Faye’s lip trembled. “You’d do that for me?”
“When are you going to get into your transparent head that Cid and I care what happens to you?” Jesse asked.
“I’m sorry. I just assumed you had your own lives to live.”
“I can’t speak for Cid, but I know him well enough that, if you want to put in the time to really research your life and death, he’s in.”
“I’m going to consult with Mr. Wonder… Mr. Murphy about this first. He’s been ghosting far longer than I have.”
“No better man. Just don’t tell him I told you that.”
“It’ll be our secret,” Faye said and disappeared.
Jesse pulled into the drive, taking care that he didn’t overrun the curb with his fifth-wheel trailer. He smiled seeing how the Martin house already looked lived in. There were a few window shades askew, and the porch steps had lost the new wood look to them. Many little sets of feet and sticky fingers had gone down those steps since they put them in. He was proud of his efforts helping Ted rebuild after the fire. Jesse concentrated on the carriage house/office, but he had put in a lot of hard physical hours helping Cid build the farmhouse in order to get the Martin family housed before Mia gave birth to the twins.
Cid walked into the parking lot near the entrance to his property. He helped Jesse circle the trailer around and back it in across several of the last parking spots.
Jesse got out and gave Cid a hearty handshake. “Are we ready for this? It just seems like months ago we tackled a haunted house,” Jesse said.
“It was. I need the money. Dating is expensive,” Cid said.
“Ah, I heard the illusive Rand was back in the picture.”
“From whom?”
“Mia.”
“You’re communicating with Mia?”
“She calls and checks in. I think she’s adopted me like you other lost boys.”
“Does Ted know about this?” Cid asked worried.
“Don’t worry, Ted’s woman is Ted’s woman. She’s just being a good friend.”
“I’ll have to warn her about being too good of a friend…”
“I sense a little jealousy. I would never ever overstep myself. I have a feeling she’d not like that at all.”
“You would be correct. Ethan has prepared a lunch. Be kind, he’s filling big shoes.”
“Careful, your humility is fading.”
Murphy waited for the men to enter the house before he entered the trailer. He was up to no good. Mia may have warned him off his clown stunt, but he had others. He had learned a lot over the years with pranking Mike Dupree.
“And what is your business here?” Faye asked from behind him.
Murphy jumped and almost dropped his axe.
“Monkey business, I see,” Faye said.
Murphy whipped his hat off his head and said, “I’m sorry, Miss Faye, I had no idea you were in here. I would have knocked.”
“That’s alright. I’ve been hired on to have the boys’ backs, much like you have Mia’s.”
“Do they pay you in trees?”
“Heavens no! I get paid in books.”
“You really should get a better deal than books.”
“I love to read. Kiki gave me an e-reader that I can use without short-circuiting it. Maybe you should get one. There must be a book of manners that you could read.”
Murphy bristled. He didn’t really like this bossy ghost but knew Mia would like him to be a good host. “Again, I’m sorry for my intrusion,” he said, put on his hat, and disappeared.
~
Audrey Stavros slammed her hand down hard on the desktop. “Soggy cornflakes!”
Her husband ran in to see what the problem was. Audrey looked up at him and shook her head. “They are hiding something. I know it, but I can’t find anything. When I seem to get a lead, it dead-ends as if someone is watching me.”
“Maybe they are,” Orion said.
“The house isn’t for sale. It has been in this family for a hundred years,” Audrey said. “I can see if you’re trying to renovate it to sell, trying to keep information about it being haunted private, but according to Kiki, the last heir is returning because he is running for congress. His uncle is passing on the torch, and his support is with the stipulation that the future congressman live in the house.”
“Sounds like the start of a horror novel to me,” Orion commented.
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Audrey admitted. “Ted is taking Jake with them, so I’m not going to be able to slip behind the curtain.”
“Give your information and your fears to Kiki. Let her decide what is best. Maybe Alan can put together a contract that they get a healthy amount upfront, just in case they have to hightail it out of there.”
“I think it’s going to be a clash of the Titans, Alan against the law firm of…”
Orion lost track of the names after Audrey had named a dozen partners. “I’m glad I don’t have to fit all that on a business card.”
~
Kiki Pickles sat with Alan Jefferies as he explained the contract for Walnut Grove House.
“I want to stress that this is a nondisclosure addition that has heavy fines. They want to make sure whatever happens, or whatever you find in this home, stays in this home. If you’re thinking of employing any contractor who has a problem with holding his tongue, then I suggest looking elsewhere. The wrong person can not only sink his business but yours.”
“Looks like we may be finding some skeletons,” Kiki said. “I’ve been to the house. It’s been worked on sporadically. I will need the best to tie in all the work. The house deserves that.”
“Tell me about it.”
“It’s located three hours southwest, near the picturesque town of Pioneer Break, which is nestled between rolling hills. There is a large river
