Second To Nun (A Giulia Driscoll Mystery Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Trip Advisor from Halloween of last year: ‘Loved the haunted lighthouse tour and the antique decorations. The themed activities were fun without being cutesy.’” She scrolled down. “Another one, same week: ‘The decorations and activities were corny but the owner gets points for enthusiasm. Would not return that week, but would any other week.’”
    “Why book Halloween week if you’re not going to get into the spirit of the thing?”
    “Perhaps they expected something quaint and Victorian with period costumes and a taffy pull. A third review says: ‘I lost a year of my life between the haunted tour and whatever was rigged up in the attic. Didn’t sleep a wink on October 31. Loved it and will return next year.’”
    Frank stopped at the last swallow of his beer. “Why do you have that look?”
    “She’s added a weekly séance to the amenities. All season, not just at Halloween.”
    “Someone wants to make sure the regulars aren’t bored.”
    “Someone is hooked on psychics.” Giulia sipped her beer. “Ugh. It’s getting warm.” She finished the last two inches. “Can’t let a Murphy’s Irish Red go to waste.”
    The terriers ran into their backyard, woofing and nipping each other. The mother next door stood up from her chair next to the pool. The kids splashed onto the grass, whining but obedient.
    The foghorn-on-steroids noise of a vuvuzela echoed up and down the street.
    “It must be eight o’clock,” Frank said. “The younger Templeton brat is right on time. Next on the program: Mama Templeton.”
    A woman’s high-pitched voice: “Time to come in, Rupert!”
    Frank said, “Three. Two. One.”
    A young boy’s voice: “Five more minutes, Ma!”
    Giulia said, “Cue the next vuvuzela blast.”
    The horn shattered the evening again.
    “I’ll get you, Roland.”
    The boy’s voice again. “All right, Ma.”
    “Life imitates Mary Poppins ,” Giulia said.
    “Heaven forbid. Can you picture that little monster with a cannon?”
    “Not if I want to sleep at night.” She leaned forward with her elbows on her knees. “Coming back to the scheduling. I plan to wrap up two separate cases tomorrow, assuming cooperation from thieves and scumbags. We’ve got three other active cases, with Sidney and Jane both part-time for two more weeks. Sidney hasn’t taken on this level of responsibility before.”
    “Are you saying that closing the office last year for our honeymoon was short-sighted?”
    “No, because I would’ve obsessed for the entire week, and so would you. But I can’t stay at a B&B by myself. They’re a couples thing. Remember how you’ve been saying you need more time with your wife?”
    “I’m still saying it.”
    “Can you get time off on such short notice? If you can’t, a whole chunk of wife-time will be delayed by several days.” When Frank didn’t reply, she added, “Did I mention the large fee she offered?”
    “You did, and a very nice number it was, too. Then again—”
    Giulia put a finger on his lips. “I already thought it. The very size of the fee makes it suspicious.”
    Frank sucked on the tip of her finger. Giulia lost her train of thought. He released her finger, grinning, and stood.
    “I’ll check the schedule tomorrow morning with Jimmy and see if I can get away. Several days of wife-time is worth encountering a few antimacassars.”

Nine

      
    Because the bright copper Nunmobile might be a little too memorable, Giulia waited near Flynt’s house in Frank’s maroon Camry Friday morning. Clouds threatened Flynt’s weekly golf outing, but she had no doubt a true adherent of the Religion of Golf wouldn’t cancel for anything less than nuclear war.
    At six forty-five, Flynt came out the side door of his two-story Colonial carrying a golf bag and pressed something in his hand. The garage door swung up and open.
    As Flynt tossed the bag into the back of his SUV, twin girls about six years old in identical Hello Kitty dresses ran out of the house.