Free Bone Island 01 - Ghost Shadow by Heather Graham Page A

Danny.”
    “Your museum, your call.”
    “It’s not actually my museum. I do have the major interest, but my grandfather left Liam and me in charge of his estate. We have to agree on everything, and I just don’t agree with reopening that place.”
    “I understand, man.”
    “I’m sorry, Danny. You were the best guide known to man.”
    “No skin off my nose, David. Seriously. I just live, and I get by, and that’s what makes me happy,” Danny assured him. “Katie would have done a good job, though. She’s a great little go-getter, good businesswoman. But you know her, right?”
    “She was a kid when I left.”
    “Hey, we were all kids when you left. So, where have you been? They said you became some kind of a big-shot photographer. A photojournalist.”
    “I’m not sure if I’m a big shot. I make a decent living,” David told him.
    “I’m sorry you missed Craig’s funeral,” Danny said.
    “I saw him when he was alive. He was always the mainstay of my life,” David told him.
    “You been to the grave site?”
    “Not yet.”
    Danny obviously disapproved of that fact, but he didn’t say so. He asked, “So how long do you plan on staying around?”
    “I’m not sure yet. I haven’t made any commitments for the near future. We’ll see. Tell me how you’ve been, Danny.”
    “Me? I’m fine. I don’t need a lot. Just enough to survive and enjoy myself.”
    “Still never married? Is there a special girl?”
    Danny laughed. “Well, I know several girls who are special. Girls I like, and girls I see. But they’re not the kind you bring home to Mom, you know what I mean? But, hey, I know the scoop around here. I’m just looking for fun, and they’re just looking for a few bucks. It’s cool, it’s the way I want it.”
    “Sure.”
    “No commitments, and that’s the way I like it. Don’t be feeling sorry for me, I’m a happy man. Really.”
    “Glad to hear it.”
    Danny looked at him thoughtfully. “So, what are you up to?”
    “Settling affairs.”
    “Of course. Hey, I have one of the ghost tours Saturday night. You should come. I’m in rare form, and I really do a good job.”
    “Maybe I will.”
    Danny hesitated again. He winced. “You know, they usually do mention Tanya now in the tours. They say that she’s a ghost, and that she haunts the museum house.”
    “And you tell the story, too, right?” David asked.
    “I’m sorry,” Danny said.
    “If you’re doing a ghost tour, I’m assuming it makes a good story, and it’s not your fault,” David assured him.
    Danny looked around awkwardly for a moment. “Hey, you want some ice cream?”
    David shook his head. “No, thanks, Danny. You know, you said that you retell the story on your tours. What do you say?”
    Danny looked pale suddenly. “I-I-”
    “You say that I was under suspicion, right?”
    “No, no, nothing like that.” He was lying; he was lying out of kindness, so it seemed.
    “Do you remember what really happened?” David asked.
    “What do you mean, what really happened? I wasn’t working either day. You were working for me, don’t you remember?”
    “Of course, I remember that. But what do you remember?”
    “Not much, man.”
    “What did you do the night of her murder with your free time?”
    Danny thought a minute. “I had a few drinks at one of the joints on Duval. And I was down at Mallory Square. Then I went home. I woke up the next morning when I heard all the sirens-I was living in an apartment on Elizabeth Street back then. I came outside and saw the cops and the M.E.’s car over at the museum and walked over.”
    “Did you see Tanya at all that night?” David asked.
    “No…yes! Early. Well, it was late afternoon, I guess. Around five. I saw her down in one of the bars. I talked to her, I think. Yes, I did talk to her. I’d heard she was leaving town, and that things had kind of faded apart between you two. She said she had a few people to see that night, and that she’d be taking a