Page 47 of Transatlantic Terror Cruise

Ransom closes his eyes for a moment. “You mean, we’ve had an audience all this time?”

“It seems so.”

Wes shakes his head. “I suppose this gives new meaning to the phrasethree’s a crowd.”

Ransom’s eyes widen my way for a moment. “Is this the lady from the window?”

“The one and only,” I say.

Wes sighs. “I’m sorry you’re both going through this. I guess the only way to restart your honeymoon is to solve the case.” He ticks his head to the side. “Whoever Sassy may be, Brad must have really revered her if she’s been sent to help.”

“You would think,” I say. “But according to Sassy, she hardly knew Brad. In fact, she says he couldn’t stand her.”

“Yet another plot twist,” Ransom says with a sigh. “As much as I hate to say it, I think Wes is right. The fastest way to resume our honeymoon is to solve this case. So by all means”—Ransom gestures to one of the leather chairs—“let’s take a seat. Tell us more about our spectral friend with the name of an exotic dancer.”

Ransom and I do just that, but Wes moves toward a small cupboard next to the window.

“This calls for sustenance.” He pulls out a tray of what looks like fresh baked white chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookies. “It’s the head pastry chef’s secret stash. Don’t tell him I know where he hides the treats.”

Wes’ phone chirps before we can dig into the stolen baked goods. He glances at the screen and grimaces. “Looks like duty calls. Try not to summon up a cemetery while I’m gone. One ghost is probably enough for any cruise ship.”

No sooner does the door close behind him than a spray of pink and red stars glitters through the air just as Sassy materializes in her spectral glory—redheaded victory roll and all.

“Well, well,” she purrs as she floats over in her red and white dotted dress. “It looks as if the head of security is about to arrest his new bride.” She gives a dark laugh. “I just can’t wait for the naughty twist about to take place.” She snags a cookie and lands across from us, ready for the show.

I grab Ransom’s hand and give it a squeeze. “The guest of honor just showed up.” I nod her way. “And now it’s our turn to do a little prying intoherpersonal life.”

CHAPTER25

“All right, Sassy,” I say as the perky poltergeist makes her presence known to Ransom and me, right here in the crew lounge. “Let’s hear all the dirty deets you’ve got on this latest homicide. You can start with everything you know about Brad and Elvie Whipple.”

“Ohhoney.” Sassy settles into her seat across from us—albeit floating—while making quick work of a freshly baked white chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookie that’s far more chips and nuts than it ever is a cookie. Have I mentioned that they’re perfection personified? “Where should I even start?” She sighs. “The whole thing is messier than a romance novel written by a divorce lawyer.”

Ransom squeezes my hand as he nods her way. “Start with Elvie,” he suggests. “And we can work our way down from there.”

“Elvie Whipple.” Sassy sighs. “She’s a sweet woman and one of my best friends, but she has terrible taste in men. Both of her husbands were pieces of work if you ask me. But at least the first one just ignored her. Brad, however?” She shakes her head. “That man had more secrets than a confessional booth.”

“Like what?” I ask while squeezing Ransom’s hand for good measure.

“Like the fact he was bleeding money from the cosmetics company. Small amounts at first, then bigger sums. Elvie didn’t seem to notice. She was too busy trying to keep her sons from self-destructing. ButInoticed. I worked with the books, after all.”

Ransom and I exchange a look. I know he’s thinking what I’m thinking.

Is Brad Whipple the reason Sassy had to vacate her corporal frame?

I clear my throat. “Did you confront him?”

“I tried to.” Sassy snorts, sending miniature sparkling stars through the air. “That’s when things got messy. He threatened to tell Elvie thatIwas the one embezzling. He had the paperwork all set up to frame me if I didn’t keep my mouth shut.” She pauses to shudder and more pink stars emit from her. “I bit the big one before it came to that, obviously.”

“I’m sorry to hear it,” Ransom says, nodding in her general direction. “Sassy, I have to ask, how exactly did you die?”

“Anaphylactic shock,” she says without hesitation. “It turns out, I was allergic to peanuts. I avoided them all my life. Everyone knew about my allergy. My mother always said to put it out there in the event someone tosses some peanuts into a dish at the potluck. But well, it didn’t do a lot to protect me in the end. In fact, I’m not even sure what I ate that last day that had them in it. Regardless, it turned out to be a lethal amount.” She shrugs and more sparkles explode all around her. “But you know what they say, when the earthly jig is up—yougo up. That is, unless you godown.And from what I’ve heard, you don’t want anything to do with the room downstairs. Besides, all that heat would be murder on my hair.” She gives her crimson locks a quick bounce with her hand.

“What do you know about Becky Lee?” I ask. “When I was speaking to her earlier, you mentioned you amassed plenty of her murder merch.”

“Did I ever.” She rolls her eyes. “And don’t think Brad gave me a discount on it either. But it was so delicious I couldn’t get enough of it. No one could. Elvie used to say it was the murder merch that drew the crowds to their podcast events more than Brad or Elvie themselves. In fact, they were so profitable, Brad and Becky Lee set up a website to sell to the public. Apparently, it was pretty lucrative.”

“I bet,” I say, before turning to Ransom. “Becky Lee told me all about the cute catchphrases she’s emblazoned on everything from tote bags to T-shirts.” I blow out a breath. “She also told me all about the trouble she’s having at home with her husband. It sounds like there might be some emotional abuse going on there. But she’s working on getting him into counseling.”

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