Mischief in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #2)(49)

“Only for a moment. Once they put their clothes on, then there’s bills to pay and work to do and in-laws to deal with, and we all know how that in-law thing worked out for Maryse the first time.” Sabine glared at Helena.

Raissa followed Sabine’s gaze and studied the hospital bed. “I take it the ghost is here? Either that or you are on some really good drugs and your bed is incredibly lumpy.”

“Oh yeah,” Sabine said. “She’s here in all her glory—every should-be-expanding pound of her.”

Helena jumped off the bed. “I don’t have to take this abuse.” She stalked out of the room.

Sabine gave a silent prayer of thanks and reported Helena’s exit to Raissa.

“Well, since I’m pretty sure you’re not going to be arrested for having someone else eat your hospital food, do you want to tell me what she stole?” Raissa said.

“Hospital records.” Sabine pointed over her head and behind the recliner. “She threw them behind the chair when the nurse came in. I am going straight to jail if they catch me with these files in my room.”

Helena stuck her head in through the wall. “Please,” she said. “Like you wouldn’t have been in trouble if we’d got caught in the records room last night. You weren’t whining when it was about you.”

“Breaking into the records room is not the same as stealing the records,” Sabine shot back, but she seriously doubted her voice carried the same conviction as her words. “Don’t you have a buffet to conquer?”

Helena gave her the finger and popped back out the wall.

“And take off that habit,” Sabine yelled after her. “It’s sacrilegious.”

Raissa raised her eyebrows, and Sabine remembered the psychic could only hear one side of the conversation. “We sorta helped ourselves to the medical records room last night.”

“And it required wearing habits?” Raissa shook her head. “Never mind. I don’t think I want to know. What were you looking for exactly? Or is this answer going to be as bad as the habit one?”

“I wanted to check the files on my family.”

“You were hoping to find one with a ‘psychotic killer’ notation on it?” Raissa asked.

“No. I mean, I was kinda hoping for some indication of instability or something. I thought that might narrow things down a bit.”

“And you’re certain your family is the problem?”

“Yes, no…I don’t know. All I know is my family is the only thing new in my life, well, except Helena, so I figured it has to have something to do with them. And they’d have to be crazy to want to kill me, because I’m not asking for anything…yet, and even if I get around to it, it’s not going to be money. I’ve already turned down a business loan from Catherine.”

“Sounds reasonable—in the sort of reason you and Maryse have taken to since Helena appeared. So what did you find?”

Sabine frowned. “Nothing.”

“No crazy people?”

“No. No records.”

Raissa stared at her. “The only doctors in the town have their offices here, right? Are there any in the Fortescues’ town?”

“Not anymore,” Sabine said. “The last doctor retired years ago and has never been replaced.”

“Then their records should have been transferred here. Unless you think they went all the way to New Orleans to see the doctor.”

Sabine shook her head. “Their records were apparently here at one time. But on the shelf where all the Fortescue files should have been was this orange piece of paper with a list of their names.”

“So someone checked them out?”

“That’s what I thought at first, but when I shuffled through the manager’s desk, I found a sheet of paper listing all the files that were stolen in the hospital break-in a couple of weeks ago.” Sabine felt a chill run through her. “There were other people’s names on the list, but they didn’t appear related. Except for the Fortescues. But Raissa, no one knew we were related then—not me, you, them—you hadn’t even hired Beau when the break-in happened.”

Raissa narrowed her eyes. “You’re right. That’s very strange.”

“It can’t be a coincidence. Not after this.”

Raissa shook her head, her expression thoughtful. “No, I don’t believe it’s a coincidence, but I can’t put the pieces together, either. I’ll do a reading this afternoon and let you know if I come up with something.”

“Thanks.”

“So…if your family files were missing, what did Helena steal?”

Sabine groaned. “I don’t even know. She ran into the room just ahead of the nurse. It’s a miracle the nurse didn’t see a floating file display. How in the world would I have explained that one?” Sabine rose from the chair and reached for the files.

Raissa smiled. “And just think—you’re supposed to be equipped to deal with the dead.”

“No one could be prepared for Helena,” Sabine said as she stood back up, files in hand. “The Spartans couldn’t have prepared for Helena. You know, I’m not really sure she didn’t pass over. I’m starting to think Satan couldn’t handle her either so he sent her back.”