Free A Guilty Ghost Surprised (An Indigo Eady Paranormal Cozy Mystery series) by Gwen Gardner

Potter.”
    “I’ll check into it.” Riley wrote the name on the board next to Robbie’s.
    Simon snorted.
    Riley ignored him. “So - is next Friday all right with everyone for the next meeting? Perhaps we’ll have something from forensics by then.”
    We agreed and rose from our seats, anxious to escape the tension in the room.
     

     
    “All right, out with it,” said Simon. We left the meeting and walked across the market square. The meeting ran late and it was nearly ten o’clock.
    “What do you mean?” I squirmed. He hadn’t forgotten my earlier discomfort.
    “Come on, Indigo. Who knows you best? That blush and inability to meet anyone’s eyes is a sure sign you were lying. Plus, Badger acted strangely all day. What’s going on?”
    “I could ask the same of you!”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean, what’s up with you and Riley always snapping at each other?”
    “We don’t.”
    “You do! And besides, nothing is going on,” I denied. “I skipped afternoon classes, that’s all. I knew it was wrong.” I forced myself to meet his gaze - well, more like his ear, but whatever. “I have no idea what’s wrong with Badger. He’s kind of a moody sort, isn’t he?”
    He eyed me skeptically. “Yeah, he’s sort of moody. He got moody right after we saw you holding hands at Luigi’s with O’Boyle.”
    “I… I what?” I sputtered. “I most certainly did not hold hands with Robbie. I patted his hands, I had a vision—besides, what difference does it make? What could Badger possibly care?”
    “For a psychic, you’re incredibly blind, Indigo.”
    “Besides, Robbie is too old for me.”
    “You’re legal. Like I said. You’re incredibly blind,” Simon repeated.
    Robbie was like an older brother. And could Badger possibly care for me? Could he be jealous? I shook my head. No way . We’ve never even been on a date. He’s never asked me out. All of our kisses, however wonderful, had been fake, in the line of duty.
    I never could keep things from Simon. I sighed. “It’s Badger. I saw him with a girl at school. She was pretty and feminine. The proverbial English rose. And everything I’m not.”
    “First of all, you underestimate yourself,” said Simon. “And second, what do you mean he was with a girl? He’s not seeing anyone special.”
    “They were hugging—he and giraffe-girl—he seemed to enjoy it.” I shrugged. It sounded a bit foolish now that I said it aloud.
    “Wait—” he stopped, pulling me around by the upper arm “—pale, blonde and big b—”.
    “Yes,” I interrupted before he could finish, “and legs up to her chin.”
    He laughed. “That’s Teri Fletcher. We’ve know her our entire lives. Trust me, if any rumpy-pumpy was going on, I’d know about it. I mean, she’s totally hot and all—”
    I crossed my arms over my chest. Seriously dude, if this is you trying to make me feel better…
    “—but they’re just friends.”
    “Oh. Well. It’s nothing to do with me.” Yes! I did my best nonchalant head-wag and walked away.
    Simon gaped after me. “But you—”
    “Come along, dear cousin.” I glanced at the sky. “It looks like rain is on the way.”
    He sighed and muttered under his breath. “Bloody daft women… bloody secret sources…”
    “Simon!” A call came from the pub. Riley ran across the square. “Your cap,” she said, slightly breathless. She put it on his head and tugged down the edges.
    They shared a smile.
    “Cheers,” said Simon. 
    “No problem,” said Riley.
    I looked up at the sky to give them a moment. Clouds covered any sign of light. Misty gray fog muted the lighting in the square. Drizzle began to fall in earnest. A perfect set of conditions for paranormal happenings. The usual shiver crawled up my spine. I looked around for the source, but didn’t see anything suspicious. A plethora of Victorian spirits tumbled out of the Blind Badger, making merry as Franny might say. Other than that, only a few people mulled