Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
R ansom’s phone buzzes to life just as Bess and Nettie appear right here in the main dining room.
Nettie just threatened us with a naked good time, but judging by that look on Ransom’s face, it will have to wait.
“Perfect timing, ladies,” he says as he lands a quick kiss to my cheek. “There’s a tussle in the casino and my help is needed. Can I catch you at the show?”
“You bet,” I tell him as we share a kiss and he takes off.
“You don’t look so thrilled,” Nettie says as they take their seats. “Don’t tell me he’s trying to warm you up to a threesome so early in the marriage.”
“Would you stop?” Bess swats her. “First of all, they’re not married yet. And second of all, I’d throw him overboard myself if he ever proposed the idea.”
“I’d help you do it,” I say. “But nothing is the matter. Unless you count the fact that Ransom asked me to steer clear of the case all the way around.”
“Tell me something new,” Bess says. “He always insists you steer clear, but he’s not once complained when you’ve caught the killer.”
“True,” I muse. “But it’s not like there’s a ghost lingering around begging me to hop to it either.”
A spray of hot pink stars sparkles in the middle of the table and that cute brunette in the hot pink wool coat appears, with her midriff sank right through the votive candles twinkling away inside her belly. Needless to say, it’s a disconcerting sight.
“Oh, she’s here,” I say, holding out my hands for Bess and Nettie to clasp onto me. I’m not sure why, but I seem to work as a conduit, and even though Bess and Nettie can’t see the dead, they can sure hear what the dead have to say as long as they’re holding my hands. Anyone can, really.
Come to find out, I’m something called transmundane, further classified as supersensual, which means I can see clear through to the other side. Well, not really. But I can certainly see the ghosts that come back to help me solve a case. It’s some sort of an apparition-based justice system the universe has decided to pair me with no thanks to that bonk on the head Nettie inadvertently gave me.
“Hey there.” The chipper brunette waves my way.
She looks somewhere in her early thirties, clear skin, and I do mean clear, pert nose, bowtie lips, and dark curls to die for. Her voice is high-pitched and she’s both adorable and perky all around.
“So how does this work?” she asks. “It’s my first time being evicted from Paradise, and to be honest, I’m not really loving the weather. Besides, I’ve got a date with Gannon Robinson and I’ve been after that heart attack on a stick for ages. He got that nickname because he had a heart attack on a stick when he was impaled—the Roman Empire was so barbaric. But then, it’s still going strong, isn’t it? Anyway, if I don’t show up, he’s libel to think I’ve ghosted him.” She makes a face. “It works the same up there as well.” She gasps as she takes a look around. “Am I on a cruise ship? Oh wow, I’ve always wanted to take a cruise. For some reason, I thought I was stuck back in Connecticut at the airport what with all the luggage I was seeing earlier.”
That would be yesterday at the gangway, but I’m not about to correct her.
“You’re not just on a cruise ship, honey”—Nettie leans in—“you’re on a murder cruise of a lifetime.”
“Would you stop?” Bess wiggles Nettie’s hand. “Please ignore her. I’m Bess, that numskull is Nettie, and Trixie is your go-to girl when it comes to solving this homicide. What’s your name, sweetie?”
“Beatrice Fiddlefae,” she says, slightly bowing at the three of us. “It’s so nice to meet you all. And a cruise? Don’t get me wrong, but I feel as if I’ve won the homicide helpline lottery! The food, the shopping, the endless supply of pastries and cakes, and—oh please tell me they serve lobster bisque.”
I nod her way. “I’m about to have some myself.”
She squeals with delight. “Well, don’t mind me, but it appears I’ll be staying for dinner. But while we wait for the food, why don’t you fill me in on the who, what, where, and why. Who’s the poor thing that kicked the bucket?”
I lean her way. “A woman by the name of Lucy Taylor.”
A horrible roar comes from the spirit among us and her entire body turns a bright shade of red.
“Did you say Lucy Taylor?” Her voice rolls like thunder as she asks the question.
I’m almost afraid to nod, but reluctantly I do.
Another roar comes from the woman, this time ten times louder than before and the entire table vibrates from it.
“That little witch had it coming,” she snips. “I hope she rots in hell.”
And with that, she up and disappears in a thunderous display of bright pink stars.
I take it she lost her appetite.
Bess, Nettie, and I exchange a glance as we pant in the aftermath.
“You heard the dead woman,” Nettie says as she picks up her menu. “The little witch had it coming. Case closed. What’s for dessert tonight?”
I shake my head at her. “No way is it case closed. That little tirade of hers only makes me want to dig in deeper.”
“What are you saying?” Bess asks with a hopeful expression.
“I’m saying that come tomorrow there’s a certain bride-to-be I can’t wait to have a word with. Something strange is happening here, and I want to get to the bottom of it.”
“Does that mean what I think it does?” Nettie lifts a wiry brow my way.
“That’s right. The investigation is back on, girls. I’ll let Ransom know myself. In due time, of course.”
One thing is for sure, this case is far from closed.
Lucy Taylor deserves justice, and whether or not the dead want to lend a hand, I’ll make sure she gets it.