Read Online Ghost of a Promise by Kelly Moran - Free Book Online

glancing up from her crochet hook. “ Lois Trumble was a dear friend of mine for more than sixty years. I spent one hour in that house in all that time. The house is haunted. ”
    The collective whole nodded in agreement.
    “ You can ’ t have that much grief and sadness in one place and not have ghosts, ” another said.
    This got them all going at once, deep in a discussion that didn ’ t involve him or Paul. He ’ d been doing the show for five years now. Over sixty cases and cities. Never, not once, had he interviewed people so clearly not interested in their five minutes of fame.
    Something indiscernible settled in Jackson ’ s chest. For the first time in a long while, he felt … normal.
    He pulled up a chair and sat. “ So, is it the spirits that frighten you or the many deaths in the house? I mean, ghosts don ’ t kill people. There ’ s never been a reported case where a ghost has caused the death of a person. ”
    One of the women, who looked to be in her fifties, rolled her eyes. “ Not that they can prove, anyway. What would they put on the police report? Scared to death? Pushed down the stairs by spirit unknown? ”
    The ladies laughed. Touché.
    “ I, for one, will be happy when that house goes to the society, ” another said. “ Sorry, Marjorie. ”
    Ava ’ s mum waved her off. “ Oh, me too, Sally. Me too. ”
    Jackson frowned. “ Why is that? ”
    Marjorie sighed and set down her hook, looking serious. “ Mr. Granger, my daughter has had an … obsession with that house since she was a girl. Every woman in my husband ’ s family has. Something you won ’ t find in the history books, I ’ m sure. The women are drawn to it, like the house feeds off their youth and hope. Before long, they ’ re trapped. Can ’ t get out. Those that do marry are widowed or divorced soon after. ” She sighed as tears welled. “ I want better for my daughter. If the Historical Society takes it over, maybe the cycle will break. ”
    He sat back, leveled. Not much surprised him anymore. He ’ d seen just about everything, heard just about everything. But this case, this town, was one shocking blow after another.
    This wasn ’ t a lack of support for Ava, but deep-rooted concern. He ’ d seen possession cases. Houses so dark a person could get swallowed inside hate. The Trumble mansion didn ’ t give off that vibe. Anger, yes. Sadness, yes. Ava seemed like a woman who could take care of herself. What if what these women said was true? Would Ava wind up like her ancestors if she stayed?
    For some reason, his chest ached at the thought of her never marrying. Never having kids. Spending her days and nights alone in a big, empty house. But she ’ d sought out Phantoms . She knew her family history and still wanted the mansion. So, he and his crew would do everything they could to help her keep it.
    He rose. “ Well, ladies, this has been a genuine pleasure. Your insight has helped out a great deal. Thank you. ”
    Marjorie met them at the door. “ Mr. Granger …”
    “ Jackson, please. ”
    She nodded. “ Jackson. If you find something to help Ava …” She stopped and shook her head. “ Please don ’ t tell her. The best thing she can do is walk away from that place. Her great-aunt even thought so by sending her on this wild goose chase. ”
    He looked at this more subdued, shorter, older version of Ava and saw only concern. He wanted to hold her gaze and tell her there was nothing to worry about, that her daughter would be fine. Or maybe she was right and they shouldn ’ t find something. He wouldn ’ t show Ava the proof she needed. In other words, lie.
    He couldn ’ t do that. Even when he should, he never had it in him to lie. “ We ’ ll look out for Ava, Mrs. Trumble. ”
    “ Marjorie, please. What about when your team leaves? Who will look out for her then? ”
    He swallowed his response before it could escape. For a second, he almost said he would. Two days in Kerrick, Maine, and he was