Audrey Claire - Libby Grace 01 - How to be a Ghost Read Online Free PDF Page A

interesting news, I had dismissed it. Now, the chief might be here to arrest me.
    Clark was a good man from what I knew of him, but I didn’t see him as a love interest. I think my view was a bit skewed considering I had loved Mason who had treated me like gum stuck to the bottom of his shoe, and Clark seemed too tame as a bachelor living with his older sister. The chief should be a good catch for me considering he was happy to remain in the little town I loved so much.
    I waited for Clark to look past Monica and spot me semi-transparent behind her, but he kept his gaze focused on my friend. I glanced down at myself and saw…nothing. I was invisible. How in the world had I managed that, and what did it mean? Was I being pulled farther away from the living? Scanning my narrow hallway, I didn’t see a bright, warm light compelling me to step into it. Nor, to my great relief, did I see any dark holes ready to suck me to less desirable places. Needless to say my knowledge of the afterlife had holes of its own.
    I drifted over to the hall mirror. Drifted is the only way I could describe it because I was not aware of stepping. I had no form, or maybe I did, but I couldn’t tell. The mirror’s reflection showed the same landscape on the wall but this time without the obstruction of my form. I looked toward Clark and Monica sure neither saw me.
    “Where is Ms. Grace?” Clark was asking.
    Monica made a rude noise. “Why are you calling her Ms. Grace like you two didn’t come up together, and you weren’t running behind her hoping she would notice you?”
    To my surprise, Clark reddened, and then he frowned. “I’m trying to conduct an investigation, Ms. Wade.” When she lowered her chin and I imagined flicked an eyebrow skyward, he conceded. “Monica. Where is Libby? Why isn’t she home with her son at this hour?”
    “Don’t judge my friend,” Monica shot back. “She’s grown.”
    “Meaning?”
    “She had business to take care of.”
    Leave it to Monica to always look out for me. Clark was being tight-lipped about why he was there, and Monica refused to tell him anything in case she inadvertently got me into trouble. That’s the kind of friend she was from the first time I met her in eighth grade. I really loved and appreciated that woman, even more so now. I also knew since I hadn’t told her anything about where I was going, she would worry, and that bothered me.
    “What business could Libby have to take care of at six a.m. on a school day?” Clark insisted.
    Monica shrugged. “That’s for her to tell you if she chooses to. Now if you will excuse me, I have to get Jake ready for school, and I have to be at the library by nine.”
    Clark opened his mouth to ask another question, but Monica shut the door in his face. Undeterred, Clark pushed his business card through the mail slot and called out, “As soon as you hear from her, have her call me. It’s important.”
    Monica bent to pick up the card, tapped a nail on the smooth, shiny surface, and then turned around. I stood in front of her so I saw the smirk melt away. Her brow furrowed, and she pinched her lips together. She darted into the kitchen and snatched her cell phone off the counter. I didn’t have to see the button she punched to know she speed dialed my phone. Monica danced from one foot to the other as she waited with the device pressed to her ear. From my position, I heard my own recorded voice come on the line asking the caller to leave a message.
    “Hey, girl,” Monica said, “where are you? Call me.” She paused. “I’m worried. You know I don’t like being worried. Call!”
    “Monica, I’m so sorry,” I blurted. “I would give anything to calm your mind.”
    I don’t know what I expected, maybe for her to jump at hearing my voice? If she couldn’t see me, that didn’t mean I was also silent, right? Wrong. I was there, able to watch her, hear her voice, but I was cut off. I wanted to wail, but crying would do nothing to help