Im not really famous, Jed said quickly, embarrassed.
Speaking of which, guess what name those two Mike paused to indicate Ana and Christina just dredged up. Beau Kidd.
Jed frowned. Even if his nerves hadnt already been on edge, the name would have stung. Damn it, he thought. He hadnt caused what had happened to the cop. He had just built fiction around the facts of what had already happened.
Yeah. Fiction that clearly skewered the man.
Beau Kidd? he said, and he knew that his voice was harsh.
Oh, Jed, dont sound so mad. We were just playing with the Ouija board, Ana said.
After talking about the recent murder, Dan explained.
Ouija board? Jed said skeptically.
Hey, blame Ana, not me, Christina said lightly.
Im telling you, it spelled out his name, Ana said stubbornly.
Come in the kitchen, Ill warm up some food for you, Christina said.
Dont bother, Ana teased. He used to be a cop. He even eats cold pizza.
Well you dont have to eat cold barbecue, Christina said firmly, then stared at him with those crystal-blue eyes of hers and smiled slowly. Thanks for coming.
He shrugged a little awkwardly. Sure.
She strode past him, smooth and sleek. He followed.
She was already reaching into the refrigerator by the time he stepped into the kitchen. She handed him a beer.
So hows it going? she asked after he thanked her, helping herself to one, as well, and leaning back against the counter. A subtle grin curved her lips. When does your next book come out?
He arched a brow. Last month, actually.
Oh. Sorry.
Thats cool.
I should have kept up.
Amazingly, the entire world doesnt rush out to the store the minute a book of mine comes out.
She flushed. Yeah, well, Im one of Anas best friends. I should have known.
Not even all of Anas friends rush out the minute I have a book on the shelves, he assured her.
She smiled and dug into the refrigerator again. He realized with an inner smile that she had planned for his arrival as she pulled out a microwave-ready plate with chicken, ribs and corn on the cob.
He hadnt been lying when hed said he was hungry. Hed showered, and the smell of the autopsy room no longer seemed to fill his nostrils.
But he couldnt forget the dead woman or what had happened at the cemetery.
Couldnt forget that Christina Hardy was a beautiful redhead.
He warned himself to get his thoughts under control. He couldnt let himself become obsessed with this, couldnt let it consume him and everyone around him.
So hows it going in jingle land? he asked. Whats your latest?
Her smile deepened as she played with the dial on the microwave. Come to the Grand, walk on the sand, hear the steel band, sunsets and glory, the minute you land, she sang lightly.
That was you? I hear it all the time, he told her.
Its a great resort, she told him. I was given a comp weekend when I was hired, so I got to check it out for free. Its one of those all-inclusive places. Really nice. You step out from your private bungalow right onto the beach.
Nice work if you can get it, he teased.
As long as I am working.
Well, this place is worth a mint, he told her.
Id panhandle before I sold this house, she assured him passionately, then seemed embarrassed by the emotion she had betrayed. She offered him a wry smile. Hmm. And are you suggesting I wont get work?
He laughed. Never, he vowed solemnly.
The microwave beeped. She reached in for his plate, and he walked over to take it from her. The scent of barbecue was strong, but her perfume was more alluring. He remembered how, years ago, he had thought she was a pain in the butt and wished she and Ana would go away.
Things certainly changed, he thought wryly.
She smiled and brushed by on her way to get him a fork, knife and napkin. His muscles tightened. Hell, yes, things changed.
Ana appeared in the kitchen. Hurry up, she said to Christina. Youre the only one who can make that stupid Ouija board work.
I wasnt doing anything, Christina protested.
Jed felt his muscles tighten again, and not in a good way.
Beau Kidd? he said to Christina.
She flushed. I swear, I didnt make it do anything, she protested.
Whatever you say, he said curtly.
He hadnt meant to be so brusque. She barely moved, but he could feel her stiffen from across the room.
Its just that I worry, okay?
She sighed. I know. Im a redhead.
A beautiful redhead, he told her, trying to atone.
Im a big kid, and Ive lived on my own for a long time now. I dont do stupid things.
Dont assume that all victims are stupid.
Im not. But I am careful, she told him. Really. She was irritated. Why not? It was a good cover-up for being frightened.
She walked out of the kitchen, toward the parlor. He followed her, keeping his distance and stopping in the doorway.
You made that nameBeau Kiddappear, Mike said, staring accusingly at Christina.
I sure as hell didnt, she replied, and her voice betrayed her annoyance. Twelve years ago, I was thirteen and my mom turned the news off every time something came on TV that she thought I shouldnt know about. In fact, my parents used to argue about it. My dad thought I needed to be aware of what was going on in the world, but my mom just thought I was too young to know some thingsno, a lot of things.
You still must have heard the name, Dan said. He was sitting on the floor, back against the wall, arms folded over his knees.
Im sure I did, but a lot has happened since then, in my life and in the world, she informed him, her tone irritated. I didnt move the planchette.
Right. Beau Kidd did it himself, because there is no copycat killer and he wants us to know hes innocent, Mike murmured dryly.
Maybe he didnt do it, Ana said. And maybe his spirit did move the planchette.
Now youre scaring me, Jed teased his cousin.
She frowned, staring at him with a stubborn set to her jaw. Oh, right, Mr. He-man. Theres no possibility that anything you havent seen for yourself could possibly be real.
Whats the phrase? A ghost in the machine? Tony said, his tone light, as if he were hoping to lift the tension that had suddenly filled the room.
If there were a ghost here, it would be Gran, yelling at us, Dan said, grinning, and evoking smiles from the others at last.
Was she mean? Ilona asked.
Heavens, no, Christina said. But she had a very clear vision of right and wrong. She flashed a smile. I dont think shed be yelling. We havent messed anything up.
Well, she wasnt all that fond of the way Im running my life, Dan said, shrugging. I tried to explain to her that I intend to be more than Raccoon Ralph.
And you will be, Christina said. Youre going to be Zeus.
Right. And Halloween is around the corner. Ill get to play some pretty scary stuff, Dan said.
The three-year-olds are trembling in their boots, Ana teased, then suggested, Why dont we ask the Ouija board when youll get your big break?
Mike groaned. Im getting another beer. He started down the hall, almost crashing into Jed, who was still standing in the doorway. Beer? he suggested.
Yeah, sure, one more, Jed said, heading to the kitchen with him.
A few seconds later, they heard a loud and startled clamor from the parlor.
They frowned at each other and rushed back to the other room. Jed was in the lead, and when he reached the arched doorway, he was almost hit in the head with the planchette.
Hey, who threw that? he demanded. Ducking had saved him from a good shot right in the face.
She did, Ana said, pointing to Christina.
I did not! Christina protested.
Ana met his eyes, looking more than a little scared. Itit was like it got mad and flew cross the room, she said.
Ana, get a life, Jed snapped.
Whats going on? Mike demanded from just behind Jed.
We asked it if Dan was going to get the part he wants, Christina said.
And it spelled out help again, Ilona said, eyes wide.
Theyre pulling your leg, Ilona, Mike told her.
Ana let out a long, aggrieved sigh.
Whatever. Lets put the stupid thing away, Christina said. Without waiting for anyone to agree, she reached for the box.
Throw the stupid thing away, Dan suggested.
Christina, throw an old treasure away? Tony teased. Never.
Its a good thing I dont throw anything away. You might recall a box I packed up when a few people forgot about it after one Christmas dinner, Christina said, looking from Mike to Dan and smiling complacently.
Yes, and we appreciate it, Dan said, then explained to the others. We got bonds for Christmas one year when we were kids. We forgot all about them, but Christina stuck them in a box and held on to it. Our bonds matured and ended up being worth a bundle.
And we thank her for it, Mike said, then turned to Christina. Want me to help you pack anything up? he asked as he turned up the dimmer switch.
No, but thank you for the appreciation. She rose from the floor as gracefully as ever.
Dan yawned, then apologized. Sorry, but Ive got to go. Im on first shift tomorrow. Costuming at seven in the morning for the eight oclock breakfast. This was fun. Thanks, Ana. Christina.
I should take off, too, Jed said, anxious to get away. He still couldnt get the autopsy off his mind, and the last thing he needed was to spend the evening at a party where the conversation kept turning to Beau Kidd.
Christina, Ana, thanks for dinner, and, Christie, welcome to the neighborhood.
Thanks for coming, she said, and walked over to him for a brief hug. There was still something reserved between them.
His fault, she decided as he waved to the others and started toward the door.
This is your home, too, just like always, he heard Christina tell her cousins as they followed a few steps behind.
Thanks, kid, Dan told her. But one day you might have a sex life, and you wouldnt want us walking in on you.
Lets go, Mike said. I dont want to hear about my little cousins sex life, okay?
Would you rather walk in on it? Dan asked.
Outta here, Mike said firmly.
Jed was almost at the door, but he still overheard the last remarks from the group in the parlor.
What the hell was with Jed tonight? Tony asked.
The Beau Kidd thing, Ana said. When he wrote his book, he was sure Kidd was guilty, but now he doesnt know.
Jed headed out the door to his Jeep and gunned the engine.
Ana was right.
Ana left a few minutes later with Tony and Ilona. Dan and Mike had offered to drive her home, but Tony had assured them that he and Ilona would see her safely inside. Ana had bought her parents house when they had retired down to their place in the Keys, so shed never moved once in her life. And at the price of real estate, she was luckyas Christina was herself.
Christina locked the front door as the stragglers left. One thing she didnt have was an alarm system. Something she should probably consider in the future, she decided.
There wasnt much to do as far as cleaning up; paper plates for food that had arrived in cardboard cartons didnt create much of a mess. She was done in five minutes.
When the water stopped running, the house seemed almost painfully silent.
She walked back into the parlor and immediately noticed the Ouija board. You suck, she muttered. Her eyes moved over the many boxes littering the room.
For some reason, all those boxes made her feel uneasy. The fact that the house didnt have an alarmwhich had never bothered her beforenow made her even more uneasy. The silence weighed on her.
And she wished to God they had never played with the stupid Ouija board.
She found herself walking around, turning on every light in the house. She even turned on the plasma television in the living room, thinking the noise would be good.
The news came on instantly.
As is common in such cases, an attractive young anchorwoman was saying, there was evidence that the police didnt share with the public when the Interstate Killer was at work twelve years ago. The police have not yet commented on whether or not the murder of Sherri Mason shares any of those confidential similarities or not. As you may be aware, the Interstate Killers spree ended with the death of the man who had become the prime suspect, Detective Beau Kidd. Kidd was familiar with two of the victims, who
Christina was tempted to throw the remote control across the room; she hit the power-off switch instead.
Groaning, she rechecked the front door, turned off the lights and started up the stairs.
She hadnt taken over her grandmothers room, and she wouldnt. It was going to be her guest room, she had decided.
Beau Kidd, indeed, she murmured aloud in annoyance when she reached her own room. If this house is haunted, its haunted by Granda and Gran. Good people who loved me.
She had never felt afraid in this house, and she was angry that the nights events had left her feeling so unnerved.
So she was a redhead. There were lots of redheads out there, natural and otherwise. It was a popular color.
She locked her doors. She didnt go off with strangers. She was careful.
She looked around her room, the same room shed always stayed in as a child. It had changed a great deal over the years. She had a new bed, for one thinga Christmas present from a few years ago. It was a queen, with a handsome cherry-wood sleigh-style frame. Her dresser and wardrobe matched, as did the artfully concealed entertainment center.
She headed straight to it, turning on the television and finding a channel with nothing but sitcom repeats.
So there. I will have no news tonight, she said.
Her voice rang strangely loud in the empty house. She was glad when the sound of the television filled the space.
She was even more pleased when a commercial with a jingle she had written popped up on the screen. Ever soft, ever silky, ever gentle to the touch, oh, dear Biels Tissue, we thank you very much.
Not poetry or even her most brilliant lyric, but it was a good, catchy tune.