A Spirited Gift

“You’re a cheeky wench, by God that’s the truth! You don’t deserve the information about the murder you find so much more interesting than my own.”

“What kind of information?” I asked, not really paying much attention. Ghosts seemed to be oblivious to their annoying habits.

“Only that your chief suspect has crossed over.”

“Crossed over what?”

“Crossed over—don’t be so thick! I know you understand the King’s English!”

I stopped looking in one of the dresser drawers. “You mean he’s dead?”

“Most people would assume that.”

“How do you know?”

He began rising from the bed toward the ceiling—a movement he made whenever he was upset, I’d noticed. “How do ye think I know? Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe you’re related to me. It must be the foul air or the strange food you eat that keeps your brain from working as it should.”

“Are you sure?” I started thinking about Gramps and Chief Michaels leaving the Blue Whale while the investigation was still going on. They might have heard about Matthew’s death. “Where is he?”

“I can’t say. Things are different now. I can take you there, but I can’t explain exactly where he is.”

I thought about my investigation here. If I left now, I might never get back in. But if Matthew was dead—there could be more evidence where he was.

“You can’t talk to him, can you? I mean, he’s dead and you’re dead—”

“I told you, it’s not a social club. I don’t know where he’s gone. If you know one of his relations, you might be able to talk to him through them.”

I shrugged. “Okay. Just thought I’d ask.”

“Again,” he reminded me. “You have no memory either, girl. Mayhap this is why women should be at home—seen but not heard. You waste your time dithering about things that aren’t important.”

“Okay. That’s fine. Insult me when you need my help.”

He laughed in a scornful way. “As you need mine to find your dead suspect.”

“All right.” I decided to leave and investigate Matthew’s possible death. “But you better be right.”

“Bloodthirsty vixen!”

I realized how my last statement must have sounded and rushed to my defense. “I don’t want him to be dead, but if I leave to look for him and lose this crime scene—never mind.”

The door to the room opened and Marissa looked around. “Dae?”

“Hi, Marissa.” At least it wasn’t a deputy.

“You went through the crime scene tape? I hope you don’t get in trouble for that. That police officer was kind of specific about not letting anyone in here.”

“I was hoping to find something that might help. No one else needs to know. I promise you won’t get in any trouble for this either.”

“I understand. Did you find anything?”

“No.” I walked to the door. The ghost was gone. “I have to leave now and look for something else.”

“Can I help?”

“No, I—”

“Dae, who were you talking to in here?” she asked as she glanced around the room again. “Are you alone?”

“Yes. Mostly.”

“I thought I heard voices. That’s why I came in.”

“Oh that!” I laughed. “It’s a bad habit—talking to myself.” I really looked at her. Her pretty blond hair was messed up and her clothes looked rumpled, as though she’d slept in them. I was going to have a word with Kevin about overworking the poor girl.

Marissa closed the door as we left the room, and this time, she locked it and pocketed the key. “I hope you don’t think I was spying on you.”

“No. Not at all. I know it’s part of your job to keep up with what’s going on at the inn. And you’re very good at it. I hope Kevin appreciates you. You know how men can be sometimes—they can’t see what’s under their noses.”

She sniffed a little and looked like she might cry. “I know exactly what you mean, Dae.”

I hugged her impulsively. “I’ll talk to Kevin. You need some time off. I hope everything is okay with your grandfather.”

“He’s fine, thanks.” She smiled wearily. “You’re right, though. Between taking care of him and the extra work here, I’m exhausted. Most of the time, I don’t know if I’m coming or going. A person can make mistakes that way. I’m trying hard not to let that happen.”

I spent a few more minutes trying to cheer her up, but she had other things she had to do. I did too, but I decided to take a minute and tell Kevin that she needed some time off. He probably hadn’t even noticed—he was such a workaholic.

I found him cleaning up the glass in the now-dry ballroom. He looked haggard too. We were all stretched too thin, but there wasn’t any way but through it. I told him about running into Marissa upstairs and suggested that he either hire someone else to help her or at least give her a few days off.

He handed me the oversized dust pan. “What were you doing upstairs? Please tell me you didn’t go in Matthew’s or Sandi’s room. Because the police have them taped off and they wouldn’t be happy knowing you went in and contaminated the crime scene.”

“I was just looking around a little. I didn’t touch anything.”

“Dae, I know you have some extraordinary gifts, but you have to be careful how you use them. You’re worried about Marissa—but you’re pushing yourself hard too.”