“Yes, Mia.”
Cid walked away to give them privacy. He still could hear them, but he felt odd standing there while his two friends sorted things out. Murphy was going to miss Mia, and she knew this. But Murphy didn’t want to go along, hating air travel of any kind.
“Take no chances,” Murphy told her.
“Without you having my back, I’ll be very careful,” Mia said and walked towards the house.
Cid pretended he didn’t see the deflation in the ghost or the expression of deep sadness. Murphy would not voluntarily share his grief. It wasn’t what men of his era did.
~
Jessie glanced over at the carved wooden box on the passenger seat of his truck. It had arrived days ago from New Orleans, but so far, Faye hadn’t appeared. Maybe she was having trouble transporting or was still mad at him for insisting that she join them. He didn’t want to go into a reported environment of ghosts without Faye having his back. Not that she was handy in a fight, but she could see things the rest of them couldn’t.
“I don’t know what’s keeping you, Faye. I’m five minutes from pulling into Mr. Wonderful’s farm. I just thought I’d warn you.”
“He’s not that wonderful,” Faye said manifesting. She had chosen a smart vintage Chanel traveling suit.
Jesse grinned at the little pillbox hat that matched the pale pink outfit. “Good to see you. I have missed you.”
Faye couldn’t help smiling. It was nice to be missed by the handsome contractor. The last time she saw Jesse, he was heading out to spend some time with the slender chimney expert. “How’s Skins?”
“I suppose she’s doing well. This is her season. Imagine all those fireplaces that need to be checked out now that the snow’s set in.”
“You suppose she’s doing well…” Faye led.
Jesse’s lip twitched slightly. “We were a no-go after the first rainy day we were together and she had to have an actual conversation with me.”
“You’re not much of a talker,” Faye commented.
“I really don’t think that everything needs to be talked about. Things are what they are, and shit happens. You just need to roll with the punches and well… get on with life.”
“Your platitudes have a suspicious southern twang to them,” Faye said.
“I’ve been working down south. Nice people, but I do tend to pick up the accent after a few weeks.”
“Didn’t they find it insulting?” Faye asked.
“If they did, they have never said,” Jesse said. “Why do you ask?”
“The ghosts in NOLA found my trying to fit in irritating.”
“Sorry to hear that. Did you gather any useful information?” Jesse asked.
“Becky asked around, and my pin was last in the property of Minerva de Créquy, who was notorious for attending parties where the clergy were never invited. She also had no children but supported dozens of nieces and nephews and their children. I’m either she or one of her favorites because I had the emerald. The hunch that I may be Em Ribald wasn’t far off the mark. Minerva de Créquy won the pin from Em in a poker game.”
“How in the world did you find that out?”
“A few ghosts of debauchers they partied with are still haunting some of New Orleans’s less reputable establishments. No one knows what happened to either woman, but stories abound.”
“I don’t see you as a frequenter of blue establishments, so I’m going to say maybe you’re a relative.”
Faye looked over at Jesse. “Are you saying I’m a prude?”
“No. I just get this strong morality vibe off you. Like Cid. You’re a lot like Cid.”
Faye smiled. She liked Cid. He was a bit bossy and pedantic, but he didn’t lie to her, not even when it was easier. Faye respected that. He also was smart and well read. He knew the origins of words like broach and how you could spell it another way brooch, but he preferred it the old way broach. He said that when in doubt, consult Merriam Webster. Faye mistakenly thought this was a person and not a dictionary. Fortunately for her, she didn’t mention it to Jesse. Jesse teased her too much.
“I’m glad you decided to come with us,” Jesse said.
“Kiki offered me a good wage.”
“We’re all getting a good wage, which makes me very suspicious,” Jesse said. “I wasn’t even going to go, except Kiki said the roof had already been fixed.”
“Espinas,” Faye said. “Why don’t you approach Dita Espina and tell her how the sexual harassment by her employees makes you feel?”
“Because that would be the adult thing to do,” Jesse said.
“You’re an adult.”
“On the outside. Inside, I’m an insecure thirteen-year-old boy with major maturity problems.”
This admission caused Faye to laugh.
“You think that’s funny, do you?”
“No, but very refreshing. The spirit guides I’ve been hanging with at Becky’s place will never admit they have or had any faults.”
“I imagine being a spirit guide is serious business.”
“Not one I would like to get into,” Faye said. “A lot of their information is dependent upon sifting through gossip and dealing with the hangers-on. These are the ghosts who, for whatever reason, don’t want to have the light sort them. Usually, there is a past that may not be bear up to Heaven’s scrutiny.”
“Ah, scallywags and scoundrels.”
“If those adjectives could be used for females too, then yes.”
“That’s Cid’s area,” Jesse acknowledged. “But I do see your point.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything else you’d like to talk about before we arrive at Mr. Wonderful’s farm?”
“I’d like to continue my search at my own pace. Maybe return to Hidden Meadow to further investigate.”
“You’ll need Kiki pulling for you to do that. Hal is a very private person.”
“He wouldn’t know I was there.”
“Oh, I assumed I or
