“Cam,” Mike started to say, but I closed the door before he could say anything else. Just a writer, indeed. Tomorrow, I would track down Desmond Long Jr. myself. I didn’t need Mike around to ask a few simple questions.
Right?
Chapter 31
Wednesday
“You’re not serious,” Randy said. We were standing in front of the historical mystery section of the bookstore, putting out some new books. I had just finished telling him what had happened the night before, concluding with Mike’s “you’re just a writer” comment.
“Totally serious. I wanted to slug him.”
“Maybe he didn’t mean it in a bad way.”
“You’re going to defend him?!”
“Calm down. Just hear me out.”
“This ought to be good,” I muttered as I shoved another book on the shelf.
“He probably meant that he’s trained for things like this. He knows how to conduct investigations, how to interview suspects and witnesses, and how to protect himself if the situation goes bad. If the person you were talking to suddenly became violent, you could end up in serious trouble, or worse. Mike has a fighting chance. And he did agree to let you help, up to a certain point.”
“So what you’re saying is that you think he meant it in a concerned boyfriend kind of way, and not in a ‘this is a man’s job’ way?”
“Exactly,” Randy nodded. “Mike’s not a chauvinist. He does have female officers on the force, and he’s certainly worked with them in the past.”
I didn’t want to admit he had a point.
“Since you’re being so stubborn, let me put it another way. Do you want to be chased by a monster truck and forced down a well again?”
“Not particularly.”
“Do you want to be held at gunpoint by a crazy man again?”
“Definitely not.”
“Then leave the murder investigations to Mike, and go back to writing your books, or next time, you’ll be a ghostwriter, literally.”
“Wow, harsh much?” I said, dropping a book back into the box. I walked around the corner and saw Mike leaning against the front counter, his arms across his chest. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough,” he said. He pointed to a white bag on the counter next to him. “I brought a peace offering.”
Frowning, I went over and looked inside the bag. “Jelly doughnuts?”
“Apricot and cherry. And a Dr Pepper.”
“Food and drink, wow. I guess you aren’t feeling too guilty, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“No flowers.”
Mike sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. “Look, what I said last night was meant with the best intentions. It just didn’t come out the right way. Randy’s right. This is what I do for a living. Writing is what you do for a living. We agreed to limited involvement. Personally, you’re in too deep for my comfort.”
“What do you want me to say? I’m sorry?”
“Look at what’s happened. Stitches on the back of your head. The person who hit you obviously doesn’t care much for human life, considering they’ve already killed someone.”
“We have no proof that the person who hit me and the person, or persons, who killed Susan and Clinton are one in the same.”
“Are you serious? It’s pretty obvious that all of this is connected, Cam. Frankly, I have no intention of pulling you out of another well.”
“I didn’t ask you to. And I seem to remember that it was me who saved your butt when Artie was holding all of us at gunpoint.”
“I’m not doing this,” Mike said. “It’s time to back off, Cam.” He headed for the door.
“And if I happen to hear something that would be helpful to your investigation?” I said, stopping him in his tracks. “I suppose I’ll just keep that to myself.”
He turned around. “If you come across any information that you think would be helpful, then I want to know. I hope it’s accidentally, of course.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t want to be accused of doing your job.”
He started to say something else, then changed his mind, turned around and left.
“Still haven’t forgiven him, I see,” Mac said.
“Shut up.”
“I haven’t said anything yet,” Randy said.
“Mac.”
“Ah. Good morning, Mac.”
“Good morning, Randy,” Mac said. He sat down on top of the counter and opened the white bag. “Ooh, doughnuts. That is one thing about being dead that I really don’t like…not being able to enjoy food.”
I snatched the bag out of his reach. “Good thing for me you don’t need to eat.”
“I don’t think a sugar rush is going to take care of your crankiness, young lady,” Mac said.
Randy took the bag from me. “You’re going to crush those jelly doughnuts, and I’ll be the one cleaning up the mess. So what now?” He looked inside the bag and took out a doughnut. “Are you really going to stop investigating?”
“What do you think?”
Mac rubbed his hands together. “I think that means you’re going to stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong. Where do we start?”
“What’s this ‘we’ bit, kemosabe?”
“The Lone Ranger! That was a great television series!
“What are you talking about?” Randy said. “This not being able to see ghosts really bites sometimes.”
“Being able to see them really bites sometimes,” I replied.
“Hey, I’m a great guy,” Mac said. “Who wouldn’t want to hang out with me?”
“What are you planning to do?” Randy asked me.
“There are three people that I need to talk to. I just have to make sure that Mike isn’t there when I do.”
“That would be rather awkward,” Randy agreed. “He’d probably arrest you, too, just to make sure you got the point about staying out of the investigation.”
“I don’t think an orange jumpsuit would be a good look for you,” Mac said. “Maybe I can help.”
“Why are you so anxious to help me?”
“You’re not going to do this by yourself,” Randy said.
“Not you. Mac.”
“Because maybe helping you find Lillian’s killer will lead me to my killer,” Mac replied.
I didn’t say anything for a minute.“So how do you plan on helping me?” I said to Mac.
“I can find out where Mike is at, to make sure we all don’t end up at the same place.”
“I know for a fact he’s going to be at the station talking to Joey and his lawyer.”
“Yes, but when? Give me a minute.” Mac vanished in a glow of blue.
“I will never get used to that,” I muttered.
“Used to what?”
“Ghosts just popping in and out without walking out the door.”
Randy finished the doughnut and licked his fingers. “Where did he go?”
I took the bag away from him before he could eat the second one. “He went to find Mike.”
“Why?”
“So we know where he’s at, and I will know who I can go talk to.”
Randy handed me the Dr Pepper. “I don’t think you should do this, Cam.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one being haunted by three ghosts.”
“Yes, but I’d rather you were the haunted, instead of the hauntee.”
Mac appeared next to Randy. “He’s at the station, talking to some funny-looking man who’s throwing a fit about his client being locked up.”
“Sounds like Prufrock,” I said.
“Prufrock is Joey’s lawyer?” Randy said. “Mike is going to be tied up all morning.”
“That’s good for me,” I replied, grabbing my messenger bag and slinging it over my shoulder. “If Mike comes looking for me, tell him I’m doing research at the Dallas library.”
“You want me to lie to the chief of police?”
“No. As my best fr
iend, I want you to lie to my boyfriend.”
“When you put it that way, I can do that,” Randy said. “But where are you really going to be?”
“Well, a wise person would research a subject before they talk to them. So, I’m going to do my due diligence, and dig for information. Then I’ll set up an interview with each person.”
“How are you going to pull that off?”
“I’ll say it’s research for a story on the Ingram family. You’d be surprised at the things you learn when people start talking. The dirtiest secrets come to the surface.”
“Promise me that you’ll stay in touch with me by text. Let me know where you’re at, just in case something happens. At least I’ll know where to send Mike.”
“I will, but you won’t need to tell Mike. Nothing’s going to happen.” Famous last words.
Randy followed me to the door. “Go with her, Mac,” he said quietly.
“I planned on it,” Mac whispered back, even though Randy couldn’t hear him.
******
Actually, I didn’t go very far. I parked in the alley behind my parents’ coffeehouse, and went in through the back door. “What are you doing here?” Dad said when he saw me walking by his office.
“Just came for my morning muffin.”
He pointed to the bag in my hand. “With a jelly doughnut?”
“It was given to me.”
“And you’re coming in the back way instead of through the front door like you usually do because why?”
“You looked busy this morning, so I thought I’d park in the back.”
Dad leaned back in his chair. “Going to tell me what’s really going on?”
“Just a difference of opinion with Mike.”
“Hence the doughnut bag.”
“I didn’t buy them. Mike did. Two jelly doughnuts, although Randy ate one.”
“What’s the problem between you and Mike?”
I leaned against the doorway. “He doesn’t want me getting involved in the Ingram case. I should say, more involved than I already am. He gave me the ‘I’m trained for this, you’re not’ speech, which didn’t go over well with me.”
“I imagine not,” Dad said. “So, let me guess. You’re planning to ignore his advice and look into this by yourself.”
“Maybe.”
He shook his head. “That’s not like you, Cam. You’ve never liked going it alone. I would think that the Ashton case reinforced the belief that you work better with other people. If Mike is asking you to step aside, I’m sure he has a good reason for it.”
“He thinks one haircut and one set of stitches is enough.”
“I told you I’ve got a weed eater at the house. I would have been happy to cut your hair without you having to get stitches.”
“Very funny, Dad.”
“Why don’t you call Mike and ask him to meet you here? You two can work this out.”
“He’s busy this morning. He arrested Joey Ingram yesterday, but he had to wait until Joey’s lawyer was available to talk to him. I think Charles Prufrock is the lawyer.”
“Poor Mike,” Dad said, shaking his head. “Charles can be a handful. So what are you planning to do?”
“I thought I’d sit out front and do some research.”
“For a client?”
“Um, no. We learned the names of some people who might have had a grudge against Clinton, so I thought I would check them out.”
“You aren’t planning to talk to them, are you?”
“I was thinking about it.”
“Alone?”
“It’s possible.”
Dad shook his head again. “Don’t do it, Cam. If your research turns up something Mike should know, then tell him. But don’t confront these people by yourself.”
“Want to go with me?”
“I have enough to do around here, thank you very much. Plus, I’m filling in at the church on Sunday, so I have a sermon to prepare. Call Mike later and talk to him. I kind of like the guy.”
“Don’t get any ideas, Dad.”
“What ideas?”
“Son-in-law ideas. We’re not to that point yet. Not even close.”
“I can hope.”
“Now you sound like Mother.”
“Well, we’re not getting any younger, you know. We’d like a couple of grandkids to spoil.”
I put my hands over my ears. “I do not need to hear this right now.”
He laughed as he got up and came over to me. He gave me a big hug and kissed my forehead. “Work things out with Mike. He’s a good man, and he makes you happy. You’re both just a bit stubborn.”
“I blame my red hair and you.”
“Guilty as charged,” he said as the office phone rang. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I stopped to give Mother a hug and kiss before I went out front and claimed a corner booth. As I went to the counter to get some ice for my Dr Pepper, Joanne Reagan walked through the front door. I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath.
“What can I get you, Cam?” Regina said.
“Just a large cup of ice.”
“You got it.”
Joanne appeared next to me. “What a surprise to see you here, Cam,” she said.
“It’s one of my favorite places.”
“I love the muffins,” she admitted. “And the owners are super nice.”
“Yes, they are,” I agreed.
“Here you go, Cam,” Regina said, handing me a glass. “Oh, and your mother said to give you this.” She slid a plate of muffins across the counter. “She said that jelly doughnut isn’t good for you.”
“Thanks, Regina. Tell her I said thanks, too. But don’t tell her I’m still planning to eat the doughnut.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“Nice talking to you, Joanne,” I said, picking up my plate.
I went back to the booth, pulled my laptop out of my bag, and poured the Dr Pepper over the ice. Someone cleared their throat next to me, and when I looked up, I was surprised to see Joanne standing there.
“May I sit down for a minute?”
“Um, sure,” I said, pushing the laptop aside to make room for her.
“Thank you,” she said, sitting down. “I didn’t realize the owners are your parents.”
“All my life.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t think it was important. Is it?”
“No, no. I mean, I’m new in town, and I’m trying to learn everything I can about the people and the town.”
“I remember what it’s like to be the new girl in town. With Dad being a minister, we moved around a lot. It takes a while to learn all the ins and outs of small town living. You’ll get there.”
“I’m not sure about that,” she replied.
“Why?”
“We’ve got a double homicide to investigate, and I don’t know who anyone is around here. I don’t know who to talk to, who had a grudge against the victims, or anything like that. Chief Penhall and the other officers know everything and everyone. I feel like a fish out of water.”
“You lived in the same place all your life, didn’t you?”
She nodded.
“Well, you’ve just got to put yourself out there. Introduce yourself to local business owners, like my parents. Smile and talk to people. Go to local functions when you’re off duty. Learn to listen.”
“Did this work for you?”
“It did. It still does. You just have to be patient.”
She looked down at her hands. “I owe you an apology.”
“Me?” I said, surprised. “What for?”
“When I first started working here, Chief Penhall was really nice to me. He helped me move into my apartment, showed me the ropes at work. I kind of developed a little crush on him. I didn’t realize that he…that the two of you…well, you know.”
“I see.”
“I haven’t been very nice to you, and I just wanted to say I’m s
orry.”
“I appreciate that.”
Joanne looked at her watch. “I better get going. My shift starts in a little while.” She stood up. “Thanks for listening, and for the great advice.”
“I hope it helps. Just talk to Mike. Tell him what’s bothering you. I guarantee you that he has no clue what you’re worried about. He’s lived here all his life. He doesn’t know what it’s like to move around. Tell him your concerns; he’ll help you out.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks, Cam.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Maybe you should take your own advice,” Mac said after Joanne left.
“Not now,” I whispered. “Go away.”
“I will after I say this. If you want to help Mike, then tell him that. You may be ‘just a writer’, but you can do things to help him in ways that he doesn’t realize. Show him what you can do. Don’t shut him out. Don’t go off on your own. It takes more than one person to make things work. But you have to make the effort.”
“Are we talking about the investigation now, or something totally different?”
Mac just smiled and disappeared.
What did he think I could do to help Mike that he couldn’t already do himself?
Chapter 32
With my earbuds in, I jammed to music while I got to work. I lost track of time as I scoured websites looking for information. A couple of times, Regina brought me a fresh Dr Pepper. I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I didn’t notice anyone standing next to me. But the tap on the shoulder made me jump in my seat. I pulled my earbuds out and looked up to find Mike smiling down at me. “What are you doing here?” I asked him. “I thought you were busy interviewing Joey.”
“I was,” he said, sliding into the seat across from me. “Just finished a little while ago.”
“How did it go?”
“I had to let him go.”
“What? Why?”
“Besides the fact that there was no concrete proof that he murdered either one of them, he was able to provide an alibi for the time of his wife’s murder.”
“What is it?”
“He was at a hotel in Red Oak…with a ‘friend’.”
“Of the female persuasion, no doubt.”
“No doubt,” Mike chuckled. “He says he left after the first act to meet her. He even provided a copy of the receipt, as well as the phone number for his alibi.”
Who Invited the Ghost to Dinner: A Ghost Writer Mystery Page 25
