Page 37 of Ghost Walk
Jamie made a thoughtful face. “At least Lucinda had fun before she passed. She enjoyed her short life. That’s something, I suppose.” He searched his memory for a beat. “Hell if I know anybody with the initials HC, though. Well, Old Howard Carlyle, perhaps, but he was eighty if he was a day.Doubt Lucinda would fancy him.”
“Well, it had to besomeone. Just give me a couple hours to recover from my panic attack and I’ll figure it out.”
Jamie hesitated. “Yeah, about that…” He began warily, but Grace cut him off.
“I can already tell you the killer will be in his twenties. Liked to set fires and hurt animals as a kid. Lives in town. Kind of a loner, but not in a way that stands out. He’s friendly enough, but no one really knows him. He has secret rooms, secret drawers, all the important parts of him locked away. He doesn’t need to show off and display the body. He gets off on knowing secrets. That’s why he took her from her room. He wanted the control of being the only one who knows where she is.”
“Except, you changed that.” Jamie reminded her, looking concerned. “Now Lucinda’s body was found right where he left it.”
“Exactly!” She agreed enthusiastically. “He’s meticulous and we just capsized all his hard work.”
“Must you sound so excited about making a killer unhappy? T’is not agoodthing.”
“Right before Lucinda’s murder something happened.” Grace continued. “Something triggered him to attack her in a personal way. Either she refused to have sex with him orsomething, but he snapped. It’s impulsive, but still not disorganized. He’s imagined it before. He’s shocked, maybe scared, that he actually killed her, but he’s also elated by the violence. He leaves… But then he goesback. Risky, but not desperate. The behavior of someone who’s still in control.”
Jamie looked fascinated. “How do you know all this?”
“I took some profiling courses.” She said distractedly. “Focus: He wentbackto the scene. He wanted to clean it all up. Make sure he’s covered. Make sure it can’t be traced to him. And, mostly, just to revel in what he’s done. To enjoy all the destruction. He takes off his clothes so they won’t get bloody and starts the cleaning in his bare feet.”
“Fucking hell.”
Her eyes narrowed, barely hearing him. “He’ssmart, Jamie. How did he get out of the house without you seeing him? Lucinda must have been sneaking him in some other way and he used it to escape. He’sthinking, even in his panic. He’s hiding right in plain sight. I just can’t figure out the timeline. How long was he there? Why didn’t anyone hear him…?” She broke off, rubbing her forehead in frustration. “If I was still on my game, I’d be better at this.”
“You’ve done more than anyone else possibly could.” Jamie shook his head. “That’s enough for today, Grace. Rest, before you burn yourself up again.”
“It’s burnout.”
He ignored the correction, his eyes on her face. “You can’t save the whole world, all at once. It’s alright to take some time to breathe.”
“For a pirate, you say some very self-help-y stuff.”
“BeforeHaunted High, my favorite show wasOprah. Its cancelation was the greatest trauma since my death, let me tell you.”
Grace gave a reluctant smile. “So you think I should lay here by myself and quietly meditate or something?”
“I didn’t say ‘by yourself.’” Jamie leaned sideways, so he was lying on the bed. “Technically, I can’t feel this mattress, but I can sense it’ssmashinglycomfortable.” He eased his way up so he was laying on the pillows, his gaze locked on her face. “And it has quite a smashing view, as well.” He smoothed an elegant hand over her hair, that amazing electricity tingling through them both. “Granted I can’tbreathe, but there’s no reason I can’t just meditate here beside you.”
Grace swallowed, totally distracted from the horrors of the case. “That’s a really bad idea.” His beautiful hands couldn’t touch her, but with Jamie it didn’t seem to matter. She could still feel her body warming and her breasts tightening at his proximity.
“Oh, I think it’s the best idea I ever had.” He murmured. “And I’m a man with nothing but brilliant thoughts in my handsome head.”
“Jamie…”
“Grace…” He repeated in the exact same tone. “What’s the harm in letting me lay beside you?”
“Because I can already guarantee you’re not going to just ‘lay’ there.”
The man was the picture of wounded innocence. “What elsecanI do?”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
“You’re being paranoid.” He scolded, but his eyes gleamed with all kinds of piratical ideas. “Why, it’s not as if I’m evenreallyhere. Being a ghost, I’m not a part of this world anymore. No one can see me, but you. I can’t talk to…”
“Of course you’re a part of this world!” She interrupted. “You’re a part of this world, whether other people see you or not. You’rereal. As real as me and everyone else. You have feelings and thoughts and ideas.That’swhat makes you alive. Don’t ever tell yourself otherwise.”
Jamie stared at her for a long moment. “If I was not already long gone, you would surely be the death of me, Grace Rivera.”
She smiled at that.
