Free Cloudy with a Chance of Ghosts (Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 4) by J.D. Winters Page B

looked at me in surprise. “I don’t see her at all anymore. I haven’t for weeks.”
    That made this hard to ask, but I felt I had to. “Well, I think I told you I was a little worried about her. She seems to be frightened of something.”
    “Do you know what’s scaring her?”
    “No.” I shook my head. “But I was thinking, if only we could make a special place for her to stay. Maybe set up something in the shed. Make her feel like she had a place to go and be protected from harm….”
    She grabbed my hands. “Mele, that’s very sweet, but she’s a ghost. She can’t live like a human. She’s a spirit. If she wants something special she’ll make it happen on her own. You don’t have to worry about her.”
    “But…” I remembered how she’d looked hiding behind the rakes and shovels and my heart ached for her.  
    “Hey, you have enough things to worry about. Aunty Jane has always taken care of herself. She’ll be fine.”
    One last hug and Bebe was out the door.  
    I watched her go, knowing she was probably right, but sorry anyway.

Chapter Seven

    Bebe went out the back door and someone rang at the front door not two minutes later. I was surprised to find Celinda on my front doorstep, looking harried.  
    “Celinda! What a surprise.”
    “I need to talk to you.”
    “Come on in. Would you like….?”
    “Nothing, no, thanks. I…I just need to get a few things straight with you and your friend.”
    “Well, Jill’s not here but I’m available.”
    We sat in the living room, each sitting stiffly on the edge of our separate chairs. The tension was thick and we gazed at each other warily. I was on tenterhooks wondering what she was going to say.  
    “So,” I began. “Do you know something about Keri’s murder? Do you know who did it?”
    She shrugged and looked annoyed. “I assume the police know what they’re doing. Haven’t they arrested Jagger?”
    “Detained, not arrested.”
    Her hazel eyes narrowed. “Are you sure about that?”
    Actually, I wasn’t, so I ignored her question and moved on. “What can I help you with, Celinda?”
    She bit her lip for a moment, as if assessing what she wanted to say, then she blurted out, “Have you talked to Carlton? I can’t get hold of him. I went to the house, but the guard wouldn’t let me in. He’s not taking phone calls. I tried email and texting, but no replies. I’m at my wit’s end. I have to speak to him.”
    I stared at her, bemused. “Why would you think that I had a special connection to Carlton?”
    “I could see he was…amused by you yesterday. I thought maybe…”
    I was shaking my head. “Nope,” I said. “Sorry. Wrong number.”
    “Oh.” She looked genuinely distressed. “I’ve got to get to him. You know he’s scheduled to announce the winner of the Carlton Group Award on Wednesday. The rumor is…” She winced. “They say it’s going to be Jagger. And that’s just not fair. And now, if it turns out Jagger did kill that Keri woman, giving him the award would be such a huge mistake. I’ve got to talk to Carlton and make him see that.”
    “So you know Jagger pretty well and you’re ready to believe he could have done this awful thing.”
    She blinked and it was clear she wasn’t even thinking along those lines. She just wanted to make sure Jagger didn’t get something she thought she ought to have.  
    “Well sure. If the police think so….”
    “But what do you think? What would be his motive?”
    “His motive? Who knows? The guy is sort of free-spirited, you know what I mean? Here today, gone tomorrow. You can’t count on him.”
    “Yes, but why would he kill Keri? What would he gain from that?”
    She blinked again. “I don’t know. Maybe he was doing a favor for Carlton, getting rid of a nuisance. Not that I think Carlton had anything to do with it,” she added quickly.  
    “Right.”
    “But to give him an award would be criminal in and of itself,” she declared. “He doesn’t deserve