by Judith Post
“The restaurant’s going to be busy at this time of day,” Thea said. “Nancy told me there isn’t a lull until around three in the afternoon, then they have to gear up for supper.”
“Then Amy will be working,” Hannah said. “She loves it.”
“What does she do?”
“A little bit of everything, just like her mom does. She runs the cash register, helps wait tables sometimes, and even helps cook when things are really busy.”
Thea was impressed. “Amy reminds me a lot of her mom.”
“Let’s hope she picks a better husband.”
Thea looked at her, surprised. “You’re only ten. Do you think about stuff like that?”
“I have a mom who’s a ghost and a sort of mom--you-- who’s a weaver. All I’ve heard is talk about life’s journey and choices. Don’t you think some of it sinks in?”
“Have we made you too old for your age?”
“Mom says you worry too much.” Hannah laughed. “She’s right.”
Thea laughed, too. “Let’s check on Nancy and her kids.”
When they stepped inside the restaurant, there was the clink of cutlery, the noise of happy diners, and the enticing aroma of tomato sauce and cheese. Thea glanced at the special for the day--lasagna.
“Hi,” Amy said, greeting them. “Come to help?”
“Do you need help?” Thea asked.
Amy narrowed her eyes and looked Hannah up and down. “I need someone to peel a hundred pounds of onions.”
“No way!” Hannah backed off.
Amy laughed. “No, everything’s going great. Mom even left early today. Gaston knows his stuff. He takes care of the kitchen, and I do the rest. Want to meet him?”
“Isn’t he busy?” Thea asked.
“Sure, but that’s part of running a restaurant.”
Thea nodded. She was worried that it was poor timing, but for some reason, it seemed to be important to Amy, so she and Hannah followed Amy into the kitchen at the back of the building.
Heat rolled out of the ovens, and sweat poured off the young man whom Amy led them to. He was wrapped in a long white apron, and Amy waited until he pulled a huge pan of lasagna from the oven. When he turned and saw her, his face lit up.
“Gaston, this is my mom’s best friend, Thea, and this is Hannah.”
“How’s it going?” he said, extending a hand to Hannah. “I’ve heard a lot about you.” He and Amy exchanged glances, and a humorous glint flickered in his eyes.
Hannah looked from one to the other and said, “You two like each other.”
Gaston broke into a smile. “Amy said you were a sharp one.”
“But you have a boyfriend,” Hannah said accusingly.
Amy pulled a chain from under her shirt. “Empty. No more ring.”
Hannah turned her attention back to Gaston. “What’s your real name?”
“Scott.”
“Do you like kids?” she asked.
“They’re okay.”
Hannah smiled. “I like him.”
Amy looked at Thea.
Thea nodded. She liked him, too. “Does your mom know?”
“What doesn’t Mom know?”
“Good answer.”
The bell over the front door of the restaurant jangled, and Amy said, “I’d better get back to work. Thanks for coming, guys.”
“We actually came to grab two burgers,” Thea said. “Is there an empty seat somewhere?”
“And miss Mom? We’ll send two upstairs when they’re ready. You’d better stop in and say hi.”
Thea and Hannah went to the stairs on the outside of the building and climbed to the apartment above the restaurant.
Barb opened the door when they knocked. The living room and kitchen were spotless. A chart listed the chores each kid was expected to do that day. “Tillie’s back to work, helping Shari at the inn, so she doesn’t need me as much. Nancy just left for Indy to meet a new vendor. Gaston’s changing the menus a little bit. She’s giving him more freedom. The restaurant has more business than ever before, so I volunteered to come babysit during the days so Amy could start helping her mom downstairs.”
“Who’s watching Toby?” Hannah asked.
Toby came running from Sammy’s bedroom when he heard Hannah’s voice.
Barb smiled an answer. “It works great for both boys. Justin and Gavin don’t like it when Sammy tags along after them.” She quirked an eyebrow at Hannah. “I don’t suppose you’d want to stay and keep us company today, would you? If it’s all right with your aunt, I could drive you home after supper tonight.”
Hannah and Toby disappeared before Thea could answer.
Thea shook her head. “Kids!”
“Lord, I miss them,” Barb said. “This has been wonderful.”
The burgers came a few minutes later, but the three kids came out to claim them. “We’ll take turns taking bites,” Hannah promised.
“No problem,” Thea said. “I’ll grab something on my way home.”
She thought about Barb on her walk back to Sheila Grayson’s spiffed-up Victorian. Emerald Hills had already found a new patron saint to take Sheila’s place. There were empty tables on the patio for the teashop, so she went inside to use their phone and called Shari. “I’m buying myself three tiers of goodies at the Bickersons’. Can you get away from the inn for a minute or are you swamped?”
“Did you say three tiers of goodies? Be there in a minute,” Shari said.
“Good, because I need a favor.”
“You? I’m on my way.”
Five minutes later, Shari’s Cadillac pulled to the curb. “What’s up? What favor?”
“I want you to spy on Randall and Melissa for me.”
“Oh good! This sounds like fun. But first, catch me up on what’s going on. I haven’t talked to you for ages.”
They sipped tea and made their way through the three layers of food while Thea explained about Lacey and Lindsay.
Shari sat back and blinked. “Geez, this is just crazy! So much has happened so fast, it’s all sort of a jumble.”
“You’re on most of the committees for the businesses in town,” Thea said. “And you help schedule a lot of the special events to bring in tourists. You have to hear most of the town gossip. Have you heard anything that would help us?”
“No one heard a peep about the girls being Les’s daughters until Melissa came back from Indy. Boy, was she pissed. I could swear she hadn’t known about it before. And let me tell you, it sent shockwaves through the community.”
“I don’t think the girls wanted to say anything that would tarnish their dad’s reputation. They wanted to let him tell people in his own way when he was ready.”
“But he died before he could do it,” Shari said.
“Which was no coincidence. Lacey pulled his threads.”
“She killed her own dad?”
“She wasn’t close to him. She resented him walking out on them, and she was more worried about her sister.”
Shari grimaced. “Maybe it was her idea to kill him in the first place.”
“No, her energy was too erratic. She didn’t want to.”
“Then why Les? No one knew about the girls. Why would someone want to get rid of him?”
“Lindsay told me that Les was thinking about divorcing Melissa. He thought she was cheating on him.”
Shari frowned. “Melissa has had a glow about her, that confident look like a cat licking its chops. She almost saunters through town. Something’s up, but she sure is keeping it hush-hush.”
“Which isn’t like Melissa. She usually can’t wait to brag about her latest conquests.”
“And you think it’s Randall?”
“Don’t you think it’s odd that Melissa isn’t talking about it?” Thea asked.
Shari’s eyebrows shot up. “He wouldn’t like it if anyone found out, and I wouldn’t want to be the person who made Randall mad.”
“Remember how he treated her at Les’s funeral?” The
a said.
“He was by her side every minute. Just the way that Les used to treat her.”
“And I always wondered if it was because Les was so concerned for her or so worried she’d say something she shouldn’t. I think Randall feels the same way.”
Shari popped the last bite of her éclair into her mouth and thought for a moment. “We can’t say a word about this. We could be wrong. We’re just guessing, but I’ll sure keep my ears open. If I hear anything, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks.” Thea paid their bill and left a tip, then she and Shari parted. On her walk home, Thea passed Cynthia’s art gallery. Cynthia still wasn’t convinced that Randall and Melissa were a pair. It wasn’t like Randall to take chances. Melissa wasn’t the trustworthy type. So how had they become a team?
Thea reached the long drive that led to her house. As she climbed it, she had a sudden thought. Suppose Randall didn’t have a choice. That thought appealed to her. What if Melissa found out somehow that Randall killed Lacey? Suppose she could prove it. Then he’d have to work with her, and if he and Melissa became partners in crime, why not go to bed with her? The more Thea thought about it, the more she was sure she was right. Melissa had gotten to choose the first victim. Gabe. She’d chosen him out of pure spite. After that, each killing was for a specific purpose—greed.
Anger churned in Thea’s stomach. She hated Randall, but she hated Melissa even more. She had to find a way to link them to Lacey’s death...but that was proving to be a challenge.
Chapter 64
Thea bypassed the house and went straight to the barn when she got home. She climbed the steps to see Gabe. The studio was empty. She stood in the center of the room, confused, until he materialized.
“Sorry,” he said, “didn’t hear you right away.”
“Where were you?”
“Hanging out, not sure exactly where. It’s just relaxing, sort of like sleeping except I’m awake. It’s like perfect peace.”
“Perfect peace,” Thea repeated. It comforted her. Gabe wasn’t missing out on all of his afterlife benefits by staying with her. She frowned. “Could Lacey sneak in while you recharge?”
“No way, ghosts have to use too much energy to do mortal things. I’d feel it, like you feel vibes on the air.”
She relaxed. “I’ve thought of a new idea, a new approach. I want to run it by you.”
“This sounds good.” He went to the overstuffed chair and plopped down. She sat on the ottoman, facing him.
“Before Les died, he was convinced Melissa was having an affair. He’d decided that if he could prove it, he was going to divorce her.”
Gabe let out a low whistle. “Bet that cranked up M’s mercenary machine.”
“It would be a good reason for her to want Les dead.”
Gabe thought a minute. “She didn’t know about Lindsay and Lacey yet, did she?”
“She swears she didn’t, but if she suspected, that would make her want to hurry Les’s departure a little more. I don’t think she realized that Les already changed his will. If he happened to konk off before he found out who she was sleeping with and before he made a decision about how to divide the property, I think Melissa expected to get everything.”
“And she’d try to cut the girls out of their share.”
“Or give them some pittance of a payoff.”
“So you think Melissa is the one who’s controlling Lacey.” His face darkened with energy. “Wait a minute. That would mean that Melissa sent Lacey to unravel my thread.”
Thea wondered how Gabe would react when they discovered the identity of the person who’d killed him. Melissa made his death even more personal. “I don’t think Melissa controls Lacey, but I do think she’s the one who chose your thread.”
His energy intensified. “Damn her!”
Thea reached across and patted his hand. Vapory. He was too upset to be solid. “I think Melissa’s having an affair with Randall Raker. I think he’s the one calling the shots.”
“Randall?” Gabe shook his head. “Randall wouldn’t have anything to do with someone like Melissa. He can do better.”
“Not if Melissa’s blackmailing him.”
Gabe blinked. “Melissa’s the type who’d enjoy something like that. And Lacey lived with her and Les. It’s possible. I could even see her following Lacey when she went to meet Randall.”
“She’d have to have proof, though, in a safe place, or Randall would pull her bookmark. So she has to have leverage.”
“And she’s still worried. That’s why she wanted you to do her life map.”
“Would you feel safe with Randall?” Thea asked.
Gabe shook his head. “I think you’re on to something, but how do you prove it?”
“I want you to follow Melissa.”
“What about the studio?” Gabe asked.
“I’m going to ask Aggie to guard it. Maybe you could stop by Cynthia’s once in a while, just to let Lacey know it’s still off limits.”
“I think the stakes have gotten higher than moving Cynthia’s furniture,” Gabe said, “but I’ll still check in once in a while.” He paused. “I can buy that Melissa would want to hurt me. I can believe that Melissa would get rid of Les if she thought she was going to lose his money. But why Sheila Grayson?”
“That was Randall. Business and money.”
Gabe nodded. “Once you get Aggie in the studio, I’ll play ghost detective. It will be nice getting out of here for a while.”
“Aggie will like it,” Thea said. “She’ll be close to Hannah.”
“I’ll like it too. Too bad I can’t haunt Melissa.”
Chapter 65
Aggie and Hannah were thrilled with the new arrangements Thea made. The next few days passed in blissful ordinariness. Hannah went to the quilting loft with Thea every morning, then she went to visit her mom in the studio while Thea fixed lunch.
Hannah loved the idea of spending time in the weaving studio. She studied the looms and took pleasure in the bookmarks overhead. “It’s like living in a library with peoples’ histories,” she said.
Thea was surprised at Hannah’s reaction to the studio. It had always made Josh and Gabe nervous. Rachel still wasn’t at ease in it. But Hannah looked like she felt right at home.
The biggest surprise for Thea was that she could see Aggie in the studio. “I thought I could see Gabe because he’d come back to be with me. But why can I see you? I’ve never been able to before.”
“Because your studio isn’t just mortal,” Aggie said. “It’s a little of both worlds.”
“Then why haven’t you come here before, so I could visit with you?” Thea asked.
“Because I’m not really supposed to be here for anyone but Hannah. She’s the person I chose to stay with. But these aren’t ordinary times, and we’re getting to bend the rules.”
Breaking the rules or not, it was nice seeing her sister again. Aggie was exactly as she’d been when she died--late thirties with long, brown hair pulled back in a knot, fierce blue eyes, and a pointy chin. It comforted Thea that she hadn’t changed. Hannah and Thea began hanging out in the studio, talking and playing games in the evenings after supper.
The peaceful rhythm lasted until the third night. When Thea and Hannah traipsed to the studio at the end of the day, Aggie was restless. “Lacey’s back,” Aggie said. “I can feel her.”
Thea nodded. “Gabe stopped by today to tell me that Randall’s in Emerald Hills again. He was on a business trip, but he got back this afternoon.”
“Did Melissa go to see him?” Aggie asked.
“No, Randall stopped by her house. Ostensibly, it was to check on her after Les’s death. He’d heard about Les’s will and asked her what her plans were. Melissa told him that she didn’t want to lose the house, that she thought she’d earned it. Randall offered to help her in any way he could.”
Aggie was quiet a moment. “That could almost be taken as a cue.”
“That’s what I thought.”
>
“Did Gabe stay with Melissa, or did he follow Randall?”
“He stayed with Melissa. That’s what I’d asked him to do, but I was wrong. I should have asked him to keep an eye on both Melissa and Randall.”
Aggie became completely still. Thea recognized the pose. It was the same one she took when she concentrated on vibes in the air. “Lacey’s gathering energy. You need to tell Gabe to guard Lindsay.”
Thea shook her head. “Lacey would never hurt her own sister. That’s why she’s in this mess. She’s trying to protect her.”
“Who else would she attack?”
Thea glanced overhead for inspiration. “She can’t harm anyone, can she? I thought we were safe except for our bookmarks.”
“She can’t get to the bookmarks, and she’s getting desperate.”
“What could she do?”
Aggie shrugged misty shoulders. “Not much, but even a light show would scare most people half to death.”
“Can she do that?”
“If she works really hard at it. We’re all show, though, special effects.”
“She’ll come to the studio,” Thea said. “She’ll look for a bookmark.”
Aggie looked at Hannah. “I want you to get snacks and pop and spend the night in the studio with me.”
“I’m not afraid of Lacey,” Hannah said.
“Can someone burn down the barn?” Aggie asked.
Thea shook her head. “It’s protected because of the bookmarks. Nothing can harm it.”
“Good. I want you to sleep here until we help Lacey. I’m not like Gabe. I won’t stay with the bookmarks if I’m worried about Hannah.”
“What if someone needs to call me? There’s no phone in the barn,” Thea said.
Aggie rolled her eyes. “I’m a ghost, and even I know about cell phones.”
Thea chewed her bottom lip. She’d avoided cell phones until now, but Aggie was right. It was time to get one. “That’s settled then,” Thea said. “Come on, Hannah. Let’s pack our things and move in for a while.”
