Granny Apples 05 - Ghost in the Guacamole Read Online Free PDF Page A

will apologize to my guest, Lucy.”
    â€œThe hell I will,” the older sister said. To show she meant business, she plopped her large designer handbag down into one of the nearby chairs and looked straight at Rikki in defiance.
    Hector rushed over. “What is going on here?” he asked in hushed English. He switched into Spanish for his next words, which Emma judged by his tone and look contained a sharp scolding. He glanced over at the other side of the patio, where diners were watching the face-off with interest, as if it were a show staged for their benefit.
    Both sisters looked over at their customers, then at each other, neither giving in. Finally, Rikki said, “Sit down, sis. I don’t know what Mom told you, but at least hear me out.”
    Lucy was clearly thinking about the invitation to sit. She glanced over at the curious patrons and studied Hector’s glare a moment, then finally removed her handbag from the chair and sat down.
    â€œPlease, Emma,” Rikki said, indicating for her to take her seat. “I’m sorry, but please stay.”
    â€œPlease, Emma,” said Felix Ricardo, echoing Rikki’s words. He’d appeared once again, this time between his two daughters. “It’s too late to help me, but not them.”
    â€œTell us what happened to you,” said Granny, floating over to him. But instead of answering, he faded away again.
    Emma considered her options and decided to stay, if for no other reason than to possibly find out more about Felix and his death. She wanted to know why selling Roble Foods would save the Ricardo sisters. Had the stress of the business driven Felix to his grave, or was there more to it than that? She took her seat. Granny hovered right behind her. “Do you want me to try and find that Felix spirit again?” Granny said into Emma’s ear. Without a word, Emma gave her a very slight nod and Granny disappeared.
    â€œHow about some coffee?” Rikki said to Emma and Lucy. When neither answered, Rikki asked Hector to arrange for three
cafés con leche
to be brought to the table. Hector gave the Ricardo sisters a final warning scowl and left. Rikki retook her seat.
    Rikki indicated Emma. “Lucy, this is Emma Whitecastle, a famous medium and TV personality. I’ve asked her to help us contact Abuelito and Dad. I believe they can help us resolve our issues.”
    â€œI don’t need to hear about any mumbo jumbo,” Lucy insisted, keeping her voice low. She glared at Emma as she spoke to her sister. “You may have Mom fooled, but not me.” She turned her face to Rikki. “This is just some cheap trick to keep me from selling Roble Foods. But it won’t work.” She started to say something else but stopped when Carlos appeared at the table with the three
cafés con leche
. He placed them on the table, one in front of each of them, and started to clear Emma’s and Rikki’s plates.
    Lucy put out a hand and pointed at Carlos’s bare left arm. “And this is how you run this restaurant?” she asked. “By hiring
cholos
?”
    â€œI am not a
cholo
,” answered Carlos, his jaw tight and chiseled in contained anger.
    For a minute, Emma thought Carlos might fling the dishes back down on the table, but instead he took a deep breath. Emma knew that
cholo
was a term for a tough Latino male who dressed in baggy pants, wife-beater T-shirts, and flannel shirts. Usually
cholos
were also gang members.
    â€œI’m sorry, Carlos,” Rikki told the young man. “You’ll have to excuse my sister’s ignorance.”
    â€œI’m not the ignorant one,” Lucy said to no one in particular.
    With a slight nod, Rikki dismissed the young waiter. He took the dishes and left them, but as he passed Ana and Hector, who’d both been watching from a distance, he snapped something at them in Spanish. From Ana’s look of surprise and Hector’s scowl, Emma