Finished Off (A Bellehaven House Mystery Book 2) by Kate Kingsbury Read Free Book Online Page B

and take a look at our orphans. Sometimes we don't really know what we are looking for until we see it."
    How true, Meredith thought. That didn't help her find her ghost, however. "I really don't think—"
    Once more the administrator interrupted her. "Just a peek. It won't take a minute, and it would be a shame if you missed the perfect child because you didn't take the proper time to look."
    Hearing the hint of reproval in her voice, Meredith rose. It would be best to humor the woman. She could easily say she didn't see what she wanted and leave. At least she would have satisfied the administrator.
    Out in the hall once more, Meredith reminded herself that no matter how much she might pity these poor children, she could not take them all home with her. She would simply have to brace herself for the ordeal, and hope she could put those mournful little faces out of her mind once she had left.
    The children were in the schoolroom, Mrs. Philpot informed her, as she led the way down the dismal corridor to a pair of double doors at the end.
    Meredith could hear the childish voices, reciting words she couldn't quite catch. As the administrator opened the door, the words became audible. Guided by a thin woman with spectacles, the children were reciting a verse from
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
.
    Mrs. Philpot led the way to the front of the class, explaining to Meredith over her shoulder, "These are the older children, four years old and upward. The babies are in the nursery, but since you mentioned you wanted an older child, this is the best place to look."
    Meredith was beginning to feel decidedly queasy. She had not thought all this through very carefully, and she now deeply regretted her rash decision to visit the orphanage.
    She couldn't imagine what had possessed her to think that the vague and illusive gesturing of a ghost she still had trouble believing she could actually see could possibly lead her to this place. Her need to discover the identity of the dead child had addled her mind to the point where she was imagining things and grasping at straws.
    Fragile straws at that. Now here she was, with dozens of eyes following her as she traipsed down the aisle, all praying that they would be the one to leave that dreadful place and find a new home.
    How could she bring hope to these poor lost souls, only to snatch it away again? All on a ridiculous whim. How cruel. It would be many months, if ever, before she could forgive herself for this.
    "Now, children," Mrs. Philpot announced, "this is Mrs. Llewellyn. I want each of you to stand up in turn, tell her your name and how old you are. Starting with you, Beth."
    Miserably Meredith faced the children as, one by one, they stood and announced their names. Their clothes were ragged, their hair uncombed. Their ages ranged from about four to perhaps eleven, and although not one of them looked alike, they all shared the same haunted look in their eyes.
    When they were finished, Meredith did her best to smile. "Thank you all very much. I enjoyed listening to your poem. I wish I could stay longer to hear more, but I'm afraid I have to leave." She hesitated, while the children stared at her with vacant expressions that gave no indication of what they might be thinking.
    Unable to bear more, she nodded at the teacher, raised her hand in farewell, and quickly left the room.
    Mrs. Philpot hurried after her, catching up with her halfway down the corridor. "I'm so sorry you didn't see what you wanted," she said, puffing as she struggled to keep up with Meredith's anxious stride. "Perhaps you could visit us again sometime. Most of the children who come in here are babies, though we do get older children from time to time."
    Meredith made herself slow down. She reached the door and waited for the administrator to catch up with her. "I'm so sorry I wasted your time," she began, but Mrs. Philpot shook her head.
    "Oh, no, I understand. You have a firm picture of what you want in your head, and