Red House Read Online Free Page A

something there, Miss Mathis. And it was angry. So angry. I couldn’t see anything but I could feel it. And then it…it picked up Dixie…and crushed her.”
    I placed my free hand on top of hers. Mrs. Epps crumpled briefly before regaining her composure.
    “I can’t explain it. Something I couldn’t see did that to my kitten.” She pulled her hands free and retrieved a handkerchief from her purse, dabbing at the tears threatening to spill. “I ran from the room screaming. I didn’t know what to do or think. When I went back in there later with my groundskeeper, whatever killed Dixie had used her blood to write on the wall.”
    “What did it say?”
    “ Get out . It said, get out . So I did. I evacuated all the guests and staff right then and haven’t opened the place since. Miss Mathis, there have been stories of a ghost on the property for years, but nothing like this has ever happened. Nothing. Whatever did this is new and I want it gone. Maple Hill may be a public inn now, but it is still my home. Do you understand, Miss Mathis? I won’t lose my home to this, this, whatever it is.”
    I nodded, taking her hands again. “I do understand and I’m going to do everything I can to help you.” I tried to convey as much reassurance as I could.
    We were silent for several minutes as Mrs. Epps calmed herself and we both finished our coffee. “I’m spending the day with my grandchildren. My granddaughter Shelby wanted to go to the Egyptian exhibit here. Tyler, her younger brother, claims he would prefer to stay home but I know he’ll enjoy the mummies and whatnot. It’s hard to get them to do anything together anymore, with Shelby about to start college in the fall, so I took advantage of their mutual interest.”
    I had the sense she needed to say these things, just to talk about something normal. Something full of life and sweetness and not the horror taking place in her home. “Do you spend much time with your grandkids?”
    She nodded. “My daughter is divorced so I do whatever she needs to help out. I’m staying with them for now.” There was a long pause, as if she were preparing herself to talk about the house again. “Can you start tomorrow? I don’t know how this sort of thing works.”
    “What I usually do is take a look, get a first impression. Then I do research on the property if I think it’s necessary. Talk to any witnesses that are available.”
    “That sounds just perfect. I’m so glad you can start so quickly.”
    “Starting right away is about all I can guarantee, Mrs. Epps. I’m going to do everything I can, but it may not be a quick fix and it may not be easy. I want you to be prepared for that.”
    “I feel better knowing help is on the way.” She ran a hand down her hair and smiled. “Now I need to get this out of my thoughts for the rest of the day. The kids are entirely too curious about this. We tried to tell them the pipes burst but my granddaughter overheard us talking about ghosts. Shelby’s been full of questions. I hope these Egyptians are enough to distract her.” She smiled fondly.
    We agreed on a time for tomorrow and said our goodbyes. I watched her leave, stopping just beyond the doors of the cafe to meet two teenagers. The boy was lanky, on his way to being tall, with sandy blond hair that flopped into his face. The older sister was the shorter of the two, in skinny jeans and a We Are Nashville t-shirt. She’d inherited her grandma’s hair. It hung down her back in a sleek ponytail. Color flared around the edges of my glasses. Curious, I tipped them down to take a look. Sure enough, Shelby’s aura glowed twilight blue, the color I most associated with psychic and magical ability. She turned her head and met my gaze, lifting an eyebrow. Mrs. Epps didn’t notice, focused on the boy at the moment. A long string of people passed in front of me. Mrs. Epps and her grandchildren were gone by the time my line of sight was clear.
    “This is what I get for wishing