The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds by Bobbi Holmes Read Free Book Online Page A

Walt leaned down and looked Sadie in
the eyes.
    “I think that’s enough
for now, girl. Why don’t you go downstairs and check on Lily.”
    Sadie continued to
stare at Walt, her tail wagging. She barked once.
    “Go on. We can play
later.”  Walt pointed to the doorway. Sadie let out another bark, then turned
from Walt and raced from the room, heading downstairs to find Lily.
    Lily was just going out
the kitchen door to the back yard, the canvas bag with the croquet set in her
arms, when Sadie raced into the room.
    “Where’s your friend?”
Lily asked nervously, glancing around the kitchen, sniffing the air. There was
no hint of cigar smoke.
    “You want to come
outside with me Sadie, and help me set this up?” As if Sadie understood the
question, the dog raced out the doorway to the back yard, pushing Lily to one
side.
    Momentarily losing her
balance, Lily awkwardly held onto the canvas bag as she shifted her weight and
repositioned her hands to get a better grip. One of the wooden balls rolled out
and hit the floor with a loud cracking sound. Lily cursed and leaned down to
get the ball, without setting the bag down. She was afraid if she did, the rest
of the balls would tumble out. Unfortunately, before she could snag the errant
ball, it rolled under the kitchen table.
    Trying to juggle the
load, Lily attempted to reach the ball with her toe and nudge it in her
direction. When that proved impossible to do because of the bulky and heavy bag
in her arms, she cursed again. Preparing to set the bag down and let all the
balls roll out, she stopped when she smelled it…cigar smoke.
    Glancing around the
kitchen, she wondered where he was. Then she saw it: the wooden croquet ball
rising slowly from under the table—floating effortlessly in the air—coming
toward her. Yet, it wasn’t hurling in her direction as had the tennis ball
earlier.  She watched, mesmerized as the croquet ball returned to the canvas
bag, slipping inside with the rest of the set. Lily stood there a moment, her
heart again pounding.
    “Thank you Mr. Marlow,”
Lily said at last. Swallowing nervously, she flashed a weak smile and turned to
the door leading to the back yard. When she reached the door, she paused a
moment and turned back to the kitchen.
    “I think I understand
why I found this croquet set scattered all over the attic after the break in.
You threw it at them, didn’t you? Like you tossed the ball for Sadie a few
minutes ago.” Lily’s smile broadened. “Wow, I bet they wet their pants when you
pelted them with the croquet set.” Lily giggled at the thought. “Good work Mr.
Marlow. Good work.”
    Lily flashed a final
grin before turning back to the door and going outside with Sadie.
    Walt walked to the
kitchen window and looked outside, watching as Lily tossed the bag on the lawn
and removed the croquet set. When Lily and Danielle first arrived, the back
yard was overgrown in bushes and trees, and the lawn was a wild jungle of
wildflowers and weeds. The gardener Danielle hired tamed the yard in a matter
of days, returning it to the way Walt remembered it—back when he was still
alive, and sharing the home with his bride, Angela.
    Smiling, Walt watched
Lily arrange the croquet set while Sadie ran around the yard chasing birds and
barking at the croquet balls that lay silent on the lawn. When Lily left the
kitchen minutes earlier, she seemed less nervous than she had been in the
attic, and that pleased Walt. He had no desire to frighten the residents of
Marlow House—at least, not Danielle and Lily.
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Cheryl studied Ian as
they crossed the street. She liked tall men, and he had that going for him. She
wondered if he intentionally wore his t-shirt a size too small to show off his
impressive abs. If so, she had no complaints. It was a nice view. The Cubs
baseball cap needed to go. She assumed his hair was short, although she
couldn’t be certain because of the cap.
    After Ian and Cheryl
reached the sidewalk