Carolyn Haines - Wishbones

Galvanized into action, Graf and I threw on robes and hurried into the hallway to peer down the stairs. Sweetie didn’t wait for us. She took the steps four at time, landing at the bottom in a dead scramble for the kitchen.

Hysterical sobbing came from there, and Graf and I ran. Along the way he picked up a heavy candlestick, and I clutched one of my beautiful spike heels.

Pale and shaken, Federico joined us. “Jovan is missing,” he whispered.

But not for long. We found her in the kitchen hunkered in a corner and crying. She was so terrified she fought Federico when he captured her in his arms to console her.

“She’s afraid,” Graf said, looking around. Nothing in the kitchen was out of place except for a platter that was smashed on the floor. I examined the broken pieces and realized it had been valuable, a handmade piece that was signed by the artist.

As Federico and Graf lifted Jovan from the floor and into a chair, I gathered the large pieces of clay and swept up the sharp shards. Sweetie patrolled the kitchen, whining at the sink and clawing at the cabinet door.

I opened the cabinet, but only neat rows of cleaning supplies were in evidence. I had no idea what was wrong with Sweetie Pie. She kept nosing the cabinet like a rib eye had been dropped there, but I couldn’t find a thing.

Tinkie, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, joined us. “What’s going on? I thought I heard a scream and a crash.”

Jovan whimpered before she answered. “There was a woman, here in the kitchen. A stranger.” She was shaking so violently that her teeth chattered. Her pale blue eyes were glassy with shock.

Federico put his arms around her and held her. “You’re safe,” he said, but he looked around the kitchen as if he expected to see the intruder hiding in a corner. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was looking for his dead wife. A chill swept over my body at the thought.

“What did she look like?” Tinkie asked gently. She took a seat at the table and patted Jovan’s hand. “Can you tell us? Then we’ll find her.”

“She had on a red dressing gown.” Jovan inhaled with a shudder. “She was standing right there, at the sink, and she turned to face me.” Tears ran down her cheeks and she choked back a sob.

“Jovan, darling, take a deep breath.” Federico rubbed her arms and kissed her head as he did his best to give her comfort. “You’re safe now. We’re all here with you.”

She inhaled deeply and continued. “She was so beautiful, at first. I thought she was an actress I hadn’t met yet, someone dark and exotic and beautiful.” Her eyes welled with tears again. “But then she glared at me. Her eyes were dark and they burned like hot coals.” She sobbed in earnest. “It was awful. She looked at me with such hatred, and then she lunged at me and said, ‘Get out! Get out of my house before you die!’ ” She closed her eyes. “She said we were all going to die.”

Even though we were all in the kitchen with the lights on, I edged closer to Graf. Tinkie, on the other hand, took practical action and went to check the door that led to the outside. It was locked. From the inside.

“Which way did she go?” Tinkie asked. “Did anyone else see her?”

We all shook our heads.

Jovan wiped her tears away. “I don’t know. That platter shot off the counter and smashed. I was startled and glanced at the broken dish. When I looked up, she was gone.”

Federico rubbed the right side of his face. “That platter was made for Carlita by Pablo Rameriz.”

“The famous artist?” Tinkie knew exactly who he was.

“Carlita sometimes modeled for him. He adored her. She valued that platter highly.”

Jovan turned so that she could look at him. Her eyes widened. “She broke it so we couldn’t use it. She is haunting this house, like everyone says. She hates us so much she’d destroy a work of art to keep us from using it.” She burst into wild tears.

“I’ll check the front door and the windows,” Graf volunteered.

“Take Sweetie with you.” My hound was pacing the kitchen. When she went with Graf, Chablis followed.

“Jovan,” I said, “are you sure you haven’t seen this woman before?” I refused to name her Carlita. If the idea that Federico’s dead wife was out to get us circulated through the film crew, we would shut down.

Jovan covered her eyes. “The first night I came here. When someone pushed me down the stairs. I saw her upstairs. I think she must have pushed me.”

“You’re positive it was the same woman?” I’d resisted believing that a ghost could harm any of us-or even that a ghost was involved. But Jovan had evidence.

She nodded. “I’m sure of it now. It was her. The same woman I saw on the second floor. The one who pushed me and could have killed me. And she said we’re going to die.”

I spoke before I thought. “She has to be in the house somewhere.”

My matter-of-fact tone made Jovan look at me. “She doesn’t have to be here. If she’s a ghost, she can come and go as she pleases.”

“Ghosts can’t push humans.” When everyone turned to look at me, I realized I’d spoken with authority. “I mean, ghosts aren’t supposed to be able to manipulate matter.” In all of the time I’d spent with Jitty, the best she could muster was a breeze.

“Evil spirits have powers,” Jovan said in a whisper. “Her eyes burned like hot coals. She was evil. I know she was. I know it.” She turned her face into Federico’s pajama top and cried.

Tinkie looked at me. “Do you believe this?” she asked in a whisper.

“I don’t know.” I’d seen a woman in red. She’d lured me to the beach where I’d been attacked and nearly drowned. But I wasn’t certain I believed this entity could push Jovan down the stairs or fling a platter. I needed to consult with Jitty, but she was being coy and evasive.

“Let’s go back to our rooms,” Federico said as he assisted Jovan to her feet. “Perhaps we should go to the hospital and get you checked out. Maybe the doctor can prescribe a stronger sedative.”

“No, no, I’m fine. I have my big scene with Graf and Sarah Booth tomorrow. I don’t want to see a doctor.” She swayed on her feet and Federico steadied her.

It was true that Jovan was slated for the big confrontation scene between Matty and the sister-in-law about the will. Ned, representing Matty, gets his first clue that he doesn’t know everything about the woman he’s become embroiled with. It was going to be Jovan’s finest moment in the film, and if she didn’t get some rest, she was going to look awful.

“I’ll check with Graf and make sure the house is locked up,” I said.

“Me, too.” Tinkie stood up beside me.

“You can’t lock out a ghost,” Jovan said, blinking back a fresh round of tears. “Be careful, because if you see her, she’s going to try to hurt you, too.”

I took Jovan’s limp hand. “Please don’t tell anyone about this until we have a chance to investigate.”

She looked at me as if I were dense.

“Jovan, this film is already plagued with rumors about curses and other problems. If this story gets out among the cast and crew, it could cause a lot of problems.”

“She’s right,” Federico said. “This kind of story will add fuel to a dangerous fire.”

“And none of you care that I was nearly frightened to death.” Jovan stepped away from Federico, the glint of battle in her eyes.

“It isn’t that,” I assured her. “Tinkie and Graf and I will search the house from top to bottom. We’ll do everything we can. If this woman is real, we’ll find her.”

“And if she isn’t?” Jovan challenged.

“I don’t know what we can do about an angry ghost.”

“We can get out of this house.” Jovan stalked across the room and paused in the doorway. “She’s already injured me. Next time, she may break my neck.”