Shamrock Shenanigans (Zoe Donovan Mystery Book 19) Read Online Free PDF Page B

problem.
    “I’m fairly certain I had a visit from Birte last night,” Piper informed me and the three other people sitting at our table. “I can’t be certain, but I felt a definite energy in the room after I retired for the evening.”
    “There has been a disturbance in the overall energy in the castle,” Millie added. “In my opinion we should expect the spirits who reside here to be restless.”
    “I’m certain my robe was moved last night,” I contributed.
    “Are you all serious about this ghost stuff?” Susan asked. “It seems a little far-fetched to me.”
    “I agree with Susan,” Cassandra joined in. “I’m fascinated by the notion of ghosts in the castle, but I’m afraid the whole thing is poppycock. In fact, Aunt Jessica is beginning to think the entire weekend is nothing more than a ruse.”
    “A ruse?” I asked.
    Cassandra glanced toward the table occupied by Zak, Jessica, Sam, Armand, Drew, and Luke. “She thinks the ghosts are as phony as the murder.”
    “Jessica thinks Brent isn’t actually dead?” Piper asked.
    “She does. I mean, really… What proof do we have? No one has seen the body. Sure, he hasn’t been around, but this is a big place. He could be hiding out in another part of the castle.”
    “Zak and I saw the body,” I countered.
    “Yes, so you say, but what if the two of you are in on it?” Cassandra insisted.
    “I assure you, we aren’t.”
    “Maybe. But Aunt Jessica has been asking around. I think she’s spoken to pretty much everyone in the castle and on the grounds and no one other than you and your husband has seen the body. Not even Lord Dunphy. The whole thing seems suspicious to Jessica and me.”
    I looked toward the other table, wondering if Zak was fielding questions about Brent Silverwood’s demise just as I was.
    “Cassandra has a point,” Susan jumped in. “You and Zak are the only ones to have seen the body. How do we know you aren’t lying?”
    “I already told you, we aren’t.”
    “Then maybe you’re the killers. It does seem odd that the body just disappeared into thin air.”
    “You heard the body disappeared?” I asked Susan. I wasn’t aware Lord Dunphy had made that bit of news public.
    “Sam found out somehow. I’m not sure who told him, but he’s been nosing around and he assures me his sources have confirmed that the body, if there ever was one, is simply gone.”
    If nothing else, this conversation confirmed what I suspected: the other mystery solvers were investigating the murder, the same as Zak and me.
    “I haven’t seen the body,” Millie chimed in, “but I can sense that a death has recently occurred. My instinct tells me the newest spirit in the castle isn’t haunting us and most likely won’t appear, though he hasn’t moved on.”
    “Brent’s spirit is here in the castle?” I asked.
    “Yes, I believe so. Although…” Millie frowned.
    “Although what?” I prompted.
    “Something is off.”
    “Off how?” I persisted.
    “The spirit I’m picking up is all wrong.”
    Okay, this was getting confusing. “Wrong how?”
    “Maybe Brent is just having a hard time with the afterlife,” Piper suggested.
    Millie closed her eyes, then hummed and rocked her body back and forth. Eventually she opened her eyes. “No. It’s more than that. Either the spirit I’m picking up isn’t Brent, or Brent isn’t Brent.”
    “That is absolutely ridiculous,” Susan said. “You don’t all actually believe this nonsense?”
    “I for one believe in the presence of ghosts among us,” Piper asserted. “I’ve seen them. More than once.”
    “I’m with Susan,” Cassandra countered. “This whole conversation is absurd.”
    Everyone glanced at me. It was obvious Millie believed in the undead; was I supposed to be some sort of tie breaker? “I’m open to the idea, but as of this point I haven’t had any proof of the existence of those who have passed residing in our realm.”
    “Maybe we should just focus on the