Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
“So if someone paid in cash, there could be no record,” I fill in.
“Yep.”
We go down another hall, using our flashlights to light our way. Having the windows tightly boarded up did keep vandals and animals out, but the lack of fresh air is almost suffocating.
“Brace yourself,” Lauren warns before opening a door. “This room doesn’t have to be haunted for me to know it’s sad.”
“Oh gosh,” I exclaim, knowing right away what Keith was talking about. “That poor library.”
Going with the geese in bonnets theme, someone wallpapered the built-in wooden shelves, so each shelf is blue with a matching goose background.
“I know,” Lauren groans. “Whatever glue they used damaged the wood. I really wanted to salvage this and make it a wonderful reading area with a shelf full of board games right over there.” She smiles as she talks, envisioning it all. “And maybe a little bar cart in the corner. Oh! And the fireplace will totally be up and running and it would be a perfect way to spend an evening.”
“Yeah,” Keith says sarcastically. “Because young couples just love staying in and playing board games.”
“Hey,” I interject. “I like playing board games. And cocktails. I think that would be fun.”
“See?” Lauren raises her eyebrows. “I’m telling you, this could be a big draw for people looking to get away from the city. I just need some farm animals.”
“Anora can help with that, too,” Keith says. “But let’s stick to the ghosts for now.”
“Good idea. There’s so much to do.” Lauren sighs. “What do you think?” she asks and it takes me a few seconds to realize she’s talking to me.
“Oh, um, this place is definitely haunted. I’m picking up on several different spirits. There’s one that’s almost…oppressive, if you will. It’s hiding something.” I tip my head slightly to the side, trying to judge how much I can say to Lauren before she thinks I’m crazy. “But I don’t think you’re in danger.”
“Good,” she laughs. “I can’t have ghosts murdering my guests.”
“Right,” I laugh back. “I’m in a bit of a rush today, but I can come back. Typically, it takes more than a walk-through to get a full read on a place. The ghosts will hide.”
“That makes sense,” she says. “And you’re welcome anytime. If horror movies are anything to go off of, I’m going to stir up some trouble when we start renovating.”
“I’m sure you will,” I tell her seriously. “I’ll help however I can.” Hunter, who’s been by my side this whole time, picks up on a thrumming of energy coming from outside. “What’s the yard like?”
“A mess,” Keith and Lauren say at the same time.
“I’ll show you,” Keith offers, and we head outside. Lauren stays in to take some measurements. “So? What do you really think?”
“What I said,” I tell him. “That dark energy.” I turn around, waiting until the door closes behind us to keep talking. We step onto a stone patio that’s full of cracks and covered in soggy leaves. “It’s definitely hiding something and trying to keep the other spirits silent. I need to come back and probably spend a night or two at least. Make it seem like I’m settling in for the long haul. Whatever it is, it’s worth digging into.”
“What if we find a body?”
I shrug. “We might.”
“You excited to meet your brother’s girlfriend?” Keith asks as we come to a stop at the edge of the patio. Hunter jumps down and starts sniffing around the yard. There are several outbuildings, and something is pulling me to one of the little sheds with its roof caved in. I glance at the time on my phone. It’s going to have to wait.
“The girl friend that he didn’t tell me about.” My eyes narrow. “I can’t believe he kept it from me!”
“Well, didn’t you say it was because he thought you’d overreact?” Keith asks with a slight wince.
“Yeah, but only because the last girl he supposedly fell head over heels with turned out to be a demon with alluring demon-powers that she stole from a witch or warlock she murdered, which made him become all infatuated with her because she thought he was me and she wanted his powers but instead kidnapped him, my best friend, my boyfriend, and my fucking dog! So yeah, I might overreact in a sense.”
“Oh, wow. You’re going to have to better explain that whole drama at another time.”
“I can do that. But really, he should have run it by me beforehand. What if I didn’t want another person in the house? Maybe I only set the table for four and then she shows up? Awkward, right? And showing up unannounced?”
“Would that really be that big of a deal?” Keith asks, thinking logically.
I shrug. “I’ll just say it wouldn’t be the first time we kidnapped and tied someone up in my living room.” Letting out a breath, I look around the yard. “I might be a little overprotective, but Harrison doesn’t always make the best choices. Not telling me about this girlfriend just raises my suspicions. At the very least, I could have internet stalked her and her family so I can find out they’re all real and not demons…unless they’re real people possessed by demons—and I knew I should have gotten that fucking silver.”