smelled faintly of roses. “You look fantastic!” Anabel exclaimed.
Studying her, Denise grinned. “So do you. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”
After they’d taken their seats, Denise pushed the menu away, still smiling. “I don’t even have to look. I always get the Fiery Cow Burger. It has pepper jack cheese, guacamole and jalapeño peppers.”
Anabel winced. “Ouch. But you know what? That sounds perfect, except I’ll have a veggie burger with the same toppings.”
When the waiter came, they both ordered. Once he’d left, Anabel leaned forward. “It’s really great to see you,” she said softly.
“Same here.” Denise glanced around. “I have to tell you, I’ve heard so much bizarre gossip about you, I got concerned. Actually, you’re partly the reason for my stop in Leaning Tree. I decided to take a minivacation here and make sure you were okay.”
Touched, Anabel swallowed. She didn’t want to tell her old best friend how alone she’d felt after David’s death. She knew Denise had been busy with her career as a journalist, traveling all over the world reporting for a prestigious magazine.
“I thought of you often,” she finally said. “I even bought a subscription to your magazine, just so I could follow your stories.”
Pleasure flashed in Denise’s eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly.
“Was it exciting?” Anabel asked. “Living the kind of life you did?”
Before Denise could answer, the waiter brought their diet colas.
“Sometimes.” Denise took a sip from her straw. “I’ve been all through Europe and most of Asia. Next I’m being sent to check out Australia and New Zealand.”
“I used to always want to travel,” Anabel admitted. “In fact, until David was killed, we kept a list of places we wanted to go.”
“I’m so sorr
y.” Denise covered Anabel’s hand. “I wish I could have met him. I couldn’t believe it when my mother told me he was killed in Afghanistan.”
In the past, Anabel had found discussing David too painful to bear, so she’d always changed the subject. This time, she felt a slight twinge of grief, but nothing she couldn’t handle.
“Thank you. After eighteen months, I guess I’ve gotten used to being a widow,” Anabel said, realizing it was true. “At first, it was hard and I briefly came unhinged. I actually believed Kane McGraw and I were meant to be together.”
Denise winced. “I heard about that. I take it you’re all better now?”
“Yes. I am.” And she was. She reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. “Since you never met my husband, here’s a picture of him right before his last tour.”
Studying the snapshot, Denise beamed. “Wow. I can see why you fell for him. He looks good in a uniform.” She passed the photo back.
Completely relaxed and feeling more confident than she had felt in months, Anabel nearly told her about Tyler. The second she realized her mistake, she closed her mouth. She could imagine how that conversation would go. And he’s a ghost but looks sexy as hell in his uniform... No. She’d have to let that pass, thank you very much.
Instead Denise started discussing an area in Thailand where she’d spent six months, and the conversation moved on to other things.
Their burgers arrived and they both dug in. “Every bite tastes as good as I remembered it,” Denise gushed, rolling her eyes in bliss.
Mouth full, Anabel nodded. Neither woman spoke again until they’d both finished their burgers and half their fries.
“I’m stuffed,” Anabel groaned.
“Me too. But there’s one other thing I’ve been missing from this place and I swear I’m going to make room.”
As if he’d heard, the waiter appeared and asked about dessert. Anabel and Denise shared a quick look and then both said “cheesecake” at the same time. Just like in the old days. “One slice, two forks,” Anabel clarified.
Once the waiter left, Anabel sighed and leaned forward. “Okay, even though I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this lunch, I think we’ve beat around the bush long enough. Now tell me, who is this Doug Polacek guy, anyway?”
Denise gave her a shocked look. “You really don’t know?”
Taking a deep breath while wishing for patience, Anabel shook her head. “I told you, I don’t even know him. I couldn’t pick him out in a line of men.”
“Wow. I thought you were kidding.”
“Nope. Not about something like this.”
“Ah.” Denise gave her the secret smile that—back in high school—Anabel had called her gossip grin. “Where do I start? Doug Polacek is single, a lawyer, relatively new in town. He’s very handsome—like he could be a TV star. Women are all over him. From what I hear, he’s cut a wide swath through most of the women under forty in town.”
“Under forty?” Anabel grimaced. “Exactly how old is this guy, anyway?”
“I don’t know. My best guess would be right around forty.”
Then and there, as the waiter brought out their shared dessert, Anabel knew what she would do. “I want you to take me to meet him,” she said, stabbing the cheesecake with her fork. “Right after we finish here.”
Denise stared, her fork in hand. “You what?”
Chewing, Anabel swallowed. “That’s really delicious. Try it.”
“I will. But first I need to know what you’ve got planned.”
“Planned.” A second bite met the same fate as the first. War on cheesecake. “I think I’ve got the right to actually confront the man who’s going around town accusing me of everything under the sun.”
Denise had finally gotten her own forkful. She chewed it as if it were made of ashes. “Um, I think he might have gotten a restraining order on you. I don’t think you can actually meet him.”
“Really?” Anabel whipped out her phone. “Let me call the police department and find out.”
Since she had the number stored in her contact list, this took only a few seconds. Brenda Winder answered on the second ring.
“Leaning Tree Police Department,” she sang cheerily into the phone. However, as soon as Anabel identified herself, Brenda’s pleasant tone changed.
“I’m sorry—he’s in a meeting,” she said in response to Anabel’s request to speak with Captain Harper.
“Fine, then let me speak to someone else. I don’t care who, as long as it’s someone wearing a badge.”
Brenda stuck her on hold without another word. For whatever reason, Barry Manilow played on hold. Halfway through “Copacabana,” someone who identified himself as Officer Pitts came on.
“How may I help you?” he drawled. Something in his voice told her Brenda had used the time Anabel had been on hold to fill him in on the nutcase he was about to speak with.
For that reason, and that reason alone, Anabel resisted the urge to make a joke about his name. As in, police work must be the pits for him. She knew he probably got jokes all the time and no doubt didn’t appreciate them.
And right now she needed him as much on her side as she could get.
“I need to find out if there’s a restraining order against me,” she said.
“We don’t handle restraining orders, ma’am.”
Stunned, she wondered if he might be messing with her, then dismissed the notion. He had no reason to lie. “If you don’t, then who does?”
“That would be the court. You’ll need to contact Judge McCurdy.”
Just perfect. Judge McCurdy wasn’t one of Anabel’s admirers, to say the least. He’d sat in when the McGraws had debated filing charges against her for what she’d done to Lilly, Kane McGraw’s true mate. Lilly herself had talked them out of it. Bad memories from what seemed like another lifetime. Anabel politely thanked the police officer and ended the call.
“Well?” Denise asked. “What did you find out? Do you have a restraining order or not?”
“I don’t know. I have to call the judge.” Instead of doing so, she put the phone down on the table. “But if he got a restraining order, wouldn’t the court have to serve me notice?”
Denise shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know. I have no experience with that sort of thing.”
Anabel did a quick search of the internet using her phone. “According to this, he could have gotten an emergency, temporary order if he truly felt his life was in danger.” She snorted. “I don’t think he could have proved that. For a regular restraining order, the judge has to hold a hearing and both parties have the right to attend and present evidence or offer testimony. And bring witnesses. After all that, the judge has to determine if there really is a threat.”
She looked up and grinned at her friend. “So I’m thinking it’s safe to say that there is no restraining order against me.”
Expression fascinated, Denise nodded. “Well, that’s good, then.” Her eyes widened as Anabel grabbed the check, glanced at it and then dropped a twenty and a five on the table.
“Lunch is on me,” Anabel said. “Now take me to where this Doug Polacek guy works. I need to ask him what his problem is.”
Though Denise offered a few token protests, Anabel could tell she was more curious about what might happen than worried.
“His office is downtown,” Denise said. “Off Main.”
They located the two-story stucco-and-glass building easily. The new construction stood out like a sore thumb.
“Let me guess,” Anabel said. “The architect was from California or New Mexico.”
“Arizona, I think.” Denise grinned. “It’s a pretty building, though it’s out of place here in upstate New York.”
Parking, Anabel shrugged. “I agree,” she said. “Are you ready? Let’s go.”
“For what? He can’t sue me for asking him where he gets off dragging my name through the mud. Come on.”
Denise groaned, but she got out of the car.
Righteous indignation propelled Anabel through the lobby, where she looked on the signboard to figure out which office housed Polacek. “There. Smith, Howard and Polacek. I guess he’s a partner. They’re on the second floor.”
Denise punched the elevator button, but Anabel decided to take the stairs. “It’s only one floor up,” she said, sprinting up. Denise followed a bit more slowly.
At the door housing the law firm, Anabel didn’t hesitate. She pushed the door open, smiled pleasantly at the young, blonde receptionist. “We’re here to see Doug Polacek,” she announced.
The young woman tilted her head. “Do you have an appointment?”
“No.” Moving closer, Anabel kept her smile in place. “But give him my name. I know he’ll want to see me.”
When she spoke her name, the receptionist’s blue eyes widened. “J-j-just one moment,” she stammered. Instead of using the phone to let her boss know of his visitor, she got up and headed back to deliver the news personally.
“I bet they kick us out,” Denise pronounced in a gloomy voice. “Or call the police.”
“They won’t. And they can’t call the police. We’ve done nothing wrong. Since Doug Polacek has gone through such lengths to get my attention, he’s going to see me. Just wait and see.”
And wait they did. Five minutes, ten. Watching the second hand move on the clock, Anabel refused to fidget. She didn’t know why or how she knew, but she had a good idea there might be some sort of concealed camera in the reception area. No doubt this Doug Polacek watched them, hoping for signs of discomfort.
Well, she wouldn’t be giving him that much satisfaction. She made poor Denise discuss current fashions and when she’d exhausted that, sports. Denise had begun to eye her as if wondering if she’d lost her mind.
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