they stop talking about the case when they start eating. They move on to lighter subjects, like how long Evian thinks she’ll stay in Toulouse, if she’ll go through the trouble of furnishing her apartment, Amina talks about some of the clients she had on her massage table today, and my mother gives away no less than three recipes, all of which were favorites of mine.
Clothilde and I settle in on the couch and listen. It’s nice to relax for a moment, even if we can’t partake in the delicious meal Amina has prepared. I let my mind wander as I study object after object in Amina’s living room, all some shade of yellow, orange, or red. The woman has clearly traveled a lot, and I’d be willing to bet every object in here has its own story and significance.
Some animal figurines are definitely from Northern Africa, others I’d say farther south. One carved wooden figure with swirls covering every surface must be from New Zealand, and I’d be willing to bet the golden Buddha statue was bought someplace in Asia.
It’s a good apartment, a warm and welcoming one.
For the hour we’re seated there, I hear no sound from the haunted guest room. I don’t know if this means Constantine is quiet or if ghost sounds don’t travel across walls. We never really had the opportunity to test this situation in our cemetery.
When Amina rises to get the apricot pie and Evian clears the table, I turn to Clothilde. “How about we try to get in to talk to Constantine? Maybe some one-on-one without the distraction of the living people would get us somewhere with her?”
Clothilde cocks one eyebrow but makes no other movement. “And how do you propose we do that? We’re stuck here with Evian.”
“We’re stuck here with that bracelet.”
Hoping she won’t freak out at my sudden intervention or by what I’m about to ask, I walk up to talk into Evian’s ear when she returns to the table. “We would greatly appreciate it if you could leave your bracelet in the guest room while you’re having dessert. We’d like to have a chat with the ghost in there without her bothering you.”
Catching on and clearly on board with the idea if her enthusiastic jump out of the couch is any indication, Clothilde sets up camp by Evian’s other ear. “Find an excuse to go into the guest room and leave the bracelet. But come back for it before you go home!”
I chuckle at this. I don’t want to be stuck in that room with Constantine either, but I really don’t think Evian would forget us at this point in time.
Evian rubs her neck and her eyes dart to the guest room door.
“Yes, in there. We want to talk to the other ghost without interruptions for a while,” I say. “She needs our help.”
“I’m sure Amina would appreciate it if you could calm down her ghost enough for her to decorate in there in a more modern style,” Clothilde says.
A glance at Amina, and then back to the door, this time for several seconds.
“Untie your bracelet, find an excuse to go in there for a second, and leave us with Constantine,” I say.
Evian’s breathing is speeding up and her eyes are now glued to the door. She’s fiddling with the bracelet, making my little finger tingle when she touches the bone hidden inside.
But she’s not doing what we ask.
Clothilde decides to change tack. She runs over to Amina, who is cutting up the pie. “You need to use the bathroom. Now. Pressing need.”
On cue, Amina puts down the knife. “Excuse me one minute,” she says to Evian and my mother, and runs off toward the bathroom.
“Get your mother to open the door!” Clothilde yells.
Right. Sure, why not. I lean over my mother and hope she’ll hear me. Perhaps the fact we’re family will help. I don’t think she’s generally very sensitive to ghosts. “You didn’t make your bed properly this morning, Maman. You better go in there and check. It wouldn’t do for one of the corners to hang loose.”
“Really?” Clothilde looks at me like I’ve gone completely crazy.
I shrug. “Know your audience.”
My mother gets up. “If you’ll excuse me, Captain Evian. I need to check on something in my room.”
I send off a wink to a gaping Clothilde.
She snaps out of it quickly, and rushes back to Evian. “Emeline, go after her. I don’t care if it’s not polite, just walk in after her, and drop the bracelet on the nightstand or something.”
Evian rubs her neck again and the blush is back, though it’s covering her neck now, rather than her cheeks from when she was flustered around Amina.
She really doesn’t want to go back in that room. But with Clothilde’s pestering, she ends up following my mother into her room.
My mother is checking on her bed, perfectly made as always, her brows drawn together in confusion. “I thought maybe I’d forgotten a corner,” she says, her voice uncertain.
Evian sends an annoyed glance around the room. She’s searching for us, I realize. She knows what we’ve been up to and she’s not happy about it.
“Well, next time, listen the first time we ask,” I tell her.
Shaking her head, Evian joins my mother at the end of the bed and guides her back toward the living room by a firm grip on her elbow. “Don’t worry about it. It’s probably this ghost Amina keeps talking about. That can mess with anybody’s mind.”
And as she walks through the door behind my mother, she drops the bracelet on the nightstand. And closes the door behind her.
“It worked!” Clothilde pumps her fist in the air and does a victory lap around the room.
“We’re certainly here,” I reply as I scan the room. “But where is Constantine?” The place seems abandoned.
Clothilde snorts. “Oh, I know how to bring this one out. Watch.” She jumps up to perch on the windowsill, dangling her legs.
“That’s my spot!” Constantine comes roaring out of the wall next to Clothilde, eyes wide, torn wedding dress flapping in a non-existent wind, making my friend jump with fright. I think I hear a yelp.
Clothilde quickly leaves the window and comes to join me on the other side of the bed. “Found her,” she says, her voice a little shaky.
Stifling my laughter, I clap my hands as if I’m trying to get a class-full of children to calm down. “Right. Constantine, we have about half an hour. How about we try to figure out your unfinished business?”