by Rose Pressey
“Just keep talking with her and you’ll eventually be able to meet her,” Minnie said.
I hadn’t been sure Minnie had even been listening. She’d been too busy walking back and forth.
“Yes, but how long will that take?” I asked around a sigh.
“I suppose that depends on how charming you are,” Charlotte said with a click of her tongue. “Which means it could take a while.”
I narrowed my eyes. “This is just all wrong. I shouldn’t have done this.”
“I tried to warn you that it was a bad idea,” Minnie said. “However, you didn’t listen to me.”
“You’ve already started it now. No need to stop,” Charlotte said with a wave of her hand. “It’s not like you to give up.”
No, I didn’t usually give up, but this was one time I was seriously considering it. Shanna was asking a lot of questions. I didn’t know if that was because she was interested in learning more about my fake persona or if she was suspicious. Whatever the reason, it was making me even more anxious. I spotted a customer headed for the entrance and stashed my phone in my pocket as if the person would realize what I’d been doing.
“You would make a terrible criminal,” Charlotte said.
“That’s a good thing,” I whispered.
When the woman entered the shop, I smiled at her and said, “Welcome to It’s Vintage Y’all.”
I hoped I didn’t sound suspicious. Charlotte walked away, shaking her head. Minnie followed her. The cats dashed toward the window. They didn’t want to hang around strangers. The woman frowned when she spotted the cats dashing around the room. How would she have reacted if she’d seen the ghosts? The middle-aged brunette scanned the room. She was probably looking for more animals.
“May I help you find anything?” I asked.
“I’m just looking. Thank you.” The woman headed toward a rack of dresses.
My phone alerted me to another message. Charlotte and Minnie heard the sound too. They rushed over.
“Well, what does it say?” Charlotte waved for me to check the phone.
“Yes, you can’t keep us waiting,” Minnie said.
“Don’t worry about the customer right now,” Charlotte said.
I had to worry about the customer. It was my job to help the customers. Without them I would be out of business. Charlotte knew that. She was just getting too wrapped up in the moment.
“It’s from Shanna,” I whispered so the customer wouldn’t hear me.
“Good. Keep talking to her until you convince her to see you,” Charlotte said.
“Again that sounds like a serial killer.” I typed into my phone.
The customer looked my way and frowned. Oops. She must have heard me say “serial killer.” That was awkward. A guaranteed way to lose a customer was to mention a lunatic murderer. Especially after there had just been a murder in town. Had the woman heard about the murder? I assumed she must be a tourist. Minnie walked from around the counter and over to the woman who was now sifting through a rack of dresses.
“What is she doing?” Charlotte asked.
I don’t know, I mouthed.
Minnie had never paid much attention to the customers. Now she was standing close to the woman, studying her face.
“I’ll take care of this,” Charlotte said. “She’s still a confused newbie ghost.”
Charlotte moved over to Minnie. She reached out for Minnie and I was surprised to see that they could actually touch each other. If I tried to touch Charlotte my hand would pass right through her. Charlotte guided her back over to me.
“What was that all about?” I asked when they returned.
“That woman looks so familiar,” Minnie said.
“So you thought by staring at her up close you would figure out who she is?” Charlotte placed her hands on her hips.
“Yes, I suppose I did.” Minnie looked down at her shoes.
“So who is she?” I asked while watching the woman.
The customer had moved closer to the door now. She probably wanted to make her escape from the weird vintage clothing shopkeeper.
Minnie tossed her hands up. “I have no idea.”
“She probably just looks like someone you used to know,” Charlotte said.
The customer exited the shop without looking back at me.
“Have a nice day,” I called in her wake.
Undoubtedly she never even heard my words.
“Did I chase away the customer?” Minnie frowned.
“No, she was probably just browsing,” I said.
Or the customer heard me talking to myself. That was likely the reason. Another message came from Shanna.
“She is a little clingy, no?” Charlotte said, looking over my shoulder.
“There is something odd about her,” I agreed.
Chapter 12
Charlotte’s Tips for a Fabulous Afterlife
Be prepared to help the living a lot. They need it.
I had set up a meeting with Shanna for the next day. The fact that she was so eager to meet a stranger made me uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I wanted to speak with her. I’d already made a plan for talking with her. Of course, she thought she was meeting a man at the diner. Charlotte had suggested I dress up as a man. I had to draw the line at that. My plan seemed much easier. I’d be there and start a casual conversation with Shanna. She’d think the guy had stood her up, and that would give me the opportunity to question her. Of course there was always the chance that she wouldn’t speak with me.
I’d spent all morning at work worrying over this meeting. Now it was close to lunchtime and I headed toward the diner. The ghosts walked along beside me. Minnie always had a spring in her step, as if she was skipping through a field of wildflowers. Whereas Charlotte always looked as if she was walking the runway. Downtown was busy with people filling the sidewalks and cars buzzing up and down the main street. The ghosts and I stepped into the diner and I looked around for Shanna. So far, I didn’t see anyone that looked like the photo.
Dixie walked over to me. “Good afternoon, Cookie, are you placing a to-go order or eating in?”
I was still distracted by scanning the room for Shanna. “I’ll be eating here today.”
“Oh, this is a real treat. Twice in just a few days you’re eating in. Sit wherever you’d like, sugar. There’s an available booth up at the front. Or I can clean the table back there off for you. I know you like to sit at the back so you can watch everything at the front.”
“The one here at the front is fine.” I managed to cast a glance at her and smile, even though I couldn’t take my eyes off the door.
I took a seat at the booth toward the front of the diner so that if Shanna entered I wouldn’t miss her. I could talk to her right away. The ghosts sat across from me. They helped me look around the room for Shanna.
“Do you see her?” I whispered.
Charlotte pointed. “That woman over there appears as if she is looking for someone. It kind of looks like the picture, but not exactly.”
I peeked over my shoulder at the woman in the booth behind me. Just as Charlotte had said, it looked as if she was watching for someone, but there was something different about her from the photo I’d seen of Shanna.
Dixie came over to take my order. “The usual, honey?”
“I’ll just have a salad and water,” I said.
“You seem preoccupied. Is everything okay?” Dixie asked.
“Is there anyone here who is waiting on someone else before they order?” I asked.
Dixie gestured toward the booth behind me. “That woman said she’s waiting on a blind date. She seems nervous too, poor thing.”
That had to be Shanna.
“I’ll go get your salad,” Dixie said as she walked away.
“That is definitely not the same woman in the picture. Why does she have a different photo in the profile?” Charlotte asked. “Something seems fishy about this.”
“Maybe she doesn’t think she’s pretty and
used someone else’s photo,” I said.
“She’s an attractive woman and the photo is similar, so that can’t be it,” Charlotte said with a raised eyebrow. “I say we get to the bottom of this right away.”
“She’s tricking you just like you tricked her,” Minnie said.
“Cookie had a reason to do it. I want to know what her reason is.” Charlotte didn’t take her stare off Shanna.
“Maybe I should switch to the other side of the booth so that we are looking at each other. We’ll make contact and be able to start a conversation,” I said.
“Whatever you think,” Charlotte said. “She might think it’s strange that you switch seats just to stare at her.”
“I won’t stare,” I whispered.
I used everything I could think of to hide when I talked to the ghosts. My phone to my ear, a napkin over my mouth, a menu over my face. If people saw me talking to myself they’d call the nearest psych ward.
The ghosts stood and I slipped to the other side of the table. Now that I sat across from her, I had a direct view of the woman. She tapped her fingers against the table. Her gaze was focused on the door. What would I say? How would I start a conversation?
Dixie brought over my salad. “Do you need anything else, Cookie?”
“I’m good,” I said with a smile.
“I’ll be back to talk with you in a bit. As you can see it’s crazy busy right now.” Dixie gestured around the room.
That was fine with me, because I didn’t want to miss the woman if she got up and left. Shanna or whatever her name was. If she’d added a fake photo that certainly meant it was possible that her name wasn’t really Shanna. I nibbled on my salad while I watched her.
“You’re being kind of stalkerish,” Charlotte said, snapping me back to attention.
I realized that my staring was a bit strange, but it was as if I couldn’t take my eyes off her for a second. I knew the minute I did she would get up and leave. The woman must have felt my stare because she finally looked at me.
I smiled and said, “How are you?”
Charlotte groaned. “That’s even creepier. I’ve seen guys in bars less creepy.”
Charlotte was not helping. I wasn’t good at this so she should cut me some slack.
“Fine,” Shanna said with a snippy tone.
“She doesn’t seem happy,” Minnie said.
“Are you waiting on someone? You seem nervous.” I tried to sound as friendly as possible. It was coming off weird no matter how nice I tried to be to her.
“You’re digging a deeper hole,” Charlotte said.
“And soon she will fall in,” Minnie added.
She eyed me. “This guy was supposed to meet me.”
“He’s late?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I guess he’s not showing up.”
“Yes, guys are the worst,” I said.
Charlotte said, “That’s good. Bond with her over how sleazy men can be. She’ll be more comfortable talking to you.”
“What time was he supposed to meet you?” I asked.
She looked at her watch. “Just a few minutes ago.”
“Oh well, there’s still time for him to show up, I guess.”
“You’re just being evil now. You know good and well he isn’t showing up.” Charlotte laughed. “I like it.”
“I suppose,” Shanna said around a sigh.
“I’ve had terrible luck with dating,” I said. “So who set you up on this blind date? A friend?”
I munched on my salad so that it would seem as if I wasn’t entirely clinging on to her every word. Casually I looked at her again.
Shanna studied my face again. “Actually, we met on a dating app.”
“Oh, that’s interesting. Have you met many men that way?” I asked.
“Now you’re back to sounding creepy,” Charlotte warned.
Shanna’s right eyebrow shot up. “A couple, I guess.”
“See, she is suspicious.” Charlotte pointed.
I couldn’t see how asking if she’d used the app before would set off a red flag. No matter what Charlotte said, I was pushing forward with my questions.
“What happened with those dates?” I asked.
“I suppose they weren’t good matches.” Shanna focused her attention on the door again.
Did she even know what had happened to Tyler? Since she was supposed to be a stranger to me, it would be almost impossible to insert that information into the conversation.
“So what’s this guy like? The one you’re supposed to meet?” I asked, placing the fork full of lettuce in my mouth.
“He seemed nice,” she said. “Though a little pushy.”
Charlotte laughed. She was the one who had told me to ask more questions. If anyone was pushy it was Charlotte, not me. Or Cash to Shanna.
“He was probably just nervous,” I said.
“Now you’re defending yourself.” Charlotte’s laughter increased.
“Oh well, with a name like Cash I should have known he would be trouble. It’s probably for the best,” Shanna said with a wave of her hand.
Hey, I thought it was a good name. Minnie joined in Charlotte’s merriment. I was so happy they were having a good time at my expense. I meant that in the most sarcastic way.
“What about the guy you talked to before that?” I pushed the conversation away from Cash.
“Oh, subtle,” Charlotte said.
“She is talking though,” Minnie said. “You have to give Cookie credit for starting a conversation.”
Minnie was much better at handing out compliments than Charlotte. Plus, at least Charlotte and Minnie had mostly stopped laughing at me now. So much for moral support from those two. Next time, I would make them wait outside for me. Though I wasn’t sure how I would force them to do that.
Shanna stared at me again. “He died.”
“Wow, I hadn’t expected her to have such a cold expression when she said that.” Charlotte rubbed her arms. “Gave me the chills. And I’m a ghost!”
“That sent a shiver down my spine,” Minnie said.
I tried to act surprised. Actually, it wasn’t hard because, like Charlotte said, Shanna’s expression had shocked me too. I hadn’t expected Shanna to be so matter-of-fact about what happened to Tyler.
After a couple seconds I got up enough nerve to ask, “What happened to him? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Apparently, he was murdered,” Shanna said.
“Yes, I remember hearing about that. Do they have any idea who did it?” I asked.
Charlotte chuckled. “If she finds out who you are she’ll let you have it.”
“I hope she never finds out,” Minnie said.
How would she find out? Charlotte and Minnie were just being paranoid.
“They might suspect me.” Shanna casually took a sip of water.
She acted as if we were discussing the weather. I almost choked on a piece of lettuce.
“Chew before swallowing, Cookie,” Charlotte said.
“Are you all right, Cookie?” Minnie asked.
“Sorry, did that scare you?” Shanna’s voice had even changed tone.
She sounded more menacing. Maybe she was just trying to mess with me. Yes, that had to be it. She probably thought I was nosy and would have a little fun at my expense.
After a couple seconds I managed to compose myself. “Why would they suspect you? Had you met him?”
Had I just given away that I knew too much? Now I was being paranoid. It was a perfectly normal question to ask, I reminded myself.
Nonetheless, Shanna raised an eyebrow, but ultimately answered, “We were supposed to meet on the day he was murdered. Wouldn’t that make me a suspect?”
Did she want me to answer truthfully? To be honest, it probably did make her a suspect. Anyone with contact with him would be a suspect. I had contact with him. Did that make me a suspect?
Shanna stood up from the table. Had I made her upset? Where was she going?
“He’s not coming. I’m out of here.” She rushed toward the door.
“Are you going to let her get away?” Charlotte asked.
“You have to stop her,” Minnie added.
“I can’t stop her,” I said, holding the napkin to my mouth. “That would be too weird.”
Just as she was going out she bumped into someone. Shanna didn’t glance up at Dylan as she rushed out of the diner.
“Uh-oh. Now you’re really in trouble,” Charlotte said.
“Why am I in trouble? He doesn’t know Shanna,” I said into my napkin so no one would notice me talking.
“He’s a detective. He knows a lot of things,” Charlotte said with a click of her tongue.
“That’s true. He’s smart,” Minnie added to the conversation.
Shanna made eye contact with Dylan. For a brief bit she was frozen. After a couple seconds she dashed out of the diner. Dylan watched Shanna before focusing on the diner again. Within seconds he spotted me. He smiled as he walked over and slid into the booth across from me. Charlotte and Minnie scrambled to get out of his way.
“If I’ll let anyone have my spot, then it’s Dylan,” Charlotte said.
Charlotte and Minnie stood next to the table so that they could hear the conversation.
“I thought I might find you here,” Dylan said.
“Yes, she is predictable,” Charlotte said.
“I thought I’d stop for lunch,” I said with a smile.
Did I sound suspicious? I never knew if I was hiding it. I hoped Dylan didn’t know Shanna. After all, I had given him Tyler’s phone. He had watched her as if he might have known her. I should tell him the truth. If I didn’t then I’d be interfering with his work, right? Though he wanted me to stay out of it. I was torn and didn’t know what to do.
“That sounds like a good idea. I’m starving,” Dylan said.
“Does his voice sound suspicious?” Charlotte asked. “I think he knows you were up to something other than lunch.”
“Yes, I picked up on that as well,” Minnie said.
Now they were making me even more anxious. I needed the ghosts to be quiet so that I could think of what to say if Dylan asked questions about Shanna. With Charlotte and Minnie that was unlikely to happen.
