Free Chasing Ghosts by Lee Driver

watched the guests with amusement.
“Let’s see. The bugs were planted, found a briefcase on a table, a
dead guy in the closet, and I killed Demko.” She popped the éclair
into her mouth.
    Dagger moved in front of her. “You want to
run that one by me again?”
    Sara pointed at the rush of bodies nearing
the exit. “That is probably the police notifying the cardinal that
someone fell out of his twelfth floor window, although it was
actually two people but just one hit the ground. Oh, and by the
way, he also exploded. It was quite a sight.”
    Dagger stared at her for a beat. “You’re
wrong, Sara. Maybe it looked like him.”
    “ I know what I saw.”
    “ My, my. A lover’s quarrel?” Sheila
pried answers from them with her eyes. It was the reporter in
her.
    “ This is a private conversation,
Sheila.”
    Sheila backed down from Dagger’s glare.
“Daddy and I are going over to the Ritz. There’s supposedly a
murder/suicide. Thought you’d like to come with. Maybe we can get a
drink afterwards.”
    “ No, thanks. Murders make me
nervous.”
    She walked off in a huff. Dagger turned back
to Sara. Her hand shook as she raised the glass to her mouth.
Dagger pulled it away. “Have you eaten anything besides the
éclair?”
    “ I don’t think I can.”
    “ Robert,” Dagger called out to Tyler.
“Can we get Sara something to eat?”
    Lily was more than happy to bring out a plate
of crab and cocktail sauce, cheese and crackers, fruit, and hot tea
for Sara.
    Dagger settled her at the end of the table.
Either Sara’s skin had a healthy glow or anger was radiating from
her body. He reached over and pulled the shawl down. The bruise was
already starting to fade but still looked tender. He saw a blur of
black and scarlet approaching.
    “ I don’t believe I have officially met
this young woman.” Cardinal Esrey pulled out a chair and sat down.
“Mind?”
    “ Not at all, Your Eminence.” Sara
introduced herself. The shawl fell from her neck and she saw the
cardinal’s eyes move to the bruise and then swiftly snap to Dagger
as though recognizing his fingerprints. She felt compelled to
explain. “Dagger and I work together. Since he was already
committed to this dinner tonight, I took a surveillance assignment.
My suspect got a bit aggressive.”
    “ I hope you got the best of
him.”
    Sara couldn’t help but smile. “You could say
he won’t be a problem anymore.”
    Anna Monroe turned on the large screen TV
which had on-the-scene camera footage of the burned out vehicles in
the parking lot behind the Ritz. A large tarp covered the body of
the man who had fallen out of the suite. Speculation was that the
jumper had broken the window in order to commit suicide. More
speculation centered on a radical group targeting the church over
pedophile priests. The victim in the parking lot had yet to be
identified. Police were not forthcoming on the body found in the
suite other than to say it was one of the security guards hired for
the cardinal’s visit.
    “ Your Eminence,” Robert whispered. “I
believe it is best you and your assistant stay here for the time
being.”
    “ I’m going to need some clothes and my
briefcase,” the cardinal said. “I had worked on my speech on the
plane but I need to finish it.”
    “ The police are advising that you
cancel your speech,” Robert said.
    “ Out of the question. I won’t be
bullied into changing my plans.”
    “ How about if I send someone to your
suite to pick up a few things and your briefcase,” Robert
suggested. “I know the police chief. I’m sure there won’t be a
problem getting your things packed up.” He immediately turned to
Dagger. “Would you go? Maybe you can get an update from
Padre.”
    “ Sure. I’m one of Padre’s favorite
people.”

    CHAPTER 10

    “ Oh, this is making my night even
better.” Padre grimaced as Dagger stood in the doorway to the
Cordova Suite.
    “ Nice to see you too, Padre.” Dagger
had a big smile and a handshake