All Dressed Up and No Place to Haunt Read online

  I wished I could say the same thing. But I had suspected him.

  “Thank you.” I glanced down at my dirty outfit.

  “Speaking of Preston,” Ken said. “Have you seen him? I’ve been looking all over for him.”

  So that was why he was in here. He was looking for someone too. “Actually, I saw him down at the parking lot. I believe the police had a few questions for him.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “He should have called me.”

  “I guess you’d better get down there to him.” I motioned toward Preston.

  “I can help you find Heather first.”

  I waved him off. “No, that won’t be necessary. I’m sure she’s around here somewhere.” My voice didn’t sound confident about that.

  “Come on, let me help you look around. I’m sure that we’ll spot her soon. I won’t take no for an answer.” He smiled, and dimples appeared on his cheeks.

  How could I refuse a look like that? Plus, the help would be nice.

  “That is so sweet that he wants to help you,” Alice said.

  “You should let him,” Charlotte added.

  “Okay, if you insist.” I couldn’t hide the worry in my voice.

  He looked pleased. “I do.”

  “I already looked downstairs. Should we look up there?” I asked.

  “I can take a quick look around if you’d like.”

  “Sure, if you really don’t mind.”

  Ken hurried up the stairs.

  “He really is a cutie,” Charlotte said.

  “Yeah, you said that once before.”

  “I think it needed to be repeated,” Alice said.

  Charlotte laughed.

  “I’m glad you all are having fun. I’m worried about Heather.”

  “She’s fine. Don’t worry so much. You’ll find her,” Charlotte said.

  Ken came back down the grand staircase. “Did you say something?”

  I shook my head. “No, why?”

  “I thought I heard voices.”

  I cut a glance to Charlotte. “No, I didn’t hear anything.”

  He must have overheard me talking to Charlotte and Alice.

  A faint sound echoed across the foyer.

  “Did you hear that?” Ken asked.

  I stood still as if that would allow me to hear the sound better next time. “Yes, I did. It sounded like it came from that room or maybe outside.”

  Ken raced over to the parlor and peered inside the room. “No one is in here.” The sound came again. It was like someone was moving something large or struggling to pull something.

  “I really think it’s coming from outside,” I said.

  He motioned for me to follow him to the front door. “Let’s go check it out.”

  I hurried to join him, with the ghosts right behind me. Once we reached the bottom of the steps, I wasn’t sure where to look first.

  “Where did the sound come from?” Ken asked.

  “I think it was that way.” I pointed to the left.

  “Hmm. I thought it was on the right,” he said. “How about we split up? You look that way and I’ll go this way. We can meet back here?”

  “Sure. See you in a second.” I turned to my left and headed around the house

  The ghosts were right beside me.

  “I think you were right, Cookie. The sound came from the left,” Charlotte said.

  “I just hope that we find Heather and nothing is wrong with her. Be on the lookout for her, okay?” I asked.

  I made my way all the way around the side of the house. Considering the size of the place, it wasn’t a quick trip. I reached the backyard and paused. There were even more trees and bushes back here. Plenty of places for people to hide. Maybe I’d heard a cat? A raccoon?

  I shielded my hand over my eyes to block the sun that had now popped out from behind the clouds.

  “Do you see anything?” I asked Alice and Charlotte.

  “Not a thing,” Charlotte answered.

  “I guess I should go around and meet Ken at the front again. Apparently Heather isn’t here.”

  “Maybe she’s already back at your car waiting for you,” Alice said.

  I sighed. “I sure hope so.”

  Just as I turned to leave, I noticed a piece of paper by the peony bush across from us. I moved closer—I knew what it was.

  “Oh my,” Charlotte said.

  She recognized it too.

  “What is it?” Alice asked.

  I reached down and picked it up. “It’s another tarot card.” I flipped it over. “And it’s from the same deck. I guess Jessica was out here too.”

  The card had a skeleton riding a horse with red and orange flames in the background. It was one of the scariest images I’d ever seen.

  “Did she leave them on purpose or do you think she just lost them?” Charlotte asked.

  “I guess she just lost them,” I said.

  I stuffed the card in my pocket since I didn’t have Heather to tell me what it meant. I figured Ken was probably looking for me by now. I scanned the area to see if there were any more cards. I didn’t see any, but I did notice something else. I rushed over and picked up the phone from the ground. I touched the screen, and it lit up.

  “The battery is still charged,” I said to Charlotte and Alice.

  I clicked on the RECENT CALL icon and noticed right away that it was Heather’s phone. I thought she’d left it in my car. Plus, I thought for sure that I’d locked the car. How did the phone get back here? Panic really set in now. I just knew that Heather was in trouble.

  “Cookie, look over there.”

  I followed the direction of Alice’s pointing finger. Relief fell over me. It was Heather, standing by a magnolia tree. She wasn’t looking in my direction. What was she doing? She hadn’t even noticed me. How had she gotten lost back here?

  “What is she doing?” Charlotte asked.

  “I don’t know, but I need to find out,” I said.

  I rushed toward my friend. Charlotte and Alice ran after me, then passed me.

  “Heather, I’m over here,” I yelled out.

  Heather didn’t look over at me. It was as if she was ignoring me. Had I made her mad? Was she sick? Something seemed seriously off.

  “Heather, it’s me, Cookie,” I called out again.

  Finally, she looked over at me. I knew by the look in her eyes that something was terribly wrong. She motioned with a tilt of her head.

  “I think she’s telling you to go away,” Charlotte said.

  “Why would she do that?” I asked.

  “I think she’s in trouble,” Charlotte said.

  Heather motioned again, and that was when I realized that Vera Lemon stood beside her.

  Chapter 25

  Cookie’s Savvy Vintage Fashion Shopping Tips

  Don’t buy just because an item is cheap. Ask yourself if you’ll really use the garment.

  She had a gun pointed at Heather.

  “Oh, this is not happening,” Charlotte said.

  I was afraid it was all too real. What would I do now? I had no idea why Vera was holding Heather at gunpoint. Had she stepped on her property?

  “Vera, what are you doing?” I asked. “Put the gun down before you hurt someone.”

  She shook her head. “No way.”

  “We are friends now, remember?” I said. “You invited me to your party. It was nice.”

  She snorted. “Yeah, right.”

  “Even I didn’t believe that,” Alice said.

  Well, at least I’d tried.

  “Vera Lemon, what are you doing?” Ken called out.

  He was standing behind me.

  She motioned with the gun. “Don’t come any closer.”

  He held his hands up. “We’re not coming any closer. Vera, you do know that we’re not on your property, right?” he asked.

  I guess everyone knew that she had a problem with that.

  “I know you’re not right now. That doesn’t mean you h
aven’t been,” she said.

  “It’s okay now, Vera. We won’t go on your property. I’m sure Heather won’t do that either. Isn’t that right, Heather?” Ken asked.

  Heather managed to nod, but the fear was evident in her eyes.

  “Why don’t you tell us what the problem is and we’ll see if we can’t work it out,” Ken said.

  Vera glared at him, but didn’t respond. I wondered if I could dial Heather’s phone for help without Vera’s noticing.

  “I told her to stay off my property. But she didn’t listen and now she will have to pay the price. I can’t keep telling people. It has to stop here.” Vera waved the gun.

  She was so consumed in her rant that she didn’t even notice that Ken had walked around and was now almost directly behind her. I just had to keep her attention focused on me so that she wouldn’t see him.

  “Vera, we already told you that we wouldn’t do that anymore. We’ll even buy you a fence to keep everyone out.”

  I’d tell her anything if it would keep her from using that gun.

  “I don’t want a fence on my property. Are you kidding? If I’d wanted that I would have done it years ago.”

  “If you don’t like the movie crew, then why did you invite them to a party at your place?”

  “I thought I could convince everyone to go away,” she said.

  Ken had stepped up behind her now. One wrong move, and Vera could use that gun on us.

  “I don’t think I can watch anymore,” Alice said.

  “Stay strong for Cookie,” Charlotte said.

  That was what I had to remind myself. Stay strong.

  In one fluid movement, Ken reached out and grabbed Vera from behind. She yelled and struggled to get away from his tight grip. I hoped that gun didn’t go off in the process. Ken yanked Vera’s arm down, and the gun fell from her hand and hit the ground. Thank goodness it didn’t go off. Heather ran over and grabbed the gun. She ran over to me, and I hugged her.

  “Cookie, I thought I never would get away from her.”

  “It’s over now. Thank goodness you’re okay.”

  “Watch where you’re pointing that thing,” Charlotte warned.

  Heather held the gun to her side.

  “I was so worried about you,” Heather said. “I wanted to get help and then I ran into Vera.”

  “I got away from Jessica and Dylan showed up. The police are here and have arrested her.”

  “Oh, thank heavens.”

  Ken was lying on top of the struggling Vera. “Don’t forget about me. Can you call the police?” he asked.

  “Oh yeah, I almost forgot.” I pulled Heather’s phone from my pocket and dialed Dylan’s number. After a few rings, he picked up.

  “Where are you?” he asked when he discovered it was me.

  After I told him the incredible story, he said he would be over right away. In the meantime, Ken had to keep Vera from getting away. She was squirming like a fish on a hook, but he was a muscular guy.

  When I hung up, Heather asked, “Where did you find my phone?”

  “It was over here by the bushes. There was a tarot card too. I didn’t know that you’d lost your phone,” I said.

  “Yeah, earlier I couldn’t find it. I have no idea how it got back there. You said you found cards back here too?” Heather asked.

  I pointed toward the bush where I’d found the card. “Just one. It was right over there.” I pulled it out of my pocket. “What is this card?” I handed it to her.

  “It’s the anger card.”

  Vera saw us and shouted, “Glad you found those cards. I took them from Jessica. She shouldn’t have them anyway. She didn’t deserve to take the role from Nicole.”

  “You took these cards from Jessica?” I asked.

  “Well, I didn’t take them. She dropped them. I picked up the ones she’d dropped. I guess I lost a couple too.”

  “That is one of the craziest things I’ve ever heard,” Alice said. “I can’t believe this woman.”

  “She makes me so angry,” Charlotte said.

  “Cookie, I’m here,” Dylan called out.

  I spun around.

  “Heather, why do you have that gun?” Dylan asked.

  “This was Vera’s.” She placed it on the ground.

  Ken still had Vera pinned. She’d stopped fighting him now. Dylan rushed over to Ken and pulled cuffs from his back pocket.

  “I’m going to need to bring more of these with me if this keeps up,” he said as he secured Vera’s hands.

  After reading Vera her rights, Dylan asked, “Vera, do you want to explain to me what happened?”

  “I told her to stay off my land.”

  “I wasn’t even on her land,” Heather said in frustration.

  “Is that what this is about? Vera, when will you learn?”

  “I guess I’ll learn when everyone else learns to stay off my land.”

  Dylan nodded. “Okay, we’ll talk about this at the police station.”

  To Ken he said, “Thanks for taking care of this.”

  “Anything for Cookie,” Ken said with a smile.

  Dylan stared for a beat and then turned toward me. I probably blushed when Ken and Dylan looked at me. Girlfriend to the rescue, Heather chose that moment to say, “Cookie, can you help me? I think I have something in my eye.”

  “I think both men are interested you, Cookie,” Charlotte said with a snicker of delight.

  Dylan walked Vera back across the lawn.

  “Vera, you should be ashamed for your behavior,” Charlotte said as if Vera could hear her.

  “I’ll take her down to the police car,” Dylan said when he grew near.

  “I’ll be right there,” I said.

  Dylan glanced back at Ken and then continued walking.

  When Ken walked over, he asked, “What happened, Heather?”

  “When I came back toward the plantation, Vera spotted me. She pulled out the gun, so I had no choice but to go with her.”

  “What do you mean ‘go with her’? Where did she take you?” I asked.

  “She made me walk over toward her property so that she could show me the exact property line.”

  My mouth probably fell open. “I can’t believe she did that.”

  Ken shook his head. “That is crazy. So then what happened?” he asked.

  “When she finished, we came back over here. She wanted to find you, Cookie, so that she could bring you back over and show you the property lines.”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, that is ridiculous.”

  “I’m just glad that you came along when you did.” Heather looked down at my outfit. “What happened to you, by the way?”

  “Jessica and I got into a little bit of a fight.” I attempted to brush more dirt from my shirt, but it was no use. It would take some serious work to get these stains out.

  “You should tell them how you really let Jessica have it,” Charlotte said.

  “She did have a good punch, huh?” Alice said.

  I was glad Ken and Heather couldn’t hear the ghosts because they were embarrassing me. I guess I had really given Jessica a run for her money though. I hated fighting, but sometimes you have to fight to survive. Jessica had probably underestimated me because of my petite size.

  “Ken sure is handsome.”

  Heather and Ken were talking, and I had to listen to Charlotte and Alice.

  “Why don’t you ask him out?” Charlotte asked.

  “I can’t do that,” I said out of the corner of my mouth.

  “Who are you talking to?” Ken asked, looking over at me.

  I waved off his question. “Oh, I was just muttering about my ruined clothing.”

  He gave me a little smile. “You still look great.”

  “See, he likes you,” Charlotte continued.

  “You know, I could have sworn I heard voices in the house. Are you sure you weren’t talking to someone?”

  I tried to act innocent. He couldn’t have heard Charlotte
and Alice, only my voice. “Maybe I was talking to myself then too?”

  The ghosts were making me look nuts.

  “You know, I thought I saw someone down there with you too. That was impossible, wasn’t it?”

  “I think he saw us earlier,” Alice said.

  “That’s what it sounds like,” Charlotte said.

  Yeah, but obviously he couldn’t see them now. They were standing right in front of him. Of course, Heather knew what was going on. I really needed to watch talking to the ghosts when other people were around. It was tough, though, because they talked so much that I would become distracted. I’d have a talk with them later about that. Charlotte batted her eyelashes at me as if she knew what I was thinking.

  Anyway, it was time to get back to the car. Dylan would wonder what had happened to us.

  “Are you all ready to get back to the parking lot? I know you said you needed to find Preston,” I said.

  “Oh yes, I need to speak with him. Let’s go, ladies, shall we?” Ken motioned for us to walk first.

  “He’s such a gentleman,” Charlotte said.

  Chapter 26

  Charlotte’s Handy-Dandy Tips for Navigating the Afterlife

  Remember, animals can see you.

  It’s good to know you can have the love

  of a pet even while haunting a house.

  We headed around the side of the plantation. After all the rain, it had turned out to be a beautiful day. I was just glad that I was alive to see it.

  “You ladies must be exhausted. You should get plenty of rest,” Ken said as we walked toward the parking lot.

  “I think it’s been a stressful day for all of us,” I said.

  “I need a glass of wine and a bubble bath,” Heather said. “Oh, and maybe add in some chocolate.”

  Dylan was speaking with another officer when we reached the lot. He glanced up and waved.

  “Thanks for saving us.” Heather reached out and hugged Ken.

  “You’re welcome, but think nothing of it. I just did what I had to do,” Ken said.

  Heather climbed in the passenger seat of my Buick and rested her head on the back of the seat. She closed her eyes. Charlotte and Alice were already in the backseat. That left me out there to say good-bye to Ken.