Deception at Dark Hall (The Briony Martin Mystery Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

obvious he hoped to hear from his beloved fiancé. But what if Monica didn’t show herself tonight? How would he react? Would he be devastated?
    Briony bristled in her seat as both the emotional and physical strain in her body prepared to uncoil. How dare Miss Dark dupe these poor folks into thinking they were communicating with their loved ones. If it wasn’t for money, what did she have to gain by this sham?
    Her mind was wandering and contemplating the puzzle when Miss Dark looked straight at her. She grinned and said, “Briony, I’m so happy to see you. It’s been such a long time.”
    Briony’s thoughts snapped into the here and now.
    “Don’t you recognize me?” Miss Dark angled her head. Her voice had once more changed, this time to a more masculine tone, though not as rough and overbearing as the impersonation she’d done of Lyndon’s uncle. Her eyes twinkled with mischief, and she tugged on her earlobe.
    The hairs on the back of Briony’s neck stiffened. That gesture was a familiar one. Although she knew all of this was a trick, it seemed the world stopped spinning for a moment. She felt Daniel’s steady gaze on her.
    “Do you know the voice?” he whispered.
    She inhaled deeply, but didn’t answer. Her gaze remained locked on Miss Dark’s. The young woman stared at her with those ice blue eyes. Then they suddenly rolled up into her head. Her next words resonated in a plea. “Please acknowledge me, Briony. We have so much to talk about. Mother…father… I know you spoke to him. He asked for your forgiveness.”
    She felt the color drain from her face. Her mouth grew as dry as sawdust.
    “Aren’t you going to answer the boy?” asked Lee, with a hint of aggravation.
    Briony shook her head. It was true she’d seen and spoken to the ghost of her father in Maine. But this was different. The dead couldn’t speak through the living. It had to be a hoax.
    Beside her, she could sense Daniel’s agitation. “Who is it?” he asked.
    Before she could answer, Sharlyn’s hand smacked the wooden table, causing her and the woman next to her to jump. Miss Dark’s peculiar unattached voice thundered out the answer. “Say something, Briony. Don’t be afraid. Tell them I’m your brother Ben.”
     

 
     
    CHAPTER THREE
     
    Briony couldn’t breathe. She shoved away from the table and stood on wobbling legs. “Excuse me, but I can’t stay here. I need air.” She turned on her heel and scurried toward the door.
    Daniel leaped from his seat and followed her out of the room. When they stepped into the hushed hallway, the stone-faced butler appeared like magic.
    “Shall I retrieve your coats?” he asked.
    “Yes,” Daniel replied, with a curt nod.
    Briony reached for calm by taking several deep breaths. When her quickened pulse slowed to a steadier rate, she touched Daniel’s arm. “I hate for you to leave on my account. I don’t mean to ruin your evening. Go back inside. I can wait downstairs or in the car until the séance is over.”
    His gaze was sympathetic, which she was grateful for. “Don’t be silly. I can come to Dark Hall anytime. I’ll be glad to take you home now, if you’d like.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Positive.” His words were genuine even if his smile was taut.
    “All right then. Perhaps it would be better. I’m suddenly feeling quite tired.”
    “Follow me,” the butler said. After showing them into the same elevator and then winding them through the maze of assorted hallways, she and Daniel found themselves on the ground floor in the foyer standing under the glass dome. The butler disappeared and returned with their jackets several moments later. He flipped the locking mechanism on the inside of the massive front door and let them out with the friendliness of a cold fish.
    The temperature had dropped. Wishing she was wearing a hat and scarf, Briony wrapped her arms around herself as a frigid wind cut through her. Daniel pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and