5 The Ghosts in the Audience

by SUE FINEMAN

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Several days passed, then one night the phone jolted Ginny out of a sound sleep. The man on the other end was drunk, but she recognized his voice.

  “Hey, Princess.” His words slurred, making him hard to understand.

  “What do you want, Mark?”

  “You, baby. I want you.”

  Ginny didn’t want to argue with a drunk in the middle of the night. Especially this drunk. It wouldn’t do any good anyway. “You’re drunk.”

  “Yeah, I know. Can I come over?”

  “No.” She hung up. It wasn’t the first time Mark had called her in the middle of the night, and she didn’t like it any better now than she did the other two times he’d pulled this crap.

  Steffen pulled her close. “I was dreaming about you.”

  She smiled and snuggled in closer.

  His lips traced down the side of her neck to her breast, then he licked her nipple, sending a shiver of desire through her body. His warm hands skimmed her naked body as his knee pushed her legs apart. Sensation filled her with electricity and liquid fire, and she tingled all over. His fingers threaded through her nest of black curls, rubbing and exciting even more, and seconds later he pushed inside her.

  “Steffen,” she whispered. “Oh, God, how I love you.”

  She felt herself being lifted off the bed, still connected to Steffen in the most intimate way. As she floated above the bed in his arms, she’d never felt a more overwhelming sense of connection with another person, yet she felt free. Nothing touched her body except Steffen, and he held her as if she were the most precious person in the world. He moved inside her, bringing her closer, closer, until they came together in a magnificent explosion. And then she was back on the bed, his hands lovingly stroking her, her heart pounding in the aftermath. It wasn’t just sex, it was love, and she felt it with every fiber of her being. If she ever had any doubts about this man’s love, she had none now.

  Nuzzling into her neck, Steffen said, “I’d like to wake up like that every morning.”

  “Is it morning already?”

  He lifted his head and glanced at the clock beside the bed. “Five-thirty.”

  She groaned. “I could shoot Mark.”

  “Nah. Thank him for bringing my dream to life.”

  “Crazy man,” she whispered.

  “That’s me.”

  They showered together, washing each other gently, intimately, extending the exquisite pleasure from the bedroom.

  While Ginny dried her hair, Steffen went downstairs to make the coffee. She couldn’t stop smiling. Who knew having sex with a psychic could be so exciting? But Steffen wasn’t just any psychic, he was the man she loved.

  Ginny had just poured herself a cup of coffee when she heard a car outside. “That has to be Mark. Where’s my gun?”

  Steffen chuckled. “Should I pour another cup of coffee?”

  “He’s so drunk he has no business driving.”

  “Coffee it is,” Steffen said with a smirk.

  Ginny didn’t want to let Mark in, but she couldn’t let him drive away in that condition. She could call 911 and have the uniforms arrest him for drunk and disorderly, but she couldn’t do that to a fellow cop.

  She opened the front door and Mark stumbled inside. Without speaking, Steffen handed him a cup of coffee.

  “What in the hell are you doing here?” Mark asked.

  Steffen crossed his arms. “I might ask you the same question. Why did you come?”

  “Because she loves me.”

  Ginny rolled her eyes. “No, I don’t love you, Mark.”

  “Sure you do. You’ve always loved me, Princess.”

  His coffee sloshed in his shaky hand and she took the cup before he spilled it all over the furniture. Boomer jumped on the back of the sofa and hissed, adding his disapproval.

  It took both Ginny and Steffen to get the drunk detective onto the bed in the guest room, but as soon as his head hit the pillow, he started snoring.

  Steffen pulled off Mark’s shoes. “Looks like we’re stuck with him for a few hours.”

  “The next time he pulls this – if there is a next time – I’ll have him arrested.” She hated dealing with drunks, especially macho, know-it-all men like Mark Montgomery.

  <>

  Three hours later, Steffen received a phone call from Chicago. Jerry said, “Mr. Hamilton called. He said he needs to meet with you this week to talk about probate.”

  “What about it?”

  “Apparently he’s about finished, but according to the accountant, you’ll need to liquidate some assets to pay the taxes.”

  “As in an office building?”

  “I assume so. I don’t think the investment accounts will cover it all. Inheritance taxes took a big portion of what Joseph left me.”

  Steffen expected to have to sell at least one of the office buildings and some of the investments, but he hated the thought of selling either one of Joseph’s homes. If he had to sell one, he’d rather sell the condo than the house in Florida. He hoped he didn’t have to sell both.

  “Jerry, would you make an appointment for me to see Charles Hamilton? Make it for Wednesday or Thursday, if possible.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  As soon as Steffen ended his call, Ginny sat beside him on the sofa. “You’re going to Chicago?”

  “After the house inspection. Julie scheduled it for Monday afternoon. Probate is winding up, and I need to get things in order in Chicago, sell some assets to pay the taxes, and check on Phillip.” He’d been in rehab nearly three months. The drugs should be out of his system and he should be thinking more rationally by now, but part of his recovery would undoubtedly be knowing someone cared. Phillip had been alone a long time, with nothing to do but feel sorry for himself and find ways to alleviate the pain.

  “Phillip?”

  “He’s a distant cousin I put in rehab three months ago. The docs refused to give him any more pain pills for a shoulder injury, so he tried street drugs and got hooked.”

  “Oh, Steffen. Another stray?”

  He shrugged. “He’ll need support when he gets out, and I don’t mean financial. Joseph left him enough to live on, but I can’t leave him to fend for himself.”

  “No wonder you need a big house,” she muttered. “You’re almost as bad as my mother. She’s always taking in strays.”

  “Aw, c’mon, Ginny. What about Sarah? She’s a nice kid who needed help.”

  “I know. Kayla said she’s a keeper, and she is.”

  “Do I hear a but in there somewhere?”

  She shook her head. “You saved Sarah’s life. And mine.”

  He cocked his head. “Is that a bad thing?”

  “No, that’s a good thing.” She kissed him gently. “A very good thing.” Snuggling into his side, she asked, “Do you plan to have your cousin live with you?”

  “Until I’m sure he can function on his own without slipping back into old habits. He can’t stay in Chicago. There are people there who want him dead.”

  “Let me guess. He stiffed someone on a drug deal?”

  “Yep. And I had them arrested.”

  She grinned. “Maybe I should get you a job with the River Valley Police Department.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Rescuing damsels in distress.”

  He laughed. She was moving past her grief and sounding more like the old Ginny. More like herself. She’d be okay.

  They’d both be okay.

  <>

  Mark slept all day Sunday and most of Sunday night. He was still at Ginny’s house when she left for work Monday morning, her first day back at work since her ordeal with Pollanski.

  Mark had a doozy of a hangover, but he hung around like he owned the place. He sat at the kitchen bar, and Steffen poured him a cup of coffee. Mark’s hands shook when he picked up the cup. “Why does she hate me?”

  Steffen didn’t respond. What could he say? That Mark had nearly gotten her and
her partner killed because he didn’t follow orders? That he shouldn’t have called her in the middle of the night or come here drunk out of his mind? That Ginny was in love with another man? Mark didn’t have to be told those things.

  Sipping his coffee, Mark asked, “What can you give her that I can’t?”

  “Great sex. And I treat her with respect.”

  “So do I, and we always had great sex.”

  “Yeah, sure,” Steffen said sarcastically. “Do you want breakfast before you leave?”

  Mark sipped more coffee. “I’m not leaving.”

  “Yes, you are, and don’t bother to come back. Ginny doesn’t want you here.”

  “If my head didn’t hurt so much…”

  “Get out of here before I throw you out.”

  For a second, Steffen thought Mark might take a swing at him, but this man wasn’t in any shape to fight anyone. Without a word, Mark walked out the door, climbed into his car, and drove away. Steffen let out the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

  No wonder Ginny had such a hard time at work.

  <>

  That afternoon, Steffen and Julie met the house inspector at the house on River Road. The inspection took three hours, but at the end of the day, Steffen knew a lot more about the house he was buying. Everything seemed to be in good working order, including the furnace and hot water heater. The seller had the fireplaces and chimneys cleaned before she put the house on the market, the roof was fairly new, and all the windows had been replaced with energy-efficient double panes three years ago. The wiring had also been updated in recent years.

  One window in the laundry room had a crack across the corner, but he could have that replaced after he moved in.

  He was concerned about the foundation and the basement, but the structure checked out. The house had been built to last several lifetimes.

  The seller, Gladys Mason, returned and walked through the house with Steffen. In the library, she said, “My husband and I added this room after my parents passed away. He was an attorney, and he wanted a library and a quiet place to work from home.”

  “I plan to work here, too.” Steffen told her about the book he intended to write and they talked about the letters he received from people who needed a psychic’s help. Then they walked upstairs.

  “We used to have five bedrooms, but we turned the nursery into a big bathroom and closet for the master bedroom.”

  “The house is beautiful,” Steffen said. “I’m going to love living here.”

  He agreed to purchase some pieces of furniture she wouldn’t be needing in California – the living and dining room furniture, guest room furniture, and the sofa and chairs in the room she called the family room, the room Steffen intended to use as a playroom for his children someday. Then they went into the attic space, which he wanted to use as a gym. She turned on the lights and pointed to a dusty rocking chair beside a beautiful cradle. “I didn’t know if you’d be needing baby furniture.” She pushed the cradle and it rocked gently.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “When my children were babies, I kept the cradle downstairs and the cribs upstairs.”

  “We won’t need it right away, but I want children someday. How much?”

  “Nothing.” She smiled. “You remind me of my son.”

  Steffen motioned to the wispy figure of a sturdy young man standing behind the woman. “He’s here with you, watching over you.” Another figure appeared beside him, an older man who resembled the younger man.

  Her eyes filled with tears. “Is he all right?”

  “Your son is fine now, and so is your husband. They’re both here, and they’ll watch over you in California. When it’s your time, they’ll be there to help you over. Your husband wants you to know he loves you and he’s sorry he had to leave you so soon, and your son says not to worry about him. He passed quickly.”

  “His injury was so bad.”

  “I know, but God has restored his body, and there’s no pain on the other side. Only peace and love.”

  Helping people find peace was a satisfying part of being psychic. Mrs. Mason had spent the past few years feeling unsettled and alone, grief-stricken over the loss of her son and husband. Now she could move to California and get on with her life without the grief weighing her down.

  <>

  Tuesday morning, after Steffen sent Ginny off to work, he flew to Chicago to take care of business. Jerry met him at the airport in his new car.

  “Nice car, Jerry.”

  “It’s a hybrid. Goes forever on one tank of gas and battery power. And it’s easy to park.”

  Steffen chuckled. The Town Car was a whole lot bigger than Jerry’s new car, and although it drove like a dream, it didn’t fit into the smaller parking spaces.

  Later, Steffen walked through the condo with Jerry and wondered if he should move some of the furniture to River Valley or leave it all here. Except the piano. “I want Ginny to have Carolyn’s piano.”

  Jerry shook his head. “It’s not going anywhere. I don’t know how they got it in here, but it won’t fit through the door or in any of the elevators in the building. You’d have to tear out the wall and use a crane to get it out. If you can find one tall enough.”

  Disappointed, Steffen said, “I guess I can buy Ginny a new piano in River Valley.” The grand piano was beautiful, the nicest piece of furniture in the condo, but it wasn’t worth tearing down a wall.

  On Wednesday, Steffen met with his accountant. He’d need to sell the biggest office building or both smaller ones, plus use a good portion of Joseph’s investment accounts to settle the inheritance taxes. When the buildings sold, he wouldn’t need a full time property manager.

  Later, Steffen sat down with Ruben Conley, the property manager, and explained the problem.

  “So you’re firing me?” Conley asked.

  “I’d like you to hang around until I get something sold, and then you can go part-time, but if you find another job before then, I won’t hold you.”

  “I figured this would happen. Damn government takes everything.”

  Steffen couldn’t disagree in this instance. Inheritance taxes seemed unfair, because Joseph had paid taxes on what he’d built over the years, and now Steffen would have to pay taxes on the same property.

  “Do you know anyone who’d be interested in buying a building or two?”

  “Maybe. The Ballery Corporation rents one building. They were interested in buying a couple years ago, but Mr. Marchand and Mr. Ballery couldn’t agree on a price.”

  “Set up a meeting for Friday morning, if possible. We’ll see if they’re still interested in buying. Do you know what they offered?”

  “Their best offer was a hundred and twenty million, but Mr. Marchand wouldn’t sell for less than a hundred and fifty million.”

  A hundred and fifty million plus two of Joseph’s investment accounts might cover the tax bills. If Ballery was still interested in buying.

  <>

  Wednesday morning, Karen came into the office after spending nearly an hour with Chief Britton. From the grin on her face, Ginny expected good news.

  “Call me Captain,” she said. “The job is mine.”

  Ginny let out a loud whoop. “The first woman captain in River Valley history. That’s something to celebrate.”

  “There’s more. Ginny, you’re being promoted to Lead Detective. You’re taking over Mark’s job.”

  “What about Al? He’s been here longer.”

  “He’s not coming back anytime soon, and this team needs a leader now.”

  Al wouldn’t be happy about this. In spite of his friendship with Mark, he was a good guy and a decent detective. But he wouldn’t necessarily make a good leader. He was too easily led by other guys like Mark Montgomery. Still, Ginny felt a little guilty about him getting hurt so badly when all she got was a hole in her sleeve.

  “What about Mark?” Molly asked.

  “He’s no longer a part of this division.”
<
br />   Ginny wanted to ask if he’d been fired or just demoted, but she kept her mouth shut. She hadn’t seen him since Monday morning, when he sat in her kitchen sipping coffee and moaning about his hangover headache.

  Karen had two other teams of detectives under her command, but Ginny’s team was the one gutted by recent events. They’d lost two seasoned detectives, three with Karen’s promotion. All Ginny had left were the two new detectives, Molly Wilson and David Tennison. And Al, after his recovery.

  “I’m bringing one detective from each of the other two teams to work with you, and the chief is promoting two officers to replace them. I know it’ll take time to learn to work together as a team, but I have faith in you, in all of you.”

  David lifted his coffee cup in a toast. “To Captain Milburn and Lead Detective Kane. We’re behind you all the way.”

  Ginny shared a smile with her captain. Karen was in her fifties, a seasoned detective who’d often been passed up for promotion because of her gender. She deserved the position as captain. Although Ginny had only been a detective for three years, she knew she’d make a better team leader than Mark or Al.

  Dad would be delighted.

  She wondered how Steffen would feel about it.

  <>

  Wednesday afternoon, Steffen called Carson, who asked, “Are you ready to tour again?”

  “No, but I am putting on a show in River Valley next weekend, and I need some of those medallions to give away.”

  “Give?”

  Anger warmed Steffen’s face. Carson didn’t ever want to give anything away. “Yeah, you got a problem with that?”

  “I paid good money for those damn things and you’re going to give them away?”

  “You didn’t pay anything. I paid the bill, not you. So they belong to me.”

  Carson blew out a breath. “Okay, fine, give the damn things away. Where do you want them sent?”

  “I’ll pick them up. I’m driving back to Ohio this time.”

  “Driving what? Did you buy a car?”

  “No, my grandfather left me his. It’s old, but it’s in good shape.”

  Jerry nudged Steffen’s arm. “Do you want to ask him for dinner?”