A Wild Fright in Deadwood (Deadwood Humorous Mystery Book 7) Read Online Free PDF Page A

place and make sure it’s ready for the viewing tomorrow.”
    That was a mix of lie and truth.
    Truthfully, I had an appointment in the morning with an older couple from Pierre looking for a second home in the Black Hills. I had my fingers crossed that Cooper’s bungalow might be the sort of place they were looking for since they preferred something smaller that wouldn’t take a lot of upkeep.
    Not so truthfully, Cooper’s house was already in tiptop shape and ready for potential buyers. I’d seen that for myself when I’d picked up Harvey earlier, who was temporarily staying at his nephew’s house for the winter … or until I sold it.
    Helping Cooper get rid of this home and move on to his next had become one of my top priorities since the nosy detective was bunking at Doc’s house now, interfering with my love life. Role-playing with handcuffs wasn’t nearly as titillating when followed with a stay in a dirty jail cell.
    “Okay, I’ll get right to the point then.” Jerry clapped his big hands together, which sounded like a balloon popping.
    I jerked slightly, strung too tightly for loud noises after Prudence’s game of show and tell.
    “The Paranormal Realty television crew will be back this week to pick up where they left off filming before everyone came down with the flu.”
    “Great.” My reply sounded hollow, but Jerry didn’t seem to notice. “I look forward to getting back in front of the camera.”
    Being filmed was right near the top of my things-I-hate list, located one notch below having my hoo-ha examined while a group of resident physicians observed and took notes.
    “I like your attitude, Violet. You’re a team player through and through.”
    Not really. I just wanted to do whatever I could to avoid the unemployment line.
    “We still need to film in The Old Prospector Hotel, along with a few other haunted locales.”
    I grimaced on the inside. The Old Prospector Hotel was the home of several creepy ghosts, including a little blonde girl who wanted to have me over to share some invisible tea and temporary insanity.
    “I want you to talk to the Deadwood police,” Jerry continued, oblivious to my mental heartburn. “See if we can grab a few takes out at Willis Harvey’s ranch, too. His house is one of two rural locations that we have on the docket. I think it adds more color to the mix.”
    Did he mean more red color, as in blood? Because Harvey’s ranch was a regular body part depository these days. In the last few months alone, an ear with part of the scalp attached, a decapitated corpse, an old boot with a dried up foot still inside, and a faceless body all had been found out at Harvey’s place. Unfortunately, I’d been present for the last two sightings and wasn’t really anxious to head out there and stumble upon anything else—especially after the visitor I’d encountered in Harvey’s family graveyard a week ago. Its milky eyes and sharp teeth had guest starred in my nightmares almost every night since.
    “Jerry, I think the police might be more willing to let us film at Harvey’s if you ask.” My history with the Deadwood Police Department involved multiple threats of incarceration and one broken nose, not cookies and milk. I had a feeling he’d at least be able to make it through the station’s front doors without anyone tasering him.
    Honestly, though, I didn’t think it mattered which one of us asked, because I was ninety-nine percent sure that they would come back with a firm, “Hell no!” There was too much trouble out at Harvey’s place these days to allow a camera crew on the premises.
    Jerry’s brow creased as if he were considering my suggestion. “No, I think you have more clout with the folks in charge there.”
    A laugh bubbled up my throat. Me? Oh, dear Lord, if he only knew how few crumbs of this so-called clout I had with the lead detective working on the case. But Jerry had made up his mind, so now I had to figure out how to do as he asked without