High Marks for Murder (A Bellehaven House Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

away, then paused when he added, "Mrs. Llewell—Meredith. A word of warning. Whoever did this could be extremely dangerous. If you try to investigate, you could be taking a grave risk with your life. Moreover, Constable Shipham will not take kindly to you meddling in a situation that he considers resolved. I suggest you think twice before treading on his territory."
    "I appreciate your concern, but I will not rest until I know that someone has paid for Kathleen's death." She smiled at him. "I promise I shall watch where I tread."
    "I wish I could assist you." The doctor shook his head. "Because of my position, however, I must refrain from taking any part in such a controversial pursuit."
    "I understand." She glanced one last time at her friend."Please take care of her for me." She hurried away, before the prickling under her lids could turn once more to tears.
    Instead of crossing the lawn, she chose to take the path through the gardens. She needed time to catch her breath—to decide what her first step should be. A good place to start would be to question anyone who might have seen Kathleen wandering around the night before.
    Upon reaching the flower beds, she paused, her heart aching as she wondered who would create such a profusion of color and beauty now that Kathleen had gone. Tom would tend to the flowers with his usual care, but it had been Kathleen who had chosen the plants and designed their arrangement in the beds. The teacher would be missed on so many levels.
    In spite of the sun's rays warming her back, Meredith shivered as a chill breeze touched her cheek. Conscious of someone watching her, she spun around. Her imagination was playing tricks on her again. She was quite alone.
    She turned back to the flowers, intent on picking some for the foyer. She had actually reached out when a slight movement from across the beds stilled her hand. Straightening, she stared at a spot a few feet away at the edge of the path.
    The patch of mist swirled like a veil caught in the wind. It seemed to ebb and flow around the figure of a woman, hiding her from sight one minute and allowing a tantalizing glimpse of her the next.
    Meredith shut her eyes tight. She should have taken the powder Ian had given her. "Go away," she muttered. "You are a figment of my imagination. Be off with you."
    Only the fluttering of leaves overhead answered her. Cautiously she opened one eye, then opened them both wide. The apparition still floated in front of her.
    Every instinct urged Meredith to turn tail and run as fast as she could back to the safety of the school hallways. Her fear, however, held her fast to the spot.
    The wisp of gray mist hovered above the path, with just a faint shadow of a figure in its midst. Although she couldn't see it clearly, Meredith felt a strange sense of desperation emitting from the weaving cloud.
    Her lips stiff with fright, she whispered, "Who are you? What do you want?"
    The figure immediately became brighter, more distinct. The woman's hair flowed about her shoulders, and she raised a graceful hand and pointed at Meredith's feet.
    Heart pounding, Meredith looked down, but could see nothing but the toes of her shoes peeking out from beneath the hem of her skirt. When she raised her head again, the mist had vanished.
    Shaken to the core, she fought to regain her breath. In that brief instant, she had recognized the apparition. As ridiculous as it might seem, she had no doubts at all. The image was the ghost of Kathleen Duncan.

Chapter 4
    Mrs. Wilkins tapped gingerly on the door of Monica Fingle's office. She wasn't happy with herself at all, but she felt strongly that it was her duty to protect the maids, even if they got cross with her for it.
    Monica's thin voice called out from the other side of the door. "Enter!"
    Mrs. Wilkins entered.
    As always, she felt intimidated by Monica's presence. The housekeeper sat in her chair as if she had a board strapped to her back. The hollows under her cheekbones were deep