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“So,” she begins, and I watch as she gulps a little, “you have a ghost then. Are you sure it’s Neil Wordon?”
I head to the couch and pick up the picture I took from the wall. Passing it to her, I explain, “It was him. I saw him. I know what I saw, and it was him.”
She curses as she studies the picture. “Did you call the cops? You do have the sheriff’s number.”
“No!” I nearly shout.
She flicks her gaze back up to mine. “Why not?”
“What would I tell Sheriff Smith? That I saw his dead brother out in the pasture, hanging out with the roses? Oh, and he was in the house, watching me shower? And he’s leaving rose petals for me to find?”
It can’t be a coincidence that the rose petal was on his picture, and a few seconds later, I saw him standing by the roses. I know it was him that was bringing me the petals. It's a sick and twisted game, even for a dead guy.
“I don’t understand the rose petals,” she mumbles as she studies the pictures again.
“Ghosts like attention? Right?”
She shrugs and sets the picture back on the couch. “Yeah, I mean, why else would they make themselves known in weird ways?”
“Right.” I nod fiercely. “I just won’t give him the attention he wants.”
She twists her lips a little, considering her next words. “You should try to find out what he wants.”
“No!”
Gently, she takes my hand. “Tegan. . .”
I shake my head. “I left Chicago to get away from death, Tori. I left to change my life, so I will not be asking the ghost what he wants from me.”
She scowls and drops my hand. “So you’re just going to ignore him?”
“Yes.” I nod. “With any luck, he’ll get bored with me.”
She giggles, but there’s zero humor in it. “Right.”
“I mean it, Tori,” I add with determination. “I’m sorry he died, but I won’t be engaging with him.”
“You should really tell the cops,” she whispers.
“Not going to happen.” I remember how the sheriff treated me when I suggested the place was haunted. Iwon’t be making that mistake again. “They’d think the new girl is crazy.”
“Yeah, but maybe they could get some sort of priest or something to bless the house. And who knows, maybe somehow it’ll help their investigation.”
I point a finger at her. “That’s if they believe me and don’t lock me up instead. Somehow, I don’t think the sheriff will be happy when I tell him I saw his brother’s ghost.”
She wrinkles her nose. “No, probably not.” With a sigh, her shoulders deflate. “I’m sure I have something to ward off spirits at the shop. Somewhere in one of the boxes. If I can find it, you can have it.”
“Really?” I ask hopefully.
She nods. “We can look for it in the morning when you come in.”
I close my eyes and breathe a sigh of relief. When I open them, she has a little smile on her face. “Thank you, Tori. I mean it.” I don’t believe much in the Wiccan nature of things, nor do I believe much in an almighty God, but who am I to knock something that could possibly help me?
Her smile turns sympathetic, and she reaches to squeeze my elbow. “Anything to help. I’m going to go home and try to get some sleep.” She wraps her arms around her middle, a little unsure as she glances around the living room. “You should try to too.”
I shake my head. “There’s no way I’m going back to sleep. Besides, it’s nearly morning.”
“What are you going to do instead?” she asks with a cock of her head.
