“Money and power,” Ryder said. “Or so I believe. But I need to know more. And I think we’re dealing with someone who is a true psychopath. Someone organized, capable of appearing perfectly normal—even in relationships—but lacking any true feelings or emotion.”
“Someone who could kill without blinking and make sure they did it right,” Lena said dryly.
“And it had to be someone close to you, the house, the family, or the corporation. That’s why I need your help. And any little detail will help.”
Lena glanced at Casey before answering and said softly, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I’m just so frightened now for my sister and my baby.”
“I’m all right,” Casey said. And, looking at her, Ryder thought she was. Yes, she had been panicked and in denial. That might indicate that she was a normal person. How else did one react to suddenly realizing there was, in an already strange world, another world around her?
And she might be in casual clothing, but he hadn’t lied to her. She was a beautiful, young woman, her best feature being her eyes. Their color was so blue it hinged on violet, and the depths of them always seemed to speak volumes.
Admittedly, he’d first thought her a quack, using her looks to help lure those who might believe she had a friend line to the beyond.
And now...
“Seriously,” Casey added softly. “I want to help.”
Lena smiled and said, “Thank you,” softly to Casey and then turned back to Ryder. “I think he was about six feet tall. And I believe he was wearing contact lenses, making sure I couldn’t recognize him if things went south. I don’t know. He was in black—sweats, I believe. All-encompassing black. His hood covered his hair. I think he even had a voice box. It was all raspy as if it were coming through something. And he had wires around his face and neck under the sweatsuit top. I could still see them. I don’t know how he got in. Gail was out—it was her afternoon off. Stephanie was coming over, but not for an hour or so. All I could do was bargain.”
“You saved Annette’s life,” Ryder assured her.
They all fell silent. Felice came back to their table, pointing at their dishes.
“What’s the matter? Suddenly you don’t like the food?” she asked.
“Oh, no, the food is delicious,” Casey assured her.
“Delicious as always,” Ryder said.
Felice was frowning. “I don’t know why you like this table. It’s cold here! There must be something wrong with the air-conditioner. We must get that fixed. Would you like to move?”
“No, this is my table, and I love it, Felice,” Ryder said. “You know that.”
Felice smiled suddenly. “Look at the two of you. So close and...whispery. I guess you don’t feel the cold. Ah, young love. You two can cuddle for warmth.”
She left, and Lena laughed.
“You two do make an adorable couple.”
“We’re not a couple,” Ryder and Casey said in unison.
“Well, okay, but you’re both beautiful people, so...you would make a beautiful couple. Hey, trust me. Don’t mess around. Life is short. I learned that saying to be the absolute truth.”
“Oh, Lena,” Ryder murmured.
Lena frowned and spoke in a panic. “I’m going to fade!”
“What?” Casey asked. “Fade?”
Lena shook her head. “It takes...well, learning. I’m learning to be a good ghost with a lot of help. But still...thank you both. We’ll talk tomorrow. Oh! Ryder, you have Annette and Stephanie. And now, you can’t let anything happen to Casey.”
The last was barely a whisper. Casey’s name sounded almost like a soft hiss.
Suddenly, Lena was gone.
Casey stared at Ryder. “Ghosts fade?”
“I can explain what I think I know,” he told her. “I know many spirits, but...I’ve never been a ghost, and it seems the experience can be different from...ghost to ghost. From what I understand, it’s not easy for them at first to...materialize, I guess. She’ll need to rest, to gain strength again. Old ghosts can stay for longer periods of time. Some can even push buttons and sometimes move things. It’s like anything—we learn to crawl, walk, and then run.”
“You’re so easy with all of this,” she whispered.
“You think it’s hard as an adult? Try being a kid telling someone their grandfather had given him warnings when that grandfather had been dead and interred for two years.” He shrugged and smiled at her. “It takes time,” he said softly.
“You mean...I may see other ghosts now?”
“When they choose to be seen.”
“Oh.” She groaned.
“It gets better. For tonight, I guess we should finish dinner. Then I’ll get you back home.”
“Take your time. I have a feeling I’ll be up all night.”
She would be up all night—listening. Afraid.
Ryder noticed the tension creeping into her face and body. “Maybe you shouldn’t stay at your place.”
“I could go to Lauren’s house,” she mused. Then she shook her head vehemently. “No. She lives with her grandmother, and I wouldn’t put either of them in danger. Even though I’m not sure I’m in danger, I’m not brave enough to find out. I will lock all the doors, I’ll—”
“No. We’ll go by your place, you can get a few things, and we’ll go to the Marceau house.”
“What?”
It seemed the logical answer, especially since Ryder had no other solution. And while he doubted that Lena’s killer would break into a house and risk capture, he’d somehow gotten into the Marceau house before.
“Look,” Ryder said earnestly, “I promised to look after Stephanie and Annette. But now I’m worried about you, too. And you have the common sense to accept the fact you might be in danger. So, if we are all in one place, it will be much easier on me.”
She seemed to weigh her options. “I still need to go to work in the morning.”
“I’ll get you there. But you can’t be alone. And tomorrow, I’ll get some help.”
“You have friends with the NOPD?”
“I do. But I’m not calling them.”
“Then—?”
He grinned and shrugged. “I have people.”
She frowned at that, curious—and seemingly unconvinced. “I can’t just go and stay at the Marceau house. I mean, I’m not invited—”
“You’re invited. I’m inviting you.”
“I don’t think Stephanie liked me.”
“Stephanie is still hurt. She’s grieving, and you freaked her out. She’ll want you there. She can’t know the truth the way we do, doesn’t quite understand, but she always knew that...”
“That?”
“Sometimes, it runs in families. We had a mutual great-grandparent who... Well, if it is something in the DNA, she was the one who passed it down. Stephanie knows there are people who sense things. She knows that I do. I didn’t know much about you when I left the Marceau house after you did—”
“You were the relative—her side of the family—watching the baby when I was there.”