Read Online The Portrait of Doreene Gray by Esri Allbritten - Free Book Online

asked.
    Her eyes focused on him. “Nothing. I can’t think about an interview right now.” As Maureene turned toward her cottage, Hilda leaned over her arm and uttered a final bark.
    They watched Maureene clomp into her house and slam the door.
    Michael blew out a breath. “Is there an online database that tells which families have insanity? ’Cause that would be really handy.”
    â€œWhy the glum face, Angus?” Suki asked. “A story this freaky, you should be rubbing your hands with glee.”
    Angus shook his head. “That woman is in a lot of pain.” He gave the cottage one last look before heading down the path, toward the main road and their van.

 
    Eight
    They had lunch at a tiny café that featured art for sale, closely packed tables, and a bohemian vibe.
    Suki took a few photos of the interior before they sat. “It’s like we never left Boulder.”
    They picked a table in the corner and ordered.
    Michael rested his crossed arms on the table. “You know, this story doesn’t need paranormal elements to be creepy. What do you think it’s like for Maureene to see her lost youth whenever she looks at Doreene?”
    Suki put her napkin in her lap. “I like how the portrait originally showed young Doreene, but now it essentially shows current Maureene. Maybe Doreene sticks pins in it.” She made little jabbing motions.
    Michael took a small notebook from the inside pocket of his leather jacket. “Possible sidebar on voodoo objects. What do you think, Angus?”
    â€œDefinitely.” Angus put the folded napkin from Doreene’s house on the table and opened it. The paper strips were yellow and slightly greasy from chicken broth. “I suppose we should wash these if we want to keep them.”
    Michael slid a strip between two fingers to straighten it. “This one has tooth marks.”
    When all the strips were roughly flat, Angus lay them on the napkin. “Nine strips of three words apiece. Doomed evil destruction, Satan el Diablo Beelzebub, damned devil darkness, Hades hell horned…”
    â€œNice alliteration,” Michael said, tilting his head so he could see the scraps better.
    â€œLost fallen night,” Angus went on. “Sin sold soul, destroy decay death, persecute eternal torment, flames pay debt.”
    â€œIt’s like fridge-magnet poetry for Goths.” Suki pressed down the curling end of a strip before standing to take a photo of them.
    Angus waited until she was finished and arranged them into a different order. “I wonder if they make better sense if you read them top to bottom? Doomed Satan, damned Hades, lost sin destroy persecute flames.”
    Michael crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back. “If you’re looking for an actual message, forget it. There’s nothing concrete.”
    â€œHow do you know?” Angus asked.
    â€œBecause words are my life.”
    â€œMaybe the first letters spell something,” Suki suggested.
    â€œTwenty-seven letters, three vowels,” Michael said. “All E s.”
    â€œMaybe the last letters spell something,” Angus said.
    â€œThere are only three vowels in the last letters, too. Y, E, and O. ”
    Angus pushed the scraps around some more. “Huh. I think you may be right.”
    â€œOf course I’m right. This is just a generic message of occult doom, designed to scare someone.”
    Angus flipped the corners of the napkin over the strips. “It certainly scared Lupita and Reynaldo, but I don’t think Doreene was frightened.”
    â€œPretty impressive, considering you could interpret it as a death threat.” Suki stretched her legs under the table.
    Michael grimaced. “That’s my shin you just kicked.”
    â€œSorry.” She withdrew her feet.
    Angus stared into space, tapping a gentle rhythm on the table with one hand. “She may not show that she’s afraid, but