Who Invited the Ghost to Dinner: A Ghost Writer Mystery Read online

  Who Invited the Ghost to Dinner?

  A Ghostwriter Novel

  By Teresa Lee Watson

  Contents

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Books by Teresa Watson

  List of Characters

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  About the Author

  Who Invited the Ghost to Dinner: A Ghostwriter Mystery

  by Teresa Watson

  Copyright Teresa L. Watson

  This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental, or done with the blessings of the persons involved.

  All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  DEDICATION

  Edna Anna Alma Kersten Altman

  November 21, 1918 – January 29, 2015

  Reverend Theodore James “Jim” Massey

  April 16, 1944 – February 4, 2015

  When I wrote the first Ghostwriter story, I used my family members as characters. Grandma Alma was named for my grandmother, and Jim Shaw for my father. My grandmother always had a smile on her face, loved to laugh, but mostly, she loved to give her son-in-law a hard time. Inviting Grandma over when we grilled dinner usually meant a discussion about how she wanted her food cooked. “I like mine well, well done, Jim,” she said. One time, Dad got so exasperated, he just handed her a piece of charcoal and said, “Enjoy!” She called him, “Old what’s his name, that son-in-law of mine”, and he lovingly called her “the old battleaxe” or “Gravel Gertie.”

  Grandma was 96 when she passed away last January. She outlived her brothers and sister, her husband, brother-in-law, and one sister-in-law. She was the only grandmother that I had from the age of seven. I was so blessed to have had her in my life for almost forty years. I cherish the memories, and miss her deeply. I love you, Gravel Gertie.

  Dad...there are so many things that I could say, and it would be longer than this book. One of my biggest supporters, my loudest cheerleader, the rock of our family. Seventy years on this earth was not long enough. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him. For all the love, the lessons taught, just for being there, thank you, Dad. I love you.

  Grandma was just as stubborn and feisty as Grandma Alma in the story, although she wasn’t a poker player, and she never remarried after Grandpa Charlie died. I figured if she was going to live on in my stories, she was going to have as much fun as possible.

  Jim in the story is just like Dad. He really did serve as a chaplain’s assistant in Vietnam, and he really was a minister. I made the character as much like Dad as I could. And he really did offer to cut my hair with a weed eater...often.

  God bless both of you. Until we meet again...I love you.

  Grace and peace,

  Teresa

  Acknowledgements

  First of all, Waxahachie, Texas is a real city (I should know, I live here!). There really is a Lake Waxahachie, too. The people and places in the story are pure fiction, although three or four people are actually based on people I know, and have been given their permission, blessing, and full creative license to use them in the story. As, I said the last time, if I didn’t do them justice, then I deeply apologize, and shall endeavor to do better in the future.

  The community theatre in the story really exists, although my description may not be accurate or do the building justice. It was built in the early 1900s, and is on the Texas Historical Registry. It really is shaped like a hexagon, and the box office is a separate building; it is a smaller version of the theatre itself.

  There really is a placed called The Twisted Root Burger Co. There are several locations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and it is a FANTASTIC place to eat! Each time we go there is a unique experience. A big thank you to Jason for allowing me to use the restaurant in the story (he made me promise not to turn anyone into hamburger meat).

  Now to the thank you’s: My usual crew: my mother, Charlotte; Kristi Spinks and Stacy Jeziorowski, who patiently read this story, and all unanimously agreed the original ending stunk, and made me rewrite it. Stacy and Kristi painstakingly did a final read through (as did I!) to make sure that all the changes we needed to make were done. You guys ROCK! I could never do any of these books without the three of you encouraging me, brainstorming with me, and telling me your own ideas for these awesome characters we have created.

  Stephanie Nelson of Once Upon a Time Covers for the beautiful cover for this book and for the first Ghostwriter book, Who Killed the Ghost in the Library? Thank you so much!

  My head assistant, James, my son: I think I had the most fun working with you on this book. He and I spent one morning trying to figure out the murder of one of the characters. It took us about an hour and a half of sending messages back and forth. When we were done, your response was the absolute best: “Did we seriously just plot out a murder!?!?!?!?!?!” My reply was, “Welcome to my world, son! This is what I do for a living! Exciting, isn’t it?” I don’t think Mother and I would have made it through the last year without your love and strength. Thank you, James. You have turned into a wonderful young man. Papa would be very proud of you. Love you!

  To my loving hubby: You have been the rock of Gibralter this past year. Thank you so much for all your love and patience, the endless meals you have brought home while I have been frantically working on this story, and for just being there when I needed to have a good cry (or a backrub). Love you!

  Books by Teresa Watson:

  The Lizzie Crenshaw Mysteries:

  Death of a Cantankerous Old Coot

  Death Makes the Front Page

  Death Stalks the Law

  Death Goes to the Dogs

  Death Catches a Killer

  Death Takes the Blue Ribbon

  Death Vetoes the Chairman (full-length)

  Death Drives a Zamboni (upcoming book)

  The Charlie Bannerman
Mysteries:

  Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don’t Let the Stalkers Bite

  The Ghostwriter Mysteries:

  Who Killed the Ghost in the Library?

  Who Invited the Ghost to Dinner?

  List of Characters

  Cam Shaw – our heroine

  Mike Penhall – chief of police; Cam’s boyfriend

  Randy Cross – Cam’s best friend; owner of The Crack’d Spine

  Jim & Charlotte Shaw – Cam’s parents; owners of Jim’s Heavenly Roasted Java

  (but Charlotte Runs It)

  Alma Dreyer – Cam’s feisty grandmother

  Walt Penhall – Mike’s grandfather; Alma’s boyfriend

  Pete Wyatt – Walt’s best friend

  Nigel Musgrove – Randy’s boyfriend

  Clinton Ingram – owner of Ingram Construction

  Joseph “Joey” Ingram – owner of Ingram Properties; Clinton’s son

  Susan Ingram – Joey’s wife

  Reed Ingram – Joey & Susan’s son; works on a construction crew for Ingram Construction

  Charles Prufrock Jr – lawyer

  Doris Jones – his secretary

  Jeff Reynolds – police officer

  Joanne Reagan – rookie officer

  Dr. Quincy – medical examiner

  Kim Thurston – paramedic

  Jolanda Williams – psychic, computer guru, flower child

  Stephen Showalter – Broadway director with a big secret

  Joe Wilder – Cam’s pushy agent

  Regina Lopez – a barista at the coffeehouse

  Ghosts

  Mac “The Faker” Green – minor member of the Vegas mob in the 50s & 60s

  Lillian Ingram – Clinton’s wife; murdered in the late 1960s

  Actors/director for Blithe Spirit

  Richard Danforth – director

  Diane Martin – actress; plays Ruth, Charles’ 2nd wife in the play

  Rachel Newton – actress; plays Elvira, Charles deceased 1st wife in the play

  Simon Edwards – actor; plays Charles, a writer in the play

  Various other townspeople

  Chapter 1

  Monday

  “Mike, you cannot drag an elderly man into your office and threaten to throw him in jail just because he won’t tell you where your grandfather is,” I said.

  The look on Chief Mike Penhall’s face said otherwise.

  “Am I the only one around here who is remaining calm about this situation?”

  “The disappearance of two old people is not what I would call a situation, Cam.”

  “What would you call it?”

  “A kidnapping.”

  I rolled my eyes, shook my head and sighed. My mother, Charlotte Shaw, and Mike were freaking out because Mike’s grandfather, Walt Penhall, and my grandmother, Alma Dreyer, had disappeared two days ago. I was pretty sure there was nothing nefarious about it, but Mike and Mother weren’t convinced. “Just how long are you planning on leaving Pete in the interview room?”

  Mike shrugged. “Not long.”

  I shook my head and stood up. “This nonsense ends right now,” I told him as I left his office. I went down the hall to the interview room and opened the door. Pete Wyatt was sitting in a gray chair at a metallic gray table, but he wasn’t alone. A young woman with light brown hair sat across from him, laughing at something he had said.

  Pete looked over at me as I entered the room. “Cam, what are you doing here?”

  “Orchestrating a jail break,” I replied. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

  “You bet!” he grinned. “It’s meatloaf day at the home. The cook puts slices of green bell pepper in it, and it tastes wonderful. This lovely young lady is my granddaughter, Margaret Jewell Davidson, but most people just call her M.J. She was coming to see me when Mike hauled me in. How did you know I was here?”

  We shook hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, M.J. I’m Cam Shaw,” I said. “Rose saw Mike put you in his squad car this morning. She called my dad at the coffeehouse, and he told me after the early rush was over.”

  “Ah, bless Rose’s heart,” Pete said. “I thought that was her I saw walking through the garden. Come on, M.J., let’s go.”

  M.J. grabbed her purse. “Did the chief say it was all right to leave? I don’t want Gramps to get into any more trouble.”

  “You’re assuming I did something to get into trouble in the first place,” Pete said, looking offended.

  We made our way down the hall to the front door; Mike was standing in front of it. “Where do you think you’re going?” Mike asked Pete.

  “Meatloaf day,” Pete replied.

  “I’m not done talking to you yet.”

  I glared at him. “Yes, you are. Now move out of the way.”

  He shook his head.

  “Pete, you and M.J. head out to my car. I’ll be right there,” I said as I grabbed Mike by the arm, dragging him out of the way so they could make a break for it. “Listen, I will talk to Pete myself, in a non-hostile environment. He’ll open up to me.”

  “He better,” Mike growled. “I’m getting sick and tired of answering your mother’s calls every hour.” Just then, his cell phone rang. He pulled it out. “Speak of the devil…”

  “Good luck with that,” I told him as I ran out the door after Pete.

  “Call me later,” Mike said.

  I just waved and kept going. “Did you drive over here, M.J.?” I asked.

  “No, I walked. I don’t live that far away.”

  I unlocked the car doors of my Olds 442, my pride and joy, and we all piled in. As we headed for the home, I glanced sideways at Pete. “Okay, we’re away from Mike. If I ask you, will you please tell me where Grandma Alma and Walt are?”

  “Vegas.”

  It’s a good thing we came to a stop sign, because I turned and stared at him. “I’m sorry, did you say Vegas? As in Las Vegas?”

  “Do you know of any other Vegas?” Pete chuckled.

  The truck behind me honked, and I drove through the intersection. “What in the world are they doing there?”

  “What do you think they are doing there?” he said mischievously.

  “Ew, TMI, Grandpa,” M.J. said from the back seat.

  “I agree,” I said. “Why didn’t they tell anyone where they were going?”

  “Because all of you treat them like they are frail flowers that have to be kept under glass. They may be older, but they’re not dead. There is life beyond the four walls of that building,” he replied, pointing at the nursing home as I parked in front of it. “Let them live, Cam. Tomorrow isn’t a sure thing, and none of us want to spend it sitting on our butts, playing dominoes or watching TV all day.”

  “I guess none of us stopped to consider that,” I admitted.

  “That’s the problem with the younger generations,” Pete said. “You’re all so busy scheduling your lives on your little phones, you don’t take time to stop and enjoy life. There’s a whole world out there, waiting for you to discover it. Just remember to look around you.”

  I nodded as they got out of the car. “Did they tell you when they were going to be back?”

  “Nope,” he replied. “Oh, there’s just one more thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “They didn’t go to Vegas to play blackjack.”

  “I’m sure there are plenty of other games they can play,” I laughed, “although I’m sure Grandma Alma would win at any game she played.”

  “But there are other things to do in Vegas.”

  “Well, yeah, there are plenty of shows they can go to.”

  Pete sighed and shook his head.

  And then it hit me. “No, they didn’t,” I said.

  “Yep,” he laughed, “they eloped!”

  Chapter 2

  “How am I going to tell my mother that her mother eloped to Vegas?” I groaned to my best friend, Randy Cross, twenty minutes later.

  We were at the front counter of Randy’s bookstore, Th
e Crack’d Spine, which was right across the street from Jim’s Heavenly Roasted Java (but Charlotte Runs It), my parents’ coffeehouse. “A better question: What are you going to tell Mike?”

  I leaned on the counter and put my hands on my hands. “They both are going to blow a gasket.”

  “Do you know for sure that they got married in Vegas?”

  “They called Pete from the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel. He said he could hear the theme song from The Godfather playing in the background.”

  “Are you serious?” Randy started laughing. “Were there guys with machine guns guarding the minister?”

  “I have no idea. I don’t think I even want to know.”

  “I think it’s great. Good for them.”

  “Why didn’t they mention to any of us that they wanted to get married?”

  “Look at how y’all are reacting now,” Randy pointed out. “Can you imagine what your mother would have said if she had known about it ahead of time?”

  “She would’ve found a way to lock her in her room.”

  “I have to agree with Pete about the way your mother treats your grandma. She definitely treats her like a child. Your grandmother may be eighty-four, but she acts like she’s sixty. Who knows how much longer she’s going to be around? None of us knows the answer to that. We don’t come with an expiration date tattooed on our butts. Let them live their lives the way they want to. There are times when I’d rather hang around with Alma than with you.”

  “Thanks a lot.”

  “You act like an old woman sometimes, Cam. When given the choice of going out or staying home, you stay home, wearing your old lounging pants and a T-shirt, eating M&Ms and watching sports on TV. You aren’t living; you’re sitting at home watching life pass you by. Your grandma is running out the door yelling, ‘Catch me if you can!’ I’d rather be with her, although I’m not sure I could keep up with her.”

  “Wow, I had no idea you think I’m a dull person with no life, Randy.”

  “I didn’t say that. You just need to learn how to have fun again. And a wardrobe makeover wouldn’t hurt, either.”