This Girl Who Was A Ghost, page 3
part #2 of Near Future Series
He glanced up at her from the holo-screen. “It’s perfectly safe.”
“Does it fart and spit me out?”
“I’ll see if I can make the appropriate modifications.”
“Funny, Leo,” Sammy said. “How long am I going to be in there?”
“About an hour.”
Sammy swung open the heavy door to the back room. “You’ll owe me for this.”
“I believe I’m paying for it in meals to your friend.”
Sammy spun back, but the door closed and she couldn’t hear what he said. The room smelled like every cleaning product ever made converging into one place. She waved her hand, but the movement stirred it up. “It stinks in here.”
Leo rose from the desk and pushed open the door. “The shirt and trousers are cotton?”
Sammy nodded.
“Are you wearing a brassiere?”
She glanced down to see if her nipples were showing. “Yeah.”
“Take off your shoes and brassiere. Then you’ll be ready for a whole new butt-hole experience.”
“I think you’re liking this more than you should.”
“It was my attempt to ease your discomfort.”
“Yeah, that attempt worked as well as those alarm codes.” Sammy kicked off her shoes and unsnapped her bra.
He nodded to the narrow table. “Lie down and place your head on the block.”
Sammy lay back, sinking into a groove centered down the table. She had to inch up to get her head onto the molded head piece. “Going to chop my head off next and put it in one of those jars?”
“I’m not particularly fond of pickled heads.”
“Think how much time you’ll have to study it?”
Leo grinned, pulling her arms out away from her sides. “Lie still or this will take longer.”
“In that case, I’ll be as still as a brick.”
The table slid back. The groove kept her in place. If drumbeats started, she’d jump off and run out.
The hole wasn’t as narrow as it seemed. It gave her the feeling of being tucked in and cozy. The machine’s hum was a distant lullaby, and the gentle rocking lulled her to sleep.
The table jerked her awake. She was out of the hole and still had her head. Leo’s face was behind a cloud of swirling images from the holo-screen. She pushed through the door.
Leo glanced up at her. “I just have to wait for the images to be stitched together.”
“How long was it?”
Leo glanced at the corner of the screen. “Forty-eight minutes.” He swiped one thing and dragged another. “I’ll be at this for at least another twenty minutes. You don’t have to stay.”
“This place isn’t exactly in walking distance.”
Leo just nodded as he shifted one image over another.
Sammy leaned in, trying to make sense of what he was doing.
Leo forced a smile. “If you’re hungry, there’s a lunchroom on the other side.”
Sammy waltzed to the door. “You don’t have to hit me over the head.”
The hallway walls were an ugly lime green. She passed by the front desk and stopped in the oversized living room. She tested the chairs and the sofa. They weren’t as comfortable as they looked.
Sammy meandered to the other side of the building, walls covered in the same ugly lime green. The last door on the right led to the lunchroom. A table sat in the middle circled by six chairs, and a counter ran along the back wall.
A cup-a-meal machine sat in the middle of the counter between two metal wire racks of the cups. One rack had mostly soups while the others were pasta meals. She went back and forth between the macaroni and cheese and the tortellini Alfredo. She popped the macaroni and cheese into the machine’s dispenser slot. It prompted her if she wanted al dente. She clicked “yes” and waited.
A few minutes later, out popped the macaroni and cheese, cover off and steaming with a fork on its side. It smelled cheesy enough. She dug her fork into the cup. It tasted pretty good. She wandered out to the living room area and lay on the sofa. She scooped out the last of the macaroni and cheese. “Might try the tortellini next.”
The front door opened. Sammy swung her feet to the floor and put the empty cup on the table. Cops?
Two guys came in, scouring the place. One was tall and skinny and the other short and plump. Were they thieves or thugs?
“Where do you think they keep the pills?” the plump guy asked.
“Check the rooms,” the tall one said, bending over the front desk.
“There’s got to be someone here.”
Skinny pulled out a knife. “I’ll take care of anyone who gives you trouble.”
“Don’t know about this.”
“You want the pills or not?”
Plump Guy trudged off to the first room on the left.
Skinny shoved the knife back into a sheath clipped to his belt and rummaged through items on the desk.
Thugs. She stood and blended. They’d see the clothes, but she didn’t care.
Plump Guy emerged from the room. “Nothing in there.”
“Keep looking.”
Plump Guy did a double take at Sammy walking toward them. “What is that?” He pointed to Sammy. “Ghost?”
Skinny took a step back, staring at her. “What is this?”
Plump Guy pulled Skinny’s arm. “Let’s get out of here.”
They stepped back and bumped against the lime-green wall as Sammy advanced. The contact seemed to startle them. Plump Guy glanced at the door as if searching for an exit.
Skinny was looking real agitated but not willing to give up the place. “What are you? Some kind of ghost?”
“The pills ain’t worth it, Remy.”
“It’s a kid ghost. What can a kid ghost do?”
“Don’t know and don’t want to find out.”
“Go haunt your momma. She probably got you killed.”
Plump Guy took another glance at the door. “Maybe you shouldn’t have said that. You might’ve agitated it.”
Sammy stopped a few steps away. What to do now?
Remy pulled out his knife and waved it in front of him. “Stay back.”
“You can’t hurt a ghost. It’s already dead.”
“If I cut his shirt, he’ll have to go back for a new one.”
Sammy grabbed both ankles and pulled Remy’s legs out. His arms shot out as he fell. The knife tumbled away as soon as his head and shoulders thumped against the floor. Plump Guy was halfway out the door before Remy scrambled to his feet and was right behind him.
Sammy picked up the knife and dropped it on the desk. Remy and Plump Guy were a good block away when she locked the door. “Think I’ll try the tortellini.”
Leo stepped out of the scanning room. “You’re camouflaged?”
Sammy shook to bring herself back to normal. “I got bored.”
“Let’s go before someone comes.”
“Yeah, wouldn’t want that to happen.”
They walked out, and Leo called for a transporter. Sammy turned to the building as they waited, wishing she’d grabbed the tortellini.
Chapter Six
________________________________________
Sammy waited a few minutes after Cindy left, then she stripped and checked for Igor’s sisters, who at times ran through the hallways. It was clear. She grabbed the bag of food and tiptoed to Cindy’s apartment with a key in hand. It wasn’t locked, though. She slipped inside, realizing that she hadn’t blended.
She’d taken all of Leo’s precious eggs, so now he’d have to get the food he’d promised. She put the eggs, bacon, and cheese in the refrigerator and added to Cindy’s stash of flour and sugar.
The sink was a mess. She soaped up a sponge and went to work cleaning out the sink. She blended and headed for the door.
The door swung open, and Cindy rushed in. She took in deep breaths as if she’d been running.
Sammy hid the key behind her and pressed her back against the wall.
Cindy dropped the bag and stripped off her coat. A knock at the door. Cindy spun, her face drawn.
Another knock. “Hello, Cindy?” It was Igor.
Cindy took a step toward the door. “Yeah?”
The door crept open. Igor ducked his head in. “I called you.”
“That was you?” Cindy exhaled, color returning to her face. “Thought somebody spotted me. I’m afraid to leave the apartment, but I needed food.”
Sammy bristled. Damned Leo.
Igor closed the door. “As you should be.”
Cindy picked up the bag of groceries. “This has been a nightmare, Igor. I’m a prisoner in my own apartment.”
“You should find other place.”
“I’m not saying anything bad about it here. It’s just my situation now.”
“You are wanted murderer.”
Cindy strode back to the kitchen, the bag swinging by her side. “Murderer? I run away at the sight of a mouse.”
Igor followed her. “I fear the rodents will overrun building. It’s not as good building as I thought.”
Sammy inched along the wall to keep them in view. Something wasn’t right about Igor. The drool was usually on his chin by now.
Cindy stood by the open fridge. “Could’ve sworn I didn’t have eggs.”
Sammy grinned. Leo’s eggs.
“As I said, building will be overrunning with rodents. It will not be safe.”
Cindy pulled a loaf of bread from the bag and set it on the counter. “You can get another cat.”
“Cat is only good for sleeping and shitting in box. If you like scooping shit from box, get cat.”
“He doesn’t go after the mice?”
“Why should he? Sister feeds him.”
Pebble food didn’t count.
Igor sighed. “I say don’t feed him. He will get own food. No one listens to me.”
Sammy should pay Igor a visit and drop a dead rat on his plate. See how he’d like it.
Cindy rolled the bread bag between her fingers. “That cat was in here the other night. The window was open. Cats can’t open windows, right? I heard some dogs can open doors.”
“He was not here searching for mice.”
“The dishes were out of the sink,” Cindy said, glancing back. “The sink’s cleaned again.” She opened the cabinet and looked inside. “Is that cat around?”
“He is downstairs with sister.”
Cindy jutted up her lower lip. “Do you believe in ghosts?”
“I only believe what I see.”
“I think Sam’s ghost is looking out for me. The sink’s cleaned again and there’re eggs in here weren’t before.”
“You think she is dead?”
“Sam would’ve at least called me if she was alive.”
“She is thief. Who knows what thieves do?”
“The last time I saw her, she was walking away with Tatiana.” Cindy crinkled her nose at the name.
“Tatiana is dead. She must be alive, yes?”
“I’m thinking she stumbled away and died somewhere else. Sam was hurt before she left.”
“If they found Tatiana, they would have found thief. She is still alive. You should leave here and go look for her.”
“Wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“You should try the eastside midtown buildings. Very nice buildings, much better than here.”
“I couldn’t leave here, Igor. Besides, if she’s alive, she’ll come looking for me here.”
“She is waiting for you to go to her.”
Cindy stepped back from the counter, scanning the room. “It’s hard to explain, but it’s almost like I can feel her around me. That’s why I think she’s a ghost.”
The key slid from Sammy’s grip. She trapped it against the wall, making a low thud.
“What was that?”
“Mice. The building is overrun with them. It is not safe to stay.”
“I think it was Sam trying to communicate with me.”
“She is not ghost.”
“I’ll see if I can get a Ouija board and talk to her. It’d be good to talk to her even if she’s dead.”
Igor bristled. “She is not dead. You go and find her, yes?”
“Where do you think they sell Ouija boards? It doesn’t have to be new. I don’t think Sam would mind.”
“You pack clothes and look for her. You will not need board to talk to her.”
“Pack my clothes?”
“You want clothes when nursing her back to health, yes?”
“If I found her, I’d bring her back here.”
“You can’t bring her here. It is too dangerous.”
“I’d be careful.”
Igor shook his head. “Too dangerous. You go, yes?”
“You’re asking me to leave?”
“You are wanted criminal. Can’t stay.”
“You think I killed Tatiana?”
“It does not matter what I think. If cops come here looking for you, we are all out in street. They lock us up too?”
“You’re throwing me out?”
“I am asking you to find friend. Everybody will be happy, yes?”
Cindy looked lost. “Suppose I never find her?”
“You are good friend and tried,” Igor said, turning to leave.
Sammy chased Igor and snared his foot.
He tripped and stumbled to the floor.
Cindy dashed to him. “You okay?”
Igor sat, searching for the cause of his mishap. “Something caught foot.”
“Same thing happened to Grinder the other night. He thought it was a ghost.”
Igor scrambled up. “No ghost, no ghost.” He raced out.
Cindy stared blankly at the spot where Igor fell.
Bastard. Sammy wished she’d get that stupid Ouija board. She’d tell Cindy what Igor could do to himself.
Chapter Seven
________________________________________
Sammy’s hands were stuffed into her jacket pockets, hood pulled over while she walked alongside Leo at the Food Mart. A guy in a tie up front watched her. “If that guy asks me to empty my pockets, I’m out of here.”
Leo stopped the cart by a display of bagged apples. “Then the deal with Cindy is off.”
“What am I supposed to do if he asks?”
“You should’ve thought about that when you took all the eggs.”
“Can’t you have something else for breakfast?”
“I always have eggs.”
“Only did it because you wouldn’t go yesterday like you promised.”
“I have a mountain of data to go through. Perhaps you forgot about the scans.”
“It’s just pictures, isn’t it?”
“The images have to be interpreted.”
“They’re not naked pictures?”
Leo sighed, shaking his head. “We’re here to shop. Point out what she wants so we can end this as soon as possible.”
“You really want me to point?”
“Nod or shout out the item.”
“Apples. Everybody likes apples,” Sammy said, nodding to the display.
Leo grabbed a bag. “Anything else in this section before we move on?”
“We’ll get the frozen vegetables. They don’t go bad.”
Leo dropped the apples into the cart and pushed on to the next aisle.
Sammy stared at a big can of tomato sauce, wondering if it was the same kind that leaked into Gladys’s bed the night everything changed.
Leo stepped behind her. “Tomato sauce?”
Sammy shrugged. “Guess.”
Leo dropped the can into the cart and pushed on.
Sammy followed. She hadn’t told Leo about Igor throwing Cindy out, mostly because she hadn’t seen him until this morning, and he was all pissed about the eggs. It might be better if she waited until he bought everything. “Can’t go wrong with soup.”
Leo stopped in front of the endless cans of shelved soups. “Which one?”
Sammy nodded to the cans of minestrone and chowder. The soups looked good from the label. They picked up more canned food, fruit juice, frozen vegetables, and cuts of chicken and beef.
Leo reached for a dozen eggs. “Does she want eggs or is she sitting on a stockpile?”
“Yeah, she’s waiting for them to hatch.”
Leo put the eggs in the cart. “I believe that concludes the shopping.”
Sammy checked the cart. It seemed to be a decent haul of groceries.
Leo wheeled the cart to the scanning chute but had to back out, knocking into Sammy.
Sammy stumbled back, hands flying out.
A girl about eight pointed at Sammy. “Snakes!”
A lady, her face contorted in horror, pulled the girl back.
Sammy bolted for the door and waited at the end of the block. No sign of cops.
Leo ambled out a few minutes later, pushing the cart as if he were taking an afternoon stroll. He stopped at the curb and took out his phone.
Was he getting a transporter? Sammy rushed over to him. “What happened?”
Leo glanced over at her. “This purchase has dwindled my funds.”
“Ask Johnny for a raise, then,” Sammy said. “What happened with the screaming kid?”
“It never ceases to amaze me the conclusions people draw with little evidence.”
“Yeah, yeah, are they calling the cops?”
“I quelled the hysteria by stating that you’ve had an accident and were under medical care.”
“You can lie with the best of them.”
He tapped on the phone for a transporter. “Nothing I said was a lie.”
“Taking a transporter?”
“Unless you wish to carry the bags.”
“So you can tell everybody about my affliction?”
Leo glanced at the cart. “You’ll have to help me carry the bags into the apartment.”
“How am I going to do that without anyone seeing me?”
“It was your idea to buy her the groceries. Figure it out.”
“My idea was to buy her restaurant food, but you’re too cheap. Must be from working with Johnny.”
“I consider this purchase more than generous.”
“I should pay Johnny a visit,” Sammy said with a grin. “He’ll suddenly become accident prone. Could even put a live rat on his head instead of the dead one he walks around with.”
