“Wait. I’m writing this down and I’ve found a major plot hole,” Audrey said. “Is Arnold planning on taking over Bridgeton?”
“We don’t know, but it looks like it.”
“But great-granddaddy has control over him, or did when he was at the house.”
“Which would give Bridgeton the edge. A negative elemental can give a human a lot of muscle when needed,” Cid said.
“Arnold has to be made aware of this,” Alan said.
“I think he is,” Father Santos said. “Who sought out whom, in regard to this renovation?”
“Calvin Franks called me. We renovated High Court for him and dealt with the volatile ghosts there successfully. He told me that Congressman Atwater had deep pockets and was looking for a reliable company to finish the renovation on his haunted family home. If I was interested, I should give the Atwater Foundation a call. He would give me a reference unless I would be more comfortable using Hal as a reference. I used both.”
“Calvin Franks may be more than a reference,” Cid said. “Did he ask if I was still working with you?”
“He asked about you and thought that this renovation was right up your alley,” Kiki said.
“Calvin Franks inferred the last time I spoke with him that he represented a group who would have liked me to join their cold case investigation team. He knows that I’m not going to allow any person I work with to be harmed by the paranormal. I’m going to put on my tinfoil hat and say this Calvin Franks group suspects what went on here and what may happen if we’re not involved.”
“So you think Calvin Franks wants us to release the ghosts?” Kiki asked.
“Why hire us? Kiki, we’re more than interested in renovating these buildings than the income it brings us. We’ve proven again and again that we care about the people and lost souls who are tied into the heritage of each place.”
“But I’m not going to break a contract,” Kiki said. “I have a reputation that I bring in the jobs on time if not early.”
Alan looked at Kiki. “That’s your business model, but it’s not you.”
“You’re right. But when I started to waver on the side of the trapped ghosts, August Atwater took control.”
“Just like he would do to anyone who could be used to get what he wants,” Cid said. “I think we’re looking at a showdown between Arnold and August take two.”
“But you have him trapped in a lead-lined iron safe, stuck in a salt prison,” Kiki said.
“Kiki, you mentioned that you have residual memories of August.”
“Yes, I think I do.”
“What if August left instructions inside you or Bridgeton to seek him out and free him if he didn’t show himself?” Father Santos asked. “It would just seem like a thought or an urge you can’t suppress.”
“That’s why Cid wanted you to check me over,” Kiki realized. “I could be plan B.”
“Yes. You’ll need to come to the church,” Father Santos stressed. “We can’t be sure you don’t have Gadus monitoring Alan’s staff, or she could actually be in the building. Until we are sure who’s wearing the white hat, we have to assume that all individuals are capable of perverse acts in order to maintain or regain control.”
“I’ll call Calvin Franks for you,” Audrey volunteered. “I don’t think it would be wise to use your phone, Cid.”
“That’s the tinfoil hat thing to do,” Cid agreed.
“I’ll have a burner phone expressed to you,” Audrey said.
“Cid, continue to renovate. Once we determine if I’m critter free, then I’ll call Bridgeton to inform him about his foundation leaking. If he agrees, I’ll send my foundation experts, Santos and Simon, to his home to check things out.”
“Finally, a job my mother understands,” Father Simon said.
“Kiki, this may backfire on you. You may not get paid,” Alan warned.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll pay the contractors myself. If not for their concern, Cid would be dead, and I would be in jail. There comes a time when gold no longer is shiny and all you feel is the weight of it.”
“Here, here,” Father Santos said. “Very well put. I think I’m going to use it in my sermon Sunday.”
~
“Sir, there is an Audrey Stavros on the phone wishing to speak with you,” Calvin Franks’s secretary Roberta Hall informed him. “She’s the lead partner of the McCarthy Assessment Group. She said she and you have High Court in common.”
“How interesting. Put her through,” Calvin said and waited for the connection. “Ms. Stavros, forgive me, but did we meet at High Court? I admit my memory isn’t what it was.”
“No, Mr. Franks, I’m calling for Cid Garrett who can’t make this call directly.”
“Ah…”
“Do we have a secure line?” Audrey asked.
“Wait, let me transfer you.”
Audrey took that moment to turn Luke around as he backed into the kitchen not expecting his mother to be standing in the hall. “What’s in your mouth?”
“My teeth,” Calvin answered.
“Oh sorry, I was talking to my son. He’s a notorious pre-supper cookie stealer.”
“Oh we’ve heard about him. Better check his pockets too,” Calvin teased.
Audrey did and found more cookies.
“Give me a moment to regain my professional dignity,” Audrey said.
“I take it you’re working from home.”
“Yes, my husband is around here somewhere, no doubt encouraging Luke’s life of crime.”
“You mentioned Cid.”
“Feel free to stop me at any time if you don’t know what I’m talking about,” Audrey prefaced. “Did you put Cid into Congressman Atwater’s Walnut Grove House on purpose?”
“Guilty.”
“Why?”
“I’m hoping he’ll sort out who’s on first.”
Audrey grinned. She knew baseball. “He’s got to third base, but Arnold and August may be playing pickle with him.”
“How handy, considering we have a Miss Pickles in play.”
“She was playing for the other team, but we’ve reunited her, and Father Santos is making
