A Guilty Ghost Surprised (An Indigo Eady Paranormal Cozy Mystery series) (9 page)

“All right. Anything else?” She looked at everyone but Simon.

“Indigo had lunch with D.S. O’Boyle.” Badger leaned back in his chair. He looked almost…
accusing
. Did he think I told Robbie about the investigation? I didn’t. I wouldn’t. But based on past experience, Robbie may have already figured out we were up to something. 

“Oh?” Riley checked the board. “I don’t have that on the map.”

“It was a last minute thing. I couldn’t be sure I’d have anything to report. Just a hunch, really…” I hoped no one noticed my flushing cheeks. But announcing what really prompted the impromptu visit wasn’t an option.

“And a good one, too,” added Cappy.

“How’d you do that?” asked Simon. “I thought you had classes til 2:00.”

“Yeah. I did. But I thought this was more important, so I skipped.” I stumbled over the lie. I am soo going to hell.
What a terrible liar
. My cheeks flushed even more and I avoided eye contact. Pretty soon, I wouldn’t be able to look at anybody.

Simon narrowed his eyes, but let it go.

“Well go ahead, then,” said Badger, surly.
What in the world was wrong with him?

“All right. Well, a second police car was on the road that night,” I said. “Ahead of the one Robbie traveled in. It could have been involved.” I explained the situation as Robbie explained it to me.

“So we need a peek at his employee records. What’s his name?” asked Riley.

“Michael Potter.”

“I’ll check into it.” Riley wrote the name on the board next to Robbie’s.

Simon snorted.

Riley ignored him. “So - is next Friday all right with everyone for the next meeting? Perhaps we’ll have something from forensics by then.”

We agreed and rose from our seats, anxious to escape the tension in the room.

“All right, out with it,” said Simon. We left the meeting and walked across the market square. The meeting ran late and it was nearly ten o’clock.

“What do you mean?” I squirmed. He hadn’t forgotten my earlier discomfort.

“Come on, Indigo. Who knows you best? That blush and inability to meet anyone’s eyes is a sure sign you were lying. Plus, Badger acted strangely all day. What’s going on?”

“I could ask the same of you!”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, what’s up with you and Riley always snapping at each other?”

“We don’t.”

“You do! And besides, nothing is going on,” I denied. “I skipped afternoon classes, that’s all. I knew it was wrong.” I forced myself to meet his gaze - well, more like his ear, but whatever. “I have no idea what’s wrong with Badger. He’s kind of a moody sort, isn’t he?”

He eyed me skeptically. “Yeah, he’s sort of moody. He got moody right after we saw you holding hands at Luigi’s with O’Boyle.”

“I…
I what?”
I sputtered. “I most certainly did not hold hands with Robbie. I patted his hands, I had a vision—besides, what difference does it make? What could Badger possibly care?”

“For a psychic, you’re incredibly blind, Indigo.”

“Besides, Robbie is too old for me.”

“You’re legal. Like I said. You’re incredibly blind,” Simon repeated.

Robbie was like an older brother. And could Badger possibly care for me? Could he be jealous?
I shook my head.
No way
. We’ve never even been on a date. He’s never asked me out. All of our kisses, however wonderful, had been fake, in the line of duty.

I never could keep things from Simon. I sighed. “It’s Badger. I saw him with a girl at school. She was pretty and feminine. The proverbial English rose. And everything I’m not.”

“First of all, you underestimate yourself,” said Simon. “And second, what do you mean he was with a girl? He’s not seeing anyone special.”

“They were hugging—he and giraffe-girl—he seemed to enjoy it.” I shrugged. It sounded a bit foolish now that I said it aloud.

“Wait—” he stopped, pulling me around by the upper arm “—pale, blonde and big b—”.

“Yes,” I interrupted before he could finish, “and legs up to her chin.”

He laughed. “That’s Teri Fletcher. We’ve know her our entire lives. Trust me, if any rumpy-pumpy was going on, I’d know about it. I mean, she’s totally hot and all—”

I crossed my arms over my chest.
Seriously dude, if this is you trying to make me feel better…

“—but they’re just friends.”

“Oh. Well. It’s nothing to do with me.”
Yes!
I did my best nonchalant head-wag and walked away.

Simon gaped after me. “But you—”

“Come along, dear cousin.” I glanced at the sky. “It looks like rain is on the way.”

He sighed and muttered under his breath. “Bloody daft women… bloody secret sources…”

“Simon!” A call came from the pub. Riley ran across the square. “Your cap,” she said, slightly breathless. She put it on his head and tugged down the edges.

They shared a smile.

“Cheers,” said Simon. 

“No problem,” said Riley.

I looked up at the sky to give them a moment. Clouds covered any sign of light. Misty gray fog muted the lighting in the square. Drizzle began to fall in earnest. A perfect set of conditions for paranormal happenings. The usual shiver crawled up my spine. I looked around for the source, but didn’t see anything suspicious. A plethora of Victorian spirits tumbled out of the Blind Badger, making merry as Franny might say. Other than that, only a few people mulled about. Nobody paid us the slightest bit of attention.

Still, uneasiness wrapped around me like a cloak. I tugged on Simon’s sleeve. “We’re being watched,” I whispered. “Or followed, I’m not sure.”

His gaze scanned the square. “Come on.” He took Riley and me by the elbow and guided us into the shadows. We hunkered beneath the jettied overhangs of the half-timbered buildings. Listening for any sign of attack, we waited and watched.

I looked toward the ginnel, but didn’t sense anything in particular from that direction. But glancing across the square at the market hall, a shadow lurked among the dark pillars. A shadow not of spirit, but someone living.

Crap.
Being followed meant physical danger. Our questioning made someone nervous.
A guilty someone. Or someone who knew something or someone involved.

“At the hall,” I whispered. “Not a ghost.”

“Bloody hell.
Not again.”

I echoed that sentiment. Our last stalker, Billy Radcliffe, ended up dead.

“What do we do?” asked Riley.

Simon tugged his phone from his pocket and clicked out a text. A ping came back with the reply. After responding, Simon pulled me and Riley further into the shadows and tugged us alongside the building.

“There’s no time for this.” Simon spoke low and firm.
“Just. Stay. Put.”
He sped into the shadows and vanished.

Riley and I locked gazes in the darkness. Simon disappeared so quickly we couldn’t see where he went.

“Blast him!” Riley hissed.

Dread filled my chest and sank to my stomach. “We can’t stay here.” I made a split decision. “I’ll circle around the back. You go after Simon. We’ll meet behind the market hall and...
do something
. I don’t know. Just go!”

She nodded. We raced in opposite directions.

Reaching the passage that led to the street, I sprinted as fast as I dared. The cobblestones were smooth and slippery. I careened around the next corner and skidded, but managed to stay on my feet. Through the misty fog, what looked like shadow-boxers appeared on the path ahead. They grew and receded along the corridor as I neared. Shouts reverberated off the stone walls. Panic urged me forward. Almost upon the fighting, a body lunged at me from a dim stairwell. I went down hard. “No!” I screamed, pinned to the ground. I thrashed and kicked at my assailant, finally connecting with a vulnerable spot. He gasped and released his grip. I rolled sideways and scrambled to my feet, ready to fight. He had already gotten to his feet, but bent at the waist, grasping at the hoodie to keep his face concealed.

“Who are you?” I squinted through the gloom and took a step toward him, almost close enough to see past the hood. Distant footsteps echoed in the corridor, growing louder as they neared. In the instant I glanced behind me, the guy took off.

Badger appeared out of the gloom, breathing hard. “Are you all right?” He stared at the backside of my assailant.

I nodded. “Are you? You’re bleeding…”

He wiped blood from his lip with the back of his hand. “I’m fine.”

“Where are Simon and Riley?” I asked.

“I dunno. Come on.” He gripped my hand and took off at a run.

Before we reached the next corner, a scream rent the air. Riley. We ran faster. Bursting around the corner, we careened into Simon.

“Where’s Riley?” gasped Badger.

 “She screamed. It came from down there”—he pointed toward the end of the street—“but I can’t find her.” His gestures were frantic, but he tried to keep it under control. “All right. Let’s split up,” he said. “She’s somewhere on this block. You two start here. I’ll start at the other end. We’ll work our way in.” He was already halfway down the passage before he completed the last sentence.

 “Do you think one of them has her?” I said. Riley’s disappearance filled me with new dread.

“I dunno. But we’re going to find her,” he said. “You take that side. I’ll take this one.” He turned back quickly and pointed at me. “Don’t leave my sight.”

I nodded.

We systematically worked our way up the alley. We looked up every stairwell, keeping pace with each other from opposite sides. Moving quickly from one alley and stairwell to the next, I worried about Riley. She went after Simon, and ended up…where? Every once in awhile I spotted Simon dart from one side of the alley to the other. We nearly reached the end of the block, when I looked up a dimly lit stairwell, when at the top I witnessed a couple locked in as passionate a kiss as I’d ever seen. Simon and Riley.

“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat and they broke apart. I glanced back over my shoulder, then back at them. “Do you two have a death wish or what?” I hissed.

Badger would not be pleased. Nope, not pleased at all. Simon was definitely not good boyfriend material for his little sister. Of course, he didn’t understand that Simon really cared for Riley.

“Badger!” I yelled over my shoulder. “She’s here. Simon found her.” They came down the stairs.

Badger ran across the alley. “Are you all right? What happened?”

“I’m fine. Just a little shaken is all,” said Riley. “You two took off. I waited for Indigo, but then this bloke came toward me. I got scared and screamed.” She laughed nervously. “I think he was more scared than me. We ran in opposite directions.” She looked around at the lifting mist. “I found myself alone, so I hid. Up there.” She indicated the stairwell. 

“Why didn’t you stay put like I told you to?” Simon glared first at Riley, then me.

“Like you told us to?” Riley’s hands went to her hips. “Who do you think you are? You’ve no right to…”

“Never mind that,” I said. “Did anyone get a good look at any of those guys?”

We shared glances, but nobody spoke up. That little fiasco got us exactly nowhere.

Chapter Nine

Frankincense Monster

We headed home after Badger gave Riley and me a dressing down for not listening to Simon.
You not only went chasing bad guys, but you split up and put yourselves in danger, blah, blah, blah.
That’s about all I heard.

On the way home, Simon tried to convince me the kiss I witnessed wasn’t what it seemed. Riley had been scared. Simon was handy. That was all.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Although you pointed out recently how blind I could be, the fact is that I’m not blind. I know what I saw. I know what I sense when I’m around you two.”

He opened his mouth to argue…

I waved my hand in front of his face. “Hello? Remember me? I’m the psychic you live with? Don’t even bother denying it. There’s something between you.”

“All right. Maybe there is.” He relented a little. “But this really is different. It happened once and it won’t happen again.”

“I hope not, Simon. Badger - he wouldn’t be pleased. I’d hate for there to be a rift between you.”

“I get it, Indigo. I’m not good enough for her.” His lips firmed into a thin line.

“That’s not it at all,” I said, “and you know it. Badger sees you flirting with every girl in sight and he doesn’t want Riley to be just another one of your girls.”

He heaved a big sigh, annoyed. “She isn’t just another girl.”

We let ourselves in through the back kitchen door. Uncle Richard sat at the table eating leftover roast beef and potatoes. As a rule, he left early in the morning and arrived home late from his job as a solicitor. Eating leftover dinner at this time of night was the norm.

His smile only reached as high as his cheek bones. Blond-haired and blue-eyed like my dad, they were identical twins. But that’s all they shared, like matching bookends with every genre of books in between.