Janet McNulty - Mellow Summers 03 - An Apple a Day Keeps Murder Away Read Online Free PDF Page B

Jackie can’t spend your whole lives together as roommates.”
    “Lay off Jackie, will you?”
    “But she told me to be happy with the food you have in the fridge. She doesn’t treat me with much respect.”
    “Maybe because you don’t treat her with any,” I said. “You’ve never liked her, but she has always been there for me. Give her a chance.”
    “And the people you hang out with, Mellow. They’re not the most likeable characters.”
    “I like them,” I said.
    “But you’re so much better than this.”
    “Aunt Ethel,” I said growing impatient, “No one chooses my friends for me. ”
    I noticed a man sitting on the other end of the restaurant. He kept his face hidden, but seemed to be staring at us. I glared back at him. When I did, he quickly looked away.
    “What is it, dear?” asked Aunt Ethel.
    “I think that man is watching us,” I said pointing out the stranger.
    Aunt Ethel glanced at him. The man now studied a menu. “Nonsense. You probably imagined it.”
    Our food arrived. The waitress placed more napkins on the table. It happened again. An image of someone holding a white cloth over my nose and mouth hit me. It only lasted for a few seconds, but must have been enough to make me practically faint.
    “Mellow dear, are you all right?” asked Aunt Ethel.
    “I’m fine,” I lied.
    “Are you sure? You look pale.”
    I had to give my aunt bonus points. She really sounded worried. “I’ll be fine,” I said.
    The waitress looked at me as though I might pass out at any time. I couldn’t blame her. “I’ll get you some more water,” she said.
    “I’m OK,” I repeated to my aunt.
    The worried look on her face told me that she didn’t believe me.
    We ate our breakfast in silence. There wasn’t much to say after I almost fainted. I barely tasted my food. My mind wandered everywhere. What were these images that kept popping into my head? What did they mean? How did it all fit together?
    I put my fork down when I realized that I had been sitting with it in the air while staring out the window. My Aunt Ethel looked at me with a mystified expression on her face.
    “I don’t think this area agrees with you, dear, ” Aunt Ethel said.
    “I just have a lot on my mind,” I said evasively. I did not want to tell her that I had been missing for two days and was now suspect number one in a possible murder.
    “Hey!” Rachel’s appearance caused me to drop a forkful of food. “I just got back from the spirit world. Still no sign of any recently murdered ghost from this area. Either no one’s been killed or he just doesn’t care about it.”
    “What do you mean? ” I whispered while Aunt Ethel ate her yogurt.
    “Some people aren’t concerned about seeking justice when they’re murdered,” said Rachel. “Our guy could be one of those.”
    Rachel glanced at the untouched bowl of fruit on the table and at my empty plate. She noted my pale face. Next thing I knew, the bowl slid across the table and stopped in front of me. “Here, you need more color in your life. Anyway, I’ve got things to do. I just wanted to keep you in the loop.” Rachel disappeared.
    Aunt Ethel finished her yogurt and wen t to grab her fruit when she noticed it missing. She saw the bowl in front of me and my guilty expression. “Really, Mellow, if you wanted my fruit, you just had to ask.”
    I started to shove the fruit back her direction.
    “No. Eat it. Eat it,” said Aunt Ethel, “Goodness knows I eat too much as it is. And you still look ashen.”
    My stomach felt stuffed to the gills, but no way was I getting out of eating the fruit. Aunt Ethel sat across from me watching each movement my fork made from the bowl to my mouth. She wasn’t satisfied until the bowl was empty.
    The waitress brought the check. I reached for it. Aunt Ethel smacked my hand away. “I’ll get it, dear.”
    She paid the check and we left. We ran into Jason Harrow once we got outside. Of all people, it had to be the District