Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Jessica Arden

Author:Jessica Arden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wayfarer

Twenty-Six

Six o’clock could not come fast enough.

When it was finally stakeout time, I was still turning over Valerie’s visit and possible Voodoo doll connection. Armed with cherry Slurpees, Red Vines, cheesy puffs for me, and watermelon and hedgehog treats for Auguste, I pulled my Prius to the curb a few houses down from Nick Ortega’s house for my first stakeout.

I’d summoned my Grandma Magnolia and Moisha as soon as I pulled up, so they could get in on the action, but so far they hadn’t made an appearance. I guess it wasn’t like I could expect them to be at my beck and call at all hours of the day. Who knew what important ghost duties and plans of their own they had in the afterlife?

I pulled on my aviator glasses and set up a plate with watermelon slices for Auguste on the dashboard. He took a tour of the front windshield, sniffing along before tucking into his dinner. Ines gave me a listening device, a small silver disk about the size of a key fob battery with tiny wire transmitters. I had no idea if I could get it close enough to Nick’s house without being seen, but it was good to have, just in case.

Nick’s house was shotgun style, typical of the houses in Uptown, with a narrow front and long back portion. A porch and stoop wrapped in cream-colored slats fronted the grey building. An ancient live oak shrouded the place in secrets, and its roots pushed up parts of the sidewalk.

Hudson, who’d refused to let me pick him up for whatever reason, probably because he didn’t want me to know where he lived, sauntered up from behind, also in dark glasses, and climbed in the passenger seat.

“Hey,” he said. His hair glistened, probably still wet from a shower, and the freshly cut wood scent of his cologne infused the air.

I tensed. “Hey.”

“What on earth is that?” Hudson nearly jumped out of his seat at the sight of Auguste nibbling at his watermelon on the dash.

“Who is zis uncouth creature?” Auguste said.

I laughed. This was going to be fun.

“Hudson, this is my talking hedgehog, Auguste. Auguste, this is Hudson, my official ghost detective mentor, for this case only.”

“And don’t forget, your cad of an ex-boyfriend,” Auguste added. He sniffed, and I could swear he frowned in Hudson’s general direction.

“And that, yes,” I said.

Hudson’s eyes widened, and he looked like he wasn’t sure whether to be amused or offended. “Um, nice to meet you?”

“I’d say it was a pleasure to meet you, but that fact remains to be seen.” Auguste went back to munching noisily on his fruit.

“So, when did you pick up this delightful talking hedgehog?” Hudson asked. He snagged a licorice vine from the center console.

“A little under four years ago.” After you left, I added silently. “But the talking part only started this week.”

Auguste made a tsking sound. “What did I tell you? The listening part only started this week.”

“What, you didn’t get a talking animal companion out of this deal?” I asked Hudson.

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