Ghost in the Polka Dot Bikini: A Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery by Sue Ann Jaffarian Read Free Book Online Page A

them last night.”
    “Last night at this time,” he reminded her, “we were having an early dinner at the country club.” He pulled Emma close and whispered, “Do they know you can see them?”
    “Not sure. But if they did know and were afraid, I wouldn’t be able to.”
    As if answering Phil’s question, one of the spirits nearest Emma turned and looked at them. It was a bent old man with a full beard. He nodded to Emma and gave her a quick impish wink, causing Emma to laugh.
    “What?” asked Phil.
    “They know. One of them, a little old gnarled man, just winked at me.”
    “You mean a ghost just hit on my girl?” Phil chuckled. “Not sure I like that. Doesn’t he know we’re going steady?”
    “Smart alec.”
    “Hey, maybe you can fix the old geezer up with Granny.”
    Emma took Phil’s hand and started tugging him forward. “Come on, let’s see if we can find Sandy.”
    “You have any idea what she looks like?”
    “No, but I know she was very old when she died and should be on or near one of the benches on this side of the pier.”
    It wasn’t difficult for Emma to spot a likely candidate as Sandy Sechrest. The ghost of an elderly woman sat on one of the tile benches. Her hair was white and worn in a short pixie cut on top of a round, wizened face. She was short and slightly plump, dressed in baggy trousers and a loose man’s shirt with the sleeves rolled almost to her elbows. The shirt was plain except for stains that looked like paint splatters. Her face was turned to the sea, chin up, eyes closed, as if in prayer. At her feet sat a cross-legged Tessa North.
    Next to the old woman sat a young live couple, bundled against the cooling night, kissing. Tessa looked up and waved happily at Emma. With her chin, Emma indicated the couple. Tessa caught on and nodded back with a giggle, as if keeping a delicious secret.
    “You find her?” whispered Phil into Emma’s ear.
    Emma turned into him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Yes, I think so,” she whispered back. “On that bench over there with the necking couple. Tessa’s sitting on the ground in front of the spirit of an elderly woman.”
    Shortly after, the young couple left arm in arm. With Phil in tow, Emma approached the ghost of the old woman on the bench.
    “Mrs. Sandra Sechrest, I presume?”

“Just Sandy, please.” The eyes of the older ghost opened and fixed on Emma and Phil. “You must be Emma, and this must be your gentleman friend.” Although her voice came out in the usual ghostly sounds, the words were direct and clear, with just a hint of the slight vibration that comes with age. “Tessa’s told me a great deal about you.”
    The young ghost at her feet shot a smile at them both before popping up and running toward the waves, where she disappeared.
    “Ah, youth,” sighed the older ghost. “Even in death, their exuberance both entertains and tires me.”
    “May we join you, Sandy?” Emma asked.
    “Yes, of course.”
    Emma sat down on the bench and indicated for Phil to sit next to her, placing him between her and the spirit. “Do you mind if Phil sits between us? That way people will think I’m talking to him instead of to thin air.”
    “Good plan. I know for years folks thought I was crazy.”
    “So you could see and hear spirits before you died?”
    “Yes, all my life, even as a young girl. People thought I had imaginary friends. When I got older, I learned to be more cautious.”
    “Were you afraid people wouldn’t believe you?”
    The ghost chuckled. “More like I was afraid they would . I had no need for either the scorn or the folderol that would come with it.”
    Emma looked out over the bay. “I know what you mean.”
    “I daresay you do, Emma Whitecastle of The Whitecastle Report .”
    Emma leaned around Phil to shoot Sandy a look of surprise. The ghost gave her a warm, knowing smile.
    “Problems?” Phil asked. Emma shook her head slightly but kept her eyes on the ghost.
    “I knew who