Ghost Mortem (Ghost Detective #1) - Jane Hinchey Page 0,45

my shoulder as I left my apartment. Ben walked through the door to join me.

"It's his home. And he's used to spending time alone." He shrugged. "It's no big deal. But yeah, I'm sure he'll be looking for his breakfast right about now. And I had an idea."

"About?"

He cleared his throat. "I know you're going to need time to transition into eventually moving into my place. So I was trying to think of a way that would make it easier for you...like get you used to it in advance."

"Oh?"

"Just go to work every day. Use my house as your office, which it essentially is. So you're there every day, but when the work is done, you come back here. That way you'll be around for Thor and he can decide if he wants to come back here to sleep at night or stay at my place."

I thought about it for a minute. "You know that's not a stupid idea," I said, hurrying down the stairs. My blue Chrysler, circa 1970, sat at the curb. "I may have issues living in your house," I said, "but I have no such qualms about your car." Unlocking the driver’s side door I climbed in, not even surprised when Ben was seated and waiting in the passenger seat. I was getting used to this. I never thought I would, yet here we were.

"Keys are in the bowl on the hallway table," Ben offered.

"What about your phone?" Pulling out from the curb, I took off with a roar, a backfire, and a cloud of smoke. I patted the dash in silent thanks. She'd done me well, but it was time for retirement.

"Dunno. I think the police took it."

Okay. I'd ask Galloway about it next time I saw him. But then I could always just buy a new phone—I had money now. Not even Ben's money, I had my savings. Just over fifteen grand that was my deposit for my own place...eventually. Like maybe when I was around fifty. But all that had changed and here I was, flush with cash. I had no idea how long the process with Ben's estate would take, but until then, I was okay.

"Where are you going?" Ben asked. "You missed the turnoff."

"Firefly Bay Hotel," I replied.

"Errr. Why?"

"Coffee." For while my brain was functioning at a marginal level sans caffeine, I knew it could do so much better when I was fully caffeinated. And grabbing a coffee at the hotel was killing two birds with one stone.

"Okay...." Ben puzzled over my reasoning because I hadn't yet explained to him my plan. It had been bugging me since yesterday when we'd met with Philip Drake. Aside from his odd behavior, he'd called someone immediately after our meeting. And I wanted to know who.

At the hotel, I managed to snag a table near a power point and plugged my phone in.

"So what's the plan?" Ben asked from across the table. It was weird because the chair was pushed in, so for him to sit on it he was effectively in the middle of the table.

"I need to get into Drake's office," I said, keeping my voice low. "And that's where you come in. I want you to go see if the coast is clear. Let me know when he leaves his office. If you could get a look at his appointments for the day that'd be even better."

Spying a waitress approaching, I stopped speaking and turned my attention to the menu.

"Good morning, ma'am." She smiled.

"Morning." I smiled back. "I'll have a long black please, and the eggs Benedict." I preempted her next question.

"Very well. Will that be all?" Before I could answer there was a loud rumble and a van pulled up outside the main doors. The waitress and I both turned to look.

"Oh no," she muttered, "that idiot. He's supposed to go around the back to the trade's entrance." I glanced at the van, saw the florist logo on the side, figured he was delivering a new bouquet for the reception desk until I saw the driver fling open the back doors and heave a giant urn out, with a floral display that had to be over five feet tall.

Brett Baxter appeared, rushing across the foyer, clipboard in hand. "No, no, no." He wagged a finger at the driver. "You can't bring those through the foyer. We have guests."

"I got told to deliver 'em here and that's what I'm doing. You think you're the only place in town having a wedding