“Bethany, drop it,” Genevieve warned. “He doesn’t believe in ghosts.”
“I didn’t say he did. If he hasn’t been there, it’s kind of a cool place, that’s all,” Bethany said.
“We used to try to walk the girls by there late at night and scare them,” Victor put in from across the table, next to Bethany. “It is a cool place. It was established in the 1840s, after a hurricane washed up a bunch of old coffins. You should check it out. The graves aren’t set up like in New Orleans, though there are a bunch of mausoleums. They’re stacked on top of one another. There’s a nice little memorial to the Maine. And if you go by at night…it’s creepy. I tried to make out with Genevieve there the first time.”
Genevieve let out a sound of exasperation. “The first time?”
He laughed. “Okay, the only time. It was sad. She was three feet taller than me at the time. I needed a ladder.”
“Very funny,” Genevieve told him.
He blew her a kiss.
“We could take the ghost tour,” Bethany suggested.
Genevieve groaned aloud. “I do not want to take the ghost tour. I thought we were going barhopping?”
“We are barhopping,” Alex said from the end of the table.
“Actually, that’s when most people see ghosts,” Jack chimed in ruefully.
“Yeah, the Hard Rock Cafe is supposed to be haunted,” Bethany said.
“We’re not going to the Hard Rock,” Genevieve said. She had sounded a little impatient and looked at him with just a hint of apology. “The Hard Rock is fine, and the building is supposed to be haunted. One of the Currys committed suicide upstairs and a prominent citizen shot himself in front of the fireplace. The staff tends to be super nice and the food is fine. But you don’t believe in ghosts anyway. It’s still a fine place. It’s just that…we’re going to our local friendly favorite places. Hey, Clint is playing tonight, you know. We’ve got to take our guests to hear Clint.” She looked at Thor again. “He can do anything. His own stuff, country-western, Buffett, the Eagles—and U2.”
“Hey, the girl down at Duffy’s is good, too!” Marshall called.
“Yeah, she’s great,” Genevieve agreed.
Their entrees came, some fish, some chicken, some steak. Just like the appetizers, their main courses were delicious.
Just then the check came, and Thor picked it up.
Genevieve turned to him. “Are you going to put it on a card? I’ll just give you cash.”
“Don’t give me anything.”
“It’s not as if we’re all on a date.”
“And it’s not as if I’m paying. We get reimbursed for meals,” he said.
“We’ll divvy it up later?” Marshall called to him.
“Doesn’t make any difference. I’ll just put it on the expense report.”
Marshall gave him a thumbs-up sign. Genevieve flushed uncomfortably and hoped no one noticed.
By the time he had paid the check and returned to the table, the group had risen and was milling outside the front door. This town wasn’t as insane now as it was during Fantasy Fest or the dead of winter, when the snowbirds flocked down, but the streets in Key West were busy year round. People did what they called “the Duval crawl”—just shopping and barhopping up and down Duval Street—into the wee hours. In Old Town, shops, restaurants and bars often kept their doors open, air-conditioning wafting out onto the street. With the amount of people around them as they headed to the first bar, Thor didn’t realize at first that both Bethany and Genevieve had disappeared.
In the bar, they found tables near the street-side door, far enough from the singer to be able to talk, enough inside that they weren’t deafened by the crowds outside. “Champagne all around,” Marshall said. “We can toast our first find.”
“Great. Where is the rest of our party?” Alex asked. “Genevieve and Bethany are gone. Why would Genevieve disappear? She and Thor were the ones who made the discovery.”
“They’ll be right back,” Victor said.
“Where’d they go?” Alex demanded.
Victor shrugged. “Some errand…I don’t know. They know the path we’re following. They’ll find us.”
“Well, hell, I say we toast without them,” Alex said, rolling his eyes.
“We should wait,” Lizzie said politely.
“Toast,” Marshall said, shaking his head. “They’ll get here when they get here.”
“Champagne will give me a splitting headache tomorrow—mind if I toast with a beer?” Zach asked.
The sentiment went around. Marshall shrugged. “Beer will be a lot cheaper. All right, beer all around.”
“Order two extra—if our delinquents don’t show up soon, we’ll drink them anyway, I’m sure,” Victor said.
Thor glanced out the open door, letting the conversation flow around him.
Thanks to Genevieve’s height, he was certain he saw her.
She was just passing into an alleyway at the far end of the block.
“Be right back,” he said, and left to follow her.
“This is nuts,” Genevieve told Bethany.
Bethany stopped walking to stare at her. Genevieve had explained pretty much everything that had happened to her. She’d had to, since Bethany knew she wasn’t prone to simply walking out into the surf in her nightshirt. Bethany had been practical at first.
“No pirate bones are going to rise up and come get you,” she had said thoughtfully. “I mean, think about the time and the conditions. The sea, storms, sand…those skeletons are not intact anymore. Unless, of course, the pirates were buried. But then why would they be coming at you from the sea? Can you imagine being here after that storm when all the bodies floated up? Ugh!”
“I’m sure the skeletons were just a dream,” Genevieve said.
“But you were all covered in seawater—and seaweed,” Bethany said. “And then you saw the ghost again.”
“But she was trying to help me. That’s what’s so weird.”
“And that’s why you have to talk to Audrey. I called her and told her we’d have about ten minutes. She’s waiting for us. She’s a great researcher—that’s where she gets all her ghost stuff when she tells visitors who’s following them down Duval Street—so she may know something after all. Hey, what can it hurt?”
They had come to a small wrought-iron gate that led to a walkway between two buildings. A small cottage from the late nineteenth century was sandwiched in at the end of the walk. On the sign above the gate were written the words: Oracle; Tarot and Palm Readings. Appointments Suggested, Walk-ins Welcome.
Genevieve let out a sigh and opened the gate. Bethany followed her through.
Audrey was, as promised, waiting for them. She was standing at the wooden door to the house, opening it wide as she saw them arrive. “Hi, guys! Amazing, we live and work in the same town and hardly ever see each other. But your new project must be really exciting, huh? Welcome. Come in, come in.”
Audrey wasn’t quite as tall as Genevieve, but she was a respectable five-nine, and she bowed a bit to give Bethany a hug, then reached up just a shade to welcome Genevieve. She was a pretty woman, with long dark hair and flashing dark eyes. Genevieve had been afraid she would find her old friend dressed up in a shawl and scarf, calling herself Madam Zena or something. But Audrey was wearing a simple, fashionably casual cotton skirt and halter top, with sandals.
“It’s great to see you, Audrey,” Genevieve said, feeling guilty. They did live in an incredibly small community. Why didn’t they keep up with old friends?
“You look great,” Bethany said.
“So do you two. But then again, you’re athletes, huh? Living in bathing suits, diving, diving, diving. So what’s up? I can’t believe you came for a tarot reading,” she said, and looked curiously at Genevieve. “Bethany said you only had about ten minutes.”
“She’s seeing ghosts,” Bethany said cheerfully.
Audrey’s brows shot up as she looked at Genevieve. “You?” she s
aid incredulously.
“No, not really—”
“Good God, tell her the truth!” Bethany exploded.
“All right, I think I’m seeing a ghost near the site where we think a wreck is lying. But she’s turned out to be a helpful ghost,” Genevieve said, feeling ridiculous.
“I can do some historical research for you, see what I can find.” She shrugged and grinned, looking at Genevieve. “I’ve never, uh, seen a ghost. I mean, this is a cool way to make a living, but…” She shrugged wordlessly. “Anyway…I’m sure I can find something if I look into your wreck more deeply.”
“I’ve done all kinds of research,” Genevieve said. “I’m still not sure who this woman might be.”
“Wait,” Bethany protested. “You said Gasparilla was in love with the captain’s daughter. Maybe that’s who you’re seeing. Maybe she spurned him and he drowned her.”
Genevieve stared at Bethany. She didn’t know why she hadn’t thought of that possibility.
Yes, she did. She hadn’t believed the first time that she’d really seen a ghost. She’d been looking for a prankster—or the victim of a recent murder.
“I don’t know,” she murmured. “That’s an idea, certainly.” She winced, looking back at Audrey. “When I didn’t freak out at the sight of her the second time I saw her, she led me to the first find.”
“Really?” Audrey said, staring at her.
“Don’t you dare tell any of this to anyone, please?” Genevieve begged.
Audrey shook her head. “Don’t worry, I won’t. But if anything comes out of this…I’m working on a book of Key West ghost stories right now. If there’s something to this Gasparilla connection, can I use this?”
“Sure. But for the moment, if my co-workers think I’m seeing a medium so I can communicate with the dead, I won’t be working on this project much longer,” Genevieve said.
Audrey smiled and said softly, “I’d never betray a friend. But, hey, let me see your palm.”
Genevieve was tempted to lock her hands behind her back like a frightened child.
“Give her your hand,” Bethany said impatiently.
When Genevieve did so, she was instantly disturbed.
Because Audrey seemed disturbed. She frowned deeply, her mouth pursing. “Interesting,” she said at last.
“What?” Genevieve asked warily.
“Oh, nothing, really. I just go by the books. It’s all a lot of bull.”
“Audrey, what the hell do you see?” Genevieve demanded.
Audrey stared up at her for a moment, then shrugged. “See your lifeline? It doesn’t stop here…but it suddenly gets very jagged.”
“What does that mean?” Bethany asked.
“Um. Well…a tremendous disruption.”
“Like what?” Bethany asked.
“Listen, like I said, it’s all a load of shit.”
“Like what?” Genevieve persisted.
Audrey shrugged unhappily. “A disruption in life…catastrophic illness—or a deadly peril. According to your palm, you’re going to face an incredible danger. And there’s a break that means you may survive it and…”
“And?” Genevieve demanded.
“And you may not.”
5
“Oh,” Audrey continued, “wait, it’s…it’s not really all that bad. It looks as if the line does continue.”
“Great,” Genevieve murmured.
“She’s not going to die and come back to life, is she?” Bethany asked.
“Bethany!” Genevieve snapped.
“I’m sorry. I’m trying to help.”
“Well, you’re not helping.”
“No, you’re not going to become a zombie,” Audrey said. “I…well, I’ve just never seen anything like that line.”
“This just gets better and better,” Genevieve said.
“It probably means nothing at all,” Audrey said with a shrug and a smile. “I’ve told you—this is just how I make my living.” She grinned. “We have ghost tours down here, too. Do you think all the guys leading those tours believe in ghosts? We’re all vulnerable to the power of suggestion. It’s how I keep ’em coming back. And if you repeat that…” She tried—and failed—to look threatening.
“Let’s have lunch soon,” Bethany suggested. “We’re not diving on Saturday. Can you meet us?”
“Sure. Let’s shoot for late afternoon. I don’t open until five on Saturday, when the tourists are filling the bars,” Audrey said. “I give my very best readings to drunks,” she assured them with a trace of wry amusement.
“Saturday, then,” Genevieve confirmed. “And, Audrey…thanks.”
“Sure. See you two then,” Audrey said.
She stood in the doorway, watching as they left.
“That was kind of stupid,” Genevieve murmured.
“Seeing Audrey?” Bethany asked.
“Seeing Audrey for five minutes,” Genevieve said. “I feel guilty.”
“And freaked out,” Bethany added.
“I’m not freaked out,” Genevieve protested.
“Well, what she said—”
“What she said was that she’s a fake,” Genevieve said sternly. “And I feel guilty for not being a better friend and keeping up.”
“We’re going to see her for lunch,” Bethany said. “And I’m getting a little worried, even if you’re not.” She held open the wrought-iron gate to the walkway so Genevieve could follow.
“That I’m cracking up—or that a ghost is after me?” Genevieve asked wearily, closing the gate behind her as they reached the street.
Then she froze.
He was there.
Thor Thompson. Casually leaning against the wall. He smiled as they saw him, nonchalantly glancing up at the sign that announced Audrey’s business.
She could have held her temper, she told herself afterward. Should have held her temper. He hadn’t said a word.
He didn’t need to. She saw the way he looked at the sign, then looked at her.
She walked up to him furiously. “You followed me,” she accused him.
He seemed a lot taller. She wasn’t short, especially in heels, but he was able to look down at her.
“We ordered your drinks for you. We didn’t know where you were. Nothing quite as bad as warm beer.”
“You followed me,” she repeated. “You son of a bitch. You had no right.”
He arched a brow. “Maybe I followed Bethany.”
“I think Bethany ought to be getting out of here right now,” Bethany said nervously. “If you’ll both excuse me—”
They turned to her simultaneously. “No.”
“Oh,” Bethany said, acutely uncomfortable.
“For your information, Mr. Thompson, we were just stopping in to say hello to an old friend from school,” Genevieve advised him. “Not that it’s any of your concern.”
He looked up at the sign again, then cast her a disdainful look. “Everything you do right now concerns me. I need you sharp and on the ball.”
“You need me sharp and on the ball? Have you forgotten something? I don’t work for you. I work for Marshall.”
“You didn’t know?” he asked.
“Know what?” she demanded.
“Your group got hired because I recommended you,” he said quietly. “Marshall and I make decisions together, sure. That’s how good work is done. But I get the final say. On everything.”
Genevieve narrowed her eyes as she stared at him. “Is that a threat?”
“I never threaten people. I take action.”
“Did you have any difficulties with me today?” she demanded.
“Not at all.”
“So why did you follow me?” she demanded again. “Never mind. But don’t do it again. I’ll quit before I’ll stand for being treated like a prisoner.”
Not a muscle twitched in his face. She was suddenly afraid the man wanted her to quit. “Don’t be melodramatic. It’s immaterial to me whether you stay on or not, but if you do
…then it’s important that you live in the real world.”
“You son of a—”
“Genevieve, whoa. Come on, you two. The others will be missing us by now,” Bethany said lightly. “This was a great day. Can’t we just be happy with that?”
“For the moment,” Thor said. His eyes hadn’t left Genevieve’s.
“Let’s go,” Bethany urged, slipping her arm through Genevieve’s.
“Right. Fine,” Genevieve said tightly.
She managed to walk a full five feet before spinning around to point a finger at him. “Stop it. Just stop it.”
“Stop what?” he demanded.
“Judging me, worrying about me, following me. Thinking that I’m crazy and dangerous and shouldn’t be on this project.”
His hands went to his hips, he tilted his head, and his jaw seemed to lock. “At the moment I’m walking behind you and that’s it. If that disturbs you so much, maybe you shouldn’t be on this project.”
“I’m better than you are. I proved it today.”
He arched a brow. “I actually found the gold,” he said quietly.
She gasped. “Of all the insufferable assholes! I led you to it. I knew where we should be digging. I’m the one who made the find.”
“Once again, I repeat, I picked it up.”
“You’re pathetic. A man of your reputation stooping to such a desperate attempt at glory.”
“I picked it up. That’s a simple fact.”
“Excuse me, but you two are both missing something. We’re working as a team here. Does it matter who actually picked up the gold?” Bethany demanded
It mattered. Oh, yes, it mattered, Genevieve thought.
“We really need to join the others,” Bethany continued. “We might have taken the first step today toward a historic discovery. Let’s go celebrate with a drink. You two can fight later, if you have to.”
“You’re right. I can fight with this asshole later,” Genevieve snapped.
To Thor’s credit, he kept his mouth shut, making Genevieve wish she’d had the control to do so, as well.
This time Bethany stepped between them, joining arms with both of them and determinedly making her way down the street.
Genevieve strode into the bar quickly. The singer was on break; the sound system was piping out something with a beat, and couples were filling the floor. Without hesitating, she headed straight for Victor, dragging him out on the floor.