The Ghost Detective Books 1-3 Special Boxed Edition: Three Fun Cozy Mysteries With Bonus Holiday Story (The Ghost Detective Collection)

by Jane Hinchey

  “It was important to her,” I replied. “She was convinced someone had stolen it.”

  “I don’t know why someone would steal it. It wasn’t worth anything.”

  “It had great sentimental value to her.” I reminded him.

  “Yeah. It did.” He looked up at the ceiling, his bloodshot eyes filling with tears. “I should have paid more attention. Should have helped her look for it. The truth is, it’s probably lost—it had a funny clasp, and I’d told her I’d take it in to get it fixed… but I never did. And now it’s gone, and so is she.” He ended on a sob, burying his face in his hands. I glanced at Ben, at a loss to know what to do.

  Ben shrugged. “Give him a minute to compose himself.” He suggested, so I waited in silence until Logan straightened, running his hands over his face.

  “The police said it was her allergy,” Logan said, prompting me to get on with why I was here.

  I nodded. “It looks that way. I was meant to have a meeting with Anita this morning, but it seems we got our wires crossed about where. I came here first, then the historical society, and finally out to the Kelsh estate.”

  “Where you found her.”

  “Where I found her.” I agreed. “Can you tell me about her allergy?”

  “She had a severe seafood allergy.” Logan sniffed, eyes glassy. “Deadly. She couldn’t have anything with seafood in it, not even a whiff.”

  “Right. So I assume she had medication? In case she accidentally ingested anything that would trigger her allergy?”

  “Oh yeah, her EpiPen. That thing was always with her.”

  “Has she had to use it? Recently?”

  “Not for a while.” Logan chewed his lip as he thought back. “Maybe six months ago? She’d grabbed a sandwich from Grille 19, that trendy place on Sugar Maple Lane? Anyway, yeah, she thinks maybe the chopping board or knife they used must’ve been contaminated, because she’d only had a couple of mouthfuls of her ham and cheese croissant when she felt the first signs.”

  “Which are?”

  “Tingling lips and fingers. Then a feeling like it’s hard to swallow, hard to breathe. That’s because her airways are closing up, and her tongue is swelling.” He added.

  “Then what happened?”

  “She pulled her EpiPen out of her purse and gave herself a shot in the leg.”

  “Did she go to the hospital?”

  He shook his head. “No need. She was fine. She called me to come pick her up and spent the rest of the day resting here at home. She was right as rain in the morning.”

  “Have you ever had to administer the EpiPen?” I asked.

  “Yes. Tyler too. She dragged us to an education evening once, when Tyler was a kid, so we’d know what to do if she ever had an attack and wasn’t able to do it herself. It’s not hard to do, though. You just press and click.” He mimicked the action on his leg. “Straight through clothes if you have to.” He huffed out a breath then smiled slightly. “Poor Tyler. It kinda freaked him out. He was only nine or ten. After that evening, he insisted he had an EpiPen too, just in case his mom ever needed it and didn’t have her purse. She got him one, and he carried it in his backpack right up until he finished school. I wouldn’t be surprised if he still had one stashed somewhere.”

  I watched the ebb and flow of emotions as they crossed Logan’s face. He was clearly distraught. Ben had been convinced Logan was the killer, but I wasn’t so sure.

  “You weren’t at the Museum’s annual dinner Friday night,” I said into the silence that had fallen. “Did you see Anita when she got home?”

  “Urgh,” he groaned. “Those things are so boring! Thankfully, Anita stopped dragging me along a couple of years ago.”

  Anita strolled through from the kitchen back into the living room, making me jump. “He tried valiantly for such a long time.” She sighed with a soft smile on her face, crossing to stand beside Logan’s armchair. “But he’s right, he was bored out of his mind, so I let him off the hook. Truth be told, I had a better time without him hovering, asking me every ten minutes if we could go yet.”

  “Did you see her before she left for the dinner?” I asked.

  “Yes. I kissed her goodbye, told her to have fun.” Logan said.

  “Yes, he did.” Anita echoed, smiling fondly at her husband.

  “And what about when she got home? What time was that?”

  “I’m not sure. I was already in bed, I sort of half woke up when she climbed into bed, but I didn’t look at the clock or anything.”

  “It was just after eleven, darling,” Anita said. “Lacey and I got to chatting while we were packing up the leftovers, we were the last to leave. And Logan, bless him, he’d have dozed off in front of the tv by eight-thirty and dragged himself up to bed by ten.”

  I made a note in my phone, and Ben glanced at me. I returned his look, deadpan. “Did you see her this morning?”

  A flash of grief contorted his features, and my heart jerked in response. “No. I had a quote for a job, so I was up early, and because she got in late, I didn’t want to disturb her. She was still asleep when I left.”

  “He left me a cup of tea,” Anita said softly. “Of course, it was stone cold by the time I woke up, but it’s the thought that counts.” A man who was supposedly having an affair wouldn’t stop and make his sleeping wife a cup of tea before he slipped out of the house for an early morning tryst, would he? I reminded myself that Anita didn’t think her husband was having an affair, it was her best friend, Lacey, who was pushing that agenda.

  “What time was that?”

  “I left at seven-thirty. I was meeting my potential client at eight, but I wanted to swing by the construction yard first.”

  “And did you know what her movements were? Her plans for the day?”

  “The usual. Swing by the museum and make sure the cleaning crew had turned up even though she wasn’t rostered on. Then out to the Kelsh estate. She’d been really excited finding that painting, despite Dunn telling her it was worthless, that Kelshs’ grandparents or great grandparents must have dabbled in painting at one time or another. Still, it meant a lot to Anita, so she insisted he take it and clean it up so they could hang it, if not in the museum, then in the historical society itself. Anyway, I think she was hoping for more discoveries like that, she was determined to go through every item out there and document it, even if it ended up in Goodwill or the trash.”

  “I didn’t think you were listening.” Anita sighed wistfully, then glanced at me. “I’d come home and blabber on about the Kelsh estate and fill him in on my finds, and he’d nod and say, ‘that’s nice dear,’ and I didn’t think he was listening. But he was.”

  “How long would she stay at the Kelsh estate?”

  “All day if she didn’t have anything else on. Anita is the type who would push through and get a job done, so if she had the time, she’d stay there until sundown. But not once it got dark. She said it was spooky out there with no street lights.” He chuckled at the memory.

  “Was anyone helping her? At the Kelsh estate? Would anyone else have been out there?”

  “Now that I don’t know. She didn’t mention anyone. I think the committee was more than happy for Anita to do the lion’s share of the work. I haven’t been out there myself, but from what I hear, it’s a dump.”

  “Did she have any visitors? Here, at the house, before she headed out?”

  “I wouldn’t know. I was gone before she got up, and when I got home, she’d left. Tyler was home, he might know.”

  The creaking of the stairs heralded Tyler’s arrival. “Might know what?” He asked, appearing in the doorway.

  “Did anyone call in to visit with your mum this morning?” Logan repeated the question.

  Tyler screwed up his face. “Not that I know of. But then I slept until after midday, so… dunno.”

  “He’s out all night, sleeps all day.” Anita admonished, tsking around her son, who was oblivious to her presence. “But no, no-one dropped in.” />
  I frowned. “Umm. I called in just before ten, remember? You were up and dressed.”

  “You woke me up!”

  I cocked my head and studied him. When Tyler had opened the door this morning, he did not look like he’d just dragged himself out of bed. He looked wide awake, alert, and groomed as if he had been expecting someone.

  “Interesting,” Ben said, following my train of thought.

  “You don’t work on Saturdays?” I asked, letting the lie slide for now.

  Tyler shrugged. “Used to. My hours were cut.”

  “I told you, Ty, it’s not personal. Everyone’s hours were cut. Business has been slow. At least you’ve got a roof over your head.” Logan snapped. Anita started fussing over the two of them. “Boys, boys, let’s not start this up again. It’ll work out. We’ve had dips before, it’s the industry. Business will pick up.”

  “And you didn’t hear from your mom at all this morning?” I confirmed.

  “Nope. I figured she was out at the Kelsh place. She was obsessed with it, ever since finding that painting. She seemed to think it was some sort of big deal, but Keagan says it’s amateurish doodling and not worth anything. Too bad. Woulda been nice for Mom to find something nice out there after all the hard work she put in. None of the other hysterical society could be bothered.”

  I snorted at his nickname for the historical society. Hysterical indeed.

  “Jokes on them though, they’re going to have to get off their lazy asses now that she’s dead,” he continued, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Tyler!” Anita scolded, then rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind him. He’s at that age where he doesn’t like anybody.” I glanced at Ben, who looked as surprised as I felt. Anita was talking about Tyler as if he was a fifteen-year-old going through a phase. He was twenty years old, would be twenty-one soon, and a fully-fledged adult. At least on paper if not in brain cells.

  “Tyler, you haven’t seen your mom’s necklace around, have you?” I changed tack.

  “Oh my God, not you too! Christ, Mom wouldn’t stop going on about it. She lost it. End of story. What does it matter now, anyway?” His voice rose several octaves, and a flush of red swept across his cheekbones.

  “Okay, look, I think that’s enough for today,” Logan said, pushing himself up out of the armchair and sliding a comforting arm around his son’s shoulders. I hastily scrambled to my feet.

  “Thanks for your time.” I shook Logan’s hand. “Once again, sorry for your loss,” I added, stepping out into the hallway, following Ben to the front door. I almost walked through him when he stopped and looked up. There on the landing was Lacey Stevens. I’d forgotten she was still in the house. She’s said she was going upstairs to say goodbye to Tyler, why hadn’t she left when he came downstairs? Was she eavesdropping?

  Ben stepped aside, giving me a clear path to the front door. “You go ahead.” He said as I passed him. “I’m going to hang here with Anita for a bit, see what, if anything, turns up.” He was staring straight at Lacey.

  I nodded slightly, clamping my lips together to bite back the urge to reply before turning the doorknob and stepping outside. Good plan. There was something about Lacey that set my spidey senses tingling. She was the one who’d planted the idea of an affair in Anita’s head. What if the person Logan was having an affair with, was Lacey herself? And who better placed to find out the truth than a ghost?

  8

  “Tell me again.” I sat curled up on the sofa, a glass of wine in hand. Galloway was in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Galloway, it turns out, is a superb cook, which is another tick in the plus column since I’m somewhat domestically challenged. Really, when I looked at it on paper, Galloway was getting a bum deal with me. Not that he seemed to mind.

  “Really?” Thor meowed in protest. “He’s already told you once.” The cat stretched, his back dipping low and long before he straightened again. “This Mills character has been suspended pending review. That’s good news, right?”

  I chuckled and snapped my fingers. Thor trotted over to head bump my hand. “It is excellent news,” I said, scratching his head.

  “You want some chicken?” Galloway asked, slicing off a morsel for Thor and holding it up. I’d never seen Thor move so fast; he was in the kitchen wrapping himself around Galloway’s ankles in two seconds flat. “Chicken!” He purred. “My favorite.”

  I snorted. “Steak was your favorite yesterday. Before that, fish.”

  “Hey,” Thor protested, “I’m a feline of many tastes.”

  “Here you go, buddy. Enjoy.” Galloway dropped the chicken to the floor and ruffled Thor’s fur before straightening and returning to carving the roast he’d prepared for dinner. “Is Ben here?”

  “No. He and Anita are at her house.” Sometimes it came in handy having a ghost as a best friend. Ben’s plan to hang around and see what developed at the Finley house was a win-win. For one, anything they saw or heard could lead us to the killer, and two, Galloway and I had the place to ourselves.

  “Earth to Audrey.” Galloway’s teasing jerked me back to the present.

  “Sorry, I was daydreaming.” I took another sip of wine.

  “Reliving today?” He was referring to my run-in with Mills, and not my visit with Logan, which I hadn’t told him about because I knew what he’d say. Stay out of an active police investigation. Therefore, what he didn’t know, wouldn’t get me in trouble.

  “How did you know?”

  “The frown, then the smile.” He grinned.

  “I won’t lie, despite being sat on by that fat bastard, I’m not sorry it happened. If it means getting Mills off the force, it was worth it.”

  Galloway picked up two plates loaded with roast chicken and all the trimmings and carried them to the dining table. “Dinner’s ready.”

  “Thanks so much for doing this.” Joining him at the table, I set my glass down, only it was half on, half off the placemat and it began to teeter. Galloway shot out a hand and rescued it. “I’m starting to think I should keep you around.” I grinned, taking my seat.

  “I’m starting to think that sounds like an excellent idea.” He shot back with a wink. My heart stuttered in my chest, then resumed its beating at double time. I was still shell-shocked. I was in a relationship with a cop. Even more so that I’d put a label on it. Kade Galloway was officially my boyfriend. I hadn’t had a boyfriend in forever. But Captain Cowboy Hot Pants currently sitting across from me, playing footsie under the table, had wormed his way under my defenses and torn down the wall I’d built around my heart. I was equally terrified and totally smitten.

  Thor jumped up onto the chair at the end of the table and rested his paws on the tabletop. “I’m starving.” He meowed, adopting what I called his Puss in Boots expression to elicit treats.

  “You are not starving.” I admonished but sliced him off a tiny piece of chicken and placed it in front of him. He snatched it up in his jaws and jumped to the floor to devour it. “So glad Ben isn’t here to see me do that.”

  “He doesn’t approve?” Galloway chuckled.

  “Nope. Cat food goes in cat bowls, and cats should most definitely not be sitting at the table.” The first time Thor had joined me at the table, I’d been eating cereal for breakfast, and I’d thought it was the cutest thing. We’d come to an agreement. Thor could sit on a chair, and he could rest his front paws on the tabletop, but he couldn’t climb all the way onto the table. It was a compromise we could both work with. Ben, however, had almost had a fit.

  “So what happens next, with Mills?” I asked once we’d finished eating and were clearing the table. No-one at the Kelsh estate had given me a straight answer today.

  “Both he and Clements are under investigation. Mills is suspended with pay for now.” Galloway said, rinsing a plate then stacking it in the dishwasher. “We have to wait and see what the outcome is.”

  “We can make this stick, right?” I chewed my bottom lip. “He can’t wriggle out of this?”

&n
bsp; “It damn well better,” Galloway growled. “It helps that I was on the scene immediately after it happened. I was an eyewitness to your injuries—and his.”

  “Is that going to be an issue? That I hurt him?”

  “You were defending yourself. The fact that you had to defend yourself against an officer of the law makes my blood boil.”

  I sidled up to him and slid my arms around his waist, then squeezed his butt. “I can think of better ways to make your blood boil.” I teased suggestively, and he laughed, lifting me onto the kitchen bench and wedging himself between my legs.

  “Oh, yeah?” He dropped soft kisses against my neck, carefully placing one on each and every bruise. “Like what?”

  “Well, Mills attack may have left bruises… in other places.” I hinted. “Wanna check?” I eased back a little and pulled my T-shirt over my head.

  “I do believe I can be of assistance with that.” He drawled, hands skimming over my bra, spanning my ribs and sliding around to my back, searching for the clasp.

  The ringing of his phone couldn’t have come at a worse time. I snorted out a disbelieving laugh. “That had better be important,” I grumbled. He heaved a sigh and lifted his head, reached into his pocket for his phone, and glanced at the screen. I arched one brow. Fine. It was both brows.

  “It’s the medical examiner.”

  “Better get it then.” I picked up my T-shirt and pulled it back on. Something told me this particular phone call would be a mood killer.

  Galloway kept the phone to his ear, listening to the medical examiner while sliding his arm around my waist and easing me off the bench. When I moved to step away, he pinned me against him, shaking his head.

  “Got it.” He said into the phone while I leaned against him. “Yep. Thanks for the call, appreciate it.” Then he hung up.

  “Well?”

  “No surprises that Anita died from anaphylaxis, triggered by her seafood allergy.”

  “And the noodle cups? Did they contain seafood?”

  “This is where it gets interesting. The lab sampled all the noodle cups. None of them contained seafood. Not even a trace.”