Free Who Invited the Ghost to Dinner: A Ghost Writer Mystery by Teresa Watson Page B

I’m afraid you can’t leave until you talk to one of my officers. If we all work together, it shouldn’t take more than two or three hours. Until then, the caterer has assured me that there are plenty of desserts and coffee. If you need to go to the bathroom, one of my officers will escort you.”
    “Who died?” Regina Lopez, one of the baristas at the coffeehouse, asked.
    “You’re going to find out sooner or later, so I’ll go ahead and tell you. It was Susan Ingram.”
    Total silence. No one was apparently too upset to hear this news.

 
    Chapter 10
     
     
    “I don’t see what Mrs. Ingram’s death has to do with any of us,” Prufrock said. “Unless she was murdered. Was she, Chief Penhall?”
    I looked at Mike, who glared at Prufrock. I slid my hand into Mike’s hand and squeezed.
    “At this time, Mr. Prufock, we are treating it as a suspicious death, but that does not mean she was murdered. Mrs. Ingram was not on the guest list, so we are curious as to what she was doing here. I’m hoping that someone might have seen or heard something. Maybe you saw her come in through a side door, or overheard her talking to someone tonight. You might not even realize that you know something. The state police are sending a couple of officers to help us with the interviews. All I ask is for your cooperation, and this will go as smoothly as possible. Thank you for your cooperation and patience.”
    Mike led me to the curtain and we disappeared behind it. “Well, that went well,” I said.
    “I’m torn between interviewing Prufrock first just to get him out of here, and making sure he’s the last one we talk to,” Mike said.
    “Make things easier on yourself; get rid of him as soon as possible,” I suggested.
    “You’re probably right.”
    “I’m not sure how professional that was to talk to everybody while holding your significant other’s hand,” I teased him.
    “You grabbed my hand, remember?”
    “I was just trying to be a calming influence so you wouldn’t jump off the stage and strangle the lawyer.”
    “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
    “Anything else I can do for you?”
    “At the moment, no. Reagan is talking to the actors and crew in the cast lounge right now. I should probably get back there and help her. The others are going to divide the room between them and start taking statements.”
    “Hey, Mike?” Randy interrupted. “The state police are here.”
    “Great. I’ll go talk to them. Has anyone tried to leave?”
    “Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Prescott tried to shove their way past me, but I stood firm, and directed them back to their table. Mr. Prufrock is still squawking out there, threatening to sue the police department. Grandma Alma told him to sit down and put a sock in it. Walt has found a notepad and has started talking to people near his table. I hope that’s okay.”
    Mike nodded. “He knows what questions to ask. I’ll send one of the state officers back here to help Reagan, and I’ll go help out there.”
    “How will we know if you’ve talked to people? I don’t want to let someone out that shouldn’t leave.”
    “If they don’t come from the direction of the main room, then they haven’t been interviewed yet. Turn them away and send them to us.”
    “You got it,” Randy said.
    As he left, Mike sighed. “Still want to date a cop?”
    “Yep. Still want to date someone who can talk to ghosts?”
    “Have you seen your ghosts tonight?” Mike asked.
    “Just Mac. He’s going to float around, see if he can learn anything.”
    “I won’t be able to use it if he does.”
    “Who said you had to use it?”
    “No way, Cam,” he replied, shaking his head. “I don’t want to risk you getting hurt again. Promise me you won’t get involved.”
    “If I just happen to hear something that could help you, may I tell you?”
    “As long as you don’t act on it.”
    “I can live with that.”
    “Good,” he said. “I better go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He gave