The Secrets of Ghosts Read Online Free Page B

him,’ Katie said.
    ‘No wonder you passed out. Are you sure you’re okay? You still look really pale.’
    ‘I’m always this colour,’ Katie said. She started to unwrap the cheesecake. Dessert would help. She needed some sugar to give herself the energy for the walk home. ‘So, how’d you know the guy, Mr Cole. Were you two close?’
    ‘I told you. I don’t — I didn’t — know him.’
    Katie raised an eyebrow. ‘If you keep lying to me I won’t give you any cheesecake.’
    ‘What makes you think I’m lying?’
    ‘I know when people are telling the truth.’ She smiled. ‘It’s a gift.’
    Max tilted his head back and regarded her for a moment. Then he said, ‘Remind me never to play poker with you.’
    ‘So?’ Katie used her fingers to break off a piece of cheesecake; it was messy. Messy and delicious. She closed her eyes to enjoy the creamy perfection and opened them to see Max looking at her with an odd expression. ‘What?’
    Max shook his head slightly, then said, ‘He owed me money.’
    ‘A lot?’
    ‘Fair bit.’ Max reached for the plate.
    Katie moved it away. ‘Why did he owe you money?’
    ‘Do you play poker, as a matter of interest?’
    ‘No,’ Katie said. The sugar was helping, making her feel less weak and fuzzy. ‘I used to play gin rummy with my dad all the time. I like whist but you need more than two and mum wasn’t a card player.’
    Max snagged the plate while Katie was talking and dug in.
    ‘You know I’m not staying here, right?’
    ‘Right.’
    ‘Well, I’m just kind of passing through. When I’m moving around I incur expenses. Petrol. Accommodation.’
    ‘Food, when you’re not crashing weddings, presumably.’ Katie paused. ‘Don’t you get found out all the time?’
    ‘Not really. I prefer corporate events, but big weddings are pretty easy. No one ever knows everyone at those things. If someone chats, you make sure to ask them first whether they know the bride or the groom and then you say the opposite. As long as you avoid the happy couple, you’re golden.’
    Katie shook her head. ‘All for a free lunch?’
    ‘I usually play poker in casinos or backroom games, but sometimes they’re hard to come by, so I check out places like this that hold functions, turn up and make friends and play a few games of cards. For money.’
    ‘You conned him?’
    ‘No. Not really.’ Max stared at the cheesecake. ‘Maybe a little. Light hustling, perhaps.’
    ‘And he croaked before you could collect your ill-gotten gains. Sucks to be you.’ Katie stood up. ‘Are you staying in town?’
    ‘Uh-huh. At the delightful Cosy Inn.’ He re-wrapped the cling film over the remaining cheesecake and got to his feet. ‘I’ll walk you home.’
    Katie stifled the urge to laugh. ‘I’m fine. Thank you.’ She was Katie Harper. She was the latest in a long line of magical women. She was practically a witch, for goodness’ sake, the dark was not a problem.
    ‘Okay.’ Max shrugged. ‘You can walk me home.’
    ‘Nice try,’ Katie said, but, since they both had to walk down the driveway, there didn’t seem to be much point in resisting too much. She’d have to break into a ridiculous trot to get ahead of him and that wouldn’t be very dignified. Besides, the tall trees lining the driveway cut a lot of the moonlight and the driveway was incredibly dark. Katie didn’t want to admit it, but she felt a bit shaky after seeing Mr Cole. A distraction was kind of welcome.
    ‘So, you’re a con man. I don’t think I’ve met a real-life one of those before.’
    ‘That’s a bit harsh. I gamble a bit, sometimes I win, sometimes I lose.’
    ‘But you hustled Oliver Cole?’
    ‘You wouldn’t be up in arms if you’d met him. I know it’s not classy to speak ill of the dead, but the guy was a dick.’
    ‘You said you hardly knew him.’
    Max looked sideways at her. ‘I’m a pretty good judge of character.’
    The driveway curved down to the main road. Katie thought that