Ghost Time

and he goes, Hello, Theadora. What a surprise, he said. Who is it? Melody asked, but I didn’t answer. I just looked at Foley, but I couldn’t tell if he heard her or not. Is Detective Knox here? he said, and I go, No, grabbing the door so I’d have something to hold on to more than anything. And he looked like he was about to ask what I was doing at Knox’s house, but he didn’t. He goes, Oh, I see. Doyou know when he’ll be home? I go, I don’t know when, and he said, Are you here alone, then? looking around me, into the living room, and I stepped to the side, so he couldn’t see Mel.
    Just then, Mel called my name, Thee? Who is it? And then Foley leaned to his side, talking around me, and he said, Just me—Agent Foley, and I had to clench my jaw so hard to keep it from falling. He heard her—I swear Foley heard Mel speaking to me. Did you say something, Theadora? he asked, smiling like we had some inside joke, and I shook my head—too fast, I started shaking my head too fast. I didn’t say anything, I said, and he smiled, Sorry, I thought I heard something. Well, anyhow, you should call him, I said, and Foley goes, Thank you, I’ll do that, smiling his special pervy smile, and then I closed the door, right in his face. Thea? Thee, who is it? Mel asked, and I just stood there, staring at the door, knowing he hadn’t moved, either.
    After I closed the door, when I walked back into the living room, I felt so dirty, I wanted to take a shower. I really did. And I wasn’t sure, but I’m pretty sure he saw Mel, because you can see from the door into the living room, and I had her seated, situated on their couch so she’d be the first thing Knox saw, when he walked in the door. Knox got home literally, like, one minute after Foley left. He pulled in the drive, walked straight across the path, and opened the front door. One look and he knew something was wrong. What’s wrong? What happened? he said, following me into the living room. He balked, seeing Melody, and then he held up his finger, like we’ll get to you in a second, and he waited forme to say something, make sense of whatever was going on. Tell me what’s going on, Thea, he said, and I go, Someone came to the door, so I answered.
    Here? he said, and I said, Yes. I thought it was you, I said, and then I felt bad, because you should always ask before opening the door. I knew that; everyone knows that. He could trust me, alone, with his daughter, you know? At least when it came to answering doors. Just not tonight, maybe, and he goes, Who was it? And I winced, and then I told him: Foley, I said. He knew before, though, like the second before, Knox saw it. What did he want? he said, setting down his keys. He had a file in his hand, I said, putting it together. He was going to deliver my medical file to Knox.
    Knox was frowning, and he goes, Did he say anything? I go, No, he asked for you, and Knox goes, What did you tell him? I go, I told him you were out, and he should call you, I said. That’s all? Knox said, and I go, That’s all I told him, Knox, yes, and it wasn’t right, both of us knew something wasn’t right. And then Mel goes, What’s going on? Would someone please tell me what’s going on? I didn’t even have a chance to tell her before Knox walked in, and part of me didn’t want Mel to know. Please tell me what’s going on , she said, and Knox could tell she was talking to me. Mel, I don’t know, I said. I don’t know what’s going on, except that Special Agent Foley decided to pay your dad a house call, and he had a folder in his hands. All right, Knox said, sighing. He didn’t know what to do, but he didn’t want to talk about it either.
    Thee, let’s talk to him now , Mel said, acting like this was our golden opportunity. I need to take a bath, I said. I’m not kidding: I feel so gross, you have no idea—. Whoa, whoa, whoa… back up. First of all, Knox said, and then Mel said, We have to tell him now. It’s the perfect time, Thee—. First of all, Knox said, what’s with all this makeup on Melody’s face? Ohmygod, Dad , Mel said. You aren’t really going to start in because I’m wearing makeup? He goes, Thea, you didn’t tell me you were going to paint—. You have got to be kidding me , Mel said. Stop, I said. Paint her face like that, he said. Is that your idea of a compliment, Dad? she said, and I couldn’t take it anymore: Stop! I said, stop, both of you. Quiet—would you be quiet? I need to think, I