Page 16

"Have you tried that new rib place downtown?" Lance asked Carrie as they worked on the body of an older man who had died while playing golf.

"Not yet. Have you?" She took the sample he'd given her.

"We were talking about going next week. The reviews are amazing." He glanced up as Jeremy floated through the wall of the autopsy room, followed by a young woman. He didn't react, unable to acknowledge the ghosts while Carrie was around.

"If you get there before we do, let me know." Carrie sighed. "Pete's been so busy. He's looking to hire a new veterinarian but hasn't had many apply."

"I thought he had two working with him." Lance tried to focus on the dead man in front of him and not the ghosts who now stood beside him.

"Liz quit. She moved to Montana to work with some big horse ranch up that way. She trained on large animals, so Pete knew this was just a temporary job for her," Carrie told him.

"I don't know many vets, but I'll keep my ears open for anyone who might know of one looking for work." He focused on the lungs of the man he was working on, trying to find the cause of death.

"Lance, I know you can't talk to us, but this is Dawn. She's the woman Sam and Kyle brought in a bit ago. She says she was hit by a car, and she knows who hit her. When you're done, we'll be in your office," Jeremy said.

Lance gave a very small nod, just to let Jeremy know he'd heard, but not enough for Carrie to question anything. He cast a quick glance at Dawn. She didn't appear very old. Maybe in her twenties. He wondered if this was the call Angus and Franks had gotten after the funeral. As much as he wished he could hear her story now, it would have to wait.

"Dawn, Lance will help. He just can't let anyone know he sees us. Once he's done here, he'll come talk to us. We can wait in his office. I'll try and help you understand what it's like being a ghost." He led her back through the wall of the autopsy room, disappearing from sight.

"There's a database for vets to post job openings. It's usually how Pete finds new hires, but I guess no one wants to move to Fairway." Carrie continued the conversation, unaware that another had even taken place.

"Look how hard it was to find a receptionist here. It's a weird market right now when it comes to jobs. Has he checked any of the universities in the area?" He knew there were several veterinary programs in Texas.

"He has contacted all of them. So far, nothing." Carrie measured the lungs. "Guy was a smoker."

"Appears so. His lungs don't look too bad considering." Lance still hadn't found the cause of this man's death. He had to force himself to keep his mind on what he was doing and not wonder about the young woman now waiting in his office. He tried to remember what the call Angus had got was about. He thought it was a woman found off the highway or something. He hadn't paid close attention. He'd been more worried about getting back to work so Angus and Franks could go do their job.

It took another forty minutes for Lance to finish. He let Carrie put the body away as he removed his gloves, gown, and mask. He quickly washed, then headed down the short hall to his office. He stepped inside and closed the door, finding Dawn in the chair in front of his desk and Jeremy in his chair behind it.

"Sorry." Jeremy quickly stood and went to stand near the filing cabinet. "Lance, this is Dawn Belamy."

"Hi, it's nice to meet you." Lance gave her a nod. "Sorry about your death."

She nodded. "Me too."

"How can I help?" Lance pulled out a piece of paper and a pen to take notes.

"I don't know. He said you know the police and they will listen to you?" Dawn's voice was shaky.

"Yes. One of the detectives knows I can speak to ghosts. If you tell me something he needs to know, then I can call and let him know." Lance twisted the cap off a bottle of water and took a drink.

"Two nights ago, the night before last, I was out with Mel Wickman. He's a guy I know from work. We've been dating off and on. We decided to head out to that casino down south for a few hours. We had a good time. He wanted to stay, but we both had to be back to work in the morning. He wasn't happy that I wouldn't call in sick. I knew he just wanted to get a motel room and get laid, but I wasn't ready for that and told him so. I demanded we go home. It was a few hours' drive, and I wanted to get home with enough time to shower and change. He was angry but agreed. We were on our way back when he pulled over at a rest stop claiming he had to pee. I went in to pee too, but when I came back to the car, he grabbed me and forced me over the hood of his car. He raped me." Her voice caught as she told her story. "I fought, trying to get away, but he hit me hard." She touched her chin. "I must have blacked out because when I woke up, I was lying in the back of his car. He was driving and didn't know I'd woken up at first. I must have moaned or something, because suddenly he pulled the car over and turned back to look at me. He had the nerve to apologize to me, then begged me not to tell anyone what had happened." She appeared to have tears in her eyes, but being a ghost, it was only a shimmer. "I was so scared. I just wanted to get away from him. This wasn't the man I knew. He'd never been mean or forceful with me. I managed to sit up and grab my purse from where it sat between the front seats. I was crying, but he continued to apologize and promised it would never happen again. I was crying so hard I couldn't answer him, and he got even more upset. He started talking about how this would ruin both our careers if it got out and trying to convince me that it was in both our best interests to not talk about it." She shook her head. "I was so scared. I didn't want to be with him anymore. I figured I was better off on my own than staying in the car with him so I jumped out and started to walk away. I was going to pull my phone out and call someone to come pick me up, but he started following me in his car. He stayed right behind me. I finally stopped walking and turned to glare at him. He yelled at me to get back in the car, but I refused and started walking again. He didn't follow this time. Just sat there watching me walk away for a few minutes, but then I heard the car rev, and I glanced back over my shoulder and saw him speeding toward me. I tried to run off into the bushes, but didn't have time. He hit me hard. I remember going flying through the air and pain as I slammed to the ground, then nothing. I came to and was standing beside my body. It took me a bit to realize I was dead, but I was so angry. That light kept pulling at me, but I didn't know where it led. I wanted to make sure Mel paid for what he did to me. I want people to know what he's really like, so he doesn't do that to anyone else."

Hearing these stories never got easier, but he was glad he was there for them to tell. "I am so sorry you had to go through all of that. I am going to call the detective right now and let him know you're here. He may have questions for you, so stick around for a bit. Don't go into that light for now."

She shook her head. "I won't go anywhere until I know he's going to pay for what he did." She glanced at Jermey. "I didn't know what to do. I heard the cops talking about it when they found my body, but they didn't know much about what happened. They are right to think I was hit, but I want to help them know more. I went with my body because I didn't know what else to do. That's when I saw Jeremy and he helped me understand what was going on."

"I'm glad he was here to help you." Lance smiled at Jeremy. "It's nice to have someone around to help the ghosts who come through here." He picked up his phone. "Give me a second to call Angus." He pushed the button to call and waited several seconds, worried he wouldn't answer. He was about to hang up when Angus finally did answer.

"Hey." Angus sounded tired.

"You okay?" Lance asked.

"Yeah, just had to notify Dawn's mother that she was dead. It's never easy. What's up with you?"

"I have Dawn here at the morgue. Not just her body, but her ghost. She's got quite a story to tell. She knows who killed her and why. I'm about to make sure I'm the one scheduled to do her autopsy since I know more of what happened, but we won't get to that until tomorrow. Do you want to come here or want us to meet you somewhere once I'm finished with work? "

"Do you mind this ghost coming to our home?" Angus asked.

"Not at all. We'll be home around six." He glanced up at the clock, seeing it was almost five.

"Sounds good. Franks and I will grab a bucket of chicken and meet you there. We're just leaving Dawn's mother's home now, so we'll probably beat you home." Angus sounded like he was getting into a car.

"That works. We'll see you there. Love you," Lance said softly.

"Love you too." Angus ended the call.

Lance set his phone down and looked at Dawn. "If you and Jeremy don't mind coming over to my place for a bit tonight, Angus would love to hear what happened."

"Is that okay? How do we get there?" Dawn looked at Jeremy.

"It's okay. Lance will drive us there when he's done working." Jeremy looked over at Lance. "Are Bethany and Ray back yet?"

"Nope. I haven't heard from them. I miss them. Haunt really misses them." Lance started to mentally list what he still had to do before he left for the night.

"I've gone over to play with Haunt a few times, but I don't think she likes me as much as she does Bethany. That dog belongs to her." Jeremy grinned. "Maybe it's a girl thing and she'll take to Dawn."

"I hope so, because Haunt's moping is driving me crazy. How do families without ghosts around ever keep their dogs happy?" Lance rolled his eyes. " Hopefully, they'll be back soon. So much is going on, it'll take a week to catch them up on everything."

"Have you seen Scott since the funeral?" Jeremy asked.

"No, but I figure he's out with Isaac and their friends. It had to be a hard day for Scott hearing all those old stories about his life. If you see them before we leave, remind them they're always welcome at my place." Lance stood.

"It's not the same without Bethany and Ray there. Before, we knew we could stop by and visit with them and not bother you, but now, we feel like we're in the way. You and Angus get so little time alone already," Jeremy pointed out.

"We manage. We don't mind the company. Never hesitate to drop in." He looked at Dawn. "That goes for you as well as long as you're sticking around."

"Thanks." She appeared to brush her hair back from her face. "I'm still not understanding everything, but I appreciate not having to go through this alone."

"You'll learn quickly. Jeremy's a good teacher." Lance moved around the desk. "I've got a few things to do before we head home. I'll find you two when I'm ready."

"We'll probably be here or in the breakroom," Jeremy told him.

Lance nodded and headed to the front office. "Gretta, could you make sure I'm on the schedule to do Dawn Belamy's autopsy tomorrow? Angus wants me to look for a few things."

Gretta reached for her mouse, clicked a few times, then entered something on the computer. "Done. She'll be second up tomorrow for you. I'm putting Mr. Archibald before her because his family won't stop calling to find out when we're releasing the body. He came in last night and they've already called me at least six times to find out if we're done yet. I fear the voice mailbox will be full by morning with just their calls."

Lance sighed. He'd dealt with families like this before. "I'll get his autopsy done first thing. I'd stay late and do it, but I have a meeting."

"I'm so frustrated with them that I want to tell you to wait a week to do it. If they were so worried about their loved one, why was he found living alone at eighty-four and not under any doctor's care? Sometimes I just don't get it." Gretta stood. "Anyway, I'm done for the night. Do you need anything before I go?"

"One thing. Sam's birthday is next Monday. Can you order a cake? I know you're new here, but I'll give you the number of the place we order it from. Use petty cash so he doesn't see the invoice right away. Kathy used to handle all the birthdays, but now that she's gone, I'll need to remember or give you a list of dates so you can. We just get a cake to put in the breakroom."

"Sure, I'd love to do that. Give me the information, and when you get time, all the birthdays, and I'll make sure it gets done on time for each one." She grinned. "I might even decorate the breakroom a little if that's okay. "

"Go for it. Anything to make the day more exciting. Yell at me if you need any help." He quickly pulled out his phone, found the number to the bakery, then wrote the name, number, and Sam's favorite type of cake down on a scratch piece of paper on the desk. "It can wait until tomorrow, but at least you have the information. The bakery usually only needs two days' notice, but I know Kathy tried to give them more when she could."

"Consider it done." Gretta took the paper and put it in her purse. "Have a good night."

"You as well." He watched her leave before turning back to his office. He found Dawn and Jeremy there talking. "You two ready to go?"

"Sure." Jeremy floated up from where he was sitting. "Let's go see Haunt."

"Who is this Haunt?" Dawn asked as she followed them out.

"The best dog ever." Jeremy grinned. "She's going to love you."

"She can see me?" Dawn asked with surprise in her voice.

"Yep, and she can feel your touch too. All animals can," Lance told her as they left the building.

"So my cat will be able to see me?" Dawn paused. "Oh, I just realized, there's no one to take my cat. I don't want her to end up at the pound." She appeared to be biting her lip.

"Won't your mom take it?" Lance asked, knowing from Angus that her mother was in the area.

"No, she hates cats. She'll call someone to take it. You have to stop her. Do you know anyone who would take it?" She looked at Lance as they got in the car.

He hesitated, wondering if he dared offer to take it. He'd never had a cat before. Not only did he not know how to take care of a cat, but he also had to think about how Haunt might react to a feline in the house. "We can ask around. Maybe we can find someone." He wasn't about to make any promises.

"Who will tell my mother?" Dawn asked.

"It's already been done. Detective Young and Franks were leaving her home when I called him. I'm sure he'll tell you about it when we see them. Had I known they were going there before, I would have taken you over there."

Dawn shook her head. "No, I don't want to see her. We, um, well, we didn't get along. I moved out when I was seventeen and never looked back. We'd exchange a few phone calls during holidays and Christmas, but barely saw each other. I haven't seen her in almost two years. She's probably too drunk to care that I'm dead or wondering what she can steal from my apartment to sell for drugs."

Lance cringed. "I'm sorry it was like that."

"I dealt with those feelings years ago. It is what it is. She can't get into my apartment. My apartment manager has legal papers that will let my best friend, Sierra, deal with my things if anything happens. She'll handle my burial and all that too. I made sure it was all taken care of just in case because I knew my mother wouldn't be able to handle it. Someone needs to let her know. "

"Let's talk with Angus and Franks at my place, then maybe you can go with them to tell her. Does she live close?"

"The same complex as me," Dawn told him. "I'd ask her to take my cat, but she's really allergic to them. We always go to her place because if she hangs out at mine she ends up with swollen eyes for days after."

Lance turned back to the steering wheel and started the car. He pulled out on the road while Jeremy and Dawn talked more about her cat and her worries that she'd be sent to the shelter. He listened while trying to decide whether to ask Angus if they should take the cat or not. He'd offer it to Lizzy, but she traveled so much that a pet was out of the question for her. Maybe Brayden or Christine would want a cat. He was pretty sure Carrie already had a few. He thought of Gretta, but she was living with her sister while she settled in and looked for her own place. He sighed. There would be time to deal with that later. Most important would be to make sure the cat had food and water since Dawn had already been gone two days.

He pulled into his driveway about ten minutes later, glad to see Franks' car parked out front already. His stomach grumbled at the thought of food, and he could almost smell the chicken before he got into the house. He pushed the door open, allowing Jeremy and Dawn inside before he closed the door. It was pointless since the ghosts could float through the door, but it still seemed like the polite thing to do. "Honey, I'm home."

"In the kitchen," Franks called back.

Lance went to the kitchen and raised a brow at Franks. "Are you my honey?"

"I was feeling left out." Franks grinned as Haunt rushed to Dawn and Jeremy.

"God, that chicken smells good." He eyed the bucket on the counter. "But I need to shower first. Dawn, this is Angus, my boyfriend, and this is Franks, a pain in the ass. They're the detectives working on your murder." Lance handed Angus the notes he'd made from what Dawn had told him about her death. "Here is what she told me. I am going to shower, but go ahead and start eating without me. Once I get back, you can ask questions, and I'll fill you in on why we need to make a trip to Dawn's apartment after we eat." Not giving them time to ask questions, Lance turned and headed for the shower. Once he'd washed the death off, he could sit down, eat, and try and figure out the best way to help Dawn find justice.