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“No, you misunderstand. We’re not doing this for your help. We’re helpingyou,” the man answered.
Anastacia turned from the door back to them. “Helping me?”
“We weren’t following you to send a message to our family or leave something at a graveside. We don’t have any regrets other than taking the freeway that day. You do good in this world. You helped that girl and her poor mother.” A warm feeling of appreciation washed over Anastacia from the woman’s grin.
“We heard the man at the hospital and what he was going to do to you. We also heard the other man he was in contact with. Hewillfind another way. We came to warn you that this isn’t over.” The man finished for them both.
“I didn’t think for a second it was.” She shook her head and smiled sadly at the two spirits. “You both stayed to help me? After you were dead?”
“We were always sticking our noses into trouble when we were alive, so why should death stop us? It seemed like you needed more help from just the one spirit you were with before. Where is he, anyway?” the woman asked.
“Gone.” The simple word stuck in her throat. Anger and sadness threatened to rise again. Clearing them away with a slight cough, she continued, “The apartment can wait.”
“It’s not a bother—” the woman started again.
“It is if cleaning an apartment is delaying your ever after.” Anastacia forced a bright smile toward the woman. “It’s not hurting anyone to leave it as it is. I have things I need to finish.”
“Are you going to be okay?”
“I will be. I’ve got to face it.” Anastacia wet her lips as questions danced at the tip of her tongue. “You didn’t happen to hear anything specific about the man’s plans, did you?”
“Specific, no. The short one who tried to track you down kept arguing on the phone. Something about a mean spirit tracking him. He didn’t think it was safe for him to finish you off, so he wanted to leave.” The man scratched at his thinned hair as he tried to remember the conversations. “The one on the other side of the phone, the one in charge, he was like a dog with a bone. He wanted you gone. He laid out a few ways for the short man to do it, but refused to do it himself. Besides that, nothing substantial.”
“I see.”
“It didn’t take long for the man in charge to know you were missing. You and the other spirit just left the hospital when he came back in, phone to his ear. The short one fell down a flight of stairs and hasn’t woken up yet.” The woman recollected. She stared at the man, and they shared a smile like it hid a secret only they knew. He nodded and she turned back to Anastacia. “We can always see about doing more recon for you—”
The couple squinted as a light formed behind them.
Anastacia knew this was their last stop. She wouldn’t stop them from going on, risking their pure souls falling into darkness. With a heavy sigh, Anastacia shook her head in response to her offer. “I think you’re needed elsewhere. I’ll be careful. And you two... thank you for poking your noses into this. Even if it wasn’t your unfinished business.”
“It felt like it was your friend’s. We couldn’t leave it like it was. Even we could see how much you meant to him.”
As the couple held hands and turned into the light, Anastacia strained to peer into it past them. There was nothing there other than more light. No other forms standing behind them, nor a kingdom of golden streets and clouds. The brightness became blinding, forcing Anastacia to cast her eyes to the ground where she watched the feet of the souls fade away. She blinked, unsure if the sunspots would diminish quickly or not. Anastacia noticed the space where the spirits had been was now occupied by her large umbrella, leaning against the counter, where it hadn’t been moments before.
Gratitude lifted her lips into a smile as she picked it up.
On the floor, crumpled next to her overturned desk was a copy of the newspaper with the article about Mel’s murder face up on the page.
“Screw it. I’m doing this even if it kills me.”
Stillascoldandempty as it was earlier in the morning, Mel’s apartment was her only choice. She had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that nowhere would be safe for her, in New Orleans or otherwise, until Knight and anyone on his payroll were behind bars. There was no statute of limitation for murder. She would always be a danger to Knight.
Before doing anything else, she made sure the salt borders stayed in place, checking the corner at the back of the kitchen last. Her stomach grumbled loudly. Knowing there were plenty of ramen noodles still in the cupboards along with ravioli and Spaghetti-Os, an unusual thought popped into her head.
“It’s been a while since I’ve treated myself. Maybe I need to do a little dining out and catch up with a friend.”
A large gust of air brushed at her back. She spun in place to catch whatever spirit followed her. There was nothing there. Just an empty hallway leading to the front door.
Despite her years of horror movies, knowing the supernatural killer or slasher could be in the next room over, she called out through the apartment, “Hello? Is someone there?”
Following a compulsion, she walked toward the decorative mirror that hung between the kitchen and hallway. All color drained from her reflection as she spotted something dark and undefined in the silver-framed mirror. When she turned to find it behind her, there was nothing there. Staring at it for only a moment, her chest filled with a feeling similar to being given a warm hug. Trembling fingers reached to touch the glass, but the spot was gone before her fingers could make contact.
Tearing herself away from the mirror, she ignored the pull to connect with whatever it was, shaking it off as the desperate want for someone to be there. She pulled her bag back over her shoulder, casting one last glance to the mirror before rushing out the door and weaving her way through the streets toward the Quarter.
Deblous Manor was just as impressive as the first time Anastacia saw it. The multiple-story building held its towering demeanor as stately as its owner. Most of the windows on the second floor had their curtains drawn. The dinner rush was over an hour away, but the bustle outside of the front doors would have suggested otherwise. Two cop cruisers stationed outside of the building were huge hints this visit was not as social as they had been in the past. A few uniformed officers flanked the side of Knight as he argued loudly with the hostess who had manned the podium during their visit before.
Knight leaned closer to the woman with every syllable he yelled. All the while, she kept her arms crossed over her chest, eyes set on his, not amused in the least.
