“Axl called, which reminds me that I’m late to take him his lunch.”
“Take him his lunch? He’s twenty years old.”
“I know. Boys just need their mothers, don’t they? I’ll see you both at the party tonight, right?”
Shoot! Juniper had forgotten about Helen’s birthday party. She knew there was a reason she wasn’t planning to arrive in town until tomorrow.
“I’m not sure I can make it.” Juniper called back. “There’s so much to do over at the house still.”
“Well, you can’t very well work on things at night, now can you?”
Actually, she could and she did quite often, but she didn’t bother pointing that out. A socialite like Helen wouldn’t understand.
“Anyway, Jack and Sally are coming. It’s not fair that you should be left behind to work, now is it?”
“No, it’s not.” Juniper agreed, grudgingly.
“Besides, it will give you the opportunity to wear one of those pretty outfits you used to wear on the covers of the magazines. Get you out of that manly work ensemble. I mean, really, you must hate having to dress like that.”
Pike snickered.
Juniper looked down. What was everyone’s problem today? These were her favorite jeans.
“Bring a date if you want although I hear that new Detective in town is single. He was chasing Penny from the newspaper but I hear she turned him down. Tootaloo,” Helen said, swirling out of the store like a tornado in full swing.
Chapter Four
_____________
S EVERAL hours later, Juniper locked up the mansion and headed down the front steps in a white jumpsuit and nude platform sandals. Darkness had settled like a thick blanket over the town of Bohemian Lake. Fallen leaves danced in the wind around the pumpkins on the porch. She was just stepping onto the sidewalk when a small group of people approached the house. The two teenage girls in front had on coats advertising the town’s haunted tour.
“Is it true what they say about this place?” a purple-haired girl wearing a leather coat and paisley scarf asked. The girl held her flashlight under her chin, casting a glow on her face and making the braces on her teeth gleam.
“That it’s haunted? Yes,” One of the leaders of the group said with a serious face. “The Ghost Hunters Association listed this house as one of the most haunted places in North America.” The tour leader gestured toward Juniper’s lovely old gothic Victorian.
With widened eyes, the group followed the direction of her pointing finger.
Juniper turned around and approached them. “Excuse me? Are you giving a ghost tour?”
“I am. This is your house now, right? You’re Juniper Palmer.” The girl extended her hand. “I’m Pearl. My friend told me about you.”
Juniper nodded. “Do you mind if I listen in? I’d love to hear what you have to say.”
“I’d be honored.” The girl projected her voice so the people at the back could here. “Can I get your attention, everyone? This is the doctor’s house, which is rumored to be haunted by the 19th-century family who built it. Apparitions, whispers, footsteps and cold spots have been reported throughout the house and property,” Pearl said. “The spirit of a woman is often seen roaming the grounds. Her silhouette appears as a white misty form.”
A woman clung to her date’s arm. Her eyes widened as Pearl continued her story. If the woman in white appeared tonight she’d probably pee her pants and run away.
“Isn’t there a legend that says on Halloween the Doctor and his wife come alive?” asked one of the group participants.
“Yes, there is a rumor that the tormented ghost of the Doctor-turned-murderer and his bride appear on the anniversary date and the murder plays out, like it did on that fateful Halloween. But you should know Victoria and her husband weren’t the only ones to die in this house. Victoria’s brother-in-law tried to sell the place after the murder-suicide but no one would buy it. Then a huge fire hit the town, and they lost the saw mill. The man couldn’t take it anymore. He was found inside the foyer, swinging from the massive chandelier.
“He killed himself?” Juniper blurted.
“So it would appear.”
Great. Just… great, Juniper thought, doing a mental head slap. Another death. Why hadn’t they asked for a detailed history before agreeing to purchase? Didn’t realtors need to disclose this sort of information?
“Maybe the ghost killed him.” The purple haired girl whispered.
“Maybe.” Pearl guided the group across the grass to the stone path that led back to the entrance.
The girl who worked alongside Pearl spoke up, “Okay, everyone if you could follow me. We’re going to take a quick break inside the café where the owner has hot beverages and snacks prepared for us before she closes and after that we’ll head to our final stop for the night, the graveyard.”
Pearl turned to Juniper. “Nice meeting you. If you’re ever interested in having us, we love taking the tour guests inside.”
Juniper nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
As soon as the crowd dispersed, Juniper walked down the street. Bohemian Lake had one main drag—Main Street—with various avenues leading off of it like fish ribs off a spine. The Patones lived on one of the back streets. The area was mostly residential, and the bulk of the houses were small and boxy, built in the fifties. The Patones, however, had a mansion and Kaitlyn lived in the guesthouse which was just a smidge smaller than the main house. It was quiet on the back street, except for the random ringing of church bells, and when a breeze picked up, it carried the smell of fresh-baked bread from Main Street. Juniper was just passing by the Boho Assisted Living Village when she heard voices coming from the bushes.
She swiveled her head to the right and spotted an older man in slippers on the other side of the bush. “What are you after? Smokes, tokes, sweets?” whispered one of the voices. “I’ve also got hooch, whip cream and girlie posters.”
“I’ll take the whipped cream and what the hell, give me one of your calendars too.”
Juniper stepped forward, peering behind the bush. The woman who worked the desk at Bohemian Lake’s newspaper was perched on a gardening stool, an inventory list in one hand and a pen in the other. Her hair was long, and most of her face was lost behind a pair of enormous square-framed sunglasses.
“Mrs. Banter? Is that you?”
The man grabbed his brown bag, shoved a bill into her hand and scuttled away as quick as a man with a cane wearing slippers could.
“Juniper, dear. How the heck are you?”
“I’m good. Just heading to the Patone’s for that party.”
Mrs. Banter rolled her eyes. “You poor girl. I have just the thing for that.” She reached into her bag of contraband and pulled out a bottle of liquid Tylenol. “Take this and slug it back before you pass through the gate. Trust me, it’ll help.”
“Liquid Tylenol. Why would I need that, Mrs. Banter?”
“Oh please, call me Eve, dear. Mrs. Banter was my last husband’s mother.”
Juniper chuckled. She had recently learned that Mrs. Banter had been married three times, and she was looking for her fourth. She was a real spitfire. Juniper’s overriding hope in life was to have as much spirit as her in her golden years.
“Okay, Eve. Why would I need children’s Tylenol? I don’t even have a headache yet.”
“Oh, but you will. Just swig it. Trust me. It’s on the house.”
Juniper uncapped the bottle and took a swig and then coughed. “Good lord that was not Tylenol.” Juniper coughed again. “Is that whisky or wine? I’m so confused.”
“Brandy, actually. I make my own.”
Juniper wiped at her eyes with the sleeve of her leather jacket. “That is potent stuff. Are you trafficking contraband into the old age home?”
“Shh!” she hissed. “You're gonna give me away to the man?”
“What man? There’s a man after you?”
“Please girl, what man or woman in this place isn’t
after me but that’s not what I mean. I’m hiding out. That ball busting nurse, Rebel Jones is after me.”
“Rebel Jones? I don’t think I’ve met her.”
“Oh no, there’s one of them now. Gotta go.” She said with a growl. Then she grabbed her big bag and whipped past Juniper, leaving a faint smell of lemon verbena and pressed face powder. Juniper shook off the cloying heavy smell as if it were water and continued walking until she reached the Patone’s backyard gate. White and silver balloons covered every available surface while party lights and a sparkling disco ball hung from the pergola. To Juniper’s eye, it looked more like a wedding reception than a birthday party.
Juniper sighed. Good thing she’d gone with the white jumpsuit. Hopefully she could blend in. This was the last place she wanted to be. Once upon a time, she would have looked forward to a party with Pike and Jack and all of their friends. Of course, that was before Big Boobs, the bane of her existence, stole Jack away. Now, she’d just get her nose rubbed in it.
She had hoped when she agreed to flip the Doctors house that she could avoid being pulled back into Jack’s notorious social circle, but she should have known better.
Juniper carefully looked around for Pike as more and more people filtered in. A nice secluded table is just what she needed.
“Juniper, is that you?”
Juniper quietly swore to herself. She immediately recognized the voice.
“Juniper! Didn’t you hear me?” Big Boobs asked. “I called your name back there.”
Juniper’s normally serene face hardened, as she pivoted to face the other woman. “Sally Snaub, is that you? I would never have recognized you.”
Actually, Big Boobs hadn't changed since the last time she’d seen her a year ago. Juniper had managed to avoid her since then and Jack respectfully kept Big Boobs away from their work sites. Her hair was the same shade of jet black, a voluminous cloud around her heart-shaped, perfectly made-up face and she still wore the same self-satisfied smirk. The same figure-hugging band-aid clothing that showcased her cavernous cleavage and screamed of desperation. Big brown eyes were adorned with spiky, black false lashes and her Cupid’s bow mouth was painted with high gloss, red lipstick. She was attractive in a rather obvious way, and Juniper thought how much prettier the woman would look without all that makeup plastered on her face.
“Juniper, you haven’t changed at all.” Big Boobs smiled, her eyes lighting up like a Christmas tree. “I just wanted to let you know how sorry I was to hear that you weren’t modeling anymore. It is a shame,” she said, clucking her tongue. “But that’s the fashion industry for you. You turn thirty and gain a few pounds and it’s all over. Oh well, you hide it well.” Big Boobs shook her head in pity.
Juniper smirked. “I’m twenty-eight and I stopped taking jobs to focus on the renovation business. But you’re so lucky you’ve never had to worry about such things. It must be nice to gain as much weight as you want. I mean it’s not like anyone cares to look at you.”
Big Boobs scowled. “Well, at least you have Jack’s company to fall back on.”
Juniper adjusted the peacock blue headband in her short blonde hair. “You mean mine and Jack’s company. I just love working with him. You must miss him—he spends so much time with me—I don’t know how the two of you even find time together.”
Big Boobs’s stiffened. “Jack and I have never been happier. In fact, we are planning to tie the knot at last. I hope you can attend.”
“Yes,” Juniper said, looking over Big Boobs's shoulder. “Why, there’s the future groom. I think I’ll go over and see how the rest of his day was. I haven’t seen him in an hour. He might need a back rub… his shoulders were awfully tight from all that hammering today.”
Big Boobs stepped closer to Juniper. “You should really keep your hands to your own boyfriend. Oh, that’s right. Jack told me your boyfriend broke it off.” She shook her head sadly. “Pity.”
Juniper flushed angrily. “I broke it off.”
“Were you able to bring a date, at least?”
“There you are.” A man reached for Juniper’s hand. “How would you like to dance?”
Juniper breathed a sigh of relief as the man’s left hand found her waist.
“I was afraid you weren’t going to show up tonight,” He whispered into her ear.
She leaned back so she could look up into his hazel eyes. “I almost didn’t, but I’m really glad I did. I’m sorry, have we met?”
He smiled, his eyes crinkling up in the process. “No, but, I know Pike and I’ve heard all about you. She’s the one who sent me over. I’m Cody Lumos. I’m the new detective in town, that’s why I was hoping you would be here. You know, outsiders stick together and all that.”
“Well, thank you for rescuing me, Detective.”
“I’ve never seen two people tear one another apart in such a condescending yet polite manner. A truly honed skill set I’m assuming. Have you two been friends long?”
Juniper tilted her head. “Do you know my business partner, Jack Young? He grew up here.”
“Not very well, but sort of, I bought a house on Queen Street about a month ago. Jack Sr. was my real estate agent.”
“Well the girl I was mincing words with is Jack’s fiancée. She replaced me four years ago and we haven’t really gotten along since then.”
Cody smiled at her. “I can see why.”
“Pike mentioned you and she are old college friends? Is that how you met Jack?”
“Yes. Pike and I were recruited on campus by the same modeling agency. Jack was taking the same building science course as me and he knew Pike. We were like the three musketeers during college and then Sally the shark showed up and practically stalked us. It didn’t take long for her to sink her teeth into Jack once I was away modeling.”
“Well, he’s not a very intelligent guy to let her bite, but that’s just my opinion.” Cody added. “What about the Patones? How do you know them?”
“Through Jack and Pike. Anyway, it’s more like who doesn’t know the Patones. Pike and Kaitlyn have always been frenemies and now that they’re working together on the Halloween Ball, things are especially strained.”
“There you are,” Kaitlyn said. “I’ve been waiting to see you.”
Juniper looked up in surprise to hear Kaitlyn’s voice. Hopefully she hadn’t overheard them.
“Kaitlyn. I didn’t see you there.”
Kaitlyn hovered rudely. “Is it true?”
Juniper frowned, unsure what Kaitlyn was talking about.
“Did you see the ghost today?”
Juniper nodded. “I saw a woman in a white dress in the garden. It all happened very fast. I don’t know that it was a ghost or a prank, but there was some very creepy violin music playing. Your mother said you’ve seen her… did you hear the music as well.”
Kaitlyn snorted. “Of course she’d tell you that.” She rolled her eyes. “I have to go.”
Cody shook his head, clearly confused. “Do you make enemies wherever you go?”
Frustrated, Juniper shook it off, “I have no idea what that was all about. Shall we go sit down? I see Pike.”
Jack, who had been glaring at Cody and Juniper dancing, suddenly stood up as they arrived at the table. “I’ll see everyone later. I’ve got an early morning.”
Before Jack could completely stand up, Sally said, “Excellent idea, honey, I’ll be home shortly.”
Jack frowned and walked away.
It didn’t escape Juniper’s notice that Jack didn’t kiss Sally goodbye—trouble in the shark tank?
“Was it something I said?” Cody whispered into Juniper’s ear.
Juniper’s lips curved into a smile.
The party was in full swing now. Couples were swaying to the music. Almost every table was full. The food smelled delicious. Helen spared no expense on her parties.
“Is it true the Halloween Ball is at the old Doctor’s place this year? I heard Jack Young bought it.” Said a younger girl Ju
niper didn’t recognize.
“It is true. Have you met Juniper?” Pike asked. “She’s Jack’s partner.”
“Business partner.” Sally said snidely.
“Business partner and ex-girlfriend,” Pike clarified. “They were generous enough to agree to lend it for the night of the Ball.”
“Jacks hot. I used to have a crush on him when I was a kid. I’m Kingston.” The girl said, sticking out her hand.
Sally stormed away with a huff.
“Here.” One of the younger guys reached into his pocket, pulled out a bill, and laid it on the table. “I bet five dollars someone gets murdered the night of the ball.”
“Oliver, what kind of thing is that to say,” Helen said, turning up at the table.
Oliver looked up at the woman who’d just cuffed him in the ear. “Sorry, Aunt Helen, but you know what they say about that place and it’s the one hundred year anniversary.”
“You’re such a dope,” Axl said elbowing his younger cousin. “Who bets five bucks? You’re so cheap.”
“Sorry I’m not rich like you.”
“All right, enough. No more talk about murder. You should see the feast the church ladies have prepared. Why don’t you three go find the others and help carry things out?”
Axl groaned. “Fine. Come on.”
“I’m pretty tired. I think I’m going to head home now.” Juniper said to Pike, forcing a yawn once Helen had wandered away.
“No way, you stay here with me until the end.” Pike whispered. “Kaitlyn’s near at hand and I don’t want to be left alone with her. She keeps texting me that we need to talk. I may be known as the nice girl, but one more insult from her and I’m gonna choke her out, birthday party or not.”
Chapter Five
_____________
J UNIPER bolted upright in the haunted mansion’s antique bed, her pulse racing. She blinked, unsuccessfully trying to make out anything in the dark room. Weary from a day that had been long with repairs and assessments, and then dealing with Jack’s frosty girlfriend and the Patone’s dynasty, she had finally snuggled under a pile of blankets and closed her eyes three hours after she’d intended to. Slowly, she let out her breath, feeling some of the tension leave her shoulders and back. Her cellphone read 5:35 a.m. She set the phone down and rubbed her eyes, wondering what had disturbed her sleep. She’d been having a sexy dream about a certain detective that she wanted to get back to. Of course, the detective had morphed into Jack.
Cookies, Corpses and the Deadly Haunt: Haunted House Flippers Inc. (Bohemian Lake Book 2) Page 3
