Read Online Dead and Breakfast by Kimberly G. Giarratano - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kimberly G. Giarratano
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trust.”
“How do you know you can trust me?”
“Because you’re Duncan’s niece.”
Autumn waved goodbye. She slowly made her way along the path and thought about trust. A sweet, old man like Mr. Blazevig wouldn’t lie to her about knowing Inez, but maybe he would circumvent the truth. He said he’d never heard of a ghost story about Inez, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t met her in real life. Because he had.
“There you are, Inez,” the girl said. “The boys want to go out on Ralphie’s boat.”
Mr. Blazevig was the tall, skinny sailor from Inez’s memory—Ralphie.
#
Liam entered the pool shed and left the door wide open, bringing in the natural sunlight and heat. This made him feel better, less claustrophobic. He rummaged through some old buckets, moldy pool noodles, and a broken fishing rod, hoping to unearth a shovel. His shift ended twenty minutes ago, but a stray cat dropped a dead bird at the foot of the steps leading out to the courtyard, and Evelyn had asked Liam to take care of it. Liam doubted he was receiving overtime pay for this.
“Get a shovel from the pool shed,” Evelyn had instructed. “Bury it in the back, behind the Marlberry. No one goes there.”
There was something about the way Evelyn ordered him around that felt familiar. Sometimes, it reminded him of the principal at his last high school. The one who told him that his presence would not be missed. After that, he dropped out and got his GED. Other times, Evelyn barked at him like his former babysitter after he dumped Legos all over Pops’s kitchen floor. There was just something about the woman and that something hated Liam. He must have reminded her of someone too.
Liam squinted at a dusty corner of the shed. “Aha.” The sound of his own voice calmed his nerves. This whole place made him doubt his sanity.
Just as Liam reached for the shovel, he felt a shove from behind. He tumbled over a galvanized bucket and landed awkwardly on the wood floor. A rusty nail, with its sharp tip pointed upward, was centimeters from his face. Liam attempted to push himself up, but found his feet tangled in old rope.
“Jesus.” He kicked the rope off his sneakers, hoping to free himself from the net of junk. Just as he pulled himself up, the edge of the shovel grazed his eyebrow. As if some unknown force had picked up the heavy tool and swung at him with all the intention of decapitating him. The shovel clanged loudly to the floor. Liam’s heart raced and his breath caught before he clamored out of the shed.
CHAPTER EIGHT
A little while later, Autumn was sneaking through the lobby—desperate to avoid Liam, whose scooter still sat outside—when her mother beckoned her from the office. Autumn leaned against the doorframe. “What’s up?”
Evelyn dropped a pen onto the ledger and faced her daughter. “Tell me about your day.”
Autumn blinked. It had been a long time since her mother inquired about her school day. Finally, she shrugged. “Haters gonna hate.”
Evelyn tilted her head. “Victoria again?”
Autumn nodded. For a second, she was tempted to squeeze into the chair next to Evelyn’s desk and disclose all that she had learned about Inez in the past two days, but she thought better of it. Bringing up ghosts would only make Evelyn bristle.
“Victoria’s certainly not the nicest girl on the island,” her mom said.
“Did you know Liam used to date her?” Autumn regretted the words the moment she uttered them. She knew her mom already disliked Liam. Her comment could only solidify that opinion, which she didn’t think was fair.
“Well,” her mom said, clucking her tongue. “I’m not surprised. Certainly shows Liam’s true colors.” Evelyn glanced at the glow of the computer monitor. “I hope you’ll be the bigger person and be nice to Victoria even though she may not deserve it. Her grandpa owns most of Key West. And he’s taken a particular interest in the Cayo. I’m considering asking him to be an
“How do you know you can trust me?”
“Because you’re Duncan’s niece.”
Autumn waved goodbye. She slowly made her way along the path and thought about trust. A sweet, old man like Mr. Blazevig wouldn’t lie to her about knowing Inez, but maybe he would circumvent the truth. He said he’d never heard of a ghost story about Inez, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t met her in real life. Because he had.
“There you are, Inez,” the girl said. “The boys want to go out on Ralphie’s boat.”
Mr. Blazevig was the tall, skinny sailor from Inez’s memory—Ralphie.
#
Liam entered the pool shed and left the door wide open, bringing in the natural sunlight and heat. This made him feel better, less claustrophobic. He rummaged through some old buckets, moldy pool noodles, and a broken fishing rod, hoping to unearth a shovel. His shift ended twenty minutes ago, but a stray cat dropped a dead bird at the foot of the steps leading out to the courtyard, and Evelyn had asked Liam to take care of it. Liam doubted he was receiving overtime pay for this.
“Get a shovel from the pool shed,” Evelyn had instructed. “Bury it in the back, behind the Marlberry. No one goes there.”
There was something about the way Evelyn ordered him around that felt familiar. Sometimes, it reminded him of the principal at his last high school. The one who told him that his presence would not be missed. After that, he dropped out and got his GED. Other times, Evelyn barked at him like his former babysitter after he dumped Legos all over Pops’s kitchen floor. There was just something about the woman and that something hated Liam. He must have reminded her of someone too.
Liam squinted at a dusty corner of the shed. “Aha.” The sound of his own voice calmed his nerves. This whole place made him doubt his sanity.
Just as Liam reached for the shovel, he felt a shove from behind. He tumbled over a galvanized bucket and landed awkwardly on the wood floor. A rusty nail, with its sharp tip pointed upward, was centimeters from his face. Liam attempted to push himself up, but found his feet tangled in old rope.
“Jesus.” He kicked the rope off his sneakers, hoping to free himself from the net of junk. Just as he pulled himself up, the edge of the shovel grazed his eyebrow. As if some unknown force had picked up the heavy tool and swung at him with all the intention of decapitating him. The shovel clanged loudly to the floor. Liam’s heart raced and his breath caught before he clamored out of the shed.
CHAPTER EIGHT
A little while later, Autumn was sneaking through the lobby—desperate to avoid Liam, whose scooter still sat outside—when her mother beckoned her from the office. Autumn leaned against the doorframe. “What’s up?”
Evelyn dropped a pen onto the ledger and faced her daughter. “Tell me about your day.”
Autumn blinked. It had been a long time since her mother inquired about her school day. Finally, she shrugged. “Haters gonna hate.”
Evelyn tilted her head. “Victoria again?”
Autumn nodded. For a second, she was tempted to squeeze into the chair next to Evelyn’s desk and disclose all that she had learned about Inez in the past two days, but she thought better of it. Bringing up ghosts would only make Evelyn bristle.
“Victoria’s certainly not the nicest girl on the island,” her mom said.
“Did you know Liam used to date her?” Autumn regretted the words the moment she uttered them. She knew her mom already disliked Liam. Her comment could only solidify that opinion, which she didn’t think was fair.
“Well,” her mom said, clucking her tongue. “I’m not surprised. Certainly shows Liam’s true colors.” Evelyn glanced at the glow of the computer monitor. “I hope you’ll be the bigger person and be nice to Victoria even though she may not deserve it. Her grandpa owns most of Key West. And he’s taken a particular interest in the Cayo. I’m considering asking him to be an
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