Harrison Investigations 1 Haunted Read Online Free PDF Page A

you
both...I'm not saying that anyone is totally inebriated, but come
on, now, you both had a hell of a lot to drink. You're wired,
Jeannie. Excited. Hey, it was the wedding of the century, huh? You
don't have to go back into the room. We'll get your things. And you
and Roger can finish out your honeymoon in the caretaker's cottage,
how's that? I can clear it out in a matter of minutes, while Penny
makes tea."
    Jeannie spun around again. She looked as if she wanted to run
from Roger's side and come flying into his arms.
    Don't do it, Jeannie, don't do it! He pleaded
silently.
    "Not one of you has suggested coming up to see if there is
something in the room," Jeannie said indignantly.
    Matt lifted his hands. "I'll go up to the room."
    He strode past the newlywed couple on the stairs. As he neared
the upper landing, he could hear Roger whispering angrily to his
wife. "Ghost, hell! You're a little exhibitionist. You've had
a bit of a thing for Matt Stone your whole life, you know, Jeannie.
What, you just had to have an excuse for him to see you naked?"
    "Roger Thomas! How dare you suggest such a thing, you bastard!"
she whispered back. Then her voice rose. "We don't need the
caretaker's house! I'm going home. Home-back to my family. They're
not a bunch of idiot jerks!"
    "Hey, there!" Penny protested cheerfully. "You know, everyone is
really tired, but we'll get to the bottom of this. Matt, he's all
he-man practical and doesn't believe in ghosts, but I'm telling
you, Roger, don't you go being hard on your new missus! Lots of
folks believe that this house is more than a little haunted, I do
tell you!"
    Matt walked on into the Lee Room. As he suspected, there was
nothing there. The French doors to the balcony were open, and the
drapes were drifting in. They must have been what scared the new
bride so badly. Either that, or she just wanted the place to be
haunted so badly that she had made it so.
    He found Jeannie's peignoir robe, men discarded it as being far
too see-through for this situation. Her groom would not be happy
with it, he was certain. Striding to the closet, he found a pair of
robes with "Melody House" inscribed on the pockets-items Penny had
insisted they needed to provide a real luxury touch for those few
times when he decided to rent the room. He pulled one from the
hanger and headed back downstairs.
    By then, Penny, Jeannie and Roger had headed into the kitchen.
It was vast. The integrity of the historical aspects had been
maintained with the massive hearth and the many copper pots and
herbs that adorned wall mounts, but the huge refrigerator, sub-zero
freezer, and stainless steel stove were all necessary modern
conveniences for the many social events, dinners, luncheons,
and meetings that were held at the property.
    The newlyweds were seated at the table with Penny. She had
apparently moved like lightning, microwaving water and hurriedly
supplying brandy, because they were all sipping out of huge
earthenware mugs already.
    They had been joined there by several of the other
residents of the property, probably all awakened by the
screaming. Matt's cousin Clint, who, like Penny, lived in one of
the apartments above the stables, was seated at the table. Clint's
eyes flashed with humor as they met Matt's. Sam Arden, the
caretaker, old, thin, and crusty, his white hair wild, was at the
table as well. He shook his head and rolled his eyes when he saw
Matt. Rounding out the group was Carter Sutton. He was actually an
old college friend of Clint's from the next town over. He owned a
lot of local property, and had just bought a house nearby. Since it
was still being held hostage by construction workers, he'd taken a
room over the stables as well. It worked well. Carter made his
living off his investments, and was sometimes "paper rich and
cash poor," so he was happy to look after the horses and serve as
stable boy and trail guide when they rented out the horses.
    Matt silently offered the robe, and walked around to take a