Elizabeth Basque - Medium Mysteries 02 - Silver Lake (9 page)

I got a big mug of coffee and headed back to my bedroom to dress. I was just about ready when I heard the thud of the remote dropping onto the coffee table repeatedly. It was Mack’s way of telling me to hurry up.

“
Relax,” I called, and gulped my coffee. Too bad I couldn’t put any rum into it. I was driving into downtown L.A., and even I didn’t drink and drive. It was probably the biggest reason I rarely went out these days.

I had on a fairly nice suit, and my uncomfortable nice shoes. I grabbed the matching jacket, knowing I’d be too warm with it on, and picked a nice pair of earrings that matched.

I appeared in the living room, ready to go, when Julie knocked on the door. I unlocked it for her, and hurried to the kitchen to put some more coffee in a travel mug.

“
You look nice,” Julie offered. I didn’t dress up too often.

“
Thanks. So do you.”

Mack was hovering impatiently in the kitchen.

“It’s precisely nine o’clock,” I snapped.

“
There might be traffic,” Mack countered.

“
There’s always traffic in L.A., Mack. You haven’t been gone that long.”

“
I brought you a bagel with cream cheese,” Julie said brightly. I tried not to let her youth and morning spryness irritate me. I flipped open a bottle of ibuprofen and downed two with my coffee. “We’ll have to eat in the car,” I said. “I doubt
we could relax, eat in peace and have a nice cigarette.” I eyed Mack as I said this. He didn’t care.

I got onto the I-5 South. Downtown wasn’t too far away, but it was true that there was always traffic. Almost always.

Mack sat in the back, looking out the window and frowning. “I don’t know why Garrett moved the offices from Silver Lake,” he remarked.

“
Well, he’s not as established as you were,” I observed. “Maybe he’s sharing office space. And, it’s good to be in the center of town. Says something about your business.”

Julie handed me my bagel, and I took a bite. A big blob of cream cheese plopped onto my black blouse.

“Damn it,” I swore. “Hand me a napkin, Jules.”

She did so, and I tried my best to wipe it off while weaving through the thousands of other cars on the freeway. I ended up with a big greasy spot right on my boob. Crap.

We pulled into a multi-level underground parking lot off of Spring Street. I took a deep breath and smiled into the rearview mirror at Mack. “Ready?” I asked.

“
I am,” he said. “We’ve got some business to attend to before going to his office, though.”

“
And what would that be?” I asked. You never knew with Mack. But his answer surprised me.

“
We were followed heah,” he said, and jerked his head to a car parking not far away.

I followed his line of vision. A dark, sleek SUV had just pulled in.

“Are you sure?” Julie asked.

“
Yep. Evah since we left the neighborhood.”

No one got out of the SUV.

“Bet they’ll get out once you ladies do,” Mack predicted.

“
Well, there’s only one way to find out,” I told them. “Come on, Julie.”

Julie was nervous, I could tell. Sure enough, as we exited the car—and Mack moved through it—a man in a dark suit and dark sunglasses got out. He was wearing a long overcoat, even though the day promised to be warm.

“Don’t worry,” Mack said as he rose into the air and looked down at the man.

He headed towards us, and I decided to wait for him. He looked a little surprised that we weren’t hurrying for the elevator, but he kept his pace until he reached us.

“Can I help you?” I asked coolly. I had my own shades on, which was good. I didn’t want him to see any fear in my eyes. And I reassured myself that Julie and I had a bodyguard that this man didn’t know about.

“
Pauline Ocean.” He looked away while he said my name.

“
Yes.”

Julie took a step closer to me, but kept silent.

“You’re here to visit Garrett Mackenzie. Is that right?”

“
You’re correct. And your name is…?”

“
My name’s not important. I don’t think it would be in your best interest to visit Mr. Mackenzie.”

It irritated me that he wouldn’t look at me. Probably some kind of dramatic thug trait he had picked up from watching too much TV.

I laughed. “Who do you think you are? You can’t tell me what to do. Good day to you, sir.”

Julie and I turned, but the man caught my arm. “I’m afraid you don’t understand,” the man said quietly. He was glancing around the semi-dark lot.

It was then that Mack decided to show himself. He just appeared, right next to me. He hovered above the floor and put his hand on top of the man’s grip on me.

“
I’m afraid it’s you who doesn’t undahstand,” Mack bellowed.

The trench coat man whipped his hand off of me and jumped back. “Whaa…”

Mack pushed him, and I knew that the man would be chilled by the ghost’s touch. It’s not a pleasant experience, most of the time, to be touched by a ghost. Add to it the element of surprise and most people are spooked enough.

Add an angry and impatient Mack, and the results were most spectacular.

The man almost fell, more out of fear and surprise than anything. He caught himself and gaped at Mack’s shimmering image now floating in front of me and Julie. He tried to gather his wits about him, but it was clear that he was spooked.

“
What were you saying?” Julie asked with a smile.

Arms crossed, Mack moved closer to the man. The man stood his ground, but just barely. Whoever he was, he was a bully, and he was used to intimidating people. His face, which had gone pale, reddened with embarrassment.

“You don’t scare me,” the man said uncertainly. “I’ve got a job to do.”

Mack drew himself up and took a deep breath. “BOO!” he bellowed.

“Mother of God,” whimpered the man, and he turned around and fled.

“
That’s right!” Mack hollered after him as the man tried to unlock his car with shaking hands. “Come around these ladies again and you’ll get what you deserve!”

The man got into his car and backed out too fast, bumping into another car. He didn’t stop, though, and sped right past us. Mack took the opportunity to sweep alongside of the man’s window for a few yards, moaning loudly.

With the Trench Coat Man gone, Mack came back to my side.

Julie laughed, and I joined in.

Mack was obviously pleased with himself, although it hadn’t taken much to get rid of our tail.

“
Now,” I said, turning finally toward the elevator at the far end of the lot, “you’ve had your fun, Mack. I hope you don’t have any ideas once we get inside.”

“
Not unless there are any more like him,” Mack answered.

Once we found the floor where Garrett’s office was, Mack became somber.

“It might be difficult to see your son again after so long,” I offered. “You can wait outside the office if you’d like.”

“
No, I don’t want to wait outside. I won’t show myself to him. I wouldn’t want to scare Garrett, or make him sad.”

We were approaching his suite. My shoes were pinching my toes and I could feel a blister already forming at one of my heels. Julie had her eye on the old ghost. “Why don’t we wait and see how things go?” she asked. “If he’s receptive…”

“I know my son.” Mack cut her off. “I think, even if he believes you, he will need some time to get used to the idea of me being around.”

We arrived at the office doors. “All right,” I said. “Let’s just see how he receives us.”

I opened the door and we filed in. I had a feeling that, one way or the other, we were about to change Garrett’s life forever.

Chapter Seventeen

A receptionist sat at her desk behind a small window that could slide open and shut. It was closed, but she looked up at Julie and me and smiled. She wasn’t aware that Mack was right next to me.

“Good morning,” she greeted me cheerfully enough. “How can I help you ladies?”

“
We’re here to see Garrett Mackenzie,” I told her, returning the smile.

“
May I have your name, please?” she asked. Her eyes darted for a half a second to the oily blob on my blouse, but she continued smiling.

Oh, well.

“I’m Pauline Ocean. This is my friend, Julie.”

We had come unannounced, but the receptionist maintained her friendly mannerism. “One moment, please.”

She picked up the phone next to her and pressed a button. She turned her head slightly and spoke softly so that I couldn’t hear the conversation.

Then she hung up and faced us again. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Mackenzie is in a meeting. I’d be happy to tell him you came by.”

I had no intention of leaving. “It’s important,” I told her. “Could you please tell him I have to see him?”

“
I’m sorry, but he’ll be in meetings all day.” Her smile never faltered as she looked me square in the eye.

“
Thunder,” Mack said. I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t talk to him in front of the receptionist and he knew it. But he persisted. “Write a message for Garrett.”

I took a deep breath. “May I leave a message for him?”

“Certainly,” the young woman answered, and handed me a small pad of paper and a pen through the window. She went back to her typing while she waited for me.

I took the pen and wrote
Thunder
on it.

“
Write that Garrett used to take Thunder to the old pepper tree on the weekends. Thunder would graze while Garrett read.”

I glanced at Mack. “She’s going to think I’m crazy,” I whispered.

“Who cares?” Mack said.

“
Mack’s right,” Julie whispered, “If that will get us in to see Garrett, then do it.”

The receptionist kept her hands on her keyboard but stole a glance at us, curious as to why Julie and I were looking to the side, whispering.

I sighed. “Whatever it takes,” I said, and wrote down what Mack had told me.

I folded the paper into quarters and handed it back to the receptionist, along with the pad and pen. “I understand Mr. Mackenzie is a busy man,” I told her, “but he will want to see this.”

“I can give it to him later,” she told me, “but I can’t interrupt him right now. I’m sure you understand.”

“
I understand that he will want to see this note,” I said, taking a slightly firmer stance. “And I know you won’t want to disappoint your boss.” I passed the note to her through the window. “I’ll wait while you give it to him.”

She hesitantly took the paper. I could tell we were trying her patience, but she’d get over it. She got up and disappeared down a hallway.

Julie and I waited and Mack hovered, studying two pieces of artwork that were side by side. They were abstracts, and Mack tilted his head sideways, frowning at them.

The receptionist returned and opened the door that led from the outer office to her world, and the business world of Garrett Mackenzie. “Mr. Mackenzie can see you now. If you’ll follow me, please?” She held the door for us and as she closed it, Mack whisked through it.

There were several employees working in a large, open space that was surrounded by several doors and conference rooms. The receptionist walked confidently to one of the doors, knocked briefly and opened it for us. She stepped aside.

Garrett sat behind a large dark office desk piled with papers and files. He was on the phone but waved us in.

Mack remained behind me, but I could feel his vibes. He hadn’t seen his son in four years. I glanced back at him; his face was set like cold stone, but his eyes revealed the love he felt for his son.

Garrett hung up the phone and rose, although he didn’t seem too thrilled to see Julie and me. “Close the door, please,” he said simply.

We did, and he gestured for us to sit. He sat back down behind his massive desk. He rested his elbows on the hardwood, and put his fingers together like so many steeples.

I thought it best to let him begin the conversation; I didn’t want to appear too eager or pushy, even though I had come unannounced.

Finally, he looked up at me. “How did you know about the pepper tree?” he asked, but before I had a chance to answer, he shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. You’ll come up with some plausible answer, and I still won’t believe you.”

“
Garrett,” I began, “I understand that me coming to you is unusual, and that you might not believe I am who I am, or what I have to tell you.”

“
All of that is beside the point, too, Miss Ocean.”

“
Please, call me Pauline. And this is Julie.”