Who Invited the Ghost to Dinner: A Ghost Writer Mystery (37 page)

I glanced over at Lillian, who had tears in her eyes. Clinton looked furious, and Mac wanted to strangle Brennan himself. “So why did you come here?” I said.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe I thought if I came here, I could apologize to her in some way. I know she’s not physically here, but maybe her spirit is around here somewhere to hear me say I’m sorry.”

“As if she would accept your apology,” Mac retorted.

Brennan’s eyes grew wide as he stared at the couch. “No, it can’t be…”

“What’s the matter, Brennan?” Mike said. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

He pointed at the couch. “It’s Lillian...and Clinton?”

“Yes, it is,” I confirmed for him.

“You can see them, too?”

“Oh yes, I can.”

“What about you?” Brennan asked Mike.

Mike nodded. “I can see them both as well.”

Brennan rubbed his hand over his face. “This isn’t real. I must be having a nightmare.”

“With your eyes open?” Mac said.

“Lillian, I…” Brennan started to say.

She just glared at him. I could feel her emotions starting to ramp up.

“Try ‘I’m sorry’ for openers, you idiot,” Mac said, raising his hand like he was going to slap Brennan upside the head.

“I’m so sorry, Lillian,” he said, as if he had heard Mac. “I never wanted…I tried to talk them out of it, but Clinton…”

“Don’t you dare blame this on me,” Clinton said angrily. “I don’t even know what to call you. We were friends for over fifty years. Do you know how disgusted I am with myself right now to realize I’ve been friends with my wife’s killer all this time? If I was alive, I’d kill you where you sit.”

“If you hadn’t been such a stubborn…” he glanced at Lillian before continuing, “fool, none of this would have happened. You can’t accept money from the mob and think you can dictate the rules. It doesn’t work that way. Life doesn’t work that way.”

Lillian put her hand on her husband’s arm, as if she could sense he was about to say something else. “Mr. Brennan, I believe what my husband is trying to say is that resorting to violence is never the answer,” she said calmly, glancing at me. I could tell she was trying to keep herself in check so she wouldn’t hurt me. “I’m sure there was another solution you and your associates could have decided on, one that would not have robbed my son of his mother, and my husband his wife. Not to mention the other life you ended that night.”

“You were pregnant?”

“I had just found out that morning,” she said. “I had planned to tell Clinton that evening when we got home.”

Mac looked furious. A book came flying off the bookcase and hit Brennan in the chest. “What the…”

“Knock it off, Mac,” I said sternly.

“Mac?” Brennan said, looking confused. “Who’s Mac?”

“I’m sure you remember Mac Green,” I replied. “He’s sitting behind you.”

Brennan turned around to look. “I don’t see him.”

“Trust me, he’s there.”

Brennan faced forward again. “What is he doing here? That guy was the biggest loser in the world. I have no idea why they even let him into the organization.”

Two more books went flying across the room, this time hitting him in the head. “I’d watch what you say,” I warned him. “There are way too many books in this room. If he keeps it up, we’ll have to get a shovel to dig you out.”

“He always did have a short fuse,” Brennan snorted.

I looked at Mac and shook my head.

“So what happens to me now?” Brennan asked Mike.

“There’s no statute of limitations on murder. I’m going to have to take you in.”

Brennan nodded. He looked over at Lillian. “I know the words are hollow, but I truly am sorry. I never…you were…you are still as beautiful now as you were then.”

“Thank you, I think,” Lillian replied.

“I have a few questions before Mike arrests you,” I said. “Why were you blackmailing Clinton?”

“I wasn’t, not at first,” he replied. “Someone else was, and he used me as the middle man. When the original blackmailer died, I took over. I figured why not? Clinton didn’t know who I really was, and I needed the money. The reason for the blackmail was the only ironic part of the whole thing.”

“And that was?” Mike said.

“Clinton was being blackmailed because the person knew where he got the money to start the company. You have to admit it is rather ironic.”

I thought about it for a moment. “It was Phillip Ingram, wasn’t it? He was blackmailing his own son.”

“Very good, Ms. Shaw,” he nodded. “Yes, it was him. Since Clinton wouldn’t give him any money after his company went belly up, Phillip decided to get some money out of him a different way. I’m not sure how he found out about the seed money, but he used it to his full advantage.”

Clinton shook his head. “What a mess this family is,” he said.

“Why did you hit me with your cane that morning at the park?” I asked Brennan.

“The night Susan was killed, I thought I saw Joey hanging around backstage. After you found her, I saw him race out the back door. I was walking in the park the next morning when I overheard you on the phone. I had been planning to take a little trip, and I thought a little extra cash would be nice. So…”

“You were going to blackmail him.”

“Yeah.”

“You were here at the house when Clinton was killed,” I said.

“How do you know that?”

“Clinton told me that he remembered seeing your shoes, just like I did that day in the park.”

“I had come over to talk to him about some business. When I walked in, I overheard him arguing with Joey. I hung out in the hallway and listened. There was a thud, and then Joey ran toward the back of the house. I slipped into the living room and saw Clinton lying there.”

“So you figured if he had killed his father, he had also killed his wife,” Mike said. “So you were going to hold it over him, not just for a little cash, but enough money to set you up in a new place.”

“So what if I was?” Brennan said a little defiantly.

I looked over at Clinton, who had a look of shock and disappointment on his face. “You knew it was Joey, didn’t you?”

He nodded sadly.

It was my turn to be surprised. “How did you know?”

“He was the last person I remember seeing that day. He’s always been impatient and materialistic. After his mother died, I couldn’t give him all the attention he wanted, because I was so busy trying to keep the company afloat.”

“You buried yourself in work so you wouldn’t have to deal with your emotions,” Brennan said. “I watched you, day after day. I could see the pain on your face.”

“And we know who was responsible for all that pain, don’t we?” Clinton snapped at him. “You ruined this family.”

“I think the blame can be spread around pretty evenly,” I replied. “But it doesn’t change anything. Pamela Dimwitty has been arrested, too. She figured out what Joey did, and used the information to try and improve her position in the company.”

Clinton shook his head. “If she had just waited for them to make the terms of my will known to the board, she would have had what she wanted.”

Lillian stood up and held out her hand to Clinton. “It’s time,” she told him.

He took her hand and stood up. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

She turned to face us. “Thank you both for everything you’ve done for us. We’ve got closure, and we have each other again.” She looked over at Brennan, and a sad look crossed her face. “I feel very sorry for you, for the life you’ve had to lead. I hope this gives you some peace as well, for what it’s worth.”

Brennan stood up. “That’s very kind of you, more than I deserve. Thank you.”

“Mac, it’s been good seeing you again,” she said. “You’re a good man. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

“I’ll see both of you again,” he replied, giving her a big smile. “You’re a lucky man, Clinton, a very lucky man.”

Clinton squeezed Lillian’s hand and smiled. “Yes, I most certainly am.”

And just like that, there was a bright white glow, and then they were gone. The room suddenly got colder without them here. Mac looked at us, then at Brennan and he too, disappeared.

“Shall we go, Mr. Brennan?” Mike said.

“Hm? Oh, yes, of course,” he said, picking up his overcoat.

I looked around the room one more time. “What do they say? ‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave/when first we practice to deceive.’”

“And this house is full of spider webs,” Mike said.

Chapter 46

Two weeks later

“H
ow are her parents doing?” I asked Mike as he took the steaks off the grill.

“As well as can be expected,” he replied, placing the plate of meat on the picnic table. “They are extremely grateful for the generous donations that we gave them. They’re going to use it for Olivia’s college fund. They have a lot of community support up there, too. I plan to check on them once a month, make sure they’re doing all right, and see if there is anything they need.”

“How sweet of you.”

“She was one of my officers. It’s the least I can do,” he said as his phone rang. “Penhall. Hey Reynolds, what’s up?” He listened for a minute. “Really? Wow, well, I’m not surprised, given his age and all. No, you were right to call and let me know. I appreciate it. Right. You have a good night.”

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Donovan Brennan suffered a heart attack in his cell. He’s been transferred to Parkland. Reynolds said they think he’ll make it.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah.”

I hadn’t seen Mac since the night at the Ingram house, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Mac had anything to do with it. Brennan had been complaining that strange things had been happening in his cell the last week or so. I went inside, grabbed the salad and napkins, and took them back outside.

“Cam,” Mike said as I sat down, “you don’t think it was Mac…?”

“I was just thinking the same thing.”

“Aw, you were thinking about me. How sweet.”

I groaned. “Give me a break.”

“Go away, Mac,” Mike said.

“But I thought you two missed me.”

“Like a hole in the head,” I muttered.

“I see those stitches are healing nicely,” Mac said.

“What do you want, Mac?”

“I just came by to say hello. Can’t a friend drop in on another friend?”

“Not when I’m having dinner with my boyfriend.”

“How long have you two been dating, by the way?”

“Almost nine months.”

“What’s almost nine months?”

“He wants to know how long we’ve been dating.”

“She’s spoken for, Mac. Find your own girl.”

“Tell him not to worry. It’s against the rules for ghosts to date humans, no matter how cute they are.”

“He says I’m off limits and he thinks I’m cute.”

Mike shook his head and went inside.

“Have you seen Lillian and Clinton?” I asked Mac.

He shook his head. “No, and I don’t expect to, either. They have their own lives to lead. I’d just be a third wheel.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” Lillian replied as she appeared next to him. “You helped solve our murders. You’ll always be a friend of ours.”

“I’m not sure how Clinton would feel about that,” Mac said.

“I’ll handle him, don’t worry. Don’t you look lovely tonight, Cam?”

“Thank you, Lillian,” I replied as Mike came back out with our drinks.

“Lillian,” Mike said, “you look as lovely as ever.”

“Thank you, kind sir.”

Mike leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Are we having a ghost convention tonight?”

I shrugged. “Is there something we can do for the two of you?”

“Oh, nothing for me, thank you,” Lillian said. “I came to find Mac. Some of us are going on a road trip, and I thought I’d ask him if he’d like to go with us.”

“I smell a fix up,” I teased him.

“Well, as a matter of fact, there is this lovely young lady,” Lillian began.

I started laughing as Mac looked uncomfortable. “I’ll pass,” he told her.

“Oh, come on, it will be fun. You’ll have a lovely time. We’re going to Vegas.”

He suddenly looked interested. “Oh, that sounds like a great trip. I’d love to go.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. It would be wonderful to be ghost free again. “You two have a good time. Send me a postcard. Before you go, Lillian, I have a favor to ask.”

“You’ve done so much for Clinton and I, the least I can do is something for you. What is it?”

“Could you go get Clinton and bring him back here? There’s someone that would like to meet you. Do you think you could make yourself be seen by another human just one more time? I promise it will be worth it.”

“Of course,” she replied, looking a little puzzled. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“So, what did you do while I was out of town?” Mike said as I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text.

“I finished editing the book I was working for Professor Reinhart,” I said. “Joe has two more jobs lined up, and he wants me to write a book about my latest adventure. He read all about it in the paper, thinks it will be another best seller.”

“Are you going to do it?”

I shrugged. “I like the anonymity of ghostwriting, but I have to admit it was thrilling to see my own name on the best sellers list for a change. I’ll have to think about it. At least there’s a happily ever after this time, even if it is a ghostly one.”

“What are you up to?” Mike asked me as I sent another text.

“You’ll see,” I said.

Lillian and Clinton were sitting in my deck chairs when the side gate opened. “That smells fantastic,” Reed Ingram said as he walked over to the deck.

“We’ve got an extra steak if you’d like to join us,” I told him.

“Sounds great,” he said as he sat down at the table across from us. “I’m a bit curious. I didn’t quite understand your texts. You said something about introducing me to a beautiful woman…? What makes you think I need to be fixed up on a date?”

“Trust me, I’m not fixing you up,” I assured him. I looked over my shoulder at Lillian, who had tears in her eyes. Clinton was holding her hand and smiling.

Reed turned to see what I was looking at and gasped. “Grandpa?” he said as he got to his feet.

“Hello, Reed,” Clinton said. “It’s good to see you again.”

“I can’t believe this,” Reed said. “What...how…”

“It’s complicated. Don’t ask. I don’t understand all the rules myself yet.”

Reed looked at Lillian. “Is this Grandma Lillian?” he asked.

“Hello, Reed,” she said, a beautiful smile on her face. She looked at me. “You’re right. He does look like me.”

I smiled.

“How are things at the construction office?” Clinton said.

“Oh Clinton, really?” Lillian scolded him. “You’re going to ask him about business right now?”

Reed laughed. “Things are fine, Grandpa. Mr. VanMeter is going to run things until I know what I’m doing, which could be quite a while. He knows way more than I do about the business.”

“He’s a good man. You’ll learn a lot from him.”

They spent a couple of hours talking and laughing. Mike, Mac, and I went inside to give them some privacy.

Reed finally knocked on the back door. “They’re getting ready to leave,” he told us. “They want to say goodbye.”

We walked out onto the deck. “Thank you, Cam,” Lillian said. “Getting to spend time with my wonderful grandson was more than I could have ever hoped for.”

“Will I see you again?” Reed asked her.

“You never know,” she replied. “We might pop in once in awhile. Don’t worry, we’ll be keeping an eye on you. Come on, Mac. You don’t want to keep that Vegas showgirl waiting.”

“Definitely not,” he replied, putting his fedora on.

“Take care,” I said. “Have a good afterlife.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll be back,” Mac grinned. “You haven’t solved my murder yet.” He winked at me as the three of them disappeared.