Skeleton's Key (Delta Crossroads Trilogy, Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

loved; another damned Yankee assuming the Southern hick was stupid.
    Still, he would have replaced the windows if he’d been given the money. And that made his insides burn with embarrassment.
    But the emotion on her face when she’d stood at the bottom of Ironwood’s steps pierced his heart. She’d looked ready to cry, and he wasn’t sure if they were tears of joy, sadness, or both. As he watched her in the foyer, her gaze darting from one aspect of the house to another with wide eyes, she reminded him of the way his sister had always looked on Christmas. Not at the presents or the food, but on the holiday lights tour when their parents would pile everyone into the car and drive through the antebellum district. That had been Lana’s favorite part of Christmas, and he hadn’t been able to tour the lights since her death.
    He’d like to try to do that this year. Keep moving forward like his sister would want him to.
    Dani fanned herself with her hand. “How many window air conditioners you have?”
    “Just two,” Cage said. “Both downstairs, on opposite sides of the house.”
    “Costs a mint to put central air in these places, but I’m going to have to figure out a way to do it.”
    “You get used to the heat.”
    She raised an eyebrow. It was as light as her hair. “I’d like to see the basement,” she repeated. “It’s got to be cooler down there.”
    Cage led the way across the parlor. Dani stopped to inspect the large picture window overlooking the western lawn. “The sill’s not in too bad of shape. Are there any window dressings left in the house?”
    “Might be. Like I said, haven’t been upstairs. I’m not sure the stairs are safe, and the church locked up those rooms a long time ago, just like the library and butler’s pantry. Trying to protect the house.”
    “Awfully trusting of their renters not to break the locks.”
    “Pretty sure everything valuable has either been sold or given to the historical foundation.”
    “Maybe.” She looked around the room as if envisioning what it might have looked like more than a century ago. “But most people don’t know the truly valuable parts of these houses. They don’t have the training.”
    Cage chewed back the retort and decided Dani probably didn’t realize how condescending her tone was. He’d give her the benefit of the doubt for now. “And what’s your training?”
    “Degrees in history and art history. I started working in restoration in college helping a small local group in Indianapolis. Got the taste for it and have been doing it ever since.” Her eyes darkened. She pursed her lips and wrinkled her brow, then gave a quick shake of her head. “Ten years flew by. And now here I am.” She looked away and rubbed her eyes. “So. The basement?”
    Why were her eyes watering? Was she allergic to the dust or were those genuine tears? Cage wished he had a handkerchief to offer her. His dad always had a handkerchief. So did granddad. He needed to start carrying one. He cleared his throat. “This way.”
    They walked through the kitchen, where Dani paused to examine the cupboards. “Not original, but mid-twentieth century, I’d guess. Sink is definitely from that era. Is Ironwood on city water?”
    “Nope. There’s a well, but the city has been trying to get the houses out here on their system forever. So don’t be surprised when they come calling.”
    “Thanks for the heads up.”
    Like always, the basement door stuck due to years of humidity, and Cage had to pull the heavy wood up and then toward him to get it open. He’d left the light on, but the yellow gleam did nothing to dispel the cellar’s creep factor. He turned to Dani.
    “Be careful on these steps.”
    Dani started coughing. “The smell–that’s more than an old basement. And it can’t be coming from the bones.”
    “Seems like the stink’s gotten worse since we started digging.” That bugged the hell out of Cage. Any flesh left on those bones should have