Free Granny Apples 05 - Ghost in the Guacamole by Sue Ann Jaffarian Page B

preparing me in case he does?”
    â€œHe has told me to tell you to sell,” Emma told her. “In fact, he’s emphatic about it. He wants you to take the money and start over someplace else.”
    â€œLeave Los Angeles?” Rikki asked with surprise.
    â€œHe didn’t clarify that,” Emma said, “but he wants you to leave here—this restaurant and this location.”
    Rikki stalked to the window. After looking down on the street for almost a full minute, she turned back to Phil and Emma, her face set hard as stone. “Now I know T.J. is right about you. My father would never agree to the sale and especially not to our family abandoning this street. It’s part of our heritage. You said yourself that even in death he still walks it every day to check on his friends.”
    â€œTrue, but yesterday he told me to tell you to sell it,” Emma told her. “He told me again today that you need to sell.”
    â€œAnd you folks need to leave,” Rikki replied, pointing at the door.
    â€œThis girl is as pigheaded as her sister,” groused Granny.
    Phil held out a hand toward Rikki. “Please, Rikki, listen to Emma. She’s telling you the truth.”
    Rikki looked at Phil. “Did you hear my father say that?”
    Phil shook his head. “No, I didn’t. I can’t see or hear spirits, but I know that Emma can.” He frowned at her, taking a tougher stance. “You came to her, remember? She has no interest in how this plays out, sale or no sale. She just wants to help you.”
    Rikki was quiet for a few seconds, then said, “Please leave, both of you, now.”
    Emma went back to the sofa to pick up her purse. Granny followed her. “Stubborn or not,” the ghost said to Emma, “you can’t leave without telling her everything. She at least needs to be warned.”
    Again Emma agreed with Granny, but she needed to piece together exactly how to say the words to Rikki, who was now on the defensive and angry. After a slight nod to Granny, Emma slung her bag over her arm and indicated to Phil that it was time to leave. Before they reached the door, Emma turned to Rikki and dropped a bombshell. “You know how to reach me if you want more help, Rikki, but I’m going to leave you with this to consider. Yesterday, when Felix came to me, he was adamant that you sell the business. He said if you didn’t, you might die, just as he did. Today he was still determined that you sell and for the same reason.”
    Rikki’s rigid arms fell limp by her sides. Emma and Phil were nearly out the door when she found her tongue. “Are you suggesting that my father was killed?”
    Emma turned to her. “I’m just relaying what he said to me.”
    â€œBut who would have done such a thing? Everyone loved my father and the police said he fell when he had a heart attack.”
    â€œHe didn’t say anything more than that, Rikki. He’s only spoken to me briefly and I haven’t had the chance to question him about it. I was hoping to do that when he returned.”
    Rikki shook a finger at Emma. “I don’t believe it, Emma Whitecastle. You’re a scammer just like T.J. said. You’re trying to frighten me into selling and using my poor dead father to do it. If my sister is behind this, I’ll see her rot in hell!”

• CHAPTER SEVEN •

    â€œT HAT went well,” Phil said as they walked back down Olvera Street. “Guess we’re lunching at Traxx after all.”
    Emma didn’t say a word. When they reached Los Angeles Plaza Park at the end of Olvera Street, she became even more sullen and distracted but didn’t resist when Phil directed them left down Paseo de la Plaza. Granny had disappeared when they left Rikki. They continued walking in silence until they reached Alameda Street. Emma started across the busy street and would have walked right into traffic if Phil