Chihuahua of the Baskervilles by Esri Allbritten Read Free Book Online Page B

held up his wrapped silverware—“maybe the ghost will tell her to shut down Petey’s Closet and start making açaí-berry dog food.”
    Angus chose a plantain chip from the basket. “I think it would take more than a ghost to make Charlotte Baskerville give up her business. And there’s no reason to believe the ghost is fake.”
    Suki leaned back in her chair. “If it comes to faking ghosts, my money’s on Ivan.”
    “Why?” Angus asked.
    “He really likes attention.”
    “Is that the only reason?” Michael said.
    “There doesn’t need to be more. Take it from someone who likes to be noticed—and I’m not trying to get on TV.”
    The waitress came back and carefully set an enormous daiquiri by Suki’s plate.
    “Oh, yeah,” Suki murmured, and took a healthy swig.
    Angus rested his clasped hands on the table. “As I said, there’s no reason to think the ghost is fake. But if there were, you’re both missing the most obvious candidate.”
    “Who?” Michael asked.
    “Ellen. She’s the one most likely to whip up a ghost costume.”
    Suki shook her head. “What has she got to gain? Anyway, a costume is so low-tech. If I were going to fake a ghost, I’d use some sort of projector.”
    Michael unwrapped his flatware. “I could see where you could project it against the workshop wall, but what about when it floated onto the roof?”
    “Smoked glass, or even a sheet of plastic.”
    Angus squeezed lemon into his tea. “It’s all moot, because as far as we’re concerned, this is a real ghost, and if we’re lucky, it’ll make an appearance tonight.” He turned and looked out the front windows of the restaurant. “Looks like it’s already dark.”
    *   *   *
    As it turned out, some of the darkness was due to weather. By the time Angus and his crew finished their meal, a heavy rain was falling. They stood just inside the restaurant’s door, staring out at the deluge.
    “So much for seeing if those paw prints glow without light,” Michael said bitterly. “They’ll be completely washed away by now.”
    A man and woman in their fifties came up next to them, shrugging on coats. “Good thing we parked right outside,” the man said conversationally. “You folks might want to wait a little if you’re not parked close.”
    “Actually, we walked,” Angus said. “I don’t suppose Manitou Springs has a cab service.”
    “I think it’d have to come from Colorado Springs, which would cost you a mint. Where do you need to go? We could give you a ride.”
    “That’s very kind of you. We’re practically around the corner,” Angus said.
    By the time the man and his wife dropped them off in front of the Baskerville house, the pounding rain had become the barest sprinkle.
    Someone hailed them as they trotted up the walk to the house. Looking around, Angus spotted Thomas’s dog-food partner waving from the second-floor deck of the neighboring house.
    “Hellooo, magazine people! It’s Bob Hume!”
    “Oh, hello, Bob,” Angus called back, without enthusiasm. He turned to Michael and Suki and muttered, “You two go in. I’ll get rid of him.”
    They hustled inside the front door with no argument.
    “Stay there, Mr. MacGregor, and I’ll come down,” Bob called. “I have something to show you.”
    Angus stepped onto the front porch. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hume, but I’m in a bit of a hurry. Have to set up for the ghost watching, you know, and it’s already dark.”
    Bob had started toward the door that led inside his house, but now he came back onto the deck and leaned over the railing. “But this is completely pertinent to that. I was looking through some old photos of Petey that I have, and I think I’ve spotted a spectral face in one of them!”
    Angus hesitated. Spectral faces were always good. “Is it a spectral dog’s face?” he shouted.
    “No, it’s much better! I’ll be right there!”
    Angus sighed and stayed where he was.
    Bob emerged from the front door of his house moments