Read Online Deadly Decision by Regina Smeltzer - Free Book Online
Authors: Regina Smeltzer
Tags: Christian fiction
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yet been arrested for planting the marijuana. No mention of the ghosts.
When I arrived, I noted my advice that Trina rest had been ignored. She looked tired, but the entire downstairs glowed from being scrubbed and polished. The smell of Murphy’s Oil Soap and lemon furniture polish replaced the stink of mold and arthritis cream. Ted had finished painting the porch.
The place felt like a home. How had I ever thought the ghosts could be demons? A demon couldn’t survive in a place as warm and comforting as this.
In spite of the good feeling evoked from the house, I was more anxious than ever to hear from Jimmy’s spirit. I imagined, with satisfaction, the look on Officer Studler’s face when I handed him the lead to Jimmy’s killer. On the other hand, I dreaded finding out the part my possible-ancestor played, but I had to know the truth. I looked at the attic door as I passed, suitcase in hand. Were the ghost boys still up there? I hoped so.
Neither Trina nor Ted allowed me to do anything the first day. At loose ends, I ended up examining some of Ted’s paintings that remained in the upstairs bedroom. He had moved his workshop to the garage while I was gone. Looking at the abstract art, I still had a hard time believing the picture Betsy had given me had been created by the same man that produced these scribbled canvasses.
Wandering outside, I noticed weeds had taken over the marijuana plot. I would have to do something about the wild growth in that part of the yard.
After lunch, Trina disappeared into town, and Ted retreated to his workshop. Alone, I headed to the attic door and tentatively put my hand on the knob, half expecting to feel an unusual energy. Nothing happened.
I open the door and climbed the stairs, no longer fearing the ghosts. Instead, an ache gripped me. I longed for a connection, and my eyes sought the spot where Jimmy had died.
The shoe prints of the investigators remained entombed in the dust, revealing the presence of humans as strongly as the ghost had revealed Jimmy’s. A young life reduced to a statistic. My heart lay heavy as I closed the attic door.
Barbara was due the next day. I paced around, unable to stick with any task. I had to keep Barbara’s occupation from Trina and Ted. I had never kept a secret from Trina before.
Would Barbara agree not to mention her gift? Why hadn’t I thought to talk to her about this before?
Anticipation and tension mounted with each passing hour.
Barbara’s plane landed at the Florence Regional Airport at 2:00 PM. We exited the small terminal, Barbara’s hand in one of mine, her extra-large suitcase gripped in my other.
Barbara fanned her face with her hand. “Is this what the south always feels like?”
I laughed. “Hot and muggy they tell me. You know as much as I do.”
“This will take some getting used to.”
We reached the row where I had parked my car. “It would be best if you and I go to the attic alone,” I said.
“I agree. The less interference we have the better.”
Slipping my key into the lock, I opened her door then lifted the suitcase into the trunk. Once on the road, I continued the conversation.
“I didn’t tell Trina and Ted that you’re a psychic.”
She shifted in her seat to face me. “Oh? Is there a reason?”
“I’m not sure how Ted feels about psychics. He’s a little strange, and I don’t want him to upset our plan.”
“But Trina’s all right with it, right?”
“Let’s wait and surprise her after you contact Jimmy. You’ll like Trina. She has a tendency to talk too much, but she’s a sweet girl, and she’s been a great daughter. Couldn’t ask for better. Wait ’til you see what she’s done to the house.”
She stared at me before speaking. “I think you are the one uncomfortable with me being a psychic.”
“No. It’s just that…they’ve never met a psychic before. You said yourself that lots of people have misconceptions about psychics until they meet them.
When I arrived, I noted my advice that Trina rest had been ignored. She looked tired, but the entire downstairs glowed from being scrubbed and polished. The smell of Murphy’s Oil Soap and lemon furniture polish replaced the stink of mold and arthritis cream. Ted had finished painting the porch.
The place felt like a home. How had I ever thought the ghosts could be demons? A demon couldn’t survive in a place as warm and comforting as this.
In spite of the good feeling evoked from the house, I was more anxious than ever to hear from Jimmy’s spirit. I imagined, with satisfaction, the look on Officer Studler’s face when I handed him the lead to Jimmy’s killer. On the other hand, I dreaded finding out the part my possible-ancestor played, but I had to know the truth. I looked at the attic door as I passed, suitcase in hand. Were the ghost boys still up there? I hoped so.
Neither Trina nor Ted allowed me to do anything the first day. At loose ends, I ended up examining some of Ted’s paintings that remained in the upstairs bedroom. He had moved his workshop to the garage while I was gone. Looking at the abstract art, I still had a hard time believing the picture Betsy had given me had been created by the same man that produced these scribbled canvasses.
Wandering outside, I noticed weeds had taken over the marijuana plot. I would have to do something about the wild growth in that part of the yard.
After lunch, Trina disappeared into town, and Ted retreated to his workshop. Alone, I headed to the attic door and tentatively put my hand on the knob, half expecting to feel an unusual energy. Nothing happened.
I open the door and climbed the stairs, no longer fearing the ghosts. Instead, an ache gripped me. I longed for a connection, and my eyes sought the spot where Jimmy had died.
The shoe prints of the investigators remained entombed in the dust, revealing the presence of humans as strongly as the ghost had revealed Jimmy’s. A young life reduced to a statistic. My heart lay heavy as I closed the attic door.
Barbara was due the next day. I paced around, unable to stick with any task. I had to keep Barbara’s occupation from Trina and Ted. I had never kept a secret from Trina before.
Would Barbara agree not to mention her gift? Why hadn’t I thought to talk to her about this before?
Anticipation and tension mounted with each passing hour.
Barbara’s plane landed at the Florence Regional Airport at 2:00 PM. We exited the small terminal, Barbara’s hand in one of mine, her extra-large suitcase gripped in my other.
Barbara fanned her face with her hand. “Is this what the south always feels like?”
I laughed. “Hot and muggy they tell me. You know as much as I do.”
“This will take some getting used to.”
We reached the row where I had parked my car. “It would be best if you and I go to the attic alone,” I said.
“I agree. The less interference we have the better.”
Slipping my key into the lock, I opened her door then lifted the suitcase into the trunk. Once on the road, I continued the conversation.
“I didn’t tell Trina and Ted that you’re a psychic.”
She shifted in her seat to face me. “Oh? Is there a reason?”
“I’m not sure how Ted feels about psychics. He’s a little strange, and I don’t want him to upset our plan.”
“But Trina’s all right with it, right?”
“Let’s wait and surprise her after you contact Jimmy. You’ll like Trina. She has a tendency to talk too much, but she’s a sweet girl, and she’s been a great daughter. Couldn’t ask for better. Wait ’til you see what she’s done to the house.”
She stared at me before speaking. “I think you are the one uncomfortable with me being a psychic.”
“No. It’s just that…they’ve never met a psychic before. You said yourself that lots of people have misconceptions about psychics until they meet them.
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