Murder on the House: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery (Haunted Home Repair Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page A

me to negotiate the renovations . . . with the ghosts,” I clarified.
    The Propaks nodded. Mrs. Bernini looked uncomfortable.
    “Tell me—did you also propose this arrangement to Thomas Avery?” I smiled at the thought of the head of Avery Builders—a humorless sort if ever there was one—fleeing in terror from a spirit.
    “Thomas Avery isn’t the one interested in the project. It’s his nephew, Josh.”
    “Josh Avery? I don’t know him.”
    “Apparently he’s working with his uncle to learn the skills of the trade, with the intention of taking over the business. One generation passing the torch to the next.”
    “Ah. And can this Josh fellow communicate with ghosts?”
    Kim and Marty exchanged a glance.
    “Not that we know of,” Kim replied. “Maybe!”
    “Even if he can’t,” Marty said, “at the very least, we want the contractor we select to be able to deal with whatever . . . encounters . . . they might experience in the house. Like the odd sounds, and the furniture moving.”
    “I see,” I said.
    “There’s one more thing,” Marty said, and paused for effect. “Kim and I are committed to bringing the house back to its former glory. We’d like to incorporate a few new items, such as a decent heating system and Internet wiring, and plumbing in some private bathrooms for the guests. But overall, we’d like to restore its historic character, use vintage items, that sort of thing.”
    Words like that made my heart sing. This was my passion.
    “As I’m sure you know,” Marty continued, “my brother serves on the board of American Architectural Design. He and I think this house would be a great candidate for the AIA award for historic renovation. Also, as Kim mentioned, she has a contract for a picture book documenting the renovation and the history of the house. The ghosts will make a great addition to the story.”
    In order to be considered for the prestigious American Institute of Architects award, the renovation would have to be well documented every step of the way.
    “Are you working with a photographer?” I asked.
    “We were, but . . . a few things happened. . . .” Kim glanced at her husband. “She wasn’t comfortable working around spirits. Some people are so sensitive. You wouldn’t happen to know a good local photographer, would you?”
    “As a matter of fact, I do have a friend who might be available.” Checking the directory on my phone, I jotted down Zach Malinski’s name and number and handed the note to Kim. Calling Zach a “friend” was a bit of a stretch considering he had once sort of kidnapped me. But I still liked him.
    “To go back to the overnight visit: You want potential contractors to spend the night in this presumably haunted house in order to win the renovation contract?”
    Kim and Marty nodded eagerly.
    What they were proposing sounded like a plot for a B movie featuring scantily clad teenagers and psychopaths wielding chain saws. I glanced around the room looking for cameras, half hoping this was a new reality show for the do-it-yourself crowd: Punk the Contractor .
    All I saw was the pleasant countenance of Mrs. Bernini, the excited smile of Kim-the-Doris-Day-look-alike, the earnest gaze of Marty Propak, and a house that really, really needed me.
    Still, no way would I participate in a stunt like this. It was . . . undignified.
    On the other hand . . . I could almost taste that AIA award. It was something I had coveted for years, steadily working toward it, and this would be the closest I had ever come.
    And yet . . . surely I hadn’t fallen so low.
    “I thought it might be fun,” said Mrs. Bernini, noting my hesitancy. “You could bring a friend or two, and I would be here, and it would be like a slumber party. We could order pizza!”
    As she spoke, Mrs. Bernini’s eyes lit up and she looked, for a moment, like a young woman. I couldn’t help but return her smile. But still . . .
    Spending the night in a haunted