Read Online Janet McNulty - Mellow Summers 07 - Two Ghosts Haunt a Grove by Janet McNulty - Free Book Online

the door and went inside. The conservatively decorated office did not match the more elaborate hallway. Maybe Kyle just didn’t like clutter.
    “Mellow,” he greeted me.
    “Please, call me Mel,” I said returning the greeting.
    “I must say that I am surprised to see you up here so soon. Most people take weeks to answer my invitations.”
    “Well, I must admit, that I was excited when you invited me. I have always wondered about this place and what you all do here.”
    “Well, allow me to show you around,” said Kyle waving me over to the giant window. “We are a development firm. My father had a keen sense of what properties to buy and develop which always turned into a profitable enterprise. I only hope that I can follow in his footsteps.”
    “What sort of properties do you develop?” I asked.
    “Mostly abandoned areas that no one frequents. Such as the Bourtonson place, my father’s most recent enterprise. In fact, that was the reason he came to see you.”
    “Yes,” I said, “He insisted that he had seen Smiley’s Ghost and was about to be murdered.”
    “Did he use the term murder?” asked Kyle.
    I looked at him. The question seemed strange to me and his facial expression had changed from friendly to probing. “Probably not,” I replied, “It all happened so quickly.”
    “I am curious. Why would he come to you after supposedly seeing a ghost? You never met him before, had you?”
    “No,” I said, “I think he thought I could talk to ghosts.”
    “Can you?”
    Again, Kyle looked as though he probed for information. Sweat formed on the back of my neck as I suddenly felt like I was being interrogated. “I would hardly testify to that. People might think I’m crazy.”
    I wished Tiny would hurry up. I did not like where this conversation went.
    “Don’t be silly,” said Kyle, “A lot of people can talk to ghosts.”
    I noticed a picture on his desk. It looked like a family portrait. “Is this your family?” I asked changing the subject.
    “Yes,” answered Kyle, “that was taken over a year ago.”
    “Who’s this?” I asked, pointing at a woman with blonde hair in the photo.
    “My sister, Spacy Stacy.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Stacy, is her name. She doesn’t live with us anymore. Sort of an outdoors, free spirited type. A bit odd really. We don’t talk about her much.”
    The disdain for his sister clearly came through. And where was Tiny?
    As though in answer to my unspoken prayer the buzzer on his desk sounded. “Yes,” said Kyle when he pressed the button.
    “Sorry to disturb you, sir, but we have a problem down here.”
    “Call security,” said Kyle with anger in his voice.
    “I did, but they can’t handle it.”
    A series of crashes and yells came through the intercom.
    “Please, sir, we need you down here,” said the panicked voice.
    “You’ll have to excuse me, Mel, while I take care of this. Please, make yourself comfortable.”
    Kyle left the room firmly shutting the door behind him.
    I sprang into action. Carefully, I peeked out the door making certain that he had gone. His secretary was absent too. Perfect. I hurried over to his desk opening drawers and rifling through them. Mostly all I found were loose papers and pens. One drawer had a pair of woman’s underwear. Why was I not surprised?
    I opened another drawer. Nothing. Come on there had to be something here. Finally, I yanked open the top middle drawer. Bingo! Two legal documents lay inside. Carefully, I pulled them out. Each bore the words, “Last Will and Testament” at the top. Why, would Kyle have two wills?
    I scanned one. It seemed to be standard. Quickly, I checked the date. It was signed two years ago. I scanned the other. It was dated a week ago, but wasn’t signed. Then it dawned on me: these were Philip Kellmore’s wills!
    A scuffle sounded outside. I waited anxiously holding my breath as the footsteps faded. That was close. Not wasting another second, I searched for a copy machine.