CHAPTER TWELVE

 

While Naomi warned the wizards, Kelly and I went into the dojo. Esther stood as far away from her typewriter as she could get as if she thought that with enough effort, she could drag it with her. She did not look happy.

“I hate not being able to go with you,” Esther said.

“Everyone’s all right,” I said.

“Says you.”

Kelly walked over and placed a hand on the Underwood so she could join the conversation.

“Okay,” Kelly said. “Ask her.”

I shrugged. “Esther, have you seen any ghosts lately?”

“Just me.”

“Ever see a ghost who could fly?” Kelly asked.

“Or who could make physical contact with his surroundings?” I asked.

“No to Kelly. Yes to Jonathan but they have to be mad as hell.”

“Poltergeists. But what if they aren’t pissed?”

“Little problem there,” Esther said and waved her hand back and forth through the counter.

“But you’re standing on the floor,” Kelly said. “You walk up the stairs one step at a time.”

“I can also walk through stairs. So?”

“So why do you use stairs to go up a flight? Why do you sit in chairs rather than fall through them?”

“How the hell should I know? It’s not like I went to ghost school.” Esther pointed to the back door. “Your dumb Dora just came in.”

Naomi walked in and saw us talking to what appeared to her to be nothing. “What’s going on?”

I turned to look at her. “Naomi, I want you to meet my secretary.”

“Secretary?” Esther asked and crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s all I am to you?”

“And my good friend,” I said.

“That’s a little better.”

“Um, what are you talking about?” Naomi asked.

“Come here,” I said and took her by the hand. I led her to the typewriter and placed her fingers on the keys. Kelly shifted her hand to the back of the machine so she’d be out of the way.

“You want me to type a letter? There’s no paper.”

“Funny. Look behind you.”

Naomi took her hand off the keys and turned. “What?”

“Keep your hand on the typewriter,” Kelly said.

“Why?”

“Just do it,” I said.

She touched the typewriter and turned. Esther jumped toward her. “Boo!”

“Shit!” Naomi said, leaping back.

Esther laughed.

“Play nice,” I said.

“I don’t like her,” Esther said.

“Play nice anyway.”

Naomi touched the typewriter again, and Esther gave her a wave. “You sure like to adjust your makeup a lot,” Esther said.

“What?”

“Yesterday in Jonathan’s office,” Esther said. “You kept checking your looks in that compact mirror in your purse before he got there.”

“Naomi,” I said, “meet Esther.”

“I’d offer to shake hands,” Esther said, “but it’s a bit troublesome.” She waved her hand through Naomi.

“Weird,” Naomi said. “You’d think I’d feel a chill or something.”

“I can do that,” Esther said, “but I don’t like to show off.”

Naomi took her hand from the typewriter then touched it again.

“Playing peekaboo?” Esther asked.

“Can anyone who touches the typewriter see and hear her?”

“Normal people usually can’t,” I said. “There are a few exceptions—people who are dying, for example—but not many. What did Cantrell say?”

“He and Al are going to DGI. They don’t want to face a Sekutar without some backup.”

“Maybe they’re smarter than they look,” Kelly said.

“Let’s hope so,” I said. “Just the same, I think we should head over there.”

“Can I go?” Esther asked.

“Not this time. I want you to stay here with Naomi.”

“She’s no fun at all.”

Naomi still had her hand on the typewriter. “I can hear you, you know.”

“Good.”