by Alexie Aaron
John paled. “How did you know?”
“Tell me about it.” Mia motioned for Burt to start filming.
“I was walking across Michigan Avenue in the city when I get shoved. That isn’t odd considering that it was a rush hour crowd. I barely missed getting winged by a cab. I look back, and there’s that same guy in the pinstripe suit looking at me. How is this possible?”
“It’s a rare occurrence, but sometimes a spirit will follow you home. I think he’s been with you since the incident here. He’s with you now,” she added.
“Why? I didn’t do him no disservice.”
“He seems to have other ideas. We could go back into the bar and straighten this out,” Mia offered. “Or you can take your chances on your own.”
“Who’s going to protect me, that lug with the plastic smile?” he asked, indicating Mike.
“No, John, I am,” Mia said sweetly. “Plus, we’re going to use some precautions.”
“And cut,” Burt said. “Mia, may I have a word with you?”
“Sure thing, boss,” she said. She tapped her earcom. “Ted, did we pack any iron vests?”
“Yes.”
“Good, I’m going to send John down for you to suit him up while I have a confab with Burt.”
“Be nice, Olive.”
“I’ll do my best, Popeye.”
Burt frowned. He had a feeling he had been put in the role of Brutus, but he smiled once again and patted the chair beside him.
Mike left to escort John to the command center. It was just Mia and Burt sitting face to face. She wasn’t worried until Burt took off his com and asked for hers.
“First of all, sorry about your hair,” Burt said.
“It was too shiny,” Mia said. “Sorry about the punch.”
“It was just a tap. What are you doing with John?”
“Trying to help him and clear out a few ghosts at the same time. As a bonus, you get it on film,” she said.
“You’re telling me there is a ghost attached to John?”
“Two. I didn’t want to scare the shit out of him. There is the suited guy and his thug, who is riding John’s soul like they’re on their fifth date.”
This surprised him. “You gave no indication that the ghosts were in the room.”
“They weren’t at first, and they aren’t now. They’ve headed to the bar, I hope.”
“Do you think you could give me a better heads-up next time?”
“You seemed to pick up pretty quick without the heads-up,” Mia said, winding her hand as if she were filming with an antique camera.
“Thanks.”
“Do you think we could go back on com now?”
“Yes,” Burt said, not sure how his chastisement had changed so radically.
“Mia on com. How’s my John?” Mia asked.
“What to rephrase that?” Ted asked.
“How is our John?” Mia tried.
“John is suited up and waiting for you and Burt, just outside the bar with Mike. We already have two stationary cameras set up. Good luck.”
“Thanks,” Mia said and waited for Burt at the door.
They walked past the next two interviewees. Burt stopped to tell them that they would be back in a half hour, so they should make themselves comfortable.
“Come on, Burt,” Mia said impatiently.
“Those are the bigwigs, the ones who are paying us,” he said quietly through his teeth.
“Oh, do you think they want to come?” Mia asked.
Burt put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a light shove. “No.”
“K.”
Mia had vested-John behind the bar taking inventory. She sat on a barstool, doing a remarkable job of looking like a floozy. She had pulled her hair into a ponytail, taken off the cardigan, and tucked her tank into her pants until she could see the top of her bra.
Burt stood in the opposite corner, filming John.
John got up and turned around.
Mia followed his eyes to the corner. This time, Mia had rehearsed John to say, “What can I get you, sir?”
“He looks like a gin martini man to me, Johnny,” Mia said in a Betty Boop voice.
The pinstripe-suited man moved over and sat down next to Mia. “Make it two,” he said, leering at her.
“What about your friend? He looks thirsty,” Mia said.
The thug who was attached to John moved out of him and sat on the other side of Mia.
“Mia, nice to meetcha,” she said, offering her gloved hand.
The goon mumbled something.
Mia looked over at the suited guy and darted her eyes to the goon.
“His name is Billy. I’m Richard.”
“Oh, Richard as in Dick or Richarrrrd as the French would say?” Mia flirted.
“Dick, I mean Richard.”
“Nice to meet you Richard, and Billy. What brings you to this dump?”
“Died here. I died of thirst, and Billy here had a heart attack.”
“Hell of a way to go.”
John finished mixing the martinis. He poured three glasses. Mia picked up hers and toasted. “To two of the nicest guys, my mother never wanted me to bring home.” She giggled.
Richard raised the glass and clinked it with Mia’s. Billy mumbled something and pointed to something in the middle of the room.
Mia turned around but didn’t see anything. Richard did.
“I’m afraid, doll, I hear the missus, and she’s calling me home. Come on, Billy. It’s last call.”
The two ghosts moved quickly into the light.
“And cut,” Mia said.
John enthusiastically pumped Mia’s hand again, thanking her. “How did you know?”
“I wasn’t positive, but I think that the guy just wanted a drink. When you thought he was another worker and slammed the door shut, he took offense. Billy helped him out. So I thought, if we take the same situation but change the results, it might be enough to pull the light to the two goons.”
“Your Betty Boop was inspired,” he said.
“Thank you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a few interviews to do before I can take a nap. Tonight, I fear, is going to be a busy one,” Mia told the bartender.
“Did you taste it?”
“The martini, no.” Mia walked over and took a sip. She gave John a thumbs up. “The best I’ve had,” Mia said.
“You don’t drink martinis,” Ted said in her ear.
“Then I wasn’t lying,” Mia hissed.
“Good call,” Ted said.
“Thank you, Partner Number Three.”
“How are you holding up?”
“I’m not going to lie to you and tell you my legs aren’t screaming. That wuss is walking solo back down the mountain. No more mommy holding his hand,” Mia said, adjusting the strap of her shoe.
“He’s been in a spectacular mood,” Ted said. “Cid said Murphy was quiet on the way here but has been pretty chatty since he got to the hotel.”
“Maybe it was something I said,” Mia mused. “I’ve got to cut this short. Time to interview the bigwigs, and I’ve got to soften my look a bit.”
“Will Betty reappear at nap time?” Ted asked hopefully.
“As long as you’re on top, Betty will be there,” Mia said and rushed to the interview room.
Chapter Seven
Mia and Mike were tossing a Nerf football back and forth in front of the hotel. Mia was trying to wake up from her nap, and Mike was bored. Cid and Audrey were taking the first investigative shift with Burt filming. Ted had resumed the console after their break. He was set up in the newly refurbished lobby of the hotel. Murphy was following the team on Mia’s request.
“So you want to tell me why you were flirting with me at the meeting?”
“No. You want to tell me if you tasted anything odd in your champagne?”
“Ah, I knew it. You distract me, and Murphy peppers my Chablis.”
“Champagne,” Mia corrected.
“Chablis rhymed,” Mike expl
ained.
“Oh, cool beans. Actually, I’ve been dealing with an emotional overload. No, I’m not pregnant, and I think things have leveled off.”
“Nice of you to let me know.”
“Mike, I’d like to thank you for being of sound mind when I’m not,” Mia said and threw the football, letting it sail high into the air.
He smiled as he caught it. “It’s totally out of character, but I’m getting used to it.”
“I think it’s the authentic you actually.”
“Uh oh, sounds like you’ve been dipping into Cid’s self-help books,” Mike teased.
“I think it’s something I’ve been figuring out on my own. I’m so screwed up that I’m all over the place, but you’re pretty easy to figure out.”
“Well, Doctor Freud, lay it on me,” Mike said, throwing the football fast and hard.
Mia took the hit with barely an intake of breath. “You’re a good guy, end of sentence.”
“You didn’t used to think so.”
“I was full of myself, and so were you.”
“True. Why doesn’t your husband like me?”
“You have to ask him. I think you deliberately push his insecurity buttons. You’re handsome, well-liked, and a natural ladies’ man. All the things he wanted to be when he was a teenager. Instead, he was too tall, awkward, and ignored by the female populace. Thank God.”
“Mia,” Mike scolded.
“If he wasn’t, I never would have nabbed him. Phew!”
“How’re things going in that department?”
“I’ve put it mostly behind me, but I had help. I think he’s got a ways to go. I’m not giving up though.”
“I respect that. What kind of help?”
“If I said divine intervention, would you laugh at me?”
“Probably.”
“Then I don’t really know. All I know is, any doubts I still carried, any hurt I still had over losing my stuff, and any suspicions regarding Beth have disappeared. I still remember it all, but I can see it for what it was. I’m a lot less angry with Ted.”
“How about Beth?”
“Oh, I’d go out of my way to run her down with an ice cream truck.”
Mike laughed. “Cooper, you are a piece of work.”
“I am, aren’t I?”
Mia’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She set the football down and pulled out the phone. “Oh my god, Jake just sent me a Dick pic.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Mike ran over and grabbed Mia’s phone. There, pictured in a newspaper clipping, was Richard, the man Mia had just crossed over. “Cooper, you are going to get it,” Mike growled.
“You ran pretty fast to see a dick pic. Seems you have some issues,” Mia teased, grabbing her phone back. She took off running towards the grassy slopes.
Mike tackled her, sending both of them rolling down the kiddie slope. When they had stopped, Mia was covered in grass stains and Mike had long grass clippings in his hair. Mike was about to make a comment about the two of them rolling in the hay when he spotted someone making their way stealthily up the hill to the hotel. He pointed the person out and began to follow.
Mia texted Ted, warning him that an unauthorized visitor was nearing the south side of the hotel and that Mike was following.
“Security alerted. Why are you on the south side of the hotel?”
“Rolling in the hay with Mike,” Mia answered.
“Oh.”
“Short story, I’ll make longer later.”
“Promises.”
Mia made the top of the kiddie slope just as the two guards in golf carts cornered the unwanted visitor. Mike aided in the capture, taking the rifle out of the old man’s grasp. Mia walked up, eyeing the man with suspicion.
“Can we help you?” she asked.
The man looked at her disheveled appearance and scowled.
One of the security guards, wearing a tag displaying the name Carl, lifted the man’s wallet out of his pocket. He opened it up and read off, “Cyryl Nowicki.”
“Gee, that’s a familiar name,” Mia said. “Didn’t this place used to be called Nowicki’s Ski Resort, Mike?”
“Yes, I believe the Price Corporation bought it from the Nowicki family.”
“Stole it, more like,” the man spat.
“I think that is something better shared between lawyers. Now, sir, aside from these able-bodied men here, we aren’t part of the Price Corporation. Is there anything we can do to help you?” Mia asked again.
“I just came to look around and see what they have done to the place.”
“Miss, I think you can leave this to us,” Ray, the other security person, started.
Mia lifted her hand. “Cyryl, do you know why this place is haunted?”
Mia saw his face pale. “No.”
Mia nodded to the security guys, saying, “He’s all yours,” and started to walk away.
“They’ll never be able to clear out all of the Nowickis. Some of us were buried in that hotel,” he said smugly. “They’ll rise up and kill all intruders.”
“That’s not neighborly,” Mia said to Mike.
“You and your smart mouth are going to be sorry,” Cyryl Nowicki threatened Mia.
“Call the cops. I think it’s time to look into Mr. Nowicki’s being here armed with a rifle,” Mike recommended to the security guards.
“Yes, sir.”
“In the meanwhile, I and Ms. Smart Mouth are going to return to the hotel.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mia took Mike’s offered arm. She leaned in and spoke to him as they walked, “We need to get ahold of the old and new blueprints. I think this place is built over a family graveyard. With my luck, the graves are under my room.”
“Good thing Murphy came along,” Mike said.
“Good thing,” Mia repeated, not as convinced. “He and I haven’t felt a thing besides Dick and Billy.”
“I wonder why?” Mike said.
Ted walked out to greet them. He took a look at their clothing and shook his head. “If I wasn’t the trusting sort, I would fear that the two of you were cavorting in the barn.”
“Couldn’t find the barn,” Mia said.
“What do you have to say for yourself, Mr. Dupree?”
“It all started with a Dick pic.”
If Ted hadn’t seen the whole thing on the security cameras out front, he might have taken a swing at Mike. But, as usual, his wife and Mike had fallen into a state of adolescence that seemed to incite the two to nearly blackening each other’s eyes at times. “Team A’s first run has been nothing but a tour of the hotel. You two are up next. I suggest you guys go and change before Burt sees you.”
“Wait, we caught an intruder, and we have an idea of what may be happening at this hotel,” Mia said. “That’s got to count for something?”
“Not on Burt’s shooting schedule. Now scoot.”
“Geeze, Partner Number Three is a pain in the…”
“Mia!” Ted scolded.
Mia trotted off towards the new wing. Mike looked at Ted. “You know, if I didn’t so admire you, I’d feel sorry for you. She is wonderful and trouble in equal measures. When you blow yourself up, I want her. Can you put it in your will or something?”
“Are you really going to continue to pursue this? Mia’s not around to protect you, Dupree.”
“Why don’t you like me, Martin?”
“I’ve seen you in action. I don’t want that for Mia, or any woman for that matter. If I have to marry them all to keep them from you, I’ll make the sacrifice.”
Mike laughed. “Dude, Mia wants you all to herself. Good luck with that.”
Mike left, and Ted stood there a moment and wondered why Mike Dupree always caused him to say the most stupid things.
Mia pulled on her ghost-hunting clothes. She brushed most of the grass out of her hair before braiding it. She loaded her pockets with ghost irritants. She pulled on the extra shirt and let it hang open, minimizing her bust. Ever since t
he live broadcast went viral, she had made a point to wear loose fitting or conservative clothing when being filmed. It was time to regain some of her dignity.
She walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth. She heard the room door slam. She assumed it was Ted, but when she looked out, there wasn’t anyone. The door looked like she’d left it, locked with the Do not Disturb sign out. She heard a door slam again. She didn’t see anything, but she heard it. She pulled on her scabbard and loaded it with sword and shield before calling in.
“Ted, I’m hearing slamming doors in the new wing, over.”
“Mia, I’ve alerted Murphy. Please stay in your room, over.”
“K,” she said. She wanted to venture out, but now wasn’t the time to disobey Ted. She pulled the chair over and looked out the peephole. Nothing. She got down, walked over to the window, and opened the drapes. Nothing.
She opened the window, eased herself out onto the ledge, and shimmied her way to the next room, and looked in the window. Nothing. She did the same in the other direction. Nothing.
She returned to her room to find Murphy looking for her.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
He lifted his hands.
“Do you think it’s a hoax?”
He lifted his hands again, but then he looked back at her and nodded.
“I knew I was by myself here, and… I was scared. Not anymore,” she said and made a motion to remove the scabbard.
“No. Keep them. Something feels bad here,” he said, touching his stomach. “Like a nest of maggots.”
The sound of doors slamming was thunderous. It seemed to be coming from right outside the bar area. Burt, Audrey and Cid stopped, confused by the lack of any doors in the area but the bar’s, and it was standing open. Burt looked in the bar and waved Mike over. Ted, who was waiting for the group, ran over to see what the holdup was. Cid heard a movement of gears. He instinctually grabbed Audrey as the floor gave way, and the PEEPs team fell into the darkness.
The sounds of doors slamming increased. Mia and Murphy ventured out but could find no movement of any doors on the first floor.
“Ted, there is no activity on the first floor. Murphy and I are heading to the second floor, over.”
Silence
