The Silent Ghost (7 page)

“Does she help your mother with stuff like this?”

“All the time. Granny considers Mom and herself some sort of paranormal private investigation team. My mother has gotten into some scrapes in the past few years while investigating ghosts. She has a habit of stirring up the past and antagonizing the living.”

“You think that’s what we’re doing?”

“Guess we’ll see.” Kelly went back to looking out the window. “Mom says we have nothing to fear from ghosts, just from the people who made them that way.”

The comment brought Tanisha up short. “I hadn’t thought about that angle. You think the ghost in my loft was murdered?”

Again Kelly turned to her companion. “I have no idea, but it’s something to consider. My mother has met a few that have been murdered. Or that ghost could just be trying to tell you something she wants you to pass along to someone else. Most of the spirits Mom encounters are like that.”

“Tell me, Whitecastle, when Harvard’s behind you, you going into the family business?”

“And which business is that? Being on TV, or in film like my Granddad George?”

“I was thinking more the medium business, like your mother. A mother-daughter act could be big.”

Kelly shifted in her seat so she could face Tanisha. “First of all, it’s no act. We’re not circus freaks.” She flicked her long hair back over her shoulder in irritation.

“Calm down. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that your mother is building a nice, respectable career out of her skills, so why not you?”

Kelly straightened and looked out the windshield. “That’s never crossed my mind. Maybe because I’m so new at it.” Her future was something she’d thought about but hadn’t made any decisions about yet. “I’m not sure what I want to do after college. Some of my friends know exactly what they want and have since high school. I envy that. Sometimes I think about law school. I’ve talked to Phil about it a few times. That’s my mom’s boyfriend.”

“He’s an attorney?”

“Yeah and easier to talk to than my own dad. He was very up front about the pros and cons of practicing law. My father seems kind of ambivalent about what I decide to do. He’s told me if I want to get into TV, he’d help, but I don’t think that’s the direction I want. I want to do something that’s mine and mine alone. If I’m successful, I don’t want people to think it’s just because I’m a Whitecastle. If I do anything in show business, a lot of people will think it was handed to me.”

Tanisha gave a quiet nod. “I know what you mean.”

“My grandfather used me in a couple of movies during high school.”

“You were in a George Whitecastle film?” Tanisha sounded truly impressed.

“Yes, including his last Oscar win about five years ago.”

“I saw that movie!”

“I had a few lines, but mostly I was part of the crowd that orbited around the two stars. Some of Granddad’s closest colleagues knew who I was, but most of the crew and actors did not. I was billed as Kelly White and not given any special privileges, which is what I wanted. I did one more movie after that, then told him I didn’t like acting. I think he was both pleased and disappointed.” Kelly grew very quiet before adding, “That movie turned out to be his last.”

“I’m sorry, Kelly. I heard your grandfather had cancer.”

Kelly swiped a hand across her face and nodded.

Tanisha glanced at Kelly. “Guess it’s my turn to tell you a secret.”

Kelly laughed. “Instead of a cone of silence, this can be a car of silence.”

“Fair enough.” Tanisha stopped for a light, taking the time to arrange her thoughts. “My dream is to be a novelist.”

“Like your father?”

“Yes, but not crime fiction. I want to write novels about women’s issues and race issues and socioeconomic influences. I want my readers to pay attention to what’s important while I entertain them. I
want to turn characters and situations inside out to the point that I make people laugh and cry at the same time.”

“So why don’t you? You obviously have the passion for it.”

“For the same reason you shy away from show business. I don’t want a publisher to take me on because I’m Gino Costello’s daughter.”

“There have been a lot of kids of famous writers who have gone on to have writing careers.”

“True, but there are always snotty comments about nepotism over talent, especially in the beginning. And mostly they’re true. Some have real talent, and others don’t, but none had to go through the long and grueling process of finding an agent and a publisher like most novelists.” She paused. “I even have a novel that’s almost complete.”

“Have you told your father?”

“No, because he’ll come in on his white horse—like he did with the loft—and try to force it on his publisher. I’m thinking about querying several agents under a pen name, just to see what happens.”

Kelly gave her an encouraging smile. “I say, do it. What have you got to lose?”

“The way I look at it, just my pride.”

A few minutes later, Tanisha pulled into a long driveway edged on both sides by golden-leafed trees. The end of the drive blossomed into a roundabout in front of a sprawling gray stone and white Cape Cod-style house with a manicured lawn and sharply trimmed shrubs. Tanisha pulled up just past the front door and turned off the engine. “It’s show time. You ready for this?”

Kelly studied the lovely home a moment, then, without looking at Tanisha, nodded and opened the car door.

They were not pleased to hear the barking of a large dog on the other side of the front door when they rang the bell.

“Remember that remark I made back in the loft about her turning the dog on us?” Tanisha whispered to Kelly. “I was just kidding then.”

“Or maybe it was a premonition,” Kelly whispered back.

A woman dressed in jeans and an oversized man’s white shirt worn open over a pale yellow turtleneck opened the front door. Hanging from a beaded chain around her neck were a pair of reading glasses. On her feet were Keds. In spite of her casual attire, she wore a thick gold necklace and impressive diamond stud earrings. Her makeup was perfect and her shoulder-length honey blonde hair was held back from her face with a headband. She appeared to be in her late forties. By her side was a large, growling Doberman. She had a firm grip on his collar.

“Quiet,” she ordered the dog. The black and tan animal immediately stopped barking, but did not let down its guard. It stood as straight and alert as a career military man, ready to defend its mistress at the first sign of trouble.

“Yes?” she asked them.

“Mrs. Browne,” Tanisha began, trying not to appear afraid of the dog. “I’m Tanisha Costello. We spoke this morning. This is my friend Kelly…Kelly White.” Kelly glanced at her but said nothing.

At first, the woman at the door appeared puzzled, then her mouth pulled tight and her brows came together with displeasure. “Are you the same person who called here a little while ago?”

“Yes,” Tanisha confirmed. “I know this seems like an intrusion.”

“Seems? This
is
an intrusion.” The woman’s voice was harsh, causing the dog to shift and stiffen, waiting for a command to vanquish the visitors. “I told you I don’t know anything about the loft. I owned it. I lived in it. I sold it to you. End of story.” The woman sounded more agitated than annoyed.

Tanisha wasn’t about to give up. “I recall something about you not living in it for several years before we bought it. That you leased it out to tenants.”

“That’s correct.”

“Did any of your tenants have any unusual experiences while living there?”

Mrs. Browne’s eyes shifted off to the side before she spoke. “How would I know? Now if you’ll excuse me, I was in the middle of something.”

“Please, Mrs. Brown,” pressed Tanisha. “I’m a freelance writer on a deadline and need to check out the history of that building as soon as possible. Kelly attends Harvard and is helping me.” Tanisha had a business card at the ready and handed it to the woman.

Without receiving any command, the dog sat down, whimpered like a puppy, and thumped its tail. His owner looked down with surprise. “That’s odd. Hans doesn’t usually like strangers.”

Tanisha, sensing that Mrs. Browne was letting down her guard, continued to plead her case, “Please, Mrs. Browne, we would just like to ask you a few questions. It won’t take long.”

The woman looked at the two of them, then down at her dog, who was now acting like a welcome wagon. When she looked back up, she opened the door wide. “Oh, all right, come on in. But drop the Mrs. Browne. It reminds me of my mother-in-law. Call me Rhoda.”

When they reached a spacious sunroom just off the kitchen, Rhoda invited them to take seats at the wicker and glass table in the center of the room. “Can I get you girls something to drink? I was about to have some tea.”

Both declined and Rhoda went back into the kitchen to fetch her tea. Hans stayed behind, settling down on a large, thick doggy bed near the door.

“Did you drop a dog treat when no one was looking?” Tanisha whispered to Kelly. “Or a tranquilizer?”

“It’s Granny. I don’t see her, but I guarantee she’s around. Dogs go nuts for her.” Almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth, Granny popped up next to Hans. “What a great dog,” the ghost said with enthusiasm. “We gotta get one of these as a buddy for Archie.”

“I think Archie is fine the way things are,” Kelly responded.

“Who’s Archie?” asked Tanisha.

“My grandparents’ Scottish terrier. He and Granny are BFFs.”

A minute later, Rhoda was back. She put a tall mug down on the glass table and took a seat across from them. The tea was aromatic with ginger.

“This is such a lovely room, Rhoda,” commented Kelly. “I love all the baskets of hanging plants.”

“Thank you. This room allows us to feel like we’re outside, except when it gets very cold.” She blew over the top of her tea to cool it. “So what do you need to know about the place?” She raised the mug to her lips and took a delicate sip.

Tanisha dove right into her questions. “We know the building was converted into lofts in the 1990’s. Did you buy your loft then?”

“No, I bought the loft in…” she started. “Let’s see, I think I bought it in 2001 or 2002. I was single and working in Boston at the time. It was only a few years old, but I believe I was the second owner.” She held up the index finger of her right hand. “No, I remember now. I was the third owner. I remember because I was suspicious at the time why such a great place had turned around so many times in so few years.”

“Did you ever ask the Realtor why?”

“Of course I did. I suspected something wasn’t sound about the place, but it passed inspection with flying colors. I even worried that one of the other owners was loud or difficult, but I questioned a few of them and they said the building was quiet and everyone pleasant. The Realtor told me it was just a
coincidence. She said the first owner got a job transfer out of state and the second owner sold it when she got married. I was never able to confirm that but wanted the loft enough to take the Realtor’s word for it.”

“Is that why you moved out?” Kelly asked. “Because you got married?”

Rhoda started to say something, but stopped. A slight shake invaded her hands. She picked up the mug to steady them. “No,” she finally said. “I got married seven years ago, after I’d already moved out. After buying the loft, I lived in it for a couple of years, then,” Rhoda hesitated. She took another sip of tea. She seemed to grow more nervous as she spoke. “I fell ill. I had to leave the loft and my job and move back in with my mother. I always hoped I’d go back to the loft, so I leased the place out instead of selling it. Then I married Edward, and we hung on to it until this past year because the real estate market was so soft.”

Tanisha and Kelly exchanged looks, both sure that Rhoda had something to tell them that was just below the surface. “So for about ten years it was leased?” asked Tanisha.

“More like eight or nine. When I could find stable tenants, that is. None of them stayed very long and I was never sure why. It’s a great place in a super location. But that’s why I finally decided to sell it, even in this crappy real estate market. It was just too much trouble to keep it leased.”

Granny floated over to the table. “Ask what made her sick.”

“I’m very sorry to hear of your illness,” Kelly said with sincerity. “If you don’t mind my asking, what happened?”

Rhoda shrugged. “I never found out exactly. I went from one doctor to another, had more tests than I knew existed. They found nothing. No cancer. No odd disease of any kind. I was finally diagnosed as bipolar. I left the loft and my job when the mood swings became so bad I feared for my life. I’ve been on medication since.”

Kelly noted that Tanisha was being very quiet. “I’m very sorry to hear that,” she said again to Rhoda, “but I hope you’re a lot better now.”

“I started getting better almost immediately after I was diagnosed. My mother is convinced it was the stress of my job that triggered it. She was probably right. I was in marketing and very ambitious, and spent a lot of time traveling.” She laughed. “It was impossible to keep a decent relationship going. I don’t think Edward and I would have met and married had I not made a major life change when I did.”

Hans got up from his bed and wandered over to the table. He tried to nudge Granny, but his nose went right through her. “In a minute,” the ghost said to the animal. “I’m working here.”

Rhoda reached out and petted the dog for a few seconds. He accepted it as second choice. “He really is very good around you girls. He’s usually not this social with company.”

Kelly and Tanisha exchanged another quick look.

“Isn’t that bipolar a kind of depression?” asked Granny. “Kind of like what Tanisha is going through?”

Kelly moved her head as if she were loosening some tightness in her neck, but she was really letting Granny know she was on the track of something.

After taking a big sip of her tea, Rhoda asked, “Have you talked to Russell Savage yet? He’s been in the building since the conversion. In fact, I think he was one of the developers.”

Tanisha looked surprised. “Really? I didn’t know that. He’s never mentioned it when I’ve seen him.” She turned to Kelly to explain. “He lives in the top floor apartment, right above me. It’s the largest in the building and takes up the entire floor.”