The Ghost Who Wasn't (Haunting Danielle Book 3) (4 page)

T
he motel was a dive
, but they had stayed in worse places. At least their room had running water and two queen size beds. Justina sat just outside the door on a concrete bench smoking a cigarette. Hunter and Claire were inside, and Justina could hear them arguing through the open window. Hunter was determined to go to Oregon, but Claire wanted to go to Vegas.

Justina’s thoughts were interrupted when a female voice said, “I hear cigarettes can kill you.” Justina glanced up and found herself looking into the green eyes of an attractive redhead.

“I’m not too concerned about that.” Justina took another drag off the cigarette while staring at the young woman. There was something familiar about her. “You were the one who gave me directions at the gas station, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Did you find your friends?” The woman took a seat on the bench.

“I did.” Justina nodded to the open window.

Before the woman could respond they heard Claire shout at Hunter, “I don’t want to go back to Oregon! You’re going to kill me with boredom if we go there!”

Justina glanced back at the window and shook her head, then took another puff off her cigarette and looked at the stranger.

“Trouble in paradise?” the redhead asked.

“Hunter will get his way, he always does.”

“Does this mean you’re going to Oregon with them?”

“I don’t know.” Justina tossed her spent cigarette butt on the ground then looked up at the woman and frowned. “What are you doing here, anyway? You staying at this dump?”

“No.” The woman leaned back in the bench. “Just wondered if you found your friends. You were pretty upset back at the gas station.”

“I suppose I was. But don’t know why I bothered. It’s not like they’ll miss me if I don’t go with them. And frankly, even if I wanted to, not sure I can.” Justina leaned back on the bench.

“What do you mean?”

“Things feel different, that’s all.” Justina sighed.

“Have you considered going home?” the woman asked.

“I burned that bridge long ago,” Justina said. “Even if I could, I don’t think I’d want to.”

They sat quietly for a few minutes, each lost in private thoughts. Finally Justina asked, “So where are you going?”

“I was on my way home when we met at the gas station. Got a little side tracked. Wanted to check on you, then I’ll be on my way.”

Before Justina could respond, they heard Hunter shouting at Claire from inside the motel room.

“What’s the deal with those two? Are they married or what?” the woman asked.

“No. Hunter has a wife and kid back home,” Justina explained.

“So they aren’t a couple?” The woman glanced at the motel window and frowned.

“Yeah, sure they’re a thing. Claire is crazy about Hunter. And it’s hard for him to resist her adoration.”

“So he just left his wife and kid?”

“Pretty much. Of course, he’s done this before. Taken off with his newest one. Always lasts a few months before he goes back to his wife and kid.”

“Does the wife just take him back?”

“Yeah. Tina isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.”

“So where do you fit in?”

“Nowhere anymore,” Justina mumbled.

“You were traveling with them, weren’t you?”

“Hunter’s my cousin. He’s really the only family I have left. He can be out there sometimes, but he’s always been there for me—until now.”

“You two are close?”

“We were. Of course, he’s a control freak. Has to get his own way. He’s been like that since he was a kid, which is why they’ll be going to Oregon, if that’s where he wants to go.”

“I know lots of people who have to have their way.”

“It’s the other thing that drives me nuts sometimes,” Justina said.

“Other thing?”

“He tries to get people to believe he has certain…well, powers.”

“Powers?” the woman frowned.

“He likes to come off all mystical. Claims he hears voices—sees spirits and stuff. I tell him he’s full of it, but people like Claire eat it up.”

“You mean like seeing ghosts? Talking to the dead?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“And you don’t think he can?”

Justina began to laugh. “No. Absolutely not. It’s Hunter’s con. Works for him. He’s made a few bucks from it over the years. Funny thing, I think he’s starting to believe the con.”

“I suppose if you tell a lie often enough, you begin to believe it’s true.”

“Exactly.” Justina nodded.

“Now what?”

Justina stood up and faced the motel room. “Sounds like those two have calmed down. I suppose it’s time I go in there and say my peace. See what happens.”

“So you might go with them to Oregon?”

“I don’t think so. But I suppose I need to give Hunter a chance.”

“I’ll be going too.” The woman stood up.

“Yeah, probably best if you don’t stick around. Hunter’s not too crazy about strangers.”

The woman nodded, then turned from Justina and began to walk away. She paused briefly, turned, and watched Justina go into the motel room.

H
unter had just gotten
out of the shower and stood between the two beds drying off, when someone knocked on the motel room door. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he grabbed some money off the nightstand.

Claire, who had been napping on one of the beds, woke up and rolled over, rubbing her eyes as she watched Hunter answer the door.

He handed the pizza delivery boy a handful of crumpled one dollar bills before snatching the pizza box from the teenager’s left hand and slamming the door shut. He’d given the delivery boy just enough to pay for the pizza with nothing extra to cover a tip.

“It took them long enough!” Claire sat up in the middle of the bed. She had taken a shower before Hunter and now wore an over-sized white T-shirt. It fell to her mid-thigh. “I’m starved.”

Hunter tossed the pizza box on the bed where Claire had been napping. She grabbed it and quickly opened the box. Hunter sat on the edge of the bed and helped himself to a slice of pizza.

“You promised me steak,” Claire said as she took a bite.

“When we get to Oregon. I promise. I’ll buy you a big steak.” Hunter shoved half the slice into his mouth and bit down.

“I still can’t believe you let Justina leave.” Claire scooted backwards on the bed and leaned against the headboard, stretching her legs out in front of her as she ate pizza.

“I wasn’t thrilled at first, but now that I think about it, it works out better this way. We’ll catch up with her in Oregon. I want to fly, and this way I only had to buy two tickets.”

“Well, at least we’re flying, and we don’t have to drive. I still wish we could go to Vegas.”

“If you’re going to keep nagging me, baby, I can just leave you here.”

“You wouldn’t really do that, would you?” Claire asked with a pout.

“Try me. One more word about Vegas and I cash in the ticket I bought you, and you’re on your own. Then you can get that steak you’ve been whining about. I’m sure they have a dumpster behind Sizzler. You’re a resourceful girl, shouldn’t be too hard to wrestle scraps from the rats.”

“You’d leave me here without any money?”

“The moment you become more trouble than you’re worth, yes.”

“But the money, it isn’t just yours.”

“Isn’t it? What exactly did you do for it? Justina and I did all the dirty work while you just stood there watching. And don’t think for a moment you’re innocent in all this. The courts won’t care who killed that woman. You’re just as guilty as we are.”

“Don’t leave me here! Please Hunter! I won’t say anything more about Vegas.”

Hunter didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he stared at Claire, his expression unreadable. Finally, he said, “Then finish eating and get ready for bed. We have a big day ahead of us. I need to get us each some new clothes, a decent suitcase, and we need to do something with your hair.”

“My hair?” Claire absently twisted a lock of damp hair between her fingers.

“When we show up at that B and B, the last thing I want is for them to know we’ve been living on the road.”

“Are you really sure about this?” Claire reached over and grabbed a second slice of pizza.

“You nagging me about Vegas again, Claire?”

“No! Honest…just that…” Claire took a bite and chewed for a moment before finishing her thought. “I just don’t really understand why we have to go to the B and B. Plus it’s so close to…well you know.”

“It is a sign, Claire, I told you. The moment I found that notebook, I just knew.”

“But don’t you think the owners of that B and B have already been through the house? If there are other hidden treasurers, wouldn’t they have found them already?”

“They don’t have my gift, Claire. The moment I read the notebook I knew—I knew that’s where I need to go. You’ll see. You’ll thank me. Hell, when we’re finished, you can have steak every night if you want!”

“It’s just that…” Claire said with a pout.

“Just that what?”

“It’s not that far from Tina.”

“It’s not all that close either. So what do you care anyway?’

“She is your wife.” Claire nervously chewed her lower lip.

“I told you. I’m with you now.”

“Then why don’t you just divorce her?”

“Why would I want to do that?”

“We can’t get married if you’re still married to her.”

“Don’t start that again. I told you, I’m never going to get married again! Once is enough. And if I divorce Tina, then she can get married again.”

“Would that really be so bad?”

“I told you; I’m not going to have the mother of my kid sleeping with some other guy!”

“What makes you think that isn’t happening now?”

“Tina wouldn’t dare.” Hunter angrily grabbed another slice of pizza.

“When we stay at the B and B, how will we check in?”

“Don’t tell me you care what they think?” Hunter began to laugh. Claire blushed and shook her head. “If it makes you feel any better I made the reservation for me and my wife.”

“I still feel kind of funny about going back there.”

“Why? No one will remember us.”

“But still…”

“It’s a sign. None of this is a coincidence. There are no coincidences. We are meant to go back.”

“What about Isabella?”

“What about her?” Hunter frowned.

“That’s where she’s from.”

“So?”

“Have you talked to her about going there? What does she say?”

“Let me worry about Isabella.” Hunter stood up and went to the nightstand. Pulling open its drawer, he removed the local phone book. He tossed it on the bed next to Claire. “You worry about finding a local beauty shop. We need to make a good impression.”

T
hursday morning
, Walt stood at the doorway to the Red Room and watched as Danielle changed the bedsheets.

“You could have Joanne do that,” Walt suggested.

“If you’ll remember, Joanne is gone until next week. I didn’t know we’d be having any guests when she asked for the time off. Really didn’t expect any reservations after Labor Day.”

With a wave of his hand, Walt summoned a thin cigar. It was already lit. “Are you sure you’re up to this, Danielle?”

“Not really, but what else can I do? I’ve already accepted the reservation.”

“You could call and cancel it. Tell him the house has plumbing issues.”

Danielle tossed the bedspread over the bed. “Not a bad idea—if I had his phone number.”

“Didn’t he leave one?”

“I guess I need more work on Reservation Taking 101.” Danielle leaned over the mattress. She ran her palms over the bedspread, smoothing out the wrinkles. When she finished, she sat on the edge of the mattress and looked at Walt.

“You’re going to mess up the bed.” Walt took a puff from the cigar.

“She can’t be dead, Walt. She just can’t be,” Danielle whispered.

In the next instant, Walt was seated next to Danielle on the bed, the cigar no longer in his hand.

“I know she’s like family to you.” Walt spoke in a soothing tone.

“I just buried my last family member. I can’t do this again. She’s like my sister.”

“I know.” Walt studied Danielle’s delicate profile. Wisps of dark hair escaped her once tidy fishtail braid.

“My parents are gone…I never had any brothers or sisters…Aside from Cheryl and her brother I never had any cousins…never knew my grandparents…”

“You know that is the second time you’ve said something like that,” Walt interrupted.

Danielle looked up into Walt’s blue eyes. “What do you mean?”

“That you didn’t know or have any grandparents. What about your grandmother? You told me she was the first spirit you encountered.”

“You’re right,” Danielle sighed. “I just meant I never knew my mom’s parents and can’t remember my Dad’s father. Other kids seem to have grandparents.”

“But you did have a grandmother.”

“Yes, you’re right. And she was a special grandmother. But they are all gone now. My parents, grandparents, cousins…all of them, even my husband, Lucas. Although, I suppose Lucas basically checked out of my life when he got a girlfriend.”

They were quiet for a moment when Danielle laughed ruefully.

“What is it?” Walt asked.

“I sound like a big old whiny baby—as if this is all about me. But it isn’t. It is about Lily. And I need to do something to help her and not spend my time feeling sorry for myself.”

“You’re entitled to be sad.”

“Maybe. But I shouldn’t sit here having a pity party. Especially with you.”

“Why do you say that?” Walt frowned.

“I had my parents for longer than you had yours.”

“I suppose we don’t miss what we never really had.”

“Aren’t you even a little bit anxious to move over to the other side to be reunited with those you’ve lost?”

“I’m not ready to give up what I have here,” Walt said quietly.

“That’s what I am worried about.” Danielle turned to face him, her expression serious.

“What do you mean?”

“You told me earlier I didn’t have to lose Lily. That she could just stay here.”

“She could.”

“I don’t think spirits are supposed to stay earthbound indefinitely. I believe there is something beyond this, somewhere where spirits are supposed to go…to continue on their journey. Like with Cheryl. She knew it was time for her to move on. She didn’t even show up for her funeral.”

“Do you want me to leave?” Walt’s voice was barely a whisper.

Danielle did not answer immediately. Finally, she said, “No. That’s my problem. I don’t want you to leave. I don’t want Lily to leave. But I can’t be responsible for holding either one of you back.”

“Let me worry about myself. When the time is right for me to move on, I’ll go. I promise. As for Lily, I think maybe she’s right.”

“Right, how?” Danielle asked.

“She’s adamant about not being dead. And there is the matter of the reflection.”

“What do we do?”

“Figure out some way to help Lily reconnect with her body—before it’s too late.”

“That’s assuming it really is out there somewhere.” Danielle stood up.

When she went downstairs fifteen minutes later she found Lily in the library, standing over the desk, reading the morning newspaper.

“Can you please turn the page for me?” Lily asked when Danielle walked into the room.

“Have you tried harnessing your energy?” Danielle asked.

“Last night Walt tried to show me how. But it just doesn’t work for me. I can’t move anything—can’t pick anything up. If I am dead, I must have been a bad person because this is definitely hell. Talk about taking for granted simple things, like being able to pick up a newspaper or turn a page.”

“The up side, you don’t seem to have a problem moving through walls or sitting on chairs.” Danielle walked over to the desk and began turning the page.

“Which is a good thing, since I’m now doorknob challenged, and I can’t imagine just floating around indefinitely!” Lily looked down at the newspaper. “One more page please. I was reading the article about that local woman they found.”

“I started reading that this morning but got sidetracked.”

After Danielle turned the page, Lily pointed to a photograph excitedly. “That’s where I was!”

Danielle looked at the picture and read the caption. “It’s where they found Isabella Strickland.”

“That’s the rest stop I pulled into on Monday! I recognize it! It’s not far from Palm Springs.”

Danielle picked up the newspaper and looked at the photograph. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m starting to remember more.”

Lily pointed to the vehicle in the picture. “I even recognize that car! It was there when I pulled in. I remember noticing it because my sister has a car just like it. It’s a Tahoe. Same color and make.”

“According to the article, that’s Isabella Strickland’s car. That’s how they initially determined who she might be. Before her uncle identified her.”

“She wasn’t alone.”

“What do you mean?” Danielle set the paper back down on the desk.

“When I pulled into the rest stop it was empty—except for one car. That one. I did a double take, because it looked just like my sister’s car. There were a few people standing around it. Three, maybe four. I’m not sure exactly.”

“Men? Women?”

“A couple of women for sure. One I wasn’t so sure about. Could have been a guy, I suppose. I really didn’t look that close. I didn’t park near them.”

“This is really strange. Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Lily looked down at the newspaper. “What day did they find that woman’s body?”

“According to the article, on Monday evening—Labor Day.”

“Well, that’s pretty creepy.” Lily cringed. “They must have done something to her after I left.”

“Or….when you were still there…”

“Why do you say that?” Lily frowned.

“What do you remember after pulling into the rest stop?”

“Well…” Lily pondered the question for a moment. “I remember parking. Thinking I was glad I’d left so early.”

“Why?”

“It was early in the morning and there weren’t many cars on the road. I wanted to leave early to miss the Labor Day traffic.”

“What do you remember after parking?”

“Walking to the restroom. Going to the bathroom. And then….” Lily frowned, trying to remember something.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know. It kinda gets fuzzy from there. I think I heard someone shouting, but I can’t remember what exactly. My next real memory is walking up to Ian’s house.”

“Lily, whoever left Isabella Strickland near that rest stop, must have done it while you were there. If you heard someone screaming, maybe that’s what you heard—someone attacking her. My guess is, you’re still out there.”

“Are you saying my poor body is lying in the desert by that rest stop?”

“That’s where they put Isabella. Since her car was the only one there, I don’t think anyone thought to look for another body.”

“Oh my god…do you think I’m still alive?”

Before Danielle could answer the question, Lily ran out into the hallway and looked into the mirror.

“I still have a reflection!” Lily shouted from the hallway.

“What is going on?” Walt asked as he walked down the staircase. He found Danielle stepping out of the library and Lily jumping up and down in front of the mirror.

“We know where I am!” Lily shouted, turning to Walt. “But we need to hurry up and find me before…oh my god…wild animals! Who knows what sort of damage has happened to my poor body by now!”

“What in the world is she talking about?” Walt asked Danielle.

“We think we may know where Lily’s body might be. And if we’re correct, we need to find it as soon as possible. Before it’s too late.”

Walt followed Danielle back into the library as she explained what Lily remembered and then showed him the newspaper article on Isabella Strickland.

“If this is true,” Walt said as he studied the paper. “I wonder what Isabella Strickland might be able to tell us.”

“She’s in a coma, according to the article. I don’t think she can help us.”

Walt set the newspaper back down and looked up at Danielle. Lily was still in the hallway admiring her faint reflection in the mirror. “What are you going to do?” he asked.

“We need to get someone to search the area, immediately.”

“Are you going down there?”

“That would take too long, and I don’t know the area. I was thinking I could hire someone—maybe a private detective from Palm Springs.”

“Sounds like a good idea. And I agree, you better hurry. If Lily really is alive and her body was dumped out with Isabella Strickland in the desert, who knows what condition it’s in now.” Walt picked up the newspaper again and started reading the article.

“But if it’s not there, then whoever attacked Isabella may have taken Lily. Maybe one of the people responsible was driving Lily’s car when it was in the accident.”

“Did you read this entire article?” Walt asked.

“No, why?” Danielle looked down at the newspaper in Walt’s hand.

“Because you might be on to something. According to the article, Isabella’s car was broken down at the rest stop. They speculate in the article that she may have asked the wrong person for help, and whoever it was attacked her.”

“Or whoever she was traveling with.”

“True. But the point I was making, if Isabella’s car was broken down, then maybe whoever was standing by her car when Lily drove into the rest stop—”

“Took Lily’s car.”

“Exactly,” Walt nodded. “Lily said it was the only other car in the rest stop and according to the article, it was broken down.”

“Okay, I need to get online and see who I can hire to go search the area for Lily.”

“If she’s not there, then maybe they’ll find some clues that can help us figure out where they took her,” Walt suggested.

“Part of me hopes they took Lily, and that she is safe somewhere. If she was left in the desert like Isabella…it’s been a few days now. That can’t be good.”