Dead to the World Read Online Free PDF

did you know something was going on here at the Bishop’s Inn?’ I asked Humphrey.
    That stopped him for a moment. ‘Now that I think about it, the guy I talked to here might have been the same guy who called me.’
    ‘Someone called you? About what?’ Willis asked. I was glad to see he was joining in.
    ‘About the shit that’s happening here,’ he said, then, seeing the look on Miss Hutchins’ face: ‘Excuse my French, ma’am.’
    She simply nodded.
    ‘What did he say?’ I asked. ‘This man who called you?’
    ‘He said there was definitely a spirit at the Bishop’s Inn in Peaceful, Texas, and that we should get here as soon as possible before something bad happens,’ Humphrey said.
    Miss Hutchins grabbed my hand. ‘Oh, dear,’ she said.
    I patted her hand.
    ‘And you just decided to come straight here, huh?’
    Humphrey puckered up. ‘Of course not! I researched it. There’s all sorts of paranormal activity in the Texas Hill Country,’ he said. ‘So Diamond and I discussed it and I called and made a reservation.’
    ‘And didn’t notice that you were talking to the same guy,’ Willis said, his voice dubious.
    ‘It had been a week since the guy called. And I
did
talk to a few thousand people in the interim!’ Humphrey proclaimed.
    ‘It was Daddy,’ Miss Hutchins said in a small voice.
    ‘Your father? He’s here?’ Diamond asked in her Minnie-Mouse voice.
    ‘In a manner of speaking,’ Miss Hutchins answered.
    ‘So do we get our rooms or what?’ Humphrey asked, his tone getting slightly belligerent.
    ‘Of course,’ Miss Hutchins said with a sigh. ‘Just give me a minute to prepare them.’
    ‘No,’ I said, taking her arm and leading her back into the living room. ‘Just tell us where the sheets and towels are and we’ll all pitch in and do it.’
    ‘And we’re paying for this?’ Humphrey said, indignant.
    ‘Oh, Humphrey,’ Diamond said. ‘Be a sport! It’ll be fun. Besides, I feel the spirits all around us and I know they want us to help this poor, beleaguered lady!’ She smiled at us, one and all.
    It wasn’t the fun-fest the medium had proclaimed it would be. Basically it was as tedious as one would expect. The men wandered around acting as if they had no clue where one might keep linens and things (at least I know my husband was acting – there was a good possibility Humphrey Hammerschultz was really that stupid), while Diamond Lovesy and I did all the work. She kept saying, ‘Isn’t this fun?’ By the fourth declaration I just glared at her. That was the last time she said it.
    After we’d made the beds and put out the towels, the four of us headed downstairs. Miss Hutchins was setting refreshments on the coffee table in the living room. ‘Oh, there you are! I was wondering what took you so long,’ she said.
    ‘Having men help us,’ I said, mostly under my breath. Willis nudged me in the ribs with his elbow. It hurt. ‘You didn’t have to do all this,’ I said, looking at the spread she’d put out. A pitcher of iced tea and five glasses, a plate of scones and a plate of finger sandwiches – pimiento cheese and what looked like liverwurst.
    We all sat down, Willis nudging Humphrey away from ‘his’ easy chair, Miss Hutchins and me on the camel-backed sofa and the newcomers in armless stuffed chairs.
    ‘So, Miss Hutchins,’ Humphrey said, stuffing his face with scones and talking around the mess in his mouth (utterly disgusting – I was able to break my children of such antics at a fairly early age. My first inkling of the fact that this guy was raised by wolves). ‘Tell us about these sightings of your father.’
    ‘Oh, I’m the only one who’s seen him,’ she said. ‘The first time – after his death, of course – was when I was ten and he killed my mother. Then nothing until about a year ago in the back garden late at night. And again three weeks ago, when I was walking dear Gladys and Herman out to their car, I saw him in the window of the