Read Online Between the Living and the Dead by Bill Crider - Free Book Online

what we need to know, and if that doesn’t work out, we’ll find what we need some other way.”
    â€œYou sound awfully sure of that.”
    A big drop of water fell from one of the trees and plopped down on Rhodes’s bare head. He wiped a hand across it and said, “It’s always worked out that way before.”
    â€œThen maybe it will again,” Andy said. “You want me to go around and talk to people at the closest houses to see if they saw anything last night?”
    â€œTake your evidence by the jail first and come back. Ask about the last few weeks, not just last night.”
    â€œGot it,” Andy said. “You see that old pickup over there?”
    He was referring to the rusted-out heap with the hackberry tree growing up through the engine compartment.
    â€œHard to miss,” Rhodes said.
    â€œThat thing’s older than I am,” Andy said. He gave Rhodes an appraising look. “It might even be older than you are. This place has been deserted a long time. I heard it’s supposed to be haunted.”
    â€œSo they tell me,” Rhodes said.
    Andy took off his hat and shook off a drop of water. Rhodes envied him again.
    â€œMost people probably stay away from it if it’s haunted,” Andy said as he settled the hat back on his head. “Makes it a good place for drug deals.”
    â€œYou didn’t run into any ghosts while you were in there, did you?”
    â€œNope. They don’t come out in the daytime, do they?”
    Rhodes shook his head. “I’m not sure what they do. How about mice? See any of those?”
    Andy grinned, and Rhodes suspected that Ruth had made some sort of comment to him.
    â€œI think mice are like ghosts,” Andy said. “They only come out at night.”
    â€œMaybe so,” Rhodes said. “Are you about through here?”
    â€œI want to look around inside some more. Probably another hour and I’ll be done.”
    â€œDon’t forget to ask the neighbors if they’ve seen or heard anything unusual lately, not just last night.” Rhodes didn’t think they’d get any information, but he liked to be as thorough as possible. “By the way, Jennifer Loam’s out front, taking pictures.”
    Andy looked alarmed. “I hope you don’t think I told her about this.”
    â€œI know you didn’t. She heard about it from Ruth.”
    â€œYeah, I was there. Ruth thinks Seepy Benton needs to look this place over. You know about his new business?”
    â€œClearview Paranomal Investigations,” Rhodes said.
    â€œRight. If there are any ghosts here, he can find them. Maybe they saw the murder and can tell us who did it.”
    Rhodes laughed. “That would sure save us a lot of work.”
    â€œAre you going to let Benton look it over? See what he can find?”
    â€œYou think he’d find anything?”
    â€œYou never can tell,” Andy said. “It might be worth a try.”
    â€œProbably not,” Rhodes said. “Besides, the results might be skewed because of what happened last night.”
    â€œHow’s that?” Andy asked.
    â€œThere might be a brand-new ghost haunting the place now.”
    Andy took off his hat and held it in front of him in both hands as if out of respect for the dead. “You’re right, but that would be even better.”
    â€œHow could it be better?”
    â€œWe wouldn’t have to question the other ghosts. We’d just ask Foshee’s ghost who shot him.”
    â€œIf it were only that easy,” Rhodes said.

 
    Chapter 6
    Rhodes was on his way back to the jail when Hack called him on the radio.
    â€œYou need to stop by the mayor’s office,” Hack said.
    â€œHe’s in his office?” Rhodes asked.
    â€œThat’s what his secretary said.”
    The city of Clearview contracted its policing services out to the county, but the mayor, Clifford Clement, liked