Ghosts of Coronado Bay (3 page)

Any port in a storm. Another of Lucy’s sayings, after a night where she’d had a major hot and heavy with Amy Landhouse.

And, yet, I’m the one who gets called a slut.

Giving up on her homework, Maya turned on the computer. Maybe working on her blog for a while would get her mind off sex and boys, or her lack of both.

*  *  *

Two hours later, when she finally turned off the lights and went to bed, she was still as aggravated, horny, and depressed as ever.

“Hey, Maya, heard Stuart dumped your sorry ass. Maybe I’ll ask him to the dance.”

Maya looked up from her salad and found Mary Ellen Gordon and three other cheerleaders standing at the end of the lunch table, all of them wearing evilly happy grins.

“Go ahead, ask him. I hope he says yes. You’d be doing me a favor.” Maya returned to her sandwich and her conversation with Lucy, purposely acting as if Mary Ellen wasn’t there.

“Rumor has it he dumped you ‘cause you were sleeping around. But we know that can’t be true.”

Maya clenched her teeth, but refused to look up. Don’t give her the satisfaction. Don’t--

“After all, everyone knows those legs have a ‘do not open’ sign in between them.”

That does it.

“Better that than the revolving door between your fat thighs, Mary Ellen.”

Next to Maya, Lucy snorted laughter and soda onto her tray.

“My thighs are not fat!” Mary Ellen dropped her tray onto the table, causing heads to turn throughout the cafeteria.

Lucy made an exaggerated surprised face. “No, and J-Lo’s butt isn’t big, either.”

Mary Ellen’s cheeks turned purple, and she took a step toward Lucy, but the other cheerleaders grabbed her. “Not here,” one of them said. “You’ll get suspended, and you’ll miss the dance.”

For a moment, Mary Ellen looked like she might ignore her friend’s advice. Lucy stood up, and Maya joined her, hands at her sides but ready, the way she’d learned in karate. Maya counted five breaths, during which time no one moved. Then, Mary Ellen pointed a finger at them.

“This isn’t over. I’m gonna kick both your asses when you least expect it.”

Maya waited until Mary Ellen picked up her tray and the girls walked off before sitting back down. Immediately, Lucy thumped the table with her hand. “That was sooo cool! I can’t believe you actually stood up to her.”

Looking at her shaking hands, Maya said, “Yeah. Real cool. Now I’ve gotta watch out for them and Stuart.”

“Bull. Mary Ellen’s all talk. The last time she had a fight was in fifth grade.” Lucy took a sip of her soda, let out a loud burp, and then frowned. “Do you think Stu’s the one who made up that story about you banging someone else?”

Maya shrugged. “Him or one of his locker room buddies. If you’d asked me two days ago, I’d have said no way. But, after all the things he said about me yesterday...”

Lucy stood up. “You know what? Screw him. Serves him right to get all bent out of shape thinking that. C’mon, let’s get going. We’ve got our museum trip in a few minutes, and I wanna grab a smoke before we go.”

“You go ahead. I’m gonna pee and fix my hair. I’ll meet you at the bus.”

“Catch you in ten, girl.” Lucy walked away.

Maya stared at the remains of her lunch and decided she wasn’t hungry anymore. Damn that Stuart Newman! Even when he wasn’t around, he managed to make her life miserable.

The only consolation was neither Stu nor Mary Ellen would be at the museum, which meant she wouldn’t have to deal with either of them until Monday.

Maybe I’ll get lucky, and they’ll forget about me by then.

She smiled at her own wishful thinking.

Yeah, and maybe I’ll meet the man of my dreams in the museum today, too.

*  *  *

For once, the bathroom was empty when Maya entered. After taking care of business and washing her hands, she brushed her hair and checked her makeup. She was dabbing on lipstick when someone said her name in the empty room.

Turning quickly, she found Grandma Elsa standing by a bathroom stall.

“Grandma! You scared the hell out of me.”

“Sorry, dear. I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s just that, well, you don’t show up in the mirror, you know?”

Elsa nodded. “Is everything all right? I had a...feeling you were upset.”

“Just school sh...er, stuff. Nothing major.” Maya returned to the mirror, finished her lipstick, and then added some blush to cover the scattering of freckles on her cheeks and nose.

“Are you sure? I’m still getting a feeling that you’re in danger.”

Maya turned around and gave her grandmother a smile. “Really, there’s nothing to worry about. It’s high school, and a lot of people are jerks.”

“Well, if you want to talk...”

“Nothing to talk about. At least not today.” Maya kissed Elsa on the cheek. “I gotta go. We have a class trip in like two minutes. We can talk over the weekend.”

Maya headed for the door, eager to get away before her grandmother could ask any more questions. Lying to a ghost was so much harder than to a real person, especially when that ghost knew you better than anyone else, including your parents.

Two girls came walking in as she opened the door, chatting on their cell phones and with each other.

Just before the door shut behind her, Maya heard their gasps as they watched the figure of the old woman fading away.

Laughing to herself, she hurried down the hall to the main entrance.

*  *  *

“...And, here we see a perfectly preserved mirror with an ivory handle. Notice the exquisite craftsmanship of the carvings. Something this expensive likely belonged to either the captain or a well-to-do passenger. Now, if you’ll follow me to the next table...”

Maya tuned out the rest of the museum curator’s lecture and wondered how much longer the visit would go on. Deciding to risk a glance at her cell phone, she stepped behind two taller students so she’d be out of sight.

Still another hour to go. I had no idea it would be so totally boring.

Next to her, Lucy sighed loudly and then feigned innocence when Mrs. Brackenberry turned and looked around.

After waiting for their teacher to return her attention to the rusty anchor Dr. Griffith was showing them, Lucy whispered to Maya, “Makes you wish they’d just left the whole freakin’ ship at the bottom of the ocean.”

Maya smiled. “What’s worse, sitting in history class or spending the afternoon here?”

“That’s like asking if you’d rather have your period or a stomach virus. They both suck.”

Dr. Griffith raised his hand and waved to the group. “Now, if you’ll follow me, we’ll move on to the next case which contains a fascinating assortment of personal items from the Black Lady, including a pen and a man’s pocket watch.”

As the class shuffled forward, Maya caught a glimpse of movement in the shadows between two tall display cases. A boy about their own age, maybe a little older, stood there. Since she didn’t recognize him from school, she figured he must work at the museum although he seemed to be paying attention to one particular table rather than to Griffith. As she drew closer, she saw his clothes were as out of place as he was: black boots, a worn, white button-down shirt tucked into black denim pants, and black suspenders. His blondish-brown hair fell across his forehead, almost reaching down to his eyes. Although not as big as Stuart or some of the other varsity football players at school, he had a husky build and looked like he could take care of himself in a fight.

Something about him piqued Maya’s interest, and she sidled away from Lucy, working her way to the back of the group and off to the side, until she stood only a few feet from him. She glanced his way and smiled, but after a quick look in her direction, the boy returned his gaze to the table he’d been staring at.

Although she didn’t consider herself a beauty by any means, the boy’s total lack of interest in her surprised Maya and made her even more curious about him. Not to mention a little annoyed.

“Hi. My name’s Maya. Do you work here?” She kept her voice low, so as not to attract Mrs. Brackenberry’s attention.

The boy jumped slightly and turned to her with wide eyes. “You can see me?”

“Um, hello, you’re standing in plain sight. I’m guessing you don’t work here, then?”

“Er, no.” As if remembering she’d introduced herself, he cleared his throat. “I’m Blake. Blake Hennessy.”

“That’s a cool name.” Maya held out her hand, and after a slight hesitation, Blake shook it. His skin felt cold, and Maya wondered how long he’d been standing in the heavily air-conditioned room.

“So, if you don’t work for the museum, what are you doing here?”

“I, um, I can’t leave. I’ve got nowhere else to go.”

Maya nodded. It made perfect sense. One of his parents probably worked in the museum, and he had to come here after school. That must suck, spending afternoons here. I thought I had it bad. At least at the diner I get to eat and drink, and I don’t have to stare at boring old junk.

“I know how that feels. Are you new in town?”

He looked down at the floor and then up again. “I’ve only been here a few months, but it feels like forever.”

Stifling a giggle, Maya nodded. “Yeah, Coronado Bay’s like that. Look up ‘boring’ in the dictionary and you’ll find our town. Where are you from?”

Another pause during which his eyes flicked back and forth like a trapped animal’s.

Talk about shy. I’ve never seen a guy so afraid to talk about himself. Then, another thought came to her. Maybe he’s afraid he’ll get in trouble talking to me.

Just when she thought he might not even answer, he said, “Manhattan Island. At least, originally. But this is my home now.”

“Lucky you. I was born and raised here. I’ve only been to New York once, and that was just for a weekend. My family owns the Bay Diner down on Main Street. It’s open seven days a week, so we don’t get to travel much. I’ve been to Boston and Cape Cod, too, but only for long weekends. We were supposed to go to Florida once, but--”

“Miss Blair! Please stay with the rest of the class.”

Maya looked up and saw Mrs. Brackenberry glaring at her. The class had already moved on to the next exhibit. Behind their teacher, several students, including Lucy, were holding back laughter at Maya’s predicament.

“Crap. Gotta go. Nice to meet you, Blake. Maybe we can...?”

Maya’s voice trailed off as she realized Blake was no longer standing next to her.

Guess he really was afraid to get in trouble. I wonder where he went?

She hurried to catch up to the class, but her thoughts kept turning back to the mysterious Blake. For the rest of the afternoon she spent more time watching the shadows than paying attention to Dr. Griffith’s lectures, to the point where Lucy had to nudge her several times and tell her to stop daydreaming.

No matter what displays she looked at, it was Blake’s shy, earnest face she saw. They were almost done with the class trip when she realized something that made her heart jump.

I want to see him again.

*  *  *

Blake Hennessy watched from behind a heavy cabinet as Maya and the other students shuffled from one exhibit to the next, slowly following a convoluted path to the far side of the long room. A numb feeling still covered his thoughts like sailcloth as he tried to understand how the girl - Maya, her name is Maya Blair, and her family owns the Bay Diner - could see him, let alone hear him.

Or touch him.

The memory of her warm flesh on his, the first truly solid thing he’d felt since the Black Lady sank in Coronado Bay, still filled his mind. Even more amazing was the fact that when she was near him, he’d actually grown more solid himself, had been able to feel the cold plaster of the wall, the smooth wood of the cabinets, the tiles beneath his feet. The sensations were so overwhelming he’d barely been able to carry on a sensible conversation.

As the class filed through the exit doors, the loneliness of the past decades came rushing back, a feeling as cold and barren as the bottom of the sea, and one he’d grown too familiar with. He stepped out from behind the cabinet, his incorporeal body expanding to its normal size, and stared at the empty room.

I will see her again. I have to, if only to find out how--

“You look like a fish on a hook. Pray tell, what is so interesting?”

Blake jumped as Gavin Hamlin stepped up beside him.

“Nothing. I--”

Gavin nodded towards the far doors. “Peepin’ on the young birds, eh? Saw a couple of nice ones myself. Good enough to eat, right?” He slapped Blake on the back, and then slid his hand down, tightening his grip until Blake flinched. “Now, get your head out from the clouds and get back to work.”

Blake pulled free of Gavin’s hand, so thankful for not being caught with Maya that he forgot to watch his tongue. “I don’t work for you, Gavin. I’ve got nothing to do with your crazy search.”

Fast as a snake striking, Gavin backhanded Blake across the face. Although no sound accompanied the blow, the ceiling lights brightened and then dimmed, and sparks flashed from Gavin’s hand.

“You belonged to me the moment you decided to stow away on the Black Lady, runt. And, that won’t change until we’re all free. The sooner we find the key, the sooner we’ll be rid of each other.”

Rubbing his cheek, Blake feigned frustration and anger. “Even if we find your damned key, then what? We can’t pick it up. We can’t unlock the box to get your twice-damned book. We’re stuck with the Black Lady forever, and the only difference is we’re no longer at the ocean’s bottom.”

Gavin smiled, a nasty, malevolent twisting of the lips that carried no warmth. “That’s where you’re wrong, lad. Sooner or later someone will find the key and open the box. If not us, then one of the curators. Curiosity is a powerful thing. And if, by chance, they don’t open it, we’ll use our powers to do it ourselves. I will have that book. And once I do, I’ll restore our bodies and then...”

“And, then what?”

A look of pure madness flashed in Gavin’s black eyes. “Never you mind. Suffice to say the world will be a changed place. Now start looking.”

Gavin strode away, his black coattails billowing out behind him. Five men, the only other members of the Black Lady’s crew to remain on after death, materialized from the shadows and joined their leader in wandering through the exhibition hall, peering under and behind the items salvaged from the ship. Blake didn’t know why they bothered, except that Gavin would beat them senseless if they refused. They’d searched the room dozens of times, and Gavin had to know the key, if it wasn’t still at the bottom of the ocean, must be inside something, something they couldn’t move in their incorporeal state.