The First Ghost Read Online Free Page A

to me.”
    “What about Billy? You don’t know my roommate. Ruth hates dogs.”
    “Nothing is going to happen in two days. Nobody is that heartless. I’m sure she’s got Aunt Susie on her way to pick up Billy or something like that. Maybe she’s given him to one of your friends.”
    Corinne sniffled. “I don’t have any friends.”
    Cripes, but the girl was pathetic. “Tomorrow,” I said wearily. “First thing in the morning I’ll go to your apartment and confront...”
    “Ruth.”
    “Right. Ruth. But you have to let me sleep now. I feel like crap and I have to work tomorrow.”
    She sniffled some more, but finally agreed and vanished.
    After removing the bandage, I took a long, hot shower. My head was tender and the dried blood required a second shampooing. It wasn’t until after the shower that I peeked at myself in the mirror. How could Dr. Yum possibly flirt with me? I was way paler than normal, and the dark circles under my eyes were disgusting.
    On my right temple was a huge knot. I peered closer. I didn’t have stitches. They had used something called Dermabond to glue the gash shut. I was promised it would heal with minimal scarring, and I had to admit it was hard to see where the gash had been. The lump was about the size of a quarter and looked grossly squishy. But when I touched it--OW!--it was actually quite firm.
    I wrapped myself in a blue chenille bathrobe that I liberated from a spa trip two years ago and padded into the kitchen to make a cup of cinnamon tea.
    I removed the blue willow teacup from its hook and turned. The cup slipped from my fingers at the sight of four men seated around my kitchen table.
    The men were vague, flickering images, playing cards. They ignored me. One of them leapt to his feet and went for the other one’s throat. Two men tried to pull him off his victim, who flailed around wildly. The image jumped like an old TV picture and they were seated, peacefully playing cards.
    The scene repeated again.
    And again.
    By the third repetition, my heart rate had returned to normal, but I no longer wanted tea. After satisfying myself that the cup didn’t appear damaged, I padded back into my living room.
    “It’s just a residual.” Hephzibah made herself comfortable on my couch.
    “Please tell me this type of thing won’t happen to me all the time.”
    “It’s okay, doll,” Hephzibah said. “It’s just a residual of an event. They aren’t really ghosts. In fact, most psychics can’t even see them. Your gift must be pretty strong.”
    “Lucky me.”
    “Don’t worry. They won’t always be there. Residuals tend to come and go. Betcha they fade away soon.”
    “I appreciate the info,” I said. “Don’t take this the wrong way...”
    “I know, it’s late. But we need to talk, doll.”
    I was heartily sick of spooks and spirits, but how do you tell Death no? I dropped onto my sofa with a sigh and pulled my robe tighter. “So that residual. Does that mean someone died in my kitchen?”
    “No, it’s more like an impression from a strong event. It doesn’t mean it happened exactly in that spot. Residuals can drift. It happened somewhere around here. Probably a long time ago. Eventually they fade away. We need to talk about Corinne. She’s still refusing to cross over.”
    “Tomorrow. I’ll work on it tomorrow. What is it with everyone? The girl is dead. Why such a rush?”
    Hephzibah hesitated. “There are consequences for too much delay. Corinne needs to cross over soon. It ain’t good for her to stay here. The dead and the living need to be kept separate.”
    That was something I agreed with wholeheartedly. “I promise. First thing tomorrow, I’ll call the aunt and check on the dog. Then she can cross over.”
    “It’s not going to be that simple.”
    “Why not? She said she would go if--”
    “She says that now, but Corinne is an unsolved murder. If you can’t get them to cross over immediately, they have a hard time letting go.”
    “So I’m