Read Online Caught Red-Handed by Jan Burke - Free Book Online Page B

suppose.”
    I looked up and saw a man walking toward me. I knew this one was among the living. There was nothing extraordinary about Detective Russo’s appearance. He was a plain-faced man, neither handsome nor ugly. He was of medium height, had mouse-brown hair that was cut short. His eyes, his voice, and his face usually reflected very little of what he was thinking or feeling. If you talked to him for a while, there was no mistaking his intelligence, but he didn’t walk around with his IQ embroidered on his sleeve. An ocean of calm, he seemed to me. I could use it.
    â€œHello, Detective Russo,” I said as he approached.
    â€œHello, Dr. Blackburn,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry if I interrupted you. Just wanted to make sure you were all right. I’ll leave—”
    â€œNo,” I said, standing up. “Don’t worry about it. I need to walk to the car; I’m keeping everyone waiting.”
    He surprised me by offering me his arm, but I took it and we walked in silence toward the limo. When we reached it, I invited him to join us at the house, but he politely declined.
    â€œWere you watching me the whole time I sat there?” I asked.
    â€œYes, ma’am, I was,” he said, not seeming in the least embarrassed about it.
    â€œDid you see anyone else?”
    â€œWhile you sat there?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œNo, ma’am, I didn’t. Why?”
    â€œNothing, really. Nothing at all. I don’t suppose you’ve learned anything more about what happened?”
    â€œNo, I’m sorry, Dr. Blackburn. But we’re still working on it.”
    â€œIt’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” I said.
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    I got into the car and let Lisa’s chatter roll over me as my father held my hand.
    Back at the house, the ghost became rather nervy. I would see him standing among groups of people, watching me. Everyone excused my vacant stares as widow’s grief, which was fine with me. I wasn’t in the mood to be entertaining.
    The gathering thinned out quickly. Lisa left only after I reassured her for the fifty-third time that I wanted to be by myself. Only I knew I wasn’t going to be able to be by myself. The ghost was growing as eager as I was to have her leave.
    â€œOkay,” I said, after I saw her drive off. “Let’s talk.”
    He looked even sadder than before.
    â€œWhat? Did I say something?”
    He didn’t reply.
    I decided that even if he was a figment of my imagination, I needed to play this out. Avoiding him obviously wouldn’t work. “Let’s sit down,” I said.
    He followed me into the living room, and we sat on opposite ends of the couch.
    â€œWho are you?” I asked.
    No answer, just gestures that I couldn’t make anything out of.
    â€œCan’t you talk?”
    He shook his head, pointing at his mouth.
    â€œIf I gave you a pen and paper could you write a note?”
    He shook his head again.
    â€œI thought ghosts were supposed to be cold. When you touched me today you were warm.”
    He shrugged.
    â€œPerhaps you haven’t been dead long?”
    He nodded, and held up four fingers.
    â€œFour days?”
    He nodded again.
    â€œMost people would be cold.”
    He waited.
    â€œWhy me?” I asked.
    He walked over to the mantel over the fireplace and pointed to a photograph.
    â€œBecause of David?”
    He nodded.
    â€œIs something wrong with him?” It immediately seemed like a stupid question. The man was dead. Things don’t go too much more wrong, unless—” He’s not in some sort of eternal torment is he? I don’t believe it. That can’t be true.”
    The ghost made a frantic gesture to get me to stop talking, then looked up.
    â€œAre you looking in the direction David traveled?”
    He nodded.
    â€œThank you,” I said. I found myself crying. I had felt in my heart that David, for all