A Ghost at Stallion's Gate Read Online Free PDF Page A

or anyone else. Attempting to change the topic I asked, “How did it go with the bouncy Miss Jordan?”
    Zach’s deep blush was palatable. “I wish you hadn’t done that.” He shook his head sideways and grinned. “You know, it was my lucky day, because a guy that Gracie went to college with is one of my employees, his name is Jared. Evidently he and Gracie used to date. As soon as we got into the backyard, near the rose garden, Jared showed up and I begged off.”
    I laughed and said, “Gracie really had her heart set on a Zavala man. How did you manage that switch?”
    “Well, you’ll have to meet Jared to understand. Let’s just say he’s available and willing. I left them strolling about the rose garden discussing the wild parties that went on here in the 1920s. There’s enough of a spark left from their college dating years to get a fire going.”
    I nodded and smiled. “Most excellent match I’d say. And if it makes Gracie happy, then I don’t have to worry about losing her to jealousy over you.”
    “Huh? What do you mean, losing her?”
    “Gracie is a phenomenal source of information regarding the history of Stallion’s gate, the Coovers, and Pasadena, in general. I have a gut feeling that there is a mystery lurking about and we will need her to get to the facts of the matter.”
    He smiled and it wasn’t an ordinary smile. It was a smile that spoke of whispered secrets. “We?” he asked.
    I nodded yes. “You, me and Francisco.”
    “Oh, so, now you think Grandpa should get involved?”
    “I certainly do and he’ll love it. No better person to get involved in a ghost mystery than him. We might need a police connection and what with his retired detective status and his ability to cut to the chase of any police matter, we need him.”
    “Ghost mystery?” Now he was serious, and cautious. “No way Shannon. You know that the Zavalas don’t like it when you get involved in the paranormal stuff. I promised I’d look out after you. And remember I told you that all the ghost stuff about this place is just local rumors. Teenage haunted house stories.”
    My stomach growled, the hunger pains gave me the segue I needed. “I’m hungry. We can negotiate this over lunch.”
    Zach grabbed hold of my hand, “Okay, we’ll go to lunch, but I want more truth, than story, from you in what is really going on around here. And Shannon, I really need for you to come to terms with the tragedy. I agreed to take over the company and God knows Zach and I look alike, so much so that people used to mistake us as twins, but Shannon, I’m Josh, not Zach. Please stop referring to me and calling me by his name.”
    “No. Why are you being so cruel? Zach would never do this.” Tears streamed down my face. My body trembled out of control.
    He put his arms around me. “I promised Zach to look out for you. Shannon, please, his death is hard on all of us.”
    I pushed him aside. “We can talk about this later.”
    We left in Zach’s old truck and Josh took me to a pub style cafe called Kathleen’s on Lake Avenue. The inside was cozy and the style was a little bit Old English. We sat in a booth toward the back, where it was quiet and private and I couldn’t help but to think that Josh asked for this booth because he was going to pick my brain about what I could remember of Zach’s death.
    The menu was extensive.  I zeroed in on the Quiche Lorraine served with seasonal fresh fruit. Josh didn’t need a menu, according to him he had dined here so often with his family that he knew the menu by rote memory. He ordered a grilled chicken sandwich.
    We were alone, and Josh wasted not a minute. “I’m sorry for being so blunt. Shannon. Maybe you are not up to this assignment. Honest, I can find someone else for this assignment, it’s okay, you could go back home to San Diego, maybe hang out down there and do some work for Rosario and the Inn. Or, don’t do anything at all, take time off. Shannon, everyone wants you to