by Rose Pressey
I peeked in the rearview mirror at Juliana. She stared straight ahead in shock. I was at a loss for words. Even though I’d grown accustomed to being around ghosts, it was still awkward finding just the right words to say. If someone had told me six months ago that I would be communicating with the dead, I would’ve never believed it. Just walking past the cemetery had creeped me out. Now I was driving around with two ghosts as passengers in my car. It was like I was the shuttle service for the afterlife. Next stop, eternity.
I exchanged a look with Charlotte.
She tossed her hands up as if to say, I don’t know what to do.
She was supposed to be the expert at this whole death thing. She should know what to do.
“Can I do anything for you?” I directed my question toward Juliana.
She leaned forward and placed her elbows on the back of the leather seat. “This just doesn’t make sense. One minute I’m driving along the highway enjoying my favorite Taylor Swift song, and the next minute, I’m dead.”
“Did you have an accident? What happened?” I made a right turn.
She plopped back onto the seat. “I knew instantly that I was dead because I was looking at my body in the car. Can you believe it? I was literally standing outside the car, looking at myself. I mean, I’ve heard about these situations where people die and tell you what it’s like when it happened . . . but they go back into their bodies. I stayed out.” She threw her hands up. “So here I am. Now what?”
Now what indeed.
“She’s a dramatic one, isn’t she?” Charlotte rolled her eyes.
Juliana glared at Charlotte. “Who are you?”
Charlotte turned slightly in her seat to eye Juliana up and down with her laserlike focus. “Who am I? Who am I?”
Uh-oh. Charlotte did have a bit of a quick temper.
“I’m the first ghost around here and I will always be first. So don’t you forget it.” She waved her finger at Juliana.
“Juliana, this is Charlotte Meadows. She’s dead too. She was murdered a few months back.”
“Please tell her that I was the best businesswoman this side of the Mason-Dixon line.” Charlotte tilted her head up.
I smirked. “I think you just told her, Charlotte.”
“She just follows you around?” Juliana asked.
“And what do you think you’re doing, missy?” Charlotte huffed.
“I just got here. I don’t know what I’m doing,” Juliana said. “Cookie, you will let me know as soon as the detective tells you what happened to me?”
I steered the car onto Main Street. “Of course, absolutely. I will let you know right away.” I had a feeling Juliana would be around to hear the whole thing. I couldn’t have two ghosts again. How could I get rid of her? Deep down I knew this ghost wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Chapter 3
Cookie’s Savvy Vintage Clothing Shopping Tips
Much vintage clothing is considered timeless
and classic. Therefore, the pieces can be
considered wardrobe essentials.
We parked in front of my boutique. It was a cottage style building that I’d had painted a soft lavender shade with white trim. The big windows on each side of the door were my favorite. They stretched from roof to floor, allowing me to display my clothing to the maximum and, I always hoped, attract more customers. In the display areas, bright colored leaves and pumpkins were scattered around to welcome fall.
In one window, the mannequin wore a deep crimson colored Suzy Perette coat dress. Left unbuttoned, it could be worn as a coat, but buttoned it made a fabulous dress. The mannequin held a black leather Gucci bag in her hand with black and white Mary Jane pumps on her feet.
The mannequin in the other window featured a 1980s black Dolce and Gabbana silk cocktail dress. Embroidered lace edged the hem of the fabric. Black Dior heels finished the look.
I climbed out of the car and stepped over to the sidewalk. The IT’S VINTAGE Y’ALL sign hung above the entrance.
I’d just reached the front door when Charlotte said, “Here comes trouble.”
Heather was headed toward me. She gave tarot card readings in her occult shop and sold just about anything someone would need in order to navigate the paranormal world.
Charlotte and Heather had a strained relationship, but they had made progress to get along. They tended to bicker a lot though. Of course Heather couldn’t see or hear Charlotte, so I was stuck being the one in the middle, relaying the snarky messages.
“I thought you had a breakfast meeting,” Heather said as she approached. Her dark blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She wore a white T-shirt that read IT’S A MYSTICAL THING. YOU WOULDN’T UNDERSTAND. Her designer jeans made her long legs look even more fabulous than they already were.
I shoved the key into the door and unlocked it. “You’re not going to believe what happened.”
Heather followed me inside. “I don’t like the sound of your voice.”
I’d dropped my cat Wind Song off at the shop before leaving for the meeting. She meowed and pawed at my leg in greeting. She’d been coming to work with me every day for months, ever since she showed up one day out of the blue. I had no idea how she’d found me.
Wind Song was no ordinary cat. Aside from being beautiful with her long white hair and green eyes, she communicated with me. I know that sounded crazy, but it was a fact.
After flipping the shabby chic WELCOME sign to OPEN, I switched the lights on, and Charlotte and Juliana entered the shop too. I headed across the room, placed my purse on the counter, and released a deep breath.
Charlotte made herself at home on the velvet settee to the right of the counter. Juliana stood in the middle of the room, absorbing her surroundings. She still had that dazed and confused look on her face. I couldn’t blame her for that. I wouldn’t handle the situation as well as she had.
“There’s another one,” I said matter-of-factly.
Heather quirked an eyebrow. “Another what?”
I gestured with a tilt of my head. “Another ghost.”
Heather slapped her hand on the counter. “Shut up! Why does this keep happening to you? Who is it this time?”
I brushed the hair out of my eyes. “Juliana McDaniel. The woman I was supposed to meet this morning for the interview.”
Juliana released a little sigh.
Heather’s mouth dropped open and her green eyes bugged out. “She’s a ghost?”
I sat on the stool behind the counter. “I’m afraid so.”
“How did this happen?” Heather asked.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Juliana chimed in.
“We don’t know yet. It didn’t appear to be an accident. Dylan was on the scene, but he was cryptic about any answers.” I picked up a black 1960s sweater with tiny pearl buttons that stretched from the collar to halfway down the front of the garment.
“Don’t worry. He’ll tell you everything. He can’t resist your womanly wiles.” Heather wiggled her perfectly sculpted eyebrows.
Charlotte chuckled as she studied her flamingo pink polished fingertips. “Cookie wouldn’t know what to do with a womanly wile if it smacked her in the face.”
I glared at her for a second then said, “Anyway, Juliana is here now. That’s about all I know.”
Heather peered around the room as if she’d see Juliana.
I pointed toward the left side of the room. “She’s by that mannequin.”
“Nice to meet you,” Heather yelled.
“She’s a ghost. She’s not deaf,” Charlotte snapped.
Like my Granny Pearl used to say, Charlotte could start an argument in an empty house.
A tiny grin slid across Juliana’s face. The first one I’d seen since we’d met. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too,” she said.
I filled the cat’s water and food dishes and placed them back on the floor. “Juliana said the same.”
“How will you get rid of her?” Heather whispered.
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“She can hear you, dear,” Charlotte whispered in Heather’s ear.
Heather had no idea that Charlotte was standing so close, but she brushed at her ear as if swatting away a fly.
I moved over behind the counter again and sorted through a few small items I’d left there last night. “I guess we’ll find out what’s keeping her here.”
Juliana glanced over at us. “I didn’t choose to be here.”
Obviously our discussion wasn’t making her feel any better. Maybe it was time for a change of topic. Or at least lighten the current one.
I smiled. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Charlotte scowled. “You didn’t say that when I showed up.”
“Well, Charlotte, you can be a bit of a pain in the rear.”
Charlotte puffed her chest out. “Well, I never.”
“You’re glad I’m here?” Juliana scrunched her face in a frown.
Okay, maybe that hadn’t come out so well.
“What I mean is, you seem like a nice person and if I’m going to be haunted by someone, I’d pick you. I’m not glad you’re dead.” I picked up a silk scarf.
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Heather said.
Juliana perused some of the clothing on the rack next to the counter. “I have to say, Cookie, I didn’t know you were so—”
“Crazy?” Charlotte finished the sentence for her.
I tossed the white and blue polka-dot Chanel scarf in Charlotte’s direction. “Charlotte, I am not crazy.” Of course I hurried over to retrieve it from the floor. No sense in damaging a fine piece of vintage.
Charlotte moved closer to me. “Crazy is nothing to be ashamed of, darling. Remember, we embrace crazy here in the South. We parade our crazy around town and show it off.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “That makes me feel so much better. Thank you for the encouraging words.”
“What will they do with my car?” Juliana asked.
I tapped my fingers against the counter. “Hmm. I suppose the police will take it for evidence.”
Juliana leaned against the counter. “I had quite a few vintage pieces inside. I’d hate for them to get lost or damaged.”
“That would be terrible. I can ask the detective about them.”
Juliana slumped her shoulders. “I guess I don’t need to interview you now.”
I wished I could hug her, but my arms would float right through her.
Heather had been listening to my one-sided conversation and moved closer to me. “We could ask the cat if she knows what happened.”
I stared at Heather. “We couldn’t. Could we?”
She raised an eyebrow. “I don’t see why not. We’ve done it before.”
She was right about that. We’d done it quite a few times. I should be used to it. I just wasn’t sure if Juliana would want to hear the answer.
“What are you all talking about?” Juliana asked.
“Oh, don’t let them scare you. They’re just going to have the cat read the tarot cards or use the Ouija board.” Charlotte waved her hand. “It’s all routine around here. You’ll get used to it after a while.”
Juliana backed up, moving toward the door as if she wanted to escape. She didn’t take her eyes off us.
“It’s not as strange as it seems,” I said. Okay, it was as strange as it sounded, but I wanted to make her feel better.
Juliana reached the door and turned toward the window.
“Charlotte, you’ve scared her. Stop doing that,” I warned. To Juliana I said, “It’s nothing evil or spooky. I don’t like scary either. Wind Song uses the letters on the board so she can spell.” I tried to let my voice sound breezy and casual, as if luring in a scared cat.
“I’ll get the Ouija board.” Heather rushed out the door. She had no idea Juliana was there.
Juliana stared out the window. I wasn’t sure if I had convinced her yet.
After she realized there was nowhere else to go, she asked, “The cat uses this stuff to communicate with you?”
“Yes, Wind Song just gives us simple answers to questions,” I said.
Heather bounced back through the door with the Ouija board under her arm. I still didn’t let her keep the thing over at my shop. I had no desire to attract any more spirits than I already had. Wind Song could use the thing and that was it. I didn’t want any of the spooky stuff that sometimes accompanied the board.
Charlotte motioned for Juliana to join us at the counter. “Just watch and see.”
Juliana glanced over her shoulder one more time and then finally moved to where we’d all gathered around. Wind Song sat on the counter patiently waiting for Heather to place the board in front of her. Once in position, the cat reached out and placed her delicate paw on the board.
Juliana’s blue eyes widened. “I can’t believe it.”
Charlotte leaned against the counter. “Told you.”
“It gets better,” I said.
Wind Song moved the planchette around the board. She finally stopped on the letter C. Heather scribbled the letter onto the notepad. She didn’t want to miss a thing. Next Wind Song stopped on the letter A.
“Is she spelling cat?” Heather whispered.
“She’d better not be asking for more cat food,” I said.
Wind Song liked to demand her favorite food. Gourmet tuna was her favorite. The fancy feline glided the planchette over to the letter R. After that, she moved on to spell the words IN and THE.
“Car, in, the?” Heather looked confused.
“In the car,” I said.
Without warning, Wind Song jumped off the counter and over to the window to settle into her favorite spot in the sun. Apparently, it was her way of telling us that she was done with her message. She’d gotten the sentence backwards, but I was sure I knew what she was trying to say. But what did it mean?
“In the car? What car?” Heather looked at Wind Song as if she’d respond.
We looked at each other and said at the same time, “What’s in Juliana’s car?”
Chapter 4
Charlotte’s Tips for a Fashionable Afterlife
Wearing polyester leisure suits
will send you straight to hell.
All was quiet in the boutique except for the Big Band music playing faintly in the background. Everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. As I straightened racks of clothing, I contemplated all that had happened. Heather leaned against the counter tapping her fingers against the wood. When her cell phone rang, we all jumped at the unexpected noise. She fumbled around in the bottom of her giant burlap tote bag until she finally pulled out the phone.
“I expected her to pull out the kitchen sink from that thing.” Charlotte rubbed her temples as if the noise had actually brought on a headache.
I didn’t mean to listen in on Heather’s phone call, but it was kind of hard not to hear.
Heather straightened and her eyes lit up. “Sure, Cookie closes her shop in just a few minutes and we’ll be on our way.”
I waved my hands, trying to stop her from talking. I didn’t know where she was volunteering me to go, but I was pretty sure it was a bad idea. The last thing I needed was for her to get me into another sticky situation. She was good at that. In spite of my best efforts, she hung up the phone and grinned at me.
“Who was that?” I asked. “And I’m not going.”
She looped her bag across her shoulder. “Sure you want to go. That was Fatima. Remember, she’s the one with the wonderful psychic abilities I told you about. I met her a few months back at the psychic fair in Atlanta.”
Fatima was the woman from Savannah who’d said she might have information about Wind Song. She’d claimed to have seen the cat months before I found her. Unfortunately, the woman hadn’t been at her occult shop the day we went, so we needed to return to see if we could find answers to how the cat could use tarot cards and the Ouija board. I wasn’t convinced that she knew what she was talking about, however, I wanted to hear what she had to say
. Heather was right. I wanted to go.
Proud of herself, she asked, “So are you ready?”
“Just let me close up,” I said, knowing I was defeated.
“We’re not going to that kooky woman’s place again, are we?” Charlotte asked.
I grabbed my purse. “Well, I want to see what she has to say, Charlotte.”
Heather placed her hands on her hips. “Is she complaining about going? You can tell her that she doesn’t have to go.”
I rolled my eyes. Oh no, here we go.
“You tell her that I’ll go anywhere I want,” Charlotte said, waving her hand in front of Heather’s face.
I stood between them. “Ladies, ladies, there’s no reason to fight. We’ll all take a nice drive and have a pleasant time.”
They scoffed in unison, crossing their arms in front of their waists. At least we had a reprieve from the bickering. Even if short-lived.
After locking up, we climbed into the Buick. Heather wasn’t about to let Charlotte call shotgun.
* * *
We reached Fatima’s shop and I parked near the door. I loved landing a prime spot right out front. I could keep an eye on my wheels. Heather and I climbed out of the car with the ghosts following right along behind us.
Charlotte hurried around me. “I still don’t see why you need to do this.”
“Because I want to find out where Wind Song came from. It’s too mysterious that she can use a Ouija board and read tarot cards. There has to be an explanation for that.” I pushed the hair out of my eyes.
Heather turned around and scanned the direction where she thought Charlotte would be. Of course Charlotte was on the opposite side, but I didn’t tell Heather. It would only frustrate her more. Charlotte smirked, proud of her trick.
“That’s a good point, Cookie. We do need to find out where Wind Song came from and this is the perfect place to do that, don’t you think? Where else would a supernatural cat come from if not from an occult shop?” Heather moved down the sidewalk as if she was trying to find Charlotte. “I know you’re around here somewhere, Charlotte.”
