Meanwhile, Back in Deadwood (Deadwood Humorous Mystery Book 6) by Ann Charles Page A

liked what I had to offer, had already checked with my references, and wanted to start right away, so I followed her back to her office and we got busy.”
    “She?” Gotten busy doing what?
    “A widow.”
    “A widow as in a twenty-five-year-old stripper who married a rich, old dying oil tycoon, and now that he’s pushing up daisies she has tons of cash and is on the hunt for a hot and sexy boy toy?”
    He chuckled. “More like a sixty-six-year-old successful entrepreneur who is ready to retire but afraid to stop working since her husband is gone.”
    Okay, so my version was a little heavy on the Hollywood drama. “You could still be her boy toy.”
    “Your name is already written on the bottom of my foot.”
    Ah, hell. When he said stuff like that, I felt like leaping into his arms and licking his whole face. Rather than slobber all over him, I decided to switch subjects to something less heart palpitating.
    “Cornelius called me today.” I headed over to the light switches by the front door.
    “How is your favorite paranormal investigator enjoying his new digs?”
    “Well, that’s sort of why he called.” I shut off all of the overhead fluorescents but one.
    “What did he say?”
    I didn’t waste Doc’s time with the insanity that had passed between me and Abe Jr. “He wants to talk to you.”
    “Me? Why?”
    I paused in front of him for emphasis. “According to him, there are dead people talking in his walls, and he needs your help shutting them up.”
    Doc searched my face.
    “No joke.” I waited for him to start laughing.
    Instead he nodded. “Okay.” He started toward the back door.
    I caught his arm, stopping him. “What do you mean okay?”
    “In the English language, that’s another word for sure .”
    “Smartass.” I poked him in the ribs, making him grunt. “You mean you’re willing to go up to Cornelius’s suite and talk about dead people?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    He put his hand on my lower back and urged me down the hall. “Let’s just say that after the last two séances with your orangutan pal from the Planet of the Apes, I’m curious what his abilities are in the paranormal realm.”
    “I think this is a bad idea.” I glanced into Jerry’s dark office as we passed by, making sure everything was shut off. “Cornelius could expose you in a way that’s detrimental to your business reputation.”
    I realized as I got within reach of the back door that Doc’s hand was no longer pushing me along. I looked over my shoulder and skidded to a stop at the sight of him standing opposite Jerry’s office, staring into the dark doorway, his body rigid.
    “What’s wrong?” I walked back and peered into the shadows with him. “What is it?”
    He sniffed like he used to when we were house hunting together. “There’s something in there.”
    I gripped his arm. “Please tell me you’re smelling Jerry’s gym shoes.”
    “It reminds me of …” he trailed off and took a step back.
    “The stinky, mean ghost?”
    Doc had had trouble since the first time he’d walked through the front door months ago with an angry ghost that haunted my office. Most of the time, he went out of his way to avoid it. So, what was with him hanging around to shoot-the-shit with it tonight?
    “No, something is different.”
    “Different how?”
    “With the scent. Hold on.” He grabbed me and pushed me behind him, blocking me. “Here it comes.”
    I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressed my cheek against his back, and closed my eyes. His muscles tensed and his breath caught, his heart picking up speed for a ten-count. Then he relaxed again.
    “Is it gone?” I whispered.
    He didn’t answer.
    I opened my eyes. “Are you okay, Doc? Do you need to sit down?”
    “Let’s clear out of here.” He took me by the elbow and practically dragged me down the hall and out the back door. Without saying a word, he waited while I locked up. As soon as my key left the lock, he grabbed my arm and tugged me