by T. S. Ryder
Oskar grinned suddenly, almost wanting to laugh in relief. Of course. She was an adrenaline junkie. The kind of woman who sought out crimes, and then used their unassuming appearance to weasel their way into the suspect's confidence until she solved the case. Melody Zabat was an amateur sleuth in full Jessica Fletcher, Murder, She Wrote style.
Or she could be a murderer.
But Oskar didn't want to believe that. It had been a long time since he had met a woman that he felt instantly drawn to like he had with Melody.
He was about to stand and reveal his presence when she began talking. He instantly tensed, certain that he had been discovered, but Melody was still poking around the rocks and didn't so much as look in his direction.
"Are you sure he had your necklace with you?" A pause and Melody looked up and to her left. She let out an annoyed breath and put her hands on her hips, shaking her head. "Well, I don't see it now. If he had it, then it probably fell into the river and was washed away."
Oskar's brows knit. Did she have a Bluetooth device on? He strained to look, but when Melody turned he could see both her ears were clear.
"No, I am not going into the water looking for it." Another pause. "Because I didn't bring my swimming suit." She tossed her head and made an annoyed sound. "No, I am not skinny dipping… Because anybody could stop by and see me!"
Was she insane? It would explain the whole murder-chasing obsession she seemed to have. Pity. A woman that pretty really should have her faculties about her. Not that mental illnesses discriminated, or that less attractive people somehow deserved mental illnesses more. Really, he was just disappointed that it was Melody. He had been debating asking her on a date once his business dealings with her were completed, but he didn't have the understanding or patience to be able to support her if she wasn't all there. Or maybe he would. He could at least try. He was ready to start taking more personal responsibility in his life.
"What is the big deal about this necklace, anyway? Is it because you think it will prove that Fezioni killed you?"
Oskar's eyes widened. What?
"Why does it matter to you so much that Oskar knows that he was right? You do realize that if we find proof that Fezioni killed you, it only gives him more motive and if he didn't kill him—" Melody shook her head. "Then just tell me what you want!"
Oskar had heard enough. His heart was pounding, his throat dry. Barton must have told Melody about Cindy, and she must have seen him. This was just her mocking him somehow. His Eagle beat its wings and he sprang to his feet, striding towards the realtor as she continued to talk to the air.
"Okay, you can stop now," he snarled.
At least, he had been intending to. As soon as he started talking, Melody let out a blood-curdling shriek and jumped two feet into the air. She whipped around, hands coming up into a defensive posture. Oskar was so surprised by her reaction that he jumped back himself, his words dying in his throat.
"What are you doing here?" Melody demanded, her eyes narrowing. Her hands trembled as she put them on her hips, but she jutted out her chin and glared at him.
"What are you doing here?" he shot back. "And don't pretend that you didn't know I was here."
A wary look came to her eyes. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough to hear you talking. Did Barton tell you about Cindy? Do you think it's funny to bring her up here, now?"
Melody's hands dropped. "Of course not. It's not funny at all. Look, I didn't know you were here. I was just talking to myself. I do that sometimes, you can ask anybody. I just remembered seeing a woman's necklace when I found the body, but Uncle Todd said no necklace was found, and I thought it might be important. I was looking for it."
Oskar's eyes narrowed. Talking to herself? Unlikely. And yet she seemed genuinely surprised to see him. "Assuming what you're saying is true, why pretend that you were having a conversation with Cindy?"
Her eyes darted to the left and she shrugged. "Uncle Todd told me that you thought Fezioni killed her, and sometimes it helps for me to pretend like I'm talking with somebody… Look, I didn't know you were here. I'm sorry that I upset you." She flinched suddenly and put a hand over one ear. "For the record, I think you're right. From what Uncle Todd told me, Fezioni makes sense for the kidnapping. I'm really sorry for your loss."
Despite himself, Oskar's shoulders relaxed. She just sounded so genuine. He'd met a lot of actors and charlatans over the years, and he could always trust his gut. Right now it was saying that Melody was telling the truth. At least, mostly.
"Okay. I'm sorry I scared you."
Melody's eyes flashed and she put her hands on her hips again. "Yeah, you should try not doing that. Everybody in town is convinced that you're a murderer, you know, and sneaking up on people might make them do crazy things. The last thing you need is to be killed by someone who thinks you're going to kill them, and not be able to clear your name."
Oskar's brows rose. "So you don't think that I'm guilty of killing Fezioni? Even after what Barton told you about Cindy?"
Again she glanced to her left. Oskar glanced that way as well, but there was nothing there. A nervous tick, perhaps? He studied her as she stood there in silence. She wore sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. She was so unlike the women he was usually attracted to. But then, perhaps that was exactly what he needed. After all, none of his relationships had worked out so far.
Maybe I should keep my head in the game. Fezioni is dead but we still don't have any answers. Plus, I'm a murder suspect. That will be enough to scare her away, even if nothing else is.
"I don't know," she said eventually, then shook her head. "No. I don't think you did it. I don't think you were involved at all. It sounded to me like you wanted closure, justice. And you seem like the kind of guy that does things methodically."
"Methodically?
"If you were going to kill Fezioni, it would be a much cleverer setup than this. You wouldn't even be a suspect. Besides, you have oodles of money. You'd have paid somebody to kill him."
She sounded so confident that Oskar had to be impressed. An amateur Jessica Fletcher she might be, but she knew her stuff.
"I'm barred from the investigation," he said slowly, watching her to gauge her reaction. "But I want to find out what happened here just as much as anybody else. You have got connections to the case, and you're obviously a clever woman."
Melody's eyes widened. "You mean you want to work with me to solve the murder? No. No way. I'm done with killers and murders. I've been forced into too many—" she winced suddenly and glared to her left.
What was she looking at?
"On the other hand, that might not be a bad idea," she ground out through her teeth. "I'll meet you for dinner. Uncle Todd doesn't want me going anywhere near you, but we're still working with the whole realty thing. I'll bring some property listings and there won't be anything he can do about it. Old Gossip at six?"
Oskar repressed a smile and nodded. "It's a date."
"It is not a date. It's a meeting." Melody glared at him for another moment before she gathered up her fishing rod and tackle and marched back up the trail. Oskar watched her go, then turned to the river. So this was where Fezioni died.
It was peaceful. Too bad Fezioni had to die in such a beautiful location.
His Eagle chattered and Oskar sighed, heading back to his car.
Chapter Five
Melody smoothed back a flyaway strand of hair as she stuffed her feet into her heels. She didn't dare look at herself in the mirror. Cindy had been insistent in dictating what she could wear.
No business suits. No casual dress. No bright red lipstick.
Melody would have ignored her 'suggestions' altogether, except the pampered princess had made a deal with her: if Melody followed her orders when dressing for this meeting with Oskar, then Cindy would finally spill the beans on what she really wanted.
Getting rid of Cindy's constant nagging would be worth it. Or so she had thoug
ht until the ghost insisted she wear a tight, mid-thigh length skirt with black leggings and a low-cut top that Melody hadn't worn since she was eighteen. It was a little tight around her breasts now, and she knew she looked utterly ridiculous. The gold bangles on her wrists and haphazard attempt at a twisty bun certainly weren't helping matters.
"This is ridiculous," she groused, as she hobbled out to her car. "Are you trying to humiliate me?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Cindy replied, already sitting on the roof of the car. "The way you dress yourself is painful to look at. With that outfit, people can finally see that you have a bod to show off."
"I don't want to show off my 'bod'," Melody replied crankily. "I prefer to be comfortable or professional."
"You promised."
Melody glared at the ghost. "And if you don't come through with your end of the deal, I swear I'll…" There really wasn't anything she could threaten a ghost with. "I'll tell Oskar that you were madly in love with him and just using his cousin to get closer to him."
Cindy rolled her eyes. "You'll have to do a lot more than that to scare me."
Melody let out an annoyed huff as she started the car. She headed for Old Gossip, resisting the urge to stomp on the gas and speed her way there. There wasn't a lot of crime in Blackcliff, so the police cracked down on traffic violations with a vengeance. Although given that she had helped half the force find their current houses, she might get a little leniency.
Nah, not worth it.
People stared at her when she got out of the car, and she bit back a groan of dismay. This was one of the most humiliating things a ghost had ever made her do. Why couldn't they be more like they were on TV shows, all mysterious and jumping in and out of reality, giving vague hints and being totally misunderstood?
Oskar was already waiting for her in the café. Melody joined him as quickly as she could, struggling with her five-inch heels. These things were made for standing or sitting, not walking. Certainly not for walking fast. Every step she took, she felt like she might topple over. She smiled apologetically at him when she slid into the booth opposite him.
The billionaire-Alpha-FBI agent's mouth gaped when he took her in. His gaze ran down her body, slowly, like a caress. Melody felt her face heating–she couldn’t remember the last time somebody had looked at her like that.
"Sorry I'm late," she blurted. "I just got caught up with… things."
"That's okay." His gaze lingered on her cleavage for a moment before it snapped back up to her eyes. His face flushed and he shifted, clearing his throat. "Sorry."
Melody blushed, though she didn't mind his ogling. They had had some flirty moments in the past, but this was the first time he had shown outright interest. Maybe Cindy wasn't so insane for making her wear this.
"I thought this was a business meeting?"
For a moment she wanted to find an excuse for what she was wearing, but nothing came to mind, so she cleared her throat. "Yeah. I lost track of time and thought it would be better to just come in what I was wearing. I hope you haven't been waiting long."
Oskar smirked. "Just half an hour. Actually, I was worried you weren't going to come. I thought you might think that I'm a murderer."
"He's not," Cindy insisted, sitting in the booth next to Oskar.
"I know you're not."
Oskar's eyes narrowed at how confident she sounded. Jane bustled over, eyes wide when she saw Melody's attire and took their orders. Even when placing his order, Oskar's gaze never left Melody. By the time Jane was off again, a deep flush had risen up Melody's neck and she fidgeted, uncomfortable with the intense scrutiny.
"What?" she demanded. "Are you mad that I don't think you're a murderer?"
"I just want to know why. You seem like an intelligent woman. It makes logical sense to think that I am the murderer. But you seem very confident that I'm not. It doesn't make sense."
"It's because I was with him," Cindy said. She tried to grab Oskar's arm but her hand slid right through. Making an impatient noise, she turned to Melody. "Tell him. Tell him you know because I was with him and I know he didn't kill Fezioni."
Melody avoided the ghost's gaze. "Oh, you know… you don't seem like that kind of person."
She winced as Oskar's eyes narrowed further. "Has there been a break in the case? Barton found something that indicates who really killed Fezioni? But he wouldn't tell you. Have you found something yourself?"
"Look, it's not important. I just know, okay?"
Uncle Todd was the only person who knew about Melody's secret, other than her parents. It wasn't something she was anxious to share with the world. She watched TV. She knew what happened to people who weren't society's definition of 'normal', and she did not want to end up in some padded white cell.
But Oskar was still staring intently at her, and by this time, Cindy was too.
"Tell him," she said.
Melody's gaze darted to the ghost.
"Tell him that you can see me. You asked me why I'm still around, well, this is it. I have something I need to tell him. So you tell him that I'm here. Right now!"
"What are you looking at?" Oskar twisted, his gaze going right through Cindy.
"Tell him!" the ghost shrieked, causing Melody to wince.
No. She couldn't. And yet somehow she found herself wanting to. It was a lonely life, not being able to trust anybody with her secret. Not having anybody to share her day-to-day life with. She often daydreamed about having a supportive man in her life to take care of her when she just didn't feel like doing it herself. As the Alpha of a community of Shifters, not to mention a billionaire, Oskar could do that.
Great, now I'm a gold-digger. She shook her head.
The fact was that she hardly knew him. They'd had a few business meetings, they'd seen each other occasionally on the street. It was hardly enough to trust him with a secret of this magnitude.
He reached across the table, putting his hand on hers. The warmth felt really nice, and Melody found her shoulders relaxing. Chances were he wouldn't believe her. But what if he did?
"Tell me."
"You'll think I'm crazy."
"No, I won't."
Cindy groaned in frustration, and Melody really wished the ghost would just go away. Even though this wasn't a date, three was a crowd in her opinion. "Tell him July 2, 2011."
Melody glanced around. Jane was serving another customer, and there was nobody else around. She wet her lips. "July 2, 2011."
Oskar's eyes narrowed then widened. He drew back sharply. "How do you—"
"Look, I know this sounds crazy, but I can see ghosts." The words popped out before she could stop them. "Right now Cindy is sitting right beside you. She has been bugging me for days now. She's the one that lead me to Fezioni's body, and she was with you when the murder happened. She knows you didn't kill him, and so I know you didn't kill him."
Oskar's throat worked as he stared at her. "That day under the bridge when you were talking to yourself—"
"I was talking to her." Melody held her breath. Would he believe her? For a long moment, they were both silent. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. "What happened on July 2, 2011?"
Cindy stared at Oskar's profile, sorrow etched onto her face. "It was the day our son was born."
Chapter Six
Nobody knew that date.
Cindy had told everybody that a previous boyfriend was the father of her child. Nobody knew that he had a child somewhere out there. They had decided when Cindy first realized that she was pregnant that the child would be put up for adoption. Sealed records.
Shifting was often hereditary, but as long as the adoptive parents knew that they were getting a child who would most likely Shift one day, there was no reason why the child wouldn't be perfectly happy with a family who wanted them, rather than being stuck with parents who would never work as a couple.
But there was no way that Melody would know that date. As Oskar stared at her, she gasped slightly, pressing her hands to her mouth whil
e staring at the air to his side.
Oskar swallowed hard. "Cindy is here?"
Melody's eyes filled with tears. "I didn't know that you two were a couple."
"We weren't," Oskar replied harshly. "We got drunk at a party. If she was here—"
"She is," Melody interrupted. A look of confusion crossed her face. "And she wants me to tell you toad face. What does that mean?"
Oskar felt his shoulders relax. He laughed out loud, surprised by how suddenly he believed Melody. She could see ghosts? He really should think that she was insane, but he didn't. After all, he could turn into a giant bald eagle, how much stranger was seeing ghosts? He believed her, just as he believed Cindy was right beside him.
"Toad face. It was an inside joke between us. So she's here." He hesitated. "Cindy, I'm sorry that I couldn't stop Fezioni and the men that took you. I did everything I could. It just wasn't—"
"She doesn't blame you and doesn't want you to blame yourself, either. She tried to escape them. She heard them talking, they were going to kill her no matter what. There wasn't anything you could have done. And she wants you to stop hunting the rest of the crew. It's not good for you or the community. Besides, Fezioni turned against them. He killed most of the others, anyway."
Knowing most of them were dead helped ease a little of the pressure in Oskar's mind, but he shook his head. "I can't give it up. With those men still out there, there could be more people killed."
Melody glanced to his right and back at him. "She said that it's not your job anymore. It's up to the little man with the small eyes and bad suits to catch them, and he's getting close."
Oskar smiled at her description of the deputy director. That was so Cindy.
"She wants you to take care of yourself."
"Does she know who killed Fezioni?"
Melody shook her head. "She was with you hiking when he was killed. She doesn’t really care about him, anyway."
