by Alexie Aaron
“No. Gee, I’m making a great impression of a newsperson. I do hope my street beat reporter has gotten wind of this.”
“You didn’t hear it from me,” Cid said. “I have it recorded that you said it would be off the record.”
Macy bristled and her face filled with heat. “Cid, you don’t know me well enough, so I’m not going to take that personally. I’d probably do the same. How about you meet me at the front of the Gazette at seven forty-five. I’ll get us a reservation at Mama Gee’s for eight.”
“I’ll be there,” Cid said and hung up.
Macy buzzed her secretary. “Cindy, get Marshal on the phone. If he’s out, have him call me as soon as he can. If he’s in house, send him up, thank you.” She set down the handset. “What is Really Going on at High Court?”
Jesse took his time getting dressed. The trailer’s shower didn’t allow much time for loitering under the tiny spray nozzle. Tiny shower technique involved getting in, scrubbing as fast as you could, and getting out again before the water turned cold. Jesse had to wait for the condensation in the tiny bathroom to clear before he could shave. Jesse took the time to fix himself a meal and gather his soiled clothes to take to the laundromat. He rubbed his hand on his face. “Maybe I should just grow a beard,” he announced to the empty trailer. “Nope, it would give the Espinas more to tease me about.”
Jesse didn’t know why he was so insecure with these strong women, but he felt as fragile as a pealed grape around them. He walked into the tiny bathroom and adjusted his angle so he could see the extent of the damage to his arm and cheek. The thorough removal of the splinters had left some small cuts on his face that were deep enough to need a stitch or two. Working around these with a razor would be troublesome. It was decided. Jesse Holden was growing a beard. Who knows, this may repel the advances of some of Dita and Belinda’s workers?
When Jesse had finished eating, he walked over to the office to find it empty and a note telling him that Cid was in the security trailer. He knocked lightly before coming in. “I’m going to the laundromat in town. If you need something cleaned, I can toss it in with mine,” he offered.
“No, I’ll manage for a week. Hopefully, by that time, Wayne will have the old laundry up and running here.”
“Not going to meet Miss Right hiding out here, Cid,” Jesse teased.
“Actually, I have a dinner engagement tonight, so you can strike ‘getting Cid a woman’ off your list.”
Jesse was surprised but managed not to show it. “You’re a fast worker. It’s not Mimi, I hope.”
“No, not that the woman didn’t try. I’m dining - off the record - with Macy Eggleston, managing editor of the Stepner Gazette.”
“Is that wise?” Jesse asked, plopping down in the other office chair.
“I won’t be drinking,” Cid said. “She has a problem she wants to consult with me about. I have a feeling it has more to do with me being a paranormal investigator than a carpenter.”
“Why?”
“Faye says something, possibly another ghost, is helping her out at the paper. As you know, she’s been investigating the Bautista murders by researching the back issues of the newspaper,” Cid reminded Jesse.
“Do you think this Macy saw Faye?” Jesse asked.
“Faye says that a spirit is running interference so she isn’t caught.”
“So, our Lois Lane has an accomplice.”
“Seems so,” Cid said. “Macy did a good job in covering it up, but she didn’t know about what happened here last night.”
Jesse sat a moment and thought. “It could be that the newspaper isn’t large enough to have someone sitting at the sheriff’s station waiting for activity. Her budget may not allow for a police scanner.”
“I think they depend on gossip or someone calling them. I expect, now, she’ll send someone out. We’ve got to get our stories straight and consistent. I’m going to call Wayne, see if he can stop in for a conference.” Cid tapped the monitor showing the camera feed of the deputy on guard stopping an officious looking van.
“Who’s come a calling?” Jesse asked.
“The deputy let them through. Maybe some of the forensic assistants Wayne said would be arriving,” Cid said, making a physical note in the security log before making a call to Wayne.
“I’m on my way to the trailer. Cam’s team has just shown up,” Wayne said after hearing about the possibility of reporters on their way.
The three men agreed that they would go with this statement:
Last evening, two of the High Court renovation guards were attacked by person or persons unknown. During the initial investigation, a vehicle, owned by the state police, exploded in the lot. Presently, the investigation is being handled by the Stepner County Sheriff’s Department.
It was a no-brainer to leave out any mention of the tie in to the Bautista cold case or any paranormal activity on the site.
“Let’s also say that, as soon as we are given the go ahead by the sheriff, we will be resuming our construction project,” Wayne said.
“Isn’t that a duh?” Jesse prodded.
“No, I want the local workers to know that they will still have a paycheck coming. I don’t want to have to hire on any new help. The vetting process will be a nightmare.”
“How do we know that our attacker isn’t one of the local workers?” Cid asked.
“We don’t,” Wayne said.
“With your permission, I’ll send the information you have on our workers to Jake. The sheriff has some ideas of possible people who may be instigating the sabotage. If a worker falls under their previous employ…”
“I see what you’re getting at. We may have been set up from the start,” Jesse said.
“And then there is Calvin Franks,” Cid started.
“What?”
He showed them the video of Calvin’s covert actions, ending up at Cabin 4.
“This doesn’t make any sense,” Jesse said. “Why would he sabotage his own renovation?”
“Oh, I’m not saying he’s our saboteur,” Cid said. “There’s a strong theory that a possible cross-country drug-trafficking ring used High Court as a stopover and seeded the area with drugs. This kind of operation needs a lot of backer money to start up. Who was the big money? Seems to me, Calvin Franks has a lot of money…”
“Throwing suspicion on the owner, Kiki wouldn’t be happy,” Wayne said stubbornly. “I shook the man’s hand. I didn’t get a bad vibe off him.”
“I’m not saying he’s involved. I’m just saying, for our safety, let’s not rule him out,” Cid clarified.
“So, if this was a drug operation, what’s to say it can’t be again? If Franks was connected the first time, who’s to say he isn’t going to start up again after we rid him of Luminosa,” Jesse mused. “What better cover than an artists’ retreat? I’m sure you’re going to find legal and non-legal substances in amongst the paint pots with or without organized crime.”
“Now you’re throwing suspicion,” Wayne observed. “I’m going on record. The man isn’t your drug lord.”
“Maybe, but he is up to something,” Cid said. “You’ve got to admit that.”
“The evidence is slight but damning,” Wayne agreed. “Let’s not turn our backs on the guy.”
“But still watch our backs,” Jesse said.
“Until we know he has our backs,” Cid said firmly.
“Agreed,” Wayne said, bumping fists with both men.
Mimi fussed with Kiki’s hair. Kiki wasn’t allowed out of bed, so a washbasin shampoo was the best she could do to try to rid Kiki’s hair of the oily substance from the explosion. Mimi towel dried the long black hair before combing out the tangles. The more attention Kiki received from her sister, the madder she got at the cops.
“I want to do more than sue the cops. I want to press charges. Can you ask the sheriff to see me?”
“Sure, but you’re going to be fine. You do have insurance, and the surgeon took care of a bit of that arthr
itis you had growing in there.”
“I don’t think that’s what happened,” Kiki commented.
“Well, whatever. Why are we Americans so lawsuit happy?”
“I don’t believe for a moment, those patrolmen looked at me and saw an American.”
“Tell you what, make a report and talk plainly to the sheriff. I’ve heard that he’s a good guy.”
“How did you hear anything when you have barely been here?”
“People like me. People talk to me because I’m friendly. I walk around with a big smile and put them at ease.”
“They’d just think I’m daft,” Kiki admitted.
“It’s because your smile never quite reaches your eyes. You’ve got the smile of a… serial killer.”
“Ouch. Why does Mom think you’re the nice one?”
“Because I’m just like her. She would never admit to being a bitch.”
Kiki coughed. “I’m shocked. Third grade teachers don’t swear.”
“Bitch is a noun, not a curse word.”
“It means female dog, but in modern usage, it could be considered a term of endearment or an insult,” Cid said from the doorway.
Kiki had a strange look on her face.
Mimi turned around and saw Cid the carpenter in his Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. His hair was neat, and his face clean shaven.
Cid had chosen the charcoal pants and dark blue shirt because he thought they would hide any pasta sauce mishaps during dinner.
“Have you come a courting, Billy Boy?” Mimi asked.
Cid’s cheeks flamed briefly. “I have a dinner date, but nothing serious.”
Kiki looked at how uncomfortable Mimi made Cid. He was already spilling his guts.
“Actually, I have some business to go over with Kiki if you would excuse us?” he asked kindly.
“I’m going to get a fire extinguisher and hose down those nurses you just set afire,” Mimi said and walked out.
“Ignore her,” Kiki said. “Although, you do look really handsome. Your date will be very impressed.”
“A compliment from Miss Pickles. I really don’t know what to do with it.”
Kiki laughed. “I keep expecting you to rip open that blue shirt and become Superman.”
Cid turned bright red.
“Oops, I didn’t mean it that way. Maybe I did. Anyway, I blame the horse I’m riding.”
“Still in a lot of pain?” Cid asked, coming closer.
Kiki could now smell his cologne. She was quickly unraveling inside. “I’m weaning off the tit.” Why did I say tit? she screamed in her head. “I mean, I’m taking less morphine. I want to go home soon.”
Cid nodded. “Do you feel up to a work conversation?”
“Yes, please. I’m going nuts with all this small talk.”
Cid laughed. “You may want to get comfortable. I have a lot to tell you.”
Kiki did as she was told. She stopped him a few times with some questions, but for the most part, she listened.
“You know Calvin better than I do. Do you have any explanation for his recent actions?” he asked her.
Kiki shook her head. “I’m not a sensitive, but I got the feeling he was trying to make amends, if that makes any sense. I get a pretty strong obligation vibe out of the man. So, we didn’t make the papers?” she asked.
“No.”
“Why do you look guilty then?”
“I’m having dinner with the managing editor of the Stepner Gazette,” Cid explained.
“Oh. So you’re worried about that ‘loose lips sink ships’ type of thing?”
“I have trouble with lying,” he said, his warm brown eyes wide.
Kiki could see the little boy in Cid. “What if you don’t lie, just say no comment?” she suggested. “Also, equivocating isn’t lying.”
“Prevarication isn’t very natural for me. The PEEPs tease me and call me Saint Cid.”
“Hey, it could be worse. For the record, Jake has never called you Saint Cid to me.”
“So, you and he are still… I’m not exactly sure what your relationship is?”
“Honestly, neither are he and I for that matter. We just seem to care about each other. I do think though that we are dating. You can laugh now,” she said.
“Why? I’ve seen this before. Not a computer romance, mind you, but a ghost and human fight the attraction they have for each other.”
“Mia and Murphy,” Kiki said. “I can see both sides. Mia loves Ted, I assume.”
“Yes, he is her life.”
“And she still loves Murphy?”
“Yes, but in a different kind of a way. More of a deep friendship.”
“How about Murphy?”
“Head over heels,” Cid said. “I didn’t think so when I first moved into the farm. He’s rather prudish, and Mia is, well… wild. But I’ve heard things I shouldn’t have heard and seen things that should have been private.”
“What kind of things?” Kiki asked. “No, wait, don’t tell me.”
“Off the record,” Cid began. “The way he looks at her when she’s not looking.”
“Poor guy, but he is dead.”
“Yes. I think Mia knows, but I’m not positive. Mia seems to be able to separate what could be, and what is, very calmly. She would never cheat on Ted. He’s her superhero. She doesn’t see Ted’s faults, and she knows that he worships her. She needs that.”
“I’m sorry for asking such personal questions, but I’ve been doubting my sanity these days. Jake is so real to me. But I don’t love him. And I’m not getting an in-love feeling from him. I hope that he can be happy with whatever time and emotions this distracted woman can give him. My work is everything.”
“He’s pretty committed to PEEPs too. But if he ever does fall out of favor, be kind to him, Kiki. Underneath that obstinate, cartoonish show he puts on, is a sensitive, giving, ghost of a man who died while saving a family on the side of the road.”
Kiki smiled a sad little smile. “Did you think I’d just fire him?”
“Yes.”
Kiki burst out laughing. “I deserve that. I’m kind of a hard bitch sometimes.”
“No comment.”
That just increased Kiki’s laughter. “So, tell me more about this newspaper lady who’s getting the romantic Cid treatment?”
“You make me sound so cheap,” Cid said, not taking offense.
“Spill it!” she ordered.
“She rescued me at the market. Macy Eggleston is a second-generation newsperson and proud of her accomplishments. I did get a lonely feeling, but it may have just been the food for one in her grocery cart.”
“I can identify with that. If you’re asking my permission, Clark, I’d say that goes beyond our employer/employee relationship. As a friend, I’d say be open and honest, but unless she brings up the subject, don’t talk about Calvin Franks. Until we can figure out his role in the past, I’d prefer you didn’t gossip about him.”
“How about you?”
Kiki put her hands before her as if she were lettering a marque. “Kiki Pickles Dates Ghost in the Machine.”
“I think I’ll be mum about that too,” Cid said.
“Clark, Mimi doesn’t know either, and I don’t want her to know.”
“I’ll remind the fellas. Have a good night, boss,” Cid said and left.
Kiki laid back on the pillows once more. She felt the overwhelming need to be high. She reached over and pushed the call button.
“Yes?” the on-duty nurse’s voice questioned.
“I think I’m finished with the morphine. Could someone take this out of here?”
“I’ll be in right away, Miss Pickles.”
Kiki adjusted her sore knee. She knew it was going to be a long night without the pain reliever, but she had to fight the urge to ride away on the horse. Seeing Cid this way had brought forth emotions she didn’t want to feel as his boss.
Mimi blustered into the room, her arms full of fashion magazines. “I can’t be
lieve they want us to wear yellow this spring!”
“Hand me one of those things. Maybe we can find you something to wear that can’t be seen from space.”
Mimi was surprised but happy that her sister, for the first time, was showing interest in something so shallow as clothes.
Kiki flipped through the pages, not really seeing the pictures. In her mind were questions: questions about the High Court project and questions about why she was jealous of Cid’s date.
Chapter Fifteen
Macy watched Cid in eager anticipation as he parallel parked his truck. She rose from her seat on the steps as he approached her. “Cid, thank you so much for coming,” she said, holding out her hand. “The restaurant is a block down this way,” she instructed.
Cid took her hand and secured it briefly in his before offering her his arm as they navigated the brick-lined sidewalk. “I have to admit to being very hungry. Lunch seems so long ago.”
“I didn’t eat lunch. I had no appetite,” she admitted. “But right now, I could eat a feast.”
“Good thing this is your treat,” Cid teased. “I don’t get paid until Friday.”
“Being a carpenter isn’t as profitable as I imagined,” Macy said.
“It’s not that. I just recently bought a very large piece of land where I’m going to build my own house.”
“That would empty the pockets. Where are you building?”
“Back in northern Illinois, next to my best friends’ farm.”
“Lucky them.”
“No, lucky me. Ted and his wife have been so kind to me, letting me live rent free so I could build up a nest egg. And now that the egg has been spent, time for me to leave the nest.”
“I hear a tinge of sadness in your voice.”
“I love living with them. Mia gives me full use of the kitchen and prefers my cooking to hers. They are my family - my chosen family that is. Am I making any sense?” Cid asked.
“Yes. You’ve found your soul family.”
“I never thought about it that way, but yes, soul family as in soulmate, people I’m supposed to be with, instead of the family I was born into. It’s not that I don’t get along with my parents, but my sister and I have always been at odds.”
