Chapter 7
“I don’t know who it is,” said Hilda. She whispered, “I’ve never experienced such a cold heart.” She sat up suddenly. “I have to go. He knows I’m here.” Color drained from Hilda’s face, leaving her ashen.
I could see fear in her eyes. “I don’t understand. Are you talking about a ghost?”
“No,” she whispered. “This person is very much alive.”
I was shocked and puzzled. Was this an act? Could she really know that someone intended evil? I could hear a small tussle going on behind me. I glanced in that direction. Bob and Veronica were involved. Part of me wanted to go check that out, but I felt obligated to make sure Hilda was okay first.
Hilda gazed around, wild-eyed. “I should go! I have to get out of here!” She scanned the ceiling in fear, as if she were looking for a ghost floating above her.
“No!” cried Jacquie. “We’ll protect you. You’re far better off surrounded by so many people. No one would dare harm you here.”
Hilda shrank away, as if she didn’t know whom to trust.
Honestly, I was a little bit confused. I tried to muster a gentle, low voice. “You’re saying that someone here intends to harm you?”
“A real person,” said Jacquie. “Not a ghost?”
“Don’t be silly. A spirit wouldn’t hurt me. They need me as their voice! Well”—she appeared to reconsider—“perhaps an evil spirit would do me harm.”
“She said ‘earthly evil,’ didn’t she?” Jacquie whispered to me. “I heard her say ‘earthly.’ ”
Uh-oh. Who knew what she meant? This was turning into a mess and a half. I asked as gently as I could, “Do you have the strength to sign some books before you go? You have so many fans here.”
“I won’t know which one is harboring malicious thoughts,” she protested. Looking at Jacquie, she added, “But I think you’re right. I’m far safer in the company of others.”
I was still having some trouble understanding the precise nature of the problem. “What exactly happened?”
“A spirit warned me of malevolence in the building. And then it was like I was inside someone else’s head. I could hear him thinking.” Hilda gazed at the people milling around. “There’s going to be a death.”
Jacquie gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
“You’re saying ‘him.’ So it’s a man?” I asked just to be clear.
Hilda looked at me as though I had said something astonishing. “I don’t know. Maybe. Do you hear yourself think in a female voice?” She cocked her head from side to side. “Yes. I believe I do sound like a woman in my own head.”
I looked at Jacquie, wondering if she was thinking what I was—Hilda had either lost her marbles or she was putting on a grand show.
But Jacquie focused on Hilda. “Honey, I thought you only communicated with the deceased.”
Hilda’s hand trembled. “I’m a sensitive. An empath. I can predict things. For instance, I can hold your hand or an item of yours and pick up on your energy. I’m afraid this thought came from a living being.”
“Do you think you’re ready to stand?” asked Jacquie.
Hilda brushed her hair back off her shoulders. “Do you think they’ll ever forgive me?”
“Of course, we will! Not that there’s anything to forgive.” It was a small voice, which came, not surprisingly, from a tiny woman who clutched a copy of Hilda’s book in her hands.
Hilda rose to her feet and the flush of health began to return to her cheeks. “How lovely of you. I must sign your book. Please come to the signing table with me.” Hilda straightened the shawl of skulls and with her head held high swept toward the signing table.
She paused abruptly and stared at Bob and Veronica.
Jacquie grabbed my arm and breathed, “Not again.”
But Hilda squared her shoulders and continued to the signing table.
Jacquie watched her. “I’ll keep an eye on her. I don’t think she should be alone.” She joined Hilda at the signing table.
I hurried over to Bob and Veronica. As I walked toward them, I caught sight of Finley near the door.
He flashed those enchanting dimples and a winning smile. “Florrie! Have you seen Roxie? I can’t find her anywhere.”
Oh no! He didn’t know yet. “She’s at the hospital with Cyril. He was attacked earlier this evening.”
Finley gazed at me. “Are you serious? Why didn’t she text me?” He pulled out his phone. “Blast it! This awful thing is always turning itself off.” He flicked a button on the phone. “There it is. She’s wondering where I am. Thanks, Florrie.”
I finally turned to Veronica and Bob to see what was going on with them. Veronica crooked her forefinger at me to join them. I knew the expression she wore. She was mad.
Manny Menz, who worked at the bakery, sat in a chair in front of them, acting cocky. “Hey, you guys know me,” he was saying. “I see you at the bakery all the time.”
I had bought our goodies from him only a few hours ago. “What’s going on?”
“Florrie!” He grinned at me. “There’s been a mistake.”
Bob pointed at the skull, which sat on the checkout desk. “Manny was stealing Harry.”
“Why would you want Harry?” I asked.
Manny brushed his hair off his forehead but it fell back into place. “I wasn’t taking him anywhere. I wanted to buy him.”
Eww. “Why?” I asked.
“Best Halloween prank ever. It looks so real,” said Manny as he eyed the skull.
“It is real,” muttered Bob. “And I think we ought to treat Harry with some respect.”
“Now you see? I did not know that.” Manny looked around. “So is the woo-woo lady gonna talk more or what?”
“She’s signing books,” I said.
“In that case”—Manny stood up and stretched—“I believe I’ll be going home. See ya at the bakery.” He strolled out of the store with the brashness and swagger of the supremely self-confident. He certainly could lie with aplomb.
Veronica’s arms were crossed over her chest. “I always thought he was a nice guy.”
Bob looked at me. “That was a bald-faced lie. He had Harry tucked under his jacket. I knew he had something. I walked in front of him and said, “ ‘Let’s see what you’ve got there, Manny.’ I can’t believe he would steal from us.”
It surprised me, too. I had thought he was a decent kind of fellow. I wondered if it was a full moon. Why were people acting so weird?
“Well, I’m not going back to that bakery,” said Veronica. “He’ll spit on our food for sure.”
“Let’s keep an eye on him when he comes into the store from now on,” I said.
Bob scowled. “Has he ever been in here before? I don’t remember selling him anything.”
“Me, neither,” I said. “Maybe he’s into ghosts and only came to hear Hilda.”
“She looks much better now. The color has returned to her face,” Veronica observed.
Hilda showed no sign of distress as she signed a book for Zsazsa Rosca.
One of my favorite customers, Zsazsa was a retired professor who had become a friend. She always wore a good bit of makeup, applied very precisely, if with a heavy hand. Her fiery-colored hair fluffed high on her head and matched her lively and determined temperament. Of Hungarian heritage, her mother had named her after the movie star, Zsa Zsa Gabor. The name suited her flamboyant personality.
She had recently coupled up with Professor Goldblum, who was now engaging Hilda in an animated discussion.
I cupped Harry carefully in my hands and placed him in the show window where he would be out of the way while throngs of people browsed through the store.
The checkout desk was swamped and I hurried over to help. Whether people bought books because of the ghostly tales or as a result of Hilda’s odd performance, I wasn’t sure. When the line of buyers dwindled, I collected Harry and carried him upstairs to safety in the professor’s office.
By the time Eric showed up, most of the attendees had begun to clear out.
“We have some leftover doughnuts,” Bob joked.
“Very funny.” But that didn’t stop Eric from helping himself to a doughnut and a cupcake.
“Well? What happened?” Veronica asked. “Did you locate the foot?”
I quickly told Eric that Hilda had changed her tune and was now calling the foot in a rug a vision and that she hadn’t actually seen it.
Eric didn’t seem upset. “Interesting,” was all he said. “The house she sent us to is rented by a Mr. Balthus de Gama.”
Veronica’s eyes widened. “Balthus?”
“You know someone named Balthus?” I asked.
Veronica sighed. “You would, too, if you got out more. He’s very wealthy. The heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, I think.”
“Mr. de Gama was not home,” said Eric. “How well do you know him, Veronica? Any chance that he’s out of town?”
“He was here,” she said.
“In the store?” I blurted.
“Yes. We had a nice conversation before Hilda started speaking.”
“The tall man with reddish blond hair?” I asked.
“So you do know him.”
“Not really. I’ve seen him in the store a few times.”
Veronica held up her hands helplessly and spoke to Eric. “I didn’t realize you were looking for him or I would have texted you.”
Jacquie emerged from the parlor with Hilda.
“Sergeant Jonquille!” cried Hilda. “Did you find the foot?”
“I’m afraid not.” Eric spoke with calm graciousness that I would not have been able to muster now that we knew she hadn’t actually seen it.
A shiver ran through Hilda with such strength that I saw her body twitch. For a moment I feared she might pass out.
“Why, Hilda!” said Jacquie. “Did it happen again?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m having these moments. Someone is in terrible danger, but I can’t see who it is.” Hilda’s breath was so labored, I could see her chest heaving.
“Why don’t you come home with me tonight?” asked Jacquie. “We have a ton of guest rooms and Mr. DuBois will fuss over you. That way you won’t be alone.”
“Normally I would decline, but in this instance, I believe I would prefer to be in the safety and company of other people. Thank you for your kind offer, Jacquie.”
The two of them left the store, and I quickly explained Hilda’s sinister premonition of a death to Eric. He gazed at the front door in silence for a moment.
Bob laughed, “Come on! Don’t tell me you believe in psychics.”
Eric grimaced. “Police records are replete with instances of psychics leading the police to bodies and crime scenes. I prefer good detective work, but I’m open to the possibility that psychics can be helpful. I don’t understand how or why they sometimes know things for no apparent reason. They usually don’t even have a connection to the deceased. But I figure there are a lot of things in this world that I don’t fully understand. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist or that they’re not valid.”
I beamed. He was so logical. No wonder I was goofy over the guy. “I hate to say it, but I thought the whole thing might be a show. Seriously, we only know about it because she told us. The only thing I can’t figure out is that wail. I don’t know how she pulled that off.”
“Wail?” asked Eric.
“It was horrible!” Veronica shuddered. “I hope I never hear that again.”
Eric’s radio crackled unintelligibly. I had no idea how he could understand it.
“I have to go. See you tomorrow, Florrie.” He leaned in to kiss my cheek and was out the door in a flash.
Veronica departed to meet friends for drinks, leaving Bob and me to lock up the store.
I was checking the basement door when I heard Bob call me. I walked upstairs. “Where are you?”
“Up here. Third floor.” His voice was loud enough to hear but he sounded somewhat unsure, like something might be wrong.
Frodo sprang up the stairs ahead of me. I continued to make my way up and found them about five stairs down from the third floor. Frodo was growling. The lights were still on and I could see very clearly what had stopped Bob in his tracks.
The skull.