Murder in the Mist by Loretta C. Rogers Read Free Book Online

chair, and she cried, “Aunt Philly, blow out the candles. Someone turn on the light.”
    Nadia stood at the head of the table and reached out her hands, an urgency filling her voice. “Quick, we must close the séance.” When all hands had reunited, she spoke in a quiet monotone. “Goodbye, spirit. Thank you for visiting us. You may leave now. We ask that you go in peace and do us no harm.”
    And then she offered a small blessing over the group to assure the specter didn’t attach itself to any of them. “Even though we have officially ended the séance, some spirits like to hang around. If this one does, I believe we have nothing to fear.”
    She turned her attention to Laura. “It seemed as if she were reaching out to you. Maybe she was just curious. She might even return to visit you later in the evening during a dream sequence.”
    Laura took a moment to collect her wits. “Yeah, well, this is just too weird. I’m not sure I’d want a dead person attaching itself to me.”
    One of the ladies gasped and pointed. “Look!”
    All eyes riveted on the mirror over Maudie’s priceless antique buffet. Leaking into obscure lines were the letters l and y .
    Maudie grabbed one of the linen napkins from the table and rushed to wipe away the moisture. “This mirror and sideboard have been in my family for two hundred years. Spirit or no spirit, I’ll not be the one who allows it to be damaged.”
    After a moment, Phyllis asked, “What do you think the letters mean, Nadia?”
    The old woman shrugged, spreading her hands wide. She cut an eye toward Maudie. “The beginning of a name, or someone’s initials, perhaps. Unless we call upon the spirit to visit again, we may never know.”
    Maudie’s voice was contrite. “I’m sorry. If I hadn’t panicked, the spirit would have told us who she was.”
    Laura snatched a cookie from the plate. She had stood in the face of danger many times, had experienced knee-knocking fear, but the people she’d encountered were flesh, bone, and blood. She didn’t like situations she couldn’t control. Although her hand trembled as she shoved the wafer inside her mouth, a healthy dose of curiosity filled her.
    One of the ladies opened the drapes to allow light into the dining room. Laura glanced at her watch. “There’s probably thirty minutes of daylight left. If anyone is afraid to walk home, Aunt Philly and I will escort you.”
    Maudie sidled closer to Phyllis. “Nadia, how do I know the spirit is gone and won’t return? I’ve lived alone in this old house for fifty years and never had cause to be fearful.”
    The old woman patted her friend on the arm. “You have nothing to fear except your imagination. Shall I spend the night with you?”
    At Nadia’s suggestion, Laura noted the relief reflected in both women’s faces.

Chapter Six
    At the rear entrance of the library, Laura suggested her aunt go upstairs to the living quarters without her. “I won’t be long, Aunt Philly. After what we’ve just experienced, I’m curious to look through Dan’s old morgue books to see if I can find an article about anyone who died under mysterious circumstances—”
    Phyllis finished the sentence. “And whose name has the initials: L and Y?”
    Laura’s stomach rumbled. “Exactly.” Then, at her aunt’s obvious hesitation to let her go, she asked, “How about a sandwich and a beer when I get back? In all the excitement, Maudie forgot to feed us. I’ll get as many books as I can carry up the stairs. It’s okay—nothing is going to happen.”
    “Ayuh. By Godfrey, me and my big mouth. Suggesting a séance. From now on, I’m keeping my fat trap shut.”
    Laura laughed. “If I’m not back in ten minutes, call the deputy.”
    Phyllis gave her a mutinous stare. “Not funny. Not funny in the least. Don’t forget to lock the door before you come up.”
    Laura reached into her pocket for the key chain. In less than a minute she stood at the back door of her office. She shoved