Bartholomew was beside her, as well.
Oh, good save, young lady, he told her. I mean, seriously, what was that? I thought youd lost your mind. And you say Im going to make you look crazy! Youre doing just fine on that all by yourself.
Stop! she murmured.
Pardon? David asked, frowning. He still had his hands on her shoulders. She liked the feel of them.
But they were still standing in the street, and she was looking more unbalanced every second.
Oh, God, I ran out in the middle of a song! she said. She turned, escaping his hold, and hurried back.
She paused at the door, looking back at David. Um, thank you. Im sorry, didnt mean to alarm anyone Im Thanks!
She hurried back to the microphone at her station, and called up the group of partying girls shed helped choose a song. It was an old Madonna song, and the group had a lot of fun doing it. She felt unnerved, and prayed for the business of the place and the music to calm her sense of unease.
For Gods sake, shed seen ghosts forever. Sometimes they approached her-most often they didnt. Only Bartholomew had ever decided that he needed a best friend among the living!
Steady, kid, steady, Bartholomew whispered to her.
Did you see her? Katie asked.
Yes.
Who is she?
I dont know.
Youre a ghost.
Right! And do you know every tourist walking down the street? Tourists are living, youre living. Does it mean that you know everyone? No! Just hold it together, Katie OHara. And stay away from this whole thing. I know youre thinking that girl was Tanya. Maybe she was, maybe she wasnt. Doesnt matter-you need to stay out of it and away from David.
Katie ignored him. She needed to get through the night.
Katie? he persisted.
Bartholomew, you need to make up your mind. You said that you liked David, but you keep suggesting that he might be a murderer.
I do like him.
Okay, so?
He still may be a murderer.
She groaned and turned her attention to her computer.
What the hell happened? Liam asked David as he took his chair next to his cousin.
Beats me. Ive never seen anyone with a look like that She said she saw an old friend.
Its still bizarre, Liam noted. I guess Ill hang around and walk her home. Ive never seen Katie behave so oddly. And it looks like shes talking to herself.
Clarinda swept over to the table; she had heard Liam. Anything else for the moment, fellows? Oh, and she isnt talking to herself-she sings along with the music.
Of course, Liam said.
How late does she keep the music going? David asked.
Its Saturday night; shell go to three, Clarinda said. Jamie OHara says that three is just right. By then, folks are in, and the place stays open, so people will stay. And hard-core karaoke folks can go down the street to Ricks. Share the wealth, so he says.
She smiled, arched a brow, saw they wanted nothing else at the moment and moved on to check on other tables.
Dont worry about hanging around, David told Liam. Ill stay.
No, Ive known Katie a long time now. Andtheres an interesting, rowdy crew in here tonight.
Liam, I dont work in the morning. You do.
All right. You stay. But dont decide shes all right, okay? Make sure you see her all the way home.
I will, David promised.
Soon after Liam left, Sam walked over to his table. Hows it going?
Slowly.
Sam nodded and lifted his beer, indicating Danny Zigler, who was busing a table nearby. Theres a suspicious character for you, he said.
Danny?
Scrawny little fellow just making his way.
Right. Which makes you wonder if such a scrawny little fellow just making his way would have the capability of planning out such a murder, David said.
I wouldnt count him out, Sam said morosely.
Katie announced the last singer of the evening and Marty went up to do a Jimmy Buffett song. When he was done, Katie started closing down the equipment. She announced that if anyone wanted to keep on singing, they could head down Duval to Ricks.
A few moments later, Katie joined them at the table. She seemed pleased to meet Sam, told him that it was good to see him. You were in the other night, werent you? she asked him. But youve shaved since then.
Observant girl! Sam noted.
Well, it was quite a beard!
Sam seemed to like Katie, which seemed equally natural. She spoke softly with a sweet voice, her eyes were like crystal and her scent was definitely compelling. She was a beautiful young woman.
If a little strange! She had almost appeared to be in some kind of a trance when she had walked out so suddenly.
Katie frowned, listening, and turned toward the doors. David realized there was some kind of disturbance going on in the street.
David didnt say anything-he gave her a glance that told her he would check it out. He walked to the door. There was a bar fight going on. Pete Dryer was there, a big man, holding the battling drunks apart from one another. He saw David. Get the little one, running down the street, David!
David went after the man. He looked to be about twenty-one or twenty-two, and it wasnt any problem getting him-he ducked and shrank, putting his hands up. Hey, you got me, you got me, dont hurt me!
Im not going to hurt you. The cop down the street wants to talk to you, thats all, David said. Turn around, and head on back.
The kid did so. He looked younger, and terrified.
Two bigger fellows had been cowed. They stood on either side of Pete. All right, what the hell is going on here? Pete demanded.
That little shit robbed me! one fellow said.
Thats my brother. He didnt rob you, the other big guy said.
Pete looked at the kid. Did you rob him?
Hell, no! That stripper came out and started busing him all up-I didnt take anything from him. Check my pockets! the younger kid said.
Hell, no! That stripper came out and started busing him all up-I didnt take anything from him. Check my pockets! the younger kid said.
Pete arched a brow. The kid pulled out his pockets. He had only his own wallet, which contained his ID. He was Lewis Agaro, age twenty-one, and he had ten bucks, an ATM card and one credit card, in his name.
What are you three doing together? Pete asked.
Were not together. That thug just suddenly started going after my little brother! one man said explosively.
Hey, sorry, man! So, now, come on, lets go after the stripper! the other man said.
What stripper? Pete asked.
Well, what the hell, shes gone now, what do you think? the apparent robbery victim asked.
All right, well take a report from the robbery victim-the two of you need to get to your rooms for tonight, cause no more trouble, or Ill see that youre locked up for your vacation, and youre not going to find any margaritas or hurricanes or any other such concoction when youre in my custody!
Pete looked at David. Hell, Im not even on duty! he moaned. I was going to join you guys for a drink. I got a car coming. I think I know which lovely little stripper is at her pocket-picking again. Ill have to find her.
David grinned. Tomorrow, Pete, he said. He had come halfway down the street. When he turned around and went back into the bar, Katie was gone.
He caught Clarinda by the arm, his touch far more forceful than he had intended. Wheres Katie?
Gone, she went on home.
There must have been a look of alarm on his face.
I tell her all the time not to go alone! Clarinda said.
Its all right, its all right, David said. Which way does she go?
Down Simonton, Clarinda said. Make her call me!
David turned and headed out, running around the corner to the back. Almost two blocks ahead, he could see Katie.
Between them, he could see Sam Barnard. His heart leapt to his throat. Sam had to be watching out for her.
Why was Sam following her late at night, though?
Katie! He shouted her name.
Both Katie and Sam stopped, and turned back. Katie seemed surprised to see him; so did Sam.
Sam, where are you heading? he asked, moving up.
My B and B is down the street, Sam said. He blushed. Im staying at Artist House. We dont have a place anymore.
Oh, well, its a beautiful place, David said. They walked together on down to Katie where she waited.
A couple of drunks got rowdy? she asked.
Yeah, Pete was there.
She laughed. Pete doesnt have to deal with the drunks much these days. He must have been ticked that they acted up right in front of him.
Yep, David said.
Hey, a cop is a cop, Sam said. He stood awkwardly for a moment. Well, good night. See you all. Tomorrow, I imagine. Hey, Katie, you got your act up tomorrow night, too, right?
Sunday, yes, she said. Good night, Sam.
Sam walked on. The streets were quiet. Katie waited, looking at David. I was trying to walk you home, he told her.
She smiled. Thats nice.
Let me see you in.
Okay.
They walked in silence for a minute. They reached her house and she opened the door. She seemed to hesitate, as if she was about to ask him in, but wasnt sure.
He waited.
She didnt.
Thank you, she said.
He nodded. Well, keep your door locked, all right? he asked.
Her smile deepened. In the muted light her eyes were truly a crystal that seemed hypnotic. He reminded himself that she was Seans little sister.
But Seans little sister had grown up.
Well, good night, he told her.
Good night.
She closed the door; he heard her lock it. He turned and walked slowly back to the Beckett house.
He paused on the street. He loved the house but tonight, it seemed cold, empty and forlorn.
And down the street, he could see the museum. He wasnt given to anything illogical, but it seemed that night that the museum had a life of its own. It looked large in the shadows, dark and evil.
Irritated, he let himself into the house he now owned. He went to bed, and lay awake a long time, staring up at the ceiling.
Katie was exhausted, but the events of the past few days seemed to rush through her mind. She was restless, jumping at sounds. But then she grew angry with herself; she wasnt easily scared. For Gods sake, it wasnt as if she thought there was a ghost in her closet.
There might be a ghost in her closet, but if there was, she wasnt afraid of it! Ghosts reached out. They needed help. They werent evil puffs of air or mist orwhatever. They were lost, and frequently, in pain.
She wondered then if there were evil ghosts. In her experience, no. For her, they were a part of life-just like allergies were to some people. Sometimes startling and annoying, and sometimes, like Bartholomew, they just seemed to hang around endlessly.