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planted?”
    â€œI think it’s in case they ever have to move the body—like if the state decided to put a highway through the cemetery or something. Maybe it’s just to protect the family’s investment in fine furniture. Anyway, by the time you get the top on the vault, there’s less than three feet of dirt covering the thing. So it wouldn’t be that hard to dig one up. Getting the top off the vault would be a problem, but—”
    â€œMarilyn!”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œStart over. Scratch that very bad, exceedingly stupid idea out of your mind. You sound like a clip from Monster Movie Matinee . And I have no intention of playing Igor to some scatterbrained gravedigger on a midnight mission to the cemetery.”
    â€œSome henchperson you make. You’d better study your dwarf manual again.”
    â€œLook, Airhead, you start with the short jokes and you can face the unknown alone. Which is maybe not a bad idea. I don’t know why I’m having this conversation with you at all.”
    â€œBecause you’re incredibly loyal. Anyway, I was just thinking out loud. Give me credit for a little common sense.”
    â€œI always did, until you started getting dopey about Kyle. A person who could take him seriously might do anything!”
    â€œYou want another short joke?”
    â€œAll right, all right! I’ll lay off about Kyle. But what are you gonna do?”
    â€œDo you suppose I could get the amulet off Zenobia’s body during viewing hours tonight?”
    â€œPossible, but not likely. How about if you just tell your mother you want it?”
    â€œI tried. It was embarrassing. Not only did she think I was greedy, she thought I was ‘excessively morbid.’”
    â€œYou could try telling her about the ghost.”
    Marilyn looked at Alicia.
    â€œYeah, I see what you mean,” said Alicia. “Your mother already thinks your imagination is out of control. Hit her with this story and she’s likely to decide the strain has been too much and you’re ready for the funny farm. I mean, I only believe you because I have to.”
    â€œThanks. I think.”
    â€œAnyway, to continue digressing, how did the amulet get on Zenobia to begin with?”
    â€œMr. Flannigan called Mom and asked her for something to ‘finish the look.’ She thought Zenobia was fond of the amulet, since she was clutching it when she died, and decided it would be a nice thing to have it buried with her. Sort of Egyptian, according to Mom.”
    Alicia raised an eyebrow. “That was nice of your mom, in a weird kind of way. But the whole thing still doesn’t make sense. If your aunt was so fond of the amulet, why does she want you to get it off her?”
    â€œWho knows why dead people do stuff?” said Marilyn, starting to feel exasperated.
    Alicia shuddered, then whispered, “I’ve been pretty jokey about this. But the truth is, that’s because you’ve got me scared. What do you think this is really all about?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œWhat are you gonna do?”
    â€œI don’t know,” repeated Marilyn. “Nothing, if I’m lucky.”
    Alicia sighed. “Well, you know what to do if you need me.”
    Marilyn nodded. “I may take you up on that.”
    Alicia shuddered and sank back into her chair.
    Outside, the rain fell in a slow, steady drizzle.

8
    THE HAUNTED GHOST
    Kyle showed up at the funeral parlor again that night, as did a number of writers and editors who had worked with Zenobia at one time or another. They had flown in that day in order to be present at the funeral Saturday morning.
    Surrounded by what seemed like mountains of flowers, their odor almost overwhelming her, Marilyn stood at Zenobia’s coffin and looked down at her aunt The amulet rested on her chest, partially covered by a small bouquet of roses and baby’s breath. As she looked at it now, the