Whispers by Erin Quinn Read Free Book Online

Reilly Alexander, she thought.
    If it wasn’t for her concern about Analise, the news of her grandmother’s death, and the unfolding drama of this never-ending night, she couldn’t have looked him in the eye. But it seemed that tonight she was insulated by shock and grief. Nothing could surprise her. At least that’s what she thought until the spry old woman opened her mouth.
    “ The sheriff is right, Gracie Beck. We are here for Nathan,” she said. “He’s looking for a story.”
    “ A story?” Gracie repeated, not following the mysterious woman’s meaning. Frowning, she turned to Reilly, who looked like a bad boy caught peeking up the teacher’s dress.
    “ I—” he began, but the woman cut him off.
    “ You see, your grandmother had a very strong spirit. She called to me. I, in turn, called to Nathan.”
    To the best of Gracie’s recollection, Reilly hadn’t been called Nathan by anyone but his mother. Ever. So who was this woman? And what was her connection to him?
    “ I’m sorry. How rude of me not to tell you,” she said, answering the question that Gracie had yet to voice. “My name is Chloe LaMonte. And these are my disciples.”
    “ I am not a disciple,” the priest said. “I am clairvoyant, but not a follower of spiritual sacrilege.”
    Chloe ignored him and went on. Her voice was clear and strong, tinged with a compassion that seemed misplaced, considering her motives. “We have been studying Diablo Springs for some time now. There is a psychic phenomenon here that is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s incredible, really. Like a vibration. I’m surprised even you can’t feel it.”
    The “even you” comment irritated Gracie, but she was too tired to react. Too tired to even feign politeness. She turned abruptly away from Chloe and asked, “What about Grandma Beck, Eddie?”
    Eddie glanced over her head at the group of people. “Maybe you folks could find your rooms?”
    “ Rooms? They’re staying here?”
    Chloe answered, “We have reservations.”
    “ Gracie,” Reilly said. “I’m sorry about this. I didn’t know you’d be here. I didn’t know about your grandma.”
    “ How could you? It only happened tonight.”
    “ She knew,” the good-looking young man said, pointing at Chloe.
    Reilly touched Gracie’s arm and nodded toward the closed kitchen door. “Why don’t we go in the kitchen? I’ll try to explain”—he looked at the group in the living room—“this.”
    Gracie gave a curt nod and motioned for Eddie to follow. Stepping onto the porch, she untied the dogs, who dutifully trailed her to the kitchen. The small group in the front room parted for them to go by. Knowing how sweet the Great Dane and Labrador-mix dogs were, Gracie sometimes forgot just how intimidating and big the animals were. The expressions on the nervous visitors’ faces as they passed made a quick reminder.
    Before they took their seats, she addressed Tinkerbelle and Juliet.
    “ Friend,” she said.
    The dogs scanned back and forth between Reilly, Eddie, and Gracie, their expressions seeming to say, “We don’t think so.”
    “ Friend,” she repeated, then gave Reilly a brief hug, feeling unbelievably self-conscious as she came into contact with the warmth of him. The hug she gave Eddie was more heartfelt. He patted her on the back and pressed a kiss to her hair, murmuring how good it was to see her, under any circumstances. Satisfied, the dogs relaxed beneath the table, but Reilly didn’t look anywhere near at ease with their watchful eyes following him.
    Gracie sat down next to him and Romeo hopped in her lap.
    “ Why are you and those people here?” she said.
    Reilly exhaled heavily and shook his head. Then, with obvious reluctance, he told them about his signing and Chloe’s approach.
    “ I couldn’t believe she’d know your grandmother. Chloe’s ... out there. And Carolina was as down to earth as they come.”
    “ So you just jumped in your car and followed