The Ghost of Valentine Past Read Online Free Page B

room. She slept soundly and alone.
    In the attic, he found Max, who sat on the windowsill looking outside, his black tail swishing back and forth.
    â€œMax,” Walt greeted when he entered the room.
    Max turned toward Walt and gazed at him through golden eyes.
    â€œThere’s another spirit in the house; have you seen him?”
    Max continued to stare at Walt, asking a silent question.
    â€œI’ve no idea who it is,” Walt replied.
    Max leapt down from the windowsill.
    â€œThat’s probably a good idea. You stay with Danielle, while I check downstairs.”
    When the two reached the second floor, Walt let Max into Danielle’s bedroom. She was still alone and sleeping. Max jumped onto the bed and curled up beside the sleeping woman.
    Moving into the hallway, Walt left the door ajar, which would allow Max to escape the room if he needed to summon Walt.
    Making his way down the stairs, Walt noticed movement coming from the direction of the parlor. Just as he stepped onto the first floor landing, a gray haired man rushed in his direction. The moment the man saw Walt, he froze.
    â€œI have to get out of here!” the man shouted at Walt.
    â€œWhere did you come from?” Another one can see me? Surely he’s not a spirit too…
    Walt had his answer a moment later when the man vanished.
    â€œWhat in the hell is going on here?” Walt muttered. Shaking his head, he made his way to Chris’ room.
    Standing over Chris’ bed, Walt looked down at the sleeping man and shouted, “Wake up!”
    With a startled bolt, Chris sat up in the bed and looked around frantically, his eyes wide. He found Walt standing over him.
    Rubbing sleep from his eyes, Chris glared at Walt. “What is going on?”
    â€œThere’s a ghost in the house,” Walt explained.
    â€œYes, I know. And he can be annoying. Why did you wake me up?”
    â€œI’m not talking about me. There’s another ghost—actually two other ghosts—I just saw them. The first one was in Danielle’s bedroom, and the second one I just saw downstairs.”
    â€œTwo? Who are they?” Chris jumped out of bed. All he wore was a pair of boxers. Hastily he grabbed his robe from the end of the bed and slipped it on.
    â€œI’ve no idea. I was hoping you could help me figure it out.”
    â€œWhere’s Danielle?”
    â€œShe’s still sleeping. Max is with her.”
    â€œDon’t you think you should wake her up?” Chris paused a moment and studied Walt. “Just what were you doing in her bedroom? Kind of creepy and stalkerish of you watching her sleep, don’t you think?”
    â€œI wasn’t watching her sleep,” Walt said indignantly. “I was covering her up. She was cold.”
    â€œAnd how did you know that?”
    â€œShe told me.”

Chapter Four
    F astening his robe’s belt , Chris studied Walt. “I thought you said she was asleep.”
    Walt shrugged. “She was. Is.”
    Muttering something under his breath, Chris started for the bedroom door. He then asked, “Tell me about these ghosts.”
    â€œOne was in her room.”
    â€œAnd you just left him there, with Danielle sleeping?” Chris threw open his bedroom door and stepped out into the hallway.
    â€œHe’s not there now. That’s why I came looking for you. I hoped we could figure this out together, without having to wake up Danielle.”
    Chris paused and turned to face Walt. “You have no idea who he was?”
    â€œNo. He was about your age, I suppose. The other one was much older.”
    â€œWhere was he?”
    â€œI saw the older one when I came downstairs. It looked as if he had just come from the parlor. He told me he had to get out of here—and then he just vanished.”
    â€œWhat did that one look like?” Chris asked.
    Walt considered the question a moment. “There was something familiar about him, but I