“In case someone in your group knew something and might have talked,” Dallas said.
“Oh, please! A young couple escaping their kids for a few days? A wimp like Shelly—or even Stuart? And trust me, Mark doesn’t know any more than I do, and I miss him so much.” She broke off with a sob.
Jose embraced her with a ghostly arm. “We’re all mortal,” he reminded her. “Some of us just find that out...early.”
“Everyone dies,” Melody assured her.
“I guess I just wanted to live, first,” Yerby said.
Dallas cleared his throat. “All right, Yerby. We know you were killed by a big man, white, with blue eyes. We’ll find out if the police came up with any leads when we head into the task force meeting later this morning. Katie will work with an artist to give us a new sketch of the man she believes was in the bar and then changed his appearance to take the ghost tour.” He turned to look at Hannah. “Cancel any reservations you have for the upcoming week. Have your service do it. They can offer your guests a big discount on a later visit.”
Hannah didn’t argue. But then she asked, “What about the ghost tours?”
Dallas hesitated, looking over at Logan. “The ghost tours could continue,” he said.
“They could?” Hannah asked.
Kelsey spoke up. “Hannah, we could close down the Siren and you could move to another state, but the Wolf would still be out there.”
“In other words, our best chance of finding the man behind this is to allow the killer to come close,” Logan said.
“Can’t get much closer than yesterday,” Hannah murmured.
“It’s your call, Hannah,” Dallas said.
“Why not?” she said. “Everyone loves a good ghost tour—even hit men. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go start the coffee. And make breakfast. If there’s one thing we’re good at here, it’s breakfast.”
When she left the room, Yerby let out what sounded like a sigh. “I know you need to arrest the Wolf, but please...find out who did this to me, too.”
“We will,” Dallas said.
“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice fading along with her ghostly presence.
“She’s just not that strong,” Jose said. “She didn’t deserve this.” He stood. “I’m going to go haunt the town again. It’s all I can do now, but who knows? Maybe I’ll find something. I’ll leave you to all things physical. Dallas, my notes are in my desk at the local office. There may be something there I’m not remembering.”
“Thanks,” Dallas told him.
No sooner had Jose vanished than Hannah was back in the doorway between the kitchen and the parlor. “Breakfast’s ready,” she announced.
“Thank heaven for coffee,” Logan said, heading for the kitchen.
They all followed, and for a few moments they were all silent as they filled their plates. Soon everyone had coffee and something to eat. Hannah hadn’t had time to cook, but she’d set out Danish and bagels, along with cereal and fruit. She’d even come up with an assortment of power bars.
Logan filled a bowl with cereal but remained standing to eat. Kelsey sat down to nibble at a bagel. Dallas grabbed something that promised to be full of protein, fiber and Vitamin C.
Hannah herself didn’t eat. She sat, cradling her cup in her hands. Melody and Hagen hovered behind her. Petrie walked over to her, and she picked him up and held him close.
“We’ll get going as soon as everyone is ready,” Dallas said.
“We?” Hannah asked him.
“We can’t leave you here alone,” he said.
To his surprise, she smiled at him. “You won’t be leaving me alone. Kelsey will stay.”
Dallas was startled and stared at Kelsey, who met his gaze somewhat defensively. Something in his gut seemed to tighten. He wanted to protest. He wasn’t a chauvinist in any way, but he just couldn’t forget what had happened to Adrian.
“I’ll keep the doors locked, and we’ll give Liam a call and have a patrol officer park out front,” Kelsey said.
“But that means you won’t be in on the meeting,” he said.
She smiled. “You and Logan will be there.”
Hannah stood. “You said we have to be—to be obvious.”
Yes, but not when I’m not here! he thought.
He didn’t say it, though. He knew he had to believe in his fellow agent’s ability to do the job.
He realized something more than speaking with the dead had been going on that morning; Kelsey and Hannah hadn’t talked about their plan to stay, yet they had both known it. Maybe he should have, too.
He nodded curtly. “Kelsey—”
“You’re on speed dial, Dallas. And you’re lead. I’ll ring you before Logan if there’s the slightest reason. And remember, this is Key West. You won’t be far, just over on North Roosevelt.”
He turned to Hannah. “Just one thing, then. Don’t let anyone in while I’m gone. Got that?” She nodded, and he said to Logan, “I’m ready, then—as soon as that patrol car sets up out front.”
*
Watch the house. Well, that was easy enough for him to do.
Machete watched.