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

all my friends Claire seemed brash enough not to be put off by the undead. I imagined she could kick butt if riled. She was already edgy, and nicotine withdrawal is not pretty.
    Stephen was here only because I had made the mistake of telling him about the sleepover, and he had begged to come along. I didn’t have the heart to say no. Stephen was tall, pale, and so slender that I feared he would be knocked over by a strong gust of wind. He reminded me of a consumptive poet from the nineteenth century, an impression enhanced tonight by his sage green velvet waistcoat with tails.
    I was wearing one of Stephen’s designs, as well. A fairly tame one: a wine-colored shift with spaghetti straps and a spray of silk roses at the hemline. Over it I wore a long black and purple knit sweater that fell past my knees. My feet were clad in my steel-toed work boots because, well, I always wear my steel-toed work boots.
    “I gotta tell you, you three look like refugees from a community theater production of Peer Gynt ,”Luz said as she joined us on the porch. Her eyes raked over the facade and she raised an eyebrow in my direction. “ This is the house you’re so in love with?”
    “It needs me.”
    “Huh,” she said, clearly unconvinced.
    Just then a shiny black full-sized truck with “Avery Builders” painted in scrolled letters pulled into the drive. From the cab emerged a well-built man in his thirties. Tall, broad-shouldered, and blond, he was a Viking in work boots and plaid shirt. He had a sleeping bag tucked under one brawny arm, and a duffel bag slung over his shoulder like an Eagle Scout. Or maybe a Navy SEAL.
    Josh must take after his mother’s side of the family. I had known Tom Avery for years; he was an excellent contractor, but he was also short, blustery, and overweight, and had a drinking problem.
    Luz glanced over at me, raising her eyebrows and sticking out her chin as if to say, Not bad. Not bad at all.
    I widened my eyes at her in reply: Zip it.
    She flashed a big grin. “I tell you what, girlfriend, you do land yourself in some interesting situations. All right, all you intrepid ghost busters, listen up. Have fun tonight, and be careful. If you find yourself in need of rescue, whatever you do, do not call me. Upon the morrow, should you decide it’s time for a mental health assessment, I’m your gal. And the offer of bail for misdemeanor offenses stands.”
    Luz climbed into her car and took off as Josh made a beeline for Stephen.
    “Hello there. You must be Mel Turner,” he said, holding his hand out to shake. “I’m Josh, Thomas Avery’s nephew.”
    “Nice to meet you, but I’m Stephen. This ”—Stephen put his arm around my shoulders—“is Mel, short for Melanie.”
    I elbowed him in the ribs for outing my real name.
    Josh blinked. My gender was a surprise, no doubt, but I imagined this evening’s getup wasn’t helping him envision me as his cutthroat competition.
    We shook hands and exchanged business cards.
    “I didn’t realize we were supposed to bring backup,” said Josh, looking at my companions.
    I hadn’t realized tonight’s sleepover was going to include my rival. I had assumed we’d be here on different nights.
    “They’re my . . . assistants,” I said, unwilling to admit that I was afraid to spend the night by myself. “Claire Allen and Stephen Nikolai.”
    “Ghost-hunting assistants,” explained Claire, looking about twelve years old with that sucker in her mouth. At the mention of ghosts, Stephen’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down and he wrung his hands, as skittish as a kite at the marina. It occurred to me our colorful trio might not make the best impression on my potential clients. Especially standing next to the overgrown Eagle Scout with the big-boy truck.
    It was a little late to indulge in that kind of thinking, so I pushed the thought aside and knocked loudly on the door. I half expected little Anabelle to answer.
    “Speaking of ghosts—,” Josh