Everyday Ghosts Read Online Free

urgent?”
    The officer blinked at his notebook. “I don’t see nothing here about a fire,” he said. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First things first. I am Officer Stingo and this here is Officer Lund.” Officer Lund put her hand on top of her cap to hold it in place as she nodded. “We’re here to check into your complaint. Now, you say there was an intruder?”
    â€œYes, yes.”
    â€œAnd what exactly was it that this intruder done?”
    Father Gabriel closed his eyes and let out a long breath. “Intruded,” he said.
    â€œWas this alleged intruder of the male or female gender?”
    â€œIt was a man—a crazy man who cameout of nowhere and walked right in here without so much as a by-your-leave.”
    Officer Stingo scratched his cheek with his pen and then scrawled something down on his pad. “Men don’t come out of nowhere, sir,” he said. “That’s one thing you can be sure of. Now, you’re telling me this alleged male intruder was uninvited?”
    Officer Lund was slowly circling the foyer, inspecting the location, her hand on her cap as she looked up at the rafters or down at the hardwood floor. Father Gabriel watched her with narrow eyes. “Yes, the intruder was uninvited,” he said. “You could say that is the essence of what made him an intruder.”
    â€œAnd how exactly would you describe this alleged male intruder, sir?”
    â€œI already told you. He was crazy. What the devil is she doing?” Officer Lund was crouched down, poking at the floor.
    â€œLoose plank, sir,” she said. “Someone might trip.”
    â€œI’ll see to it promptly,” said Father Gabriel, but his sarcasm seemed to be lost on them.
    â€œIs there anything under this floor, sir?”
    â€œYes. The ground.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t take these things lightly, sir. Some of these intruders are sly ones. You never know where they might be hiding out. Now, I believe you were about to describe him.”
    Brother James stepped forward from the group that stood watching from thehall. He was holding his rosary. It dangled before him from his clasped hands. The silver crucifix glinted. “He had a glow,” said Brother James. “He had a heavenly glow. It was like he was lit from within. His skin was the purest of the pure, like . . . alabaster.”
    Officer Stingo nodded. “Male Caucasian,” he said, jotting it down.
    â€œAnd his eyes,” added Brother John, his voice thick and trembling. “His eyes blazed. They pierced right through you but bathed you in their warmth.”
    â€œColor?” asked Officer Stingo.
    â€œThey had no earthly color,” said Brother John. “They were not of this world.”
    Uncertain what to record in response to this, Officer Stingo tapped the penagainst the pad and squinted. Brother Walter screamed, hopped, flailed his arms, and ran off down the hall.
    â€œWho was that?” asked Officer Stingo. “Seems suspicious.”
    â€œNever mind about him,” said Father Gabriel. “I want to know what has gotten into everybody. You all talk about this stranger as if he were some sort of a prophet.”
    â€œHe said he was a saint,” said Brother James, drawing his clasped hands to his chin, “and I believed him.”
    Father Gabriel gasped. “Have you taken leave of your senses?”
    â€œWhere is this saint now, sir?” asked Officer Stingo.
    â€œHe’s not a saint, damn it all—and by this time he could be in the next countyfor all I know, even if he was going by ox-cart!”
    Officer Lund approached Brother Dominic, staring into his face. “Don’t I know you from someplace?” she asked.
    Brother Dominic batted his eyes. “I used to be in pictures,” he said.
    â€œIt
is
you.” Officer Lund clapped her hand to her heart. “Morty McGrew, Boy Genius!