“Thanks for that.” Oliver’s expression was hard to read as he watched me. “Don’t you want to finish talking about Annemarie Scofield?”
“No. I’ve decided against her. I find it suspicious that she’s been juggled between departments the way she has.”
“That’s probably smart because she claims sexual harassment wherever she goes. It doesn’t matter if her boss is male or female. Apparently everyone wants to see her naked.”
I was appalled. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”
He shrugged. “I wanted to see if you would figure it out on your own. You did. There’s no reason to be cranky.”
“Ugh. You’re really starting to grate on me.”
“That is one of my better talents.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I offered him a half-hearted wave and headed for the door. “You need to help me go through that list Cormack sent me tomorrow. If you have information on these people, I should know it. I don’t want to risk getting the wrong person in here ... again.”
“Sure.”
I slowed my pace and arched an eyebrow. “Just like that? I expected you to fight me on it.”
“I have no intention of fighting you ... as long as you make an effort to see Braden.”
Shut the front door! He was unbelievably annoying when he wanted to be. “That’s not going to happen. He was hanging around because we had an issue that required multiple people to figure out. That’s no longer the case.”
“Are you sure? We had a woman die in a room full of kids. You felt, but didn’t see, a malevolent spirit. If that’s not an issue, I don’t know what is.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s his issue.”
“I get that. Still ... I’m betting he turns up.”
“And I’m betting he doesn’t.” I offered him another wave. “I’m out of here. I’ll check the aquarium floor on my way out. You don’t have to worry about it.”
“I’m not worried ... and Braden will be around.”
“If that’s what you need to tell yourself.”
I heard him grumble something under his breath but made a point not to acknowledge it. His insistence on trying to force the issue with Braden was so annoying I wanted to start shaking him. I understood he thought he was being funny. I felt exactly the opposite.
The aquarium was quiet and deserted. I took time to circle the area where Lauren Tate died in an effort to search for clues, but it was completely clean. I even used my magic, but there was nothing there. Whatever force blew through the room was seemingly gone ... and I was alone.
I walked to the front door to check the locks, taking a moment to stare out the window and gauge the encroaching darkness. It was staying light later these days — which was welcome — but the darkness still came early. I looked forward to the summer months when the sun wouldn’t set until after nine.
As far as I could tell, the parking lot was empty ... except for a lone vehicle near the front. It looked familiar, but I couldn’t get a clear view of it from where I stood. I thought about exiting the building to circle the car, but my inner danger alarm sparked in such a way that I immediately thought better of it.
Behind you.
We’re here.
We’ve arrived.
Look behind you.
The voices caused a shiver to course down my spine. I swiveled quickly, the hair standing up on the back of my neck. There, grouped together, hovered a variety of ghosts. Honestly, I don’t know how else to describe them. They were definitely ghosts, ethereal and almost glowing in the limited light. They stared at me. There had to be at least twenty of them. They whispered. Some knew my name, and they raised their hands in unison as if reaching for me.
I took an involuntary step back when I recognized Lauren. She stood on the far side of the group, her expression morose. Like the others, she whispered words I had trouble making out and reached toward me.
On instinct I fumbled with the lock and threw open the front door. I had every intention of racing through the opening and not stopping until I was certain I’d left the ghosts behind. That was impossible, though, because a dark figure cut off my avenue of escape. I smacked into him hard, bouncing backward with enough force that I assumed I would topple over.
The shadow, however, caught me before I could lose my balance ... and then began to laugh.
“Falling for me so soon?”
I recognized the voice and slapped at the hands, frustration bubbling up. “Braden! That’s not funny.”
“I thought it was a little funny.” He stepped into the dim lights, his handsome features practically glowing. “Miss me?”
He had to be joking. “No. I absolutely did not miss you.” I smoothed my clothes in an effort to look anywhere but his face. Then I remembered the ghosts and turned back in that direction, breathing a sigh of relief when I realized they were gone.
“You didn’t miss me even a little?” Braden challenged, his tone lazy.
When I turned back to him, I found his flirty gaze on me. He was seemingly oblivious to the terror of moments before, for which I was grateful. “No. I didn’t miss you.”
He snagged my wrist and made a face as he pressed his fingers to my pulse point. “I don’t know. Your heart is racing. I think that means you missed me.”
“And I think I was running from ghosts when I smacked into you,” I shot back. “That’s why my heart is racing.” Seriously, the nerve on him. As if my heart would race because of his proximity. Although ... it was still going relatively well given the fact that I’d started to calm down. Still, I blamed the ghosts. It had nothing to do with him.
“Ghosts?” Braden arched an eyebrow. “What ghosts?”
“I ... they were in there.” I gestured toward the aquarium. “I don’t know what they were doing there. Heck, I haven’t seen ghosts since I got here. They’re a little more prevalent in the French Quarter than they are in this area.”
“There shouldn’t be ghosts if the reapers are doing their jobs.”
“Nobody is infallible.”
“Yeah, well ... .” He moved his hand to my back and started rubbing. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I was simply caught off guard.”
“Hmm.” I couldn’t quite decide how he meant the sound he was making as he walked into the aquarium. His gaze was keen as he searched the room, but after a few minutes he turned back to me. I didn’t miss the question in his eyes. “Do you think it has something to do with the death this afternoon?”
That was a good question. “I don’t know. But ... one of the ghosts did look a lot like the dead teacher. I didn’t get close enough to ask her any questions or anything because it was weird how they were beckoning to me, but I’m pretty sure it was her.”
He frowned. “Beckoning to you?”
I reenacted how they moved their arms and gestured for me to join them. “They did it in unison, and it was creepy. I freaked out ... and that’s why I was going out the front door.”
“So, you’re saying you really weren’t excited to see me.” He almost looked sad at the prospect.
“I was happy not to be alone, if that helps.”