Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
After Nic and his group left, we headed out as well.
I left Lilac at the shop. I felt better now that we had a plan.
I asked her to fill in our three resident ghosts.
Maybe Tessa would take the assignment better from Lilac than me.
She didn’t like to do much work. Unless it was watching a handsome man.
That she’d volunteer for in a heartbeat.
As George pulled the car into the hospital parking lot, I took a big sip of my potion.
Hospitals were fertile ground for a haunting.
People came in and died, sometimes without even knowing what had happened to them.
And the pace never slowed. Especially in a hospital with a trauma center, like St. Anges.
Ghosts in hospital gowns, surgical scrubs, and bloody outerwear crowded the lobby.
“I’m glad I didn’t bring Lilac,” I muttered as we headed to the elevators. “It’s hard enough for me to keep my mind clear and not attract attention.”
“The place is cold, but I always thought it was the temp they kept these buildings at,” Bubba paused as we stepped onto the elevator, “not, you know.”
As the elevator door closed, a ghost ran toward it. His eyes were wide and looking at me. It was the same ghost that had been at Fountain Square that had followed me and got mad when we out maneuvered him.
“We have a problem,” I said as Bubba pushed the button for the fifth floor where we’d been told we’d find both Catherine and Fred. They were both in the private suites where our family corporation paid for all the costs rather than figuring out a way to code ghost attack into the insurance systems.
“Of course we do. It’s a day that ends in ‘y’. We always have problems.” He groaned, then took a deep breath and nodded. “Fine, what’s going on?”
I explained that I’d just seen the same ghost as yesterday near Jackson Square. The one who realized we’d gave him the slip. “Somehow, he’s here.”
Bubba turned to look at me. “Rory said that was impossible.”
“I know. Something’s making him stronger, more aware. I need to talk to Alexander sometime today. Maybe he can meet us here and I can point out the ghost. If he’s been a knight forever, maybe he’ll know what to do.”
Bubba held the door open for me as we walked out onto the floor. There were fewer ghosts here and the ones who were floating around were either hospital personnel or were fortune tellers. The vibe was a lot less stressed here.
The nurse at the desk looked up. “Well, Eddie Cayce, don’t you look all grown up. You probably don’t recognize me. I don’t think I’ve seen you for years. Not since we lost your parents. I always felt bad for the three of you kids.”
“Two kids, me and Nic, my brother.” I clarified. “Anyway, we’re here to see Catherine. Is she awake?”
“Go on in. I think she’s bored, she keeps changing channels and can’t settle on anything.” The nurse pointed to the room across the hall. “It was super nice to see you.”
“You too,” I said, even though I still hadn’t recognized the woman.
Bubba leaned closer. “Who were you talking to?”
“What do you mean? The nurse at the desk.” I turned back to point at her, but she’d already left the area.
“Eddie, no one was there. I was looking at the hallway signs trying to find the suites and you headed over to the desk. I thought you were looking for something on paper to show who was in what room.” Bubba watched me closely.
“Huh, she said she remembered me. And that there were three kids here the night Mom and Dad died. My family and their secrets. You don’t think they could have hid a brother or sister from Nic and I, do you?
” I paused my wondering before going in to see Catherine.
All my life it had been me and Nic. No third child.
As intriguing as the idea was, I pushed it aside to chat with Annamae on another day.
Now I wish I’d gotten the nurse’s name. Maybe she’ll come back during my visit.
I smiled at Bubba letting him know I was fine.
“I tell you, ghosts and hospitals. They go hand in hand. Let’s go chat with Catherine. ”
As we walked in, she had the remote up, changing the channel again.
Catherine looked over and set the remote down on the bed.
“Thank goodness. Someone to ease my boredom. Every day they say it looks like I might go home. Then the doctors come in and ask for one more test. I’ve been poked, prodded and drained of any bodily fluid I might still have. Did you catch who did this yet?”
“Not yet. I wanted to talk to you and see what you remember. I know you talked to the police, but getting information out of them is tricky. Especially when it deals with our specialties” I nodded to the bedside chair, asking permission before I just sat down.
“Of course, have a seat. Anyway, I didn’t mention this to the police, but when he approached me, he said, ‘Let’s get you safe.
” She paused and looked at me. “I thought it was one of your guys since you were so freaked out. Then, I felt a prick on my arm and nothing. I woke up in that chair where you found me.”
“Did he say anything else?” I prompted. “Did you see his face?”
“He wore a mask and weirdly, he smelled like candied pecans. You know when they’re warm, right out of the oven.
He fed me, let me go to the bathroom, but he must have put something in my food.
I wasn’t trying to escape. I wasn’t even thinking about it.
I should have at least tried, right?” She turned to me, fear in her eyes. “Why didn’t I try to escape?”
“Whatever he gave you must have stopped you. So he didn’t hurt you, try to get information about other mediums? Nothing?”
“He asked what I knew about you. What you’d been doing before coming back to New Orleans?
If I thought you were happy.” She closed her eyes and her finger jerked and hit a button on the remote.
A rom-com came on the television. Catherine’s eyes fluttered open.
“I love this movie. I know, hopeless romantic, but still. He looked disappointed when I told him I barely knew you. Then he left and the next time I woke up, you were there to save me.”
I noticed that Catherine’s gaze was glued to the television.
She’d finally found something to keep her attention.
I stood and squeezed her hand. “If you need anything, just ask the nurse. We keep close tabs on our visitors. Books, a different streaming service, food, if it’s approved by the doctor. You name it. I’m sorry this happened.”
Catherine looked up as I stood. “It’s not your fault.
I’m not even sure that I was in danger. He seemed really nice.
Anyway, I’ll probably ask for some books if they’re keeping me much longer.
The ghost nurse says I’m dehydrated and my brain doesn’t work as well when that happens. Maybe I’ll know more later.”
Of course, Catherine would have seen the ghost nurse. “Do you know what her name is? The ghost nurse?”
Catherine’s gaze drifted back to the television. “Florence, but she said to call her Flo. When I made a joke about her selling me kidnapping insurance, she didn’t get it. That’s when I realized she was a ghost.”
“Ghost never see the humor.” I patted her on the arm again. “I’ll come back tomorrow.”
Catherine yawned and settled into the bed. “Oh, and I think someone’s been watching me. Just a feeling.”
In the hallway, Bubba turned to me. “Did we learn anything from that trip?”
“She said the guy was protecting her and he smelled like candied pecans.” I shrugged and pointed down the hall. “Let’s chat with Fred. Then I want to go see if we can reach out to Alicia Moore. Everything’s been so crazy I haven’t even gotten over to the sight of the second killing.”
“You are an interior designer, not the lead investigator on these killings,” Bubba reminded me.
“And yet? Don’t question my methods. I don’t want to be knee deep in a murder investigation, but you have to realize after what happened to Fred that I’m a target.”
He grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to him.
I looked up at him and saw the intensity in his face.
“And that’s the other reason I’d rather have you anywhere but out wandering around New Orleans right now.
Two mediums are dead. One we just got back from a kidnapping.
And you’re still running around like there’s no danger out there. ”
“You’re scared,” I said, realizing that was the emotion I was seeing.
He closed his eyes. “And you’re not? Eddie, he got to Fred right outside the compound. He got to me. I was leading you to the car where either the killer or the kidnapper was in charge. Me. I’m supposed to be protecting you.”
“That wasn’t your fault.” I hadn’t realized how upset Bubba was over last night’s events. “You were acting under a potion. You get a pass. Besides, we’re here to protect each other. I’m not some princess that needs saving.”
“I kind of like the imagery though,” Bubba sighed, then kissed me. Not something he usually did when he was in protection mode. Another sign that he was really worried. “I’m okay. I just needed to apologize…”
“No, you don’t. Spell and potion, remember?
Anyway, I think you’re right. After we talk to Fred and visit the shop where Alicia was killed, I want to go home.
My senses are buzzing right now and the potion isn’t helping.
” I took another swig then squeezed Bubba’s hand as we walked to Fred’s room.
“I can be reasonable. Just not all the time.”
“You just be you. I’ll deal with my insecurities as they come.” He looked in the room, then nodded. “Go ahead.”
Fred was sitting in a chair in a robe and slippers. He had the television on a sports channel. He had a book open and was reading. From the cover, the book was about the civil war. I’d have to send him a bookstore gift card. Well, I’d ask Mel to send one out. “Hey Fred, how are you this morning?”