Tansy Taylor (4 page)

“I agree. I think that someone here must know something. But, for what it’s worth, I think that we might be going about this the wrong way.” Callie’s face was crestfallen and she slumped into the passenger seat. “On a brighter note, I did get some really clear readings of some of auras.” She looked at me in confusion, so I explained. “Auras are a sort of extension of a personality, or soul. I guess that is the easiest way to explain it. When I concentrate on someone, I can read the colors around them. For instance, someone who is angry may have a lot of red in their aura; someone who is peaceful or spiritual may have a lot of white or leafy green, black and red usually indicate deception or someone who is evil. It’s really complex, but it is a good indicator for me when someone is upset about something or even hiding something, even if they are a really good actor.”

Callie nodded. “So, what did you see? Was anyone red or black?”

“Well, not exactly. I don’t think that anyone we met today was directly involved in Buster’s disappearance; it was more like they were nervous or worrying about something. It may or may not be connected to Buster, but we won’t really be able to find out by simply reading them.”

Letting out a sigh, Callie sunk even lower into the seat and closed her eyes. She was completely exhausted. I closed the door as gently as I could and then went around to get in the car. Buster was there waiting for me, hovering between me and the car. In order for me to get in, I would either have to get him to move or go through him. I got the chills thinking about the other option. Better figure out how to get him to move.

“I’ve only got a second before Callie wonders what I’m doing.” I glanced furtively in the car; she was still reclining with her eyes closed. I couldn’t tell if she was asleep or just really relaxed.

“You got a cell?”

“I do, why?” This ghost thing was still freaking me out. A ghost is asking me if I have a cell phone. I shook my head.

“Just pull it out and act like you’re talking on it. That way, nobody, including Callie, will think that you are off your marbles. I don’t need my only hope getting shipped off in the loony wagon.”

“Great idea ghost.” I dug around in my purse, located my phone and flipped it open. “Now, have you remembered anything else about the day that you died? Like, was it the same day that you disappeared? Were you killed here? Do you remember who did it?” The questions came rapid fire and he pretended to dodge them like they were bullets from a Gatling gun. I blushed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bombard you.”

“It’s okay. I’m so overjoyed that you can actually hear and see me that I could care less about the conversation style. You could stand here and yell at me and I’d still be smiling. The only other conversation that I’ve had was with this old hobo’s ghost. I remember him getting killed a few blocks over right after I started working here. He was crazy as a loon in life and he is no different in death. He talks in riddles and it is extremely frustrating.” He shook his head and put his hands in his pockets.

Chapter Five

“Damn!” I yelled, jolted awake by the incessant sound of the ringing phone. Cookie crumbs flew off my chest as I jumped up and then immediately sat back down. I must have closed my eyes and drifted off. The angry phone was still ringing, yelling at me it seemed, from across the room. It was Mr. Dunkan I was sure. Everyone else but our mothers called Jeni and I on our cells, not the landline.

“I got it!” I heard a muffled yell from the back room. “Don’t worry! I’ll tell him you’re still out!” I slumped back into the couch. I love my best friend. For someone who claims to have no psychic ability whatsoever, she sure was intuitive in regard to my needs.

I picked up my cell and saw it was getting close to four o’clock. I must have been asleep for about an hour and a half. I realized that the little cat nap had done me good; I was feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. By the time I took a shower and changed I would be a new woman.

I texted Becca that I would meet her around six for dinner. I grabbed my shoes and headed upstairs to my room.

I loved my room. It was bright and airy. The high ceiling created the feeling of a large space and the soft green walls made it a soothing place to retire to after a long day. When the home had been renovated, the upstairs had been converted into two large bedrooms with one on each side of the landing. The rooms were mirror images, and each had a large walk in closet and full bathroom. I tossed my shoes in the general direction of the closet and they clattered on the cherry wood floor. I took a moment to scrunch my toes into my latest purchase, a soft wooly beige area rug. I sighed and then peeled my clothes off on the way to my bathroom. Today called for a little indulgence from Lush, my favorite shop for bath necessities. I opened my basket and a variety of scents rushed up to meet me. Hmm, maybe I would soak in the tub with a bath bomb instead of going for my usual shower gel. I dug around in the basket and pulled up a winner. When I had learned that they were discontinuing this little beauty I had stocked up. I opened the plastic bag that contained the last one and took a deep breath. The scent of chamomile, lavender and black current mingled to make me feel at once tranquil and indulgent. The infused sparkles were just what I needed to make me feel a little girly for our night on the town. I ran the hot water into the garden soaking tub, dropped the bomb, and watch it fizz into the water.

An hour later I was feeling refreshed and ready to go. I had tamed my overactive brown curls with a new de-frizz curl product. It appeared to be doing its job; we would have to see if it held up after hours out in hot sweaty clubs. I grabbed a scrunchie just in case.

I had donned a pair of my favorite black Levis and a cute cap sleeve magenta top that dipped just enough to tease at what lie beneath. Jeni told me that the color made the blue in my eyes pop, so I always felt a little bit prettier when I wore it out. I added a black onyx necklace and earrings set and my new black ankle boots to complete the look. Because it was the end of summer it was still slightly warm outside but the chill would be on when I came home, so I grabbed my favorite light-weight black cashmere sweater to throw over my shoulders. Portland weather could be tricky this time of year, and there were few things that I disliked as much as being cold. I checked my phone and found that Becca had texted me back; she would stop by to pick me up. I smiled; this was a welcome treat. It meant I didn’t have to worry about leaving my car downtown if I wasn’t in a state to drive home.

Literally minutes later Becca pulled up front and honked, double parked I was sure. I yelled out a farewell to Jeni and flew down the stairs and out the door.

I plopped myself in her front seat and buckled up. “So, I am totally craving a burger, but want to be downtown so that we can park and walk to some different bars. What would you suggest?” Going to dinner with Becca was fun because she knew a lot of out of the way places in Portland. Tonight though, she suggested one of my favorites.

“Hmmm. I think we should start with dinner at Ringlers. Tasty burgers and local brews; it can’t get much better than that!”

“Sounds perfect.” I checked my makeup in the visor mirror and patted my hair; the humidity hadn’t damaged it so far.

“Hey, are you sparkling?” Becca asked, giving me a sideways glance.

“I am!” I checked out my residual black pearl sparkle in the mirror and grinned. I felt the need to let my hair down a bit and tonight was looking up.

I was contemplating the social ramifications of licking the plate my Dungeon Burger had sat on when I glanced up and saw a familiar face. I grinned in recognition. The two stouts I’d put away must have hit me faster than usual - I realized too late that I should duck and cover-at the precise moment I made eye contact. It was Johnny from Mr. Big’s and I was supposed to be a grieving hippie-half sister.

He tilted his head in an inquisitive manner and started to head my direction. His earlier ball cap was absent and I noticed that he had all of his hair, and that it looked good. He also had a sexy five o’clock shadow going on. I sighed. With a black leather jacket and faded Levi’s he looked like a hunk out of an action movie sauntering toward us.

I turned to my friend. “Hey Becca, there’s a guy coming this way, and well, just play along, okay? I will totally explain later.”

She gave me a befuddled nod as she took a long drink off of her ale.

He came to a stop in front of me and all I could do was grin, darn alcohol. “Hi, Johnny, right?” I said, not taking my eyes off of his. I could smell his cologne and I felt my knees go weak.

He smiled. “Correct, and you are Sandra.” He looked from me to Becca, then back to me. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

I ignored his comment, unsure myself why I would be here. I needed a minute to think of something good. “Johnny, this is my friend Becca. We used to work together when I lived here, before. Callie took something to help her sleep so I decided to meet up with Becca so we could catch up and I could take my mind off of …things.” I silently gave myself kudos for the quick and plausible explanation.

Becca swallowed and looked Johnny’s direction. I could tell from her gaze that she was thinking the same thing I had when I’d come across him the first time. He was a damn fine specimen of the male species.

“Hi Johnny, very nice to meet ya.” She let the words slide off her tongue in a wannabe sexy way that I had experienced many times before. I knew right where she was heading-to ‘hopeful one-night-stand’ land.

“Nice to meet you, Becca.” Johnny responded politely, but then looked back over at me. Obviously Becca’s attempt to lure him had not connected.

“I’m gonna get another beer,” she said, getting up from the table, wobbling slightly. “You want anything?”

Johnny pulled a twenty out of his wallet and handed it over to Becca. “Here, let me buy you girls a round, if that’s okay.”

“Of course! I would never turn down a free drink,” said Becca.

“Bourbon and Coke for me, double, on the rocks.” He said this all without breaking eye contact with me.

I smiled at him, mesmerized by his darn sparkly blue eyes. There was no way I should be hooking up with him, being that he thought I was Sandra and all. If only I had met him under different circumstances, I thought. I was definitely smitten. Now, to try and cover that up, not an easy task when I had already had a couple of pints.

“You okay? You have a sort of funny look on your face.” He looked like he was trying to figure me out. I couldn’t blame him; first I was the hippie half sister of a missing guy, now I appeared to be a party girl out for a good time.

I waved my hand. “Oh, I’m fine. It was just a long day and I took a little nap this afternoon. I guess that I haven’t fully recovered.” I stifled an involuntary yawn at the mention of a nap.

“Yes, it must be hard, losing a relative. It sounds like the police really don’t have any leads yet either.”

I shook my head. “Nope. Callie’s convinced that Buster has been killed. I have to say I am starting to agree more and more with her, seeing as how there has been no contact from a kidnapper requesting a ransom of any sort.” Ya, I thought, and the fact that I’d met his ghost meant that he was unequivocally, most certainly, dead.

Johnny frowned. “I just can’t figure out why anyone would want to kidnap him, let alone kill him. Do you think that he was involved in something illegal?”

I shook my head again, swallowing the last little bit of beer in my glass. “No way was he into anything illegal. Callie assures me that he was the most honest and good natured person she had ever met.”

Johnny looked at me funny for a minute and I realized my mistake.

“He and I weren’t close, since our parents married when we were in high school. In fact, I stayed with my mother to finish school, so I never really lived with him. We’re more like cousins who see each other at family reunions. Not close. But I really like Callie and wanted to help her.” I was totally rambling, a byproduct of my ineptitude at lying. Johnny didn’t seem to notice however, or at least he was too nice to say anything.

Becca rejoined us with the drinks.

“Thanks Bec!” I said, hoping that now that there were three of us at the table the conversation would turn to some more mundane subjects, like the weather or how the Trailblazers were doing. I was in luck. The next couple hours and pints flew by. The next thing I knew it was eleven and I had a severe cramp in my derriere from sitting on the hard wooden chair.

“So, where to next?” I asked Becca. I stood up and stretched, trying to work the kinks out.

“Hmm, maybe we should go dancing to work off our burgers and brew?” She rubbed her tummy.

It dawned on me that Johnny was all alone. “Were you meeting someone here?” I asked.

“Oh, well, I was supposed to but she never showed up. Blind date,” he said by way of explanation. “Either she came in and took one look and decided I wasn’t her type or she found a better offer. She’s a friend of my sister in law’s, who is perpetually trying to set me up with someone.”

“Maybe she came in and saw you sitting with two gorgeous women and decided that she didn’t need the competition.” Oh, man! Did that just come out of my mouth? Alcohol made it so what was usually censored came freely floating out of my mouth without any provocation.

Johnny grinned. “You are probably exactly right!” Phew, I thought, at least he has a sense of humor!

“You wanna join us Johnny?” Becca said, slurring her words while draping her arm over his shoulder. She had sprinkled a few shots of Grey Goose in amongst her pints of ale and she was definitely on her way to completely plastered. Dancing would be good, as well as some fresh air.

“If you don’t mind?” He asked, looking at me. His eyes bore into mine, as if I was his target. I was flattered but knew I needed to be careful.

“Oh, by all means, you should join us.” I picked up the shot glass and what was left of a shot Becca had bought me and tossed it back. Then I gave Johnny what I hoped was a totally platonic smile, but it felt like it may have come across a little on the drunken slutty side.

Two clubs and who knows how many drinks later Johnny poured Becca and I into a cab. I could barely stand up between the alcohol and my sore leg muscles. Why I had decided to wear the cute boots and not something more dance-friendly was beyond me; this always seemed to happen! I knew I’d regret it even more in the morning when the alcohol had worn off.

“You girls sure you’re going to be okay?” Johnny asked, leaning in the door of the cab.

“You betcha.”

“Yup.” We answered simultaneously. Becca blew Johnny a drunken kiss and he smiled.

“It was fun hanging out with you guys; we should definitely do it again sometime.” He looked right at me when he said it.

My heart did a little flip flop and I gave a little sigh and a smile. He waved the cab off and headed back down the street. I watched his nicely toned backside walk away in the opposite direction.

“He is such a hottie!” Becca said. “But, why was he calling you Sandra? I was getting so confused.” Her face was still registering this confusion, but I couldn’t focus on her for long or I got the spins. I shook my head.

“So, you’re just going to spend the night at my place tonight? Right?” I asked.

“If you don’t mind. I’m not sure where we are, but I think that the cab ride from your place back over to my place would break the bank, ‘specially since I think my wallet is in my car.” She flung her arm at the back window, indicating the receding skyline of downtown.

“No problem.” I sat back and tried to focus on the world outside the cab in an attempt to suppress my nausea.

The next morning I woke up to the sound of a car alarm going off nearby. I pried my eye open and tried to focus.

“What time is it? I can’t see the clock.” I said to nobody and felt around in my pockets and found my cell. It told me that it was ten o’clock. “Oh, man, too early,” I said in reply. The only problem is once I was awake it was pretty much a done deal; besides, I didn’t think I’d be able to get back to sleep with the incessant beeping and ringing going on outside. An angry voice had joined in and soon I felt like I was in Jersey and not Portland with all the swearing and alarms going off.