A Passion for Haunted Fashion Page 6

  My shop was more than a place to buy “used clothing” as she called it. Now she really had made me angry.

  “Waitress, we’d like to place our order,” the man a few tables over called out.

  “I have to go.” Patricia spun around and rushed off.

  I felt like grabbing her and saying, “Not so fast. You have to answer my questions first.” Yeah, that wouldn’t happen. Now I felt slightly defeated.

  Charlotte leaned back on the vinyl seat. “You might as well forget it, Cookie. She’s not going to tell you anything. It’s not like she’ll admit if her husband killed Morris.”

  I took a bite of my burger and said, “Yes, but maybe she’ll offer insight into what might have happened leading up to the murder.”

  “She wasn’t even at the theater; how would she know?” Peggy asked.

  I munched on a french fry. “I don’t know, but it’s worth a shot.”

  After I finished my burger, Dixie came back over.

  “Patricia was too busy to bring the check.” She placed the paper on the table in front of me.

  “More like Patricia wants to avoid you,” Charlotte said.

  Dixie wiped her hands on her apron. That was a nervous habit she had. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do for Heather. I know she’s not guilty of murder. She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

  “Maybe not a fly but she hurts my ears when she sings,” Charlotte said. “Have you heard her version of ‘Jailhouse Rock’? She keeps singing that all the time now.”

  “Please tell her I’m thinking of her.” Dixie patted my hand.

  “I will. Thank you, Dixie.” I picked up the check.

  As I stood from the table I noticed Patricia by the back door. The restrooms were back there too. Patricia was on her cell. Before paying for the meal, I decided to head toward the ladies’ room.

  “What are you up to, Cookie?” Peggy asked. The ghosts hurried along behind me.

  “Whatever you’re doing just don’t get in trouble,” Charlotte said.

  Chapter 8

  Cookie’s Savvy Tips for Vintage Shopping

  Sometimes it’s okay to make an impulse buy.

  But ask yourself if you really love

  and will enjoy the item. If so, go for it.

  “I know what you’re doing,” Charlotte said. “You’re trying to eavesdrop on her conversation.”

  “Of course I am,” I said.

  I casually strolled toward the restrooms. How this plan would work I wasn’t exactly sure just yet. I would have to wing it and hope for the best. However, I couldn’t stop looking at Patricia, and I was worried that she would notice me and catch on that I was up to something.

  “Don’t be too obvious, Cookie,” Charlotte warned.

  For the rest of my trip down the hallway I kept my stare off Patricia. That was much better. Maybe I was being obvious before, but I thought I was playing it off well now that I had moved toward the ladies’ room door. Patricia hadn’t noticed me yet. I opened the door and walked inside as if everything was normal. Once in the tiny space, I moved to the side and eased the door open again. If Patricia glanced over she would see me peeking out the door. It was the only way I could listen to her though.

  “You just look creepy now,” Charlotte said.

  “Yes, a real nut job,” Peggy added.

  Creepy, nuts, or whatever, I had a job to do.

  “I’m just worried that someone will find out,” Patricia said.

  “Find out what?” Charlotte asked.

  “This doesn’t sound good,” Peggy whispered from over my shoulder.

  Patricia continued, “Yes, I think a few people saw me talking to Morris that day. It was right before she found him. We were arguing too. That won’t look good.”

  “Patricia moves up to the top of the suspect list, in my opinion,” Charlotte said.

  “Who is she talking to?” Peggy asked.

  “If the police find out it will be all over for me.” Patricia’s hand shook as she held the phone up to her ear.

  Was Patricia confessing to the crime? When she said “all over” did she mean because she’d go to prison? I hadn’t expected to hear this. Now I was glad that I’d sneaked back here. This put Patricia at the scene of the crime. As Charlotte said, Patricia was now moved up to the top of the suspect list.

  Unfortunately, Patricia ended her call and turned around to look directly at the ladies’ room door. There was no time to move away, so of course our eyes met. I was frozen on the spot. Quickly I scanned through ideas in my mind. Nothing came to me. I didn’t know what to do. Panic surged through my body.

  “Oh, you’re in trouble now, Cookie,” Charlotte said.

  “Close the door,” Peggy screamed.

  I shut the door and waited. I just knew that Patricia would come in and confront me. My heart sped up and my stomach flip-flopped as I leaned against the wall and waited for the confrontation. A minute passed and she hadn’t entered. Another minute passed. What would I do?

  “You can’t stand here forever,” Charlotte said.

  “What if she’s waiting outside the door?” I asked. “What if she comes in here?”

  “If she wanted to talk to you she probably would have come in here by now,” Charlotte said.

  I released a deep breath. “Yes, I suppose she would have, and I am getting tired of standing here. I’ll just have to deal with it.”

  I inched the door open. There was no sign of Patricia. Now I had to go out into the diner where surely she would be waiting for me. With my shoulders pushed back and head held high I stepped out into the hallway and made my way down to the dining area. I would act as if nothing had happened. Everyone continued eating as usual. So far, Patricia was nowhere in sight. That was slightly more disturbing than actually running into her right away. I paid my bill just as footsteps sounded from behind me.

  “It’s her,” Charlotte screamed.

  I ran toward the diner’s exit without looking back. Once out on the sidewalk and a good distance away, I looked over my shoulder. I tried to steady my breathing.

  “Well, I’m glad to see you handled that well.” Charlotte rolled her eyes.

  “Charlotte, you scared me. I thought she had an ax or something the way you screamed.”

  “In hindsight I may have overreacted a smidgen.” Charlotte pinched her thumb and index finger together.

  “Just a tad,” I said, still trying to catch my breath. “Let’s get Wind Song.”

  When I spun around, I smacked right into Dylan’s chest. He stared at me. I couldn’t quite make out his expression. Was that a smirk or a grin?

  “Whoa, I didn’t see him slip up,” Charlotte said.

  “Talking to ghosts again?” he asked.

  I suppose I did appear crazy standing on the sidewalk talking to myself. It was hard not to talk to the ghosts though. I wished everyone saw them.

  “You should watch what you say to us when you’re in public,” Peggy said.

  I cast a smirk her way.

  “Yes, the ghosts have been following me.” Heat flooded my cheeks.

  Even though Dylan knew I talked to ghosts it was still embarrassing.

  “Ghosts? So it’s not just Charlotte?” Dylan frowned.

  “Hi, doll.” Charlotte winked at him.

  I gestured to my right. “I picked up another ghost at the theater. And no, it’s not Morris. I wish it was.”

  “Hey, thanks a lot,” Peggy said.

  “Her name is Peggy. We’re trying to figure out what happened to her and why she was hanging around the theater.”

  Dylan looked around. It was pointless. He’d never see the ghosts like I did.

  “Where are you headed?” I asked.

  “I thought I’d stop by the diner.” He gestured.

  “Tell him about what you heard,” Charlotte said.

  “I just came from there. Did you know that Patricia Chrisman works there?”

  “I didn’t know,” he said.

 
; “I overheard her talking.” I searched his eyes for a reaction.

  His mouth tilted up on one side. “You overheard, huh?”

  “Okay, I was listening on purpose. But aren’t you glad I did?” I smiled.

  “I’m not happy about you possibly getting into trouble or jeopardizing a case.”

  “Why does he have to spoil all the fun?” Charlotte asked. “I like Dylan, but if he doesn’t stop that I might have to change my mind.”

  “Do you want to find out what I overheard?” I asked.

  “Yes, of course,” he said.

  “Now that’s more like it,” Charlotte said.

  “Patricia was talking to someone on her phone. She was nervous because she’d had a fight with Morris right before the murder and someone saw her. She said if the police find out it will be all over for her.”

  Dylan peered around to see if anyone was listening. “You didn’t hear this from me . . .”

  “He always says that,” Charlotte said. “Yet he tells you stuff he shouldn’t.”

  I certainly wasn’t going to stop him.

  “Oh, this sounds like it’ll be good,” Peggy said.

  “We know about the women Morris was having affairs with. And no, they don’t have alibis.”

  “What are you going to do about it? Have you questioned them?” I asked. “This puts Patricia at the top of the suspect list, right?”

  Dylan’s mouth lifted on one side in a little grin. “We’re taking care of it.”

  Charlotte placed her hands on her hips. “That wasn’t exactly a yes or no answer. He needs to get a confession.”

  “Did they talk with the person who saw Patricia and Morris fighting?” Peggy asked.

  “Would you like dessert?” Dylan asked.

  “Only if you will tell her more about the case,” Charlotte said. “And don’t eat too much dessert, Cookie. A moment on the lips . . .”

  Yeah, she’d told me before.

  “I really need to get Wind Song,” I said.

  “That’s the way to show him, Cookie. Let him know you’re not happy.” Charlotte pumped her fist.

  Charlotte was being dramatic . . . again. I really did need to get Wind Song.

  “I’ll see you later?” Dylan asked.

  Charlotte studied her fingernails. “Maybe.”

  “Sure. I’ll talk to you at dinner,” I said.

  Dylan leaned down and kissed me. He watched as I walked down the sidewalk and crossed the street toward the shop. I glanced back once again and he stepped into the diner. I looked over at Heather’s shop. The CLOSED sign was on the window. I was really worried about her. She didn’t want to talk to me or anyone for that matter. Wind Song was waiting by the door when I arrived. There was a note on the floor by the door. Someone had shoved it under. I reached down and picked up the paper. After unfolding the plain white sheet, I read the message.

  Mind your own business or else.

  Chapter 9

  Charlotte’s Tips for a Fabulous Afterlife

  Scaring people can be fun, but don’t take it too far.

  Just because you’re dead

  doesn’t mean you should be rude.

  It was the only thing written on the page. The words were enough though. It sent a shiver down my spine.

  “What does it say?” Charlotte asked.

  I showed her the paper.

  Her eyes widened. “Who left it?”

  “Grandma Pearl, did you see who left this note? Can you tell me with the board?” I waved the paper in front of the cat’s face.

  She meowed loudly. I took that as a yes. At least I hoped it was a yes. I was glad Grandma Pearl was doing the communicating and not Wind Song. I pulled out the Ouija board and Grandma Pearl jumped onto the counter. She sat in front of the board and placed her delicate paw on the planchette. With a gentle push she moved the thing across the board.

  “Who left the note, Grandma?” I asked.

  She went to the letter D and the O. She spelled out the word don’t. The next word started with K. She added an N and an O.

  “Don’t know?” Charlotte’s voice had reached an entirely too high level. “What do you mean you don’t know? I thought she knew.”

  “Apparently not,” I said around a sigh.

  Grandma Pearl wasn’t finished with the board though. She continued with the planchette.

  “Okay, now maybe she’ll give us a worthwhile answer,” Charlotte said.

  The letters came faster this time. A P, an R, and an E.

  “If this cat asks for premium cat food one more time.” Charlotte pointed her finger at Grandma Pearl.

  Was it still Grandma Pearl giving the message?

  “What’s going on?” Peggy asked.

  “Sometimes Wind Song comes through too. It’s not just Grandma Pearl. She can’t help what Wind Song wants,” I said.

  Charlotte and I looked at each other in shock when Grandma Pearl had finished the message.

  “Premeditated murder?” That sent a shiver down my spine.

  Whoever had killed Morris had planned the murder. So it wasn’t because of a heat-of-the-moment fight?

  “How do you know this, Grandma?” I asked.

  “That’s what I’d like to know,” Peggy said.

  Grandma Pearl moved the planchette with her paw again. This time she spelled the words woman’s intuition.

  Charlotte groaned. “You mean she has nothing to base the statement on? No facts?”

  “Grandma Pearl always had a bit of psychic ability. Obviously, right? So if that’s what she says, I believe it.” I rubbed Wind Song’s head.

  She jumped down from the counter and went to her favorite spot at the front window. Unfortunately, the sun had set and darkness had settled over Sugar Creek.

  Charlotte plopped down on the velvet settee across the way. “This is frustrating. We have to get Heather off the hook.”

  “I thought Heather annoyed you,” I said, placing the board back under the counter.

  “That’s neither here nor there,” Charlotte said with a wave of her hand.

  I suspected Charlotte liked Heather more than she let on—her bickering was all an act. The lights flickered and the room went completely dark.

  “What happened?” Peggy asked with a bit of panic in her voice.

  No reason to be alarmed. I would remain calm. Outside the streetlights were still on, although from a distance. The street in front of the shop was always dark. I tried to get a light added, but so far I’d had no luck.

  “There must be something wrong with my electric,” I said.

  “Did you pay the bill?” Charlotte asked.

  “Of course I paid the bill.” I pulled out my phone and used it as a flashlight. “I’ll just go check out the breaker.”

  I’d made it halfway across the room when the front door rattled. Charlotte and Peggy screamed. I suppose I screamed a little too. I turned off my phone so the person wouldn’t know where I was in the room. My heart thumped wildly in my chest, and I was finding it hard to breathe.

  “Do you think they saw you?” Charlotte whispered.

  She forgot that the person couldn’t hear her. Even if they’d been inside the shop. After finding the note and now standing in the dark with someone trying to get in, adrenaline surged through my body.

  “I’m scared,” Peggy said.

  “You should call Dylan,” Charlotte said.

  She was right, I should, but what if this was nothing? I didn’t want him to think I was paranoid. He had enough to deal with right now.

  “Maybe it’s Heather,” I said.

  Since there was no streetlight near my shop, I couldn’t make out who was in front of the door. There was definitely someone there though.

  “Maybe they’ll go away soon,” Peggy said.

  “Or maybe it’s the killer,” Charlotte said in an ominous tone.

  “Thanks for reminding me, Charlotte.” I inched a bit closer to the door.

  Someone was definitely at
the door. I could make out their outline. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make out any features. What did they want? Obviously they saw the shop was closed. The person walked away. I froze for a second, shocked by the movement.

  “Hurry, Cookie, go see who it was.” Charlotte gestured.

  I wasn’t sure that was a wise decision, but I rushed over to the door anyway. Cupping my hands around my eyes I peered out the glass, looking to the left and the right. The town actually was still as most everyone had gone home for the evening. Only a few cars moved up and down the street in the distance. How had the person gotten away so quickly? Where had they gone?

  When the man appeared in front of the door we all screamed. I clutched my chest and tried to steady my racing heart. Ken Harrison looked just as confused with his eyes wide.

  “What is wrong with him? If I weren’t already dead he would have killed me,” Charlotte said, clutching her chest.

  I opened the door and said, “Ken, what are you doing here?”

  “Did I frighten you?” he asked.

  “Just a little.” Charlotte pinched her index finger and thumb together.

  “Please come in.” I stepped out of the way so he could enter. “I’m afraid I don’t have lights right now.”

  Wind Song strolled over and rubbed against his legs. He reached down and stroked her back. She instantly started purring. Grandma Pearl always had loved attention.

  “I saw your car parked out front and came by to check on you. Is everything okay? You’re not usually in the shop this late. Plus, I noticed the lights were off.”

  “Well, at least he is thoughtful even if he scared you half to death,” Charlotte said.

  Ken still had no idea about the ghosts in my life. Would I ever tell him? Dylan seemed to accept it, and Dixie knew, but I wasn’t sure I should share with anyone else. I didn’t want the whole town to know. Though I trusted Ken to keep a secret.

  “I stopped by to pick up Wind Song after a late lunch and got a little sidetracked.”

  “I know you’re wondering if you should tell him about the note, and let me tell you, yes, you should.” Charlotte tapped her Prada shoe–covered foot against the floor.

  “I agree with Charlotte,” Peggy said.

  “Once I get the lights back on I have something to show you.” I motioned for Ken to follow me.