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“Sounds like a taco dream,” Nettie says, digging out a bill for him. “I’ll take three dozen.”
“I’ll take two,” Bess says.
“And I’ll take whatever you can bring back,” I tell him. “I can’t move a muscle.”
Nettie wags her money at him and he shakes his head.
“It’s on me,” he says. “I’ll let you get it next time, Nettie.”
“I’ve heard that before.” She jabs her money into the pocket of her pink and white muumuu just as Ransom jogs off. “And those words are usually followed up by a trip to the fanciest restaurant in a ten-mile radius.” She looks my way. “Your boyfriend is a real schmooze. Speaking of schmoozes, who’s our first suspect?”
I wince at the two women by my side. “Technically, I’ve already spoken to my first suspect.” I give them a quick rundown on what happened last night at the hot tub with both Ransom One, Ransome Two, and Jane Hunt.
“You saw a ghost?” Bess sits up in haste, causing the giant straw hat on her head to go crooked.
“A hot ghost who you gave a lap dance to?” Nettie looks envious of the thought.
“I didn’t give him a lap dance,” I’m quick to say. “Not on purpose anyway. And I have no clue who he is—or if he’s related to Ransom or the case.”
“A denim suit…” Bess tips her head to the side. “I bet he died in the seventies. Maybe he’s Ransom’s grandfather?”
“Or just some hot look-alike looking for a little celestial action,” Nettie says as her shoulders sag. “Why can’t you send one of those naughty disembodied hotties my way? I’d like to have a little fun, too, you know.”
“Believe me, we know,” Bess says. “And the dead probably know it, too. That’s exactly why they’re wisely keeping their distance.” She looks my way. “So who’s next with your investigation?”
“I think I’ll talk to Nadine one more time and see if I can make any headway with what secrets either Julia or Jane might have had or still have.”
“What about the ghost?” Nettie asks. “It seems to me we have two mysteries to solve. When do you think he’ll come around again?”
“I don’t know.” I think on it a moment. “The first time I saw him was before Julia was murdered, then again after. And then I saw him again last night in the hot tub with Jane.”
“Ah-ha!” Nettie claps her hands. “So he is connected to the case. I bet he’s the killer.”
“No, no,” Bess contests. “I bet he’s connected to the case in the traditional sense—as in he’s the ghost the universe sent down to help solve the case. The next time you see him, ask how he knew Julia.”
“I will if I see him,” I tell her. “But after the verbal beating I gave him, I doubt he’ll have the nerve to show his ghostly face again.”
She shrugs. “If he was sent on a mission to help solve this case, he may not have a choice.”
“I’d better get in my thinking chair,” Nettie says, hopping onto that hot pink innertube of hers and taking a seat. “That’s better.” She taps her temple. “And it works like a charm. I’ve got an idea to end all ideas.”
Bess cuts a glance my way. “Please don’t ask.”
“At this point, I feel obligated,” I say. “I do have two mysteries on my hands. Go ahead, Nettie.”
“Okay, girls, this is what we do.” She leans in and that gray tumbleweed sitting on her head lobs forward. “We get close to our next suspect, aka Nadinie Weenie, and once the poltergeist shows up on the scene, Trixie, you haul him away and shake him down within an inch of his afterlife and find out why he’s wearing your boy toy’s face. Use your womanly wiles if you have to.” She glances at my yellow one-piece. “Maybe put a little effort into it, would ya? And while you’re squeezing the haunted hunk for all he’s worth, Bess and I will shake a few secrets out of our new friend.”
“If that friend is Nadine, then no thank you. Ransom is right. I can’t put either of you in harm’s way.”
“Please,” Bess says. “I’m old enough to decide whose way I get into.”
“And I’m a traffic jam waiting to happen,” Nettie says. “We’re big girls. We can take care of ourselves.”
“Okay, fine,” I say. “But if anything happens, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Ransom comes back and we dive into a shrimp taco festival that our collective palates are more than pleased with.
Bess, Nettie, and I are about to do a little ghost hunting, and with a little luck we just might track down a killer, too.
