“Yes!” Sheila wailed. “He’s in recovery now, and the doctor thinks he’ll be okay, but I can’t leave him and I don’t know when I can come and get Russell and the first thing he’s going to ask me about is that dog—”

“Sheila,” I interrupted gently. “Don’t worry about Russell. I’ll take care of him as long as necessary.”

Russell growled again, and when I glanced in his direction, I saw Nick standing in the doorway, one shoulder braced casually against the jamb. He gave a jaunty little salute.

Russell crossed the room, sniffed at Nick’s pant leg and wagged his tail.

“He can see you,” I mouthed.

“I’d better go,” Sheila finished, and I realized she’d been talking right along. “I want to sit with Bert, be there when he wakes up. Thank you so much, Mojo. I don’t know how I will ever repay you.”

“Thank you so much, Mojo,” Nick repeated. “I don’t know how I will ever repay you.”

I made a face at him, said goodbye to Sheila and hung up.

By then, he’d wandered over to the table, with no interference from Russell. Greer’s check lay faceup, and Nick whistled when he read the figure.

“You probably saved Bert’s life,” I said. “So I forgive you for every lousy thing you’ve ever done to me.” I smiled and spread my hands. “Now, you can leave.”

Nick eyed me skeptically. Shook his head.

I sighed. “Listen. I am really tired and I want to go to bed, and I don’t need a ghost watching me sleep. So if you wouldn’t mind—”

“I do mind. I heard what that cop told you. You shouldn’t be alone tonight. So Chester and I are going to burn a little extra ectoplasm and stick around till morning.”

“You’re a ghost. What could you do if somebody broke in?”

“You’d be surprised,” Nick said.

I narrowed my eyes.

“Mojo, go crash before you collapse.”

“You’ve got to promise—swear—that you won’t climb into bed with me again. That really freaked me out.”

“I promise,” he said, raising one hand and setting the other on an imaginary Bible.

“Like your word means anything,” I challenged. But I was tired.

Nick rolled his eyes. “You said it yourself—I saved your friend’s life. Now, you’re practically calling me a rapist.”

“I did not call you a rapist.”

“That’s about the only thing you haven’t called me.”

“Go away. I forgive you. Now, zip on back to the train station and get your ticket punched.”

“Not,” he said.

I looked down at Russell. “If this man so much as moves toward my bedroom door, bite him.”

Russell whimpered.

“Well, then, at least bark!”

Chester took another friendly swat at Russell’s nose.

Russell walked over to Nick and licked his left shoe.