Page 83 of Ghost

Mason nodded.“So far, that’s the only big obstacle that I can see.Everything else is just cosmetic.Of course, I haven’t seen the electrical.”

“Oh, I had to have that redone before I could use this as a rental property, so it’s not all that old.”

Mason looked at Alfred.“That’s great news.I can tell you firsthand, it’s very expensive.”

Alfred snorted.“Yeah, tell me about it.”

They both headed back downstairs, not bothering to lock the upstairs apartment, and looked at the other empty apartment.Again, other than removing the one wall and door, it was all basically cosmetic work that needed doing.And of course, removing the small kitchenette.Mason was thinking it could easily be turned into a full bathroom.

When Alfred went to knock on the door of the occupied unit, a small older woman appeared, in a nightgown, that wasn’t exactly pristine.Without knowing it, Alfred reached right through her to knock.

“Um, Alfred, I have a feeling you won’t need to worry about having to evict your tenant.”

Alfred looked over his shoulder at Mason, frowning slightly.“Why do you say that?”

“I have a feeling that she’s...already moved on.”

He knocked on the door again, shaking his head.He tried several more times before he took the set of keys out of his pocket and opened the door.They were immediately hit with a really foul smell.

“What on earth is that smell?”Alfred asked, his nose wrinkling.

“I feel safe in saying, that is your tenant.”Mason looked at the sad-looking woman who was standing in what had been her living area.

“Are you here to evict me?”she asked in a squeaky voice.

Mason nodded slightly.He followed Alfred towards the small bedroom but didn’t enter.When he turned around he saw Grace, in a floral dress, hair combed and wearing earrings.

She sighed and fidgeted a little.“Do you think that bright light is for me?”

Again, Mason nodded and smiled at her.

She nodded at Mason, turned and then faded away.

When Alfred walked through to the small bedroom he gasped.“Oh, Jesus.”Mason could hear him gagging.“Mason, can you go call the police, please.”

Mason felt a little sad.“Sure, Alfred.I’ll go make the call and come back.”

* * * *

It was well after sevenat night when Mason got home from the scene, having stayed with Alfred until they removed the remains of Grace Ellis, the former tenant of apartment number one.The Medical Examiner said he thought she’d been dead at least a few weeks, perhaps even longer.That would make sense since she hadn’t paid her last month’s rent.

Mason did ask that Alfred not say anything about finding a dead body in the house.He didn’t think that Deb could cope with that.Hell, he wasn’t sure that Paul could, either.Alfred agreed wholeheartedly.

“To be honest, Mason, I was feeling mighty guilty about evicting Grace.She had been a good tenant for many years.I’d even thought of finding her another place, so I knew she’d be safe.”

Mason patted Alfred on the shoulder.“That would have been a very nice thing.I don’t know if I could have done it at all if I were in your shoes.”

Alfred only nodded.“I’ll have to look and see if she listed a next of kin.Sadly, I don’t think she had anyone.”

“That is very sad,” Mason said as he watched them remove the remains.

* * * * *

“Damn, Mason, what’swrong with the place that it took you so long to call me back?”Paul grumbled.“I’ve been on pins and needles for a couple of hours now.”

“Um...there was a little problem with the one remaining tenant,” Mason answered, hoping that Paul didn’t push the issue.“On the upside, most of the renovations are only cosmetic.”

Paul sighed in relief.“That’s good to hear.”