Angela’s cheeks tinted pink. “Fine. But I think this HIPPO law or whatever is ridiculous. You probably made that up.” She turned and strode toward the door, closing it firmly behind her.
Janelle slumped. “I feel like I’m suffocating the way she hovers lately.”
“I’m sure she’s worried about you.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
The family definitely had issues. Janelle’s parents seemed both disinterested and yet overly protective. It was an odd combination. “Why did you want to talk to me alone?”
She kept her eyes down. “Well… I… you’re the only other person who I can talk to about this. You and Sheriff Callum.”
“Talk to about what?” I had an uneasy feeling I knew what she was going to say.
Her throat worked as if she was struggling to speak. “I… I saw her again tonight, Dr. Thornton.”
Here we go again.
“Her?” I asked warily.
She looked up, obvious fear in her eyes. “Yes.Her.”
My stomach tensed. “Do you mean… Kimora?”
She nodded, watching me cautiously. “Do you believe me?”
I had no idea how to answer that. I didn’t want to upset her, but naturally, I didn’t accept she was seeing a ghost. I hesitated and then said, “I believe you think you saw her.”
She crossed her arms, wrinkling her brow. “Why do you always qualify your answers like that? Like I’m crazy, but you don’t want to come out and say it.”
I sighed. “Listen, I don’t think you’re crazy. I think you’re struggling with grief.”
“But… I told you I saw her before… before Archie—” She didn’t finish.
“True.” I grimaced. “Still…”
She wailed, “Why won’t anyone believe me?”
I didn’t like that she was disappointed in me, even as I knew what she was proposing was insane. If I hadn’t felt fond of her, I’d have probably dismissed her as a simple loon. But no matter how much the words she said made her seem crazy, a small part of me couldn’t help but want to believe her.
“I want to accept what you’re saying,” I said quietly. “It’s just… what you’re saying defies logic, Janelle. I’m a big believer in logic.”
“I know. Don’t you think I know?” She gritted her teeth. “But I’m telling you, she came to me again. I saw her tonight. Here.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Here? Where exactly?”
“Down in the garden at the front of the house.” She sounded breathless. “Near the fountain.”
I sighed. “How could you be sure it was… Kimora?”
“Who else would it be?”
“Well, maybe a gardener?”
She shook her head. “No. What gardener would be working this time of night? Besides, it was a woman.”
“Women can be gardeners.”
“Ours isn’t,” she muttered. “Plus, she wore a dress.”
