Ghost Mortem (Ghost Detective #1) - Jane Hinchey Page 0,27

he is," I shot back. "Perhaps if you tell him Audrey Fitzgerald from Delaney Investigations is here, I'm sure he'll make time for me."

"Nice." Ben nodded his head in approval and I automatically replied, "Right?"

"The phone," he whispered, reminding me to use it. Clearing my throat, I removed the hand covering the receiver and repeated myself, "Right?" then mouthed at Barbie, "Sorry—important call." She nodded in understanding, then picked up the landline and hit a button.

"I guess I'm going to need some business cards," I said into the phone, watching while Barbie spoke with someone on the other end of the line. I hoped it was Phillip Drake.

"I think you're really starting to get on board with this," Ben said. "I may have created a monster."

"You said I was a natural!" I protested.

He laughed. "You are. I was joking. If you get in to see Drake, you're going to have to hang up the phone. I'll let you know if there's anything you need to ask that you missed, but other than that I'll stay out of your way and do my best not to distract you."

"Right." I nodded, a wave of butterflies settling in my stomach. I was about to meet with a man who could potentially be a murderer.

"You're starting to freak out." Ben sighed. "I knew you'd do this."

"I'm not," I protested. I was.

"The best way to approach this is to go with the truth. You'll only trip yourself up with lies."

"The truth?" I was aghast. I couldn't tell Drake that Ben was a ghost.

Ben heaved the biggest sigh known to man, complete with eye roll. "Tell him what happened to me. The dying part only. Gloss over the murder part. Explain that you inherited the business and that you want to get things squared away and are revisiting the open cases. Ask him to tell you where the investigation is at. Don't overthink it. You've got this." He slapped me on the back and an ice-cold blast shot right through me. "Sorry." He cringed, remembering what happened when he touched me a second too late.

"Miss Fitzgerald is it?" I spun to find a man dressed impeccably in a grey pinstripe suit, complete with waistcoat, approaching. He wore a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm Phillip Drake. I believe you wanted to see me?"

"Here we go," Ben whispered.

Sliding my phone into my bag, I plastered my own fake smile on my face and held out my hand. "Audrey Fitzgerald, Delaney Investigations."

11

I followed Phillip Drake to his office. It was a very nice office. Not as nice as the lawyer, Mr. Zampa's, but close. Very opulent. Sinking into the plush chair opposite his very—very—wide desk, I watched and waited while he fiddled with pens and papers, moving them until they aligned perfectly. Eventually he was satisfied. He steepled his fingers beneath his chin and met my eyes.

"I didn't know Ben had a partner," he said.

"He didn't."

Phillip's head jerked a little, the slightest of movements, betraying his surprise. "But you just said you were from Delaney Investigations." His face darkened. "Are you here under false pretenses? Because let me assure you, Miss Fitzgerald, I will not tolerate it." He was already reaching for the phone on his desk. To call security and toss me out? This had gone downhill real fast and we hadn't even gotten beyond introductions.

"Please." I held up a hand. "Let me explain."

"Please do." He paused, hand on the phone, the threat implied that if he didn't like what I had to say he'd be having my ass hauled out of here.

Drawing in a deep breath, I spoke in my most professional voice. "I'm sorry to inform you that Ben...has died." A lump the size of a golf ball lodged in my throat. This was harder than I'd anticipated. The look of shock on Phillip's face was almost my undoing. I cleared my throat. "I've taken over Ben's caseload and am visiting his clients personally to inform them of the situation and assure you that it is business as usual."

There. I got it out without bawling like a baby. Phillip slumped back in his chair, shaking his head. "I don't know what to say," he muttered, clearly shocked at the news. "What happened?"

"I can't say much, as it’s an ongoing investigation, but I can tell you that Ben was murdered." I remembered a second too late that Ben had told me not to mention that little detail.

He blinked, his pale grey eyes devoid of emotion.

"He's