Murder at the Haunted House

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Murder at the Haunted House - book excerpt

Chapter 1

Lightning flashed ahead. Thunder followed. Rain drops pelted the two identical girls.

The Thomas twins crept toward the creaky old homestead like a mouse trying to sneak past a house cat. The shining moon cast ominous shadows through the moss-laden live oak trees over the wooden frame at the edge of the swamp. A night owl hooted from a lower limb.

“Are you sure we should be doing this?” Mandy asked.

Mindy grabbed her sister’s hand. “Duh. If we want to meet a ghost, we have to go where the ghosts are.”

“Couldn’t we throw a ghost party and send out invitations?”

“C’mon, Mandy. If we knew where to send the invitations we wouldn’t be wandering around in the dark on a damp night. Sometimes you don’t make much sense.”

“This place is spooky.” Mandy shuddered.

“Silly. If it wasn’t spooky, there wouldn’t be any ghosts here.”

“Okay, but you’re going in first.”

Mindy climbed the squeaky steps to reach the front door and carefully turned the door knob.

“It’s open. I told you ghosts don’t need to lock their doors.”

Mandy remained a step behind her sister, holding onto the back of her belt to support her shaky legs.

“You also told me they were cute and cuddly. This doesn’t feel cute and cuddly to me.”

“Hush. Where’s the light switch?”

“There’s not any electricity in here. It’s been turned off forever.”

Mindy sighed, “Then how do the ghosts cook their dinner?”

“I don’t know. What do ghosts eat anyway?”

“Beats me. We’ll have to ask Hawk. He knows everything.”

“No, he doesn’t know everything.”

“What is it he doesn’t know?”

Mandy giggled, “He doesn’t know how to get Kristi to marry him. They’ve been engaged forever and they’re still not married. If I was her, I’d dump him.”

Mindy sighed, “I wouldn’t. He’s too cute to dump. She might try fishing in another lake, but I wouldn’t throw him back in.”

“You just want him for yourself.”

“Do not. He’s too—he’s too—”

Mandy laughed. “The only thing he’s too much of for you is engaged.”

Mindy pulled ahead. “We’re supposed to be looking for ghosts, not talking about Hawk.”

Mandy tried to peer up the rickety stairs.

“Don’t ghosts usually hang out upstairs? We should've brought a flashlight so we could see.”

Mindy shook her head, tossing her long strawberry-blonde hair from side to side.

“We couldn’t do that. Light scares away the ghosts. They’d never come out if we came in here shining flashlights all over the place.”

“That’d be okay with me. I’m not sure this was a very good idea.”

“Sure it is. All of our ideas are good. Some just don’t work out like we planned.” Mindy exuded confidence.

“Hold on. Don’t go so fast. One of these old steps might give way on us.”

“If we don’t go up them, we won’t find any ghosts and the whole night will be wasted.”

“I’d rather waste the night than break a leg. You’re going too fast. We need to sneak up on them.”

“I bet they already know we’re here. Ghosts can hear everything. Don’t you know anything about ghosts?”

“I know to stay away from 'em.”

Mindy led Mandy up the stairs to the loft overlooking the first floor. A railing ran the entire length of the loft.

Mindy looked back at her sister.

“Be careful hanging onto this railing. I don’t know how sturdy it is.”

“Don’t worry. I’m hanging onto you. As long as you’re here, I’m okay. Why are we whispering?”

“Because ghosts like quiet places. That’s why they hang out at cemeteries. People there don’t say much at night.”

The sisters crept about half the length of the rail in the darkness, feeling their way along.

“Oops, what is it?” Mindy exclaimed in the darkness.

“What is what?” Mandy asked.

“I bumped into something lying on the floor. I can’t see what it is.”

“I don’t see it.”

“Wait a second. I’ll check it out.” Mindy whispered.

Mindy bent over and felt the lump with one hand and holding onto her sister with the other one. She felt a handle coming out of the lump and pulled on it. The object came out of the lump with surprising ease. She held it up so the moonlight barely glimmering through the window could illuminate it.

Mindy shrieked. “Oh my God! It’s a knife!”

“Are you sure?”

Mindy’s voice was shaken and uneven. “And there's the body it was in. Let’s get out of here.”

Mindy rose and took a step back toward the stairs. Suddenly a bright beam of light encircled them from the lower floor. The twins tried to shield their eyes from the glare.

“What are you doing up there?” The voice was loud and gruff.

“Nothing.” Mindy answered before she looked down and realized she was still holding the knife dripping with blood.

Two

“I found them standing over my grandfather’s body with the knife still in their hands, Sheriff. What more could you want?” Brent Atkins pointed at the twins.

Sheriff Kristi Cates picked up the clear evidence bag containing the wet knife. Then she turned her attention to Mindy and Mandy sitting in the chairs on the other side of the conference table.

“What were ya’ll doing there tonight?”

Mandy glanced at Mindy before speaking.

“Just looking for ghosts, Kristi. We didn’t have time to find any before I tripped over Mr. Atkins body.”

Kristi shook her head. “Ya’ll were looking for ghosts at that old shack?”