by Alexie Aaron
Father Santos turned to the Wheatons and asked, “What is it you would like us to do?”
“When it comes to plumbing and wallpaper, we know how to handle things. But bodies under the garage, it’s too much for us,” John admitted.
“They need to be laid to rest,” Tim said. “Can you do that, Father?”
“I can. So do we have your permission to call the authorities and take care of things? It will mean a scandal will be attached to your home. You may want to warn the old couple that sold the house to you,” he suggested.
“The Prunes! We didn’t give them a thought. How ungracious of us,” Mindy said, putting her hands to her face. “Oh dear, this will be a shock.”
~
It turned out it wasn’t a shock. “Aunt Marilee always danced to a different drummer. Her covering up a scandal isn’t surprising,” Arthur told them over the phone. “Send us the bill. Agatha and I feel it’s only right,” he explained. “We sold you a house with bodies under the garage and ghosts. How remiss of us.”
“You sold us a wonderful house,” Mindy declared. “PEEPs have some resources at their disposal, and it won’t bankrupt us. There is, however, the ring. It’s quite old and, Mr. Dupree says, very valuable.”
“If you can’t find an heir of Arnaud’s, sell it. Put the money into the house. Buy some central air. I love central air,” he said and hung up.
~
The ballroom once again was ablaze with light. The dancers started their circuit, oblivious to the people watching. Mia and Murphy moved with them until Murphy spun Mia into the arms of Arnaud Dufour.
“We meet again, Madame,” Arnaud said.
“It’s time for you to move on,” Mia said softly.
“I know. The whole night has come back to me. My lover killed her husband and then me.”
“She killed Stanley, and Stanley killed her,” Mia told him.
“It is such a shame that love causes such hurt.”
“It can also bring so much joy.”
“The lights are a bit harsh,” Dufour said, squinting.
Mia, who felt the warmth, averted her eyes.
“Arnaud, Arnaud Dufour,” an accented voice called. “I believe this is our dance.”
The PEEPs and Wheatons stood dumbstruck as a beautiful red-haired woman drifted into the room, apparently out of midair. Mia stepped aside, and Arnaud Dufour took the hand of Marilee Roux and started dancing.
Mia walked back to the group and watched with them as the couple danced a circuit around the room before disappearing forever.
Chapter Thirty-four
“I researched the memorial on the side of the road,” Audrey reported. “This is what I found. A Mrs. Hearst and her three children under the age of four were stranded with a flat tire on the side of the road. She had called the auto club’s roadside assistance, but they were having trouble locating a service in the area she was in. In the meanwhile, Jake stopped to offer her assistance.”
“Mrs. Hearst entertained the children in the field on the other side of the road while Jake changed the tire. He received a text message and stepped away from the vehicle to read it when he was hit by another driver, who didn’t see him because she was texting. The girl survived, but he died immediately. Mrs. Hearst is the one responsible for the memorial. Jake’s parents buried him in his hometown cemetery.”
Burt waited a moment and looked at Ted. “So what do you want to do?”
“I can’t get him out of the computer. I’m planning on purchasing a new system with my money. My phone, my problem.”
“Can’t he stay?” Mia asked the group.
“Ted? Of course he’s staying,” Burt said.
“No, Jake. Can’t we make him a PEEP?” she asked, looking around at the others.
Burt hunched his shoulders and looked at Mike.
“We wouldn’t have to pay him,” Mike pointed out.
“He did step up and take over when Ted was kidnapped,” Cid said.
“He’s a ghost,” Burt said.
CRACK!
“We already have a ghost, what’s one more?” Mia urged, winking at Murphy. “Come on, put Jake on probation, and if he screws up, Ted will replace him with a new computer system.”
“Ted, do you have any thoughts on this? You’ll have to deal with the hiccups he presents,” Burt warned. “You’ll be responsible for Jake and all Jake does.”
“Well, if we can survive Cid…”
“Hey!” Cid objected.
“Then I say give the kid a chance,” Ted said and pulled a dust cover off a monitor. “May I introduce you to the new red shirt, Jake.”
The monitor popped on and displayed a short film homage of Star Trek redshirts biting the dust.
Mia couldn’t help laughing.
“Can you get him to talk to us without all that… that… stuff?” Burt asked.
“I doubt it. Jake’s a media whore,” Ted said.
Jake responded with a screen filled with nodding, happy faces.
“If there isn’t any further business…” Burt picked up the gavel and hit the table. “I pronounce the meeting adjourned.”
Audrey gathered her paperwork and put it in her briefcase. She looked at the people around her and sighed. They were an odd bunch, but they complimented each other. Jake was a bit sci-fi for her tastes, but if she could get used to speaking to Stephen Murphy, who she couldn’t see, she probably could get used to talking to a computer. Didn’t people talk to their computers anyway? At least this one could answer back, sort of. She got up and followed the Martins outside.
Cid had broken ground on the new addition, funded by Mike’s successful sale of Murphy’s assets. Ted bristled a bit, but Mia convinced him, since he’s always maintained that he was sharing the property with Murphy, why not let the ghost help out. They would put any remaining funds in an account slated for home improvements.
Mia stood holding Ted’s hand as he described what the three of them had planned.
“It sounds awful ambitious,” Mia worried. “There’s DIY and DYI. I fear the latter is staring me in the face.”
“We have enough to hire professionals, She of Little Faith,” Ted grouched.
Audrey turned around and walked away, leaving the two to their little quarrel. She walked around the house and sat on the porch. She noticed that soon after she sat down, the presumably empty rocker began to rock.
“So what do you have planned for this summer’s day, Stephen?”
Audrey didn’t expect an answer, but if there was one, it was drowned out by the beeping of a horn as a sedan pulled into the drive and sped towards the house. It stopped, and when the dust settled, Bev got out and ran over and rang the bell.
“Oh PEEPers, I’m back! With presents for everyone! Burt, come back here. Why are you always running away from me?”
Audrey got up and jogged down the drive to Bev.
“Audrey, you’ll never guess who I met in Nepal…” Bev started and was immediately distracted by the arrival of Mia and Ted. Bev took a look at the bruised and battered tech and said, “It’s about time you beat him. Bravo, kid, I didn’t know you had it in you.”
Mia ignored the comment and asked, “What’s all this about? Did you have a successful investigation?”
Bev waited until all the PEEPs, including Murphy, were gathered around her before speaking, “Mission accomplished, and what a tale I have to tell you!”
But that, after all, is another story.
***
Alexie Aaron
After traveling the world, Alexie Aaron, a Midwestern native, returned to her roots where she’s been haunting for years. She now lives in a village outside of Chicago with her husband and family.
Her popular Haunted Series was born from her memories of fleeting shapes rushing around doorways, an heirloom chair that rocked itself, cold feelings of mysterious dread, and warm feelings from the traces of loved ones long gone.
Alexie also writes the Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries. These c
ozies set in England and south Florida combine action and intrigue with a liberal dose of humor.
Table of Contents
DIY
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Alexie Aaron
