Double Booked for Death (17 page)
Read Double Booked for Death Online
Authors: Ali Brandon
The remainder of the trip back to the brownstone focused on whether or not Darla would be open for business as usual in the morning.
“It wouldn’t be fair for James to lose a day’s pay,” she finally decided.
“Besides, if we get the kind of sales tomorrow that I had in just a few hours today, I can’t afford
not
to be open.”
“It wouldn’t be fair for James to lose a day’s pay,” she finally decided.
“Besides, if we get the kind of sales tomorrow that I had in just a few hours today, I can’t afford
not
to be open.”
“Business is business, kid,” Jake agreed.
“And you know that if the situation had been reversed, Valerie Baylor darn sure wouldn’t have taken a day off touring out of respect for you.”
“And you know that if the situation had been reversed, Valerie Baylor darn sure wouldn’t have taken a day off touring out of respect for you.”
Darla swung by the brownstone first before heading to the garage, telling Jake she was worried about how things were going at the Valerie shrine.
In truth, she was more concerned about her friend.
She’d noticed the older woman still massaging her bum leg when she thought Darla wasn’t looking her way.
The impromptu sprint outside the coffeehouse hadn’t done her any good, and Darla didn’t want her to walk back from the garage while still in obvious pain.
In truth, she was more concerned about her friend.
She’d noticed the older woman still massaging her bum leg when she thought Darla wasn’t looking her way.
The impromptu sprint outside the coffeehouse hadn’t done her any good, and Darla didn’t want her to walk back from the garage while still in obvious pain.
She’d halfway expected Jake to protest this special treatment, but she agreed to have Darla drop her off outside the building.
As they approached their block, they could see that the shrine had continued to grow exponentially in their short absence.
Now only a narrow strip of sidewalk remained for pedestrians to pass by, and the tribute’s length almost reached the antique shop.
The shrine had become a gawking hazard for drivers as well, with most of them slowing as to stare in amazement at the profusion of candles and flowers.
Pretty soon, the city would have to send some sort of traffic control down to keep things moving .
.
.
that, or assign a front-end loader to clear it all away!
As they approached their block, they could see that the shrine had continued to grow exponentially in their short absence.
Now only a narrow strip of sidewalk remained for pedestrians to pass by, and the tribute’s length almost reached the antique shop.
The shrine had become a gawking hazard for drivers as well, with most of them slowing as to stare in amazement at the profusion of candles and flowers.
Pretty soon, the city would have to send some sort of traffic control down to keep things moving .
.
.
that, or assign a front-end loader to clear it all away!
Darla took advantage of the confusion by pulling right up to the store’s curb.
“I’ll be back in a few,” she told Jake.
“I’ll be back in a few,” she told Jake.
She waited until the other woman climbed out, and then pulled back into Monday afternoon traffic.
A few minutes later, she had situated Maybelle in her usual spot in the parking garage and was headed back to the brownstone on foot.
A few minutes later, she had situated Maybelle in her usual spot in the parking garage and was headed back to the brownstone on foot.
Normally, the walk would have been a pleasant one.
The weather was fine, and the handful of crazies who wandered her neighborhood had apparently decided to stay inside for the duration.
But Darla couldn’t stop thinking about Valerie Baylor and the Lone Protester—Janie—who might well be responsible for the author’s death.
The weather was fine, and the handful of crazies who wandered her neighborhood had apparently decided to stay inside for the duration.
But Darla couldn’t stop thinking about Valerie Baylor and the Lone Protester—Janie—who might well be responsible for the author’s death.
More unsettling than that, however, was a selfish concern.
Though she had tried at the time to dismiss it, she couldn’t help but worry that Robert and Sunny’s threatened boycott might come to pass.
Chances were the teens had several hundred so-called friends each on their respective pages, meaning it wouldn’t be hard for them to drum up a few dozen people to march around just for the fun of it.
It was hard work keeping a bookstore afloat these days.
Should too many people jump on their emo bandwagon, Pettistone’s Fine Books might meet much the same fate as Valerie.
Though she had tried at the time to dismiss it, she couldn’t help but worry that Robert and Sunny’s threatened boycott might come to pass.
Chances were the teens had several hundred so-called friends each on their respective pages, meaning it wouldn’t be hard for them to drum up a few dozen people to march around just for the fun of it.
It was hard work keeping a bookstore afloat these days.
Should too many people jump on their emo bandwagon, Pettistone’s Fine Books might meet much the same fate as Valerie.
Jake was waiting for her on the stoop, seated on the concrete steps leading up to the quaint wood and glass door.
She apparently had been talking on her cell, for she snapped her phone shut at Darla’s approach.
She apparently had been talking on her cell, for she snapped her phone shut at Darla’s approach.
“That was Reese,” she announced.
“Seems Janie sang like a canary.
Problem is, she only knew one verse.”
“Seems Janie sang like a canary.
Problem is, she only knew one verse.”
“What do you mean?”
“She admits to the whole protest routine, but she said someone paid her to do it.
And she swears she wasn’t the one who tossed your author under the bus .
.
.
er, church van.
She claims she ditched her sign in the alley and left the scene almost half an hour before the accident, and had no idea what happened until she saw the news story online.”
And she swears she wasn’t the one who tossed your author under the bus .
.
.
er, church van.
She claims she ditched her sign in the alley and left the scene almost half an hour before the accident, and had no idea what happened until she saw the news story online.”
“Did Reese believe her?”
The older woman shrugged.
“He’s hedging his bets, but I think he’s inclined to accept her at her word.
All I know for sure is that they didn’t charge her with any crime, so she’s free to do her own thing for the moment.”
“He’s hedging his bets, but I think he’s inclined to accept her at her word.
All I know for sure is that they didn’t charge her with any crime, so she’s free to do her own thing for the moment.”
“So who’s the person who hired her?”
Darla persisted.
Darla persisted.
Jake rose from the steps and gave an elaborate stretch.
The routine reminded Darla of Hamlet, minus any legs thrown over any shoulders.
Kink-free now, she said, “That’s where it gets interesting.
Your girl claims she answered a help-wanted ad for a performance artist on TheEverythingList.”
The routine reminded Darla of Hamlet, minus any legs thrown over any shoulders.
Kink-free now, she said, “That’s where it gets interesting.
Your girl claims she answered a help-wanted ad for a performance artist on TheEverythingList.”
TheEverythingList, Darla knew, was a popular Internet want-ad site that listed, well, everything.
It was a place where people bought and sold and hired and advertised availability by means of online postings.
Darla had used the site herself, or, rather, she’d had Lizzie post some of the store’s old fixtures for sale and found it an easy way to unload unwanted goods.
It was a place where people bought and sold and hired and advertised availability by means of online postings.
Darla had used the site herself, or, rather, she’d had Lizzie post some of the store’s old fixtures for sale and found it an easy way to unload unwanted goods.
“Since she’s a theater major at Tisch,” Jake went on, referring to the well-known school of the arts in New York City proper, “this gig was right up her alley.
She got her instructions by email, and only met the person who hired her when it came time to collect her first payment.
They hooked up at a fast-food joint.”
She got her instructions by email, and only met the person who hired her when it came time to collect her first payment.
They hooked up at a fast-food joint.”
“Don’t tell me,” Darla interrupted with a snort, “the guy she met was in disguise.”
“Actually, the guy was a woman, but otherwise you’re right.
Janie says she was wearing a scarf and dark glasses, so Reese didn’t get much of a description out of her.
From what she said, the woman claimed to work for Valerie’s publisher.
The whole protest thing was supposed to be a publicity stunt.”
Janie says she was wearing a scarf and dark glasses, so Reese didn’t get much of a description out of her.
From what she said, the woman claimed to work for Valerie’s publisher.
The whole protest thing was supposed to be a publicity stunt.”
“But Valerie didn’t need publicity,” Darla pointed out.
“Besides, Koji Foster was her publicist, and he certainly didn’t indicate he was in on the joke the night of the signing.”
“Besides, Koji Foster was her publicist, and he certainly didn’t indicate he was in on the joke the night of the signing.”
Jake nodded.
“I think we can pretty well eliminate the possibility that Scarf Lady was legit.
The emails were sent from one of those free email accounts, not from the publishing house.
And, of course, the payment was all in cash.
Janie’s a little ticked, too, because she’s still owed fifty bucks for last night, and the so-called publicist wasn’t at the fast-food place this morning to pay like she said she’d be.
Reese said he’d passed on the email address to one of the department’s IT guys to track.
But here’s the real kicker—”
“I think we can pretty well eliminate the possibility that Scarf Lady was legit.
The emails were sent from one of those free email accounts, not from the publishing house.
And, of course, the payment was all in cash.
Janie’s a little ticked, too, because she’s still owed fifty bucks for last night, and the so-called publicist wasn’t at the fast-food place this morning to pay like she said she’d be.
Reese said he’d passed on the email address to one of the department’s IT guys to track.
But here’s the real kicker—”
Her words were cut short by a sudden chorus of angry horns as someone slowed a bit too long while passing the Valerie shrine.
The driver who’d drawn the ire of his fellows responded with a single-finger salute.
Jake shook her head and shouted a few choice Jersey-isms at them all.
The driver who’d drawn the ire of his fellows responded with a single-finger salute.
Jake shook her head and shouted a few choice Jersey-isms at them all.
“We’re going to be pulling more bodies off the street if this keeps up.
I’m going to call a friend of mine in Traffic and see what they can do.
So, where was I?”
I’m going to call a friend of mine in Traffic and see what they can do.
So, where was I?”
“The real kicker,” Darla helpfully supplied.
Jake hesitated, and then went on, “According to Reese, Janie claims that Scarf Lady spoke with a southern accent.”
Something in her tone made Darla hesitate as well.
Then understanding dawned, and she gasped.
“Don’t tell me that Reese thinks
I’m
Scarf Lady?”
Then understanding dawned, and she gasped.
“Don’t tell me that Reese thinks
I’m
Scarf Lady?”
“Well, he did kinda float that theory for about five seconds, until I told him he was being an idiot,” Jake admitted.
At Darla’s yelp of disbelief, she grinned a little before continuing.
“Of course, if you think about it, it’s not that far-fetched.
I mean, drumming up a publicity stunt like that in advance of the signing could get people talking, which equals you selling more books.
Besides, the first rule of police work is that everyone’s a suspect until they’re not.
But I told him how upset you were over the whole protest thing, and that I was pretty sure you weren’t the second coming of Meryl Streep who could fool me.
I think I convinced him, but heads up in case he wants to put you in a photo lineup.”
“Of course, if you think about it, it’s not that far-fetched.
I mean, drumming up a publicity stunt like that in advance of the signing could get people talking, which equals you selling more books.
Besides, the first rule of police work is that everyone’s a suspect until they’re not.
But I told him how upset you were over the whole protest thing, and that I was pretty sure you weren’t the second coming of Meryl Streep who could fool me.
I think I convinced him, but heads up in case he wants to put you in a photo lineup.”
“Great,” Darla muttered.
Then the obvious thought hit her.
“What about Marnie?
Talk about a prime suspect.
Southern accent, hated Valerie Baylor,
ran her over with her van
,” she persisted, ticking off the points on her fingers.
Then the obvious thought hit her.
“What about Marnie?
Talk about a prime suspect.
Southern accent, hated Valerie Baylor,
ran her over with her van
,” she persisted, ticking off the points on her fingers.
Jake shrugged.
“True, but Janie’s first meeting with the Scarf Lady was a week before the autographing.
Even if Marnie had someone else mail that letter for her to throw us off with the postmark, she drove up here with a carful of other people.
The timeline’s off.
Nope, we gotta keep looking.”
She glanced at her watch and added, “Reese is going to drop by my place with pizza and an update around six.
You’re welcome to join us if you want, listen to his theories, protest your innocence and all.”
“True, but Janie’s first meeting with the Scarf Lady was a week before the autographing.
Even if Marnie had someone else mail that letter for her to throw us off with the postmark, she drove up here with a carful of other people.
The timeline’s off.
Nope, we gotta keep looking.”
She glanced at her watch and added, “Reese is going to drop by my place with pizza and an update around six.
You’re welcome to join us if you want, listen to his theories, protest your innocence and all.”
“Sure, why not?
Nothing better than spending an evening dodging suspicion with your friends.”
Nothing better than spending an evening dodging suspicion with your friends.”
So saying, she stood and spared a final look at the most recent worshippers gathered at the spontaneous Church of Valerie.
Jake could have them and the traffic snarl.
Darla was going to grab some quiet downtime in the peaceful confines of her third-story apartment.
Jake could have them and the traffic snarl.
Darla was going to grab some quiet downtime in the peaceful confines of her third-story apartment.
Peace, however, was not quite what she found when she unlocked her front door.
FOURTEEN
“HAMLET!”
Darla stared in dismay at the havoc that had been wrought in her short absence from the apartment.
To be fair, the chaos was limited to one corner of her living room, right in front of the ceiling-height bookcase along the wall.
Still, it was significant.
To be fair, the chaos was limited to one corner of her living room, right in front of the ceiling-height bookcase along the wall.
Still, it was significant.
Fully half the books—classics, mostly, along with a few biographies and trendy self-help volumes—had been pulled down from the upper shelves and lay in piles upon the floor.
As for the culprit, he’d not bothered to make tracks.
Instead, he sat with regal stiffness between two neat stacks of volumes tall as he, his green eyes fixed upon her as if daring her to say anything.
As for the culprit, he’d not bothered to make tracks.
Instead, he sat with regal stiffness between two neat stacks of volumes tall as he, his green eyes fixed upon her as if daring her to say anything.
She dared.
“You little hellion!
What possessed you?
You’re a bookstore cat—you should have more respect for the written word.
I swear it’s going to take me an hour to put everything back in the proper order.”
What possessed you?
You’re a bookstore cat—you should have more respect for the written word.
I swear it’s going to take me an hour to put everything back in the proper order.”
Still huffing, she set down her purse and started toward the jumble.
She should have taken the squirt gun to him earlier in the store, when he’d pulled down the Capote book.
Given that there had been no consequences that first time, he apparently had decided that snagging books from shelves was an entertaining way to pass an afternoon.
She should have taken the squirt gun to him earlier in the store, when he’d pulled down the Capote book.
Given that there had been no consequences that first time, he apparently had decided that snagging books from shelves was an entertaining way to pass an afternoon.
Her irritation mingled with dismay, however, as another explanation occurred to her—since she’d never seen him be destructive just for the fun of it before, what if there had been mice in the bookcases, and Hamlet had been trying to catch them?
She might have to call in an exterminator for the entire building.
After all, where there’s one nasty little rodent, there’s bound to be—
She might have to call in an exterminator for the entire building.
After all, where there’s one nasty little rodent, there’s bound to be—
She abruptly halted, swept by one of those something’s-wrong-but-I-can’t-quite-put-my-finger-on-it moments.
Hamlet had not moved, but remained seated like an Egyptian statue, the books on either side of him serving as matching columns.
She swore he was trying to communicate something .
.
.
something other than his usual disdain, that was.
Hamlet had not moved, but remained seated like an Egyptian statue, the books on either side of him serving as matching columns.
She swore he was trying to communicate something .
.
.
something other than his usual disdain, that was.
Then it struck her.
Hamlet could easily leap to the uppermost shelf, and he had already demonstrated that he could pull books out of a bookcase.
But even a cat as clever as he lacked the facility to stack those volumes into such carefully arranged towers.
So if he hadn’t been playing architect with the collected works of Austen, Brontë, and Dickens, then who had?
But even a cat as clever as he lacked the facility to stack those volumes into such carefully arranged towers.
So if he hadn’t been playing architect with the collected works of Austen, Brontë, and Dickens, then who had?
“Hamlet?”
she repeated, far more softly this time.
With a small shiver, she gazed about the room.
Someone had been in her apartment while she was gone, and for some reason had searched her bookcase.
The question was, why?
And, more important, was that person still in the apartment with her?
she repeated, far more softly this time.
With a small shiver, she gazed about the room.
Someone had been in her apartment while she was gone, and for some reason had searched her bookcase.
The question was, why?
And, more important, was that person still in the apartment with her?
A prudent woman would have left the place posthaste.
Jake had a gun and would know how to search a house for a possible intruder.
But Darla remembered the way the ex-cop had surreptitiously coddled her bad leg after her impromptu sprint.
While the other woman would not hesitate to make the roundtrip up and down two narrow flights of stairs to guarantee Darla’s safety, Darla was loath to put her through the pain.
Besides, Hamlet had now abandoned the books for the back of the sofa, which meant whoever might have broken in was probably long since gone.
Jake had a gun and would know how to search a house for a possible intruder.
But Darla remembered the way the ex-cop had surreptitiously coddled her bad leg after her impromptu sprint.
While the other woman would not hesitate to make the roundtrip up and down two narrow flights of stairs to guarantee Darla’s safety, Darla was loath to put her through the pain.
Besides, Hamlet had now abandoned the books for the back of the sofa, which meant whoever might have broken in was probably long since gone.
Probably.
Cell phone in one hand and a clublike wooden rain stick that Great-Aunt Dee had brought back from a Chilean vacation in the other, Darla checked out the rest of the apartment.
Her first thought was for her laptop and television.
Both were in their usual places, as was her jewelry and the small stash of cash she kept in a mug in an upper kitchen cabinet.
Her aunt’s valuable nineteenth-century glassware and a lesser-known example of Jackson Pollock’s early work were untouched as well.
Her first thought was for her laptop and television.
Both were in their usual places, as was her jewelry and the small stash of cash she kept in a mug in an upper kitchen cabinet.
Her aunt’s valuable nineteenth-century glassware and a lesser-known example of Jackson Pollock’s early work were untouched as well.
The bedroom appeared equally intact.
No drawers were dumped onto the floor, no mattress was flipped, and no crazed book stackers leaped out of any closets at her.
She ended the hunt back in the living room a few minutes later, feeling relieved yet somewhat foolish.
After all, what kind of thief limited his ransacking to overstuffed shelves of highly uncollectible volumes?
Just to be certain, she checked the windows.
All were locked, so that even if the intruder had scaled the front of the building or somehow had managed to crawl onto the fire escape in the back, he’d not come in that way.
The deadbolt on the apartment door had been locked, as had the ground-level door.
As for extra keys, Jake had the only other one.
Unless Hamlet had opened the door to a stranger, there was no way someone had entered from the outside.
No drawers were dumped onto the floor, no mattress was flipped, and no crazed book stackers leaped out of any closets at her.
She ended the hunt back in the living room a few minutes later, feeling relieved yet somewhat foolish.
After all, what kind of thief limited his ransacking to overstuffed shelves of highly uncollectible volumes?
Just to be certain, she checked the windows.
All were locked, so that even if the intruder had scaled the front of the building or somehow had managed to crawl onto the fire escape in the back, he’d not come in that way.
The deadbolt on the apartment door had been locked, as had the ground-level door.
As for extra keys, Jake had the only other one.
Unless Hamlet had opened the door to a stranger, there was no way someone had entered from the outside.
Setting the rain stick back in its spot in one corner, Darla flipped open her cell phone and dialed Mary Ann’s number.
Something still didn’t seem right about the situation.
She’d run it past Jake and Reese at supper.
In the meantime, it didn’t hurt to find out if Mary Ann or her brother had seen someone lurking around the building.
Something still didn’t seem right about the situation.
She’d run it past Jake and Reese at supper.
In the meantime, it didn’t hurt to find out if Mary Ann or her brother had seen someone lurking around the building.
“Why, Darla, it’s been so long since we’ve spoken,” the old woman answered her call on the first ring, chuckling at her mild joke.
“What can I do for you?”
“What can I do for you?”
Mary Ann sounded frailer and a bit more breathless over the phone than she did in person, and Darla hesitated.
She didn’t want to upset the woman unnecessarily by carrying on about a possible intruder.
On the other hand, Mary Ann might have noticed someone hanging about the place, and, at the very least, she should be aware if something untoward was going on in her neighborhood.
She didn’t want to upset the woman unnecessarily by carrying on about a possible intruder.
On the other hand, Mary Ann might have noticed someone hanging about the place, and, at the very least, she should be aware if something untoward was going on in her neighborhood.
“I don’t want to worry you, but something odd just happened.
I went out for a few hours with Jake and Detective Reese, and when I got back, I found half the books in my bookcase lying on my living room floor.”
I went out for a few hours with Jake and Detective Reese, and when I got back, I found half the books in my bookcase lying on my living room floor.”
“Oh dear, was Hamlet misbehaving?”
Not surprisingly, Mary Ann sounded puzzled, but she gamely went on, “He’s usually such a civilized cat, but he’s probably upset with everything that’s happened since yesterday.
I’m sure he won’t do it again.”
Not surprisingly, Mary Ann sounded puzzled, but she gamely went on, “He’s usually such a civilized cat, but he’s probably upset with everything that’s happened since yesterday.
I’m sure he won’t do it again.”
“No, it’s more than that.
Don’t be alarmed, but I think someone broke into my apartment while I was out.”
Don’t be alarmed, but I think someone broke into my apartment while I was out.”
When she heard a gasp from the old woman, she hurried to add, “Like I said, no need to worry.
Nothing’s been taken that I can see, and Hamlet’s fine.
It’s just some books that got scattered around.
But I was wondering if maybe you saw someone who didn’t belong hanging out by my door this afternoon.”
Nothing’s been taken that I can see, and Hamlet’s fine.
It’s just some books that got scattered around.
But I was wondering if maybe you saw someone who didn’t belong hanging out by my door this afternoon.”
“Oh my gracious, let me think.
No, no one in particular, my dear, though all those young people have been wandering down the sidewalk all day bringing their flowers.
Oh, but wait.”
No, no one in particular, my dear, though all those young people have been wandering down the sidewalk all day bringing their flowers.
Oh, but wait.”
Darla heard a pause and shuffle of footsteps before Mary Ann went on, “I almost forgot, there was a woman out chatting with some of the young people a bit earlier—a pretty young thing, and in such a respectable suit.
She was there for about an hour and then left, but I’m looking out my window and she’s back again.”
She was there for about an hour and then left, but I’m looking out my window and she’s back again.”
A woman?
A bad feeling swept her, and Darla promptly headed for her own window to take a look.
Since the Lone Protester had only just been released from custody from what Jake had said, then it had to be .
.
.
A bad feeling swept her, and Darla promptly headed for her own window to take a look.
Since the Lone Protester had only just been released from custody from what Jake had said, then it had to be .
.
.
Marnie !
Darla set her jaw as she stared down at the woman in a pink jacket and skirt handing out what appeared to be tracts to a pair of teen girls near the Valerie shrine.
She was going to have a word with her, no doubt.
She was going to have a word with her, no doubt.
“I see her,” Darla replied, “and I’m pretty sure it’s the same woman who was driving the van that killed Valerie Baylor.”
“Gracious!”
was Mary Ann’s shocked response.
“Whatever is she doing back here?”
was Mary Ann’s shocked response.
“Whatever is she doing back here?”
“I don’t know, but admittedly she doesn’t look like my idea of a break-and-enter artist.
”
”
“Maybe you should call that nice Detective Reese if you’re worried,” Mary Ann suggested, sounding more than a bit concerned herself.
“And I can send Brother up to repair your door for you.”
“And I can send Brother up to repair your door for you.”
“Thanks, but the door’s fine.
Everything was locked up tight as a drum when I got back.”
Everything was locked up tight as a drum when I got back.”
Mary Ann made a small, polite sound of confusion.
“I’m sorry, dear, I must be missing something.
If everything was locked up, and nothing is missing, why are you certain it wasn’t Hamlet being a little devil?”
“I’m sorry, dear, I must be missing something.
If everything was locked up, and nothing is missing, why are you certain it wasn’t Hamlet being a little devil?”
“Because the books were stacked neatly.”
Almost hearing Mary Ann’s questioning look through the phone, Darla gazed at the volumes on the floor in front of her and went on, “I know it doesn’t sound like much .
.
.
I guess you have to see it to understand.
Some of the books were scattered on the floor, but most of them were arranged in perfect columns about a dozen high.
Hamlet is clever, but he doesn’t know how to use a carpenter’s square.”
.
.
I guess you have to see it to understand.
Some of the books were scattered on the floor, but most of them were arranged in perfect columns about a dozen high.
Hamlet is clever, but he doesn’t know how to use a carpenter’s square.”
Mary Ann was silent a moment.
“Well, that
is
very strange,” she finally said.
“Maybe you have a poltergeist.”
“Well, that
is
very strange,” she finally said.
“Maybe you have a poltergeist.”
A poltergeist!
Now, it was Darla’s turn to fall silent as she eyed the books with even greater misgivings.
She’d read enough ghost stories to recall that strangely stacked items
were
a hallmark of a poltergeist haunting.
She hadn’t forgotten that Great-Aunt Dee had died in this very apartment—in her very own bed, to be specific, though Darla had made certain to replace that particular piece of furniture before moving in—and Valerie had been killed just outside her building.
That added up to at least two possible unruly spirits right there.
She’d read enough ghost stories to recall that strangely stacked items
were
a hallmark of a poltergeist haunting.
She hadn’t forgotten that Great-Aunt Dee had died in this very apartment—in her very own bed, to be specific, though Darla had made certain to replace that particular piece of furniture before moving in—and Valerie had been killed just outside her building.
That added up to at least two possible unruly spirits right there.
That was, if one were inclined to believe in such things.
Darla frowned.
While she considered herself a skeptic when it came to the occult, Valerie’s
Haunted High
books
had
occupied her thoughts for the past few days.
Moreover, she couldn’t forget Jake’s reports of mysterious footsteps in the store after hours, and the lights turning on and off by themselves.
Were Hamlet’s stacked books but the latest incident in a string of other strange occurrences?
While she considered herself a skeptic when it came to the occult, Valerie’s
Haunted High
books
had
occupied her thoughts for the past few days.
Moreover, she couldn’t forget Jake’s reports of mysterious footsteps in the store after hours, and the lights turning on and off by themselves.
Were Hamlet’s stacked books but the latest incident in a string of other strange occurrences?
“Darla?
Darla, are you there?”
came Mary Ann’s worried voice breaking through her unsettling reverie.
“My dear, I was only joking about a poltergeist,” the woman said, punctuating those words with a nervous-sounding chuckle.
“I hope you didn’t take me seriously.
I’ve lived in this building all my life, and believe me, there are no ghosts here.
Would you like me to come over, just to make you feel better?”
Darla, are you there?”
came Mary Ann’s worried voice breaking through her unsettling reverie.
“My dear, I was only joking about a poltergeist,” the woman said, punctuating those words with a nervous-sounding chuckle.
“I hope you didn’t take me seriously.
I’ve lived in this building all my life, and believe me, there are no ghosts here.
Would you like me to come over, just to make you feel better?”
“Well .
.
.”
.
.”
Darla hesitated, tempted to take her up on the offer.
But, just as with Jake, she didn’t want the woman trudging up and down two flights of stairs for no good reason.
While spry for her age, Mary Ann had gone through at least one knee-replacement surgery.
And besides, now that Darla had allowed herself more time to consider all possibilities, the only reasonable explanation was that Hamlet had been the culprit after all.
But, just as with Jake, she didn’t want the woman trudging up and down two flights of stairs for no good reason.
While spry for her age, Mary Ann had gone through at least one knee-replacement surgery.
And besides, now that Darla had allowed herself more time to consider all possibilities, the only reasonable explanation was that Hamlet had been the culprit after all.
“Mary Ann, you’re a champ.
I appreciate your offer, but it’s not necessary,” she assured the other woman.
“I think you’re right, and Hamlet was just looking for some attention.
Detective Reese should be stopping by to see Jake later, so I’ll ask if he thinks there’s any cause for alarm.”
I appreciate your offer, but it’s not necessary,” she assured the other woman.
“I think you’re right, and Hamlet was just looking for some attention.
Detective Reese should be stopping by to see Jake later, so I’ll ask if he thinks there’s any cause for alarm.”
“That’s a sensible idea, Darla,” Mary Ann said in an approving tone.
“But I’ll keep my eyes open, anyway, and you can call me if anything else strange happens.”
“But I’ll keep my eyes open, anyway, and you can call me if anything else strange happens.”
They exchanged a few final pleasantries, and then Darla hung up to find Hamlet back among the books.
This time, with one large paw, he was methodically knocking the carefully arranged books, one at a time, onto the floor.
Each landed with a small thud atop the previous into what was becoming a new pile.
This stack, however, had a distinctly haphazard appearance to it.
This time, with one large paw, he was methodically knocking the carefully arranged books, one at a time, onto the floor.
Each landed with a small thud atop the previous into what was becoming a new pile.
This stack, however, had a distinctly haphazard appearance to it.
“Enough with the books, Hamlet,” she sternly told him, setting down her phone to shoo him away.
The entire situation was making her brain hurt.
Better to hurry and reshelve the volumes, and put an end to the strange incident.
The entire situation was making her brain hurt.
Better to hurry and reshelve the volumes, and put an end to the strange incident.
But first, she had to deal with Marnie.
Darla marched down the two flights of stairs with no clear plan in mind for confronting the woman.
In fact, she couldn’t say exactly why she was so outraged by the woman’s presence there at the Valerie shrine.
She’d never seen anything in Emily Post’s column about it being bad manners to hang around an accident site where you were the one responsible for the victim’s death.
And there was nothing wrong about exercising one’s First Amendment rights in a public setting, no matter that said person’s opinions fell somewhere between outright mean and bat-pooh crazy.
Technically speaking, since she couldn’t claim aggrieved relative status, it wasn’t even Darla’s business what the woman did.
In fact, she couldn’t say exactly why she was so outraged by the woman’s presence there at the Valerie shrine.
She’d never seen anything in Emily Post’s column about it being bad manners to hang around an accident site where you were the one responsible for the victim’s death.
And there was nothing wrong about exercising one’s First Amendment rights in a public setting, no matter that said person’s opinions fell somewhere between outright mean and bat-pooh crazy.
Technically speaking, since she couldn’t claim aggrieved relative status, it wasn’t even Darla’s business what the woman did.
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