Page 29 of The Rainbow Recipe
Evie was tempted to askHot date tonight?but managed to restrain herself when Kit-Kat flung all the papers on his desk to the floor.Way to go, KK!
“Sorry, I must have let in a draft.” As Gladwell belatedly grabbed at his flying papers, Evie placed the flyer on his now empty desk. “I’m Evangeline Carstairs, from Afterthought’s licensing committee. We’re asking you to join us as we discuss the repercussions of this bill on our businesses. I assume no one told you that you might be subject to a considerable tax and proof of income and assets when you set up this wonderful shop?”
She was learning so much from hanging around people like Jax and his sister! She knew about P&Ls and balance sheets from her days working for a CPA, but she’d not have known how to wield them as scary threats until she heard others do it. Bankrupt businesses, in particular, wouldn’t want their financial statements revealed.
Matthew Gladwell sat up straight, looking mildly alarmed as he glanced at the flyer. “That can’t be legal, can it? Prihvasie”—privacy, Evie assumed—“and all that?”
His British accent was charming. His aura was not. But she’d already known that. She shut her third eye before his pulsating darkness made her too dizzy. “That is what the committee would like to address. We fear this is another example of government overreach. If we could have you and Miss Ugazio sign our petition...And it would be delightful if one of you could attend our next meeting. We understand if that might not be possible.” She dropped a petition on the desk beside the flyer.
“Lucia never signs anything,” he said dismissively, scribbling his name on the dotted line. “And I’m out of town quite a bit. Take my card and let my secretary know of the next meeting.” He pushed a business card across the desk with the signed petition.
Never signs, can’t sign, never again...Kit-Kat sing-songed in her ear. Her aura was practically jumping up and down in fury, but her attempt to knock the monitor off the desk failed. Her ghost didn’t have that much energy yet.
“What about Mr. Vincent or Nicolas Gladwell?” Evie suggested, tucking the paper into her capacious purse. “I suppose they’ve returned to London? We could fax them a petition.”
“Nick is waiting in Charleston for the coroner to release Kat’s body. I’ll give him a call, but he’s just marketing and not much on business. Do you have a card? How should I get in touch with you?” He looked her up and down but apparently found her great-aunt’s shapeless shirt dress lacking. Or maybe he didn’t like short, orange-haired women.
Evie pulled out her fancy new card case with herSensible Solutions Agencybusiness card. “Just a representative’s presence would be helpful when we hold our meeting. Thank you. If you’d let us know about Miss Gladwell’s funeral arrangements, we’ll send flowers. The coroner should be done now, shouldn’t he?”
He squirmed a little in his chair. “Still a few more tests. It’s all pointless. Nothing will bring her back. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have phone calls...” He lifted his phone to his ear and waited pointedly for her to leave.
Unable to think of anything else to ask, Evie departed. Kit-Kat did nothing more than mutter. Of course, listening to one’s funeral arrangements might be a trifle disconcerting, even for a ghost.
Back out front, she inquired, “Do you know when the bistro will open? I’d like to buy gift cards for a few friends.”
“You can buy cards to be used at any of our operations.” The clerk brightened and reached under the counter. She must be paid on commission, poor sucker.
“No, I’d rather wait for this one to open, thank you. My friends don’t travel much. Do you know anything about Miss Gladwell’s funeral arrangements? The committee would like to send flowers.” Kit-Kat’s aura prowled the store, not paying attention to Evie’s awkward questioning. She hoped the ghost might impart a little more, given time. Or better yet—attach herself to the boutique. Being haunted wasn’t all it cracked up to be.
“I believe they’re having Lady Katherine cremated and returned to London. It’s all so sad, isn’t it? She worked all her life to reach the peak of her career, and then her heart gives out.”
Cremation, because it was cheaper to ship the remains and the company really was that cash poor? Or to cover up any further evidence?
The clerk pushed a long lock of blond hair behind her ear. “It doesn’t say much for working hard, does it?”
“If one enjoys what one works at, it shouldn’t be stressful.” Evie couldn’t resist adding, “And they’re saying the heart attack was brought on by poison, so it might say more about whose toes she stomped on her way up the ladder.”
The clerk’s eyes widened. KK’s aura flashed angry enough for Evie to see it without trying. A pyramid of boxes spilled to the floor.
“Oh!” The clerk fled from the counter to fix the display. “These are Lady Katherine’s favorite scent. If she was murdered, do you think she’s haunting us? That would explain so much...”
Evie crouched down to help her. “This town has always been haunted. It’s possible. What other things have happened?”
“The inventory keeps disappearing,” the clerk whispered while they were both under the table. “We’ve had complaints about the gift cards, as if a magnetic presence wiped out the balances. Little things that make no sense.”
“Phone batteries going dead? I’ve heard that happens around ghosts.” Usually only when Evie was around and channeling them, but everyone’s batteries went dead sooner or later. She hoped a little suggestion added encouragement.
“Really?” The clerk straightened to restore her decorative pyramid. “No wonder my battery is always down! Oh, my.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I can’t tell Mr. Gladwell about a ghost! He’ll fire me.”
“No point in telling him. There isn’t anything he can do.” Untroubled that she was scamming the innocent, Evie produced another business card. “Let me know if the problem becomes more troubling. I know people who might help.”
Like herself. That wasn’t a scam, except KK didn’t show any signs of wishing to move on to the next plane. Of course, KK wasn’t causing disappearing inventory and empty gift cards either.
The clerk slid the card into her bra. “Thank you! I’ve invested in this company, and I want to see it work.”
Oh, baby, Evie hoped she hadn’t invested much. A fool and their money...But she couldn’t walk away without saying anything. “Have someone knowledgeable check the company’s financials before you invest more. And call the number on the card if you have questions. I know people who read the future.”
“Nick wouldn’t lead me astray,” the clerk said confidently. “But I might call if I don’t get the raise they promised.”
