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“The state. As I mentioned, the house has become an eyesore. A neighbor made a few calls.” She shrugged. “It’s affecting property values on the street. Something has to be done. There’s no mortgage, so it isn’t bank owned. Just a deed in the name of Bruce Huang.”
“Did the owner leave any heirs?” I had experience tracking lost heirs. In fact, it had been my job in London. Nowthatwas a favor I could do without revealing too many of my talents.
“No heirs that we’ve found. No will that anybody knows of either. Once we can get inside and confirm the owner’s death, we can start the proceedings so that the state can acquire the property.”
“Sounds like there should be a lawyer involved.”
She flashed a confident smile. “I’m barred in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. I have my real estate license in all three states as well.”
Talk about an overachiever. No wonder they called her Big Boss.
Her gaze drifted away from the cemetery. “On a side note, if you’re interested in fixing up the moat, I know a guy.”
Ray rubbed his hands together. “Ooh, she must really want your help.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You know a moat guy?” That seemed unlikely for this country, as well as this century.
Fatima waved a hand airily. “He’s an architect who specializes in water features for the rich and famous.”
“Then he’s too expensive for me.”
She regarded me for a moment. “Maybe we can cut a deal.”
Oh, no. This was how I got involved in the search for Ashley Pratt. Her brother Steven repaired my ancient computer so it could live to reboot another day. In exchange, I helped locate his sister.
“Why would the architect do a favor for you?” I asked.
“Because I gave him his first big client that boosted his profile. He owes me.” She removed a business card from her purse and handed it to me with the swish of her wrist. “Be a ghostbuster on the Thoreau Street house, and I’ll make sure your moat is taken care of.”
Ray whistled. “That’s a good deal, Lorelei. You should take it.”
The moat was a big job. An expensive job. I’d entertained dreams of using it as a lazy river, riding around on the back of a blowup swan. Black, of course.
“All I need to do is get you inside the house and confirm the owner is deceased?” I asked.
“And relocate any lingering presence that might be unwilling to vacate the premises. You have experience with that sort of thing, I take it?”
I could relocate ghosts in my sleep. A five-minute job for a moat instead of a mosquito-infested swamp? I’d be a fool to turn it down, and Pops didn’t raise any fools.
“Tell her you’ll do it,” Ray urged.
I kept my gaze on Fatima. “I’ll do it.”
CHAPTER2
The house on Thoreau Street wasn’t quite the eyesore I expected based on Fatima’s description. Aside from an overgrown lawn, weeds in the flowerbeds, and moss on the roof, nothing stood out as particularly egregious. Then again, my standards probably weren’t as exacting as others.
I met Fatima in the driveway, where she glanced at my T-shirt and jeans. “Shouldn’t you have a special backpack or something?”
“I’m not a ghostbuster from the movies,” I said. “There’s no green slime.”
She pressed a hand to her chest. “Thank goodness for that. Slime is hard to clean, as any parent of a toddler will tell you.” Fatima headed toward her car.
“Aren’t you coming in with me?” I called after her.
Hurriedly she opened her car door. “I have a business meeting in the city. Text me when you’re done, and let me know how it goes.”
Her panicked facial expression told me the meeting was a lie. For somebody who didn’t believe in ghosts, she sure seemed freaked out. There was no point in pushing the issue. I worked better alone anyway.
