Page 27 of Kiss Marry Kill

She shook her head. “This isn’t just stress. And this isn’t the first time I’ve seen her either. Just ask Dr. Thornton. I told him all about it.”

He nodded. “She did tell me about seeing this… Kimora woman before.”

“I’m not sure what you’re seeing, but one thing I do know is all your friends and family are inside, waiting for you. Archie is worried sick about you. Instead of wandering around outside, you should be in there with everyone.”

Janelle winced. “I didn’t come out here on purpose. I mean, I… I only came out here because I was following her.”

I gestured to the area. “But no one is here. You can see that, right?”

“Yes. Of course.” She wrinkled her brow. “But I saw her peering at me through the bathroom window. I swear. Then I chased her out here. Dr. Thornton, you told me if I saw her again, I should try and touch her, remember?”

“Er… well…” He laughed awkwardly and gave me a sheepish look. “I was just trying to prove to her that she’s not being haunted by a ghost.”

“Not sure chasing after anyone, spirit or human, is the right call, Maxwell.” I shook my head.

“Probably not.” Maxwell met my gaze. “Since we’re out here, we could maybe look around?”

I let out a tired breath. “Look around for what?”

“Maybe there are footprints beneath the window of the bathroom.” Maxwell shrugged.

I frowned. “If there were footprints there, we’d have no idea whose footprints they are. What good would it do? Those footprints might have been there for months.”

Maxwell nodded. “I know. But I think it might help her calm down if we go look. What could it hurt?”

I let out a frustrated breath. “Fine. Let’s go take a look.”

“Great.” Maxwell strode past me, Janelle following close on his heels, her veil askew.

Grudgingly, I followed. The bathrooms were located on the south wall of the building. It was easy to tell which window was the women’s bathroom because of the flowery curtains. There were bars on the windows, which only made me question Janelle’s story even more.

I gestured to the bars on the window. “Nobody could get to you through that window, Janelle. Why were you so panicked?”

She narrowed her eyes. “A ghost wouldn’t care that there are bars on the window.”

I sighed. “If you were so terrified, why did you chase after this person?”

Janelle looked muddled. “I just wanted to know if it was a person or something else.”

Maxwell grunted.

Frustrated, I met Maxwell’s gaze. “Don’t you think it’s harmful to go along with this idea of a ghost?”

He grimaced and lowered his voice. “Obviously, I don’t believe she’s being haunted by a ghost.”

“Well now, that’s a relief.”

“However, I do believe she’s seeing or hearingsomething.”

I shook my head. “As a doctor, you must be worried about her mental state. Indulging her seems to me to be the very worst tact to take.”

“Not if we can prove to her that what she’s seeing is all in her head. Maybe then I can get her to seek psychological counseling. Just telling her she’s crazy isn’t going to work.”

“I’m not saying we should be that harsh.”

He frowned. “I see no harm in looking around just to make her feel better.”

Before I could answer, Janelle gasped. “Look.” She pointed toward the prickly pear cactus that was planted along the bottom of the building.