Walk this Way, Haunt this Way (Haunted Tour Guide Mystery Book 4) Read online

  When I rushed back into the room, I asked, “Did you write this?”

  So far he hadn’t even acknowledged me. Finally he frowned and said, “What?”

  I waved the thing through the air. “This letter? It’s a suicide note.”

  He still looked confused. Something wasn’t right. She’d left this note on purpose. I was sure of it. I watched for a moment longer, but nothing changed. I had no choice but to leave to find Candace. I couldn’t let her get away. I hadn’t seen her car, but what if she took Brannon’s car? She could possibly take mine too, although I still had the keys and I had taken Brannon’s from the ignition. She wouldn’t be able to get too far on foot. I felt that I could catch up with her. At least I hoped that I could catch up.

  As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t stay to see what happened any longer. I would have to leave Brannon in there with the ghosts.

  “Brannon, I’ll be back as soon as possible. Stay away from the ghosts. Don’t let them do anything to you. Stay strong.”

  I knew they would try to do something to him. The ghosts seemed like they were stuck because of the device. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have left him alone in there with all of them. I turned to go out of the room, but had to glance back one more time. Brannon had moved closer to the spirits. There was no time to waste. I had to hurry.

  I dashed through the asylum. Candace had gone out the back door. I had to catch her. I sprinted across the yard. She had gone into the wooded area right behind the house. I hated to leave Brannon alone, but I had to catch her before she got away. I knew she had something to do with his murder. She was going to do something to Brannon too.

  I ran into the woods. Right away I spotted Candace and went after her. Luckily, I was faster than her. Not sure how that was possible, but I guess it was my lucky day. With the wet ground I had to be aware of every step I took I’d almost caught up with her.

  Candace glanced back and saw me. Suddenly, I noticed movement behind her. The ghosts that had been following her around town were now behind her. I wondered if she knew they were back there. Could she feel their presence? I didn’t see how she could ignore it. The feeling was strong. Even if I hadn’t seen them I would have known they were there just by the strong presence. Nevertheless, I had a feeling that she knew they were there. It was almost as if she wanted them there. She had probably called them out there. Somehow she had lured them to be attached to her.

  Candace tried to run faster, but it was no use. I reached out and grabbed her.

  “Where the hell is Heath?” she mumbled.

  I hoped he wasn’t with Brannon right now. My heart thumped wildly at the thought. Candace flexed her hand into a fist. She pulled her arm back and swung toward my face. I dodged her fist before it slammed into my jaw. I’d easily ducked the wild blow.

  “You’re even worse at fighting than me,” I said.

  She grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled. Candace and I fell onto the ground. I slipped and she managed to get up then. Too bad it had been raining and the ground was muddy. I finally got up again and caught up to her. I reached for her again.

  She screamed out. “Let go of me.”

  “Not a chance. I know what you did. You won’t get away with it.”

  She wrestled with me and we fell to the ground. We were both covered in mud. The wetness made it hard for me to keep hold of her. She was more slippery than a pig. We were now rolling around the ground in a full-out fight.

  Candace had a fist full of my hair in her hand. I smashed the palm of my hand into her face and she finally released her hold. I wasn’t sure how long we could fight like this. How would I get back to the house? I’d left the phone in the car when I rushed after Brannon. Brannon… what was he doing? I couldn’t waste my time fighting with her. I should have never left his side. What was I thinking? I had to get away from her. I pulled my arm away from her grasp and turned to leave.

  “Stop right there.” When I spun around, Brannon was standing there. He had his gun pointed at her. “Rip, come over here by me.”

  “You’re back,” I said as I ran over behind him.

  She held her hands up. “What’s the problem? What happened?”

  “I think you know what happened,” Brannon said. “Come out here where I can see you.”

  She kept her eyes focused on Brannon and her hands held high as she walked out from the wooded area. I glanced to my right and spotted the other officers rushing toward us. Rain had started to fall now.

  They handcuffed her while she demanded to know what was going on.

  As the officer led her away, he said, “You’re under arrest for the murders of Alex Stewart and Patrick Greystone.”

  “I had nothing to do with any of that. It was Heath.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, he’s been arrested too. We know that the two of you were working together.”

  They led her to the front of the house as I walked around with Brannon.

  “You’re okay? I was worried about you.”

  “I think the ghost had possessed me.”

  “That’s what I thought, but how did you snap out of it?” I asked.

  “Your friend Stephanie, the psychic, helped. I guess she got the spirit to leave me alone.”

  When I glanced at the front of the building, I spotted her talking with the police.

  “You saved me,” Brannon said as he wrapped his arms around me.

  “Well, you saved me.” I smiled.

  “Then we’re even.”

  Now that everything was over, I glanced around to see if the ghosts were still there. It appeared that they were nowhere in sight. I suspected they had gone back to the building. Was it so that they could haunt the building or was it because of Brannon’s device attracting them? The energy was like a magnet for them. I didn’t like the thought of all the ghosts in there. I was sure they were just waiting for Brannon and that they wanted him dead. I had to hope that the device had worked. It just needed to work enough to lure the ghosts away from Brannon. Away so that they would stay away.

  “It looks as if the device worked.” Brannon said.

  “Whew. You don’t know how relieved I am to hear you say that.”

  I’d definitely taken a chance by even trying it. I was glad that it had worked out okay.

  “Thanks for taking a chance and using the thing,” Brannon said.

  “I had to try it, although I have to admit I figured I would either drop it or not use it correctly,” I said.

  “You have to give yourself more credit. You’re smart and you figure things out quickly. As a matter of fact, I could really use your help with making my next device.” Brannon smiled.

  I gestured with my thumb. “You want my help?”

  “If you’ll agree to it.”

  “Of course I will,” I said.

  Now that this device had worked what would be next? Would Brannon think of some other cool device to use? Would the box would to keep the ghosts away from the building forever? Or was it just a temporary fix? I knew that Brannon would have to try something new. He just had to keep up with his inventions. It was his hobby. One that certainly helped when a ghost decided to attach and come home with us. I smiled when I saw Brannon put the box in his car. Then it hit me, what if the ghosts were still in there? They had to be, right? What would he do with the box now?

  “How did they know she killed the men?” I asked.

  “Heath confessed to it. The police linked the suicide note and the letters you received back to his computer. I guess they found them right before you did. She’d printed off a copy to bring here to make it look as if I’d killed myself.”

  “Why did she want to kill you?” I asked.

  “I was close to discovering what had happened. Candace and Heath would have tried the same with you next.”

  “I think she already had when Heath attacked me,” I said.

  “Well, at least it’s all over now. When Candace realized that I had been affected by the ghosts then she knew she wou
ld be able to get me here.”

  “But why here at this place? Does it have some kind of special meaning?”

  “This is where the ghost wanted to be.” Brannon waved his arm toward the building. “So it just happened to be where I came and she followed.”

  “You never told me what the shadow figure said in the EVP that you captured,” I said.

  Brannon studied his feet for a moment, then met my gaze. “It said it was coming for me.”

  My stomach flipped. “That’s exactly what Mrs. Clatterbuck said. She had this male ghost with her. I assumed she meant the ghost, but now I differently.”

  That was when it hit me.

  “I know who the ghost with her was. It was Alex, only he was younger.”

  “Seriously?” Brannon asked.

  “I guess his ghost had taken on the look of when he was younger. Our eyes had met that day, but I didn’t connect it until now. I guess he had been trying to warn me about their plans. He’d known that the spirits were coming after you.”

  “That’s over now,” Brannon said.

  “I have to know the connection between Patrick and Heath.”

  “Apparently Patrick had promised to let them film in the building. When he couldn’t make that happen I suppose they killed him. He knew that Heath and Candace had killed Alex. So they had to get rid of him too.”

  “That’s terrible,” I said.

  “Patrick had blackmailed them with the video. He’d been the one who had slipped into your apartment and taken the video back.”

  Since Brannon and I had seen the video or so they assumed, then we were on their list to kill next. Thank goodness they had been stopped in time.

  The police had put Candace in the back of the car. No matter that she was behind locked doors, her glare still sent a chill down my spine. I hoped she didn’t find a way to escape. Her eyes were full of rage.

  I blew the hair out of my eyes. “Thank goodness I won’t be arrested now. I thought for sure the police, i.e. you, would when it was revealed Patrick hadn’t killed himself.”

  “I’m sorry you had to go through that.” Brannon wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.

  Stephanie came over and I thanked her for everything she had done for Brannon. Now there was just one more thing I had to ask. Stephanie walked to her car and now Brannon and I stood beside his cruiser.

  “What do we do with the box now? I asked, leaning against his car.

  As far as I knew it was still in the asylum where I’d left it.

  Brannon ran his hand through his hair. “I’ve been thinking about that. I think I should try to release anything trapped in the box back to the portal.”

  “Is there any guarantee that they’ll go in there?” I asked.

  He looked down at his feet and then shook his head. “No, no guarantee.”

  “Well, it doesn’t matter, I suppose we have no choice but to give it a try,” I said.

  The police were still busy with the investigation so Brannon and I slipped back into the asylum. It seemed eerie quiet now. Even more so after everything that had happened.

  “Do you remember which room?” Brannon asked. “I was a little out of it.”

  “That one right there.” I pointed.

  I didn’t even step inside the room. Instead I waited by the door for Brannon to grab the box. It was too risky for me to hold it again. My nerves were still on edge and with shaky hands I knew I’d drop it. I wasn’t sure what I had expected, but the box looked empty. Did I think there would be little ghosts peeking out at us? Banging on the sides of the glass to be let out?

  “I designed this so that the magnetic fields will align. When I open the box, the spirits will have to go into the portal.”

  “What happens when you take away the box?” I asked.

  “I hadn’t gotten that far in my design. I guess we’ll just have to leave the box here for now and hope that no one moves it.”

  I hoped Brannon figured out the rest of his plan before someone moved the box. In the meantime, I suppose it was better than nothing. Brannon placed the box on the floor in the middle of the area we believed to be the portal. He opened the lid and we watched. Nothing happened. Again I suppose I was expecting to see the spirits. I’d seen them earlier, so why not now?

  “I think it’s time we got out of here,” Brannon said as he took my hand in his.

  As we headed down the long corridor I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder. For a second I thought I spotted a mist in the middle of the portal area, but then it was gone. I was just glad that this was over and we were getting away from the asylum.

  “I should get back to the library.” I motioned toward the car. “Tammy will need her car soon. Plus, Mrs. Agnew is probably looking for me. I hope not to fire me.”

  We were safe now. Happiness overwhelmed me. During the confrontation with Candace I’d thought I’d never get away. Now I was headed back to the library. It was all behind us now. I glanced in the rear-view mirror and released a deep breath when I saw that Brannon was still following me in his cruiser as I drove.

  Tammy hugged me as soon as I walked through the door. Annie sent a bazillion text messages.

  “I’m fine, y’all.”

  Now I had to find out why Monica had been following Brannon. Her behavior had been strange and I wouldn’t rule out that she was somehow involved in their plan. She’d taken an interest in the ghosts suddenly. She wanted to be in the documentary, so maybe she had agreed to do something to Brannon in order for that to happen. I would confront her about this, although a confrontation with her was always awkward. I wouldn’t let her lie her way out of this one. Nor would I take her sarcasm disguised as teasing. I wanted a straight answer.

  “You suspected me of murder?” Monica asked.

  “Well, only a little.” I pinched my index finger and thumb together.

  Now she had made this easy for me. “Monica, you have to admit that the way you were following Brannon would make me suspicious.”

  Her cheeks turned red.

  “Did you think I wouldn’t notice what you were doing?”

  “I didn’t think you were spying on everyone with the hidden cameras.” She pointed toward the ceiling.

  I placed my hands on my hips. “The cameras aren’t hidden.” I gestured. “They’re right there in the open. Plus, I wasn’t looking at them all the time. Apparently you did this enough to get caught.”

  Monica shifted from foot to foot. She looked as if she was ready to take off out the door. I really hoped she didn’t try anything crazy like that.

  She looked down at her feet. "I don’t want to talk about it.”

  "I’m afraid that isn’t an option, Monica,” I said.

  She looked from me to Tammy. There was no way Tammy would let her get out of this conversation. How long would she stand there and try to get out of this?

  I quirked an eyebrow. “So you want to tell me what your involvement in this was?”

  I guess I had underestimated her ability to avoid the question. It looked as if I would give up first.

  Monica released a big sigh and then said, “I was just trying to help Brannon.”

  “Help him with what?” I asked.

  Tammy nodded as if she wanted to know the answer too. I was surprised that Monica had given any answer.

  “You mentioned that the ghosts were following him and I wanted to make sure he was okay.”

  I quirked an eyebrow. I wasn’t buying that. “Okay, now you can give me the real answer.”

  Her cheeks turned even redder. “This is embarrassing okay. I guess I didn’t know you were actually dating him. I just thought he was cute.”

  My eyes widened. I couldn’t believe she had admitted that. Now I felt bad or making her share that secret. But with the potential killer stuff going on I had to be safe and ask. I was just glad she wasn’t involved with Candace and Heath.

  “Oh, well I didn’t realize,” I said.

  “How could you not kn
ow that she was dating him?” Tammy asked.

  Monica shrugged. “They haven’t been dating very long.”

  “What about talking to Candace and Heath."

  “I just wanted to be in the documentary, I had no idea they were killers.”

  “Heath returned the book that you checked out. You can’t deny that.”

  She picked at the hem of her black sweater. “I guess I left it in his car. I didn’t say I hadn’t talked to him. That doesn’t make me part of their murder conspiracy.”

  At least I didn’t have to hire a new assistant.

  Monica shook her head and walked away. I bet I seemed like the worst boss in the world.

  “She’ll never let us forget about that,” Tammy said.

  Annie sent another text. Rip, you have to stop doing things like this. It’s too risky.

  “I’m okay now, Annie. Don’t worry.”

  Now that things had settled down I couldn’t wait to get back to my normal life.

  Luckily, Mrs. Agnew didn’t recommend that the board members replace me as the head librarian. I thought it had something to do with the fundraiser I’d held for the library last month. She couldn’t deny that I had raised a lot of money for the library. The other board members had been ecstatic with the result. Plus, I wasn’t a murderer… so that was always a bonus.

  Brannon and I had plans for dinner and a movie tonight. After the crazy day we’d had I felt like we needed a night of relaxation. At least this had ended with the bad guys in jail. Tomorrow I would continue with the Devil’s Moon Haunted Tour, although I still had the issue with the lawyer over my head. I hoped she kept her word and got the group of mystery people to drop their case against me. Other than that, things had turned out all right after all.

  About the Author

  Rose Pressey is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. The paranormal has always captured her interest. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained fascinates her.

  When she’s not writing about werewolves, vampires and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties.