I shook my head. “That’s not enough time. We’ll have to split up.”
Alice gasped. “You said we’d do it together.”
“I know what I said, but we’re not only looking for the knife that cut off Ruth’s jacket but we need hard evidence that paints one of the women as the killer.”
Alice frowned. “Have you figured out how Devlin erased the camera image?”
I groaned. “No, I haven’t. Sorry. I’ll work on that today.” I glanced at my watch. It was almost time to meet Tart and Owen. “Oh. I’ve gotta run. Lunch date with the parents.”
“Oh?” Alice smiled. “You’re getting to know your family?”
I slid an arm into my jacket. “I have the feeling they want to talk to me about something.”
Ruth rubbed her face. She looked weary, tired. I guessed all the stress of the investigation was eating at her. “You have fun. We’ll see you back here later.”
I said goodbye and left. As soon as I stepped onto the sidewalk, a cold shiver swept down my spine. I glanced to my right.
Francine floated beside me. “What a glorious day, wouldn’t you say, Blissful?”
I nodded slightly. I hated when spirits spoke to me in public. It wasn’t as if I could carry on a conversation with them without looking like a schizophrenic.
Luckily there was an easy fix. I pulled my cell phone from my pocket. “Did you discover something?”
“Oh, darling, did I ever.” Her gravelly voice took on a velvety quality. “I’ve been watching that man of yours. I tell you, he’s doing great with his training.”
Anger twisted my gut. “You’re not supposed to be spying on him.”
“I couldn’t help it. He’s so handsome. But that isn’t why I’m here.”
“It’s not? Then please tell me you’ve discovered who killed Cora. That would be perfect.”
Francine threw her head back and laughed. “No, darling. Not that simple.”
I reached Grandma’s Ghostly Kitchen and opened the door. The ghost of Grandma stood in the entrance waving and greeting folks.
I could see and hear her, of course, so I gave her a quick smile and nod.
I told the hostess I was meeting people, and she led me through the dining room, past a roaring fire. I spotted my parents. They were deep in conversation and hadn’t noticed me.
Roan wasn’t with them, but I guess I couldn’t have everything.
Francine cleared her throat. “You’re meeting them, I suppose.”
“Yes,” I said into my phone.
Francine’s body whipped down to my sneaker. “Oh look, your shoe is untied. Better fix that before you trip over it.”
I glared at her but stopped at the fire. I hiked my foot onto the hearth and bent over, shouldering the phone to my ear.
“Why’d you untie my shoe?”
“Because,” Francine purred, “I’m not sure you know what you’re getting yourself into with those two.”
I scoffed. “What are you talking about? They’re my biological parents.”
Francine quirked a perfectly tweezed brow. “Are you sure?”
My heart stuttered against my rib cage. “Of course I’m sure. Why?”
