by Maria Quick
27
Say what you like about my father, he is not a liar. He’d picked up a newspaper in the lobby and was firmly camped against my door, blocking any viable exits. I supposed I could try to jump out the window, but there was a little too much room between the 8th floor and the ground for my liking.
Time to whip out my arsenal of vague excuses.
George waited in silence as I changed in the bathroom. He frowned as I came out, realizing a hoody and jeans were not my usual nightwear.
‘You don’t look like you’re about to nap,’ he commented, as I retied my laces.
‘That’s probably because I’m not,’ I said quietly.
‘Your dad’s not at risk for a stroke, is he?’
I rolled my eyes and ignored him. I switched on my laptop one last time, conscious of the fact that there might be a key logger on it. Regardless, I searched Angela and Ronnie’s names in the hope that everything had worked out in the past five minutes. No such luck. Ronnie was still missing, in body and soul, and there was nothing on Angela. It was down to me. Perfect.
‘Let’s go,’ I sighed.
George made no move to follow me to the door.
‘What are you doing?’ he asked.
‘Ronnie’s out there, struggling to come to terms with his death. He’s run away. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. We have to help him.’
He stared at me.
‘If this doesn’t end now, he’s going to follow me forever and I am not having that.’
‘Ah, now I get it,’ he said.
‘Does a good deed stop being a good deed if it’s done for selfish reasons?’
He chewed it over.
‘Yeah. Hundred percent yes.’
‘Last time I ever ask your opinion,’ I muttered. ‘Come on. We have to find him.’
‘Great. Excellent, even. What’s the plan? Do you have some amazing new intel you haven’t shared with the group? Because last time I checked, we knew zilch.’
Still unfortunately true, but I’d guessed we’d come across him somewhere. Besides, I hadn’t seen any other lucies around so he’d probably find us eventually.
‘Knowing nothing hasn’t stopped me in the past,’ I told him brightly.
‘Yeah, that sounds like you.’
‘Thanks. Ready to go?’
‘Sure! Let me grab a jacket,’ he said, swiping a hand at the coat rack. ‘Oh, wait.’
‘Nice. Come on.’
I knocked gently on the door so my dad had time to stand up. I put on my sheepish face to counter his wary one.
‘Going somewhere?’
‘I need to get some air. I feel like my throat is closing and I’m sweating and can’t breathe and the room is closing in-’
‘Okay, okay! Bree, chill. It’s okay. Have you opened a window?’
Where would I be without you, Daddy?
‘Yeah. All of them. And I turned the AC on but it made it worse.’
He nodded as though that made a single shred of sense.
‘Well, maybe we could sit in the lobby. The door’s open, there’s a breeze coming in...’
‘I really need to clear my head. Look, I’m sorry. I got involved in something I shouldn’t, and I am not doing it again. I’m going to walk on the beach for an hour or so, and then I’ll be back. I promise.’
He wrestled with himself, but gave in like I knew he would. I knew him. I knew the magic words to use, and none of those included the word “ghost.”
‘Okay. Maybe the fresh air will do you good,’ he said, as though it was his idea in the first place.
‘Right. See you later, Dad.’
‘You got your cell?’ he called after me.
‘Yeah, of course.’ Probably.
I was relieved to see no cops in the lobby or around the hotel. They really trusted my father. What a shame that was going to be.
‘I can’t believe you lied to your dad again,’ George hissed from behind as we headed to a beach.
‘What? Every kid in history has lied to their parents.’
‘Yeah, but not that obviously. There was always some semblance of truth in there somewhere.’
‘Well, I’m a better liar than you,’ I shrugged.
‘That’s not a good thing, Bree,’ he sighed.
‘Ann. And it is in my world.’
‘Don’t you get tired of it?’ he rambled on, switching on his ethics mode.
‘It’s survival. I don’t really think about it anymore.’
I’d annoyingly left my sunglasses in the hotel room, and the sun was blazing down. Right in my eyes. Now I was blind. I tried squinting in all directions to catch sight of a stray ghost, but no such luck. I doubted the strip bar would be open now, otherwise that’d be my first port of call.
‘Maybe you should. It’s kinda psychopathic that it comes that naturally to you.’
‘Oh, great. I’m a psychopath, am I?’ I shouted.
A poor unsuspecting skater veered off into a lamppost at my announcement. Whoops, maybe George was right. Hastily, I took out my cell, readying my arm for holding it up to my ear for a stupid amount of time.
‘I didn’t say that, exactly,’ George sighed, stifling a laugh.
We took a walk and headed to a quieter beach, with nobody in earshot. Then, we stood there, since we had no plan whatsoever.
‘Tell me about the cop,’ he said.
‘The dead one?’
‘What? No, not that guy. Not this case. I’m talking about the one who believed you.’
‘Tommy?’ I asked, even more baffled. ‘Where did that come from?’
‘I’m guessing he’s the only one you never lied to. I’m curious, is all.’
‘What do you want to know?’ I asked, feeling a little dizzy. I should’ve drank water.
‘Everything?’
‘Well, that narrowed it down.’
He rolled his eyes.
‘How did you meet?’
‘How else? I was helping a dead guy.’
He looked oddly fascinated by that amazing opening to a story, so I knuckled down and gave him the bare bones.
It was about a year ago, or twelve months or- wait, they’re the same thing. Wow, I really should’ve had a drink today. Anyway, I forget the lucy’s name now, but I was poking about somewhere I shouldn’t be. A house, I think it was. I’d broken in, natch. Tommy was walking his beat when he heard me breaking stuff. Accidentally, of course. It was pitch black and I couldn’t find a light switch. The lucy had been no help at all in that respect. I think his name was Bob or something dull like that. So, Tommy came in with a flashlight, asked what I was doing. And I told him that a dead man was giving me directions to Pandora’s Box or whatever I was looking for.
And he believed me. Straight off the bat.
Not like Ally. He was sane. He knew I was rich, so I wasn’t stealing. And we ended up finding the McGuffin, so clearly I was telling the truth. After that, I kept him up-to-date on the latest goings-on in Lucy Land, and a lot of arrests were made. Things were good.
Were.
‘He was a good friend,’ I said softly. ‘Not only for believing me, but he listened. He talked to me about a lot of things. I told him about my mom. I know it sounds weird, since he was old enough to be my dad, but it wasn’t like that. Not Tommy. He was a good man.’
‘Uh-oh.’
‘What?’
‘You said “was.”’
‘Yeah.’
‘Is he-?’
‘A goner? Yeah, he is. I got him killed,’ I said, by way of explanation.
I could see his curiosity eating him up, but he was still human enough not to ask how. I was glad for that. Tommy’s death hit me pretty hard. As terrible as it sounded, his friendship had been the high point of my life thus far. Wow, that did sound truly pathetic. With him gone, I felt like I was the girl who saw ghosts again, instead of just Anna. Ann. Dang, even I forgot my own name sometimes.
‘Uh-oh,’ George said again.
I nodded.
�
��Yeah, it was pretty bad.’
‘Nope, not that,’ he cringed.
I looked him up and down.
‘Did you pee yourself?’
‘What? No! No! Can that happen?’
‘Hasn’t happened yet,’ I assured him. He crossed his legs to be on the safe side.
‘Well, anyway, it’s not that,’ he hissed.
‘Then, what is it?’
‘I found Angela,’ he said in a bright, “I-swear-I’m-putting-a-positive-spin-on-this” tone.
‘Where? Oh no. Oh no,’ I emphasized, wishing I’d chosen a slightly more occupied patch of land.
‘Yeah, how fast can you run?’
‘I could outrun a Ferrari.’
‘Really?’ he asked, surprised.
‘Sure, if it was parked.’
‘Okay, that’s not going to help here.’
‘How much time do I have?’ I asked, afraid to turn around. He didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. I heard the distinct sound of a gun cocking right behind my ear.
‘None,’ Angela whispered.
28
Turns out “none” was not the measurement of time I thought it was.
‘We’re going for a walk,’ Angela said, nudging me roughly. I stumbled, and tried to look at her. She pistol-whipped me upside the head. Or shotgun-whipped. I couldn’t see what it was.
‘Don’t you dare look at me!’
‘I can’t now, I think I’m blind,’ I mumbled, nursing my sore head.
‘Walk,’ she ordered.
I acquiesced, shiftily looking about as I did. It was a Sunday evening. Nobody was at work, it was a gorgeous day.
There was nobody around. No-one at all. I mean, there might’ve been a guy in the far distance, but it could also have been a rock. I was royally screwed.
For now, anyway. Something will surely happen to save my life. Right?
‘Faster,’ she nudged.
‘I don’t do fast,’ I snapped.
She hit me with the gun again.
‘You do now.’
‘How did you even know how to find me?’ I asked, watching the sand swirl.
‘Who said I was trying to find you?’ she snarled. ‘I was retracing the steps my husband and I had taken and lo and behold, there you are. Ruining my life again. Now shut up and move.’
I could practically feel my lungs burning as she led me towards my death. The “guy/rock” did in fact turn out to be a rock, bad news for me. She was leading me toward it, for reasons I couldn’t fathom. It didn’t seem high enough to push me off.
George was equally confused. He’d been jogging alongside me to keep me company, but when he saw what she was doing, he ran ahead to scope it out.
He trotted back shortly afterwards, looking anxious.
‘Good news and bad news, I suppose.’
I cleared my throat, hoping he understood I meant for him to continue. I didn’t think talking to myself would do me any good in this situation. Thankfully, George was a smart boy.
‘Um, there’s a cave. It’s really dark and miserable. And wet, so I guess the tide will soon come in and drown it.’
I really, really hoped that was the bad news.
‘But Ronnie’s there!’
Nope, apparently that was.
‘I’m still waiting to hear something good,’ I mumbled.
‘What did you say?’ Angela hissed, going with the tried-and-tested method of hitting me with her weapon again.
‘Uh, I have to use the bathroom?’
She laughed nastily.
‘You won’t need it where you’re going.’
‘The swimming pool?’
George gave me a look of utter disgust. I shrugged at him.
‘Move it!’ she barked, but I was already going as fast as I could.
In no time at all, it seemed, we reached the cave of doom. I was in no way relieved to find out that George’s description was completely on point.
He hadn’t mentioned how small it was, though. It was cramped to hell with me and Angela in there, and we had to duck. Never mind poor George halfway through the wall. Ronnie jumped when he saw us, and I managed to glimpse his sheen move slightly out of our way. With Angela blocking the exit and the sun, his skin was my only source of light.
‘Guys! You’re here. I’ve remembered where I put the case! It’s- wait, why are you here? Who’s that behind you? Is that- Angela?! What the bloody hell is she- Wait, what’s that in her hand? It’s-’
He paused.
‘Okay, I’m caught up.’
Just in time for Angela to launch into her own monolog. I could hardly contain myself.
‘You thought you were clever, didn’t you? Your father went missing, and he’d obviously mentioned the money to you. You didn’t know him, really. Felt nothing for him. But the money... Yes, you wanted that. Perhaps you felt like you deserved it after all the years you’d spent without him. So, you came down here, and spoke to his loving wife. You broke into my holiday cabin. You no doubt attempted to steal my jewelry, too. I was afraid for my life. Naturally, I took my boyfriend’s gun for self-defense. I ran away to safety, but you managed to follow me. You cornered me in this cave where we tussled, and I pulled the trigger. Unfortunately, you died. Any last words?’ she concluded.
Oh, I had a few.
‘He’s not my father,’ I started with.
She waited.
‘Is that it?’
‘I have no relation to Ronnie. I’d never met the man while he was alive, and I could care less about the money.’
As Ronnie danced about and gave her the finger, I caught a glimpse of confusion in her eyes. Better than nothing.
‘Then, what are you doing here?’
‘I see ghosts.’
She chuckled.
‘Really, that’s your defense?’
‘He’s here now. He told me how you killed him. You hit him over the head with a champagne bottle, and pushed him off the pier.’
‘Educated guess,’ she shrugged. ‘Perhaps you saw me do it.’
‘Tell her she’s got a birthmark on her right inner thigh,’ Ronnie whispered. I kindly relayed the message.
She faltered, but contained herself.
‘I’ve worn a few bikinis. You probably saw me on the beach.’
‘Jesus, still as stubborn as ever,’ Ronnie grumbled. ‘Tell her that her mother’s name is Sandra.’
‘Really? Mother’s name? What about her eye color? Giving real good information here, Ron,’ George inputted, probably saving me.
‘Anything else you’d like to impart?’ Angela prodded me.
‘Sure, one second. There’s some ectoplasm in my ear,’ I explained.
‘Ooh! Got one! Tell her “19th June, 2004.” Go on, tell her that.’
I did.
‘What happened?’ George asked, as she gasped and backed away.
‘The day she found a gray hair and started dyeing,’ Ronnie cackled.
‘Really? Dyeing her hair? You gave me that?’ I muttered, but strangely, it worked. The narcissistic cow was actually afraid. She hadn’t lowered her gun, and she still seemed angry, though. Couldn’t win everything.
‘He must’ve told you, the bastard. I knew I shouldn’t have told him.’
‘Yes, he did tell me. Right now. I met him a few days ago. He’s still wearing speedos,’ I shuddered.
She blanched at that, too. Hey, this was pretty good. Maybe she’d die of fright.
‘He was going to kill you, you know.’
‘Me?’ she asked, caught completely by surprise. ‘Why was he going to kill me?’
‘Because you’re a bitch!’ Ronnie yelled in her face.
‘He didn’t like you very much,’ I translated.
‘Neither of us liked each other, Bonnie. Bridget? What’s your name?’
‘Brianna,’ I answered, wondering how they both had trouble with simple things.
‘Brianna? Ugh. Is that even a name? What was I saying?’ she murmured, distracted
.
‘You were wholeheartedly recommending your marriage,’ I said, brushing a spider off my neck.
‘Oh, that. Yes, we didn’t really like each other, if I’m honest. But it never went towards hatred, not really. Why on Earth did he want to kill me?’
I think I shared a look with the two guys, but honestly, it was so dark I couldn’t tell what I was looking at. Either we’d missed something, or she was insane. One of the two. Or both, more likely. You couldn’t be right in the head if you chose to spend your life with Ronnie Higgins.
‘You killed him,’ I pointed out.
‘Yes, but I had reason to. He was getting too close.’
‘To Molly?’ Ronnie asked.
I repeated it, and she laughed. Guess not.
‘His mistress? God, no. She could have him, as far as I was concerned. As long as she’s not in his will.’
‘Then, what am I missing?’ I asked, before Ronnie could parrot me.
She turned around, checking the actual coast was clear no doubt. She was too quick for me to wrest the gun off her. She was too quick for me to have that thought before she turned back around, too.
‘Well, I suppose I owe it to you in a cosmic, karmic way. If you are in fact telling the truth about Ronnie being here now, anyway.’
‘Wait, you believe me?’ I asked, taken aback.
‘Why not? It’s rather an odd thing to say. I don’t much care either way. But if he is there, he can fill you in on the stuff I deem unnecessary or dull.’
‘Will you remind her that she was born in Hackney? That bloody accent’s grating on me,’ her husband grumbled.
She launched into the story before I could bother to not do that.
‘It all started five years ago. It was at a charity gala for his firm, if I recall. I bloody hated going to those things,’ she shuddered.
‘Full of sleazy imbeciles and arrogant drunks,’ Ronnie muttered.
‘Full of sleazy drunks and arrogant imbeciles,’ his wife confirmed. George and I jumped. ‘Anyway, we had to go, really. It was there that I met him for the first time. David Jackson.’
She seemed to swoon, Ronnie made a gagging noise. Okay, they weren’t total twins.
‘He was attractive. And confident, and other things that Ronnie isn’t,’ she said, clearing her throat.
He muttered under his breath. It probably wasn’t complimentary.