Murder in the Cemetery

---

Murder in the Cemetery - book excerpt

Chapter 1

Trouble was known to find the twins. Tonight was no exception.

“Are you sure?” Mindy asked.

“Have I ever lied to you?” her twin sister, Mandy, answered with her own question.

“How about when you told me I could trust Billy Bob on a date?”

“That doesn't count,” Mandy countered. “You wore a see-through blouse.”

“And you told me that escargot was French for boogers.”

“Snails are a lot like boogers. That wasn't a lie.”

“You're right,” Mindy sighed. “They tasted like boogers.”

“So when I tell you we'll find ghosts at the cemetery, believe me.”

The twins pushed the ancient gate to the Morgan City cemetery open four inches. They only required that much room to squeeze their slim bodies inside. Both stood still, afraid to move among the burial plots.

“Why would a ghost come here?” Mindy asked.

“Billy Bob told me they like funerals,” Mandy answered. “He wouldn't tell me why.”

“He's the one that told me we had to get naked to see the drive-in movie. I guess he was right, though. Everybody around us took their clothes off.”

“See. If he was right about that, he has to be right about the ghosts being here.”

“The last time we went looking for ghosts, we found a dead man. Do you remember?”

“How can I forget? But why would a dead man come to a cemetery?”

“Maybe he planned ahead. You know, some guys buy insurance.” Mindy whispered.

“Ghosts don't need insurance. They don't own anything except a sheet.”

“Where do we go to find a ghost in here?”

“Follow me,” Mandy said.

She took her twin's hand and led Mindy through the maze of graves. Moss hung from the century-old live oaks. With a slight wind, the moon blinked through a fine mist. Before long, the girls wrapped their arms around each other. An owl hooted overhead, causing both to shudder.

“I don't see any ghosts,” Mindy said.

“Maybe it's like the drive-in. Maybe we have to take our clothes off to see one.”

“But it's sprinkling. I don't like getting wet.”

“Do you want to see a ghost?” Mandy asked.

“Duh.” Mindy slapped the side of her head.

“Then we gotta do what we gotta do.”

Mandy began undoing her blouse. Mindy followed. When the girls sat to untie their shoes, a huge swamp rat ran over their legs. As one, they leapt to their feet and ran headlong through the graveyard. Side by side, they tumbled into the open grave. Mindy screamed first. Mandy screamed louder.

“Yuck.” Mindy whined. “When did they stop putting bodies in caskets?”

“I don't know, but we'd better go see Hawk. He'll know what to do.” 

Chapter 2

Hawk Theriot, the only federal ranger assigned to the vast Atchafalaya Basin, stroked the knife on the whetstone one final time. He rose to put in back in the cabinet when his front door rattled. Accustomed to emergency late-night calls, the ranger held onto the knife while rushing to the door. Four little hands kept banging on it until he twisted the knob.

“I've got a doorbell,” he began. “Why—?”

The sight of the twins standing on his front porch interrupted all thought. Especially with them wearing nothing above the waist and blood dripping off their rust-colored hair.