Ghostly Liaison (37 page)

“It’s the only way I know to make the pain go away. It’s all my fault she’s dead.”

Damn Charlie. Did she have to be right about everything? “Why do you think that?”

“I took her van because I was being petty. And now she’s gone because I didn’t get my way. Please come over and talk. I only want to talk. I need help remembering her.”

“I want to talk, too, but not while you’re drunk. When are you at the hospital next?”

“I’m not working. I’ve been told to take some time.”

And he spent his time with a bottle. “How about I come over tomorrow?”

“You promise?”

“If you’re sober, I promise.”

More weeping. “Thank you, Bridget. I’ll be sober. I won’t drink any more tonight. What time?”

“I’ll call you around ten, okay? We can pick a time then.”

He thanked her some more between sobs. She felt as small as an ant. Maybe if she hadn’t ignored him all this time, he would have moved on by now.

She’d tossed her cell into the backpack when Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” played. The music came from her pack. She opened it and her phone lit the interior. The display read LOVER BOY. What the heck? She pushed the answer button. “Hello?”

“Hey, where are you?” Rob asked.

“Did you mess with my phone?”

“Mess with it how?”

No. He wouldn’t do that to her. Charlie on the other hand… “Never mind. I’m on my way to the hospital. Do you need something?”

“I need you, but that’s not why I’m calling. The nurse came back and took me for another walk. As unmanly as this sounds, I just want to go to sleep. So… I’m giving you an out. If you want it.”

“Are you saying watching you sleep isn’t entertaining?”

“I don’t know. Never had anyone watch me before. Well, except for my mother. But then I was little and I don’t remember. I missed you when I woke up. Where did you go?”

As badly as she wanted to say, she kept quiet. She would tell him in person. “Just had an errand to run. Sorry it took so long. I’ll see you bright and early in the morning. I believe they serve you breakfast around six. I’ll join you then.”

“Six! But it’ll be Sunday. Don’t they let you sleep in?”

She laughed. “You’ll be lucky they don’t wake you up several times during the night. Do you want me to bring you something special?”

“Honey, the only thing special I want is you. Damn. I’m getting hard just thinking about you. I think I’m addicted.”

“Do you need me to come over and relieve you?”

“Ah, hell. As wonderful as that sounds, I’m sure I’ll be out before you get here. I love you, Bridget. Sleep well. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Love you back. Good night.” She disconnected the call.

A pain radiated from behind her eyes. The pounding headache had left after losing contact with Peter, but the everyday variety remained. And when she got home, the pounding one would return. There would also be a ghost with some pain of her own, once Bridget was done with her. How dare Charlie mess with her phone?

Someone knocking at the door woke Bridget out of a dream. Darn it, sucker had been a good one, too—Rob starred in it.

“Hey, wake up. Mr. Murdock is here,” Charlie said as she shook Bridget’s leg.

Mr. Murdock? Why the heck would he be up so early? She opened her eyes. Sunlight filtered through the bedroom windows. “What time is it?”

“Eight-fifteen.”

“Eight-fifteen! Hell’s bells! I was supposed to meet Rob at six.” Bridget sat up and grabbed her cell. Dead. Shoot. How many times had he called?

“I tried waking you earlier, especially after your alarm went off, but you mumbled something unintelligible and smacked me.” Charlie rubbed her arm as if Bridget had just hit her.

The knocking became rapid, insistent. She grabbed her robe and headed for the living room. “I’m coming. Hold on.”

Bridget opened the door to a relieved-looking Henry. He placed his hand over his heart. “Thank goodness you’re okay. Rob was afraid something had happened to you and he called me to check. And then when you didn’t answer, I thought maybe he had a reason to be concerned. You are okay, aren’t you?”

“Come on in.” She closed the door behind Henry. “I overslept and my phone died.” Poor Rob. She’d make it up to him in the best possible way.

“Well, you might want to call him. He was rather frantic.”

She lifted her backpack, then lowered it, remembering. Crap. “My charger is at work. Can you call him and tell him I’m fine? I’ll be leaving soon.” She’d pick up the charger on the way and charge the phone at the hospital.

“Sure thing. I’m glad he’s doing well. At least he sounded pretty good, besides sounding worried, that is.”

“He should be released today.” She escorted Henry back to the door. “Tell him I’m sorry to have worried him. I guess I was more tired than I thought.”

He patted her hand. “You wouldn’t be the first person to oversleep. Let me get out of your hair so you can get ready.” He reached for the door handle. “Oh, before I forget, I want to tell you about my conversation with Becky.”

“Becky?”

“Mrs. Johnson.” Henry’s eyes got a little dreamy when he spoke her name. Could he have a crush on the woman?

“Why don’t you go call Rob first and then come back and tell me? By then I’ll be dressed and ready to go.”

“You’re right. I’ll be right back.”

The door hadn’t been closed one minute when Charlie reappeared. “Mr. Murdock and Mrs. Johnson? Who’d have thunk?”

Bridget went into the kitchen and prepared a pot of coffee. “I think it’s cute he’s found someone. Which reminds me.” She turned and faced Charlie. “Lover boy? Really?”

“Hee hee.” Charlie laughed. “Serves you right for not putting Rob in your address book. In fact, you don’t have anyone in there. That’s just not normal.”

“I don’t need the names to know who’s calling. Once I see their number, I remember it.”

“Must be nice. I had problems remembering my Social Security number. Guess that’s not a problem anymore, huh?”

Bridget rushed to the bedroom and pulled out her clothes while Charlie hovered by the door. “Are you staying to watch?”

Charlie stuck out her tongue and vanished. Once Bridget finished dressing, she found the house empty. Enjoying the rare solitude, she pulled a mug from the cabinet and was pouring coffee when someone knocked at the door.

“Come on in, Henry. It’s open.”

He popped his head around the corner. “Do you think it’s wise you leave the door unlocked? You can never be too careful anymore.”

Shit. She hadn’t given it much thought, not since a certain ghost always warned her. Unless said ghost was engrossed in TV or just not around. Like now. Dang it. Maybe she should have told Charlie to stick around.

“You’re right. I’ll make sure to lock it from now on.” She held the carafe up and tilted in offering. “Would you like some?”

“No, thanks. I’ve had my caffeine for the day.” He sat at the table.

“What did you find out from Mrs. Johnson?” Bridget carried her mug and took a seat next to Henry.

“Before I forget, Rob says hi and he’s glad you’re okay. He’d also like you to swing by his place and get him a change of clothes.”

“I feel bad I worried him for no reason.” Yeah, she was definitely making up for that.

“Anyway, back to Becky. I convinced her to go walking with me on a regular basis. All this time I think she was looking for an invitation. So I also asked her to join me at the senior center and she said she’d go.”

Okay, if she didn’t reel him in, he could go on forever and she had a man at the hospital waiting for her. “That’s nice. But did she see anyone around the house?”

“Yes, she did. But it wasn’t Carl.”

“How do you know? I didn’t give you his picture to show her.”

“Because it was a woman.”

Well, crap.

“She was young, brunette, and dressed like a lawyer—Becky’s term, not mine—but no one who lives around here. And she would know.”

The description matched Tori, but Tori loved Barnaby, so it must be someone else. Probably someone Carl knew or paid. The creep.

“I know it’s not the news you were hoping for. If you want, I can take his picture and ask around for you. But Becky was probably your best bet. She’s got an eagle eye. Plus, she’s kind of nosy.”

“And you like her.”

Henry actually blushed. “I guess I do at that. Which reminds me.” He glanced at his watch and then stood. “Whew! Thought maybe I was late.”

She stood with him. “Late for what?”

“Breakfast at Becky’s.”

Seemed as if Charlie’s baseball games were numbered because Henry might not be home much anymore. “Have fun. And thanks again for all your help.”

“My pleasure. See you later.”

As he left, she went back into the kitchen and rinsed her mug. Still no sign of Charlie. Well, she didn’t need the headache anyway, except… Wait a minute. She hadn’t had a headache this morning. Why was that? Too busy thinking about Rob to care? Whatever. It was a gift and she wouldn’t complain.

She’d filled a travel mug for the road and turned off the coffeepot when someone knocked on the front door. She placed the mug beside her backpack. A pair of sunglasses sat on the table. Henry must have left them. After snatching them, she rushed to the door and opened it. “Did you forget these….”

The words died on her lips and the moisture in her mouth was sucked dry.

Carl stood on the porch.

* * * *

Rob checked his watch for the fifth time. A whole five minutes had passed since the first time he looked. Why the hell had he told Henry to have Bridget stop home? He needed to see her, feel her, know she was truly okay.

“Hey. You up for a visitor?” Dean Parker poked his head around the door frame.

Rob had no idea why his former investigator visited, but was grateful for the distraction. “Am I ever. What are you doing here? You got nothing better to do on a Sunday morning?”

“I was in the neighborhood.” Dean scanned the room and sat in the chair beside the bed.

“How’d you know I was here?”

“Bridget told me. How are you feeling?”

“A lot better.” His trip to the bathroom, while slow, was not near as exhausting. “But when did you talk to Bridget?”

“She didn’t tell you about our meeting last night?”

That was her errand? How come she didn’t say? “No. What did she come see you for?”

“She told me everything, hoping it would make a difference.”

“Everything?” What the hell?

Dean patted Rob’s leg. “Don’t worry. I don’t think your girlfriend is crazy.” He leaned in closer and whispered, “It just so happens I have the same ability as her.”

“What?”

“Yeah. Who’d have figured, huh? So where is she?”

“She overslept.” Rob explained what Henry had relayed to him. “Does this mean you’re back on the case?”

“I’ve got a man following Carl. It’s the best I can do for now.”

“Thank God. I was afraid Bridget might try something on her own.”

“You and me both, buddy. I wish you had told me about her earlier. I might have been able to get something on Carl by now.”

“I didn’t feel like that was my secret to tell and I wasn’t going to push her. Hell, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I know
why
you didn’t tell me. No one but you two know I see them. It’s not something you want advertised. Bad for business. Have to say, it’s a relief to be able to talk about it, though. Makes me feel less like a freak.”

Is that how Bridget felt, too? “Have you always seen them?”

“Hell no. Heart attack. I technically died for several minutes.”

Dean had died. Bridget had died. And now he had died. Or so he was told. “Do you remember dying?”

“Nope. I remember the pain in my chest and next thing I know, I wake up in a hospital bed. The stuff in between is gone.”

Rob couldn’t say the same thing. Something had happened, but remembering only made the events fuzzier, like trying to remember a good dream. Hell, maybe that’s all it was—a dream. “Do you think I’ll see ghosts now?”

“Don’t know. Guess you’ll find out soon enough, right? At least you’ll know you’re not going crazy. I honestly thought I was headed for a mental ward.” Dean reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell. “Excuse me while I take this.” He walked to the other side of the room.

Rob leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Would he be able to see Charlie? Would she look the same? Damn. He needed to hurry up and leave this place so he could go check it out.

“Rob? Would Carl be working on a project this early on a Sunday?”

“It’s possible. Where at?”

“Out in Kettering. On Stroop.”

“It does seem a little early, but yeah, the project hit some snags and we’ve been busting our balls to get it completed in time. Is that where your guy followed him to?”

Dean nodded and raised his finger, indicating a moment. “Sam, check out the place and then call me with your findings.”

“What’s going on?”

“It doesn’t appear anyone else is working, but Carl’s truck is there.”

“That job is his baby. He’s likely in there doing the work himself. I sure hope he is, anyway.”

“Even if it’s with substandard material?”

“Ah, shit.” Being so caught up in the whole murder thing, he’d forgotten all about the possible embezzlement. “Guess I have my work cut out for me.”

* * * *

Carl smiled as he stood on the porch. If Bridget didn’t know any better, she would believe he only came to chat.

“Hi, Bridget. Can I speak to Rob?”

“What makes you think he’s here?”

“His truck? Would you just get him please? His phone is dead or something.”

Rob’s phone was definitely not dead, but it didn’t make sense he’d be ignoring Carl’s calls, especially if he’d thought something had happened to her. So Carl was lying. Whatever the reason for his visit, maybe she could get him to slip up. If only she had her recorder, but it was in her backpack, on the counter. Still, wasn’t he being watched?

She glanced out front. The only car out of place was the company truck he drove. Whoever had followed Carl did a good job of hiding. Hopefully not so good he couldn’t hear if she screamed. “I’d like to, but he’s at the hospital.”