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Kiki nodded. “She had routine surgery about a week ago. At least they told us it was routine. She made it through okay. But apparently there were complications after the fact.”
“But you don’t think that’s what actually happened?”
“I don’t know what happened.” Kiki leaned back in her chair with a huff. “One minute, she was fine. Like, completely fine. The next? She crashed. They can’t tell us anything other than her heart gave out.”
“She had a lot of surgeries.” Jason’s voice was gentle. “I wouldn’t be shocked if that were the case.”
Cassie remembered the woman from her dream. The one who had been resting—maybe not peacefully—before the ghost of the doctor had pulled her from her own body. She had no idea what hospital the woman had been in. It could’ve been back in Savannah. Or it could’ve been here in New Orleans. Or anywhere in between.
“Cassie?” Kiki’s gaze flicked to Jason, and Cassie realized that while Kiki had figured out she was psychic, she couldn’t possibly know if that was information Cassie’d shared with Jason. “You looked a little lost there for a second.”
“Can I see a picture of Jasmine?”
Kiki pulled out her phone, tapped on the screen a few times, then held it out. “This is her Instagram.”
Cassie took the device. Jasmine had a natural glow about her. In nearly every photo, her head tipped back in laughter. There were dozens of pictures with her sister. Even pictures of her in the hospital. She didn’t try to hide it. She wasn’t ashamed.
Kiki moved to sit by Cassie on the couch. “She was like that in person, too.” Kiki pointed to a picture of herself standing between Jasmine and Dionne. “Jazz was always laughing. She had the most reasons to be mad at the world, but she always had her next joke lined up. She kept the rest of us humble.”
“She sounds amazing.” Cassie handed the phone back. “I had a dream on the plane ride down here. A woman in the hospital. She was asleep, but she looked sick.” Cassie paused. It still sounded strange to say it out loud. “Then the ghost of a doctor pulled her spirit right out of her body. She died, just like that. It wasn’t Jasmine, but I’d imagine it could look the same. One minute, she was fine. The next minute, she was dead.”
The room was silent. Cassie risked glancing over at Jason. He had his eyebrows pinched together in concentration. “What does it mean?” he asked.
“I’m not sure.” Cassie didn’t want to make any major leaps, but she usually had dreams for a reason. “It could mean I’m supposed to help this woman move on. Give her family some answers. Or it could mean I need to figure out if a ghost is killing people.”
Kiki didn’t look fazed by the conversation. “I know it’s a lot to ask—”
Jason stiffened next to Cassie. “No.”
“—but will you help us?”
“Kiki.” Jason’s voice was sharp. Disappointed. “Cassie has enough on her plate. That’s a lot to ask someone.”
Kiki met his gaze. Cassie was once again reminded of how formidable she’d be in court. “You could help, too, you know. It’s not like you don’t have experience with this stuff.”
Cassie looked between the two of them. “What experience?”
Kiki folded her arms as if to say go on, tell her.
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. “I used to be an investigator. When I was an MP. I’m good at talking to people. Getting them to open up.” There was pain in his voice. He didn’t look proud. “I know my way around a crime scene.”
“But this is your cousin. It’s different. Harder.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.” Jason’s words were clipped. “Not a cousin. Someone else. Someone I was close to.”
A friend? Cassie wondered. A girlfriend? A partner?
“What if it’s not a conspiracy, and Jasmine’s heart really did just give out? And what if it’s not, and someone murdered her?” Cassie thought of David. Of what waited for her when she got back home. “What if you learn her death wasn’t an accident, but you can never bring that person to justice?”
Kiki’s eyes brimmed with tears, but she didn’t let them fall. “I need to know the truth. One way or another. Jay, you know I wouldn’t ask. I wouldn’t put you in that position. But this is Jazz.”
“I know.” Jason’s eyes were watery, too. He set his jaw. “I can go to the hospital to
morrow. Ask around. I’m sure somebody knows something they didn’t tell us.”
“Stacey still works there,” Kiki offered. “She was on call when it happened.”
Jason bobbed his head. Turned to Cassie. “Her brother and I went to college together.”
