Page 31 of Ghostly Bother (Ghostly #9)

"Lance, where are you?" Ray called.

Lance tossed the last of his laundry into the machine and shut the door.

"Doing laundry. I'll be up in a second." He quickly set the time and pushed the button to start the washer.

He took the pile of folded clothes he'd just pulled from the dryer and headed upstairs.

"Let me put these in my room and I'll join you," he called as he headed down the hall.

He quickly put the clothes away, knowing if he just set them on the bed to do later it might never get done.

Haunt came to join him as he was hanging shirts in the closet.

She nudged one of Angus's shoes with her nose.

"I know. I miss him too. I'll call and tell him to come home tonight. "

Haunt wagged as if she understood.

"We have news," Bethany called as he walked into the kitchen.

"Good news?" Lance asked as he looked at everyone in the room. Betty stood by the kitchen counter, and Eden sat at the table beside Bethany and Ray.

"Not sure. It's interesting for sure." Bethany glanced at Eden. "But not everyone may be happy about it."

"Just tell me already." Eden glared at Bethany. "Stop playing games with my life."

Lance raised a brow. "More like with your death.

And you're the one who plays games. You've been withholding information that could help speed things along.

" He turned back to Bethany. "If it's about her case, I don't want to know.

I've told you guys, I've washed my hands of it.

If she's not going to help, I have no reason to.

Even after you three have told her to go hang out at the station, she stays here.

She has no desire to find her killer. Angus is working is ass off trying to close this case, but she sits here bothering me instead of helping find her killer. "

Eden groaned. "Seriously, you can't hide stuff from me."

"Why? You're hiding stuff from us." Lance shrugged.

"Right now, I don't give a damn who killed you.

All I know is the city is better off with you dead.

If I could get you to move on or take a vacation to Romania for about fifty years, life would be perfect.

If Ray and Bethany have information on your case, then they know how to get it to Angus without involving me. "

"Sorry, we weren't thinking." Ray glanced at Bethany. "He's right. He told us he didn't want to be involved in this anymore."

The truth was, Lance was dying to know what the ghosts had found, but he refused to give Eden any information.

She'd finally stopped hounding him to call Angus every five minutes and he wasn't going to risk going back to her pleading with him to tell her everything.

As long as he knew nothing about the case, she couldn't pressure him.

He glanced at Haunt who was now enjoying being scratched between the ears by Bethany.

Maybe he wouldn't be asking Angus to come home tonight.

As badly as he missed him, perhaps it was too soon.

"I don't blame you two. This is how we usually do things.

You find the information and I share it with Angus.

This once, we need to find another way because Eden insists on being a pest. Besides, anything you two have found out, she could have found out just as easily.

You've been snooping around for a couple days and already know more than we did.

Imagine how much information we'd have if Eden did her part and shared what she knows. "

Betty stepped forward. "I'd like to head home and see what's going on there. Bethany, do you want to come with me?"

"Sure." Bethany stood and turned to Ray. "You don't mind?"

"Not at all. I'll stay here with Lance and Eden. Remember, we have that drug raid tonight and we're meeting Jeremy and Isaac at four." Ray reached out and appeared to run his fingers over Bethany's back.

"I'll be here way before that," Bethany promised.

"Drug raid?" Eden's eyes went wide.

"Nothing to worry about," Ray told her. "We're just meeting a few other ghosts to watch it all go down."

"That's crazy. Why would you want to watch a drug raid?" Eden shook her head.

"It's better than television." Ray winked at Eden. "You're welcome to come with us."

Lance prayed she would. He would love a few hours at home without Eden around. He really wanted to talk to Angus, but as long as Eden was shadowing him, he couldn't do more than sneak a text message to him every now and then.

"You watch raids for fun?" Eden wrinkled her brow. "You hang around the police department waiting to find out where these are happening and just go watch?"

"There's a bit more to it, but yes, tonight we are going to go watch a huge raid on a drug house on the other side of Fairway." Bethany shrugged. "It's fun to watch the police at work."

"At least some of them are doing their jobs." Eden stood. "Ray can teach me how to manipulate my energy while you're gone."

Ray glanced at Lance. "We'll be in the backyard." He turned to Bethany. "You and Betty have fun. I'll see you in a few hours. Come on, Eden. I'll tell you what I know, but I think you're too newly dead to be strong enough." He headed outside.

Lance was shocked when Eden followed him without question. Once alone with Bethany and Betty, he whispered, "Tell me what you found out."

Bethany grinned. "Eden's sister is sleeping with Eden's husband, and I don't think it's something that just started happening. The two seem very comfortable together."

Lance was shocked. "Do you think Eden knows?"

Bethany shrugged. "Ray and I found them sleeping in the same bed.

We hung around until they woke up and other things started happening in bed.

That's when we left. We're going to go back and spend more time there and see if we can figure out how long this has been going on, but I can tell you from what little we saw, they didn't act like first time or even new lovers.

We are helping Isaac with the raid tonight.

Not that we can be much help, but Lizzy will drive by the area right before the raid.

We'll go in and look around and meet back up with Lizzy so she can let Captain Marshall know how many are inside and what's going on.

Then Lizzy will head home where she's safe while the raid is taking place.

We knew Angus would freak out if Lizzy got too close to the action.

We're hoping he doesn't learn about her involvement until after it all happens. "

"Then don't tell me. You know I won't lie to him if he asks me anything." Lance took a seat at the table.

"We thought you two weren't speaking right now.

Figured it was safe. Just don't let on you know anything if you do talk to him, then you won't have to lie.

" Betty bent and brushed a ghostly kiss on his cheek.

"We'll be back. We need to let Lizzy know about Eden's sister so she can call Angus. We won't be long."

"I can maybe sneak a call now that they're outside." Lance looked out the window where Ray and Eden were standing facing each other, their hands extended as if pushing at each other.

"Don't risk it. She sees you on the phone and she'll rush in. I need to check in with Lizzy anyway," Betty told him. "We won't be long."

"Thanks for all this, Betty. I know it's upended your life."

"You mean my death?" She laughed. "It's all good. I just wish you'd come to us sooner about her. She's a piece of work, isn't she?" She waved. "See you in an hour or two."

Lance watched as Bethany and Betty moved through the walls and left the house.

Ignoring the ghosts in his backyard, Lance got back to cleaning the house.

He was about to pull out the vacuum when he saw movement to his side.

He turned and smiled at the sight of Cel moving toward him. "Cel, it's about time you came by."

"I know you've been busy and so have I, but I wanted to drop by. I was hoping we could cook something up tonight." She looked around. "Where is everyone?"

"Ray's out back with Eden, and Bethany and Betty just ran over to Lizzy's house. Angus is working. How's your son?"

She waved her hand. "He's fine. Thank God.

He thought it would be fun to make a jump in the front yard and take his bike over it.

I saw the accident coming before it happened, but there was nothing I could do to prevent it.

He went down hard when the ramp tipped and broke his arm.

He's enjoying all the attention the cast is getting him, but I swear I about had another heart attack as I watched him go down. He's just lucky it wasn't worse."

"I'm glad he's okay. I remember building ramps when I was about his age. Jackson and I used to see who could jump their bike the farthest." Lance smiled at the memory. "Seems forever ago."

"Time flies," Cel agreed. "But the real reason I came over today, other than to just say hello, is I'm in the mood to cook, and since I can't, I was hoping you might be in the mood to let me mentor you a bit more and do the cooking for me."

"Sure, but I don't have anyone to feed, so whatever we make will either have to be frozen for leftovers or I'll have Lizzy and Franks come grab some so they all can enjoy it." Lance was always happy for a new cooking lesson from Cel.

"Where's Angus?"

"Work, but he's been staying at Lizzy's for a few days. We've had a few issues." Lance sat down on the couch.

"You two okay?" Cel looked concerned. "I didn't think anything could get between you two." She sank down on the couch beside him. "What's going on?"

Lance went on to explain about Eden and what a pain she'd been, then told her how Angus had chosen to leave, thinking it might help the situation.

He had to blink back tears as he admitted to her how much his leaving had hurt him.

"He just made the decision without even talking to me.

It was as if he wanted to leave. Was looking for an excuse. "

"Now you know that isn't true. That man loves you. I'm sure the stress of the situation just made him grasp the first solution he saw. He figured if he wasn't here, then Eden would leave you alone." Cel frowned. "I'm guessing since she's in the backyard, it didn't work?"

"Nope, she has barely left my side. She has quit nagging me with questions about her case, but she's still always around.

Even at work she hovers and talks non-stop as I'm trying to do autopsies or reports.

Betty finally came over to act as a buffer and it's helped, but I really just wish Eden would go. "

"Honey, I wish I'd known. What can I do to help?"

Lance smiled. "I think cooking tonight will be therapeutic. But we'd have to run to the store. I'm out of or low on everything. What did you have in mind?"

"How about my buffalo chicken meatloaf? We can make a few of them and send them off with Franks and Lizzy. Then, if you're still feeling up to it, we can make some gooey chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Are you up for all that?" she asked.

"It sounds like just what I need. Let me go change and we can head to the store. Thank you for this. Somehow, you knew exactly what I needed." Lance stood.

"Oh, this is as much for me as it is you. I cooked when I was stressed. Now that I can't cook, I go crazy at times. This is therapy for me as well. Go get your stuff. I'll let Ray know what we're doing."

"I can't promise Eden won't tag along." Lance sighed.

"Let her. I'll put her in her place if I need to. I've dealt with women like her for more years than you've been alive. She won't get in our way." Cel left him as she headed out back.

Lance raced for his room to change, suddenly feeling alive again.

For the first time in days, he was looking forward to something.

While it wasn't as exciting as having everyone over for dinner, it would be fun cooking with Cel and laughing at jokes.

She was right, this was exactly the therapy he needed.