Clear Expectations - A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery (Book 20) (Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mysteries)

by Terri Reid

  “I could see them too,” Clarissa reminded her.

  Maggie shrugged. “Yeah, but only if I touched you,” she said, “like I lent you part of my superpowers.”

  Clarissa turned and stared at her friend for a long moment. Then she slid off the bed and walked over to her desk. “I’ve been thinking that maybe we should get some equipment,” she said.

  Maggie followed her to the computer. “What kind of equipment?”

  Clarissa jiggled her mouse, and the computer screen came to life. Pictured on the screen was a page filled with paranormal investigation equipment. “Stuff like this,” Clarissa said. “So, you know, we could tell when ghosts were around.”

  “But I can see them,” Maggie said. “So, we don’t need that stuff.”

  “But all of the real paranormal guys on TV have this stuff,” Clarissa argued. “Look, it’s an EVP meter. That even sounds cool.”

  “But the paranormal guys on TV can’t really see ghosts,” Maggie reiterated. “So, they need it and we don’t.”

  Clarissa turned to her friend. “Maybe you can see them, but I can’t,” she said.

  “You can see them when I touch your hand,” Maggie replied.

  “But what if I don’t always want to touch your hand?” Clarissa asked. “What if I want to figure out if ghosts are there by myself?”

  Maggie shook her head and crossed her arms. “That’s just silly,” she said. “You can either hope that a silly machine picks up their energy or you can just ask me if there’s a ghost in the room. I think I’m a little more reliable than a stupid machine.”

  Clarissa turned in her chair and faced her friend. “Well maybe I don’t think they’re stupid,” she said angrily. “Maybe I think they’re cool. Maybe they can pick up things that you and your superpowers can’t even see.”

  “Are you jealous?” Maggie asked, confused.

  Clarissa shook her head. “No,” she denied. “I’m not. But, you know, since I don’t have superpowers like you do, maybe I’m not cool enough to be your friend.”

  “I didn’t say that,” Maggie said. “I just said I can see ghosts and you can’t.”

  “I could if I wanted to,” Clarissa yelled.

  “Could not,” Maggie said.

  “Well, I can see angels,” Clarissa argued.

  “Only because you have to have a guardian angel following you around wherever you go,” Maggie exclaimed. “Like a big babysitter.”

  “He is not,” Clarissa yelled.

  “Right,” Maggie said. “You keep believing that.”

  Clarissa jumped out of her chair and walked across the room, throwing her door wide open. “You can go home now,” she said.

  “Fine. I wanted to go home anyway,” Maggie said, grabbing her coat and dashing from the room. “And I’m never coming back!”

  “Fine!” Clarissa yelled, slamming her door.

  She stood next to her door until she heard the front door slam. Then she climbed onto her bed and cried.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Mary opened the door and stepped aside so Bradley, carrying the garbage cans, could walk into the house unhindered.

  “What’s all this?” Margaret asked as Mary closed the door behind Bradley.

  “Evidence,” Bradley said, placing the garbage cans on the floor. “At least we hope so.”

  He looked around the room and then turned to Margaret. “Where are the girls?”

  “Well, and there’s a sad tale indeed,” Margaret said kindly. “It seems that there was a disagreement upstairs, which caused Maggie to run home and Clarissa to stay up in her room, crying herself to sleep.”

  “Do you know what happened?” Mary asked. “They seemed fine when we left.”

  Margaret shook her head. “Ah, well, I do recall tempests in teapots when you were a little girl,” she said. “I’m sure someone said something that made someone else feel sad. They will get over it.” She paused and smiled. “Eventually.”

  “So, do we go over to the Brennans’ tonight and talk to them about what happened?” Mary asked. “Or do we give them a couple of days to become friends again?”

  “We’ve got to go over and meet with the Brennans tonight,” Bradley said. “Whether we talk to them about the future is something we can decide, but we need to let them know what happened today.”

  Mary nodded. “You’re right,” she said. “But first we should put our evidence somewhere safe.”

  “Safe?” Margaret asked. “That doesn’t sound good.”

  Mary slipped out of her coat and carried it to the closet. “Well, actually, we had a little company as we left the third floor,” she explained. “But Bradley was able to come up with a brilliant escape plan.”

  “Escape?” Margaret exclaimed. “You had to escape?”

  “Well, not exactly,” Bradley inserted. “I don’t think they were looking for us, but I think they knew someone was in that isolation unit today. We weren’t in there long enough for anyone to see us and get over to the hospital.”

  Mary nodded. “That makes sense,” she said. “And when we rushed past them on the gurney, they were focused on the unit, not us.”

  “Gurney?” Margaret asked. “Why did you need a gurney?”

  Bradley grinned. “Because a man pushing a moaning, pregnant woman on a gurney tends to make potential bad guys overlook the two large garbage cans of evidence hidden beneath the sheets.”

  Margaret smiled. “That was a brilliant idea,” she agreed. Then her smile disappeared. “But if they weren’t looking for you, will they be looking for the girls?”

  “It all depends on how they knew someone accessed the unit,” Bradley said. “If there were sensors on the door, then all they would know is the door was opened.”

  “But if there were cameras,” Mary said.

  “Mike,” Bradley called. “Mike, are you around?”

  Mike appeared immediately. “Hey, what’s up?” he asked.

  “When you were at the hospital unit, did you notice any cameras?” Bradley asked.

  “No, but I wasn’t really looking,” he admitted. “But give me a couple minutes and I can check it out.”

  “Thanks,” Mary said. “That would be really helpful. Then we’ll know what to say to the Brennans.”

  Mike turned back to Mary and Bradley. “You might want to have a chat with Clarissa about that,” he said. “She might want to share a couple things with you.”

  “Okay,” Bradley said. “We’ll go right up.”

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Mary and Bradley walked down the street to the Brennans’ home. The cold winter wind whipped around them, and Mary cuddled closer to Bradley. “Only a few more steps,” Bradley said, hugging her. “And then we’ll be there.”

  Mary smiled up at him. “It’s just brisk, that’s all.”

  They climbed up the stairs to the Brennan house, and Katie had the door opened before they knocked. “Hi! Come in quickly before you freeze,” Katie said.

  Following her in, they were instantly warmed by the crackling fire in the fireplace. A few minutes later, all four parents were gathered in overstuffed chairs around a coffee table in the living room with cups of hot tea in their hands.

  “So, why the meeting?” Clifford asked.

  “The girls had an incident this afternoon that we needed to talk to you about,” Bradley said.

  “Is everything okay?” Katie asked.

  Mary nodded. “Well, yes and no,” she said. “Clarissa overheard us talking about a case and decided that she and Maggie needed to help.”

  “What?” Clifford exclaimed. “What did they do?”

  “They snuck away from my mother when they were visiting Stanley at the hospital, and took the elevator down to the third floor,” Mary explained. “They ended up in a locked hallway and were frightened.”

  Katie met Mary’s eyes. “Did they see anything…unusual?” she asked.

  Mary nodded meaningfully. “Yes. Yes, they did,” Mary replied. “An
d that was part of what frightened them.”

  “Were they harmed?” Clifford asked.

  “No,” Bradley said. “Both Margaret and I figured out where they were and arrived on the scene before they got too freaked out.”

  “Wait, the third floor,” Clifford said. “Isn’t that the floor that’s having the rehab done on it?”

  Mary nodded. “Yes. There are no patients, only empty rooms and some storage.”

  “So, anyone could have been hiding on that floor,” Clifford replied. He turned to Mary. “Why wasn’t your mother more aware of their presence.”

  “Well, the girls told her that they had to go to the bathroom,” Mary explained. “And so, she thought they were only going a couple of doors down to the ladies’ room.”

  “Maggie has mentioned Mike,” Katie said to Mary. “Was he around?”

  Mary smiled and nodded. “Yes, he was close by.”

  “Who is this Mike?” Clifford asked.

  “A family friend,” Bradley explained. “He was actually the first one to find the girls. He’s a trained first responder.”

  “Did this have anything to do with those ghost stories Maggie keeps talking about?” Clifford asked.

  “Yes, actually, it did,” Mary said. “Would you like to hear the story behind it?”

  Clifford shook his head. “No. That’s not necessary,” he said. “But I wish I knew how I could get Maggie to give that stuff up and just have a normal hobby.”

  Bradley coughed into his hand, hiding his smile. “I feel your pain,” he finally was able to say. “But I have a feeling this is something that interests both of our daughters.”

  “So, do you think they should be punished for lying?” Clifford asked. “Are you going to ground Clarissa? Is that why she didn’t come home with Maggie this afternoon?”

  “I think the experience itself taught them a lesson,” Bradley asked. “And they were actually trying to be helpful in the first place.”

  “And my mother mentioned that the girls had an argument,” Mary added. “Maggie was pretty upset when she left, and Clarissa won’t talk about it.”

  “Well, they’ll come around,” Katie said. “I’m sure of it.”

  “I hope so,” Mary replied. “I really hope so.”

  Chapter Thirty

  “Good morning, sweetheart,” Mary said to Clarissa when she came down the stairs the next morning. “How did you sleep?”

  Clarissa shrugged. “Fine, I guess,’ she replied, slipping into a chair and resting her chin in her hands. “I don’t think I’m feeling very good today.”

  “Well, let me check to see if you have a fever,” Mary said, hiding her smile. She knew all too well why Clarissa didn’t want to go to school, and there was no way she was going to get away with it. She leaned forward, placed her hand on Clarissa’s forehead and waited there for a few moments. “No, you don’t feel warm at all. No fever.”

  “I think my stomach hurts,” Clarissa tried.

  “Well, that’s because you need breakfast,” Bradley said as he came into the kitchen. “And since it’s such a cold day outside, I think oatmeal might be just the thing.”

  Clarissa sighed. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll eat oatmeal.”

  Mary went back to the stove and scooped a bowl of oatmeal for Clarissa. She placed it in front of her at the table. “We went to the Brennans’ last night,” she said casually.

  Clarissa perked up and turned to her. “Who did you see?” she asked.

  “Just Katie and Clifford,” Bradley said. “All the kids were already in bed.”

  “It’s funny because when we came up to see you last night, you were already asleep too,” Mary said. “I suppose you and Maggie were pretty tired from your adventure.”

  Clarissa shrugged and spooned brown sugar over her oatmeal.

  “Are you going to walk over there and wait for the bus this morning?” Mary asked.

  Clarissa shook her head and took a bite of the oatmeal. “No, I’m not,” she said defiantly. “I’m not special enough to wait with Supergirl.”

  “Who is Supergirl?” Margaret asked, joining them in the kitchen.

  “Oh, Maggie thinks she’s extra special because she can see ghosts,” Clarissa replied caustically.

  “Well, that’s a pretty cool thing,” Bradley said.

  Clarissa looked up at her father. “Well, you can’t see ghosts, but you’re still cool, right?” she asked.

  “Yes, your father is very cool,” Mary said. “And although seeing ghosts is a special gift, there are lots of special gifts in the world. Everyone having their own gift is what makes the world interesting.”

  “Well, some people think they’re superheroes if they can see ghosts,” Clarissa said, angrily biting down on the oatmeal. “They think they’re specialer than anyone else.”

  Mary, Bradley and Margaret nodded at each other. The truth had finally come out.

  “Well, I hope you can work it out,” Bradley said. “You two have been friends for a long time.”

  Clarissa finished her food and then stood up. “Well, I guess maybe we’ve been friends for too long,” she said. “I’m going to go brush my teeth, okay?”

  “Okay, sweetheart,” Mary said. “You have about ten minutes until the bus arrives.”

  They waited until they heard the bathroom door close.

  “Hurt pride is tough,” Bradley said softly.

  “I think the only thing we can do is let them work it out,” Mary said.

  “That’s one of the hardest things about parenting,” Margaret said. “Not fixing it for them.”

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Clarissa left the house just as the bus was pulling up so she could avoid speaking to Maggie. Mary watched from the window, and her heart ached for the two little girls who were trying so hard not to look at each other.

  “Did they peek?” Margaret asked.

  “Nope. Their faces were rock hard, and they just stared forward,” Mary said. “It’s going to be a long day for both of them.”

  “Might be longer than that,” Margaret said.

  “I can’t believe they’ll stay mad at each other for more than a couple of hours,” Bradley said, slipping into his jacket. “My friends and I couldn’t stay mad for more than a couple of minutes.”

  Mary and Margaret exchanged smiles. “Girls aren’t the same as boys,” Mary said. “Boys get mad, hit something and then it’s done. Girls brood and get angrier as the day goes on. In a couple of hours, forgetting to say hi in a hallway turns into a national disaster.”

  Bradley shook his head. “No, you’re teasing, right?”

  Shaking her head, Mary sighed. “No, I’m afraid not,” she replied. Then she smiled sweetly at him. “Oh, and it’s going to get worse when she gets older.”

  “Wow, thanks for that,” he replied. “I wonder if the Foreign Legion could use an extra soldier.”

  Laughing, Mary wagged her finger at him. “Oh no, we’re in this together,” she said. “For better or for worse, remember?”

  He bent over and kissed her. “Good thing it’s mostly for better,” he said.

  “Good thing,” she replied. “Be safe out there.”

  He nodded. “You too.”

  Then he turned to Margaret. “Thank you for being here,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much your presence eases my mind.”

  She chuckled. “The pleasure is all mine,” she said. “And it’s so much more interesting at your house than at mine.”

  Bradley laughed. “Oh, yes, there is never a dull moment here. Have a great day.”

  Mary watched him leave, a smile on her face, and turned to see her mother watching her.

  “You just glow when he’s around,” Margaret said. “And he’s the same way. It makes me happy.”

  Mary sighed deeply. “He’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” Suddenly Mikey kicked her, and she jumped.

  “What happened?” Margaret asked.

  “Mikey just tried to kick m
e into the end zone,” Mary replied.

  “Well, perhaps he’s jealous,” Margaret teased.

  Laughing, Mary rubbed her belly. “Okay, Mikey. You’re also the best thing that ever happened to me.” She looked up at her mom. “Two boys in the family. It’s going to be interesting.”

  “Almost as interesting as two girls,” her mother replied.

  Nodding, Mary chuckled as she walked back into the kitchen with her mother. “So, what are you planning on doing today?” she asked.

  Margaret put the bowls in the sink and turned on the hot water. “I was thinking about visiting with Stanley and Rosie at the hospital today,” she said. “I really didn’t get much of a chance to visit yesterday. Would that be all right with you?”

  Mary nodded as she wiped down the table. “That would be great,” she said. “I was going to go to the county building and see if I could discover anything about the children from the hospital.”

  Margaret studied her daughter as she leaned over the table, her belly getting in her way when she tried to reach the other side. “Do you think you should try and take it easy? Relax and put your feet up?”

  Mary laughed. “I think that would drive me crazy,” she replied. “Besides, Mikey’s not supposed to come until the end of the month, so I have plenty of time to take it easy before then.”

  “First babies can come early,” Margaret warned.

  Mary shook her head. “No, I’m not going to even consider that,” she said. “Or I’ll go crazy during my last week of pregnancy. And, speaking of pregnancy, Bradley and I have a birthing class we’re supposed to attend on Friday night. Would you mind staying with Clarissa?”

  “A Friday night girl’s night?” Margaret said with a smile. “Oh, I think we can manage to have a good time together.”

  Mary came over and hugged her mom. “Thanks, Ma,” she said. “You are the greatest.”

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Bradley opened the fourth manila folder and typed the name of the child onto his computer screen. The system didn’t have any information about that individual, but when he entered the name of the guardian, he got an immediate hit. Her list of priors went down three screen lengths and mostly included solicitation, drunken and disorderly, and passing bad checks.