Dead Companions: A Jess and Libby Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Afterlife Issues Book 1) by A.W. Hartoin

Author:A.W. Hartoin [Hartoin, A.W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

I ran up the front stairs of Number Eight with the folder clutched to my chest and my poor umbrella getting turned inside out from the wind. I tried to bend it back once I was on the shelter of the porch, but it refused to flip back, so I tossed it aside and ran in to find Leo Pereyra standing next to the newel post with his arms crossed and one foot tapping.

“Where have you been?” he demanded. “Where’s the hot toddy supplies?”

“I forgot.”

“You had one job.”

I peeled off my coat and said, “You sound like my dad.”

“Jess is in there, broken-hearted and all alone.”

“Is she awake?”

He looked down his perfect nose at me. “I don’t think so.”

“Then why are you yelling?”

“I’m not yelling.”

“Sounds like yelling.”

Leo scowled and raised his voice. “This is yelling.”

I looked over at the furious ghost and checked my fear level. Nope. Nothing. I guess once you’ve had a wrench-swinging madman going after you with his companion spewing blood from his severed arm, a hot ghost with a bone to pick wasn’t so intimidating.

“Sorry,” I said.

“That is not convincing.”

I imitated Mariah and assumed the ultimate bored posture. “Really sorry.”

“You are not sorry,” said Leo.

“Now you’re gettin’ it.”

“Where were you?”

The living room door opened and Jess stepped out, wearing a frown and wrapped in the afghan. “What is going on?”

“Leo’s mad at me,” I said with a laugh.

Jess’s frown turned to puzzlement. “Why?”

“I went out.” I tossed my wet stuff on the chair and sashayed past him toward the kitchen.

“Stop,” Leo bellowed, and I froze.

“What’s wrong?” Jess asked. “What happened?”

I turned around, not knowing what to expect. Leo was a ghost, after all. Maybe he could be like those guys at the shoe factory. It hadn’t occurred to me before, but it was definitely occurring to me then.

When I saw Leo’s face, it wasn’t terrifying anger that I saw. It was just plain terrified.

“You were at the shoe factory,” he said in a shaky voice.

“Um…”

“I can smell them on you.”

I wrinkled my nose and then sniffed. “Ew. What?”

Jess dashed over to me and sniffed. “What? I don’t smell anything.”

“She was at the shoe factory,” said Leo.

“How do you know?” I asked.

Leo’s face flushed, somehow making him more handsome than ever. “What happened? What did they do?”

“Why were you over there?” Jess asked. “Who are they?”

I held up the folder. “I went for information on the house. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“You left the accounting section,” said Leo.

“Which part’s the accounting section?” I asked.

“The safe part. What did they do?”

“I’m fine,” I said.

“They came after you. I can smell it.”

And pop, he was gone.

“Leo?” I called out. “Leo? It’s fine. I swear.”

Jess took my arm. “What in the world was that about?”

“I don’t smell, right?”

Jess sniffed me. “You forgot deodorant again, but I don’t think that’s what he was talking about.”

I sniffed my pit. “What is wrong with me? Deodorant’s easy. Get up. Put on deodorant. How do I forget that?”

Jess grabbed my arm. “What is going on?”

“Oh, well, I might’ve seen a couple more ghosts,” I said.

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