by Rose Pressey
His expression turned to a slight frown. “What’s that?”
“No matter how sweet you try to act, he’s not going to like this,” Charlotte said.
Charlotte wasn’t helping matters. I just needed to say it. Dylan would have to get over it. What was done was done.
“Well, I was passing by the graveyard and Charlotte suggested that I have a look around.” I straightened the bracelets on the display so that I wouldn’t have to look at him.
“Do you always do what Charlotte tells you to do?” Dylan asked.
“Yes, she does.” Charlotte studied her perfectly painted red fingernails. “It serves her well to listen to me. I know what I’m talking about.”
“No, I don’t always do what she says, but I suppose it didn’t seem like a horrible idea. And now I’m glad that I followed through with it.”
“Why is that?” Dylan crossed his arms in front of his chest.
I reached under the counter and pulled out my purse. The phone was in the plastic bag. I handed it to him. “I found Tyler’s phone last night in the graveyard.”
He looked at the phone and back to me.
I held the bag up. “It’s true. I looked at it to see who it belonged to. So my fingerprints will be on it.”
“Your fingerprints are on a lot of things,” he said, taking the bag from my outstretched hand.
“Oh, he doesn’t sound happy with you,” Minnie said. “This match made in heaven might be in jeopardy.”
“Better call Ken. He might need to bail you out,” Charlotte said. “Cookie, you can’t wear vintage in prison.”
“Where did you find it in the graveyard? We searched everywhere,” Dylan said.
“It was underneath a tree. Maybe the killer came back and dropped it?” I suggested. “You know they sometimes take something from the victim as a memento.”
I didn’t want him to think that they had missed such an important clue.
“Yes, I’m aware. I think it’s unlikely the killer returned,” he said.
Charlotte shook her head. “Honestly, Cookie, the things you come up with. Why would the killer do something like that?”
Maybe a ghost had harassed the killer into doing it.
“I suppose I don’t need to look at the phone to find out what’s on it. You can tell me? Since you decided to wait until today to tell me about it. You could have called last night.”
Charlotte laughed. “He’s even cuter when he’s angry.”
“This is an awkward conversation,” Minnie said.
Yes, it was awkward, but I didn’t regret going into the graveyard and finding the phone. I didn’t even regret looking at it. I would stand my ground.
“I think he had an ex-girlfriend who may have been stalking him. Plus, there’s another woman that he was speaking with that I would like to talk with.” I gestured toward the phone.
“I bet you would,” Dylan said. “Would you also like the police department to hire you?”
“Only if they have vintage uniforms,” Charlotte said around a laugh.
“Oh, you stay out of it,” I snapped.
I hadn’t meant to talk with Charlotte while Dylan was around. Even though he was aware of her, it was still awkward. Dylan’s eyes widened and he looked in the direction where I’d shot a glare at Charlotte.
“Problems with the ghosts?” Dylan asked.
“Charlotte’s being a bit testy.” I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Oh,” he said, glancing to his left.
“Over here.” Charlotte waved from his right.
“Where does the new cat fit into all this?” Dylan asked.
The cat meowed, as if he knew what Dylan had said. We stared at him and he stared back.
“He was in the graveyard. When he made a noise it drew my attention to the area where I found the phone. It was almost as if he was trying to show me the phone,” I said.
Dylan chuckled. “That’s impossible.”
We stared at the cat again. Was it impossible?
Dylan held up the bag. “Okay, I’ll look into this, but in the meantime, no snooping around, please?”
No snooping around? Was Dylan serious? There was no way I could agree to that.
“I’ll stay out of trouble,” I said with a smile.
“See how she does that?” Charlotte asked Minnie. “She didn’t agree to no snooping. She just said she’d stay out of trouble. Now he assumes that she means no snooping. I’ve taught her well.”
Minnie’s shoulders slumped slightly. “It’s hard to keep her out of trouble.”
Chapter 10
Charlotte’s Tips for a Fabulous Afterlife
Never claim to be an expert with the paranormal.
It will only get you in trouble.
Now that Dylan had gone it was time for me to ask this cat a few questions. The mystery cat had acted . . . well, mysterious. Now I couldn’t stop wondering if he had led me to the phone on purpose. I pulled out the Ouija board from under the counter and placed it on top.
Grandma Pearl jumped down from the window and headed over to the counter. Usually that meant she wanted to communicate by using the board, but this time I wasn’t sure. Maybe she just wanted to hear what this cat had to say.
“Come here, kitty. Do you want to use the board?” I gestured with my index finger.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, I’ve seen it all now.” Charlotte shook her head.
“What do you mean you’ve seen it all? If Grandma Pearl can use the board, then this cat might too. He obviously knows what’s going on around here.”
Charlotte snorted. “If you say so.”
“I think Cookie’s right. The cat wants us to know something.” Minnie waved at the cat.
“Thank you, Minnie,” I said.
As Grandma Pearl strolled past the black cat she looked over at him. He got up and walked with her. They jumped up on the counter.
I smirked. “See, I told you he knows what’s going on around here. Grandma Pearl must be talking to him.”
Charlotte tossed her hands up. “Fine. Maybe he does. Let’s see what this cat has to say.”
“I can’t wait to see what the cat has to say.” Minnie practically bounced as she paced across the room.
Wind Song jumped up on the counter and the black cat followed. I had assumed Grandma Pearl was in charge of the cat’s body. Maybe I was wrong. What if Wind Song just wanted to request more tuna treats? The cats sat side by side, peering down at the board. After a few seconds of Grandma Pearl staring at the board, she shifted her gaze to the cat, as if to say Well, what are you waiting for?
We waited with bated breath for something to happen. After a couple more seconds passed, the cat reached out and placed its paw on the planchette. I didn’t dare move a muscle, because I didn’t want to scare the cat from proceeding. The cat moved the planchette around the board just like Grandma Pearl did when she used it.
“What is your name?” I asked.
The planchette whirled around the board with the push of the cat’s paw. Finally he stopped on the letter T. He licked his paws again.
“Looks like he is just goofing off,” Charlotte said.
“This is no time to play games, kitty,” I said.
I thought Charlotte was right until the cat placed his paw on the planchette again.
“Look, he’s starting again.” Minnie pointed.
He pushed the thing around before slowing down and stopping on the letter Y.
“T Y ? Are those his initials?” Minnie asked.
Charlotte and I exchanged a look. When the cat continued to the letter L, I knew the answer.
“Tyler.” The name slipped from my lips almost as a whisper.
I couldn’t believe what was happening. How had this happened?
“For once I’m speechless,” Charlotte said.
“And that never happens,” Minnie said.
“It can’t be, right?” I looked at Charlotte.
Tyler stared at me as if to say
Believe it.
“Tyler is the man who was murdered in the graveyard?” Minnie asked in shock.
“The one and only,” Charlotte said with a click of her tongue.
“How did that happen?” Minnie asked.
“I don’t know. There had been a séance when my grandmother got into the cat’s body. There certainly wasn’t a séance the day that Tyler was murdered,” I said.
“That we know of,” Charlotte said.
“Everyone was taking photos, not calling to the dead.”
“You know, I can’t believe I’m going to say this.” Charlotte released a big sigh. “You should ask Heather about this. She has all those books on the paranormal. Maybe she has the answer.” Charlotte shivered. “Can’t believe I said that.”
Was Charlotte softening up to Heather? I thought she’d always secretly liked Heather’s strength and independence.
“That’s a good idea,” I said. “In the meantime, I have work around here. I’ll tell her we’ll stop by after work. Is there anything else you’d like to say . . . Tyler?”
Yes, it felt strange calling the cat by name. Could it be a coincidence? That was unlikely. I shouldn’t be too surprised that Tyler was in a cat’s body. It had happened to Grandma Pearl, so it could happen to Tyler too. Apparently Tyler had more to say because he moved that planchette again.
“I hope he’s not going to tell you what kind of food to buy,” Charlotte said.
I kept track of the letters as he slid the pointer around the board. He stopped on G first, moving on to the E.
“Get?” I said.
The cat continued. After a few more letters he stopped and I had a full sentence.
“Get me out of here,” I repeated the words.
Charlotte laughed. “Now that’s funny.”
I stared at Tyler. “Can you tell me how you got in there?”
Tyler looked away. I suppose that was a no. Now I had to find out how this had happened.
“I know you want out of the cat’s body, Tyler, but there’s an important question I need answered right now,” I said. “Who killed you?”
“Oh yes, that is something he can tell us,” Minnie said excitedly.
With any luck he would share that information.
“Okay, Tyler, tell us what you know,” Charlotte said.
To my relief, Tyler moved the planchette again. He was surprisingly good at this, considering he’d only been a cat for a short time. I followed his paw as he glided over the letters. He’d spelled out three sentences this time. He was good at this, but not giving the information we needed to solve this crime.
“I don’t know. Get me out of here. It smells like fish,” I repeated his message.
My eyes widened.
“How can you not know who killed you?” Charlotte placed her hands on her hips.
“You didn’t know,” I reminded her.
“Oh right,” she said through pursed lips.
Tyler may have finished using the board, but when Grandma Pearl placed her paw on the planchette, I knew she had something to say.
“What is it, Grandma?” I asked.
She moved the pointer around the board and spelled out a few words.
Tyler wants out of there.
“Well, I can understand that he does, and will try to help him, but it takes time.”
“He’s even pushy when he’s a cat,” Charlotte said.
“You’re pushy and you’re a ghost,” I said.
Charlotte narrowed her eyes. “Cookie Chanel, you take that back. I am very much a Southern lady.”
“No arguing,” Minnie warned with a wave of her finger.
I raised an eyebrow. “Fine, I take it back.”
Charlotte pushed her shoulders back and held her head high. “Thank you.”
“Grandma Pearl, did Tyler say anything else to you?” I asked. “How did he get in there in the first place?”
“Probably because he’s not the brightest bulb in the chandelier,” Charlotte said under her breath.
Minnie covered her mouth and giggled.
Tyler hissed at Charlotte. The negativity was thick in my shop today. I didn’t like the way that felt.
Grandma Pearl spelled out another sentence.
He doesn’t know was her response this time. That wasn’t much help, but I’d have to accept it.
“Do you know anything about the murder, Grandma Pearl?” I asked.
She had great intuition and had helped with other mysteries. We waited with bated breath as she moved the planchette across the board again.
Lurking.
That was the only word that she spelled out.
“What does that mean?” Charlotte asked.
“I think she means someone is lurking around the shop. Is that right, Grandma? I bet she can sense them. You know cats can pick up on those types of things,” I said.
“Yes, but she’s not really a cat,” Charlotte said.
“No, but it has to have some part in it. Though Grandma was always in tune with things. I guess she always had a knack for it.”
“That must explain where you get your special ability,” Minnie said.
Tyler jumped from the counter and Grandma Pearl followed him. They both sat at the front window now. They meowed back and forth. Apparently they really were talking to each other. Now I was left wondering what Grandma had meant by the word lurking. Maybe we did share the same intuition because I felt as if someone was lurking around the shop too.
I moved to the front of the store to get a better view of the street. Perhaps someone was out there. Though I thought Grandma Pearl would alert me more if I was in immediate danger. Maybe she didn’t sense that much. I had to be extra careful just in case. I stopped at the door and peered outside. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. People drove up and down the street while others strolled along the sidewalk going in and out of shops. A chill went down my spine, although I couldn’t pinpoint why. A foreboding feeling hung over my shop like a dark cloud.
“Do you see anyone?” Charlotte asked from over my shoulder.
“Nothing,” I said.
“It’s probably nothing,” she said.
Charlotte was just trying to make me feel better. I appreciated her attempt.
“Yes, it’s nothing to worry about,” Minnie said with a bright smile.
She was always like a ray of sunshine. I tried to push the thoughts from my mind and get back to work. At least I had the clothing to take my mind off the murder.
* * *
The day went by rather quickly as I helped customers and sorted through inventory. I’d discovered a good collection of clothing from the 1950s at a garage sale recently. Hidden gems that the homeowners were selling for fifty cents apiece. Like the white blouse with the Peter Pan collar and tiny pearl buttons. I’d fallen in love with the pink Ethel of Beverly Hills cardigan with beading along the front. The beauty of these pieces never grew old with me. Fashion was like art for our bodies, and just because the clothing had been worn didn’t mean it wasn’t still art.
At the end of the workday, Heather was waiting at her shop for me. She had the place next to mine. Magic Emporium encompassed the entire bottom part of the three-story brick building. The small space was narrow, but it was the perfect size for her place. After flipping the sign to CLOSED and shutting off the lights, I locked up my shop and headed next door with two ghosts and two cats in tow. The smell of incense hit me when I walked through the door. As if on cue, Charlotte complained about it.
“Oh, that patchouli again.” She waved her hand in front of her face.
I enjoyed the smell actually. It reminded me of my mother. Speaking of which, I had to call her later this evening. She expected a call from me at least every other day. My dad had a golf weekend planned. My mother had invited Heather and me to the beach for the weekend. Sadly, I’d told her I was too busy. She didn’t know it was because of a murder investigation. She would tell me to keep out of it.
That was probably
sound advice, but I just couldn’t help myself. My father worried about me, but I knew he secretly thought my sleuthing was intriguing. I was sad that we couldn’t join my mother for the weekend. I hoped to make it there soon. My mother loved Heather. She had more in common with her than me, I suppose. It was as if Heather was her long-lost daughter. My mother wasn’t much into fashion. Long skirts, loose T-shirts, and Birkenstock sandals made up her outfit of the day . . . every day.
The walls in the shop were full of books on the occult and paranormal. I knew there had to be something in one of the books that would answer my questions. If not, then I held out little hope that I’d ever discover the truth. Bottles of potions and herbs filled the other nooks and crannies of the space. When Heather glanced up she waved me over. A stack of books sat on the counter in front of her.
“I pulled out as many of the books that I could find on the subject,” she said as soon as we approached the counter.
“Oh, thank you, Heather. This means so much to me, and probably to Tyler too.” I gestured toward the cat.
Tyler and Grandma Pearl were on the floor by my feet. They stared up at Heather.
“Charlotte, what’s wrong with you?” Heather asked.
I still couldn’t get used to the fact that Heather could see the ghosts.
Charlotte frowned as though she had forgotten too.
“She thinks it stinks in here,” I said.
“Charlotte, it can’t smell any worse than when you project your spirit perfume at us.” Heather waved her hand in front of her nose.
“I’ll have you know that is Chanel Number Five and it smells lovely. Doesn’t it, Cookie?” Charlotte placed her hands on her hips.
I knew if I wanted to keep the peace I would have to agree with Charlotte.
“Yes, Charlotte, it is a lovely scent.”
I loved the perfume too though, so it wasn’t as if I was lying to her.
Heather rolled her eyes. “Okay, we’ll just get right into this.”
Heather opened the hardback book.
“I expected magical dust to float through the air.” Charlotte grinned, as if that would make her comment less snarky.
Heather ran her index finger down the page, checking the table of contents. She flipped to a page in the middle of the book and tapped it with her finger.