Who Invited the Ghost to Dinner: A Ghost Writer Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

at gunpoint by Stanley and Amelia’s son, Artie, at the Ashton house. We never figured out why Mike could see Stanley. I hadn’t wanted to say anything about Mac at all. Walt, Grandma Alma, and I had all agreed not to say a word about him to the rest of the family. Granted, I had told Randy, but that was out of sheer frustration. Was I paying for it now! “You’re still coming with me to the dinner, right?”
    He nodded. “I’m looking forward to it. Informal?”
    “Oh, definitely. I wouldn’t have agreed to go if I’d had to wear a dress.”
    Mike’s radio crackled. “Chief, we’ve got a problem at the tire place. Some kids swiped a couple of the big tractor tires, and they’re rolling each other down the street, blocking traffic.”
    “I’m on my way,” he replied. “Sorry, duty calls.”
    “I’ll see you after work?”
    “Definitely,” he said, giving me a quick kiss before walking to the door. “Then you can tell me about these ghosts you’ve seen.” He waved as he left.
    I spun around and stared at Randy, who had plastered his innocent “I didn’t mean to say anything” look on his face that I was more familiar with. “Why did you tell him?”
    “Honesty is the most important thing in a relationship,” Randy said.
    “I can think of a few things that are more important,” the ghost replied.
    “Shut up, Mac.”
    “Ooh, you mean he’s here, right now?” Randy said, looking around. “Where is he standing?”
    “Behind me, making snarky comments.”
    Randy glanced over my shoulder. “I don’t see him. Is he cute?”
    “He’s not bad, although I prefer the strong, silent ghost.”
    Mac snorted. “That’s not going to happen. I’ve never been one to keep my mouth shut.”
    “That’s probably the reason you’re dead,” I retorted.
    “That was uncalled for.”
    “Truth hurts.”
    “Whoa, whoa,” Randy said, holding up a hand. “Would you mind not arguing with the ghost in front of me? I’m only getting one side of this conversation, and I have to say, Cam, you’re being very mean.”
    “Yeah, listen to the man,” Mac said. “He’s smart.”
    “All right, I have had enough,” I said, grabbing my purse off the counter. “I am going home.” I pointed at Mac. “You stay away from me.” I turned to Randy. “And you keep your mouth shut.”
    When I got to the door, Randy stopped me. “I think there’s one thing you should be asking your ghost, Cam.”
    “And what’s that?”
    “Why is he here, and not Vegas?”
    I rolled my eyes and walked out the door. When I got to my car, I stopped. Damn it, Randy was right. Why was Mac here?
    I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like the answer.
     

 
    Chapter 5
     
     
    “A 1950s gangster?” Mike asked incredulously. “Are you serious?”
    We were sitting at my kitchen table, eating a supper of apple pork tenderloin, green beans, and salad. “His name is Mac ‘the Faker’ Green.”
    “The Faker?” he laughed. “What kind of name is that for a mob guy?”
    “I figure he was a wannabe.”
    “Why did your Vegas ghost follow you here to Waxahachie? This is hardly mob central.”
    “I’d rather know how he did it. I didn’t think ghosts could move around the country like that.”
    “You need to watch Ghost Adventures more,” Mike said.
    “I think I’d prefer not seeing ghosts at all, thank you very much.”
    “Tell me about the female one you saw today.”
    Mike got a thoughtful look on his face as I described the woman I had seen, right down to her double strand of pearls.
    “I thought she was one of the community theatre actors, if you want the truth. The mystery is set in the 1940s. Thankfully, the idea to give the whole shebang a fifties theme was tossed out.”
    “Lucky us. Who decided you had to help set up?”
    “Mother. Whatever she tells me to do, I do. As Dad would say, ‘Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do or die.’”
    “ The Charge of the Light Brigade .”
    “I’m