Carolyn Hart - Merry, Merry Ghost

Carolyn Hart

Merry, Merry Ghost

Merry, Merry Ghost

Carolyn Hart

To Dan Mayer, who knows and loves mysteries . This ones for you .

Contents

Chapter One

Bailey Ruth, honey, always wait to be invited.

Chapter Two

Stars glowed against the vastness of space, witness to the

Chapter Three

Light spilled from a room at the end of the

Chapter Four

Gina rushed into the kitchen. Her black cashmere turtleneck emphasized

Chapter Five

I dropped into the cemetery that adjoined St. Mildreds. I needed

Chapter Six

I hovered near the ceiling of the blue room at

Chapter Seven

Tucker poked at the fire. Flames danced and crackled, flickering

Chapter Eight

What will we do? Susan was distraught. You dont have

Chapter Nine

The Meissen clock on the mantel chimed a quarter after

Chapter Ten

A dim glow marked a second-story window in the frame

Chapter Eleven

A young woman bundled in a pink jacket counted to

Chapter Twelve

Soft December sunlight splashed cheerfully into the living room through

Chapter Thirteen

Chief Cobbs moderate-sized office seemed crowded. Peg and Johnny sat

Chapter Fourteen

The sidewalks were crowded outside Wade Farrells office building on

Chapter Fifteen

Flashlights beamed from every direction. Headlights cut twin swaths through

Chapter Sixteen

The police car sat in front of Pritchard House. Johnny

Chapter Seventeen

Yellow flames danced among the logs in the living room

Chapter Eighteen

I had one more task to accomplish if I could.

CHAPTER ONE

B ailey Ruth, honey, always wait to be invited.

I edged a little nearer an arch of clouds suffused with gold and rose. Once around that cumulus corner, I knew what awaited, softly rolling hills, a redbrick train station, and shining silver rails stretching to the horizon.

I wanted to break into a run, yet I couldnt quite dismiss the memory of my mothers caution when I was a child. Certainly, I didnt want to impose myself upon anyone even though in Heaven Id always found welcome everywhere.

Heaven?

Do I detect skepticism?

Thats fine. Avert your eyes from beauty. Ignore love. Yawn at the splendor of the universe. Insist that the world is nothing more than rollicking atoms. Someday youll see.

I always knew there was a Heaven, even before Bobby Mac and I met our demise when our cabin cruiser went down in the Gulf of Mexico as Bobby Mac pursued a tarpon on a fatefully stormy day. Theres nothing like going out with a big splash. I recalled with pleasure the Adelaide, Oklahoma, Gazette and the front-page story with a picture:

OIL WILDCATTER ,

MAYORS SECRETARY

PERISH IN GULF STORM

Robert MacNeill (Bobby Mac) Raeburn II, 54, and his wife Bailey Ruth Raeburn, 52, of Adelaide were presumed lost at sea following a storm in the Gulf of Mexico. Their capsized cabin cruiser Serendipity was discovered yesterday off the coast of Texas. Despite a massive sea-air search, no trace has been found of the Adelaide natives and well-known civic leaders.

Raeburn was a successful oilman

The photograph on the Serendipity had been taken in sunshine, unlike the lowering black clouds and driving rain we faced that final day. It was an especially fine picture of Bobby Mac with his dark hair, dark eyes, and a daredevil smile. He held a rod bent against the pull of a tarpon. I lounged against a railing, red hair tangled by the breeze, smiling freckled face lifted to the sun. I remembered that lime green blouse. The color was a nice contrast to crisp white shorts.

On impulse (Im afraid I often succumb to impulse), I envisioned myself in an identical blouse and shiny white cotton shorts and espadrilles. I paused and took a peek at my reflection in a sheet of crystal. Of course, I abjured vanity in Heaven. I was simply enjoying a memory. There I was, a youthful and lively ethereal me with red curls bright as flame, narrow eager face spattered with freckles, and curious green eyes. I smoothed my hair, beamed at the reflection. In Heaven, no matter our age at death, we are seen at our best, whenever that was. Id enjoyed all my days, but twenty-seven had been a very good year. Occasionally I was reflective

not, I will admit, a usual state for meand then I might appear a confident forty, but twenty-seven was my age of choice.

The Gazette story told all about Bobby Mac and me and our families, and son Rob and daughter Dil and their children and spouses. I was described as the vivacious redheaded secretary who added a lively element to the mayors office and was known for her frankness.

Frankness.

I sighed, came to a full stop. Frankness was a nice way of saying I often spoke without thinking. Thats why I was uncertain of my welcome around the cumulus corner that was now close enough to touch. I reached out, stroked the soft wall of cloud, filmy as springtime fluff from a cottonwood tree. We had lots of cottonwoods in Adelaide.

Frankness.

Okay. Im forthright. Quick to act. Some might say hasty.

All right. All right . I spoke aloud in admission.

I wanted to go around that corner.

All right, around that corner I would go. All Wiggins could say was no.

My heart would be broken.

Before I could change my mind, I strode around the cottony column touched by streaks of pink and gold and there was the adorable old-fashioned country train station, silver tracks stretching into the blue sky.

Department of Good Intentions was emblazoned on a golden arch. Wiggins, who ran the department, had been a station agent when on earth. Since a well-run station was his sense of Heaven, here he was, in charge again, sending out emissaries to help those in trouble. On earth Id often felt I was the beneficiary of celestial grace. Giving back is one of earthsand Heavensgreatest pleasures.

This wasnt my first visit to the department. Id been eager to return to earth to help someone in a tough spot, and truly Id done the best I could on a previous mission. All emissaries are issued a parchment roll inscribed with the Precepts for Heavenly Visitation. Ill admit Id run afoul of Wigginss rules a few times.

To be accurate, I had transgressed a great many times.

I drooped. If Wiggins listed my infractions, theyd run a page or more.

Yet when I had made my final report, Wiggins had clearly said I might be used again as a Heavenly agent, though, hed hastened to add, I would still be on probation. Had Wiggins decided I was too unsuitable? Was even probationary status not possible for me? Was that why Id had no summons from him for another adven-mission?

Possibly hed simply neglected to consider me for a task. Mama told us kids not to invite ourselves, but I remembered quite a few instances when being bold paid off. The squeaky wheel and all that.

In the distance, I heard the clack of wheels on the rails and the poignant wail of the train whistle. The Rescue Express was nearing the station. Clearly Wiggins would soon be dispatching earthbound travelers or welcoming home those whose journeys were done.

I was shot through with a hot flash of sheer envy.

Oh dear. How small-spirited of me. Certainly I was delighted that others had found favor in Wigginss eyes and been dispatched for adventureScratch that thought. Adventure was never the goal of a well-behaved emissary. Certainly I wasnt seeking fun and thrills.

Well, maybe a little bit.

Okay, okay, I loved excitement, and whether Wiggins wanted to admit it or not, being dispatched to earth to help someone in dire need was a grand adventure.