Ghosted Read Online Free Page B

Black's
house last night, her father had his entire legal staff in her living room. When I
asked one of them what they were doing, he said Gerome called them
in to go over the sale of the apartment as soon as
possible."
    Pellis ducks her head back but
keeps her features even. "They were in his daughter's
apartment…discussing selling it out from under her?"
    "It wouldn't be out from under her if
she were dead, now would it?" Hernandez looks at his clipboard.
"Mr. Black also tried to insinuate Mr. Grant had something to do
with the attempted rape, like setting it up. But there's no
evidence of that. Daniel Grant's record is clean with no priors.
The only thing he's apparently guilty of is doing a good
act."
    "Never goes unpunished," Pellis echoes my
thoughts from before. "So how did you know he was missing? Because
he never showed up this morning?"
    I put a hand to my chest. This morning? I am
shocked it is the next day…the next afternoon.
    "We found his car on 85 north. It looked as if
he'd been rear ended. Found blood on the steering wheel. All of his
possessions were still inside, keys in the ignition. His phone was
gone, and so was he. They're towing it into the lab, but right now
we're not sure where he is. What I am sure of, is whatever happened
to Caroline Black last night has larger reaching arms than an
attack in an alley." He looks around again. "Go do what I said.
I'll smooth things over with the captain and I'll forward you what
I have so far. I'll call and make sure someone takes a good look at
Black's financials and his LUDs. Just get over there and stick with
Caroline. And keep your phone on you."
    Pellis turns and half jogs toward her
car.
    I look from Hernandez to Pellis. Several
seconds tick by before I run after Pellis. I need to see
Caroline.
    I need to warn her. Somehow.
     

 
     
     
     
     
    6
     
    I sit in the front seat with Detective Pellis
as she drives. She is a wonderkind of modern conveniences. A phone
sits bracketed to the dash, a small laptop in a similar, larger
bracket beneath it. She drives with her left hand as her right hand
types on the keyboard. She listens to speed metal.
    There is a God.
    I try engaging in conversation, but she
doesn't hear me. Once I try to put my hand over hers while she
types, but it passes through hers and into the laptop. The machine
goes dead. Pellis curses but continues to drive.
    We reach the building I escaped from last
night. Pellis flashes her badge and is given entrance. I glance
back to see a valet place orange cones around her car, as if this
is something he has seen before.
    The elevator man is different and escorts us
to the penthouse. The doors open and the same car-sized floral
arrangement greets us. Pellis pauses in front of it and
sneezes.
    "Damn flowers," she mutters as she goes around
it and bangs on the door. "Miss Black?"
    Several agonizing seconds pass before the door
opens and Caroline is there. She is beautiful. She wears a large,
thick black sweater with a scarf around her neck. Her jeans fit her
legs perfectly. I look down. She wears bunny slippers.
    I love her.
    "What is it?" She looks Pellis up and down.
"Who are you?"
    Pellis holds up her badge. "I'm Detective
Pellis. I work with Detective Hernandez. I need to talk to
you."
    "Sure." Caroline stands back.
    Pellis strides through and I realize striding
is the only way this woman walks.
    I barely run through the door before she
closes it. I realize my existence is little more than a large
question mark hovering over my head. My hands pass through people
and computers. I do not want to test whether or not I can pass
through doors. I've been able to keep a full on freak-out at bay.
Walking through a door could trigger a melt down.
    "What's this about? Did you find my
attacker?"
    Pellis strides around the apartment. She
checks the kitchen, the curtains, and moves down the
hall.
    "What are you looking for?"
    "Are you alone?" Pellis asks as she strides
back to us.
    "Yes. I called in sick to