Nicole stood at a distance with the ghosts and watched as the police brought out the hit and run driver.
Earlier on, after Gail warned her to stay where he could see her, they had waited for backup before going into the junkyard, just at the time the car was about to be junked and arrested him.
The man turned to look at Nicole with a frown on his face. His glare was a sharp one and it sent chills down Nicole's spine. She suddenly felt like the man was a vengeful person who might come for her another time.
The detective who refused to believe Nicole walked to her with a shameful expression as he apologised, ''I'm sorry for not believing you earlier on''
''It's alright. no need to apologise'' Nicole said to him and saw Gail walking towards them. he had a smile on his face as he looked at Nicole.
''Thanks to you we were able to apprehend the criminal''
''No need to thank me. Is everything over here? I would like to go home''
''Yes, everything is over for now but you will need to make a trip to the station to make a statement. Will you be able to do that tomorrow?'' Gail asked.
''Yes, sure. I will be there to give my statement''
''Let's go, I will send you home'' Gail said and started walking to his car. he didn't leave a room for her to reject him as he walked away hurriedly towards his car.
The detective who apologised looked at him feeling confused. Why did he feel that their new captain was interested in that woman? Detective Gail had just been transferred to the town from the capital. This was his first month here, and he had already cracked three major cases and was considered capable. There are two ladies in their unit but he had never paid attention to them like he was doing to this woman.
The more he thought about it, the more he was confused. He turned to see the car of Detective Gail moving further away and he sighed and shook his head.
...
'You can pull over at the sidewalk over there, my apartment is not far from here'' Nicole pointed at the nearest sidewalk by the bus stop.
''Okay'' Gail soon pulled over and turned to face her, ''here is my card, call me if you need to report any case in the future''
Nicole stared at the name card in his hand and asked, ''why do you believe me? Nobody takes my words serious. Everyone thinks I'm crazy''
''I believe you and also, I don't think that you are crazy''
''Do you believe in supernatural things?''
''I do, so make sure you call me if you have anything to report about''
''Okay, I will do that'' Nicole turned to the back of the car and stared at the four ghosts.
''It's getting late, go and get some rest'' Gail said and got down from the car. he went over to the other side and opened the door for Nicole and she got down.
''Thank you'' Nicole said and he nodded his head with a smile. He closed the door and stood next to the car watching her as she walked away. He smiled and murmured, ''I finally found you, Nicole Benson''
…..
''Why do I feel that, that detective likes you, Nicole?'' Candy asked, massaging he temple as she sat on the couch.
''What? No, that is unlikely, he probably just pities me that's all'' Nicole dismissed that thought. She had gone through enough heartache already to want to have wishful thinking. She was someone who was incapable of having a normal relationship with anyone.
''He is forbidden to like Nicole. listen to me, Nikki, you can only belong to Leo. Your love story with Leo isn't over yet. I won't allow another man to come between you and Leo'' Lizzy said firmly.
''What a friend you are'' Nicole said, walking to the kitchen.
''What are you going to do?'' Granny asked.
''I'm going to prepare some ancestry food for you people. you haven't eaten anything in a long while, right?''
''That's right. my powers are a little slow because I haven't had any ancestral food in a long time'' Candy said more to herself.
''I will help you'' Lara said and stood up.
''No, you should rest and after getting something to eat, you can visit your husband before you leave for the afterlife. I can handle this much on my own''
''Okay''
Nicole washed her hands and immediately started preparing the ancestral food for dead people. she was going to make a simple seaweed soup with rice and mashed fruit soup. It was a type of dish that had a good fragrance and most people often attributed it to been the best to serve to people crossing the afterlife.
An hour later, Nicole finished and set the table. she placed the food in the middle and set the apples in a bowl and placed them on the side. She brought three sticks of incense and lit them on every side.
The four ghosts sat around the table leaving the front space for Nicole, who stood up with one of the lit incense and bowed four times before it.
When she was done, she stepped aside and allowed them to eat their food while she went in to take her back.
...
Early the next day, in the morning. Nicole accompanied Lara to the hospital to bid her husband farewell. She went to the counter and inquired about him and was showed the ICU ward where he was currently at.
Lara followed behind Nicole as she went to the ICU. When they got there, they stood outside and looked inside through the glass window.
''Nicole, do you think my husband will be okay?''
''Off course, the paramedics said he was still alive. The accident impacted him, so his body is taking a lot of time to heal, but he will be fine. Don't worry too much''
''Thank you for everything you did for me, Nicole''
''You are welcome, Lara. I am sorry that you had to pass away at such an early stage in your life. I hope you find rest in the afterlife''
''I want to give you something in return''
''Huh?''
''I realised that you didn't have anything doing. You did so much for me and for everyone. You are even helping Lizzy to track the people that killed her''
''Do you need something?'' A nurse walked out of the ICU and asked Nicole at that time.
''No, sorry'' Nicole smiled and turned to Lara, 'let's talk outside''
The nurse looked puzzled as she stared at Nicole who was leaving the ICU. She wondered who she was speaking to.
''Lara, what were you saying inside?'' Nicole asked as they walked outside the hospital towards the bus stop.
''I have a flower shop. Can you take care of it for me?''
''Flower shop? Doesn't your family or husband know about it?''
'''No. I've always wanted to be a florist but my family were against it. I opened that place recently and planned to tell my husband about it during out honeymoon but I never got to do that. I want you to take care of it for me. I will show you where the deed of the store and the work permit is''
''But, I don't have any experience in caring for flowers?''
''I have a book in the shop. It will help you to know how to care about flowers. I haven't visited there in a while, most of the flowers might be dead by now''
''Lara, I don't have confidence in caring for a flower shop, but since you need someone to help out right now, I will go and have a look at the place first, but I can't accept it as a gift from you. I will return it to your husband when he is out of the hospital and is healthy. He would cherish it since this was something you loved to do''
''Thank you. let's go, I will take you to that place''
''Okay'' Nicole turned to go and saw Detective Gail coming out of his car at the car park. ''Oh'' she looked at him and their eyes met and he smiled at her.
''Miss Benson, you are here?''
''Oh, I came to check on the patient. What about you?''
''I came to pick the hospital report of the victim'' he said and turned towards Lara, for a brief moment, Nicole actually felt like he could see Lara.
''I still have something to do, so I will take my leave now''
''Wait, do you have time later on?''
''Why?''
''I wanted to buy you a meal, to thank you for your help yesterday''
''No, you don't have to thank me for anything''
''I insist. Allow me to treat you to a meal''
''I think he likes you, Nikki. He is just finding excuses to get to know you more'' Lara whispered to her.
''That's not true'' she subconsciously answered before realising her mistake and smiled.
''Is there someone else here apart from us? Someone perhaps a ghost?'' he asked and Nicole looked at him.