by Rose Pressey
Instrumental music played over the speakers. The steady beep from the cash registers flowed across the store. As usual, an arctic blast of air made me wish I’d worn a winter coat.
“Did the men come into the store?” Charlotte asked.
“I don’t know. What will we do if they did?” I peered around a potato chip display to check left and right.
“I guess we’ll have to fight them off if they attack,” Charlotte said.
“We’ll have to fight them off? How will you be part of that?” I motioned from me to her. “It’ll be two against one—me.”
Charlotte stood beside the tower of mayonnaise jars on display at the end of the aisle. “You are just being dramatic. They probably won’t even come in here. I bet they’re halfway across town by now. They probably weren’t even following you in the first place.”
“Yeah, right,” I said. “Then why were they parking at the Piggly Wiggly? To pick up some Goo Goo Clusters?”
Heading past an end cap full of granola bars, I tilted my head to the side and noticed that the professional-looking men were checking me out from the produce section. How had they gotten inside so quickly? With their suits and ties they looked as if they were on official business.
When the men spotted me looking at them, they turned away.
“You should go over there and ask them what they want,” Charlotte said.
“No way.” I backed away on tiptoes. “They’re like giant spiders. As long as they leave me alone, I’ll leave them alone.”
“That’s just it. They’re not leaving you alone, so you need to squish them.” Charlotte smashed her hands together.
“I know one way to get rid of them.”
“How’s that?” Charlotte asked.
I motioned for her to follow me with a tilt of my head. “I’ll lose them in the feminine products area.”
Charlotte chuckled. “Good thinking.”
“No way will they step into that aisle. Men freeze when they get near that section. It’s as if some kind of invisible force shield is wrapped around it.”
I glanced up at the signs above each aisle until I found the correct one. I glanced over my shoulder. The men weren’t behind me.
Charlotte and I walked the length of the aisle, but the men weren’t at the other end. Had I really lost them? Had it really been that easy?
“Do you think they’re gone?” I whispered.
Charlotte didn’t answer.
I stepped out from the aisle expecting to see them waiting for me right around the corner, but they weren’t in sight. Thank goodness for small favors. “I think we lost them.”
Would they be waiting for me when I went outside? I didn’t think they’d do anything too crazy out in public. That was probably why they hadn’t confronted me in the grocery store.
“I think you are safe now,” Charlotte said. “Let’s get on with this.”
I still wasn’t totally convinced that I was safe and hung out for just a few more minutes in the store to make sure.
Charlotte and I walked up and down the aisles, on the lookout for the strange men or Detective Valentine. We reached the pet section. I found the gourmet cat food and paused. “I’ll buy some cat food so that we don’t look so suspicious.”
“You know you already look suspicious, right?” Charlotte replied.
She had a point. After all, I was technically talking to myself in the middle of the Piggly Wiggly.
The selection of fancy cat foods was bewildering. I pulled a few cans from the shelf, choosing the ones that sounded most like people food. They seemed to be the ones that Wind Song preferred.
Charlotte pointed toward the end of the aisle where a gray-haired woman wearing a mint green cotton dress was selecting a bag of cat food from the shelf. “Look, it’s Bernice Roby. We were shopping together once and she tried to pretend the Depends in her cart weren’t for her, but were mine. We all know they were hers.”
I glanced at Bernice’s shopping cart. She had Depends and cat litter.
“Will you stop gossiping,” I whispered. “I do not know that the Depends are hers. She could be buying them for someone else—or to donate to the senior center. We’ll all need them eventually, so who cares.”
Bernice turned around and glared at me.
When she turned down another aisle, I said, “You’re going to get me into trouble. Her shopping items are her business.”
Charlotte surveyed the contents of my shopping cart. Once again she warned me. “You know, those diet drinks won’t matter if you continue buying those potato chips.”
And once again, I told her, “I like potato chips,” I said.
Charlotte gestured toward me. And yet again, she had the last word. “It’s your hips.”
I ignored her comment and scanned the area. The coast seemed to be clear, so I rushed to the first open register and placed my items on the conveyor belt. Charlotte walked to the front door and waited for me to finish.
Once outside, I scanned the area and much to my relief, I didn’t see the black sedan.
We walked toward the Buick. When I thought no one was looking, I said, “I think you should just let the police handle this case. I’m sure they’re doing all that they can to find your killer. I’m clearly not cut out for this. Strange men are following me now.”
She snorted. “Oh, please. The police have other things to worry about other than finding my killer.” Irritation filled her voice.
“Like what?” I asked.
“I told you before—eating doughnuts.” She smirked.
“You shouldn’t say such things.” I took the bags from my cart.
“I said it once and I’ll say it again. I’m not happy with them at the moment. Speaking of which, Detective Valentine is watching you from across the parking lot. He’s not very good at his job if you ask me.” She pointed across the parking lot.
“Are you sure he’s watching me?” I asked.
“Oh yeah. I’m positive.”
My curiosity won and I looked toward where Charlotte said the detective’s car was parked.
Dressed in a red T-shirt and jeans, he unintentionally showed off his well-muscled arms as he leaned against the hood of his black car.
I stared, surprised to see him dressed so casually.
He looked over at me and quirked his eyebrow.
My stomach took a dive and my heart rate sped up. Why was I nervous? So what if the detective was looking at me? He couldn’t possibly know I was talking to Charlotte or that I’d been to her house, right? She was a ghost. He couldn’t see her. No one could but me.
After shoving the bags into the trunk, I climbed behind the wheel and took off. Not too fast, though. I didn’t want to get a speeding ticket. I glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed that the detective was still watching as I pulled out of the parking lot.
“Why was he watching me?” I asked.
“Maybe because you acted as if you’d killed someone,” Charlotte offered.
“Oh, that’s preposterous,” I said, trying to sound confident.
Chapter 24
Heather’s Heartfelt Tip for Getting Rid of an Unwanted Ghost
If the ghost won’t be your friend, you can try to ignore it.
I know I hate the silent treatment.
If someone gives me the cold shoulder, I won’t stick around.
I pulled up in front of It’s Vintage Y’all and turned off the ignition. I looked in the mirror, and much to my chagrin, the detective had pulled his Crown Vic right up behind my Buick. Darn.
“I told you that he wouldn’t just let you drive off.” Charlotte’s voice was full of certainty.
I checked myself in the mirror. Hair a bit wild, but lipstick still intact. Okay, time to roll down the window. Sometimes I could almost wish for power windows. I cranked down the handle.
Detective Valentine leaned on the open window. “Good morning, Ms. Chanel. You’re out early this morning.”
Charlotte slipped out of t
he car. “I’m waiting inside the shop. I don’t want to watch this train wreck.”
She was abandoning me in my time of need.
I gave the detective my most wide-eyed, innocent look. “I could say the same about you. I couldn’t help but notice that you were following me. Did I do something wrong? Was I speeding?”
He studied the interior of my car. “I think you know why I followed you.”
My heart rate increased. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I looked toward the shop, wishing that I could escape. Charlotte stood outside the car. I guess her curiosity got the best of her.
“I can help you if you’ll just tell me the truth,” he said.
How would I explain being inside Charlotte’s house? My story sounded completely crazy. How could I look at him with his sexy blue eyes and tell him that I talked to a ghost? If I told him about the men who had followed me, I would have to explain everything.
“Were you at the estate sale today?” he asked. “I thought I saw you there.”
“Of course I was at the sale. It’s my job. So you were following me.” I clutched the steering wheel.
His blue eyes seemed bright even in the sunlight. “I happened to be in the area. It just seems like something is off. I guess it’s my instinct that tells me you aren’t being completely honest with me.”
It must have been his detective instincts.
“Did you see the car that was following me?” I asked.
He quirked a brow. “No, I didn’t notice.”
So much for his detective instincts. The car behind me seemed strange to say the least. I couldn’t tell him that I’d seen the men in Cindy’s house. I needed to contact Cindy again and find out what had happened to her and why she’d taken off. Did she know those men?
“What was wrong with the car?” he asked.
“I think I saw the men before and . . . well, it was nothing.” I brushed off the thought.
The detective was growing more doubtful by the minute.
I rattled on. “Oh, like I said, I was just being suspicious. I mean, after all, there have been two murders in Sugar Creek. I’m sure all residents are a little on edge.”
He continued to lean down with his strong arms resting on the door. I knew that he didn’t believe my story, but what could he do? I wasn’t about to admit to anything.
“So you’d tell me if you were involved in something,” he said.
“What could I possibly be involved in?” I tried to sound natural, but I didn’t think it was working.
He opened my door and extended his hand to me. “Would you like to go for a walk?”
Was he sincere? Was he luring me away so he could arrest me? No, if that was the case he’d just go ahead and do it.
“Sure.”
He stepped back as I swung my legs to the side—knees together, just as my grandmother had taught me—and got out, remembering to lock the door. He placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me to the sidewalk.
Acutely aware of his touch, I glanced back at Charlotte. She smiled.
I decided to find out more about Detective Valentine. “Are you new in Sugar Creek?”
He gave me a sideways glance. “Yes, I am new to this great town.”
Was that it? He wasn’t going to explain where he’d come from? This would be harder than I thought. Was there some reason why he didn’t want to share any details about himself?
“Where are you from?” I asked.
“I’m from Atlanta. I worked there for a couple years.” He steered me around a crevice in the sidewalk. “How about if we go into Billie Jean’s Coffee and Such, down the street?”
Did he want to take me for coffee so he could ask more questions about the murder investigation?
“I’ve had my quota of caffeine for this morning.” Noting the look of disappointment on his face, I went on. “But I guess I could go for a cup of herbal tea for a change.” I’d barely agreed to go when his phone rang.
He held up his finger. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Of course.” I pretended to study the geraniums in front of the medical office where we were standing. They needed watering.
Dylan looked over at me as he hung up his phone. “I’m sorry that I can’t get that coffee now. They need me at the station. Can I get a rain check?”
I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or let down. “Sure. No problem.”
He put a hand on my forearm. “You have my number if you need to talk, right?”
I smiled. “Yes, I’ll call you.”
Detective Valentine walked away. Reaching the car, he turned around and saw me watching him. I hurried back toward my shop.
Unable to resist, I peeked over my shoulder. Our eyes met for a moment, and he smiled as he drove off. I had to admit, I hoped we could talk about more than the investigation.
Chapter 25
Cookie’s Savvy Vintage Fashion Shopping Tip
If you’re not ready to wear vintage clothing yet,
you could start with accessories like a scarf, hat, or jewelry.
After racing back home to pick up Wind Song, I stepped into my shop, hoping that I hadn’t missed any customers. She climbed out of her carrier, stretched, then made her way to her favorite spot in the sunshine.
“Why aren’t you saying anything else?” I asked her as I looked over at the Ouija board.
Having that thing in the shop still made me nervous. I’d heard too many stories about evil spirits coming through. I wondered if that was really true but wasn’t willing to find out.
After checking the paper for more estate sales, I turned on my computer to check my e-mail. Much to my chagrin, there was another comment on my blog waiting for me. Normally, I would have been excited to read it, but I was anxious. I clicked on the link and waited for it to pop up. My stomach dropped when I read the comment.
“What does it say?” Charlotte asked over my shoulder.
I moved to the side. “You can read it for yourself.”
Charlotte read aloud, “I warned you to mind your own business. Now I’ll have to stop you.”
This was not good. I had to tell the detective what was happening. My life could be in jeopardy if I didn’t.
Charlotte’s brow creased with worry. “I’m so sorry, Cookie. I don’t want you to be in harm’s way, but you can see that I didn’t have any other options. You were my only hope.”
I could see that now. But why me? Why was I the only one who could see Charlotte? I closed the computer in a hurry. “I have to call the detective.”
Charlotte tried to block me from grabbing the phone by stepping in front of me. “I don’t think that is really necessary, is it?”
“I know you don’t want to involve him, but I think this is over my head. After all, I’m just a boutique owner. I can’t fend off a criminal. This could be a serial killer!”
Wind Song meowed and jumped up on the counter. She looked as if she wanted to be part of the conversation. As I was rubbing her head, the bell on the door jangled. I jumped and clutched my chest.
Heather walked through the door wearing an oversized tie-dyed T-shirt and black leggings. Her hair was braided in the back. “Hi, Cookie. Hi, Wind Song.”
“What’s buzzin’ cuzzin’?” I asked.
Heather looked around. “Is Charlotte here, too?”
“She sure is. Right next to the windows, where she can spy on people.”
“Well then, hi Charlotte, too.” Heather flopped onto a stool. “Is everything okay?”
“What makes you think that everything isn’t okay?” I asked with a forced smile.
She sorted through my new arrivals in jewelry that I’d placed on the counter. “I could tell by the look on your face.”
I picked up a shiny necklace and showed it to her, hoping to distract her from what I was about to say. “I got another threatening message on my blog.” I didn’t tell her the full gravity of the message.
“You have to te
ll the police about this,” she said, handing the necklace back.
I placed the silver pendant back on the display rack. “I plan on it.”
I pulled out Detective Valentine’s card and studied it. He’d said to call him if I thought of anything. What would he say when I told him about the messages?
Heather rubbed the cat’s head and whispered, “Has she said anything else?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think it’s necessary to whisper.”
Heather placed a deck of cards on the counter and tapped them with her electric blue polished fingertip. The top card featured a cat wearing a royal costume.
“What is that?” I asked.
“They’re tarot cards. A deck of cat-themed tarot cards, to be specific.”
“Heavens to Betsy. This should be interesting,” Charlotte said.
“What are you doing with those?” My voice rose.
“Well, I’m hoping that the cat will respond to them as she did to the Ouija board.” Heather looked over at Wind Song.
“You actually think the cat will use tarot cards?” I asked.
“She used the Ouija board, so I figured this was the next step,” Heather said.
“So the cat is going to read our fortune?” I asked.
Charlotte said, “Oh my stars. If this don’t beat all.”
Heather stacked the cards on the counter. “Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”
“Well, I’ve got to see this.” Charlotte sat on the chair next to the counter and crossed her legs.
Right on cue, Wind Song launched herself onto the counter and sat next to the deck of cards. Her big green eyes seemed full of fire.
“See. She already wants to use them.” Heather pushed the cards in front of the cat and we waited. Wind Song inched her paw toward the deck, then pushed the cards until they fell to the floor.
Charlotte burst out in laughter as Wind Song jumped down.
“Charlotte is laughing,” I said.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Heather said.
Charlotte leaned down next to the cat. “You gave it your best shot, Wind Song.”
