Beach Blanket Homicide (Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective 1)

I notice he’s not wearing a collar. “What’s his name?”

“His name?” Her eyes get a wild look in them. “His name is…Paco. Yes, that’s it. Paco.”

“Hey, Paco,” I croon, knowing full well that’s a lie, but what can I say? “You are one adorable baby.”

Paco’s tail wags furiously. Abby stuffs him back in her tote.

“I didn’t know you had a dog,” says Viola. “When did you get him?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, Viola,” says Abby, “but Taco belongs to my brother. I’m watching him while Derrick’s away on vacation.”

“I thought you said he was your service animal and that his name was Paco,” says Will.

“Paco… Taco… What does it matter?” She gets up, clutching the tote protectively against her chest like she’s afraid someone is going to snatch it from her. “I need to find a new place to eat lunch. One where they get your order right,” she says, glaring at

me. “And where the other customers aren’t so dang nosy!”

We all watch as Abby stomps out of the café. The last thing I see is Paco’s little face with the shiny bright eyes sticking out of the tote.

Sarah brings Will and Sebastian their food. “What’s gotten into her?”

“It’s the dementia,” Betty Jean says with a sigh. “It’ll get us all eventually.”

On that happy note, Will starts eating his turkey sandwich, but Sebastian just stares down at his plate.

“What was all that about an exorcism?” I ask.

His dark eyes look troubled. “Nothing.”

Betty Jean, who must have the best hearing aids in town, because neither Sebastian nor I are speaking that loudly, says, “I bet it has something to do with her challenging Phoebe Van Cleave as head of the Sunshine Ghost Society. Abby is still convinced that there’s a ghost haunting the land that the rec center was built on. Maybe she wants to drive the devil out of it.”

Everyone within hearing distance moans.

A few years back there was a rumor circulating town that a spirit was haunting the old senior center. The Sunshine Ghost Society held a séance in hopes of flushing out the ghost, but of course, nothing happened, and the building was torn down to make way for the city’s new rec center.

"Let's not talk about ghosts or exorcisms or Abby Delgado anymore," says Viola, "Let's talk about something happy."

Sarah breaks out in a grin. "Then that would include my new niece and nephew." Sarah is a newlywed and her sister-in-law, Whispering Bay's mayor, Mimi Grant, delivered twins a few days ago. Sarah is just a few years older than me. She's blonde and beautiful, and she and her husband Luke make the perfect couple. Sarah also makes the best macaroni and cheese I've ever tasted. She passes around her cell phone so that Viola and Betty Jean can gush over the pictures of the babies. The men all smile politely.

“How are the new parents doing?” Viola asks.

"This isn't their first rodeo," Sarah says, referring to the fact that Mimi and her husband, Zeke Grant, the town's police chief, already have a college-age daughter and a son in middle school, "but it's a bit of a shocker having two at once."

“I’ll say.” Gus sets down his coffee. “Good thing we voted to let Zeke hire extra help.” By we, I can only assume Gus is referring to himself and the rest of the city council.

“Wait,” says Betty Jean. “Are you telling me there’s a new cop in town?”

“Yep. Officer Travis Fontaine. Good guy. Comes to us from Texas. He started this morning.”

Betty Jean smirks, and since we all know the way her mind works, we cringe. “Texas, huh?”

Gus nods. "Dallas area. Lots of big city experience. We're lucky to get him. His dad retired here a few months ago. Travis is his only kin."

“James Fontaine,” Sebastian adds. “New parishioner.”

“Good for Zeke,” Viola says. “That’ll give him more time to spend with Mimi and the babies.” She smiles at me. “Lucy, who will you be dressing up as tomorrow?”

“Annette Funicello.”