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“Sorry, man,” Will says to Travis.
“I can’t believe she talked you into this.”
Will shrugs.
“But you have to admit, it worked, sort of,” I say. “Now we know how Paco got into the building before Abby, and how Derrick’s fingerprints got on the doorknob.”
“Which in the long run, doesn’t change squat,” says Travis. “Abby died of a heart attack. Case closed. You got all these people riled up for nothing.”
Brittany spins around to face me. “I hope you enjoyed making me look like a fool. I thought you were my friend. You could have told me your plan. I would have gone along with it. But instead… I even stood up for you! I have no idea why you dislike me so much, Lucy. Ever since kindergarten you’ve had it out for me. Well, I’m through trying.” She sniffs like she’s holding back tears, then runs out the door.
Will gives me a look that makes my heart break. He wants to follow her, but he doesn’t want to hurt my feelings. I don’t want him to have to choose between Brittany and me, so I’ll choose for him.
“It’s okay. Go find her. I’ll get my own ride home.”
“I’ll make sure Miss Misdemeanor gets home safely,” Travis says.
“Thanks.” Before Will leaves he turns to give me the we’ll talk later look. I can practically feel the disappointment dripping off him.
I feel awful. Everyone is mad at me. It’s like the day Mrs. Jackson accused me of taking the paintbrushes. All I wanted to do was help, but now I’m suddenly the bad guy.
Travis ma
kes that growly sound in his throat that I’m beginning to get way too familiar with. “I know I’m going to regret this, but can you tell me what in hell you thought you were going to accomplish here tonight?”
“I thought I could get to the bottom of how Abby really died, so I had Gloria and the rest of the Sunshine Ghost Society arrange a séance to bring Abby back. And it worked. Sort of.”
We stand there staring at each other. It occurs to me that we’re alone.
“You’re dangerous, you know that?” His dragon green eyes bore into me. Right now, he feels kind of dangerous too, but in a totally delicious way.
For one crazy second, I swear Travis is going to kiss me.
Instead, he clears his throat and reaches over to turn off the lights. “C’mon. I’ll take you home. I got a city to patrol.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
It’s Friday morning. Exactly one week ago today, I was happily serving customers, talking up the big rec center celebration and thinking about my Annette Funicello costume. The biggest worry on my mind was how high to tease up my hair and perfecting my mango coconut muffin recipe.
Boy. What a difference a week makes.
In Beach Blanket Bingo, the bad guys get their due, the surfers win the day, and Frankie and Annette end up together. But this isn’t a Hollywood sixties beach flick. It’s real life, and even though it’s barely been ten hours since the séance broke up, just about everyone in Whispering Bay has heard about last night’s debacle.
The whole town hates me.
Well, except Betty Jean, who thinks I’m a hoot.
“I knew you were the right person to invite to join our book club!” She leans into the counter. “Everyone in the club wanted to blackball you after they heard about how you tricked Victor, but personally, I think we need your kind of spunky blood! Yep. I can’t wait to hear your take on the latest book. Have you gotten to chapter fourteen yet? It’s my favorite. If you know what I mean,” she says with a wink.
This is another way that my life has changed. Last week, the thought of joining Betty Jean’s book club would have made me giggle. Now, all I can do is humbly nod and be grateful that at least someone in town wants my company. Someone besides Sarah that is. But she’s my partner, so she has to like me.
The old Lucy might have lied and told Betty Jean that she’d already read the book or fake her way through the book club discussion, but I’ve changed my ways. No more lies for me. From now on, I’m going to be one hundred percent honest with everyone. No matter the consequences.
“I’m sorry, I haven’t had a chance to read the book yet, Betty Jean, but I promise, I will.”
“Okay,” she warns. “But make sure you do. I can always tell when someone hasn’t read the book. Oh, and bring muffins. Lots of them.”
“Sure thing.” I fill her order and look up to see the next person in line.
