The Haunting at Grays Harbor (The River Book 8) Read Online Free PDF Page B

something unusual. Roy lingered around the equipment Sam White’s
team was setting up, trying to see what it was. Steven eventually joined him.
    I checked the basement, Steven said. Nothing there, either. We’ve covered
the entire house except for the attic.
    Look at all the gadgetry, Roy said, observing the computers and oscillators and
cameras. This guy is a boob. I don’t think he knows what he’s doing.
    I think Barbara probably agrees with you, Steven replied.
    I mean, what do they hope to accomplish with all of this
stuff? How can this possibly help?
    I know you want to, but let’s try not to get in a pissing
match with them, Steven said.
    Roy turned to Steven, looking indignant. I have no
intention of doing that. They’re not worth a pissing match.
    I’ll hold you to your word on that, Steven said. I’m going to check
out the attic.
    Steven left Roy and ascended through the house, preferring to
rise using the stairs rather than passing through floors. Once he reached the
top floor, he found an area in the hallway that he figured would be directly
below the attic, and he rose up through the ceiling and into it.
    The attic was small and short, only five feet at the tallest
point, and Steven felt an urge to crouch even though in the River he could
simply let his feet hang through the floor as he moved. He knew instantly that
something was different here. He felt an erratic pulse that seemed to pass
through him and pull him at the same time. He searched through the contents of
the attic, which were primarily cardboard boxes filled with Christmas
decorations. He had the sense that there was something in the room, waiting to
be found. Behind the boxes was a short knee wall, but Steven didn’t intend to
go into it while in the River. Steven guessed the space beyond was probably
small and claustrophobic, and he hated drifting into those types of areas, not
knowing what was in them. He’d have to leave the flow and walk back up to the
attic with his physical body.
    He dropped out of the River, suddenly enjoying the cool
breeze that blew up from the harbor. Within a couple of minutes Roy left the
flow as well, standing up.
    “Shall we go?” Roy asked.
    “To the attic?” Steven asked.
    “The attic?”
    “Yes, I found something in the attic. Couldn’t see what it
was. You didn’t go up to the attic, did you? You kept hovering over those guys
from the eradication company. You always told me not to spy on people.”
    Roy looked defensive. “Someone’s got to keep an eye on them.
I don’t like what they’re up to. I think they may cause more harm than good.”
    “Fine. In the meantime, I’ve found something in the attic
that we need to check out. Let’s talk to Barbara and see if there’s a way to
get up there.”
    They found Barbara on the third floor, getting Georgina ready
to leave the house.
    “Barbara,” Steven said, “is there a way into the attic?”
    Barbara stopped what she was doing with Georgina and turned
to him. “There’s a ladder in the hallway. But we’re supposed to be leaving the
house.”
    Steven could tell she was frazzled. He didn’t want to
irritate her, but he also didn’t want to be exiled from the house before they
knew what was in the attic.
    “We’ll only be five minutes, I promise,” Steven said.
    “Wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if they had to
wait,” Roy mumbled.
    Barbara smiled at Roy’s comment. “You know, you’re right. It
wouldn’t be. Follow me, gentlemen!” She walked out of the room and into the
third floor hallway. She opened a closet door and removed a long wooden pole
with a hook on the end, then she went to a space near the end of the hallway
and reached up with the hook, catching it on an eyelet in the ceiling. She
pulled, and the panel above lowered. A ladder extended down automatically.
    “Take your time,” she said, smiling. “There’s a light on a
pull chain in the middle of the room up there. I’m sure it’ll take me at