Page 29 of Ghost in the Cupboard

The “Good Guys” were never the good guys, and they were only getting worse as the years went on. Everyone had to start thinking about self-preservation and the smartest ways to make their way through life. If that made a person a jerk, that was simply too bad. Maybe, one day, when I was a ghost, I’d find out that Heaven actually existed and my choices condemned me to never getting there.

I was willing to risk it.

“If you find out the worst,” Sal chewed at her lip, “I’ll tell the cops. I won’t tell them you had anything to do with figuring it out. I’ll just let them know my suspicions and whatever you tell me.”

I stared at her.

“I know you get enough guff as it is, Si.” Sal moaned. “You feed us, often for free, you tell us the best places to sleep at night without getting caught, and you constantly act like you don’t know anything about what we’re doing if the cops come sniffing around. I know this is a lot to ask of you, but—”

“I’ll ask a few of my dependable ghosts,” I said, stopping her. “I won’t promise more than that. Fair enough?”

Sal’s face immediately lit up.

“Yes!”

I waved a tired arm at her.

“Go on, then,” I said. “The food’s getting cold and I need to help Ginny close up for the day. We’ll talk soon.”

Sal practically skipped out of The Lunch Counter, the bags bouncing at her sides. The ghost who had been following me turned to watch her bounce away, confused by the crazy woman. I shook my head and sighed, then turned to head back into the prep area of the diner.

Ginny was standing in the doorway, leaning against the jamb, her arms across her chest.

“You’re going to regret all that,” she said, shaking her head.

“I already do,” I said, laughing. “Let’s just get this place cleaned up.”