The Plague Doctor Read Online Free PDF

did.
    â€œAha!”
    Another mousey click and the screen changed again. She got busy on the keyboard and typed in Ethan’s message.
    â€œDoing fine. Wish you were here. Hot on the trail. Let you know soonest. AC. E.”
    â€œThat’s it? That’s the big message? That had to be sent this morning?”
    â€œPlease, Mom, don’t freak on me. I have to exit the right way, or I’ll mess up.”
    I stood up and stretched my weary limbs. I was worn out and fed up. “Freak? Freaking message, that’s what,” I huffed under my breath.
    I glanced out of the window and saw one of the Misses Parsons peeking in Watson’s windows. Just at that moment, she turned and caught me staring back at her. I gave her a goofy grin and waved back, then, impetuously, I grabbed all of the floppy discs I saw on the table and stuffed them into my big leather handbag.
    â€œQuick, Cassie, unhook the modem and the laptop and put them in my bag. We’ve got company.”

Chapter Five
    I descended the narrow staircase with as much dignity as I could muster. The old woman was standing next to Watson, her tiny little foot tapping out staccato displeasure on the brick driveway.
    â€œMiss Hannah?”
    â€œHeavens, no! It’s Lolly you’re talking to. I’m Lolly Parsons. Who are you?”
    I made a silent invocation to my grandmother’s spirit and asked for help with this nosey old bag. The last thing in the world we needed was for her to call the police.
    â€œI’m Paisley Sterling…John and Anna’s first child.”
    â€œPaisley Sterling. I remember you. You used to tease my cat. I never did like you.”
    I tried to smile but my lips were dry and they stuck to my teeth. “Oh, I am sorry about that. Children can be a nuisance sometimes. I’m sure I was a holy terror. How is your cat now?”
    â€œDead.”
    â€œOh.”
    Cassie came bouncing down the wooden stairs with my leather handbag slung over her shoulder. She looked like she didn’t have a care in the world.
    â€œHi, Miss Lolly. My, don’t you look pretty today. Have you been to that beauty shop again?”
    She gave the little old woman a quick peck on the cheek.
    Miss Lolly beamed from ear to ear as she gave her cap of tight white curls a proud pat. I watched in amazement as she deftly avoided my gaze and smiled fondly at my daughter who was no more Southern than a turnip, but had learned from observing her grandmother how to walk the walk and talk the talk.
    â€œCassandra, dear, how nice to see you. Won’t you come in and have some tea? Hannah has made some of that orange walnut bread you like so much.”
    â€œI do wish I had time, but Mom and I…have you met my mother, Paisley DeLeon?”
    Miss Lolly sniffed suspiciously, “I thought she said her name was Sterling.”
    They went on discussing me as if I were not standing there like a display room dummy.
    â€œSterling’s her maiden name. My grandmother is Anna Howard and my Grandad was John Sterling. You remember them?”
    â€œWhy of course I do, child. They were fine people and so was your great-grandmother Howard. She was a good friend of mine when we were schoolgirls. And your great-grandfather was a fine figure of a man.”
    A faint blush covered her wrinkled old cheeks. “But I’m sorry to say,” she went on, “your mother was nothing like any of them. Bad seed, she was. Used to torment my poor Mr. Whiskers.”
    She glared in my direction. I smiled until my cheeks hurt but Cassie laughed. Pretty soon they were both laughing. Miss Lolly hid some very bad teeth behind her skinny old hand as she tittered away at my expense.
    I grabbed my leather handbag from Cassie, almost dropping it because of the unexpected weight of Ethan’s electronic goodies, and headed for Watson. I heard Cassie wisely covering our tracks as I climbed in the driver’s seat.
    â€œLooks like Dr.