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

“What a great view,” she says, looking out my living room window.

“Isn’t it? I was pretty lucky to score this place.”

After spending the morning on my feet, I’m exhausted, so I flop down on my couch and motion for her to join me.

“I was sorry to hear about Paco,” she says. “I’m glad he’s going to be all right, but it will be a huge loss for tonight.”

“Yeah, I was looking forward to seeing him in action.” As in, running around trying to get everyone to pet him.

“Oh, he’s very talented.”

“But you’ll be able to, you know, tap into Abby’s spirit?”

“With your help, I believe so.” She smiles and once again I’m reminded of how much younger she is than the rest of her crowd. It occurs to me that I don’t know much about Gloria. Does she work? Or does she actually make a living off of being a medium?

“Do you mind if I ask a question? How did you get involved in the ghost business?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I’ve got time if you do.”

She shifts around in the couch so that she’s facing me. “My father died when I was a baby, so growing up, it was just my mother and me. She was wonderful. Very caring and supportive of everything I wanted to do.”

“Like what, join the circus?”

Gloria laughs. “Hardly. I enlisted in the military.”

“Oh wow. That’s awesome.”

“It’s a good way to grow up fast. I spent four years in the army and earned enough money with the GI Bill to put me through college. Unfortunately, while I was away, my mother got sick. I was able to get home in time to spend her last days together.”

An intense feeling of sorrow is behind her words. I’ve never been able to pick up so much emotion from another person before. It makes me feel sad as well.

“I’m so sorry.”

She stares out the window. “It must be quite peaceful, sitting here in the evenings after a long day of work.”

“It is rather spectacular.”

“Still, I imagine it’s hard to get away from your job what with the restaurant just downstairs. Deliveries at all hours, that kind of thing.” She blinks, then smiles at me.

“It’s not too bad.”

“I know you’ll find this hard to believe, Lucy, but after my mother died, she started talking to me. It was such a…balm to my soul. I knew I had to help other people connect to their loved ones as well.”

She’s right. I am finding this hard to believe. But she believes it, and that’s what’s important.

“After she passed, I got my degree in I.T. and came out to Florida to take a job with a local company.”

“You…work?”

She laughs. “I’m just like most people. I work, pay taxes, that sort of thing. I’m fortunate that at this point in my career I’m able to work from home, so it gives me an opportunity to indulge my passion.”

“Ever been married? Any children?”

She heaves a big sigh. “No to both of those. I’ve tried online dating, but most men aren’t looking for someone who spends their free time communing with the dead.”

“I guess not.”