Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece Read online

  “Who is that?” Sammie asked breathlessly.

  “This is Elizabeth. I’m so glad you can see her.”

  “I’m not glad I can see her. I’m freaking out.”

  “Maybe you should pull over until the shock has worn off.”

  Sammie merged over to the side of the road and turned on the flashing lights.

  “Who is this woman?” Sammie had her hand on the door handle.

  “She’s the ghost I told you about.”

  “She wasn’t here when we got in the truck.”

  “I know.”

  “How did she get in here?” Sammie’s hand remained on the handle.

  Elizabeth focused straight ahead at the road. I knew it had taken a lot of courage for her to do this. Now I needed to calm Sammie down.

  “Does she speak?” Sammie asked.

  “Well, she has in the past. Elizabeth, do you want to say hello to my best friend Sammie?”

  Elizabeth looked over at Sammie.

  “Hello,” she said softly.

  Sammie’s eyes widened.

  “Good morning,” Sammie said.

  “Do you believe me now?” I asked.

  Sammie released a deep breath. “I have no choice but to believe you. I can see her with my own eyes.”

  “She wanted to come to the diner with us,” I said.

  Sammie watched Elizabeth for a couple more seconds before putting the truck in Drive.

  “Well, we should get there.” Sammie didn’t sound too sure of that comment.

  Nevertheless, Sammie merged back onto the road. She peeked over at Elizabeth every few seconds. Soon, we pulled into the diner’s parking lot. Memories of Caleb popped into my mind. I wondered what he was doing. Was he really the killer? I hoped not. Sammie pulled the truck into a parking space and put it in Park. Once she turned off the ignition, she peered over at Elizabeth again.

  “Shall we go inside? This is exciting,” Elizabeth said.

  “Will you be eating with us this morning?” Sammie asked hesitantly, as if she might be afraid of the answer.

  Elizabeth laughed. “No, I’m just here for the company.”

  We hopped out of the truck but stopped short when we spotted Elizabeth already standing on the patio.

  “That was weird,” Sammie whispered. “You could have warned me that was going to happen. I almost wrecked the truck.”

  “I didn’t know she was going to do that.”

  Sammie touched my arm. “Listen, Celeste, I’m sorry I didn’t believe you at first.”

  “I knew you didn’t, but I understand. It’s hard to believe,” I said.

  I placed Van on the ground and held his leash. He sniffed the nearby flowers while Sammie and I talked.

  “You don’t know why she’s here?”

  “I think it has something to do with the images I showed you that I’ve unknowingly been painting within my art.”

  “This is strange.” Sammie blew the bangs out of her eyes.

  “Are you all going to stop gossiping and join us for breakfast?” Grandma Judy waved at us.

  She had no idea Elizabeth was standing right there.

  “How can they not see her?” Sammie asked.

  “I think she makes herself visible to those she wants to see her.”

  “Well, that’s a handy trick,” Sammie said.

  “Let’s get breakfast before we get in trouble,” I said.

  Sammie and I walked the rest of the way to the patio.

  “What’s so important that you kept us waiting?” my mother asked as she eyed us suspiciously.

  “We were discussing art,” I said.

  My mother shook her head. “There’s time for that later. Your brothers are getting anxious waiting for food.”

  My gaze traveled to my brothers. Stevie and Hank were holding their forks. Sammie and I sat down at the table. My mother was across from us, with my brothers on either side. My father sat at one end and my grandmother sat at the other.

  “Aunt Patsy’s making breakfast for us,” my mother said.

  Aunt Patsy insisted on having us come to the diner to eat at least once a month. At least she had help at the diner on busy days. The diner had increased business this past year, and Aunt Patsy had hired two cooks and a handful of waitresses and waiters. Elizabeth was peering in the diner’s window.

  “Aren’t we going inside?” she asked.

  Sammie and I exchanged a look. Was I supposed to answer Elizabeth? Of course I hadn’t told the others about her yet. My brothers would make fun of me.

  “Who do you two keep looking at?” my mother asked as she looked over her shoulder.

  I had decided I wouldn’t tell her now. It was best if I waited for a time when we were alone. Meaning I didn’t want to tell her in front of my brothers. Memories of them making fun of me flashed back. I didn’t want to give them ammunition. They still looked for ways to tease me every chance they got.

  “Celeste and I have been talking with a ghost,” Sammie blurted out.

  My brother Stevie spit out his water. They all laughed.

  “What in the world are you all talking about?” my mother asked.

  “Have you been drinking already?” my father asked.

  “Of course not. You know I don’t drink,” I said.

  “Celeste’s painting had mysterious images and a ghost showed up. She’s here right now. She’s standing behind you.” Sammie’s words gushed out like a busted water pipe.

  My mother looked over her shoulder. “I don’t see a thing. Are you all sure you’re okay?”

  I glared at Sammie. I could have told her this was how my family would react.

  “I believe you,” my grandmother said.

  “Can you see her, Grandma?” I asked.

  “I sense her,” she said. “When she wants to show herself, she will.”

  “That’s exactly what Elizabeth said,” Sammie said.

  “Who is Elizabeth?” my mother asked.

  “She’s the ghost.”

  “You know her name?” Stevie asked around a laugh.

  My aunt Patsy came outside with a tray full of food. I jumped up to help her.

  “Sit back down,” she snapped.

  She said that every single time. That still didn’t stop me from trying to help. She was the most stubborn person I knew. She set down the plates and looked around the table.

  “Is there anything else I can get for you all?”

  “Yeah, a psychiatrist for Celeste,” my brother Hank said.

  Aunt Patsy swatted at his shoulder.

  “The girls have been telling us about the ghost that’s here with them,” my mother said.

  “Is that right?” Aunt Patsy raised an eyebrow. “Where did you meet this ghost?”

  Sammie recited the whole story over again.

  Aunt Patsy placed her hands on her hips. “I believe in ghosts. If they say they saw one, I believe them.”

  “I want to see these mysterious images you’re talking about,” my mother said.

  “What mysterious images?” Aunt Patsy asked.

  “The spirits are talking with her,” my grandmother said.

  She was busy eating her pancakes. Grandma didn’t always act as if she was even listening to the conversations.

  “Why do you say that, Grandma?” I asked.

  “That’s what they do.”

  I wasn’t sure if she had some knowledge that led her to say that, and she wasn’t sharing the full details.

  “What does the ghost look like?” Aunt Patsy asked.

  “She’s beautiful,” Sammie said.

  “Oh, a babe ghost,” Hank said.

  I tossed a grape at him.

  “She has dark hair and is always wearing a gorgeous dress from the turn of the twentieth century,” Sammie said.

  “Do you know where she lived or anything else about her?” my mother asked.

  “We don’t know anything else about me yet,” Elizabeth said as she sat in the chair next to my mo
ther.

  Sammie and I looked at each other.

  “What is it?” my mother asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “The ghost just answered you,” I said.

  My mother looked around. “Where is she?”

  “She’s sitting right beside you.” I gestured with my fork.

  “You all are bonkers,” Stevie said.

  “Don’t call your sister crazy,” Aunt Patsy said.

  “I should leave. I’m causing a lot of drama,” Elizabeth said.

  “Don’t worry, there’s always drama in my family.”

  “What did she say?” my mother asked.

  “She’s worried that’s she’s causing us to argue,” I said.

  “Oh no, honey, we’re always like this,” my mother said, looking around for the ghost.

  “Maybe we should change the subject for a bit,” I said.

  “How’s the art fair? Are you making any money?” my father asked. He was always right to the point.

  “A little,” I said.

  He frowned but didn’t say anything else about my lack of funds.

  My father was distracted by asking Stevie and Hank questions about their work. Thank goodness I was off the hook for a bit. My mother was talking to Sammie about antiques. During the bit of a reprieve, I enjoyed my French toast. Elizabeth sat in the chair watching all of us. She smiled, and oddly looked as if she was having fun.

  My brief time of relief came to a screeching halt when I spotted Caleb walking across the parking lot.

  “Hey, isn’t that the guy you came here with?” Aunt Patsy pointed.

  “Yes, that’s him,” I said under my breath.

  My whole family turned to look at him. At that time, he realized he was being watched. He hadn’t noticed me at first, but soon his gaze fell on mine. A big smile spread across his face.

  “Well, my, my, isn’t he handsome,” my grandmother said.

  “I don’t like the guy,” Hank said.

  “Oh, you don’t like any of Celeste’s suitors,” my grandmother said with a wave of her hand.

  “Suitors?” I asked with a laugh. “I wouldn’t call him a suitor.”

  “Okay, I’ll call him your boyfriend.”

  “Oh, he’s definitely not my boyfriend. Just a friend,” I said.

  “Too bad,” my mother said.

  Caleb walked over to us.

  “Good morning, Celeste,” he said with another big smile.

  “I didn’t expect to see you here,” I said.

  “Would you like to join us for breakfast?” My mother gestured to the chair next to her, where Elizabeth sat.

  “Oh, I had planned on just picking up something to go,” Caleb said.

  That was probably for the best. My brothers were already scrutinizing him. They would be nice, but they would also probably embarrass me.

  My mother stood and walked over to Caleb. “Oh, we insist that you join us. See, there’s an empty chair just waiting for you.”

  “Actually . . .” Sammie didn’t finish her words.

  CHAPTER 16

  Travel trailer tip 16: Don’t neglect your friends and family while living in your travel trailer. You may not have room for the whole gang—but you can still stay in touch.

  My mother guided Caleb toward Elizabeth’s chair. Frowning, Elizabeth got up just before Caleb sat down. He smiled at me. I introduced everyone to him.

  “It’s nice to meet you all. Thanks for inviting me to join you.”

  He might wish he’d been uninvited soon after experiencing my family.

  “Help yourself to the food.” My dad gestured without looking at Caleb.

  “What do you do, Caleb?” Stevie asked.

  “Wood sculptures,” Caleb said while taking some of the pancakes from the platter.

  “That’s what you do full time?” The little scar on Stevie’s lip became more noticeable as he frowned. He’d bitten into an electrical cord as a baby. My mother said that was why he was so good at fixing electronics. I was pretty sure that had nothing to do with his electrical talent, but maybe I was wrong.

  “I thought you meant at the craft fair. No, I’m a salesman full-time,” Caleb said.

  “You are?” I asked with a frown.

  Now my family knew that I had very few facts about Caleb. That wouldn’t sit well with them. They stared at him as if he’d just said he was an alien from a faraway planet.

  “How did you meet Celeste?” my mother asked. She already knew the answer.

  This would be awkward. Would he tell the truth?

  “We met at the fair,” Caleb said.

  That was the truth, but he’d left out the bad part. My mother and father exchanged a look.

  “Where at the fair? Are your booths beside each other?”

  They knew we were hiding something.

  “Actually, we met during the murder crime scene.” Caleb looked at my mother and father.

  My mother dropped her fork. “What does that mean?”

  My brothers leaned forward in their chairs to hear every word Caleb had to say.

  “Celeste had just discovered the body and I was walking over there and bumped into her.”

  “Well, there’s a story to tell your grandchildren. ‘Our eyes met over the corpse and we knew it was love,’ ” Stevie said.

  I glared at him. Why was he even mentioning grandchildren? I never said I was even dating Caleb. Much less marriage and children.

  “This is a morbid subject over breakfast,” my mother said.

  “You’re right. I apologize,” Caleb said.

  “Actually, I find it fascinating,” my grandmother said. “I want to hear about this murder investigation.”

  “Yeah, have you spoken with that detective lately?” Sammie asked.

  “What detective?” my mother asked.

  “He’s been around the fair quite a bit,” Caleb said.

  “Does he have any idea who did it?” my grandmother asked.

  “If he does, he hasn’t told me,” I said.

  My grandmother watched me. “But you have some idea who did it, don’t you?”

  I avoided looking at Caleb. “It could be any of a number of people.”

  “Tell us about them,” Hank said.

  “Celeste has seen one of the vendors messing around trailers,” Caleb said.

  Did he really have to mention that?

  “What?” my mother screeched. “You have to get away from there right away.”

  “I agree with your mother,” my father said. “You should just quit the fair.”

  “That’s not an option,” I said. “Besides, it’s almost over now. What would be the point?”

  “Not being killed?” Stevie pointed out.

  “I’ve been watching out for her,” Caleb said.

  “I’m fine,” I said.

  “I think we should check out this fair,” my grandmother said.

  Oh no.

  “I agree,” my brothers said in unison.

  “Sounds like a good plan,” my father said.

  “Okay, we’ll go now,” my mother said. “Is everyone finished eating?”

  This probably wouldn’t end well. My father got up from the table. After they cleaned up, they headed for the car.

  “We’ll meet you there,” I said through a forced smile.

  Caleb stood beside me. “I get the impression you don’t want them to go.”

  “I love them, but they can be a bit . . .”

  “Eccentric.” Sammie finished the sentence for me.

  I looked over my shoulder. Elizabeth was already in Sammie’s truck.

  “Thanks for having me join you all for breakfast,” Caleb said. “I’ll see you later today? I have that painting of yours and I need to give it back.”

  That meant he’d experienced nothing and thought he’d be better off just returning the thing.

  I smiled. “Yes, I’ll see you later.”

  I hoped it was after my family had gone. Sammie stopped in her tracks
on her way to the truck.

  “Did you think she had left already?” I asked.

  “I thought maybe she would leave.”

  “Don’t let her hear you say that. It will hurt her feelings.”

  Sammie nodded. “Right.”

  “I think she was already upset because of what my family said. Leave it to them to hurt a ghost’s feelings.”

  Sammie laughed.

  We got into the truck.

  “Elizabeth, did you have a nice time?” Sammie asked.

  “It was lovely,” she said.

  “Do we have to go back to the fair?” I asked.

  Sammie laughed. “I think you do.”

  “Is your family mad at me?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Oh no, they like you,” I said.

  Sammie and I discussed where we thought Elizabeth came from as we headed back to the fairgrounds. Every time we mentioned a place, Elizabeth would shake her head.

  “That’s not it. I’ll know it when I hear it.”

  I was running out of ideas.

  “We should check out the museum. Max’s friends said there’s a portrait of a woman who looks just like you, Elizabeth,” I said.

  “What are you waiting for? Why haven’t we gone there yet?”

  “We could go later. Right now, I have to get back to the fairgrounds before my family does something that will land us all in jail.”

  “Oh . . .” Elizabeth said through pursed lips. “I don’t want to go to jail. Well, how about after you say farewell to your family?”

  “Sure, but we’ll have to go before they close,” I said.

  Soon, we arrived back at the fairgrounds. Sammie pulled her truck close to the trailer and we all got out.

  “Whoa, where do you think you’re going?” Max waved his arms at us as he headed our way.

  “Uh-oh,” I said. “Here comes trouble.”

  “What does he want?” Sammie asked.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked Max.

  “You can’t park that truck here. Get it out of here.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t think it would be a problem. She’s just dropping us off,” I said.

  Van barked at Max. He glared at Van. I didn’t like the way he looked at Van.

  “It’s okay, Celeste, I’m leaving.” Sammie glowered at Max.

  He gave me the creeps and I didn’t want to get into a confrontation with him. He stood there, as if waiting for her to leave.

  “I’ll call you in a bit,” Sammie said as she climbed into her truck and revved its engine, as if expressing her disdain.