A Ghost to Die For (3 page)

“I will. I will play it off as a coincidence.” I cringed inside as I said those words. Coincidences, just the right timing and lots of luck followed Alex Blackthorne, as if by magic.

Chapter 5

Alex and I joined Rosario at a table in the hotel’s courtyard dining area. I had hoped to surprise her, but she saw us entering and she stood up to greet me.

“Shannon, I had no idea you were coming to breakfast. This is a wonderful surprise.” My favorite nun, dressed in casual business clothes, as the to-be-reckoned-with business executive she is, could be downright hennish when it came to coddling her favorite people. And I was one of those people who was high on Rosario Santiago’s coddle list. She gave me a hug and insisted I sit close to her. Alex took the chair across from us.

He chuckled. “The two of you are a formidable pair, what with Rosario’s impeccable business savvy and Shannon’s uncanny intelligence to sniff out the truth in any given situation. I pity the person who would be foolish enough to stand in your way. The two of you acting together, that would be a no-prisoners-taken operation.”

Rosario blushed and I just rolled my eyes at Alex. He was trying too hard to impress, and this was not like him. It made me wonder what he was up to, what he might have up his sleeve.

“Really, Alex?” And then I said to Rosario, “I’m hungry, let’s order and then I’ll tell you what I’ve been up to this morning.” No sooner said than done because our waiter had kept a very close eye on our table. One little raised-eyebrow gesture from Rosario and he was at our side. I kept it simple, a short stack of buttermilk pancakes and orange juice. Alex and Rosario were far more robust eaters when it came to breakfast; they each ordered omelets with toast and a side of seasonal fruit.

“So, Rosario, I was just returning to my car, parked across from this hotel and Alex saw me. I’d just finished a meeting with the curator of the new museum here in the Gaslamp Quarter. It’s called The Museum of Mystery and it is just up the block and around the corner from here. I’m writing the brochure for it.”

“Ooh, this sounds exciting. I heard that there is a gala party this weekend and that only a very select few are invited. And there’s supposed to be some big reveal. Do you know what it is?”

“No, I’ll have to wait. I’ll attend the party. I do know it has to do with a display in the room dedicated to local mysteries.”

Without blinking an eye, Rosario dismissed my attention and zeroed in on Alex. “Alex, you must have an idea what this mysterious museum display is.”

Alex was in mid-sip of his coffee. He hesitated, all too aware he was now the bull’s-eye on Rosario’s target. He set aside his coffee and tried to deflect her query. “I’ve heard a little about it, something to do with an imported machine, of some type or another.”

“A machine, and it was imported? From where? How long ago?” Rosario was on a roll.

Alex sighed and feigned a hurt look. “Rosario, you are not playing fair. You know I’m a consultant for the museum’s board. Of course I know what the mysterious display is, but I also know I refuse to risk my association with the museum by letting you, or even Shannon, know before the unveiling this Friday evening.”

“Well,” Rosario said with a little grimace. “As if a nun is not a reliable confidant.” She turned away from Alex and said to me. “I’ll leave it to you to tell me about all the fascinating details at the unveiling. You are such a good observer, I know I can trust you to tell me everything.”

I could not help but to pass a secret smile at Alex. “Rosario, of course I will. Saturday morning, if you’re not busy and if you are, I can help out. Anyway, let’s have a good old-fashioned girl gossip over breakfast.” This is perfect, I thought to myself. On Rosario’s birthday morning I can surprise her and I’ve set it up in a way she will never guess my intentions.

“Yes, let’s plan on it. It will be reminiscent of the times your mother and I used to share. I appreciate it, dear.”

“Okay, sounds good to me,” Alex chimed in. “Let’s me off the hook, for now.”

“Hmm, yes for now you are back in my good graces.” Rosario was never shy about teasing Alex. “Though, you have Blackthorne Bed and Breakfast Inn to thank for that. After all, if Shannon did not live there and I was not the Innkeeper of it, then I’d have to prod you into service, to make sure Shannon and I could meet for breakfast in complete privacy, just like old times, when her dearly departed mother was my best friend.” Rosario smiled brightly, pleased with reminding Alex of her contribution to his B&B.

“Uh, yes, I concede, you have made the inn venture a rousing success, but I doubt that I’m the only investor pleased with it. Your parish receives the bounty of the income, remember, I chose to receive a mere two percent of the income, just to keep my involvement active.”

“Oh phooey, Alex, you know darn well that turning that rambling Victorian mansion into an inn is the best thing you’ve done with it. You never enjoyed living there, much, anyway,” Rosario was quick to say.

“So true. And I’m thankful for how the venture has turned out, which just happens to remind me, your birthday is near and I have a small gift for you.” Alex reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a large envelope and presented it to Rosario.

Rosario opened the envelope and took out its contents. Her look was of shock, and then she said in a hushed awe, “Cruise tickets for two, to Acapulco. Alex, this is too extravagant. I cannot accept.”

“Of course you can. I’ve already cleared it with your parish, they are happy for you to take vacation. And this time of year, early November, is ideal for a vacation to Acapulco. Also, so you will not fret, I’m moving in to the inn for the duration of your vacation time and I will handle the administration of it. Besides, Rosario, you’ve said yourself that the first half of November is never busy.” Then he reached over and took Rosario’s hand in an endearing gesture and he said to her, “You deserve it Rosario. And as a vested partner in the inn, I will not accept a refusal from you. I insist.”

She blushed, “Alex, this is so kind of you. I’ll phone my sister immediately, I know she’ll love being my guest for this cruise.”

Rosario wasn’t kidding when she said she would phone her sister immediately. She pulled out her cell phone and excused herself from the table. She walked out to the entry hall to make a phone call. I said to Alex, “That was sweet of you. I’m happy for her. And two tickets, that is so perfect. When does she leave?”

“This Friday morning. I’ll be at the inn bright and early to move a few of my things in and then I’ll take her and her sister to the port.”

“Where in the inn are you staying?”

“Oh, I’ll take my old bedroom, the one I had as a child.”

“That’s on the second floor, right across the stairway from my room, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s not a problem is it? I mean, it’s not as if I’ll be there to spy on you, or intervene on your life.”

I gazed into Alex’s eyes and noticed, once again, how very twin like he is to his ancestor uncle, Eric Blackthorne. The two men had the same handsome face with dark hair and eyes. So often I had confused the two, Alex, the living Blackthorne and contemporary magician and Eric, the Victorian magician, the original owner of the mansion and the present-day ghost. “No, it is not a problem.” I smiled, hoping with all my heart, it would not be a problem. I had never seen the two together, at the same time in the same place. Just maybe, now, I would. And if it did happen, would it be problematic, or not? I’ve always wondered if Eric needed some sort of life energy from Alex in order to manifest.

Rosario returned. Her joy infused the ambiance and chased away my doubts. “I must go. Shannon, Alex will see you out. I’m sorry dear, but I need to shop for a few things before leaving on Friday. Oh, and our hen chat will have to wait. We’ll sit down and have a good old-fashioned gossip on my return. Bye, now.” Rosario fluttered off.

I laughed and then said, “It is good to see Rosario acting like a woman instead of a military general.”

Alex nodded in agreement and then asked, “Shannon, will you be my date for the Friday party at the museum?”

I had anticipated Alex’s question. “Only if you give me a really good hint as to what to expect of the mysterious display.”

“Cleopatra.”

I raised my eyebrows in questioning his hint. “Really, and how would Cleopatra, the queen of ancient Egypt, have anything to do with local history in San Diego?”

Alex stood up and placed his napkin on the table and noticing that my plate was as empty as his, said, “It will be your good fortune to find out on Friday evening.” He winked and then politely pulled out my chair. Alex placed a tip on the table and he paid the tab on the way out. We exited the restaurant and crossed the street to our cars.

I unlocked my car and before getting in, I turned to Alex and asked. “What you just said, it was a cryptic hint, right? And the clue is the word
fortune
?”

Alex leaned toward me and whispered into my ear, “I’ll see you on Friday morning.”

Chapter 6

I had only the remainder of today and tomorrow to buy a birthday gift for Rosario. Not wanting to leave to tomorrow what I could do today, I stopped by the boutique called Silk Expressions in Seaport Village. They had exactly the perfect gift for her, I bought a midnight blue silk scarf that had her first name initial embroidered in silver in one corner. I knew she would find the scarf useful on the cruise, since the time outside on deck could be blustery. The clerk wrapped it up very prettily and I was on my way, with one more stop, to put in an order for pizza at my favorite restaurant in Little Italy. When I first came to San Diego it took me about a month to find an old-fashioned pizzeria, the kind of cozy restaurant that I was accustomed to in Chicago.

Filippi’s Pizza Grotto on India Street filled my checkoff list perfectly. The place had been in San Diego since 1950, and has remained family owned and operated to this day. When I stepped over the threshold into the cafe, it was as if I was back in Chicago. Tables were laid out with traditional red-checked tablecloths and overhead, the ceiling was decorated with rows of Chianti bottles strung on wires. I parked on the street and dashed in to place a pizza order for this evening. I ordered a large cheese pizza with pepperoni on half of it, just in case Rosario would be home for dinner, and if not, then I could always munch on the rest of the pizza the next day.

I drove up and into the driveway at Blackthorne House B&B, parked in the back and went in through the kitchen. The place was empty. Good thing, because I was hoping to make contact with Eric.

After stashing Rosario’s gift in my bedroom and setting my purse and portfolio on my bed, I went back down stairs to the front parlor and stood facing the large oak and glass-front curio cabinet that had a few of Eric Blackthorne’s personal items on display. I closed my eyes and whispered his name.

“As you wish,” he whispered in my ear.

I turned to face Eric; he stood easily within arm’s reach. “Borrowing from Alex’s wardrobe closet, again?” I teased. When Eric dressed in Alex’s clothes, the two men were nearly identical. Eric’s hair was a tad longer and his neatly trimmed sideburns reached the bottom of his earlobes. Alex kept his sideburns shorter, about mid-ear. But the blackish dark hair, leading-man features and dark expressive eyes were the same and both Blackthorne men shared characteristically Scottish features of a strong chin and jaw line. Also, as soon as Eric spoke, it was a dead giveaway, because his strong Scottish burr was a stark contrast to Alex’s acquired California accent that was occasionally laced with a light burr. Though, the timber and tone of their voices were the same.

Looking into Eric’s eyes, it occurred to me that Eric died at the age of thirty and Alex was approaching his thirtieth birthday, this made me wonder if Alex would continue to resemble Eric as he grew older. And if Alex did, how would I ever know, not having an older Eric to compare Alex to. Hmm, a thought to ponder on a day when I had more time.

Eric had been studying me, as I had him. He smiled. “Yes, and Alex does not mind. I do have a penchant for this blue sweater that you gave him for his birthday. I have surrendered my objection to wearing these gold-rush trousers. They are quite durable and after one is accustomed to the heavy fabric, quite comfortable, as well. Though, in my day, I’d not be caught dead in them. My, how men’s apparel styles have changed.”

“They’re called jeans, Eric. And some men would die to have the fit you have in them, so no complaints on my part, nor should you complain. Please, let’s sit down, no one will be here for at least an hour. And I want to pick your brain, if you will allow me to?”

We sat on the large tapestry covered divan, on the opposite side of the room from the window, where this divan’s twin was. The last thing I needed was for a passerby to look up at the window and see me talking and gesturing to myself. “Eric, do you remember a young woman named Andalyn Dixon?”

He closed his eyes momentarily and upon opening them said, “I recall a young lady with coppery auburn hair, not unlike yours, Shannon. Seems to me she was a fashion model and I believe she was involved with high society.” Then he cupped my chin in his hand and said, “If I recollect correctly, you have a remarkable resemblance to Andalyn Dixon. Though I believe her eyes were dark blue, not nearly as expressive as your sparkling emerald green eyes. And her hair was long, down to her waist, such was the style then.”