by K. M. Waller
He smiled at MaryAnn, his charm having its usual effect on women as she smoothed her hair and fluttered her lashes in response.
“I don’t mean to sound rude, but why would Mrs. Chase decorate with pictures of this missing girl? Seems like a sore spot.”
“They are most likely pictures from her personal photo albums. Mellie and Samuel were friends. Tim too. The three of them hung out together before she disappeared. That’s Tim in the back row there.”
Amira thought back to the dynamics of the B&B. Ramona and Samuel barely acknowledged Tim. Cookie’s dislike for the “hoity-toitys” made sense now. Samuel had left Tim in the stables while he and the viper lived in the big house. But if Amira calculated correctly, Mellie disappeared in the mid-nineties. Why would someone call on her ghost now?
“Is there anything else in the store that belonged to Mellie?” Lex asked.
“I really can’t recall. I remember this figure because it’s a Lenox collectible and Mellie’s parents were able to fetch a good price for it from me. If there were any other things, they’re long gone by now. That was the last item I had in the store. Her parents just couldn’t bear to keep her things and they knew I’d treat them with care.”
Lex thanked MaryAnn for putting up with their inquisitiveness.
Amira pulled one of the elderly woman’s hands into her own. “I’m sorry we dredged up such a painful story for you tell.”
MaryAnn squeezed her hand. “In a small community, everyone is affected when a child goes missing.”
Lex put his hand on the small of Amira’s back, the gesture becoming a familiar way of communication between them. She put the horse back inside her purse and they exited the antique shop.
“That’s quite a story,” she said. “Do you think Mellie was murdered?”
“It’s possible, but not a certainty.”
“What if Samuel had something to do with it? Or Tim? Would they have taken something from her when they killed her, like a personal memento?”
Lex narrowed his eyes. “I think you’re getting a little too Dateline. There’s no evidence that Mellie died due to foul play. She could’ve been knocked from her horse and suffered a head wound.”
She cut her eyes at him. “Do you really believe that she’d stick around and haunt her teen friends if it had been an accident? That she’s not here for a reason?”
“An agent can hope.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe she stuck around because they didn’t find her body.”
She shook her head, refusing to believe Mellie had shown up after all these years to push over vases for no reason. “No way, Lex. We’re not sending Mellie back to the other side until we’ve solved the mystery behind her death, and that’s final.”
He stepped in closer to her, his gaze lowering to her mouth before traveling back up to her eyes. “Is this the part where you dress all in black leather and boss me around?”
“I don’t need to dress in black to boss you around.” Amira bit the inside of her cheek at the memory of her youngest sister dressing her like a Buffy the Vampire Slayer wannabe when she’d needed to win him over during the Burberry case. She glanced up and down the sidewalk and noticed Tim watching them from in front of a small diner.
She nodded toward Tim. “We’ll have to continue the dressing up discussion later when we don’t have an audience.”
He backed up a step to maintain their cover. “How do you suggest we proceed?”
“I think you should ‘interview’ Tim for the show and get some additional background on him. I’m going to find the local police station and hear their theories on what happened to Mellie. In a town this small, I’m sure it’ll be easy to pull information.”
“Why don’t we flip-flop that assignment?”
“Sure. I wouldn’t mind spending more time with Tim. Maybe he’ll take off his shirt again.” Amira dug lip gloss out of her purse and applied it to her lips.
Lex didn’t relish Amira spending more time alone with Tim. “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll take Tim.”
“That does make more sense. He really wants a sit down with you.”
“Great,” he murmured, sarcasm dripping from the one word.
“Great,” she repeated and kept her tone perky. “I’ll meet you back at the truck in an hour.”
“That long?”
“Stop whining.” She winked at him and pulled out her cell phone to search for the local police station. Luckily it wasn’t more than a few blocks away. Small towns liked to keep everything important in the center.
She patted the horse through the side of her purse. Don’t worry, Mellie. Lex and I will solve your unfinished business.
Chapter Eight
Lex grimaced when Amira flagged down Tim and waved him forward. Even though they’d reached a shaky truce in their relationship, it still felt like she was making him pay for some misdeed.
Tim approached them and glanced inside the window of the antique store. “Find what you were looking for?”
“Mostly.” Amira grabbed Lex by his upper arm and pulled him closer to Tim. “Mr. Dimas would like to talk to you more about your resume. Is there a place you can take him for lunch?”
Tim’s face brightened. “There’s a cafe across the street. They serve home-style southern food. The best around.”
Amira pinched him, and Lex gritted his teeth. He stepped forward. “Sounds awesome.”
Tim glanced at Amira, giving her a smile. “Won’t you be joining us?”
She returned his smile. “I’d like to do a little more sightseeing. I’ll meet you gentlemen right back here in an hour.”
Amira darted off down the sidewalk and Lex watched her until she turned the corner. He didn’t doubt she could handle herself with the local police, but he still preferred her company over Tim’s. He knew the reason he didn’t like the sometimes shirt-optional man. Jealousy plain and simple. But he’d never admit it to Amira. He glanced back at his lunch mate and tried to add some excitement to his tone. “Shall we?”
Tim led them across the street to the Back Porch Café. Signs heralded the café as having “award winning fried chicken” and “grits so good you’ll wanna smack your momma.”
They sat down at an empty table near the back. Lex positioned his chair so he could watch the entrance and passersby mill around outside the front windows.
A waitress took their drink and food order, and when she returned with two tall glasses of sweetened iced tea, Tim reached into his back pocket and retrieved a folded piece of paper.
“I brought a copy of my headshot just in case. My resume is on the back.” He unfolded it and pushed it across the table. “I spent some time in L.A. and took an acting class or two while I was there.”
Lex pulled the resume in front of him and tried to focus on the writing below a shirtless picture of Tim. He’d done some stand-in work on a few indie films, but nothing major. Mostly, he’d spent his years doing construction jobs around Britton.
Lex tapped the top of the picture. “You do realize that as a potential producer, I really don’t have casting authority.”
Tim’s smile faded and his posture shifted. “All I’m asking for is a chance.”
Lex didn’t want to lose the man’s willingness to talk, so he shifted gears. “You’ve lived here in Britton all your life?”
“My aunt took me in right after my eleventh birthday. My parents weren’t getting on so well, and she didn’t have a family of her own.”
“Were you and Samuel good friends growing up?” Lex lifted his hands. “I’m asking to see how well you two can get along together. I’d like to make sure there isn’t any bad blood between you.”
Tim scratched at the top of the table with his fingernail. “Honestly? I can’t stand the guy.”
Lex let the man’s honesty sit between them for a few seconds before he asked, “Why not?”
“He came from the same playground, yet he acts as if he’s always been better than the rest of us once he made it big in Hol
lywood.” His gaze hardened. “I should’ve auditioned for that ghost hunting show but I thought the entire premise was stupid. He didn’t even care about acting until he heard I’d left for L.A., and then boom, he’s got his own show, and I’m back here working in the stables.”
Tim definitely harbored hard feelings toward Chase, but that didn’t connect him to Mellie, the ghost girl.
Their food arrived, and both men became engrossed in their thoughts and the fried chicken. Lex chewed thoughtfully and remembered the looks exchanged between Tim and Ramona when she’d kicked him out of the main house.
He sipped his tea and worded the next comment carefully. “I wonder if half of Chase’s success is because of his girlfriend’s ambition. Ramona doesn’t seem to be one to take ‘no’ for an answer.”
Tim stilled his fork and gravy dripped from his mashed potatoes down to his plate. The friendliness left the other man’s expression at the mention of Ramona.
Lex had hit a nerve.
“She’s not his girlfriend,” he answered. He set the fork down on his plate. “Ramona manages his affairs.”
Tim’s phone chimed, and he stood up. “Excuse me while I take this outside.”
As Tim walked out and down the sidewalk, Lex realized he’d just been left with the check. Not that he minded paying, but he wanted to know why the mention of Ramona had shut Tim down.
Did the two have a secret relationship? Did it matter? Lex cleaned his plate and waved at the waitress. He recalled his task: identify bad paranormals and stop their badness from harming humans. In and out. In and out. This drama reminded him of the soap operas his mother had watched before she’d passed away.
Hopefully, Amira had better luck obtaining information at the police station.
∞∞∞
Amira instantly liked the Britton police officer with her cherub cheeks and Shirley Temple hair framing her face. If she broke out singing “On The Good Ship Lollipop,” the good girl vibe would be complete. The officer’s nametag read Littleton.
“How can I help you, ma’am?” Officer Littleton’s tone dripped sweetness.
“I’m—” Amira stopped cold. She didn’t have a cover to justify asking for information on Mellie. “Do you have a records department?”
“You’re looking at her. I also make the coffee, take out the trash, and handle dispatch.”
“I need information on a past case.”
“Sure. Do you have an incident report number?”
“Just like that?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t have to provide a reason for wanting the information?”
“Just an incident report number.”
“What if it’s a cold case and I don’t have the number?”
Officer Littleton’s hands hovered above her keyboard. “Now I’m going to start asking you some questions.”
“Good. I didn’t want to think any weirdo could come in here and start pulling police records of any case.”
“Well, in Georgia, most of the times they can because of the freedom of information laws. We do charge for copies though.” Her eyes trailed up and down Amira and settled on her face. “You’re not a reporter or you’d already know that. I don’t think you’re any other law enforcement because you’d definitely know that. So, you are…”
An amateur investigator at best. Goddesses of trees, she needed Lex. “I’m a ghost chaser.” She pulled out the picture of Mellie and hoped she wasn’t ruining their cover with her newest lie.
Officer Littleton’s eyes softened as they rested on the picture. “The Mellie Waterson disappearance.”
“You know this case?” Officer Littleton looked like she’d graduated the police academy only six months before.
“Everyone from around here knows this case. My parents used to tell me stories about how they helped with the search. She’s a cautionary tale for every girl around these parts not to go off on her own.”
“Miss MaryAnn from the antique store said she just disappeared while out riding.”
The phone trilled and Officer Littleton held up her hand. She answered, and after assuring the person on the other end that she’d send someone around to deal with a noise disturbance, she focused her attention back on Amira. “The file sits on a corner on the chief’s desk. Like a shrine to the only unsolved case Britton’s ever known. He’s at a conference in Atlanta today, but if you leave your name and number, I’ll call you when he returns.”
Amira scribbled her number on a sticky note. She paused and looked at Officer Littleton. “You didn’t even question that I said I was hunting ghosts.”
The officer shrugged. “Like you said earlier—any weirdo can come in and request information.”
Amira bit the inside of her cheek. Touché. She left the number on the counter and walked back onto the sidewalk. She hoped Lex had better luck with getting information from Tim. She glanced at the time on her phone. Jordie should be arriving at the B&B soon.
The light to cross at the crosswalk changed in her favor and she stepped out, but jumped back when she saw Tim on the other side with his back turned. He’d walked a long way away from the diner. Where was Lex?
He didn’t notice her, and she crept across the two-lane main street and then dashed behind the corner of the nearest brick building. A woman pushing a stroller walked by and gave her questioning glances. This didn’t help with her label as “not a weirdo.” It’d be nice if she came from one of those witch families that could glamour invisibility or something helpful like that. Not that she’d consider using her magic. No way, no how.
She peeked around the corner and breathed a sigh of relief that Tim’s back was still turned to her. He spoke in hushed tones just a few yards away. There wasn’t any way to get closer to hear what he said, but since meeting him, this was the first time she’d seen him angry.
“What are you doing?”
The voice behind her startled her so bad she stumbled over her feet and hit the sidewalk with a hard thud.
Lex yanked her up quickly and pulled her away from the corner.
She smacked his chest. “You scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry. Tim left our meeting a little irritated, so I followed him down this way.”
“I didn’t want him to see me coming out of the police station, so I snuck across the crosswalk. I can’t hear who he’s talking to.”
He slipped his hand in hers. “Let’s go back around this way and head back.”
On their way to Tim’s truck, Lex filled her in on his conversation with Tim about Ramona. Amira told him about waiting to hear from the police chief.
They made it back before Tim.
Amira pulled open the truck tailgate and sat down. “Ramona’s a hot button for Tim. I wonder if Samuel and Tim were romantic rivals in the past? Maybe Mellie was the girl the other one couldn’t have.”
Lex leaned against the truck and folded his arms across his chest. “That’s assuming something sinister happened to Mellie.”
“So, we still have nothing?”
“No, we’re right where we need to be. We have identified the ghost. All we need to do now is find the object binding her here and get her to the other side.”
“Why are you in such a hurry to get done with this assignment?”
“Why are you dragging it out?”
“She’s someone daughter, sister, and friend, and she didn’t get to live out her dreams. It’s not fair. That’s why she’s stuck here.”
Lex did that annoying thing where he raised an eyebrow as if she didn’t know what she was doing. “You don’t know that, and you can’t treat every assignment like a personal mission. You’ll burn out too quickly.”
“It’s better to be detached? Not care about the victim of a crime? I thought you moved past that way of thinking on your last assignment.” She glanced down the sidewalk where Tim approached. She held up a finger. “Don’t answer that. Here he comes.”
She jumped down off the tailgate, d
etermination infusing her every movement.
Lex rubbed a hand over his face and scratched his chin. “I’m not getting another kiss any time soon, am I?”
Amira sighed. As much as she wanted to kiss Lex, she wanted him to understand her need to help Mellie more. She’d force him into it if she had to. She thought back to the assignment in Burberry. They hadn’t been on the same page then either. Looked like they were right back where they’d started.
Chapter Nine
Tim dropped them off at the front entrance to the B&B. Lex hovered at the doorway, his attention drawn to the Rolls Royce Phantom in the gravel parking area.
His blood pressure shot up to a point of making his ears ring. That car had better belong to some long lost rich cousin of Samuel Chase. His gut churned, and he knew deep down his assistant had accessed his bank account and rented one of the most expensive vehicles in America.
Jordie’s unmistakable laugh rang out from the main sitting area.
Lex joined Amira, who stood at the door to the sitting room.
“Goddesses almighty.” The words came out in a hiss between her teeth.
Lex couldn’t imagine what could be worse than the Rolls, but bit back that remark when he saw Amira’s pink-haired youngest sister, Ris, lounging in a chair. Her black boots were kicked up on an ottoman, and she played with a piece of gum in her mouth—stringing it out before shoving it back in.
She turned to him and whispered, “I’m going to kill him for bringing her along.”
“We have to remain calm,” he whispered back. “We’re not supposed to know who she is.”
Amira cut her eyes at him, and he knew she was seconds away from blowing their assignment.
He needed to take his own advice and calm down. But how dare Jordie put their assignment in jeopardy to show off in front of Ris?
Lex walked into the room and squeezed his assistant’s shoulder. “Jordie Small, such a pleasure to see you again. I see you made it safe and sound in that fantastic and ridiculously expensive car.” Jordie tried to squirm away, but Lex increased the pressure on his grip. “Who’s this you’ve brought with you?”