The Complete Coffee and Ghosts

3. The Ghost Whisperer-4

Police Chief Ramsey is standing in the lobby outside the gymnasium, arms folded over his chest, his serious-police-business scowl firmly in place. For a moment, my mood lifts. Yes! Mistress Armand is a fraud and Chief Ramsey is here to arrest her—or at least to shut down the séance.

The hope must show on my face, since an almost-grin appears on his.

“Sorry, Katy, you’ll have to deal with the competition on your own. I’m just here for traffic control when the séance lets out.”

Mistress Armand was right about one thing: there are always unbelievers. Chief Ramsey? He’s one of the biggest in town. When my grandmother was alive, every few months, she’d offer to help clear some of the unsolved cases clogging the files of the Springside Township Police Department. Half the vandalism in town is really the result of energetic sprites.

Chief always refused. Some people can’t detect ghost activity. They chalk up odd occurrences to Mercury in retrograde or bad luck or superstition.

I glance back at the closed gymnasium doors. “Does she have—?”

“A permit? Why, yes, she does. You’ll also notice she isn’t charging anyone anything.”

“Yet,” I add. “She isn’t charging them yet. The first hit is always free.”

“Isn’t that how you operate? Funny how the ghosts”—he draws little air quotes around the word ghosts—“always come back.”

Yes. Like mice. Or insects. I don’t say this. Instead, I say, “K&M Ghost Eradication Specialists is registered with City Hall. We’re a limited liability company, and our business license is up to date.”

Most of that is thanks to Malcolm. At the thought of him, my gaze once again goes to the closed gymnasium doors.

“Lose something?” Chief asks.

I choose to ignore this. “Let me know when you want me to capture the ghost in your garden shed.”

Without waiting for a reply, I walk from the lobby area and head into the night.

The air cools my heated cheeks. Part of me insists I charge back into the gymnasium and put a stop to the séance. Part of me wants to argue with Chief Ramsey, but I can’t force someone to believe in ghosts. I can’t force anyone to believe anything at all.

I take a final look at the community center doors and wonder if that applies to me.

There are always unbelievers.

Maybe I’m one of them.