I sighed. “Because, for lack of a better way of putting it, I see dead people. I help them cross over to the other side.”
“You can?” Alice said.
I deflated into the chair. Well, it looked like the cat was out of the sack now. Why stop with only a hint of truth? Might as well keep going. “That’s why I could see the Teenybopper at the restaurant. Sometimes when spirits are near me, they become stronger. Their energy builds to the point where regular people can see them.”
“I told you,” Ruth said to Alice. “I knew there was something about her.”
“Lucky guess,” Alice said.
“Why were you at Xavier’s?” Ruth asked.
“Well, it wasn’t to steal his equipment,” I said. “But I do need his computer.” My palms were sweating. I never talked this much about myself. I rubbed them on my thighs. “Before he died, Xavier told me he received an e-mail from my boss—well, ex-boss. I was just fired from my job because I allowed a spirit to stay in our world. She had some unfinished business, wasn’t a threat—at least not to me. In a few weeks she would’ve crossed over. But that’s a big no-no in my business.”
Ruth looked shocked. “And you were fired for that?”
“Lady wanted to see her deaf daughter attend prom.”
“It’s sacrilege to be fired for something like that,” Alice said. “Even the Methodists would agree.”
“That’s what I thought too, but the woman who stole my job—”
Ruth raised her hand. “She stole your job?”
I nodded toward the tin of cookies. “Maybe I will have another shortbread.”
Ruth opened it up. “Help yourself. Alice?”
Alice adjusted her glasses. “If two will stick to my waistline, I’d hate to see what three will do to me.”
“Probably give you a heart attack,” Ruth said.
Alice skewered her with the evil eye.
I raised the cookie. “These really are delicious. See, I’m a part of a team that was started by my father. The goal is to stop unwieldy spirits from wreaking havoc by helping them see the light and transition to the other side.”
So far I felt safe. I’d told the women about the team to give me some credibility, but I hadn’t named the team directly nor anyone’s actual identity.
“My father died a few months ago.”
Ruth’s hand shot out and wrapped around my wrist. “You haven’t had time to properly mourn.”
“I’m working on it. Anyway, I applied for his old job and should’ve gotten it, but I was brushed aside for a perkier woman in a shorter skirt.”
“You wear jeans,” Alice said.
“Case in point. I don’t wear skirts. Anyway, Xavier told me that he had proof my firing had been planned months ago. It didn’t happen because I’d disobeyed orders.”
Ruth rubbed a hand over her mouth. “So you want the evidence so you can take your rightful position.”
“Right.” I slid my elbow onto the table. Yeah, I knew it wasn’t perfect manners, but I wasn’t about to let that stop me. “Ladies, I need your help. With that rope, you can help me catch Lucky Strike and I can get my life back. Alice, I can see if I can contact your daughter. No promises, but she might still be sticking around.”
My gaze flickered from one woman to the other. “So what do y’all say?”
Ruth and Alice exchanged a long look. Alice gave a slight nod. Ruth slid her hand over, palm up.
“Blissful Breneaux, it looks like you’ve got yourself a deal.”
TWELVE
