Free Ghost On Duty (Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 2) by J. D. Winters Page B

that have to be made and verified. It could take hours,” she told me apologetically. “And I really need a favor from you.”
    “Anything my darling aunt,” I said, planting a kiss on her cheek. “You’ve been so good to me. I want to help wherever I can.”
    “Ah, if only the rest of the world had your attitude,” she groused, looking for her keys. “Here’s what I need. The Victorian Community Association decided to have some real ballots printed up for the vote tomorrow. The printer just called. The ballots are ready and he closes up at five. So if you could beat that time and get them, so we’re prepared early for the vote, I would be eternally grateful.”
    “I doubt that,” I pretended to pout. “I’m sure your gratitude will vanish the next time I do something you don’t like.”
    “Like find another murder victim?” she agreed. “You might have a point there. Keep that to a minimum, if possible.”  
    “Will do.” I pretended to give her a military style salute. “Any other requests while I’m actually here and can hear about them first hand?”
    She thought for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. “Nope. You can take care of yourself for dinner, can’t you? Because I might be meeting Gary Kramer at the Copper Kettle.”
    “Wow, this is getting to be a real relationship, isn’t it?”
    “No, not at all. But I’m free and he’s lonely, what with his massive hike ambitions and all. So…why not?”
    I gave her a hug. “Why not, indeed? You deserve some fun. I’ll keep the home fires burning.”
    “Just don’t burn down the house.”  
    “No problem there.” I put my hand in my pocket and connected with that brochure I’d picked up earlier. I pulled it out and looked at it. “Say, Bebe, have you seen these?”
    She was on her way out, but she paused and looked quickly. “I haven’t really looked at them, but I thought I saw Lance passing them out at one of the meetings.” She shrugged. “Gotta go.”
    She gave me a wave and headed out.  
    “No sign of the silver cat?” I called after her.
    “Nope. Sorry.”
    And I really was sorry about that. I could kick myself for not keeping closer tabs on the fellow. But I didn’t have time to mourn his absence long. A car pulled up in front of the house and Lance Mansfield stepped out.  
    “Hi Lance.” I went out to greet him. “To what do we owe this surprise visit?”
    He smiled lovingly at me, as he always seemed to do. “I just couldn’t bear to be parted from you for another hour today,” he said lightly, obviously not expecting me to believe a word of it—and I didn’t. “And also, I heard you went out to Ned Barlow’s house again.” He looked at me expectantly, as though he thought I might spill my guts over the whole thing right here, right now.  
    I gaped at him. After all, it hadn’t been much more than half an hour since I left the place. “How did you know that? Who told you?”
    He shrugged, looking very nonchalant. “I hear things. I’m a trusted member of the class of people who run things in this town.”
    I cringed a little at the way he said that. But he was probably right. After all, his family had practically founded the place. So I let him in, offered him iced tea, and we sat in the sun porch among Bebe’s many green houseplants. I felt a little uncomfortable. He looked like he was anticipating real news. I glanced around the room, hoping Dante might show up, but I didn’t catch sight of him.  
    So I sighed and settled back and told him the whole story. I figured—might as well. As a member of the “ruling” class, he was going to know it all soon enough anyway. Heh.
    He listened carefully, studying each of my statements in turn, as though he was going to learn something. Then when I didn’t come up with anything really new, except my getting shot at—he looked disappointed.  
    “The man who shot at you. What did he look like?”
    “A homeless person. But younger than you would