A Mansion, A Drag Queen, And A New Job (Deanna Oscar Paranormal Mystery, #1) Read online

  I frowned and looked to Gran. “I don’t understand.”

  This had to be a dream or I’d have fainted by now.

  “People don’t realize how their behaviors affect others in life all the time. They do the best they can most of the time but people hurt each other without meaning to. There was a lot your grandfather didn’t understand.” Gran nudged me forward.

  “I really am sorry. I neglected you. I couldn’t deal with it. I had no idea about all of this.” He reached out and I edged back.

  I didn’t trust this. It was a dream. A strange dream. He’d never say anything like that. He never admitted he was wrong in life.

  “That’s not my grandfather,” I insisted.

  “Deanna, how can you think that?” Gran shook her head.

  “This is a weird dream. Or you want me to forgive him so you’re manipulating my dreams. You’re trying to convince me that he’ll apologize.” It was a stretch but the whole thing was twisted.

  “I can’t do that. It’s not magic or a trick. You need to hear this from him.” Gran remained calm while I searched for an out.

  “No, he’d never do that. You want me to feel better so I’ll stay or trust Greg or whatever you want from me but it won’t work with him.” I folded my arms. In that moment Grandfather blinked out of my sight.

  “Why should you trust me?” Gran nodded. “You never knew me. I wouldn’t deceive you, Deanna but that must earned and proven. You’ll come to trust me.”

  “If you wanted me to believe he was sorry why didn’t you bring him in the beginning? When I was awake?” I asked.

  “I didn’t want to overwhelm you. And I didn’t know Greg would be so bad with women. I guess I should’ve known.” Gran shook her head. “Your grandfather wanted to prove to you he was here, with me. You can travel over when you’re awake but that takes more mental discipline.”

  “Over?” I asked. Finally I looked around. We weren’t in the house anymore. Definitely not in New Orleans. It was a large white dome-shaped room. “This is Heaven?”

  “Not exactly. Close though.”

  “Great. We’re in the waiting room to Heaven.” I suddenly felt odd. Like I was being watched. Judgment day preview?

  Panic started to creep in.

  I didn’t belong here. I wasn’t dead yet.

  “Can we go back now?” I asked.

  “Greg isn’t one of the bad ones either.” Gran led me toward the door but I didn’t feel like it was the exit. “You need to give him a chance. He’s been a good friend to me.”

  “I never said he was evil. I just don’t like him telling me what to do. That’s all men ever want to do with me. Who is he to say I can’t handle the house?” I was growing annoyed.

  “He told you what?” Gran looked surprised.

  “I guess you aren’t watching everything.” I smiled. “He doesn’t think I can handle it. Arrogant man thinks I’m in over my head.”

  “He wanted me to retire and move out but I thought it was because of my health.” Gran frowned.

  I stuck close to Gran as we paced or more accurately, I paced and she floated around the dome room. “I don’t see why he cares what I do. It’s not like I’ve asked for his help to begin with.”

  Gran stopped and held my arm. I suddenly realized here I could feel her touch. “He has dealt with the sort of things I did. This isn’t just ego, Deanna. Greg knows he’ll never be as powerful as you are but he’s aware of what you’ll be asked to do.”

  “That isn’t ego? He thinks I’m strong so get rid of me? He can’t even see ghosts.”

  “Deanna, this is not a competition. To be that young again. Believe me, this is more about the fact that he can’t help you enough.”

  “I don’t need his help.” Men had only ever made me feel like I was a freak. I didn’t need another one second guessing me.

  “We all need help, dear. You’re smart, strong and very stubborn but that doesn’t mean you know New Orleans or this house better than he does at the moment. Just like Ivy. You’ll manage fine without them, I know. But it would be nice if you were willing to accept help from Ivy and Greg. If only he was not so high-handed about things but it’s hard for people to change.”

  “I listened to him babble for a while, Gran. Enough was enough. Hopefully he won’t come back. And as far as Grandpa, tell him to go haunt my brothers for a while. I’m not in a forgiving mood. Especially not when there’s a little girl out there in danger. There are bigger issues.”

  “You can’t change some things, Deanna. What will be will be. All you can do is try to help. I want you to get in touch with some friends of mine.”

  “Friends? Gran, I have an interview. I’m not here to move in and take over your life.”

  “No, not that. They are local women with powers like yours. The pair of them own the Third Eye. A metaphysical shop. You need to understand you’re not alone in your powers.”

  As great as it sounded to meet others who understood, I needed to save little girls before I could spend time shopping. “That’s great but how does it help me solve the case?”

  “Not everything is about a case. Some of it is about you. Your well-being is important to me.”

  I paused—she was truly concerned. “That’s really sweet of you, Gran. But I’m fine. I can get through this on my own. Once I’m past this case and catch this guy, I’ll be able to network with the ladies from the Third Eye. Find my balance here. Decide what to do. My mental state can take a little abuse. This girl will die if I don’t do something.”

  “You can’t stop every death. No one is that powerful.”

  I had had enough. I wanted to go back. To wake up. Only I didn’t know exactly how. Being out of my body wasn’t normal for me. I didn’t know how to get back.

  What if I went the wrong way and couldn’t get home? I wasn’t ready to end up dead. But I wasn’t comfortable here anymore. I wanted to wake up. I wanted to ask Gran how to get back.

  Too late...

  * * * * *

  I gasped and sat up straight in bed. My muscles screamed. It felt just like I’d had a bad dream and hadn’t moved in eight solid hours. Like those dreams that startled you awake and left you feeling like you hadn’t slept a wink. All my life, I’d had more than my share of them. Now I knew why.

  This time I was relieved to have made it back to the land of the living. It was one thing to dream I was in Heaven. It was quite another to almost completely believe that I really was. It was terrifying not to know how to get back. “There should be a manual for this stuff.”

  At least now I knew I could wake myself up without danger. Out of body felt weird. I liked my body, more or less. More now than ever.

  I didn’t even look at the clock as I got out of bed. Leaving a trail of clothes on the floor, I headed for the bathroom and laughed at myself. Tiny dorm room or big fancy house, I was still a bit of a slob.

  I stood under the hot water until my muscles relaxed and I could move. The routine kicked in—shampoo, body wash and the rest. I felt a lot better without the stale airplane air clinging to me.

  Toweling off, I left the steamy bathroom and realized my mind was already searching for a vision of Little Cel. I got nothing but the death vision again and again. No sense of her among the living. Was she dead already?

  Queasy and cold, it hit me. I’d been too late to stop it.

  My warning failed. The wave of regret passed finally so I could move again.

  My heart pounded as I dug out a pair of faded blue jeans and spare black V-neck t-shirt I always threw in when I traveled. I found a clean pair of underwear, socks and a bra. I yanked the shirt and jeans on over the underwear and pulled my hair into a ponytail.

  Hopefully I wouldn’t scare anyone. Makeup would have to wait. Checking my phone, it was morning the next day but not too early to head out and get to work.

  I dashed downstairs and found Missy waiting for me with a mug of coffee.

  “Thanks but I have to go.”

&nbs
p; “Where?” Her soft voice cut through the silence.

  I stopped at the sudden change in her. “So you do talk. Good. Did she have a car?”

  “What’s wrong?” Missy set the mug down and retrieved my black boots I’d worn yesterday.

  “It’d take too long to explain. I have to go now. The car?” I shoved my feet in the boots.

  “Mrs. Oscar had an old Jeep. She didn’t drive it for years but Greg took it out once in a while. The keys are in that drawer, miss.” She pointed to the small corner drawer near the back door.

  I pulled open the drawer and dug through receipts and papers to find a set of car keys. “Thanks, Missy. Bye.” I ran out the back door and found the old Jeep Wrangler in a small shed-like garage. Not what I’d expect for a rich old lady. It was missing its soft top and had a huge dent in the driver’s side door. The Jeep must’ve seen a lot of action.

  I hopped in and tried the engine. It roared to life and I breathed easier. Transportation problem solved. I threw it in gear and stepped on the gas. I had no idea where Little Cel lived but she was dead now and I had to do something. Time to trust the gift to get me to the crime scene.

  Then I’d have to find the killer before he struck again. I had to stop it.

  Chapter Four

  Maps were pointless for me. GPS only helped if you had an address. I found the place on instinct. The police were already there. This little girl had been alive only yesterday. Fate had put me in that cab with that girl’s picture for a reason but I’d failed. I walked up to the small but well-maintained ranch home where Little Cel had been murdered in her bed.

  “Can I help you?” A middle-aged man with a potbelly and badge on his belt stepped in my way.

  “I need to get inside.” I stopped short of running into him.

  “No way, lady. This is a crime scene.”

  My brain triggered back to reality. This cop had no idea who I was. All my life, I’d never done this before. I’d tell people things but barge into a crime scene? Never! My family would’ve freaked out. “Sorry, I’m here to help.”

  “You the new coroner?”

  “No, I’m a psychologist. But I saw the murder.”

  “A witness?” He reached for his cuffs.

  “No, I saw it in a vision.” I knew I sounded crazy and flustered. “I’m a psychic.”

  “Lady, I don’t have time for a psychic or a psychologist. I got a missing little girl’s body.”

  “And I can help you find it and who did it.”

  “Show me some ID now.” The cop wasn’t buying it.

  I dug my wallet out of my purse and handed over my driver’s license. “I know I sound frazzled but I’m serious.”

  He studied the license. “Chicago? Deanna Oscar. Oscar? Really?”

  “Yes.” I had an opening. “Elinor Oscar was my grandmother.”

  “That changes things a bit. Miss Elinor was a dear friend of my mother’s. Neighbors for years.”

  I looked at his badge. Lt. Weathers. “You’re a Weathers? I met Mary Lou yesterday. She’s really nice. I inherited Elinor’s house.”

  He tipped his hat to me. “Matt Weathers. My sister-in-law mentioned Elinor’s kin had arrived. Didn’t expect to meet you here. And you’ve got the skills?”

  “Absolutely. I just want to help.”

  He handed me back my license. “You’re really a shrink too?”

  “Yes. Clinical and forensic psychology. A PhD in each. You can check it out.”

  The cop held up a hand. “Forget it. Any granddaughter of Elinor’s doesn’t need a PhD to do what she did. Let’s get one thing straight though, Doc. You don’t solve cases, we do. You can help with clues, locations, tips, and so on. But you don’t get into any dangerous situations and you surely don’t go off and chase criminals by yourself. Got it?”

  “No problem. I’m not interested in paperwork or shootouts. I just want to help.”

  I headed back to the bedrooms. I knew it was the one on the left even before I saw police tape on the door.

  “Don’t touch anything,” Matt instructed from the hall.

  “No kidding. Like I’ve never been on a crime scene before. You learn that much watching Law & Order.” I walked in and kept my hands to myself. The little room done in frilly white lace was turned upside down but not by the killer. Fingerprint dust was everywhere.

  The one part of the room that remained more or less undisturbed was the bed. The blanket was pulled back but the sheets were soaked with blood.

  I scanned the room. The window. That was how he got in. Ground level, no fancy locks. The cops would know that much, but that was the only piece I saw clearly so far.

  I tried to focus on the room. For the first time I tried to use my gift for something specific. I saw the little girl sleeping in her bed cuddled up with a doll.

  “So, how’d she die?” Greg asked.

  When had he arrived? “What are you doing here?” I blurted.

  “I stopped by your house and found you gone. I went next door and Mary Lou said Matt went out on a murder early. I figured there was a connection. Elinor did this all the time.”

  “I don’t need you here.”

  “Can’t hurt.” Greg exchanged nods with Matt. “Any idea how she died, De?”

  “Damn, we don’t need her for that. Half the girl’s blood is right there. Cut her like it was a slaughter. All we can hope for is it was quick and she didn’t feel a thing.” Matt flipped through a notebook.

  “No. That’s what he wants you to think.” I walked around the other side of the bed.

  “You mean she’s not dead?” The cop perked up.

  “Sorry, she’s dead,” I assured him. “The killer wanted to make sure that we knew she was dead. She didn’t die of the stab wounds.”

  “Why would he want us to know that? If we thought it was a runaway or a miscommunication between family members, he’d have more time to escape.” The cop looked less and less impressed with me every moment.

  “I don’t know. It’s like he wants to be caught. Or to play with you. He broke her neck. That’s how she died. Quick and while she slept. Like he didn’t want her to suffer. The blood came later.” I saw it through the killer’s eyes but didn’t get very far. I had to pull back. He liked killing too much.

  “But not a drop of blood on the carpet, the window, or outside anywhere. This is a weird one.” The cop took off his hat and scratched his head.

  “He rolled her up in a red sleeping bag. Then he stuffed it all into a garbage bag.” I shivered as I saw the girl in the darkness.

  “How do you know that?” That was his stupidest question yet.

  “I just know. Isn’t that why I’m here?”

  “Who did it?” he pressed.

  “I don’t know that yet. But he’s got her in the back of a truck driving her around for now.”

  “Did he know the victim?” Greg asked.

  At least his questions made sense. They were pointed but not unrealistically demanding. “No, but he’s been stalking Little Cel. He waited until she was home alone. Then he struck.”

  “What kind of people leave a little girl home alone?” Greg sounded disgusted.

  Matt cleared his throat. “House belongs to the grandmother who was at work. She pulled an extra shift out with her cab. The mother was supposed to be home watching the daughter but she wasn’t. She’s got a record for drugs and petty theft. We’re trying to locate her now. Got the grandmother at the station for a statement. She came home and found this. The mother has a boyfriend who’d been staying here off and on, according to the neighbors. You’re sure she was killed by a man?”

  “Yes, and it wasn’t the boyfriend.” I supplied automatically. They’d check him out anyway but that was their job.

  “Got the name of a suspect?” the cop asked.

  “No. This isn’t a science. I don’t understand it, either. I can’t see the killer’s face. What I get from him is from inside his head. Erratic thoughts.”

  “Got
a location on the body?” Matt wanted to see if I’d change my story.

  “No. I told you, he’s driving now.” That came out snippier than I’d intended.

  “A description of the vehicle?” He wasn’t giving up.

  I closed my eyes and tried to pull out like a movie. I saw the garbage bag with yellow drawstring handles flapping in the wind. Then the white side of the pickup bed came into view. I pulled farther back. “White, late nineties Chevy pickup. Not plated.” I opened my eyes and shrugged. “That’s all.”

  “Where’s he at?” Matt asked.

  “I can see water in the distance. No street signs. He’s not on a main road or expressway. I’m sorry, I don’t know this area at all. Once he stops, I’ll have a better shot but we could be chasing him all day.”

  “Could be anywhere.” The cop scratched a note on the truck’s description. “We’ll put this on the wire, see what we get. No plates doesn’t mean much but it narrows it down. I’ll run it and see if anything was stolen.”

  Something drew me to the head of the twin bed. I kept seeing a squarish little cloth doll in a white-and–pale-blue-checkered dress. I wasn’t sure why. It was the same doll the girl slept with. What did it mean? I looked all around the bed but couldn’t find it. I knelt down to look under the bed.

  “What’s wrong?” Greg bent down to look too.

  “Did anyone find a doll out of place in the room?” I looked at Matt. “Near the bed maybe?”

  Matt looked at the cop guarding the door who shook his head. “Why?” Matt came closer.

  “I don’t know. It feels like it should be here. She kept it always on her bed. Slept with it.” I touched the edge of the bed. There was a sudden jolt and the room went black.

  Some minutes later I was sitting, or rather slumping, on the faded brown couch in the front room of the little ranch house with Matt and Greg looking very concerned at me.

  “What happened?” I tried to sit up.

  “You passed out.” Greg handed me a bottle of water.

  “I didn’t.” It really felt like I didn’t but what did I know?

  “You’re lucky he caught you. Told you not to touch anything.” Matt stalked off but couldn’t go far in the crowded house.