Dead Suite by Wendy Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

occasional hoarding or squalor residences. I am certified by the American BioRecovery
     Association. I have blood-borne-pathogens training as well as certifications in meth
     lab decon and environmental disinfection.”
    “And then you talk to the dead,” Rosemary said.
    “And help them move on from this dimension,” Rick added.
    “Well, sure,
sometimes
I do that,” Sadie admitted. “But the ghost thing happens only when a spirit has been
     left behind. It’s not an everyday experience and I certainly don’t go
looking
for ghosts. And I don’t think I can emphasize that enough.”
    “Don’t be a stick-in-the-mud,” Maeva chided. “Besides, business for Scene-2-Clean
     is slow. You’ve complained about that yourself, right? The Thingvolds are willing
     to pay you a third of their take here, and—”
    “So that’s what this is all about?” Sadie asked indignantly. “This is a mercy job?
     I don’t need your pity. As a matter of fact, I was just telling Osbert this morning
     how murders are picking up in Seattle. There was another prostitute killed in a hotel
     downtown and I’ll probably get the call to clean it up. I told Ozzie, the way business
     is booming I’d be getting him a Tickle Me Elmo.”
    “You were discussing murders with my four-month-old son?”
    “He didn’t seem to mind.” Sadie turned to the Thingvolds. “So you can keep one hundred
     percent of your take on this job, because I’m really not interested in doing . . .
     whatever it is that you plan on doing here.” She put fingers to her temples and rubbed.
     “Besides, I’m getting a headache.”
    “That’s an interesting necklace,” Rick said. He got up from his chair and walked toward
     Sadie. He pulled the pendant away from her chest and rubbed the smooth, round disc
     in his fingers. “It’s old too.” Turning it over, he squinted. “What’s the Latin on
     the back mean?”
    “I got it from a client who couldn’t afford to pay.” Sadie tucked the necklace inside
     her shirt. “He said the words were some kind of good-luck thing. It’s a rabbit’s foot
     and four-leaf clover rolled into one.”
    “Well, a little good luck is always a good thing.” Rick nodded but frowned when he
     said it, like he didn’t believe it himself.
    “Well, you guys have fun. I’m out of here.” Sadie turned on her heel and began to
     walk back down the hall.
    “But you were specially requested. Invited even,” Rosemary called out to her back.
    Sadie stopped and looked over her shoulder. “What the hell are you talking about?”
    “It’s probably best that we just show her,” Maeva said. “Besides, I’d like to see
     it too.”
    The Thingvolds shared a look and then agreed.
    “We didn’t want to scare you away but since you’re determined to leave anyway. . . .”
     Rosemary shrugged. “It’s upstairs.”
    Rosemary led the way up the stairs to the second level of the old house. Everyone
     followed and, at the end of the hall, they opened a bedroom door and stepped inside.
    The room was so cold they could see their breath, but that wasn’t what caught Sadie’s
     attention. In huge letters, each two feet high, were two words scrawled in a red paint
     that looked like blood.

Chapter 3
    Sadie became aware that her head was spinning. She braced herself against a wall but
     it didn’t help. The room tilted and swayed before going to black.
    Seconds later, she opened her eyes to a frantic wailing of “Psychic down! Psychic
     down!”
    Sadie was on the floor looking up at Rosemary and Rick while Maeva bounced around
     the room shrieking hysterically and sounding much like a squirrel on crack.
    “Shut up,” Sadie growled.
    “Give her room,” Rosemary said.
    “Are you okay?” Maeva asked.
    “Wha . . . what happened?” Sadie asked, lifting herself up on her elbows.
    “You fainted.” The reply came from a deep baritone voice and Sadie’s gaze searched
     the group for the source. She fixed her eyes on an