A Walk on the Haunted Side (Haunted Tour Guide Mystery Book 2) Read Free Page A

paper.
    She quirked a brow. “What do you mean?”
    “I went alone,” I blurted out.
    Tammy coughed as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. She should know me well enough by now. “What? Why would you do something like that? Are you crazy? Haven’t you heard the rumors about that place?”
    “They’re just rumors, remember?”
    “Are they?” She folded her arms in front of her waist.
    My phone dinged again and I pulled it out of my pocket.
    They are more than rumors , the text from Annie read.
    So what if rumor had it that a witch lived in the home and she’d practiced black magic? I didn’t believe in black magic. It was all campfire stories.
    “You’re not going back there again, are you?” Tammy asked.
    I shrugged and grabbed a couple books.
    She glared at me. “Tell me you aren’t going back.”
    “I don’t think I’m going back,” I said as I walked away.
    Tammy followed close on my footsteps. “That’s not the answer I was looking for.”
    The more she talked about it, the more I thought maybe I needed to look into the haunting more. Something had obviously followed me. Now I really was interested in the place. For that reason I couldn’t say for sure that I wouldn’t go back. 
    “It’s no big deal.” I stuffed a book on the shelf.
    “You’re going to give me an ulcer.” Tammy clutched her waist.
    I patted her shoulder. “I promise I won’t do anything crazy.”

Chapter 3
     
    The day had passed quickly and before I knew it the time for the author event had arrived.
    “They should be here any minute,” I said to Tammy as I looked at the time.
    As if on cue a woman stormed through the library door. She wore a navy-blue sweater that was buttoned incorrectly. Her mousy brown hair was pulled back into a sloppy ponytail. If she was here to check out a book, then she was really in a rush.
    “May I help you?” I asked.
    She whipped around and looked at me. “Oh, good. I’m glad someone is here.”
    I exchanged a look with Tammy, and then asked the woman, “Who are you?”
    She stared at me as if she was stunned that I didn’t know who she was. “My name is Cady Catherine. I’m the assistant for Hank Key.” 
    “Great. We’re really excited to have you here this evening.” I rushed around the counter.
    “I have to get things ready for Hank. He’ll be inside any minute. Do you have bottled water?” She talked so quickly that I felt as if I’d been sucked into a tornado.
    “I’ll get the water,” Tammy said, leaving me standing alone with Cady.
    “I think I have everything set up for the signing. All the books are at his table.” I gestured across the room.
    “Oh, yeah, great. You did a good job.” She didn’t sound convinced of that. 
    The sound of the main door opening caught our attention. A dark-haired man with a beard marched in at a brisk pace. I recognized him as Hank Key from the photo on the back of the book jacket. He scanned the room, spotted the table that had his poster displayed behind it, then proceeded across the room toward it. I wasn’t even sure if he had noticed us standing at the reference desk. I supposed he had done a lot of signings so this was all routine for him.
    His hair was a little unruly and his white shirt and jeans a little wrinkled. Hank was probably tired from travel and hadn’t gotten a chance to rest when he arrived in town.
    Cady released a deep breath. “He’s so demanding.”
    He hadn’t even asked for anything. If anyone seemed demanding, it would be her.
    Hank sat at the table and pulled out a pen from his shirt pocket. He pushed up his sleeves and leaned back in the chair. It felt strange just watching him without him even noticing. After his routine, he finally looked around. That was when he spotted us.
    He jumped up from his seat and hurried over to us. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even see you standing over there.” He stuck out his hand toward me. “I’m Hank Key.”
    “Yes, I love your books,” I