Gem of a Ghost: A Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery (8 page)

“Yeah, right. All you old pervs do it. You know you do.” She flashed Phil a sly grin. “Just so long as you don’t touch.”

“Summer, chill,” Keith ordered as if he were giving a sharp command to a bad dog.

Granny moved in close to Emma. “Phil was not looking at that tramp’s hoochie. He was looking at something else.”

“I know,” Emma said under her breath.

“What?” Summer snapped at Emma. “What did you call me?”

“I didn’t call you anything, Summer. I was just saying I think you should go.”

“You’re not the boss of me.”

The girl was stretching Emma’s patience to the limit. Kelly wasn’t perfect, but she was polite and sensible and seldom insolent. “We have things to discuss with Keith that don’t concern you.”

“Do as she says, Summer,” Keith told her, not sounding too pleased with her behavior either.

Phil held up a hand halfway as if waiting to be called upon. “I was looking, Summer, not at you but at that gorgeous ring on your left hand. Does your fiancé know you spent the night here?”

The girl looked down at her left hand, which sported a very large square-cut solitaire. “This isn’t mine, it was Lainey’s. I was trying it on last night and forgot it was there. So relax, you don’t have to tattle on me to anyone.” She gave Phil another catlike smile. “Or were you thinking more along the lines of blackmail?”

“Just go, Summer,” ordered Keith.

With her clothes in her arms, Summer stalked down the hall to the master bedroom, treating everyone to the loud slam of the door behind her.

“Don’t mind Summer,” Keith told them. “She’s messed up, but she’s cool.”

Emma looked at Keith as if he’d lost his young mind. “She’s definitely messed up, Keith, but she’s far from cool. She’s in more need of Serenity Place than Lainey is.”

ten

After an awkward moment
during which Keith took time to absorb Emma’s blatant warning about Summer, he explained, “There’s nothing going on with me and Summer. I’ve been really down lately—the thing with Lainey, studying for exams—it all kind of piled up on me. Some of our friends came by last night to cheer me up. Summer was with them. They brought food and beer. We played video games. That’s it.”

The parent in Emma wasn’t mollified. “You played video games from bed?”

Keith nosed the pedestal of the coffee table with a foot. “I guess I got drunk, and Summer and I hooked up after. That’s all.”

Looking for some manly backup, he turned his eyes to Phil. “Man, you know how it is.”

Under different circumstances, Phil would have given him a small smile of support, but he had sons, and while boys would be boys, he wouldn’t want either of them to hook up with the likes of Summer Perkins, not even for an evening. Instead, he asked Keith, “Do you still have feelings for Lainey Naiman?”

Keith put his Coke down on the glass table. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knobby knees. “Yeah, I still do. I’m crazy about her.”

“Lainey believes you think she tried to kill herself because she didn’t want to marry you,” Emma told him. “How’d she get that idea?”

Looking anywhere but at Emma, Keith took a deep breath. He placed the palm of his right hand on his chest and rubbed slowly, as if soothing a suspected heart attack. “I guess I sort of told her that.”

Emma pushed. “You likened her to an animal who’d rather chew off her foot than marry you, didn’t you?”

Phil hung his head like a broken hinge. “Oh, son, you didn’t!”

Keith looked up, his brown eyes drooping behind his glasses. “I know, I was a complete dumbass. I just didn’t know what else to think. We were having a fight. After I said that to her, she took the ring off and threw it at me. I’m only in the condo until she returns from Serenity. My stuff’s all packed and ready to go.”

“Lainey believes something was driving her to do what she did,” Emma said. “She must have told you that.”

“Yeah.” Keith ran a bony hand over the stubble on his chin. “She told me she felt like she had no control over her actions—like she’d space out and then snap out of it just as she was about to die.” He eyed Emma, his face still as stone. “Do you believe that?”

“Yes, Keith, I do. I don’t think Lainey was responsible for her actions, and I want to get to the bottom of it.”

Keith sat perfectly still as he mashed what Emma said together with his feelings. Picking up his soda, he took a long drink, tipping back the can until it was empty. He put it back on the table, the sound tinny and hollow as it connected with the glass table.

“If it’s not me causing Lainey’s problems, do you think I have a chance to win her back?”

Emma was quiet, but Phil gave it to him straight. “Hard to say with Summer in the mix. If she’s the one who’s told everyone where Lainey is, I’m sure she’s going to happily tell Lainey or Lainey’s true friends, like Kelly, about this little indiscretion.”

“Oh, god!” Keith hung his head, cradling it in his hands.

“You might want to be the one to tell her,” Phil suggested. “Man up, and let her know how you feel and how sorry you are.”

Emma got up to stretch her legs. She walked to the patio door and looked out at the gorgeous view, studying the cluster of Century City high-rise office buildings that popped up in the distance like dandelions. She turned back to Keith. “Was everything else okay between you and Lainey? No other issues that might have upset her, or dreams or feelings she was having right before these incidents?”

When he shrugged, she asked, “What about your parents? Did both sides approve of your upcoming marriage? After all, you are both quite young and still in school.” She took a step back toward the men and leaned her hands on the back of the sofa where Phil sat. “I know I’d be concerned if Kelly wanted to get married at this time in her life.”

Keith gave the question some thought before answering. “At first my folks were concerned about Lainey. They knew she was the daughter of someone famous and cautioned me about life in the fast lane. But when I took her to Seattle to meet them, she melted their hearts, especially after she told them she doesn’t want to stay in LA after we’ve finished with school. They saw for themselves she isn’t at all like those rich bimbos they hear about in the news. She’s smart and down-to-earth.” A small smile crept across his face. “As far as my folks are concerned, there are only two things I’ve done 100 percent right in my life—set my sights on becoming a doctor and fall in love with a nice Jewish girl.”

“And Lainey’s parents?”

After a deep sigh, Keith shook his head in disgust. “My parents are definitely not going to like them.”

It was Phil’s turn to make a guess. “I take it they didn’t take to you as your parents did to Lainey?”

“They’re psycho. Her old man called me a gold digger right to my face.”

The ghost of Max Naiman popped into view just behind Keith. “Don’t look at me. I like the boy.”

Emma caught Phil’s eye as she asked Keith, “You mean Linwood Reid, her stepfather?”

“Yeah. He actually had the balls to offer me fifty thousand dollars to drop Lainey like a lead weight.”

“Is that the Max character?” asked Granny.

Emma nodded but kept up her conversation with Keith. “What did Lainey say about that?”

“I didn’t tell her.” Keith got up and disappeared into the kitchen.

“Max is here,” Emma whispered to Phil. “He likes Keith.”

“So do I,” returned Phil, “in spite of Summer.”

Granny eyed Max up and down. He winked at her, causing Granny to giggle like a schoolgirl. “I gotta watch me some of his movies.”

Keith returned clutching another Coke. “That booze made me dry as a sand dune.” He looked down at the can as he popped the top. “I’m sorry. Would you guys like something? We’ve got tons of Coke, even some beer still left.”

“No, thanks,” Phil answered for both of them.

Emma wasn’t through with the Lin Reid topic. “Why didn’t you tell Lainey about Lin’s offer?”

Keith took a drink before answering and squelched a burp. “Excuse me.” Sitting back down, he said, “Lainey doesn’t get along with her stepfather at all. Not sure why, but she can’t stand him. She once told me he had her husband all picked out for her—some clown nephew of his or someone like that. Maybe that’s why.”

“So Lainey being engaged to you gummed up his plans.” Phil leaned forward and moved the orchid out of the way to see Keith better.

“I guess.”

Max moved in front of Emma. “This boy isn’t the gold digger. Reid is.”

Emma’s attention clicked onto the ghost. Without thinking, she asked Max, “Why do you say that?”

Not realizing Emma was speaking to a spirit, Keith answered, “Well, as long as she’s with me, she can’t date his nephew. Although she’s met him and doesn’t like him, so I’m not sure how Lin thought he was going to change her mind.”

Max looked at the boy, letting him finish before he answered Emma’s question. “Lainey doesn’t have all her inheritance. She gets the bulk of it when she turns twenty-one in five months. I think Reid wants to get his hands on it. He’s already wormed his way into Joanna’s money by convincing her they didn’t need prenups.”

Emma clutched the back of the sofa. “Keith, did you know about Lainey’s inheritance?”

“Sure, that’s how she could afford this place.”

“No, not the money she received at eighteen. Did you know she was to inherit a larger sum upon her twenty-first birthday?”

From the surprise on his face, both Emma and Phil knew he didn’t.

Emma wasn’t sure how or if Lainey’s suicide attempts tied in to her inheritance or Lin Reid. While Lin did seem to exercise some control over Joanna, she couldn’t imagine how he could manage to push Lainey to the brink of killing herself, if he did have a hand in it at all. It just seemed improbable.

“You know what the weirdest part of all this is?” asked Keith. “When we were with Lainey’s parents, her mother seemed to be totally in agreement with Lin. But her mother offered me money to make sure I married her.”

“What?” everyone, even the two ghosts, asked almost in unison.

“Yeah.” He ran a hand through his hair, loosening it into a riot of short tendrils. “Joanna came here one day shortly after Lainey went to Serenity and handed me twenty grand in cash.
In cash!
She said there was another eighty waiting for me the day I married Lainey.”

Phil stared at Emma. “What in the hell is wrong with those people?”

Without waiting for an answer, he turned to Keith. “Whatever made Lainey do what she did, I don’t think it had anything to do with you. Not a damn thing.”

“I’d like to believe that.”

Without a word, Max started floating down the hallway toward the master suite, Granny following him like a lovesick puppy. It reminded Emma of Summer. The girl hadn’t come out yet. “Summer’s taking a long time.”

Keith turned and glanced down the hall. “She’s probably showering first.”

“Or,” Phil added, “stalling to make a point.”

Emma made a sour face, then stopped when Phil caught her in the act. He merely grinned at the childish behavior and patted her arm. “Patience.”

After taking a deep breath, Emma said, “Keith, I’m inviting Lainey to my home in Julian next weekend. Would you like to drive down and see her? It’s not here and it’s not Serenity. Think of it as someplace neutral where you two can talk out your problems.”

“She might not want to see me.”

Phil considered the invitation. “I think that’s a great idea, Emma. And if it’s uncomfortable for them, Keith can stay at the ranch instead of under the same roof.”

He turned to Keith. “My ranch is just across the way from Emma’s cabin. It will give you two space when you need it.”

Before Keith could answer, Granny popped into view. “Come quick!” she told Emma. “It’s the girl.”

Without explanation, Emma dashed around the sofa and sprinted down the hallway toward the master bedroom. Phil, realizing something was wrong, was right behind her. Bringing up the rear was a surprised Keith.

When she got to the double doors, Emma grabbed the knob and started twisting and turning while shoving on the door.

“Something’s wrong with Summer,” she told the men.

“Out of the way, Emma.” Phil slammed his sturdy shoulder against the door. It shook but didn’t give. Keith, still stunned, watched. “Come on, son,” Phil shouted. “Give me a hand here.”

Keith lined himself up with Phil, and the two of them hit the door with their shoulders like side-by-side battering rams. The thick, expensive door buckled but didn’t give.

“What’s going on?” asked Keith between grunts and slams.

Emma shook with impatience to get inside the room. “I think Summer’s in trouble.”

“One more time,” said Phil. “One, two,
three
.” On three, the two men hit the door, breaking it open. They spilled into the room like floodwaters, with Emma wading through them.

eleven

“Summer, no.” Emma wanted
to shout the words, but she didn’t dare in case the sound startled the girl any more than breaking down the door had. Instead, they squeaked out of her in a soft plea as she stepped past the men and cautiously made her way to the open door to the balcony.

Summer was partially dressed, wearing only skinny leggings and her lacy pink bra. On her feet were her high heels. Her hair was a tangle of golden vines spilling down her shoulders and across her face and neck. She looked like an exotic wild animal. Teetering precariously, one foot on a patio table, the other on the railing of the balcony, she peered over the edge to the ground twelve floors below. Standing next to her, his eyes glued to her face, his arms outspread as if to catch her, was the ghost of Max Naiman.

“Summer!” Keith called and started for her.

Grabbing his arm, Phil held him back. “Careful. You don’t want to spook her.”

At her name, Summer turned around and pushed hair from her face. She saw them, but it was clear the image wasn’t registering. Her eyes were glazed and unfixed.

“What’s she on?” Emma whispered to Keith.

“Nothing that I know of,” he whispered back. “I’ve never even seen her smoke dope.”

“Help her, Emma,” pleaded Max, not taking his eyes off of Summer.

“There’s something not natural about that girl,” Granny said to Emma.

“Granny’s right,” added Max. “It was the same with Lainey.”

Motioning for the men to stay behind, Emma took another step toward the balcony. “Summer, come here, dear. I have something for you.” She kept her voice light and inviting, forcing the fright out of it for the sake of the girl.

Summer looked at Emma, and for a brief moment happy recognition sparked her eyes. “You’re Kelly’s mom.” Her tone was totally devoid of the earlier insolence.

“That’s right, Summer, I am.” Another careful step. “Remember when you girls used to stay at our house?”

The girl on the balcony nodded slowly.

“You and Lainey and Kelly. Paula and Charlotte, too. You’d go to the dances at school, then to our house for a sleepover.”

“Mr. Whitecastle would make us blueberry pancakes.”

“That’s right.” Emma had forgotten that. Before he was super famous and became so self-centered, Grant had been a gem of a father. “Why don’t you come down from there? We can make blueberry pancakes together. Wouldn’t you like that?”

Again Summer nodded, this time accompanied by a small smile.

“Good job, Emma,” Max encouraged. “I think you’ve got her.”

Granny wasn’t so sure. “Hold on, there’s something wrong here.”

Granny was right. Just as Summer started to take her foot off of the railing, a shimmering haze outlined her body, and Summer retreated back into a stupor, the earlier smile gone.

“What’s going on?” Phil asked in a low voice. Behind him Keith watched, dumbstruck.

“I’m not sure,” Emma responded. “But I think there’s another spirit here. And not a very friendly one.” She glanced back at Phil. “Do you see anything odd about Summer?”

“She just retreated into a trance again.”

“Exactly, and there’s a haze surrounding her.”

“That I can’t see.”

“Granny, Max, do you know who that is with Summer?”

Both ghosts responded in the negative, but Max added, “That’s exactly how Lainey looked each time she tried to kill herself.”

“Whoever you are,” Emma said, speaking at Summer but not to her, “leave the girl alone. She’s innocent.”

Keith moved closer to Phil. “What in the hell is going on?” His voice shook with fear as goose bumps sprouted on his arms like air bubbles on a baking cake.

“I think Summer is being haunted,” Phil told him as quietly as possible.

Keith’s mouth fell open. “What the—”

“Shhh,” Phil cautioned. “Let Emma handle it.”

“Summer, look at me,” ordered Emma, her voice low but stern. “Look at me,” she repeated in a stronger voice.

Summer shook her head slightly and tried to focus, fighting for control of her own body. “What’s happening to me?” She started weeping.

“Stay focused, Summer,” Emma encouraged. “Take your foot off the ledge and stay focused on me.”

The girl latched her eyes onto Emma’s again. “I’m so cold.” She wrapped her arms around herself.

“I know, dear, but you’ll be warm in a minute. Just take your foot off the ledge.”

From far below came the blast of multiple sirens.

“Sounds like the police are here,” Phil said. “Someone must have seen her on the ledge.”

Max glanced over the railing. “Fire and police.”

After relaying the information to Phil and Keith, Emma told Keith, “Go to the front door and wait. They’ll be up here in a minute.”

Keith hesitated, not wanting to leave Summer, but in the end he did as he was told.

Emma returned her attention to the girl. “Help is coming, Summer, but you have to be brave and do as I say. Take your foot off the railing.”

Summer removed her foot from the balcony railing and placed it next to the one on the table. Granny and Max watched, frozen in their tracks.

“Good,” said Emma. “Now come down off the table. Slowly, one foot at a time.”

The frightened girl didn’t move. The haze around her thickened, enveloping her like a cocoon. She put her foot back on the railing. Emma felt sick to her stomach.

“Whoever you are,” Granny said to the hidden ghost, “show yourself. This child’s done nothing to you.”

While they watched, Summer battled for her life, struggling against the spirit wanting to control her mind and her actions.

Emma moved closer. “Please leave her alone,” she begged of the unknown spirit. “Whatever you want, I can help. This girl cannot.”

“You cannot help,” a feathery female voice answered. “No one can. It is not my destiny in life, or in death, to be happy.”

Summer’s other foot started to move toward the railing. Phil saw it, too, and circled around, trying to edge toward Summer without attracting notice.

It was then Emma noticed the ring on Summer’s hand. It seemed illuminated, but from the inside out, not from catching the sunshine that spilled onto the balcony. “Max,” she said to Lainey’s father, “were you wearing that ring when you died?”

He glanced at the ring. “No, that’s a woman’s engagement ring.”

“The stone. Isn’t that the stone from your ring, the one Joanna gave you?”

He drifted as close to Summer as he dared and tried to get a good look at the ring. “Yes, I believe it is.” He turned to Emma, his ghostly face shocked by understanding. “Lainey was wearing that ring when she tried to kill herself. I’m sure of it.”

“Summer, look at me,” Emma ordered. When the girl didn’t, Emma snapped her fingers. “Look at me!”

This time Summer turned her eyes to Emma and tried to focus.

“Take the ring off, Summer.”

Summer looked confused. The haze around her grew as heavy as a fog bank. Her second foot finished its journey from table to rail. She bobbled. Emma and Phil gasped.

“The ring,” Emma said again. She took another step forward. “Lainey’s ring, Summer. Take it off.”

Summer raised her left hand and looked at the stunning, light-filled rock. “But it’s so pretty.”

“Take it off,” Emma coaxed. “It belongs to Lainey.”

With her right hand, Summer clutched the ring and started to slip it off slowly, all the while keeping her eyes transfixed on it.

Excited voices drifted in from the other room, and they could hear fast footsteps in the hallway.

“Do it, Summer. Now!”

Mustering the last of her self-control, in one sweeping motion Summer slid the ring off her finger, letting it fly toward Emma. The haze around her remained but was fading rapidly.

As the emergency people entered the room, Summer’s eyes cleared and she became aware of her situation. She screamed.

“You’ll not deny me!” cackled the disembodied voice.

The ghost swirled around the frightened and confused young woman like a swarm of bees. Another bobble, and Summer lost her footing.

Emma’s screams echoed those of the falling girl.