He gaped at her. “I don’t know what to say except what Mallory already said. We’re terribly sorry. There will be no charge for today, and we’ll be glad to retake the shoot whenever you like.”
“Is she going to be the one taking the pictures?” The woman zipped up her son’s jacket, and he started to cry.
Bailey glanced at Mallory. “She’s my usual photographer, but I have a part-timer coming on soon.”
Mallory didn’t know anything about a new hire.
The woman hoisted a huge diaper bag over her shoulder. “I’ll set up an appointment after you have a new employee.”
Mallory had to make nice with this woman. “When I have the proofs—”
“I’ll call you,” her boss interjected.
“Fine. I never want to see her again.” The woman swung the toddler up into her arms and marched off.
“What the hell happened while I was at lunch?” Bailey asked.
“I…uh…”
“Yeah. You said that a couple of times now. Can you give me a better explanation?”
Mallory fidgeted. “Not really. I saw someone out of the corner of my eye, thought it was the father or grandfather, and spoke with him about how much the kid looked like him.”
“And who were you speaking to?”
“Apparently, the father’s spirit. When I turned back, he wasn’t there.”
“Let me get this straight. You spoke to the child’s father, who you thought was there in the flesh, and yet he disappeared in the time it took to glance away.”
“Yes.”
“So were you talking to…a ghost?”
“Apparently.”
“Have you seen ghosts before?”
Mallory focused on her shoes and kicked at the floor. “Yes. A couple of times.”
Bailey was silent for a while. “And you can’t tell the difference between someone who’s actually there and a spirit? Like…you can’t see through them or anything?”
“No. I mean yes. I mean no, I can’t tell. Yes, I can’t see through them.”
“She said you called him by name. How did you know his name?”
“The man said to call him Mike.”
“So you heard as well as saw whatever it was?”
“Yes.”
“Can you see him now?”
“No.” After a brief hesitation, she filled in what would probably be his next question. “He left with the woman and her child.”
“Just now, while I was standing here.”
“Yes.”
