SPIRIT OF CONSEQUENCE (A Spirit Walking Mystery Book 1) by Peggy Dulle Page A

again. Dodge was right. It had shaped me into the person I was and no one told me what to do or when to do it. I was in control!
    A few minutes later we pulled on to Entertainment Street. It contained two multiplex movie theaters, five Broadway-style theaters, an opera house, four museums, a baseball stadium at one end and the football arena at the other. In the middle was a four-story parking structure for all the private limos. It sure made things convenient. When I was alive, I often came to the city to see plays and my parents were big supporters of the opera.
    Dodge pulled into the parking structure, putting his car in a reserved parking slot on the first floor.
    “You’re going to get a ticket for parking here.”
    He put a sign on the dashboard that said, “On duty police officer.”
    “Convenient.”
    He nodded and got out of the car. I slid through the passenger door and joined him as he walked out of the parking structure. Dodge pulled his jacket closed and zipped it up. Was it cold outside or was he just hiding his shoulder holster? I sure missed the sunshine on my face but the cold – I didn’t miss it at all!
    “Who are we talking to?” I asked.
    “The business card belongs to Miss Mona Person.”
    I laughed. “Mona’s a good name for a Madam, don’t you think?”
    He smiled. “As good as any.”
    I followed him down Entertainment Street to a three-story black building with several floor length windows on each floor. Two men dressed in black, red, and gold uniforms stood at the front door. One was a distinguished looking older man, maybe fifty, with black hair graying at the temples. The other was much younger with dark wavy brown hair. He was quite handsome and could have passed as one of the escorts rather than a doorman.
    The Companion and Recreation Escort’s front door was etched with a CARE monogram: Escorts that care – a nice touch. The two men stepped in front of Dodge as he approached.
    “Can we help you sir?” the older gentlemen asked.
    Dodge took out his badge and showed it to the man. “I’m Inspector Benson.”
    The man nodded. “Who would you like to speak with?”
    Dodge held up the business card. “Miss Mona Person.”
    The younger man grinned and glanced at the older gentleman. “She’s really busy right now getting ready for the party.”
    “I love parties!” I said excitedly.
    Dodge didn’t even glance my way. “I’ll make it as quick as I can.”
    The older gentleman opened a small panel next to the door and pulled out a phone. He turned away from us and spoke into the phone. Then he nodded his head, hung up the phone, and faced us. “Miss Mona will see you.” He nodded toward the younger man and said, “Jordan will show you to her office.”
    Jordan stepped forward and smiled. “My pleasure.”
    “Jordan,” the older man said sternly.
    “I know, don’t ogle the ladies. Deliver Inspector Benson to Miss Mona and get back down here.”
    Jordan opened the door and held it for Dodge. Dodge hesitated for a moment and I stepped through first. He followed and then Jordan. We walked into a deep mahogany floored lobby area furnished in overstuffed leather couches and high-back chairs. Two chairs were occupied by elegantly dressed women, one in a slinky long green dress and the other in a similarly slinky long teal dress. As Jordan walked, he kept glancing back at the two women. Both of them waved to him. He winked at them and then took us to a man dressed in a similar black, red and gold uniform. He sat behind a large mahogany desk the same color as the flooring. At a quick glance, you might not even see it as it seemed to blend into the flooring. I guess it made the desk more discreet. 
    “Inspector Benson is here to speak to Miss Mona,” Jordan told the gentleman.
    “Thank you, Jordan. Miss Mona called down and asked me to tell you to escort him to the Green Room.”
    “No problem.” Jordan stepped around the man at the desk and indicated for Dodge to follow