Chapter 11

The sun hung low in the sky as we walked back toward my place. “That was helpful. I have an idea of how it all works now.”

Gillian pointed at the garage. “Light’s on. My sweetie must still be working. Let’s scoop him up and get something to eat.”

“Works for me.”

Gillian opened the door. “Ready for food?”

“More than ready. I was cleaning up. Hang on a second.” He put away his tools, turned out the light, and closed and locked the door. “Pizza?”

“Not after your recent cracks about my cooking. I’m making dinner tonight. You and Gillian can chill on the couch.”

Jack raised an eyebrow but wisely kept his mouth shut as we walked to the house.

“You guys wash up and relax. I’ll bring you something to munch on while I cook.” I headed for the kitchen and got to work.

The doorbell rang as I carried a cheese and cracker tray out to the coffee table. “I’ll get it.”

George stood on the threshold. “Bad time?”

“Not at all. Come on in. Let me take your jacket.” I hung it on the hall tree. George followed me into the living room.

“I checked your beach before coming in,” George said with a placid face.

I froze. Doris had rescued Amelia from the beach hours ago. Had he seen something?

He laughed. “Just kidding.”

Jack’s laugh was a bit too hearty. “So, no more bodies?”

I glared at him and changed the subject. “The nuts are truffled Marcona almonds.” I passed him the bowl.

George took the bowl and plopped his lanky frame down on the couch.

“Beer, George? I have a feeling you’re going to need it,” Jack said.

“Please.” George set the bowl down and took a handful of almonds. “At least I can rely on Jack’s friendship…until he gets his car registered.” He leaned forward, elbows on knees. “We haven’t let much info loose, but because there are rumors about you circulating now, I wanted to see if you were okay.”

A hard lump sat in the pit of my stomach. “Thanks.”

Jack handed George a bottle. “Should we be worried?”

“Cautious.” George put a piece of cheese on a cracker and ate it. “Have you experienced any looky-loos or harassing phone calls?”

“Not so far, but I’m glad you’re checking. Gillian and I will leave soon.”

“Couldn’t you have been more reassuring?” I snarled.

“Not if you want truth.” George took a handful of nuts. “If you’re recording tonight’s news, you’ll see we released a statement that says you had no part in this murder despite the proximity to your house. Several of the inquiries and comments made to the department were getting nasty. I hope that takes some pressure off you. As I said, there’ve been quite a few rumors.”

“Ricardo and Mia mentioned it. I hope it doesn’t affect our business. I’ve been waiting for the villagers with torches and pitchforks.” I finished my wine. “Is everyone ready for dinner? George, you staying? There’s plenty.”

“In that case.” He carried his beer to the table.

The meal was simple: salmon, new potatoes, peas, and a salad. But I cooked it and made my point. Jack could have his beloved pizza tomorrow.

“How are you enjoying living in Las Lunas?” Jack asked George. “Do you miss Hawaii?”

“I often do. There’s no place else on Earth quite like them.”

“Them?” Gillian asked.

“The isles, the haunted isles.” George looked into the distance.

Gillian speared a piece of salmon. “I thought the British Isles were the Haunted Isles. Elves and pixies.”

“Menehune.” George smiled. “I guess both are haunted by the Old Ones. Hmm. I wonder if that’s true of all islands. Iceland has the Hidden People, the Huldufólk.”

“The hidden people?” she asked.

“Iceland is the Garden where Adam and Eve lived…if you’re an Icelander. Once God came to visit them, but Eve, who was washing her children at the time, only got half their large number washed, so she hid the rest to prevent God from seeing the dirty ones. God knew, of course, and said that those who had been hidden from him would also remain hidden from humans.”

“I didn’t know you were interested in folklore.” I passed him the peas.

“I like islands. All islands. I suspect it’s because you don’t have to go far to get to the water, which is also why I’m living at the coast. I spent a week in Iceland once looking for northern lights, soaking in the Blue Lagoon, and taking a Super Jeep tour that included glaciers and geysers. My guide told me about the Hidden People and even said that building projects were rerouted to avoid annoying them. Islanders have respect for those they share their habitats with…unlike many mainlanders.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you pulling my leg?”

“Not at all. You’ve always called me superstitious, but maybe I merely know a bit more about the hidden world than you do.” He smiled and ate a bite of potato.

As he said this, Doris shimmered in the corner behind him.

I bit my tongue. “Perhaps I misjudged you.”

Jack and Gillian shared a look, and I almost told him there and then but hesitated a moment too long. “Are you ready for coffee and dessert?”

“Sounds good,” he said.

“I’ll help you.” Gillian put her napkin next to her plate and followed me into the kitchen where she turned to me. “Are you going to tell him about Doris tonight?”

I blew out a breath. “I seriously considered it, but things are going so well. I don’t want to jinx it.” I shook my head. “Much as I want to, I think our relationship is too fragile.”

“Don’t wait too long.” Gillian carried the tray of tartlets to the table.

I followed with the coffee.

George glanced at his phone. “I have to go.” He stood, took a sip of coffee, and grabbed a tartlet. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you all again soon.”

“Wait!” I said. “Is it about the murder?”

George nodded but went out the front door without saying anything more, his phone up to his ear.

“He really is the most frustrating man! Good thing I didn’t go out to dinner with him. It would have been a short date.”

After George left, Doris joined us in the kitchen as we cleaned up. “When are you going to tell him about me?”

“I saw you shimmering in the corner. Thanks for not scaring him, Doris. How’s Amelia?”

She shook her head. “As I told you, I have no idea how I got here or how to leave. People talk about ‘summoning’ ghosts. No one asked me if I wanted to show up, and I doubt if anyone asked her.”

“Do you regret being here?”

She paused. “I don’t, but she might. Being back here has brought back some of my memories. Being in my mother’s house again, seeing her needlework, the rooms where I played as a child, even the beach where I died.” Her clothes shifted to a black mourning dress complete with veil. “I think Amelia is reliving a trauma she doesn’t understand in a place that’s unfamiliar to her.”

“Where is she?”

Doris pointed at the couch where Amelia had lain earlier. “She’s working on control.”

“Is there anything we can do to help her?”

“Just don’t scream while she’s working on this. You living can be pretty scary at times.”

I turned toward Gillian and Jack, who stared at the couch. “Got that?”

Gillian nodded, but Jack said, “I can’t believe we have two of them!”

Doris made a moue. “It’s hard being a ghost. I can inhabit Thor, but I can’t pet him. I miss soft cat fur. I miss warm fires. I miss butterfly wings.”

“I’m sorry, Doris. But at least you still have some senses like hearing and seeing without a corporeal body even if you can’t touch or feel sensations.”

“But I can’t smell your bouquet of pretty flowers on the mantel.”

I looked over at the vase and noticed that a Stargazer lily had shed some of its petals. I went over and picked them up. “These are poisonous to Thor.” I threw them into my new red kitchen trashcan. “He won’t be able to get at them in there.”

“You really are only half there,” Jack said.

And Doris vanished.

“Jack!” I yelled and clapped my hand over my mouth, remembering Doris’ words of warning. I turned to reassure Amelia, but she was gone, too. “Rats.”

He held up his hands. “I wasn’t trying to upset her. I was curious.”

“Try to restrain your curiosity.” I glowered.

“Something else I was curious about. George doesn’t know about Doris. George knows you have a cat. How about Doris possesses Thor and walks with me on a leash straight into the police station? I’m still working with George on getting my car registered as an historic vehicle. I can ask for some water for Thoris, take her off the leash, and reengage George’s attention. Thoris can wander around the police station and gather some intel for us. What do you think?”

Doris’ head reappeared. “I think that’s hunky dory.”