Alice pulled her coat back on. “But I’m the one who thought it up. Besides, I can work it in while I’m selling them a pair of baby booties.”
“Great idea.” Ruth swiveled to me. “Blissful?”
My mind had been consumed with things other than bodies. I blinked at her. “Yes?”
“Does that sound good to you?”
I smiled. “It sounds great. Now get out of here. I’ll catch up with the two of you later.”
When they were gone, I shut the door and exhaled, pressing my back to the wood. The fact that my skin could register the cold and hardness of the door wasn’t lost on me.
Thank goodness I was alive and not a ghost, haunting some house.
Speaking of haunted houses—
I showered, dressed and set out for the Jarvis place. I had questions, and that home held the answers.
SIX
“Ican’t let you in here, Blissful.”
So my great and awesome plans went awry when I ran into Kency Blount. Figured she’d be around to screw up my own personal clairvoyant investigation.
“Why not?”
The sheriff stood on one side of the door—the side that led into the house—and I stood on the other—the one that exposed me to all the elements. Considering it was winter, I was highly exposed to the frigid temperatures in Alabama that had dipped well into the forties.
Kency glared at me as if I was as dense as a canned ham. “Because this is a murder investigation.”
“I’m the one who found the body.”
“And for that I’m grateful.”
“Do you know who she is yet?”
“We’re still working on it.”
Aha!My in. “What if I told you that I could get her name? All I need is to come inside for a few minutes.”
Kency’s head dipped to the right. “How stupid do you think I am?”
Is that a trick question?“I don’t. But I helped you find her. No. Wait. I found her because the spirit showed me her body. If I could get a name, how much do you think that would help?”
“It wouldn’t.” She stared at me with cold eyes. Kency didn’t want me anywhere near her investigation. I knew that. But a promise like a name was too much for even this ice queen to pass up.
“You and I both know the public is going to want that name. They’ll want it something fierce. If you could deliver it the very next day, wow! You would be the star of the town. I can smell re-election in your future.”
“You really burn my butt, you know that?”
“Better your butt than somewhere else.”
She grimaced. Kency stared at me hard enough to melt me into a puddle. But then she sighed and backed away. “Come in.” She stopped. “Don’t touch anything. Don’t evenbreatheon anything.”
I raised my hands in surrender. “I wasn’t planning on it. I may actually have to breathe, you know, so that I can survive while I’m in here.”
She rolled her eyes. “Just don’t be dramatic about it.”
“Promise.”
