Page 28 of Cadaver Lab: Mind Over Murder

That didn’t bode well. She motioned for him to walk over anyway and mouthed silently, “Come here.”

His frown deepened.

She frowned back at him and motioned again more enthusiastically this time for him to come to the door to speak with her outside.

Without responding, Doug pivoted back to face forward, effectively shunning Natalie while ignoring her request.

Dickhead in life, dickhead in death apparently.

Fine. She could play at his game.

He could ignore her here, but she was going to wait for him. When the livings left she’d show him she would not be ignored. And if he went somewhere she couldn’t, like inside his former house with his widow, she’d send the newly formed ghost watch inside after him.

They’d badger Doug for twenty-four hours a day until he relented and would speak to Natalie. That would teach him not to ignore her!

Chapter Thirteen

“So Pompous Doug wouldn’t talk to you at all?” Harper asked Natalie.

They were back to using the unflattering nickname for him—at least in private—since he’d proven he was as much of an ass in death as he was in life.

Natalie shook her head in answer to the question. “Not a word.”

Seated next to Natalie in the meeting room early the following morning, Harper visibly deflated and slumped against the back of the sofa.

The shop wasn’t open for the day yet, but the meeting room was packed. At least to Natalie’s eye it was full. Ghosts occupied every available seat, plus more standing around. But to Harper, it would appear she and Natalie were sitting alone.

“I really tried,” Natalie continued. “I followed him back to his house, which was tricky since he walked home alongside his wife. The woman must think I’m some kind of weirdo walking so closely behind her on the sidewalk in the dark.”

“And we didn’t give up after he went inside the house either,” Gabe explained while holding Millie’s hand so Harper would be able to hear him. “After Natalie went home, the ghost watch took over. The team on duty for that shift followed him inside and badgered him until he finally ran out of the room.”

“He not only ran out of the room, but clear out of the house,” Rick continued even though Harper wouldn’t be able to hear him. “He ended up in the cemetery.”

“That’s where I found him hiding behind the big Sands family obelisk,” Harriet added.

“And did you talk to him?” Natalie asked.

“I did.” Harriet nodded.

“Doug tried to hide but Harriet found him,” Natalie explained briefly for Harper’s benefit, then turned back to Harriet. “Go on. Did he say anything?”

Harriet let out a short laugh. “Not much, but it was how he said it and how he looked that was most telling. Natalie, that man is terrified.”

Natalie frowned. “Really?”

“What?” Harper’s frown deepened. “And have I said how annoying it is that I can only hear Gabe and Millie and only when they’re together and not all the rest of the ghosts?”

“Be careful what you wish for,” Natalie mumbled.

“Hey!” Rick said, sounding insulted.

Natalie ignored him and turned to Harper. “Harriet says Doug looked terrified.”

Harper’s brows shot high. “Really? Of what?”

Harriet lifted her shoulders. “I don’t know and he didn’t say. But when I told him I just wanted to ask him one question, what happened to him right before he died, he shook his head. Then he said, begged really, for us to leave him alone. He demanded we stop asking questions about that night. Then he took off running. Not from me, mind you. I wasn’t chasing him. Lord knows my running days are long gone. But Doug sprinted away like he was in a race for his life. He’s deathly afraid of something. I’d bet my therapist license on it.”

“But what could he be afraid of?” Natalie asked.