southern ghost hunters 01 - southern spirits Read Online Free PDF Page A

the arm of it up before the stubborn old thing snapped back.
    "You led me this way," I said, cringing as we bottomed out and something hard and crunchy scraped the undercarriage of my car. "So stop being sexist."
    He let out a choked sound, but I wasn't about to take my eyes off the road, what little of there was of it. "I'm not the one who keeps bringing up sex."
    "I have no idea what you're talking about," I began, and then it hit me. He didn't know he was being sexist. He didn't even know what that meant. How to explain... "Oh Lordy. I didn't mean sex sex, I meant—"
    "Stop it. I'm not listening to another word," he said, like he was my father or something. "First you think there's a girl and a boy and a…goat on my urn, and now this. You might like to skate around, but I can't do that no more."
    Sweet heaven. "I'm not coming onto you." I didn't even know how to explain. "Forget it."
    "Gladly," he muttered.
    I kept driving. "If it makes you feel any better, this is the first time I've ever had a conversation like this," I told him. I certainly hoped it would be the last.
    "You're making it worse," Frankie said, his voice rising.
    "Fine. You have my apology." I'd never met anyone who necessitated more subject changes. Frankly, I was losing patience for it, especially when we were running around hell's half acre because of him. 
    The road split in two. The path to the right led down to Johnson's Cave. A thick chain stretched over the entrance, blocking that wider, easier route. We took the other road, the one less traveled. 
    Lord help us. 
    I blew out a breath. "I should turn around right now." I would have if I could have found anywhere to do it. I had a feeling we'd missed our chance.
    "You thinking of backing out?" Frankie demanded.
    "Yes," I said, slowing as I spotted Bambi's mom in the woods. I furrowed my brow, hoping the doe didn't dart out in front of my tank on wheels. "I told you. I'm not one for trespassing." 
    "Me neither," he grumbled. "Stealing's way more fun."
    "No wonder somebody shot you between the eyes."
    "Like I haven't heard that one from every dead smart ass in the last ninety years." He pointed to a shadow up on our left. "Turn there."
    I slowed and took another hard left onto a road that was even narrower than the one we'd been on. I'd have to be careful not to get lost. Until tonight, I thought I knew every inch of Sugarland. This forgotten part of town was quiet. Creepy. "This may be a shortcut, but it's a dumb way to go." In fact, I'd have been worried the ghost was luring me somewhere shady if he hadn't been so wigged out by touching me.
    Or maybe that was an act.
    I shot him a glance. He caught me at it and raised his brows.
    It felt like we were entering another world as the road opened up and I caught sight of an abandoned gas station. The sign read Tennessee Oil. My headlights caught rusted pumps under an old tin awning. The narrow windows of the building at the back were dark and broken.
    "I've heard of this place," I said. I'd just never seen it.
    "It's the land that time forgot," Frankie said, a little melodramatic for my taste.
    "Don't tease." I was already a little freaked out.
    Farther down, I spotted an old diner, its white tile exterior chipping and streaked with graffiti, its parking lot all but lost to weeds. "The boys in high school used to dare each other to come out here," I said. I'd been too scared.
    Now I realized it was sad, too. I'd read stories about disappearing rural towns, but never thought mine would be included.
    "Unincorporated," Frankie said, "with a spotty police presence. A perfect spot for me and my associates back in the day."
    Frankie watched out the front window with a faraway look. He turned as we passed a lump of a building completely overtaken by bushes and trees. 
    "The turn past Dolly's place," he murmured before clearing his throat. "Up here," he said, as we reached a lonely crossroad. "Right."
    I did as he instructed, glad to realize we'd left the