Chapter 4

The moon cooperated and blossomed full over the bay, splashing silvery light across the breaking waves. A creeping mist hovered close to the ground, not enough to obscure the streets and hinder trick-or-treating but enough to set the mood for those who believed that the veil between the worlds thinned on this night.

Kids in fantastical costumes from space opera to fairy tales made their yearly candy pilgrimage among the houses as the sun went down. But I noticed that the younger children’s parents, casting nervous glances my way, steered them away from my house and the beach area. That saddened me. But a smattering of teens and co-eds in elaborate costumes as inventive Victorians, romantic bloodsuckers, zombies, and dead pirates came by for treats. Jack and Gillian wore matching black leather jackets, jeans, and Doc Martens as they handed out candy to the small crowd.

Doris floated through, trying on a variety of costumes. My favorite was her black, high-waisted, suspendered tap dancing shorts and white shirt, her hair in finger waves softly framing her heart-shaped face.

“You do the best makeup, Doris.” I told her before sampling the smoked oysters.

Doris pursed her lips, put her hands on her knees, and leaned over the hors d’oeuvres as if smelling them. “These look dee-lish.” Then she gazed at me and batted her eyelashes. “We can work on your makeup.”

I laughed because my makeup was part of my vamp witch costume, including the penciled beauty mark on my cheek.

Gillian tried a smoked oyster. “The kid flow, such as it was, has diminished. Think you’ll have adult guests soon?”

“I expect Brendan and his renter after the kids finish gathering treats from the porch of his old Victorian. Samantha shut her shop down early, so I expect her momentarily. Really curious about their costumes. Samantha’s everyday clothes are a trip. Ricardo and Mia will drop by after they pick her mom up. I don’t really think Mina will come although I invited her. She may drop in briefly. I don’t anticipate too many of the neighbors because several of them have kids.”

“George still coming?” She tried a scallop.

“We’ll see. I invited him and Bill. Clem’s should be delivering pizza any moment now, so I hope they show up soon.”

Jack strolled up. “The swarm of candy-hungry vultures is thinning. Thor’s sleeping on the porch swing. I deposited the bowl of candy on the table outside for any stragglers.”

Someone knocked at the door.

Gillian left to answer it and returned moments later with half a dozen boxes of assorted pizzas. “Trestle table?”

“Yes, please. Help yourselves.” I waved my wand in the air. “Pizza has arrived. Dig in!”

Jack let several more guests in, including Dave, Niles, and two women I’d never seen before. He took them around, did some introductions, and gave the two women a snap tour of my place. He brought them over to me. “Meet your neighbors Theda and Maya. Theda is Carmen Miranda. Love the fruit hat. Maya’s a mermaid with a strange resemblance to Esther Williams.”

“Great costumes! Old movie buffs?”

Maya nodded vigorously. “We were film and digital media majors at UC Santa Cruz.”

Theda was careful not to dislodge her bananas. “With a name like mine, would you expect anything else? Theda Bara? We love your witch, too.”

“Thanks. It’s a Harry Potter wand.” I waved it careful not to put out anyone’s eye.

“We recognize it. We’re two houses down behind all the lilac bushes. You should come over for movie night.”

“I’d love to. Pizza’s in the kitchen along with drinks. Everything else is out here. I’m assuming you know more people than I do.” I waved my wand around.

Maya laughed, displaying a dimple. “We’ve lived here for ages.”

“Since graduating Santa Cruz,” Theda added. “We didn’t want to move back to Chicago.”

“Too cold.” Maya mock-shivered. “Lake effect snow.”

“They don’t call it the Windy City for nothing.” Theda picked up a scallop. “These look yummy.”

“I hope so. Let me know if you need anything.” Out of the corner of my eye I saw George let himself in, followed by Bill. My heart skipped a beat.

George scanned the room for me. His gaze caught mine, and he headed over. “Looks like the party’s just getting started.”

“You haven’t missed much.” I tapped him with my wand. “I want to talk to you.”

“I thought you might.” His soft lips brushed my forehead. “But we’ve put in a long day, and I plan to have a slice of that ‘za I smelled when I walked in.”

“You know where it is.” As he and Bill headed for food, the front door opened again.

“Samantha!” I waved as she swept through the front door. Brendan followed in her wake with a slender, middle-aged man I assumed was his renter, the visiting professor. “Great outfit! Where’d you get it?”

“I had it made.” She did a slow turn. “Victorian.”

“I see that, but the tailoring is exquisite.” I reached out to feel the beautiful fabric of the jacket and flipped the edge up to examine the stitching.

“Tailor in town. I’ll email deets. She’s fast and good.”

“Thanks.” I admired the teal worsted wool tailored to within an inch of its life. It wasn’t my style, but the craftsmanship was undeniable and it fit Samantha’s zaftig body perfectly.

As Gillian walked up to us, her eyes widened. “Love the hat.”

A stuffed gray dove with folded wings perched atop a matching teal hat that tilted forward on her upswept hair.

I’d never seen Samantha’s red-gold mane so confined. “Me, too. I’m blown away by the creativity in our little community.”

Munching a slice of pizza, Brendan joined us, in a costume that added a foot to his height with a magnificent turban from which three feathers waved like some giant insect’s antennae.

“Spectacular, Brendan!” I circled him admiring the orange silk robe that downplayed his portliness. “Is this a kimono? What are you?”

He chuckled. “It’s a caftan, and I’m an Ottoman Turk.” He held out an arm to display three-dimensional silk roses scattered all over the caftan and then held open the right side to display the blue fabric lining that also showed at the cuffs and lapels. “I made it myself.”

Samantha cleared her throat and cast him a meaningful look.

Brendan’s eyebrows peaked as he beseeched Samantha with his eyes. “With a little help. Under the caftan, I wear a long waistcoat of blue silk embroidered all over with flowers and vines and closed with a dozen frogs.”

“It’s so beautiful.” Gillian touched the soft fabric. “I love the pants.”

“Turkish trousers. They’re five feet wide and held up by a drawstring. Very comfortable. The shoes are like bedroom slippers.” As Brendan pulled his caftan aside to show off his slippers, the feathers of his turban swept the bottom of my chandelier.

“Careful. That’s a huge turban.”

“Thirty feet of muslin wrapped around my head.”

“I’m so used to you in corduroy. This is such a change.” I turned to the third person in their party. “But I see you brought someone in corduroy along with you.”

The stranger laughed and held out his hand. “Hello, I’m Darius Democritus Stone, Visiting Professor of Comparative Literature and Folklore at Clouston College. Pleased to meet you.”

I shook his hand. “Likewise. And you came as a professor. Welcome to my home. That’s quite a name.”

“My parents argued over my name. My mother was a physicist and a fan of Democritus’ atomic theory. My father was an architect. He admired Darius I, King of Persia, for changing the style of architecture of his empire.” He smiled as his glasses slid down his nose. He pushed them back in place with his index finger. “But they could at least agree that Darius made a better first name.”

“I agree. I hope you’re enjoying staying at Brendan’s. I’m new to the area myself.”

“If you’re new out here, have you heard anything about the Ohlone? I’m studying an offshoot that traces their ancestry to Coyote. Coyote is a trickster and a mediator between life and death. Some around here believe in were-coyotes.”

“I hadn’t heard that, but I’ll tell my neighbor Dave. He wants to do a tour involving the local legends.”

Darius’ eyes narrowed. “Which neighbor would that be? I might want to talk to him.”

I perused the room. “I don’t see him, but he’s the next house over along the beach. If you look out my back door, you can see his deck across the way.”

“Thanks, I might do that.”

After an awkward pause, I said, “Let me make sure all my guests are seen to.”

“Of course.” He tilted his head forward in a slight bow. “Do you mind if I wander around and have a look at your place?”

“No problem.” I smiled. “When you’re through, you’ll have to try my scallops.” I indicated the display of food. The noise in my house increased as new guests arrived.

“I’ll do that now.” He picked one up and moved off.

Brendan asked, “Have you heard anything further about the body on your beach?”

I nearly choked as his question brought back the images and emotions I’d been trying to suppress all day. “Word gets around fast. I thought we might avoid it during the party.”

“It was on the news,” Samantha said. “I’m so sorry it happened so close to you.”

“I don’t know any more than you do.” I hoped George would appear but didn’t see him right away. “I haven’t had a chance to ask George what’s going on.”

Samantha and Brendan turned to look for him as well. The doorbell rang.

“I’ll catch up with you later. I need to get that.” Relieved to end that conversation, I let Mia and Ricardo in. They arrived in full steampunk gear. “Hi, guys. Love your boots, Mia.”

She lifted her skirt to show me the gears and chains along the top. “Aren’t they great? I finished them last night.”

“They are, but I’m puzzled by your hat. It’s a full-sized top hat. I thought it was supposed to be tiny. A fascinator.”

She shrugged. “Everybody is wearing those. I found this in The Cabinet of Cali DeGaris and added a few of my own touches.”

“Where?” I frowned. Not a place I’d heard of.

“New shop near campus,” Ricardo said. “A bit of an homage to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, the 1920s’ German Expressionist film. Eclectic.”

Theda joined us. “That’s a great film! Did you see the remake from the Sixties? Robert Bloch wrote it. Glynis Johns stars.”

“Theda, this is Ricardo and Mia. This is my neighbor Theda. Film major.”

“Then you’ll love Cali’s shop. She was a film major. Loved the props, collected a bunch of stuff, and opened a shop. My favorite place to browse. You should come with us sometime.”

“I definitely will,” Theda said.

Doris chose that moment to appear, and I held my breath. Even though it was Halloween and people talked about ghosts, I wasn’t sure they really wanted to meet one. But she looked as solid and alive as anyone else in the room. Her feet even touched the ground. She was dressed in a tasteful 1920s suit with a matching round hat and a single mink pelt around her neck. The beady eyes of the dead mink seemed to watch me as I stared at the narrow mouth biting its flank.

“Are you all right?” Samantha asked.

“I’m fine. Would you excuse me for a moment?” I moved as quickly as I could toward Doris. “Doris, that is completely creepy.”

“What?”

“That thing around your neck.”

“Isn’t it great? The mouth has a clip in it.” Doris sighed. “I wish I could apply pressure to the clip, but I have to revisualize it every time.”

“Could you revisualize it gone?”

A glint in her eyes told me she felt mischievous, and I’d given her ammo to tease me with.

She swished her hips. “I think I’m growing very fond of this creature.”

I gave a little groan. When would I learn to keep my mouth shut? “Where’s Thor?”

“Sleeping upstairs to avoid the crowd. Relax.”

“Do me a favor and don’t vanish in front of the guests. Go into a bedroom or something.”

“Sure thing.” She batted her eyelashes at me and moved off to flirt with someone else.

I rolled my eyes and followed Mia into the kitchen.

Samantha came over and winked at Mia. “Nice costume.”

Mia cocked her head and raised an eyebrow at her. “Not so bad yourself.” They both laughed, and Mia chose a pizza slice and headed for the living room.

Samantha watched her go.

I handed her a napkin. “What do you think of Brendan’s boarder?”

“I like him. He listens to me and seems interested in my theories about Las Lunas. He thinks I should get a patent for my camera and has even offered to go with me on one of my ghost photography expeditions.”

“Makes sense if he’s into folklore.” I’d been keeping an eye on George, waiting for him to be alone. “Excuse me.” I found him. “Hey, there.”

“Nice party.” He smiled.

“You never answered my message about whether or not I should go ahead with it. I assume you didn’t have any objections. Did you identify the body?”

“The victim is from out of town. I saw no reason why you shouldn’t go ahead with your party. Odds are no one here knows her. No one has reported a missing person. We’re still investigating, of course. But I can give you the information we’ve given the press. Her name is Amelia Stone.” He frowned. “It’s not like you to be behind on the news.”

Two thoughts jolted together. I put my hand on his arm. “George, I met Dave’s Aunt Amelia and his cousin Niles yesterday. Had dinner with them. I guess she resembles me, but I wouldn’t have said she looks like me. Also, I met someone named Stone tonight. Brendan’s boarder.” I looked around for him. “Amelia’s a very common name. It might not be her.”

George’s eyes widened and he tensed. “Really.” He looked around the room. “Excuse me.” He walked toward Brendan.

I was not about to be left out and dashed after him in time to hear George say, “I hear you have someone staying at your house.”

“Why, yes.” Brendan searched for his boarder. “Darius!”

Darius turned away from Samantha. “Yes?”

“There’s someone I’d like you to meet. Professor Darius Stone, may I present Detective George Ho. Detective, this is my boarder Darius.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Darius held out his hand, and George shook it.

“Stone. We’re investigating the recent death of someone named Stone.”

Darius’ smile faltered. “It’s a common name.” His hand shook slightly as he set his glass down. “Was the person male or female?”

“A woman about your age. Long chestnut hair. Slim.”

Darius reached out for the table to steady himself. “Amelia.”

George nodded. “What was your relationship to the victim?”

Darius put his hand up to his eyes. “I was married to her. She was the love of my life.”

“Were you in contact with her recently?” George kept his voice was very low.

I was pretty sure that no one other than the four of us heard him.

Samantha gasped, and I wanted to kick George.

Darius made a strangled sound. “I would never hurt her!”

“What brings you to Las Lunas?” George’s voice was even and professional.

Darius straightened. “I’m a visiting professor at the college.”

George nodded. “You knew she was here, didn’t you?”

Darius hesitated. “I hoped…” His voice broke. “Can I see her?”

“You don’t want to.”

Darius went pale, swayed, and collapsed into a chair.

I dropped to my knees beside him. His skin was cold and clammy, and he breathed shallowly.

George squatted on the other side and took his pulse. He looked up at Bill. “Call the EMTs. I think he’s going into shock.”

I was torn between concern for Darius and anger at George for causing his distress. “Couldn’t you have told him a bit more gently?”

George stood, took one more look around the room, and held a hand out to help me up, but he didn’t answer my question.

“You wanted to see his reaction,” I guessed.

“Sometimes it reveals the truth. Trust me.”

“I do, but please don’t bludgeon any more of my guests.” I smiled to soften my words.

The hint of a smile raised the corners of his mouth.

After the ambulance left with George and Bill following in their car, the party was considerably quieter with people whispering to each other in corners. Word had gotten around. Theda and Maya said their goodbyes quickly but reinforced the invitation to come watch old movies with them.

“Cass,” Brendan held Samantha’s hand. “We hate to cut and run early, but we want to find out how Darius is doing.”

“No problem. I completely understand. Please let me know what you find out.”

Samantha squeezed my hand. “We enjoyed the party. It’s not your fault.”

“Thanks.”

As the party dissipated, I closed the door behind the stragglers and surveyed the room. “Did you guys see Dave and Niles leave?”

Jack shook his head, but Gillian said, “They were in the kitchen a minute ago with Mia and Ricardo.”

The three of us went into the kitchen. Dave, Niles, Mia, and Ricardo sat around the trestle table with drinks and food arguing about gaming. They all looked up as we walked in.

My mouth went dry. “Uh. Hi. Dave, have you heard from your aunt today?”

He looked at Niles, who shook his head. “No, but we didn’t expect to. She’s probably tired after the trip up to San Francisco. She knew about the party but wasn’t planning to come, so we’ll see her tomorrow. Why?”

“Do you know a Darius Stone?” My voice faltered.

Dave frowned. “Uncle Darius? Aunt Amelia divorced him years ago. Why?”

Jack took over for me. “The police found a body on the beach this morning. Tonight we found out that they’ve identified it as your aunt, Amelia Stone. We didn’t know who it was until a few minutes ago when Detective Ho told your uncle, who’s a visiting professor at Clouston. When he heard, your uncle collapsed and is on the way to the hospital.”

“No!” Niles got up. “C’mon, Dave. We have to go to the hospital.” Niles slammed out the back door with Dave on his heels.

I sat down, my eyes filling with tears. “I can’t believe she’s dead.”

“Did you know her?” Ricardo asked.

“Not really.”

Gillian handed me a tissue.

“We met her last night and had dinner with her at Dave’s. She was very nice. Dynamic.”

“Now that you mention it, she didn’t seem to be a good match with Darius, who seems much more timid. I can’t imagine them together.” I dabbed at my eyes. “It was so painful to watch as he heard what happened to his ex-wife.”

“Ex-wife?” Gillian said.

I nodded. “That’s what he said. They’d been married. He said she was the love of his life. I think that’s why it hit him so hard.”

“You realize that makes him the prime suspect if she was murdered, right?” Jack asked.

“He wouldn’t,” I said. “He loves her. Loved her. Besides, George hasn’t confirmed whether she was murdered or not.”

But I was sure. Darius had nodded and started to say something. What was it? Oh, yes, he’d started to say he’d hoped something. I assumed he’d hoped to win her back, and that broke my heart.