“Well, we’ll find out either way.” Asher pushes the button to call the lights to change for the pedestrian crosswalk. “We’ll start by walking Dana’s route backward and see if you find her.”
I flip the page in Mom’s notes. “Alrighty then, Asher has spoken.”
Asher grins. “You made me the Brigade CEO because you want me to take charge and handle the details, right?”
I nod. “I absolutely did. And so, we start at Pete's Mercantile and work our way backward around her circuit.”
While we wait for the light to change, I close my eyes and let my spirit magic unfurl. It's like opening a sixth sense—suddenly the world shifts. Colors brighten, shadows deepen, and the veil between the living and the dead thins.
And while we walk, Asher and I tell Rowan all about our visit with Garrison Stonehoof.
“He’s damn intimidating,” Asher says.
Agreed. “Like pee your pants, intimidating.”
Rowan laughs. “So, did you?”
“Did I what?” I ask.
“Pee your pants.”
I laugh. “Thankfully, no.”
Asher points to a shopping cart sitting in front of the dollar store.
“Nope. That’s just a shopping cart.”
We round the corner and head toward the park in the middle of the town square.
“Found her.”
A translucent woman pushing an overflowing shopping cart down the sidewalk is coming through the park. She's middle-aged, wearing layers of mismatched clothes, and has a knit cap pulled low over graying hair.
Asher looks around and frowns. “Damn, I was really hoping I’d be able to see her. Do you think there’s such a thing as ghost vision goggles? If there is, I vote we invest in some so I can really help you on these missions.”
I hug his arm. “I’ll look into it. Promise.”
A lady in yoga pants walking a golden retriever passes us and gives us a friendly nod. “Chilly night.”
I tuck the collar of my jacket closer to my neck. “It is. I’m sure snow isn’t far off.”
Somebuddy and Nobuddy burst into a round of excited yipping and butt wagging. The pups greet the lady’s dog with a polite hello, and then, with the chit-chat done, we continue with our mission.
Dana has changed direction and is heading toward the other side of the park. I course-correct our group to follow her path. "Come on."
The park is quiet. There’s the woman with the dog, a few joggers using the outer trail, and a couple sitting on a bench sharing a bag of warm beer nuts from the street vendor.
Dana weaves between them, oblivious, pushing her cart along a route that’s been her life for over a decade.
I fall into step beside her, keeping my distance, letting her do her thing. “Mom said not to disturb ghosts stuck in a loop. As long as she’s happy, I’m not meant to step in.”
"What's she doing?" Asher whispers, trailing behind.
“Nothing. Just muttering to herself and pushing her cart.”
The ghost pauses near the fountain, reaches into her cart and adjusts the blanket she’s using to cover her treasures. Then she smiles contentedly and continues on.
It’s kind of sad, knowing she’s stuck replaying her last day over and over, but she doesn't seem distressed. There is a sense of peace in her movements, and purpose in her route.
