Page 69 of All You Want
“Now, Gracie, this has nothing to do with what happened before,” Dad cuts her off. “Nothing at all. That was an accident, but this is deliberate. Did you see the baseball bat?”
“Sure, after everyone moved and posed with it.” Mom coughs. “I told the youngsters not to touch it, but they thought it was part of the Harrowing Haunts fun and games.”
They unlock the door of the Weeping Widow Walkway where I ended up putting them. Mom flutters around, trying to spread a dry-cleaning bag on the bed to keep the blood off the sheets.
“I don’t want to get the bed dirty,” I protest. “I don’t have to lie down.”
“Of course, you do, darling.” Mom bustles around the room, checking the curtains and turning on lamps. “You need rest.”
“This won’t take long,” Todd says, still holding me. “But I have to ask her a few questions while everything’s fresh on her mind.”
“She’s had a shock.” Dad harrumphs. “I’m calling Dr. Tyler to give her a sedative, and then we’re taking our little girl home where it’s safe.”
I need to firm up fast, or they’ll take control again. This isn’t how I envisioned the grand opening. I’m definitely not leaving my hotel—not with everyone unsettled and liable to check out as soon as dawn breaks.
“Dad, please let Todd question me.”
“I’m calling our attorney.” Dad grabs Mom’s purse and extracts her cell phone. His was confiscated since he took pictures of the crime scene.
“Dad, no.” I glare at them from the safety of Todd’s arms.
“George, we should leave them be,” Mom says. “Tami’s innocent, and she doesn’t need a lawyer present.”
“I’m staying, and I’m recording this.” Dad sets Mom’s phone on the table. “Go ahead then. Question my daughter, but I’m telling you, Sheriff, she has rights, and you are not going to railroad her.”
“I don’t intend to,” Todd says. “But I can’t have you recording her testimony. Since you’re not cooperating, I’m taking her to the station.”
“Dad. Please.” I pat Todd to put me down. “There are a ton of people waiting in the dining room to give their statements. This is my hotel, and I need to be there with my guests.”
Since everyone’s treating me with kid gloves, and I’m sick of being bloody and dirty, I unzip my dress in front of them and let the bloody mess slip from my body. I discard my shoes and stockings and throw my hat on the dresser. Then I peel off the layers of petticoats and other accoutrements a Victorian prostitute wore.
Todd refuses to stare at me, but I can see the redness creep up his face. I’m down to my bra and panties, so I swivel in front of him and poke his badge. “Well, are you going to question me or not?”
“Tami, what’s the matter with you?” Dad asks. “How can you parade around—”
I drag Todd into the bathroom and shut the door to my dad’s protests.
“Uh, Tami, your parents might get the wrong idea,” he stammers.
“Then let them be as wrong as they can. What’s new?” I sweep the shower curtain aside and step into the bathtub shower combo. “You coming in?”
“I can’t,” he stammers. “Just tell me what you saw.”
“I saw your mask, Toddkins. The little black cat dragged it to me. I saw a bloody bat and a ghost wearing that black sheet. He left it behind when he disappeared behind the dumpster. I think I’m going crazy, because the ghost pushed me, and he said he saw me do it.”
“Did you recognize his voice?” Todd asks.
“No, because he was speaking under his breath in a very tight hiss.”
“Anything else you remember about him? Height, weight?”
“Taller than me. Strong with muscles, but not overly bulky.” I shudder at the feel of the man rubbing against my backside.
“Anything else? Did you see his shoes? Smell his cologne?”
“He grabbed me from behind. I didn’t smell anything but blood and garbage.”
“Could you have gotten the blood on your clothes from him?” Todd asks.
