Free Ghost in the Polka Dot Bikini: A Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery by Sue Ann Jaffarian Page B

a special skill—her grandmother, too, though not at the same level. Elizabeth Miller could hear Granny but not see her. It’d made the girl ask if she’d discover her own clairvoyant talents in time. It was something both Elizabeth and Emma wondered themselves and discussed. Would the gift be passed along, generation to generation, like a specific hair type or nose shape? Only time would tell.
    Like Emma’s father, Kelly had made peace with the unusual dynamics that had come into their family, and she agreed to keep it a private matter as much as possible. But Sandy Sechrest had picked up on it while watching Emma’s show. Was it because she, too, could see spirits, or because Emma unconsciously gave off a certain vibe about it? Either way, she decided to not make any confessions to George Whitecastle just yet about communing with ghosts.
    “I was doing some research on ghosts that haunt Catalina Island, and her name came up as a possibility, along with Natalie Wood’s. Of course, I already knew about Natalie Wood drowning just off the island.”
    George’s mouth arched downward. “Yes, that was a very tragic accident. Left us all stunned.”
    “When I looked into the names of other possible spirits, the name Tessa North came up. Further research brought me to her acting career.”
    “What did she look like? Do you know?”
    “I believe she was in her early twenties, very pretty, with a girl-next-door appeal and a great figure. She wore her blond hair in a flip.”
    George’s mouth changed from downturned to a half smile. “Wish I could help you, Emma,” he said with a slight shrug. “But you just described two-thirds of the young girls who flocked to LA in the sixties. Take away the flip and you’ve described half of those who flock here now. Pretty girls with dreams of stardom are as common as dirt, no matter what the decade.”
    “I knew it was a long shot, but it never hurts to ask.” Emma looked over at George. He looked exhausted. “I should go and let you rest.” She got up and gave George a goodbye peck on his cheek and Bijou several pats on his old head.
    “Please come back more often, Emma,” the old man said with genuine affection. “I miss you. So does Celeste. Come back and visit as much as you like. You’re still family as far as we’re concerned.”
    Her eye grazed over several groupings of framed photos scattered around the room. Photos of the rich and famous were clumped together with family pictures. She was in many of them, letting her know that George meant what he said about her still being family.
    She smiled down at him. “I will, George. I promise.”
    Emma was almost to the door to the study when another thought occurred to her. She turned around. George had already returned his attention to the TV, using the remote to turn the sound back on.
    “George, one last question, if you don’t mind.”
    He muted the TV again. “Anything, dear.”
    She took a couple of steps toward him. “In all your trips to Catalina, do you recall a man named Curtis who used to go over there on his yacht? He might also have been involved with the film industry in some capacity.”
    George didn’t answer right away, but Emma was sure his eyes went wide for an instant before melting into indifference. “Curtis? Don’t recall anyone by that name. Curtis what?”
    “Not sure. It was just a name that kept coming up in connection with Tessa. Could be his first name, or maybe his last. I only know he used to go over to Catalina on his boat in the sixties.”
    “Sorry, Em, but I’m drawing another blank.”
    Emma started to leave, but George held up a hand, stopping her. “You say this Tessa girl is a ghost that haunts Catalina Island?”
    “That’s what I’ve heard.” Emma chose her words carefully. “A book on Catalina spirits mentions her. She supposedly died on the island in the late sixties.”
    Again, George Whitecastle’s tired, runny eyes expanded for a split second, as if the