Dead and Breakfast by Kimberly G. Giarratano Read Free Book Online Page B

old steamer trunk in the attic when Timothy appeared.
    “Girl,” he said, his voice hinting at annoyance. “Your mother heard noises up here and sent me to check it out. Do you think I like running up and down the stairs?” He fanned himself in the doorway. “What are you doing up here? It’s hotter than hell.”
    Autumn wiped a line of sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. “Just give me a sec.” She removed an old black-and-white photo from a box in the trunk and sat back. “Well, freak me.” In the photo stood a group of four young sailors, their arms around one another’s shoulders.
    Timothy rolled his eyes. “What are you playing at?”
    Autumn crouched, careful of the steep slant in the ceiling. She waved the old photo at Timothy, who plucked the picture from Autumn’s fingers before turning it over. “Duncan, Ralphie, Mick, and Leo, 1966.” He furrowed his brows. “What made you go looking for this? Besides pretty boy looking exactly like his grandfather.”
    Autumn peered at the picture. “Is that who it is?”
    “Who else would look just like him? Anyway, how do you think he got the job? Boy didn’t even get his high school diploma, and your mama agrees to hire him.”
    “You don’t have a college degree,” Autumn pointed out.
    “I’m working toward it.” Timothy sounded huffy. “Anyway, what made you think to look for this?”
    Autumn pointed to the top of a dusty box where she had set the ring. Her voice teetered on giddiness. “I channeled her.” Her chest swelled with pride. At the Cayo, lots of people saw ghosts, but no one had ever channeled a spirit before. This was big.
    “You what?” Timothy’s voice rose an octave.
    “I got inside her memories. The ghost’s name is Inez. I don’t have a last name, but she knew Duncan and Leo and Mick.”
    Timothy picked up the ring and examined it. “This must’ve been hers. But how did you get it?”
    “It was at the bottom of the pool. I bet it slid out of Liam’s pocket when he fell in.”
    “You mean was pulled in, don’t you?” Timothy carefully set the ring back on the box. “So your pretty boy and this ghost are connected somehow.”
    “That’s the thing. I think it’s Liam’s grandfather with the connection to the ghost. The resemblance is uncanny. Besides, too many coincidences can’t be coincidence. And he’s not my pretty boy.”
    “Sure he isn’t.” Timothy fanned himself with the photo. “Go see your mama. We’ll figure this ghost thing out another time.”
    Autumn grinned.
    “What are you so happy about?” Timothy asked. “This doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
    “It doesn’t yet.” Autumn snatched back the picture. “But it gives me a chance to investigate—just what I need to earn that journalism scholarship.”
    “Girl, you’re going to insert yourself into a mystery you have no business being in. And besides, the minute you mention the word ghost , you can kiss that scholarship opportunity goodbye. You better give pretty boy back his ring. Something tells me he needs the ring more than you do.”
    “I’ll give him the ring when he asks for it.”
    Timothy clucked his tongue. “Give Liam back his ring. And don’t channel ghost girl.” He pointed at her. “Evelyn said to tell you it’s time for bed. I’m heading home.” And with that, he strode away.
    Autumn’s face soured. It’s not even ten yet. Autumn waited until she could no longer hear Timothy’s steps. She picked up the ring and slipped it on to her finger and waited for the black dots to appear. This time she was ready.
    #
    Liam woke sometime after midnight covered in sweat. He had dreamed that the brunette from the pool clawed out his eyes before her face morphed into Autumn. Despite the malfunctioning air-conditioner in his room, Liam couldn’t rid his body of the goosebumps that had erupted along his arms and neck. He rose from the bed and threw on a pair of black mesh shorts and an old white