The Maverick Part 14

"Yes," her twin said. "Ben and Jay left earlier. What's up?"

"I have a question about the Senator. Didn't you say his hair was gray?"

"Yes."

"Sunny, when he died, his hair was dark brown, not gray. Why would it be gray now?"

"Hmm. Let me think about it." After a moment, Sunny said, "You know, it seems his hair was darker when I first saw him. It's grayed over the years, as it would have naturally."

"Doesn't it strike you as odd that a ghost ages? How can that be?"

"I don't know," Sunny replied. "Why don't you ask him?"

Chapter Fourteen.

Ca.s.s sat down at her computer, clicked on Google and typed in "ghosts." She quickly scanned the first couple of pages and even went to several Web sites to check them out, but she found nothing helpful. Most of the stuff was about ectoplasm and orbs and mists and photographs that looked more like anomalies of lighting than ghostly presences. She tried "ghost hair" and found the listings even less helpful. Surely there was somebody around who knew about ghosts-real ghosts, not amorphous blobs.

Well, she'd always been one to rely on primary sources, so she turned off her laptop and stood up.

"Senator?" she whispered.

Nothing.

She walked to the front door, where she'd last seen him. "Senator?"

Still nothing.

Ca.s.s walked to her back bedroom and yelled, "Dammit, Senator, where are you when I need to talk to you?"

Nada.

She felt like a total idiot. So much for her ghost hunting exploits. She hadn't actually seen a ghost, she told herself. Such things didn't exist. Most of the people she'd read about on the Net sounded like nut jobs, didn't they?

Her experiences had a perfectly rational explanation. She'd had some sort of brain blip and imagined the whole thing-like a mirage. A mirage-that was it, especially for Sunny. Her sister had always yearned for a father for as long as Ca.s.s could remember. For some reason, Ca.s.s didn't miss having a dad as much as her twin did. Sunny's desperate need for a father had conjured one up-like a thirsty man lost in the desert conjures up an oasis or a lonely child creates an imaginary friend.

Forget it, Ca.s.s told herself. Why had she become obsessed about an imaginary man and his imaginary hair? Who cared?

She had a stack of reading she needed to do for POAC. With all the chaos, she'd let her duties in the organization slide this week. After she dressed for bed, she plumped up three pillows against her headboard, climbed between the sheets and started reading the material Karen, POAC's secretary, had dropped off yesterday. Ca.s.s had to be ready for a meeting with the board tomorrow morning.

Ca.s.s AWOKE WITH a start. Her gla.s.s-block window showed it was still dark outside, and she glanced at her digital clock. The red numerals read 4:18. A dream had awakened her. A very odd dream. a start. Her gla.s.s-block window showed it was still dark outside, and she glanced at her digital clock. The red numerals read 4:18. A dream had awakened her. A very odd dream.

She lay in bed, unmoving, and mulled over the contents. They'd been walking through a rose garden, she and the Senator, strolling along and enjoying the beauty and fragrance of the flowers.

"I heard you calling," he'd said.

"Why didn't you answer?"

"I didn't want to frighten you. And, too, I wasn't truly sure you wanted me to answer."

"I suspect you're right." She laughed at herself. "I'm not frightened of you now. I had a question to ask you."

He smiled. "About my hair."

"Yes."

"Appearances don't matter very much. What's inside is what counts. Wherever I am, however I look, I'm your father, and I love you very much. Had you rather see me this way?" His appearance suddenly changed from a distinguished older man with gray hair to a much younger man with dark hair who favored Sam Outlaw a great deal.

She gasped at the sudden and startling transformation.

"Or this way?" He turned back into the gray-haired man. "Which one seems like your father?"

"The later, of course. I understand," she said. "You've aged along with us for our sakes. Which are you really?"

"I'm both. And neither. But I'm always around when you and Sunny call. At least for now." In the dream he'd broken off a rose and put it in Ca.s.s's hair. "It's important for you to always remember to follow your heart. Don't forget that."

Now, in her bedroom, she could still smell the sweet scent of the rose, but when she reached for it in her hair, it wasn't there.

Tears filled her eyes. "Oh, Daddy," she whispered into the dark.

AT TEN O'CLOCK, Ca.s.s called the meeting to order. Five members of the board, Karen and herself were present. Gordon Velt, a sociology professor at UT and vice president of the board, was out of town. The others were Anita Rojas, a real estate agent; Herman Jacobs, an arborist; Martin Sevier, publisher of a weekly newspaper; and Louella Johnson, a retired school librarian who served as treasurer. Several other members of their organization served in advisory positions and headed various committees, but weren't in attendance. called the meeting to order. Five members of the board, Karen and herself were present. Gordon Velt, a sociology professor at UT and vice president of the board, was out of town. The others were Anita Rojas, a real estate agent; Herman Jacobs, an arborist; Martin Sevier, publisher of a weekly newspaper; and Louella Johnson, a retired school librarian who served as treasurer. Several other members of their organization served in advisory positions and headed various committees, but weren't in attendance.

After getting through their usual agenda, including learning from Louella about a treasury that needed a few more healthy donations, Anita, the real estate agent, brought something to their attention. "Scuttleb.u.t.t has it that a representative of outside interests is in town checking out several commercial sites suitable for a new high-rise."

Herman and Martin groaned. "Just what we need," Herman said. "Do you know which sites?"

"Those I know about-one on West Ninth and one on Guadalupe-probably aren't of specific interest to us," Anita said. "I don't know what other properties might be involved through direct negotiations with owners."

"Do you know who the party is or what company he or she represents?" Ca.s.s asked.

Anita shook her head. "Sorry. The agent involved is keeping the information close to his vest. I'll stay alert and see if I can find out. As soon as I know anything, I'll let you know."

"Do that," Ca.s.s said. "And I'll get Darlene's development committee busy beating the bushes for funds for the coffer in case we have a fight on our hands."

"Which we will," Martin said, "sooner or later."

"We've had another offer to buy the Chili Witches property," Ca.s.s told them. "I wonder if it's the same firm as the person in town scouting out sites."

"You're not going to sell, are you?" Martin asked.

"When pigs fly," Ca.s.s said. "Any other business?"

They discussed three other minor concerns, then ended the meeting.

Anita stopped Ca.s.s on their way out. "Are you interested in selling either this property or the one next door? I have a client who may be interested in one or both houses."

"I don't think so. I plan to live here and rent out the other one. Things have been pretty hectic lately, and I haven't been able to meet with the contractor to start renovations. Hopefully, I can get on it soon and be ready to move in by the end of summer."

"I heard about the flood at Chili Witches," Martin said. "Is everything okay now?"

"Yes, we're reopening today."

"I understand it was malicious mischief. Do the police have any suspects?"

"Not that we've heard," Ca.s.s said.

"You mean it was deliberate?" Anita asked.

Ca.s.s nodded.

"Do you think it has anything to do with your being president of POAC?"

"I hope not, but I have no way of knowing."

"That's terrible," Anita said. "Just terrible. I'm incensed about someone doing something so needlessly destructive. Was your lovely bar damaged?"

"Luckily, no. The floors in the dining room got the worst of it, and they've been replaced."

"I'll stop by for lunch one day this week and check them out," Martin said.

Ca.s.s waved goodbye to the departing board and stayed behind a few minutes to go over a few things with Karen. Since it was nearing lunchtime, they walked to Katz's Deli for a Reuben.

WHEN C Ca.s.s ARRIVED HOME an hour later, she was surprised at the number of cars still in the lot and on the street. Going in the back way of Chili Witches, she ran into a frazzled Aunt Min in jeans and a red tee. an hour later, she was surprised at the number of cars still in the lot and on the street. Going in the back way of Chili Witches, she ran into a frazzled Aunt Min in jeans and a red tee.

"What are you doing here?" Ca.s.s asked.

"Your mother and I came to help. Good thing we did. It's been a mob scene here. I think every cop in Austin has been in. We're doing a bang-up business. A few more days like this will make up for the losses of last week."

"That's great. Need more help?"

"Ask Sunny, but I think it has slowed to manageable now."

Ca.s.s found her sister, who told her everything was under control and to enjoy the rest of her day off. Since Ca.s.s was picking up Griff soon, she didn't argue.

If he was still interested in their excursion. After his odd behavior last night, she wasn't sure. He hadn't called to cancel, so she a.s.sumed it was still on. She'd made reservations for a Segway tour of the city, ending at the Ann Richards Bridge on Congress. The bridge, renamed after the late governor, joined the two halves of Austin separated by the Colorado River and its reservoir, Lady Bird Lake. She'd seen the Segway riders around town, and she'd been eager to learn to ride one. Or drive one. Or whatever. It looked like fun. She hoped Griff thought so.

At the appointed time, she drove to his hotel and was pleased to find him waiting outside for her and dressed in the jeans she'd suggested he wear.

"Hey, babe," Griff said as he climbed into her car.

"Hey, yourself. Ready for an adventure?"

"Always. Where are we going?"

"Not far. In fact, just a few blocks from here." She headed out to the place where she'd been directed. "First, we have to have a training session."

"A training session? Are we going skydiving?"

"Lord, no. You won't see me jumping out of a plane. Have you ever done it?"

"Nope," he said, "but I've always wanted to try."

"Must not have wanted to too badly," she said, "or you'd have done it."

Griff laughed. "Point taken."

She soon pulled into the lot where the tour started and the training session was held.

"Segways!" he said.

"Yep. Ever been on one?"

"Never, but I've always-"

"Wanted to try," she finished for him. "Me, too. Want to give it a whirl? They'll guide us on a tour of interesting places in downtown Austin, and we'll end up watching the bats."

"I'm game. Let's go." He put his arm around her waist as they walked up to the training area. "Thanks for thinking of this."

Learning to ride one of the two-wheeled contraptions, which reminded Ca.s.s a little of a cross between an old-fas.h.i.+oned push lawn mower and the front end of a scooter, wasn't as difficult as she'd thought. You just stood on the platform between the wheels and leaned in the direction you wanted to go, then moved upright to stop-an intuitive connection between rider and machine. It had fat tires and all sorts of internal gyroscopes and high tech stuff. If you wanted to turn right or left, you simply pulled the handlebars in the corresponding direction. Easy. And fun.

Soon she, Griff and the other tourists were zipping around the practice course like pros and having a blast. They had an excellent guide, well versed in Austin history, who led them on the city tour, with stops at the state capitol and the historic Driskill Hotel, as well as some of the monuments and statues and notable houses around town. They rode down the length of Sixth Street and through the Second Street shopping district, and tootled around the lake. The tour was a lengthy one, and they ended up on the banks near the bridge at dusk.

As the lights of the city came on and the sun sank beneath the horizon, they dismounted and hung their helmets on the handlebars to see the final act of the show. Their guide stayed to watch their machines, and most of their group walked up onto the pedestrian walkway of the wide bridge. Ca.s.s and Griff lagged behind.

"Have you enjoyed this?" she asked.

He put his arm around her waist and kissed her nose. "I've had a fantastic time. Makes me feel like a kid again. Thanks for thinking of it. Is this where we see the bats?"

"Yep," she said. "They should be leaving at any time."

"Are you sure they won't suck our blood?"