“No.”
“Did someone see him or his truck?” Sully looked between Robin, Mark, and Val. “Did they tell you?”
Yep. The dead owner of the garage who is hanging around in the alley in ghost form told Robin while we were picking up Josh’s tools.
Val opened her mouth, closed it.
Mark cleared his throat.
Val looked at Robin, who had narrowed her eyes on Sully and was pursing her lips.
Sully said, “I’m not real keen on hanging another crime around Josh Mason’s neck when there’s already police in Bridger who want him for—”
“I can see ghosts,” Robin said. “A ghost told me.”
Mark let out a breath like he’d been punched in the stomach. Val’s eyes went wide.
And Sully stared at Robin.
“The ghost’s name is Harry and he’s the previous owner of the garage and he hangs out in the back alley behind it.” She shifted in her chair, crossing her legs. “I think he maybe died there, but I’m pretty sure it was natural causes. He described a truck that sounded like Josh’s that hooked up to the trailer and took off with West’s snowmobiles.”
Mark cleared his throat. “According to West, the snowmobiles were stolen the same day that Josh left the voice mail on Val’s phone. So we think it was probably him.”
Val nodded. “It… um, just seemed like the most logical explanation. To us.”
Sully blinked at her. Looked at Robin. Back to Mark. Back to Robin. He swallowed and reached for a pencil on his desk. “The ghost’s name is Harry?”
Robin nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
“And he was the owner of the garage before West bought it.”
“Pretty sure.” Robin tapped her fingers on her sensible purse.
Val watched Sully staring at Robin, practically seeing the gears turn in his head.
If there was anyone less likely to make wild claims of seeing the dead, it was Robin Brannon. Robin was the president of the PTA board. She was the organizer of the town’s lakeside trash cleanup day. She was the mom who checked her kids’ homework every day after school and was the queen of ruthless organization. She jogged every morning. She never paid a bill late, and she recycled in all the correct bins.
She did not see ghosts.
Unless she did.
Sully looked down at his notepad. “What exactly did West say was taken?”
“Two snowmobiles, both about three years old, and a trailer that hooked up to West’s truck,” Mark said. “Someone came and cut the lockbox on the shipping containers, and I know Josh has a plasma cutter on his work truck, so it’s plausible.”
“Right.” Sully was staring at the notepad, jotting down something and tapping his pen. He looked up at Mark. “And you knew about…”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re sure—”
“Not even a question.”
“Right.” Sully glanced at Robin, who was waiting with a polite smile. Then he stared at Val, looked down at her gloved hands folded carefully in her lap, then back to her eyes. “Hey, Robin, when did you start seeing ghosts?”
“None of your business,” Val said.
“After my car went in the lake last year,” Robin said. “Just popped up like a grey hair. It took a little getting used to.”
“Right.” Sully was still staring at Val. “I remember. That accident that you and Val and Monica were all in.”
“I don’t see ghosts,” Val said. “In case you were wondering.”
Sully narrowed his eyes. “Oh, I’m wondering.” He stood abruptly, threw down his pencil, and walked out of the office.
Val watched him walk toward the door, grab his coat from the rack, and head out into the darkening night.
Mark nudged Val’s shoulder. “You might want to go talk to him.”
Val looked at Robin. “Thanks for that.”
Robin smiled innocently. “You’re welcome.”
* * *
Val made sure her gloves were on before she walked outside. She didn’t have to be psychic to know Sully was pissed off. He was pacing in the parking lot, rubbing his hands together to keep them warm, and muttering under his breath.
“Sully.” Val stopped just outside the office door. “About Josh—”
“I don’t…” He spun and walked toward her. “I don’t want to talk about Josh right now.” His brilliant blue eyes drilled into her. “You hide things, Val.”
“I’m not hiding anything important.”
His mouth was pressed in a flat line.
“I’m serious,” she said. “As soon as I remembered about the cabin, I came here and told you. I’m not trying to hide—”
“Ha!” The laugh did not sound amused. “Right.”
“I’m not trying to hide anything about Josh, okay?” She walked toward him. “From the beginning, I’ve thought all these charges were bullshit. There had to be another explanation. This is the explanation. I don’t think he has any idea he’s a wanted man, and the best outcome in all this—”
“Why do you care?” His breath puffed out in the cold night air. “Seriously, Val, why are you putting yourself out there and going through all this to rescue this man?”
Her mouth fell open. “Do you… Are you implying that I still have feelings for him? What? Are you… jealous? This is seriously your—”
“I’m not jealous.” He put his hands on his hips.
“No? Because you’re kind of acting like it.” She could feel him. He was close enough that his body heat was tangible. “And this is not about me. Or us. Or… whatever it is you’re thinking we might—”
“I don’t like it when you lie to me, and I feel like you lie to me a lot.” He glared at her. “You tell me why that is.”
She glared right back. “I have nothing to say to you about this. I’m not a liar.”
“Tell me about the accident.”
“The accident was ages ago.” And I am never telling you how it changed me. “And I already told you, I don’t see ghosts.”
“But you believe Robin?”
“Yes.”
“Seriously?”
Val threw her arms out. “It’s Robin! Can you imagine a person less likely to make something like that up? She’s like… if Martha Stewart and Oprah had a baby who ran an antique shop in Glimmer Lake but also could probably run the entire world if she really had to because she’s that organized. Robin Brannon does not make shit up.”
Sully was glowering. That was the only word Val could think of. He knew Val was right and he wasn’t happy about it, so his face just had this angry and stubborn look.
“Listen, Sully. I believe Robin. One hundred percent. If Robin said the ghost of a three-headed donkey appeared in her front yard and told her the winning lottery numbers, I would go out and play them.”
“A three-headed donkey is ridiculous,” Sully muttered.
“Clearly, but if Robin said one appeared, all I’d ask is which head was talking to her.”
That made him crack a smile.
“I think Josh is out there, Sully.” She took a deep breath and let it out. “He’s Jackson and Andy’s dad. I don’t like him very much, but despite what my oldest says right now, they would both be crushed if something happened to him.”
He wasn’t talking, but he was listening.
“The best outcome to all this is you bringing him in. Not his dumb ass wandering back into town with no clue about what’s going on so Bridger PD can ambush him and trick him into saying something incriminating, which is so, so likely. I cannot tell you how likely it is that Josh would say something inadvertently and absolutely screw himself.”
Sully sighed. “It’s too late to head out there tonight. If you’re positive this cabin is where he’s hiding out—”
“I’m not positive,” Val said. “About anything these days. But it’s my best guess, and I can’t imagine any other reason he’d take West’s snowmobiles. He does genuinely like the man.”
“Can you ride?”<
br />
“A snowmobile? Yeah. I wouldn’t go off-trail, but the fire roads to Keane are actually pretty wide. If we just follow them, it won’t be an issue.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, but his glare had softened. “We can go tomorrow. You’ll be riding with me. I can’t have you driving county property, but we can leave in the morning in my truck. Come here to the station at eight. I don’t want to leave until it warms up a little. It won’t take more than an hour to drive up there and another hour to drive in if there are tracks. We should be able to get there and back in a day.”
“We haven’t had a heavy enough snow to cover the trail since he went up. I think there will be tracks. If there aren’t tracks on the fire road, then he’s probably not in Keane.”
“I am taking you along only because you know the way to the cabin. Once we’re there, I’ll determine how this is gonna go.”
“Thank you, Sully.” She saw Robin and Mark open the station door. “I’ll be here tomorrow, dressed for trail riding.”
“Okay.” He still didn’t look happy, but Val would take it.
As long as it got Josh back into civilization and got all this mess straightened out, she wasn’t going to complain.
“Thank you. Seriously.”
He eyed her. “You sure you can’t see ghosts?”
“Very sure.” She smiled. “Trust me, if I saw ghosts, I’d be even crankier than I am now.”
He eyed her gloved hands again. “Uh-huh.”
“Seriously.” She backed away and walked toward Robin and Mark. “Okay. Tomorrow morning. I’ll be here and I’ll bring lunch.”
“And coffee.”
“And coffee.” She gave him a thumbs-up. “Good to know you got your priorities in line.”
Chapter 18
Jackson’s arms were crossed over his chest. “I don’t understand why you’re going.”
Val threw her snow parka on top of her backpack. “Because he’s your father.”
“He’s not your husband anymore.” Jackson’s face was mutinous. “You said you divorced him so you wouldn’t have to deal with his shit anymore. Because you wanted the best thing for us. You and me and Andy.”
“One, I don’t think I used those exact words, okay? And two, you think the best thing for all of us is your dad ends up in jail?”
Jackson shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me.”
Val stepped closer and glanced over her shoulder. “Do you think it matters to Andy?”
“He’s young, and he’s going to realize when he’s older—”
“What?” She put her hand on Jackson’s cheek. “That his dad is unreliable? That’s he’s not a very good person? You don’t think he realizes that already?”
Jackson looked away.
“He knows it, Jack. And he loves your dad anyway. That says nothing about your dad and everything about your brother. And don’t lie—I know you love your dad too. Don’t pretend like all the time you’ve ever spent with him was shit. He loves you guys, and you’ve had a lot of good memories with him.”
“Just being there for the fun stuff—”
“Isn’t enough.” She squeezed his shoulder. “I know that. We all do. But that doesn’t mean he belongs in jail. Or caught in the middle of a situation he has no idea how he fell into. The cops in Bridger are setting him up, and it’s not right.”
“It’s not your job to fix it. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Let Dad clean up his own mess for once.”
“He’s going to have to after this, and I’m not doing this on my own. Sully and I are going together. Sully is the one who’s going to decide what to do once he talks to your dad. Once we find him”—she raised her hands—“I’m out of it. Your dad is on his own. I’ll have done my part. But I can’t just act like he’s a stranger.” She put her arms around Jackson and hugged him tight. “Without your dad, I don’t have you and Andy. And don’t you know I’d walk through fire for my babies?”
Jackson hugged her back hard. “We’re not babies anymore.”
She leaned back and kissed his cheek. “You are always my babies. Always. Even when you need to shave.” She tapped his chin. “You need to shave, by the way.”
Jackson rubbed his chin. “I’ve been thinking about growing my beard out.”
She rubbed the thin stubble. “Up to you. But your dad’s beard didn’t really grow in until he was twenty-five or so. Just warning you. It was really patchy and kind of gross until his late twenties.”
“Thanks.” He didn’t look very thankful. “So you’re going up to the cabin with Sheriff Sully?”
“Yep.”
“He likes you.”
Val nodded. “He’s a nice guy. I like him too.”
Jackson gave her his “I’m not stupid” look. “No, Mom. He likes you. Like… you know.”
Oh. Right. “Uh—”
“He’s a good guy. That’s all I’m saying.” Jackson shrugged. “He seems cool.”
“Okay.” She picked up her backpack. “Cool. I… don’t know what to do with that information.”
“Whatever. It’s not like you don’t know already.” He rolled his eyes. “As soon as Andy wakes up, I’ll drive us over to Grandma and Grandpa’s, okay?”
“I should be back by tonight, but just in case—”
“I know. I was gonna help Grandpa with the woodpile anyway.”
Val walked to the door. “Good. Make sure Andy does some work too. Even if you have to force his nose out of a book.”
“Okay.” Jackson held the door as Val grabbed her jacket and walked to the truck.
“We’re taking Sully’s truck up there. It’s heavier.”
“Good call. I think they were tearing down that house with the red roof right by the road, by the way. So make sure you don’t miss the turnoff.”
“I’ll look for the horse-crossing sign. Is that still there?”
“I think so.” Jackson waved. “Be careful.”
“I will.” Val walked to her truck and hopped in, glad Jackson had turned it on to warm it up before he decided to lecture her.
She put her phone in the charging cradle and tapped Monica’s number.
“Good morning.” Monica cleared her throat. “I hear you’re going up to the cabin with Sheriff Hot Stuff today. I’m praying you get trapped in a snowstorm and have to huddle together for warmth.”
Val rolled her eyes. “Thanks. That sounds needlessly dangerous. You’re the best.”
“You’re welcome. What’s up?”
“One, thank you for filling in at the café for me. I cannot tell you how awesome you are for that. I think Ramon and Honey were about to stage a mutiny.”
“I might lead it. I like working there. It’s fun.”
Val smiled. “It is, isn’t it?”
“You did a good thing there.”
“You make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.” Or was she just hungry? “My real reason for calling is to ask if your boys enjoy lecturing you about your life? Is this a stage? Are they going to grow out of it?”
“Oh God no. I love my boys like crazy, but when it comes to their mom, they’re the worst mansplainers on the planet. They have endless opinions about my life.”
She winced. “So this isn’t just a phase?”
“Afraid not. I’m hoping once they have their own kids, they’ll realize I’m not as clueless as they seem to think I am.”
Great. So all she had to do was wait ten years for Jackson to grow up, get a job, get married, and father children.
Val realized something and felt her stomach drop. “Monica, do you realize our children are nearly the age we were when we started having kids?”
“Girl, you’ve got ten years. How do you think I feel? I was eighteen when I started having babies! Every one of my kids is already older than I was when I started. Which I am very happy about, obviously. Gil and I were lucky idiots.”
“You were not idiots. You were lucky.”
“We were kind of idiots. Anyway, be saf
e today. I had the dream about blood on the snow again last night, which feels more ominous today.”
“I’ll be careful.” She thought about the boys chopping wood. “I might tell Jackson and Andy to leave the woodpile for another day though.”
Monica groaned. “I feel useless that I’m not getting anything more than the blood and the snow. Blood and snow and ski tracks. It’s coming every night now, which means whatever is going to happen is going to happen soon.”
“Call me if you get anything else.”
“Trust me, I’m napping as much as I can. I haven’t been this well rested since before I had kids.”
“Love you,” Val said. “Bye.”
“Bye.”
She swung by the coffee shop to grab the packed sandwiches Ramon had made for the day, then she drove to the sheriff’s office on the edge of town. She saw Sully’s truck, various county vehicles, and a familiar blue BMW in the parking lot.
What the hell? What was Americano Asshole doing here?
Val walked up to the porch just as Sully and Allan Anderson were walking out.
“I know you know more about Mason than you’re letting on,” Anderson said. “Do you know who I am? You don’t want to cross me, Sullivan. If you think I couldn’t have your job if I wanted it—”
“Do you want my job?” Sully put his sunglasses on, tipped his hat down on his forehead, and turned his mirrored stare onto Anderson. He was about six inches taller than the blond man, so Anderson was forced to look up.
“You want my job?” Sully had the edge of a smile on his face. “You think you could handle my job, Mr. Anderson?”
Americano Asshole puffed his chest. “I know you think you’re the big man here, but—”
“What I am,” Sully said, “is a public servant to the people of this county, Mr. Anderson. Now that includes your wife, who was the victim in an accident that falls under my jurisdiction. I realize you’re not happy about my investigation so far, but if you think I’m going to rush the highway patrol investigators just because it’s inconvenient for your insurance claim, you’re very mistaken.”
Val had to admit it was delicious to watch.
Anderson’s face was red. “The real police in Bridger City already told me what happened to my wife’s car, Sheriff. I don’t need—”
Semi-Psychic Life: Glimmer Lake Book Two Page 15
