Ghost for Sale

by Sandra Cox

  Liam cleared his throat.

  “Right.”

  A few minutes later, we pulled into the hotel. When we walked in, an elderly couple was just checking out. While Aileen’s head was bent over the bill, I whispered out of the corner of my mouth, “I’ll hang out with Aileen if you want to go check on Anna.”

  “All right.” He disappeared. One moment he stood beside me, the next he was gone.

  Aileen looked up. Her face lit up when she saw me, and she came around the reception desk to greet me. “Hello, dear.”

  “Hi, Aileen.” I held up my tablet. “I brought something to take notes on this time.”

  “Ooh, I want one of those. Can I see it?”

  Amusement tickling my throat, I handed it to her.

  She slid smoothly from one page to another with her index finger. “Want some coffee?” Her head down, she continued to scroll.

  She went to the bookstore and headed for the erotic section. She glanced up and caught my shocked stare.

  “I may be old but I’m not dead.” She winked, closed out the site, and handed me back my tablet. As we strolled into the room behind the reception desk she asked, “Have you discovered anything since you were last here?”

  “Yes and no.”

  “Spoken like a politician.” She paused as she reached for the coffeepot. “Would you rather have iced tea?”

  “That sounds good.”

  Ice cubes crackled as she pulled a tray out and twisted it. She poured tea out of a plastic container with an orange lid and handed it to me. The tea was so sweet I could feel cavities form. “Just the way I like it. This is great. Thanks.”

  “So what have you discovered, dear?” She sank into the portable secretary’s chair, crossed her legs, and smoothed out her black slacks.

  “I went online and did a search of young men who would have been the same age as…”

  “Anna O’Reilly?”

  My iced tea went down the wrong way and I choked.

  “Are you all right, dear?” She got up and patted me lightly on the back, then sat back down. “Now what were you saying?”

  I cleared my throat. “I went online and did a search of young men who would have been Anna’s age and crossed off those who’d married and begat children.” Begat? I sounded like a genealogy tract.

  “Mm-hmm.” Aileen nodded vigorously.

  “If they had children and grandchildren, I scratched them off my list, as having no time to pine after Anna.”

  “That’s good,” she enthused.

  “I’ve got about seven names left that I’m going to research. By the way, I didn’t realize you actually knew the names of the ghosts.”

  “My great granny talked about it. Her momma knew the family when she was a little girl. Terrible tragedy. Died on her wedding day. Now if you were to ask most folks in town, they’d know the legend but not the names. That’s about died out, but you’re going to rectify that, aren’t you?”

  “I’m certainly going to try. And speaking of it, I’d better get to the Preservation Library. I’d like to take a look at the pictures, then go to the Hall of Records and check on those names.” I pushed to my feet.

  “Do you have the list with you, dear? I might be able to help.”

  “Yes, I do.” I dug the list out of my handbag.

  “What a darling purse,” she said admiringly. “I love pink and black. Don’t you? And that darling little pink cloth flower just sets it off.”

  “Thanks.” I adored Aileen and hoped I was half as peppy when I got to be her age.

  She pushed her modish black frames up on her nose with her index finger and unfolded the list. “I think you can rule out Tommy Jones.”

  “Why is that?”

  “He was the skeleton in the family closet.” She leaned closer. “Gay.”

  My eyes widened. “How do you know that? Never mind, your momma right?”

  She nodded. “Small Southern towns.”

  “Thanks, that will save me some time.”

  She studied the list again and gave me a speculative look. “You have quite remarkable penmanship for one of your generation.”

  “Calligraphy,” I lied.

  “Well, it’s the best I’ve seen in many a year.”

  She handed the paper back to me. I took out a purple gel pen and crossed through Tommy Jones’s name. I wondered if Liam knew about Tommy.

  “Thanks, Aileen, you’ve been very helpful.” I held out my hand. She ignored it, put her arms around me, and gave me a feathery kiss on the cheek. The strong scent of incense enveloped me. My nose tickled, and I tried not to sneeze.

  “My pleasure, my dear. It’s just so exciting having our story told. I can’t wait for the book to be published.”

  “Well, I may not get a publisher to buy it.” I prevaricated, feeling guilty about leading this delightful little ole lady on.

  “Nonsense, if you can’t find a publisher with enough sense to buy your book, self-publish. It’s all the rage these days.”

  “Good idea.” The writer’s genes I’d tried so hard to ignore stirred. I wanted to write this story, and I wanted to publish it.

  We walked toward the lobby. Liam wasn’t there. If he wasn’t ready, I’d wait outside.

  “Do you want to go upstairs and have another look around?” Aileen asked.

  “No. Thank you, though.” I couldn’t bear to watch Liam’s silent suffering. I was being a coward, but I couldn’t stand to see him in pain. And if his twin ached, he ached right along with her.

  Liam appeared as we neared the entryway, his outline more misty than normal, his color less clear. My heart caught in my throat. I forced my attention back to Aileen.

  “I’ll just ring up Ethel and let her know you’re coming. If anyone can give you information on the star-crossed lovers, she can. Wait till I tell her you’re trying to reunite—”

  “Don’t let her finish,” Liam shouted.

  I opened my mouth to interrupt her, but it was too late.

  “Anna and her William.”

  A carved antique table with a clear, pretty vase of crimson peonies crashed to the floor. The vase exploded in a geyser of crystal. Red petals scattered among the broken prisms of glass like splotches of blood.

  Chapter 12

  “Oh, dear,” Aileen said inadequately.

  “Aileen!” A small trickle of blood coursed down her paper-thin cheek. Her blush stood out in garish contrast to her blanched complexion. “You’re hurt!”

  She touched her cheek and stared at the crimson drop on her finger in wonder. “It’s nothing, just a scratch.”

  “We’ve got to get that seen to. Do you have a first aid kit? Where’s your bathroom? You better sit down,” I babbled, shaking like a leaf.

  Liam circled us, his outline sharp and defined. The light of battle shone in his eyes. “Come on out and fight, you bloody bastard.”

  He was upset to be cursing. For some reason, it calmed me. I took Aileen by the shoulder. “Let’s go to your bathroom and get you cleaned up before I deal with this mess.”

  “That’s not necessary, child.”

  “I insist.”

  “If you’ll sweep this up, I’ll go clean my face.” She looked around and shook her head. “I’ve got to quit putting my good vases on that table.”

  “Where’s the broom?”

  She pointed to a small door against the far wall.

  I trotted over, opened the door, and pulled out a broom and dustpan. “Does this happen very often?”

  Aileen stood, tapping her finger against her cheek as if in thought. She looked at me, and her eyes sparked with excitement. “You know I never made the connection before, but it only seems to happen when I mention Anna and—”

  Before she could continue, I leaped forward and placed my hand over her mouth.

  She nodded vigorously. I took my hand away.

  “That must be the trigger. Our malignant spirit
’s trying to keep them apart.” She all but danced around.

  “That must be it. You’re a regular sleuth.” I pushed enthusiasm into my voice.

  “How exciting.” She clapped her hands together. “I better go wash my face. I’ll be right back.”

  When she disappeared, I turned to Liam. “She could have been hurt. We’ve got to put a stop to this.”

  “We’re going to,” he said, his countenance grim, his legs akimbo.

  “Right.” I didn’t mention I hoped no one else got hurt in the process.

  As I emptied the shards of glass and blood-red peony petals into the wastebasket, Aileen walked back in carrying a roll of paper towels. I took the towels from her and began to sop up the puddle of water on the hardwood floor.

  “Thank you, dear. I called Ethel; she’s expecting you. It’s the only other old building on the block. You’ll recognize it.”

  “Thanks.” The dripping towels gave a soft thump as I dumped them into the wastebasket. “I’ll be in touch.”

  “Just a minute.” She trotted to the backroom and came back carrying a plastic bag filled with cookies. “Something to snack on going home. I know how you young people get hungry.”

  “Thanks.” The gesture touched me. “How’s the cheek?” She’d cleaned it up. It was a thin scratch that ran from under her eye to her chin. On a young person, it would heal in a few days, but Aileen was no longer young.

  “It’s nothing.” She made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “It’ll be good for business. By this time tomorrow they’ll probably be saying the ghost decapitated me.” She laughed.

  I didn’t. “Don’t even say such a thing.” My stomach spurted acid. What a horrible thought. What was this spirit capable of?

  “I was just teasing, dear. Our ghost has never hurt a soul. I just happened to get in the way.”

  “Well, whoever he is, I’m not letting him off the hook that easily. What if the shards had caught your eye?”

  “I’m wearing glasses, dear. Now go talk to Ethel and see if you can solve this mystery and reunite the star-crossed lovers.”

  My stomach tightened. But the term star-crossed lovers didn’t seem to have any effect on our malignant spirit. “Right.” I gave her a quick hug, her bones as frail as a bird’s beneath my hands, and left.

  “Whew.” As I closed the door, the bell tinkled behind me. Liam’s features were sharp and defined. His fists still clenched.

  “He could have hurt you,” he said between his teeth as he floated to the car and opened the door.

  I stood on the edge of the street lost in thought till a car honked and swerved. I slid in, and Liam banged Pinkie’s door shut.

  “What?” He slid in through the roof.

  “The spirit has never tried to hurt us, just warn us off.” I started the motor and pulled into traffic.

  “He hurt a little old lady and he could have hurt you.” There was a pronounced tic in Liam’s jaw.

  “But he didn’t.”

  “This time.”

  “Pleasant thought,” I muttered.

  He continued, “There’s a cold hazy barrier I can’t break through. I can only catch glimpses of a dark outline.”

  “Can’t make out who it is?”

  “No.”

  “Well, we can scratch Tommy Jones off the list.” I pulled to a stop in front of an old one-story building with the words Preservation Library painted in gold above the door. “He was gay. But you wouldn’t know what that means.”

  His head swiveled toward mine like an exorcist victim, jaw dropped and eyes widened. “I know what it means. I watch the news. But Tommy Jones? You must be mistaken.”

  “It’s okay to be gay in today’s world.”

  “I know; I watch the news,” he repeated and hunkered down in the seat, his face bright red. “How do you know that he was, was…”

  “Gay?” I finished helpfully. “Aileen told me. Her great granny was told by her momma. Apparently, it was the town scandal.”

  “I don’t doubt that.” He shook his head. “You’d never know from the stories he told.”

  “I loathe sexual prowess lies. I doubt there’s a girl in school that hasn’t been the butt of one. Tell me you never bragged about that sort of thing.”

  “I would never betray a young woman who gifted me with her favors. I’m a gentleman.” He lifted his chin and his eyebrows drew together.

  “Of course you are. I should never have questioned it. Let’s go in.” My seatbelt snapped into its holster as I pushed the button and he opened the door. “Thanks. Did you speak to Anna?”

  “If that’s what you’d call it.” His face lost its animation.

  I wished I hadn’t asked and refrained from any further questions as we entered the library. The door creaked when Liam opened it. I didn’t even bother to put my hand on it and pretend. The smell of must and old books hit me in the face as we walked in, and I put a finger under my nose so I wouldn’t sneeze.

  A woman who made Aileen look like a teenager hobbled toward us, leaning heavily on a cane. I swear I could hear her bones creak.

  “You must be Caitlin. Aileen called and said you were on your way. She also said there’d been paranormal activity.” Her eyes glinted behind thick glasses. Where Aileen still dressed like a youngster, Ethel wore a long, shapeless paisley mauve dress with a starched lace collar and black thick-soled shoes.

  “That’s right. A flying vase. We appreciate you letting us— I mean, I appreciate you letting me look around.”

  She looked at me strangely. Not that I blamed her. With each passing day, Liam had become more real to me. It was as natural to be with him as it was to breathe. I no longer considered him ectoplasm, just Liam. Someone who’d become a part of my life.

  “What a lovely shawl.” I pointed at a black silk wrap with red cabbage roses on it, faded but still beautiful. I crossed my fingers and hoped it would distract her from my strange comment.

  “It is, isn’t it? The Baumgartner family donated it. It came all the way from Paris.”

  “It’s very pretty.” My pulse quickened. The wall to the right of the silk wrap was lined with old pictures. What were they called, daguerreotypes? Tintypes?

  Ethel noticed my interest. “Feel free to look around. If you need me, I’ll be at my desk.” She hobbled to an antique desk and pulled out a book with a lurid cover. I choked on a snort. She and Aileen might not dress alike, but they were kindred spirits in their reading material.

  I meandered around the room, studying the pictures. There were hundreds of them, with no rhyme or reason. In the later pictures, film had replaced plates. On the far wall, photos in color were creeping in. I ignored them and studied the older pictures.

  “Caitlin.”

  Something about the timbre of Liam’s voice had me hurrying to his side.

  “What is it?”

  “Did you say something, dear?” Ethel glanced up.

  “I talk to myself. Sorry I bothered you.” I really had to stop that.

  She nodded and went back to her book.

  If Liam noticed my gaff, he paid no attention, his focus on a six-and-a-half by eight-and-a-half picture in front of him.

  “Oh, it’s you and your family,” I breathed. There could be no mistake. A beautiful woman sat beside a handsome man. Liam stood behind and to the side of their mother, and Anna behind and to the side of their father. Even with the stiff pose, I could see the twinkle in Liam’s eyes. His twin looked just like him, only petite and feminine. Their eyes were shaped like their mother’s and they had her dark hair, but the sensuous mouths belonged to their father.

  There were three more: one of his parents, one of Anna, and one of Liam, his hand on his horse’s neck. I lingered the longest on the photo of Liam. It reminded me of the night we’d driven to the ocean and he’d told me he loved to ride.

  I had to have that picture. I dug into my purse, pulled out my phone, and snapped pictures. I
took three of Liam with his horse to make sure I got at least one good one.

  “Ahem.”

  My pulse jumped as Ethel cleared her throat. I’d been so engrossed I’d never noticed her approach.

  “I hope you don’t mind.” I slipped my phone back in my purse.

  “For the book?”

  Ah, Aileen had been a busy bee. “Yes.” And for my bedside table.

  “Just be sure to mention they were taken at the library, dear.”

  “I will.”

  She hobbled off again, and I went back to studying the portraits.

  There was one more picture taken in front of a little white church with a tall steeple. A group of people stood in front of it. The women held picnic baskets. I leaned closer to study it. Most stared at the camera, except Anna, who gazed up at a handsome young man, her face filled with adoration. “William?” I asked under my breath. Another boy stared at Anna.

  Liam nodded, his gaze fixed on the picture.

  “Who’s that?”

  “Who?”

  “The young boy staring at your sister.”

  “Oh, that’s Ezra Ames. He was always under foot. He wasn’t quite right, but harmless.”

  I wonder…

  “Amazing. You’ve done your homework. How did you recognize the star-crossed lovers? At least that’s what Aileen and I think. Just look at the way she looks at him. Aileen promised not to tell. We wanted to see if you could pick them out.” Ethel nodded her approval.

  I didn’t need to answer, just nod as she kept up a running commentary. She followed my involuntary glance to Liam’s picture.

  “The brother. Handsome as sin, wasn’t he?”

  “Oh yes.”

  Liam reddened, poofed to the other side of the room, and hung out near the ceiling.

  “And quite the ladies’ man if the legends are to be believed.”

  “Oh really?” Acid spurted in my tummy. I curled my toes to keep from tapping them. Geesh. Jealous of women from a bygone era. Get over it, Caitlin.

  “But a good lad all in all.”