The Partners in Crime Collection, page 42
“And since you’ve been here, you’ve met other ghosts, yes?”
“Yeah. At first, I could only see them if Ellis was touching the other ghost. When she crossed over, something changed and now I can see them if they let me,” Jack said. “There’s a handful of us now that can see them.”
“A handful?” Sister Robert asked. “How?”
“Well, it’s rather difficult to work closely with people you trust and care about – and lie to them about everything. So, Jamie and me, then my son Avery and our friend – and now boss – Joey. Mike shows up often, and Saturday there was an incident and I noticed Dr. Finney, the coroner, could see Mike. Doc winked at me about it. I’ve asked Jamie to get him to speak with us so we can learn more from his side of things, just like I’m sitting here with you to learn more.”
Sister Robert frowned. “That’s a lot of people. You all need to be very careful. The last time a group of people could see ghosts, the Vatican sent a team out. They were all shamed and discredited, and one ended up in prison. Two of them changed names and disappeared as if in witness protection.”
Jack leaned back. “You’re not going to report us, are you?”
“At this time? No, but you need to rein it in. The more that know, or can see, the more at risk we all are. Tell me, have you noticed a lot more activity coming your way?”
“Well, yeah – but that’s because I can see them without Ellis’ help now, right?”
“Yes and no. When word got out on the other side of the veil that I could see them, I was inundated with spirits wanting me to give messages to their families and friends. I had to leave that job, and I spent a year in England for some of my graduate studies work to break the cycle. Now, it’s not a problem. Sister Bernadette died the year after I finished my PhD and became my gatekeeper. No one gets to me without going through Sister Bernie,” Sister Robert said.
“Then Michael Donovan is our gatekeeper,” Jack said. “No one gets to us without Mike’s approval. Once he introduces us, then we do what we can to work with them. I hadn’t seen any ghosts without Mike first introducing us until the other day when one popped into the front seat of my car.”
“What was different about that ghost?”
“I felt uncomfortable around him. I got the same feeling from his presence as I would get from being around criminals who had committed the most vicious crimes.”
“Did his actions make you think he was evil?” Sister Robert asked.
“No, but one of the other ghosts freaked out and said he was the one that gave her the drugged champagne she drank just before she died. We haven’t seen him around since and Mike has some of his minions watching for him, so I’m not sure what to think anymore.”
Sister Robert picked up her purse off the floor and dug around inside. She came out with a small jewelry box that she handed to Jack. “I brought this for you. It’s been blessed by the Pope and has a drop of holy water inside. I also got a long chain for it so it’ll hang lower and you can hide it inside your clothes.” She set a second box down on the table. “This one is for Jameson.”
Jack opened the box and saw a silver saint’s medal for St. Michael the Archangel. “The patron saint of law enforcement and EMTs. Thank you. I have my father’s medal in my wallet. It’s too fragile to wear on a chain any longer. This means a lot.” She slid the chain over her head and looked at the charm once more before she tucked it into her bra. “What do you believe the medal will do for me?”
“It will help protect you from those spirits whose intentions are less than beneficent. You’ll probably still see them, but they won’t be able to influence you negatively.”
“I truly appreciate this. I hadn’t thought about getting a protective charm or anything. To be honest, I’ve kind of been going with the flow and learning as time goes on. Things have been moving rather quickly over the past few months.”
“Reach out to me any time, Jack. I’d be honored to help you navigate this new journey. I want to leave you with one thought, if I may?” Sister Robert asked.
“Of course,” Jack said.
“While all of this talk about ghosts and protection, know there is a solid, scientific aspect to ground you in all of the ‘woo woo’ talk. Albert Einstein said that ‘everything is energy and that is all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.’ Energy never goes away, Jack. It simply changes form. The soul has weight and substance, or so some scientists believe. These beings that we interact with are real – and the change in your reality has helped you see them. Don’t underestimate them.”
“I won’t,” Jack said, her tone soft.
Both women got to their feet and Sister Robert offered Jack a hug. “You’re not alone in this, Jack. This can be a blessing, this ability. A gift. You and your friends are helping bring peace to those whose lives were ended too soon. That is a noble and admirable task. Just also be aware that there are those out there who don’t want you to be able to help and find justice. They, too, have the ability to speak with the dead and can make your lives difficult. Don’t be afraid to reach out.”
“Thank you, Sister. Here, let me wrap up a couple of muffins for you to take with you,” Jack said. Sister Robert used the facilities while Jack wrapped up the treat and they shared another hug before Sister Robert left in her little blue Prius. Jack stood in the doorway and watched until the car had turned the corner before she locked the door and went to clean up. She had a lot to tell Jamie, and they both had precautions to take before they went too much further. Sometimes, knowing more made the burden heavier – and the risks more real.
Dead to Rights: Chapter Fifteen
“Sister Robert gave you a physics lesson?” Jamie asked as Jack shared the conversation highlights from that morning.
“That, and a warning. Oh, and this is for you. Blessed by the Pope, has a drop of holy water inside. They’re supposed to help keep us safe from the less friendly spirits that might want to disrupt what we’re doing,” Jack said as she handed him the jewelry box. “St. Michael, patron saint of law enforcement. If you don’t want to wear it, tuck the charm in your wallet. Either way, it can’t hurt and it might help.”
“Don’t you have to truly believe for these things to work?” Jamie asked.
“You don’t believe at all?”
“Oh, I do, but sometimes I doubt. Will it still work?”
“I think it would still work, yeah,” Jack said. “Worst case? Keep it on you for me. I feel better knowing we’ve got a little something on our side.”
“Sounds like the good Sister got to you, huh?” Jamie asked.
“She told me her story and we discussed a bit about what the church said about ghosts – which is a lot and yet nothing definitive. Sister Robert also warned us to not get too wide of a circle of people who can see ghosts. The last time, the Vatican came in and wiped out the group to the degree that two people changed their names and disappeared. Slander, defamation, accusations – supposedly one person ended up in prison. So, let’s not get on the Vatican’s radar, shall we?” Jack said.
“Then I guess it’s good Dr. Finney is going to come by this evening to visit,” Jamie said with a grin. “I’m looking forward to hearing his story.”
“Oh, Avery pulled what he could get off of the condo videos. The four hours around the time of LaSherie’s death are missing. As in, static and snow in the recording and no visible images to determine who might have been there during that time. The same problems with the recordings happened at the condo building and the two clubs. Whoever visited, managed to erase the only possible evidence of their existence,” Jack said.
“That sounds like either an inside job or a bribe. I’d bet on a bribe,” Jamie said.
“That’s what I’m thinking. I had Avery share the information with Haggerty and Jones. I mean, they know it was him, but it’s anonymous on the records. He’s taking a ride around the area today to see if there are any other cameras that might have caught either the front or back entrances of the building during that four hour span. He’ll tell the detectives and they’ll let us know if they can get any more data or video.”
“I still think it’s interesting that Sister Robert quoted Einstein. That quote has kind of been rattling around in my head since I first started seeing Mike and wondering if I had brain damage or something,” Jamie said. “There’s so much that Einstein wrote about, talked about – that wasn’t even proven until recently. Years after his death, his ideas about time, space, energy, matter – they’re all being proven. I’ve also realized that quote is a lot more accurate than I suspected because once we tell someone about the ghosts – they can see them too. Their reality is adjusted, just like ours was.”
“And now we have to stop telling people so we don’t piss off the Vatican. I’ve seen enough movies and TV shows to not want to be on their radar,” Jack said.
“Mike, you around?” Jamie called out.
“I’m here, what’s up?” Mike said as he walked through the outside wall into the office space. “Don’t you two have to be in the office today?”
“We are – the home office. I told Joey we were meeting with some folks that felt more comfortable coming to our homes than any official office visit, and he’s fine with it as long as we solve cases,” Jamie said. “Jack met with Sister Robert this morning and we’re going to get some work done here before we talk to Dr. Finney this evening.”
“Whatcha need me for?” Mike asked.
“We need you to find Joel Johnson – and give us an update on Melly and LaSherie?” Jack said.
“Melly is spending most of her time around her kids – when she’s not tormenting her husband. She’s become quite adept at impacting physical spaces. He’s replaced every light bulb in the house and has an electrician coming in for the third time in a week to test the wiring. He’s replaced his cell phone twice due to hearing his wife’s voice coming through when he’s not even using the phone. Trey isn’t sleeping well, is losing weight, and looks like hell. I’m kinda proud of my little protégé.”
“That sounds impressive,” Jamie said. “What about LaSherie?”
“She’s been spending time with Mary, doing her best to comfort her. As soon as she knows Mary is going to be taken care of, she’s gone.”
“And now Joel,” Jack said.
“I’ll head to his house and see if he’s hanging around his husband. No one’s seen him out and about since he showed up here.”
“Appreciate it, Mike. I think if we can ask Joel a few questions, we might get some ideas of what’s really going on here,” Jack said.
The rest of the day was spent filling out forms, filing requests, and updating contact information with the various agencies and informants they wanted to keep in touch with now that they weren’t with the Harbor PD. Jamie ordered from the local Chinese place and had it delivered – and Dr. Finney pulled in as the delivery driver was backing out.
“Ken, talk about timing,” Jamie said as he welcomed him inside. “I ordered the beef and pea pods you liked.”
“Thanks, Jamie. Hey, Jack. Appreciate you guys being willing to make this as casual as possible,” Ken said.
“Nice to see you again, Dr. Finney,” Jack said.
“Call me Ken if you would? We’re not at work and I’d like to think we’re friends.”
“Of course,” Jack said as she put a handful of silverware on the table. “There’s iced tea, beer, water, soft drinks – what would you like?”
“I’m on call, so let’s settle with iced tea,” Ken said. “I’m guessing all of the vague phrasing about why you guys needed me here is because of Mike being around still?”
Jamie unpacked the take-out bag, then grabbed the iced tea pitcher and glasses. “Well, he had me thinking I had brain damage or something when I first saw him. He was the first ghost I’d ever seen – and Jack has her own story, but we’re both about the same amount of time with the experiences.”
“I was in my second year of residency when I saw my first ghost,” Ken said. “My mentor in the program heard my scream and came in to see me staring at the spirit of the woman I was currently working on. He calmed me down, answered her questions, and then took me out for a drink. Not everyone can see them, he said. He’d only known two others, besides me. I’ve since met a handful of people over the years, but you two are the first ones that I’ve really known well enough to discuss it with.”
“It cost me my job in New York but finding myself partnered with Jamie has made it all worth it. Granted, we’re not cops anymore – but we’re still solving mysteries,” Jack said.
“Mike introduces us to the newly dead that need some help. That’s how we ended up with the Noah Riggs case – and the Melly Warren case,” Jamie said.
“And how we know LaSherie Fantasia was murdered, and probably Joel Johnson. We also know Joel was the person that Melly Warren says handed her the drugged champagne the night she died,” Jack said.
“This makes so much sense,” Ken said. “How you guys came up with information so quickly that then had facts that fit. You really are superheroes, with spirit-based sidekicks.”
“Heh, we should put that on our business cards,” Jamie said.
Food was passed around, then Jack asked, “What do you think is going on with these cases? I mean, we have our theories and information, but I’d love to know what your take is.”
“You know I can’t officially share information, right?” Ken said. “But hypothetically I’m thinking they’re not connected by evidence at all. If your CIs are telling you they are connected, you’re going to need confessions or hard proof. The bodies aren’t giving me anything that supports that theory.”
“From what we have gathered, Trey Warren may have been the one to kill LaSherie, and Joel Johnson killed Melly Warren. We’re not sure where Joel’s death fits in all of this yet, but Mike has gone to see if he can find him and bring him to us so we can ask him some questions,” Jamie said.
“Sounds like that old Hitchcock movie from the 1950’s – Stranger on a Train,” Ken said.
“Oh, right. Wasn’t that a novel, too?” Jack asked.
“It was. Patricia Highsmith wrote it. I’m an old film noir buff, so I happen to know this stuff. Basically, two men meet, the psychopath convinces the patsy to kill the one he wants dead, and he kills the patsy’s wife. It all goes sideways, but the idea has been used in other films and stories since.”
“I wonder,” Jamie said. “The only connection we’ve been able to find between some of the players is that they were all members of the same country club circle.”
“See? It’s possible. Not necessarily probable – but it is possible,” Ken said. He took a mouthful of food just as his phone chirped. He pulled it out, read the text, then blinked as he chewed and swallowed. “Uh, I’ve got a body. I can’t bring you both, but I might be able to smuggle Jack in if she wants to put on a uniform and help bag up a body.”
“Why would I want to do that?” Jack asked with a laugh.
“Because the dead body is Nathaniel Dellarosa,” Ken replied.
Dead to Rights: Chapter Sixteen
Jamie wouldn’t let them leave him behind, so they headed off first and he wrapped up the food before he followed in his own vehicle. He would stay back out of the way, but he did call for Mike once he was on the road.
“What happened?” Mike asked. “And Joel’s been around his husband, but he wasn’t there when I was.”
“Nate Dellarosa is dead. Ken and Jack are going in, with her in disguise as one of his assistants. I want you with me in case we can talk to his ghost. You up for it?”
“Definitely,” Mike said.
They pulled up about four houses down from the chaos that marked the Dellarosa house. Flashing lights, crime scene tape, reporters, looky-loos – the familiar madness that marked a homicide scene had Jamie missing his badge for a solid minute or two. “Wait, how do you know Joel was around his husband?”
“There was a strong energy trace of him. He’s still on this side, and he seems to be spending most of his time around Jeremiah,” Mike said. “Let me get a closer look at things inside. I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be here,” Jamie said. He took his travel mug of coffee out and sat on the hood of his car with an egg roll and his drink.
People flowed in and out of the chaos while Jamie watched, but no one seemed to pay him much attention until a soft ‘psst’ sound made him look around. A figure dressed in black leggings and an oversized hoodie with the hood pulled up, black and white running shoes on their feet, edged its way up the side of the car to stop in the shadows near the driver’s side door.
“What?” Jamie asked. “Were you trying to get my attention?”
“Shh, it’s Santana, Mrs. D’s assistant,” she said. “I don’t want to get in the middle of that right now.”
“I don’t blame you, but you know the cops are going to want to talk to you, right?” Jamie said.
“I know. Honestly, if that psycho bitch could’ve waited another twenty-four hours, I’d have been long gone.”
