The Tessa Randolph Collection, Books 1-3 by Paula Lester (best ereader for comics .txt) 📗

She ignored him and kept going, but only for a few steps. Then, Sanborn disappeared through the wall. There was no way she could follow him through. Or, if there was, she didn’t know how.

Biting back a curse, she smashed a fist into the other palm.

She must be the worst grim reaper in the world. That was twice she’d let a soul get away from her. She wasn’t going to let it happen again.

Chapter 8

SHE THOUGHT ABOUT CALLING a cab, but Tessa decided a walk would do her some good. She could use the head-clearing time and exercise. And maybe she’d run into Sanborn’s spirit again. She was determined to nab him.

The casino was on reservation land just outside the downtown area of Mist River. Tessa hurried along the shoulder of the busy interstate leading to the city a few miles away. She felt glad when she made it the half-mile into town, where the roads were far less busy and there were sidewalks.

She turned onto Whimsy Street, craving coffee or perhaps the jolt of caffeine and sugar in her favorite drink.

It was a typical small town downtown street, with a row of colorful buildings, each different, lining both sides of the block. She made a beeline for the pink one with purple shutters—Mocha and Mingle. Tessa ordered a Cuban-style cappuccino and enjoyed the scent of strong coffee with hints of chocolate and caramel while she waited to be served.

She spent a pleasant hour window shopping and sipping from her small cup before arriving back at her apartment building. With a bucket of sudsy water and a squeegee with a long handle, Silas was scrubbing windows in the lobby. He glanced at her. “Oh, good. You made it back. You know I would’ve picked you up if you’d called.”

She nodded. She knew. But she also knew she didn’t want to owe Silas many favors. She’d already paid him the rent. But with the way things were going with Chet Sanborn’s spirit, there was no guarantee of next month.

“Did you find out what those guys were up to?” Silas asked.

Tessa took a sip of coffee to buy time. She wasn’t sure how much to tell him. But she didn’t really feel like lying either. “They thought I knew something about Mr. Sanborn’s death. I let them know I didn’t.” She hoped he’d accept that and move on. She didn’t want to tell him about Melinda or Sanborn owing the casino money.

Silas turned back toward the window.

“It’s sad—Chet dying. I mean, he and I weren’t friends or anything. But he paid his rent on time and didn’t cause any trouble around here.” He glanced over his shoulder and gave Tessa a meaningful look. “Those are nice qualities.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t cause any trouble. And I do pay my rent on time. Mostly. At least I don’t have loud visitors over in the middle of the night.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry. You’re not even on my short list of the most annoying tenants ever.”

Her ears perked up at that and she moved closer to him to speak quietly. “Who is on that list?”

He clucked his tongue. “Nope. Not gonna tell you that.” He held the squeegee over the bucket and wrung it out with a metal handle. “But I will tell you that I’m not looking forward to finding a new renter for Chet’s apartment.”

“Why’s that?”

“Checking people’s references. Interviewing them. Trying to figure out who’s a good risk and who isn’t—let’s just say that’s not my favorite part of this job.”

“Sounds pretty easy to me.” A wince spasmed her face—she probably shouldn’t have said that.

“I guess it is easier than waitressing—or whatever it is you do now. And I have a week or so before I have to really think about it. Chet’s son is up there now, cleaning his dad’s stuff out.”

Tessa’s eyes widened. “Already? I’m surprised the cops are letting anyone in there yet.”

“Yeah, the forensics team left a couple hours ago and released the apartment. Mark—that’s his son’s name—was already here waiting. Seemed pretty eager to get into his dad’s place. “I wonder if he has siblings he wants to beat to the punch. Although, I’ve been in that apartment. I’m not sure his dad has anything of value. Probably just sentimental stuff.” Silas stretched onto his tiptoes to get the top of the window.

Tessa was momentarily distracted by the movements of Silas’s arm and back muscles. She had to pull her gaze away. There was enough going on in her life at the moment without giving in to a crush.

“Thanks again for driving me to the casino. I’ll see you later.”

Tessa hurried away, deciding distance was the best solution for her less than pure thoughts.

But instead of heading to her own apartment, she climbed the steps to the second floor and made her way to Sanborn’s door, thinking maybe his spirit had wanted to see his son one more time before moving on. If so, Tessa could let him say his goodbyes and then help him across the veil. And if helping didn’t work, she’d force him over.

That’d be nice—to be finished listening to Cheryl’s lectures. At least on this particular subject.

Sanborn’s door was cracked, so Tessa peeked inside. There was a young man on his hands and knees in the living room. He pawed through the drawers of a coffee table. After finding a bunch of papers, he tossed them aside, adding to a mess already piled on the floor. If Tessa didn’t know any better, she’d have thought Maddox and Horner had gotten there first.

Tessa’s eyes narrowed. Mark Sanborn didn’t appear to be cleaning out his dad’s apartment. If anything, it was the opposite. If she had to make a determination of what he was doing based on his current body language, she’d say that he was searching for something.

She cleared her throat to get his attention before pushing the door open wide and peeking in.

“Hi, there,”