If Catfish Had Nine Lives(81)

            “Needed a break from the crowd?” I fished.

            “Something like that.” She shrugged. “This seemed like a good place to get away for a second.”

            “And learn something about what one of your ancestors was a part of.”

            “Uh-huh,” she said absently.

            “Esther, is something wrong? Is there something I can help with?” I asked, wondering if the station itself had been the cause of her melancholy. Maybe Joe’s too?

            I sensed him standing behind me. He sniffed. There was something off-putting about the sound. It wasn’t the sniff so much as its tone, if such a thing was possible. I pretended to itch my earlobe so I could turn to see him. He was very transparent as he stood directly in the glow of a small ceiling spotlight. He seemed curious but not bothered.

            “No, I’m really fine,” Esther said, again not convincingly. She forced a brief smile. “I hope it was okay to tell you the things I told you earlier.”

            “Yes, it was, Esther. You don’t need to worry about that.”

            She nodded and smiled briefly again. “You know, I have enjoyed getting to know your friend Jake over these last few days. He’s a sweetheart.”

            “Yes, he is.” I smiled. “I think he’s enjoying getting to know you, too.”

            “They’d be a perfect couple, Betts,” Joe said. “Her, being a descendant of Astin Reagal, and him all about the history. They’d be perfect. Tell her.”

            I itched my earlobe again, this time as I furrowed my eyebrows. I wasn’t going to say any such thing. Usually as time went on, I began to understand the ghosts better and better. My understanding of Joe was going the other direction. He was just becoming more of a mystery. I wanted to know why he thought they’d be so perfect together and why he cared, why he’d even paid attention to Jake and Esther, but I’d have to save that question for later.

            Joe saw my disagreement and frowned.

            “I’m glad, but you know our friendship won’t have much opportunity to blossom,” Esther said.

            “Kansas City isn’t far. At least it’s in the same state.” I shrugged.

            “Probably too far to really have much of a relationship,” she said.

            Was she sad about the lack of a real future with Jake, or was there something else going on?

            “Forgive me, Esther, but I sense that there’s something else wrong. Can I help?”

            I was sure she wasn’t aware of the fact that she patted one of the front pockets of her jeans. It was a quick maneuver. I thought it might be the pocket with the badge.

            “I’m fine, Betts. I don’t know. I guess that thinking about my ancestor has brought a lot of family stuff to the front of my mind. The thoughts require some attention.” She smiled at me.

            “I understand.” I didn’t; it just seemed like the right thing to say.

            “Betts, ask her if she’s found out more about Astin,” Joe said. “Maybe your friend Jake has found some information that you haven’t heard yet. Ask, please.”

            I couldn’t think of a reason why not. I said, “Have you and Jake found more about Astin?”

            “No, nothing new about Astin, but about some other family members, maybe.”

            “Oh?” I said.

            Unfortunately, my question didn’t get explored further. From inside the station, we could hear the crowd outside, but it was a muffled version. It still wasn’t a rowdy group, as the volume of laughter and conversation continually rose and fell. But there was suddenly one distinct sound that stood out from the crowd noise and made us all jump and gasp. A gunshot cracked and boomed.