Free Elizabeth Basque - Medium Mysteries 02 - Silver Lake by Elizabeth Basque

interesting for the classmates to compare what they saw.
    But I was glad when the class ended. Julie helped me clean up as usual, and afterward, in my apartment, I caught her up on the latest details regarding Garrett.
    Julie was, of course, mortified. “Oh, Mack!” she exclaimed, looking up at his shadowy figure. “I’m sooo sorry! I wish I could just give you a big, giant hug.”
    Even Mack had to crack a slight smile at her genuine concern. “Thank you, dahlin,” he said.
    “Don’t worry, Julie,” I said. “I’m going to go see Garrett tomorrow morning.”
    “ And I’m coming along,” Mack chimed in.
    “ Really ?” Julie could be overly dramatic at times. Or maybe, under these circumstances, she exuded the perfect amount of drama. It would have been more exciting if it hadn’t felt so damned dangerous to me.
    “ Really,” I answered dryly.
    Speaking of dry, it was martini time. It had been a hell of a day, and I felt I’d earned it. I let my cigarette dangle from my lips as I shook the cocktail shaker. I was a real pro at this.
    I glanced through the opening from where I was in the kitchen to Julie and Mack, who were just a few feet away in the living room. Julie was looking wide-eyed up at Mack.
    “ Are you going to, you know, show yourself to Garrett?” she asked him.
    “ I’m not sure,” he answered, his tone serious. “I would like nothing more, but I think my son will have enough on his mind after Pauline talks with him. I don’t want to overwhelm the lad.”
    “ I hate to say it,” I told him as I brought my glass of liquid relaxation into the living room, “but I think you’re right. Let’s get this all out in the open and when it’s sorted out, then you could see your son.”
    “ Let me come,” Julie said, excited. “Please? I can help. I’ll have your back.”
    I gazed up at Mack, questioning. He thought for a moment, and then nodded.
    “All right,” I said, seating myself in my favorite spot on the couch. I tucked my feet under me and took a sip of my drink. God, it tasted good. “But we all have to keep our cool. We want to convince Garrett that he’s making a mistake.”
    “ I wish I’d taken a picture of Lana kissing that man,” Julie said bitterly. “That would have gone a long way.”
    “ Well, we’ll get through to him. Somehow.”
    “ I’ll help you, Pauline. Remember, I’ve helped you before. But it’s getting late. I’d better get home, get some rest. What time should I be here tomorrow?”
    “ How about nine?” I suggested, looking at the clock. It was almost eleven. I needed rest as well.
    “ Nine, it is,” she said as she gathered her purse. “Mack, don’t you worry. We’re not going to let anything happen to Garrett.”
    “ No, we won’t.” I noticed he included himself, but I kept quiet.
    Julie blew him a kiss, and he did smile then, and pretended to catch it. “Back atcha, sweetie.”
    After Julie left I made myself another martini. Surprisingly, Mack stayed. I could tell by the way he hovered over me and looked down his nose that he didn’t approve, but he didn’t say anything.
    He followed me into the living room, and I turned on the TV for him. There was a baseball game on, but I didn’t pay attention. I never did, unless it was the Dodgers. Or the Red Sox. I always felt like a traitor, watching the Red Sox, but Mack loved them, and he told me stories about the players and the team.
    That night, neither team was playing, and I had other things to think about. I pondered about the bracelet. How could I convince Garrett that Mack had given it to Bella?
    “ That’s easy,” Mack said, reading my thoughts again. “I had it inscribed: ‘Bella Mackenzie.’”
    “ Well, why didn’t you mention that before?” I half-mumbled.
    “ I didn’t think of it before,” he said. “Sometimes, things, memories, are a bit hazy.”
    I finished my drink, and set the glass down. “I’m going to bed.”
    Mack didn’t say anything as I got