If Catfish Had Nine Lives(107)

            “You found Astin?” Joe said, ignoring my admonition.

            “Maybe. We found a mochila, and we suspect that Astin’s remains are in the general vicinity.”

            “Take me to him,” Joe said.

            “I will. Later. I need to get to Gram right now.”

            “No, Betts. Now.”

            I blinked. “No, Joe, not now. I’ve got to get to Gram.” I turned and went back to my car.

            “Stupid ghosts,” I muttered to Jake. “Sorry, Jerome,” I said to the rearview mirror.

            “What’s wrong, Isabelle?” Jerome asked.

            “Joe wants to be taken to Astin, right away.”

            “I can take him,” Jerome said. “No. No, I can’t. I think I’d better stay with you, Isabelle.”

            I looked in the mirror.

            “You can’t-can’t, or don’t want to?”

            “I can’t,” he said.

            “That means my life might be in danger?” I said.

            “Betts, tell me what’s happening,” Jake said.

            “I’m not sure,” I said. “Jerome?”

            “I don’t know, Isabelle. I just know I need to stay with you.”

            “Let’s go,” I said as I turned the key.

            Nothing happened.

            I turned the key again. Nothing. Not even the click of a dead battery.

            “Betts?” Jake said.

            I peered out my side window at Joe, who sat tall on his horse and looked at me with firm distaste. I was beginning to really not like this ghost—well, even more than I hadn’t liked him before.

            “Can you guys make cars not start?” I asked Jerome.

            “Not that I’m aware of.”

            I got out again and hurried to the ghostly form.

            “Have you done something to the Nova? Is that even possible?”

            “I’ve waited a long time to find Astin’s remains, Betts. I don’t want to wait any longer.”

            “Who are you? Tell me why you need to find him so badly,” I said. I was fuming, literally breathing too heavy for my own good. I was about to prove whether or not smoke could truly come out of ears.

            Joe’s face softened. “I can’t tell you. It’s part of . . . I don’t know, maybe it’s part of my punishment. I don’t understand it, but I know I have to find him. Once I do, the last letter will be complete and things will be set right. For him, too. I just know.”

            “Were you responsible for his death? Did you kill him?” I said.

            “No, Betts, I would never have killed him.”

            “Listen,” I said. “You’re dead, he’s dead. I’m sorry to have only a little sympathy for that situation, but I’m worried about Gram. She might be in danger, Joe. Come on, whatever you’ve done to my car, undo it. Now. I promise we’ll attend to Astin the second I know Gram is safe. She’s been there for you for years. You owe her . . . holy cow, Joe, you owe her everything. Without her, you wouldn’t have been able to do anything about any of the letters. You can’t let me abandon her. You can’t abandon her!”