We Used To Be Ghosts

We Used To Be Ghosts

  By Ultima Castro

  Copyright 2012 Ultima Castro

  Table of Contents

  Complications

  Order

  Break

  Waiting

  Collection

  Delivery

  Awake

  A Brief Note

  Complications

  “For the record, I’d just like to say that I have no idea what you might be driving at. I’m what you call an innocent bystander. You don’t have much to go on, and I feel for you, I really do, but don’t you think you should let me go home now sir? It really is quite late, and if you keep me here much longer, I’ll probably just fall asleep.”

  The detective sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. He sees the truth in my babbling. And I am getting tired, it is late, and I wouldn’t mind falling asleep just now. It’s all about perceptions— who is this person in front of me, are they trustworthy? Are they innocent, or are they trying to deceive me? The detective decides to let me go.

  He walks me out to my dutiful guardians. They do their job well, which helps the poor man let that last clinging doubt float away.

  “Rosie! Are you feeling okay? Detective Branson! Why did you keep her so long? She couldn’t possibly know anything,” Caroline says as she ambushes him.

  “We did give our consent, Caroline. Anyway, Rosie probably just wants to go to bed. But that will be all, detective,” Robert adds.

  Branson nods. I’m a bit bored by all this melodrama and reach into Caroline’s purse for my things.

  Obviously, it was unfortunate that I’d been brought in at all. I did my duty, and now I need to get a hold of Charlie. He can sort things out. It’s always a cozy feeling, knowing you’ve got people on the inside.

  Caroline hugs me, and Robert gives my head a pat. They sort out the bothersome things while I get my phone. I call Charlie, his contact pic being a unicorn, of course. We walk out of the building; Robert brings around the car for Caroline and me. Charlie picks up on the seventh ring.

  “Hey. I need your help. This first Austin job had complications.”

  “Texas. Great. Cowboys. Death penalty.” Charlie’s in a mood.

  “I’ll send you the usual.”

  “Alright. I’ll see to it.”

  “Also… never mind. G’night.”

  “Yeah sweet dreams cupcake.”

  It’s a good thing Charlie’s a night-owl. I see a romantic exchange between Caroline and Robert. Hooking up these days are they? Just what I did not need. Until this mess is cleaned up, I’ll just have to deal with this new problem. I need to get in touch with Marlo…

  Caroline wakes me up. I had fallen asleep in the car. Our home in East Austin is nice for a rental. I’d been considering buying it myself, but given the situation, it’s unlikely. My room is very comfortable and cozy. I painted the walls this lovely shade of rose that turns an interesting color at dawn.

  Chucho, my dog, pads up to me enthusiastically waving his tail. Robert and Caroline head to the kitchen and from the looks of it are going to be hitting the bottle hard. That’s another problem with these two. I guess tonight drove them over the edge.

  Since I really detest being around people on drinking binges, I head straight to bed.

  “G’night you two.”

  “Sleep well Rosie,” Caroline calls.

  Maybe I could find another house like this on the market. Hmmm… or a condo, they have some downtown and around here. I have trouble getting into my pajamas. Chucho curls up into a cozy little ball on my bed. He has moxie, just what you want in a terrier. I’m pretty freakin tired. Today was a long day, after all. Some people say sleep is for the dead. They are so totally full of it. I hit the bed and pass out, rapidly escaping to dreams.

  Order

  Tuesday morning I wake up to the grating calls from the neighborhood grackles, and to Chucho pawing at me. He has to go outside. I sigh; it’s always terrible leaving a warm bed in the morning.

  Chucho however, gives me no mercy, pulling at my pant legs after I have achingly pulled them on. I can’t be bothered to make more than a pass at respectability. On our way to the door, Chucho pauses to sniff at a pool of liquid on the floor. An open bottle of Jack is the culprit. Charlie had better get things settled soon.

  Chucho and I walk outside, and I decide it would be best to stay in the yard. We play for a bit before I have to go to the bathroom myself. I urge him inside, and feed him quickly. I dash to the hall bathroom, only to find vomit everywhere. I hurry to my mine instead.

  After seeing that mess, I remember I’d forgotten to take a shower before bed. I get that out of the way, and just after I am dressed my phone rings. It’s Marlo. Thank God.

  “Rosie, hey. Saw the story online. Need anything?”

  “New rentals. The ones I have now aren’t too good, and certainly aren’t entertaining. I need some classics or something.”

  “Gotcha. How’s everything else?”

  “Great. Done and well done. Charlie’s giving me a hand on some things that I couldn’t get to myself.”

  “Just what he likes, for all his complaining. And why we send him all that junk.”

  “Ha. Yeah. He does like that Japanese chocolate... Are we aiding an addiction?”

  “Of course. He can’t order enough himself.”

  “So how soon, ya think? Also, even though my rentals are practically useless, can you see them go to a good home? It’s our fault we picked such ineffective models.”

  “Not more than a week. And true. Consider it done. By the way, what was it that has you ready to toss them?”

  “Jack in spades.”

  “Ahh. It’s clear to me now. Still, Rosie… try to be nice.”

  “Nice? I’m the essence of nice. But I gotta go, things to do, people to call. The usual.”

  “Ok. Be good.”

  Marlo really is the best. I am going to have a busy day though. It’s always like this on the morning after, there’s the extra paperwork. From what I’ve seen this morning, I know Robert and Caroline won’t be getting up anytime soon, and my breakfast will pass by perfectly undisturbed. I take any happiness as it may come, as I always have.

  I wonder sometimes if it would be better to forget this whole thing, and do something normal. People do leave from time to time and no one blames them. We live a stressful life, and most of us have already been through so much already.

  Chucho ambushes me in the kitchen, wanting some of my breakfast.

  “No. Don’t you dare look at me like that. You’ve already been fed.”

  Chucho has the gall to woof at me, and I nudge him to the side. Of course, he would come to bully me, trying to get some of my chorizo and eggs. He almost succeeds, head butting my leg, and my grip on the plate slips. I make it to the table, and look out the window to see that the sun is rising.

  I love being up before dawn and watching it arrive. Even better is running towards the morning sun, but no time for that today. I have to get myself focused on the next project, and schoolwork on top of that.

  Unfortunately, despite the advantages to being home schooled, I still have to spend more time than I would like on it. On the upside, Robert and Caroline start work later in the morning, and I use the work to pass the time until they leave the house. They think I spend all day on it. A lie, obviously, I can’t have them interfering with my work.

  Robert and Caroline make their way to the kitchen separately, both nursing hangovers. I worry about them. They shouldn’t be drinking so heavily, it wasn’t like they actually saw something bad happen. The crime scene wasn’t even that bloody.

  “Have a good day, kid,” Robert says as he leaves for the office, coffee in hand.

 
“Yeah, make sure you finish all your schoolwork,” Caroline adds on her way out the door.

  “Thanks.” It’s all I can say. Thankfully, Charlie’s ringtone starts to play.

  “Good news?”

  “Easier than I thought. Branson only needed the smallest nudge. That lead was easier to make than...well...I don’t really have a good analogy. But it was really easy.”

  “I’m impressed. Your delivery is on the way. I wish I’d asked for express, but I suppose the anticipation will make it all the sweeter.”

  “No problem. Marlo tells me you’re getting new rentals. It just so happens I know the perfect pair, already situated in Texas, primed for moving to Austin. Am I right, you’re going to settle?”

  “Yeah, it’s time. I’m getting old.”

  “Ha. If people could hear us now.”

  “You know how it is. There’s only so much you can do. I’ve already had too much exposure here. I have to stay, do the follow up. It’s the only good option. I mean it’ll be nice to put down roots. Maybe.”

  “Maybe. Don’t worry, you’ve got people watching you’re back.”

  “Well thanks for everything. You’re amazing.”

  “Damn straight. Be good.”

  “You too, I’ll call