Chapter 18

I woke to the smell of coffee and got up. I wrapped my silk kimono around me and headed downstairs. “What time is it?” I stood in the kitchen archway.

“Good morning.” Gillian brought me a steaming cup. “You slept pretty soundly.”

I rubbed my eyes and took the coffee from her. What was it about coffee? “Ah.” Plopping onto the couch, I tucked my feet under me and leaned my head against the back cushion. The smell of pungent cinnamon wafted to me.

Gillian placed a plate of morning buns fresh out of the oven on a trivet on the coffee table. A black paw surfaced from the other side of the table.

“Not for you, Thor. Come into the kitchen.”

My furry black cat followed Gillian into the kitchen and emitted a cracked meow. A can top popped, followed by slurping noises.

Gillian returned. “That’ll hold him for a while.”

“Where’s Jack?”

“On the beach. He thought he’d get a little time in with the sand and sea before we head home. He’ll be back soon.” She nodded toward the buns. “Try one.”

I picked one up and smelled it. “Mmm. He’s missing out.” I ripped the bun apart, pulling the outer edge away, breaking off a piece, and taking a bite. “Oh, these are wonderful.” Soft, warm, cinnamony, sweet. Yum.

“Thanks. I made them.”

“Gillian, you have unsuspected talents. You’ve been holding out on me.”

She laughed. “It’s all Jack’s fault. He said we don’t cook.”

“I’m glad he insulted us.” I raised the bun in a salute to her, took another bite, and then licked the warm frosting off my fingers.

“Thanks. More coffee?”

“Please.”

After my second cup, I went upstairs to get dressed. When I came back down, Jack had returned and was helping himself to the buns.

“Morning, Jack. Why are you frowning?”

“It doesn’t feel right leaving before we know you’ll be safe.”

Gillian handed him a cup of coffee. “We have to earn our living,” she reminded him.

Someone rang my front door bell. I merely turned my head. It was a testament to how emotionally spent I was that I didn’t jump out of my skin.

“Should I get it?”

“Yes, thanks, Gillian.”

To her credit, she checked the peephole Jack installed. “It’s Samantha.” She opened the door. “Hi, Samantha. C’mon in. Would you like some coffee? A cinnamon bun?”

Today Samantha was dressed more simply than usual in a blue and silver bohemian outfit, the yoke over her amplitude emblazoned with embroidery and beads. Her wavy red hair hung loose down her back. She seemed relaxed as she walked over to the glider and sat down. “Yes, please. I’m glad you’re all here. I’ve already told Ricardo. I love the web site, by the way.”

Gillian brought her coffee. I pushed the plate of buns toward her. She closed her eyes, peaked her hands over her nose for a moment, opened her eyes, and took a bun from the plate. “Okay. Remember when I said I’d get back to you with details for a séance?”

“Yes,” I said.

“I’m looking for my dead fiancé, Gwilym. He was killed on your beach years before you moved in, Cass. At first, I looked for him because I missed him and was lonely. Now I want to find him to ask him if…if it’s all right if I move on with my life.”

“I’d noticed that you haven’t been back recently to film. I assumed you were still working on a new prototype camera.”

“That’s part of it, but after Brendan and I started dating, I got sidetracked. The police said they’d return my camera after the trial, so I let it go. Put it out of my mind. Focused on the here and now.”

“Understandable.”

“The ‘now’ circled around and brought me back to where I started. I know it might sound crazy, wanting Gwilym’s permission, but it feels right to me. The time has come. I do think there’s order in the universe and that it doesn’t pay to disturb the order.”

“I’ve wondered why you thought he was still here, haunting my beach.”

“I don’t know for sure that he is, but I really want to know what happened to him.”

“You’re looking for closure.” I saw the shimmer behind Samantha and knew that Doris was sympathizing with her. “We’ll do what we can to help you find it.”

“Thanks, Cass. I know there are no guarantees, but I really feel I have to try. I’ve been doing a lot of research on what happens when we die. I couldn’t bear the thought that he was just gone.” She wiped her eyes.

“Does Brendan know you want to do this?” I asked.

“Yes, but I can’t really tell what he thinks about the séance. He clams up.”

My heart broke for her. “I’m not sure we’re going to find the answers you want.”

“I really need to try.” She wiped her eyes and blew her nose.

“Okay then,” I said. “I guess this séance is on. We’ll do it tonight. I’ll leave it up to you to tell Brendan.”

Samantha nodded. “I’ll figure something out.” Samantha took a second bun.

My phone rang. “Hello? Oh, hi, George.”

“How are you doing this morning? Still alive?”

“Ha ha. Yes, we’re all alive. Maybe you scared the bad guys away. You should come by more often.”

“I might just do that.”

That stopped me. “Really?”

The air in the room felt as though it were vibrating.

“What was that? Did you feel that?” Samantha said, her voice rising as she looked around.

“What?” I said, momentarily distracted from the phone.

She waved her hands in the air. “It was as if all the little air molecules were dancing.”

Yup. That was a pretty good description. Her perspicacity surprised me.

I pursed my lips and shook my head. “Nope.” I lied through my teeth.

“Maybe your furnace kicked on,” Gillian said. “It does feel a little warmer in here.”

I turned back to my call. “Sorry, George. Samantha’s here.”

“I won’t keep you. We don’t have anything new. I’ll let you know if we discover anything germane, and I’ll be by later to check your cabinetry.”

“Nothing more on the pen?”

“Not yet. I’ll check on you later. Bye.” He clicked off.

I dropped my phone in my pocket. “No one’s scaring me out of my house now that I know about a potential treasure here.” I said half to myself.

“It’s not worth dying over,” Jack said.

“Treasure? Don’t be hasty,” Samantha said.

I laughed. “You all are welcome to stick around and help me look. It seems there’s a rumor of hidden gems in my house, but I sure haven’t found anything. I could use a little filthy lucre to pay my bills.”

“Don’t forget your friends if you find it. I have to go open the shop. Do you mind if I take another of these for the road?”

“I’ll get something for you to put it in.” Gillian went into the kitchen and returned with a metal sandwich box. “Here you go. Please return it when you’re through with it. Glad you like them.”

“Love them. Thanks for understanding and agreeing to the séance.”

“Whatever we can do to help. I’m also curious about what will happen. See you tonight and please don’t spread it around about possible riches.”

“Of course not.” She winked as she slipped out the door.