Calico Cross Read Free

supernatural world behind us.”
    “But what kind?” Fancy asked.
    I shrugged and then risked another look. Yes! He was looking straight into our window, and his glower was angry.
    And then his comment to me earlier rang loudly in my ears, and I squared my shoulders, sat up straight and smiled sweetly as I offered a polite but sarcastic little wave. Fancy giggled and jerked my arm down. The savage frowned and then shocked me as he began angrily eating the soggy and probably insect covered cookies, one at a time. My mouth fell open, but then I began to laugh. He was angry, but I thought it was funny. He was sending a message, but I wasn’t receiving it. Who was the one who was irritated now? I thought.
    We ran downstairs to tell the others what had happened. They were amused as well.
    “Serves him right,” they had said, and I agreed. Maybe he would think twice before speaking again, but I doubted it. A man like that only cared about himself. I sighed and shook my head as I lingered on the thought. What a sad waste of perfect hotness.
    As Kiki was getting ready to throw away the extra batch of cookies we had made, I flung out my hand to stop her.
    “Wait!” I smirked. “Don’t throw away those cookies. I have an idea.”
    * * * * * *
    Although our parents had left us some money when they died, we decided that we would be happier and better off if we all got jobs. So the next morning we got in the car and headed for town, but not before pulling up to our new neighbor’s mailbox and leaving him a gift… a big, delicious looking but nasty tasting, and hard (don’t forget the hard) chocolate chip cookie.
    We drove onto the main strip of town and pulled into a parking spot in front of the local diner. Tabby went in to get an application for herself while the rest of us split up and headed in the direction of the place that held our interest. We made the decision that since we only had one car that we should all try to get jobs downtown and close together.
    I headed across the street to the local library. I had always wanted to work in a library and since I loved books so much, it made perfect sense. It was a big and very old building. As I stepped inside, my senses were rushed with the smell of old books. I knew this was the place for me. I was pleasantly surprised to see handfuls of people there. It was a weekday and I had expected the library to be mostly empty.
    “Hello,” I said to the sweetest looking lady I had ever seen. She was short and round and her hair was black with wisps of gray around her face, and it was pulled up into a bun high on top of her head. Her look fit her occupation perfectly.
    “Well hello there, my dear. How can I help you?” she asked, pulling her glasses to the tip of her nose and inspecting me over the rim of them.
    “I was just wondering if you were hiring.”
    “Why yes we are, as a matter of fact, although no one has applied for the position.” She stood straight and put her hands on her lower back, massaging it. “I am getting older and the hours are just so hard on my back.” She smiled sweetly as she studied me from head to toe and handed me an application. “I haven’t seen you around here before. Are you visiting someone?”
    “Oh no. My sisters and I just moved here. We’re renting the house on Cottage Cake Drive.”
    “Oh, the old Peterson home. Yeah, sad what happened there.” Her expression turned grim.
    My eyes went wide and I leaned in closer. “What happened there?” I was always up for a good ol’ story.
    “Well,” she began, perking up and leaning in toward me, “rumor is that Mr. Peterson tried to kill his wife, but she managed to escaped, though just barely. He then killed himself right there in the dining room. Shot himself in the head with his gun they say. It was a terrible tragedy. They were once such a sweet couple. Some say that the house is haunted. Haven’t seen or heard anything strange, now have ya?” Her eyes grew beady as she studied my