Ghost On Duty (Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 2) Read Free

said. I thought quickly. I had met this cat during my first visit to Ned Barlow, where he yelled a lot and I didn’t have time to take in much of the scenery. But I did remember this one.  
    “Hi Silver,” I said, recalling the cat’s name at last. Looking at the beautiful animal, it wasn’t that tough. “What’s wrong? Are you trying to tell me something?”
    “Meow!” Silver took off down the driveway, heading for the cliff side over the ocean.  
    I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. What the heck. I might as well see what Silver could tell me. My experience with cats was usually pretty good. They liked me and I liked them. My Aunt Bebe-who I was staying with- had a big black cat named Sami and we were great pals. So off I went, following a cat.  
    He circled back and rubbed against my ankles, then dashed off again. I followed—a bit wobbly on my heels, but game. What else was I going to do?
    Mr. Barlow had done one thing right—he’d had a patio built at the edge of the cliff, a wide, flagstone-lined expanse that jutted out over the edge, giving a wonderful view of the surf below, crashing on the rocks, sending huge sprays of sea water surging up the face of the cliff. It was a spectacular view and I lingered, pulling my suit coat in against the cool breezes, staring out at the sea and thinking of eighteenth century galleons sailing past, sails full of ocean wind. A strong, handsome captain, nimble sailors hanging from the ropes, pirates, brigands and pieces of eight and a captured maiden dressed in a satin gown. All that stuff that romantic historical novels were filled with. I sighed.  
    But the cat was still crying, jumping up to run along the edge of the railing on a very precarious path, rubbing against the risers.  
    “What is it, kitty?” I asked him.  
    His answer was piteous and distressed, as though I just wasn’t listening. I got on my knees on the seat that ran around the perimeter and leaned out over the ocean, looking down.  
    And then, I saw it.  
    “Oh no.” I gasped, pulling back as though I could erase what I’d seen if I didn’t acknowledge it. But I knew very well that wasn’t going to work. What I’d seen was the owner of this property lying at the base of the cliff, stretched out over the jagged black rocks. I leaned out again, looking harder. Yes, it was Ned Barlow and he looked very, very dead. I reached for my cell phone but my hands were shaking so hard, I couldn’t operate it at first.  
    “Come on, come on,” I muttered as I worked at it.  
    Silver had stopped meowing. His task accomplished, he needed a break and took some time for a bit of a bath. I watched him seriously begin to attack the fur on his back leg as I waited for my 911 call to go through.  
    “Hello. Yes.” I gave them the address and told them what I’d seen. “Yes, it’s Ned Barlow’s home. I…I’m afraid it might be Ned Barlow on the rocks.”
    I winced as I realized how that sounded, but it was too late to retract it now.  
    “Yes, please hurry.”
    I closed my eyes and waited. It seemed like forever before I heard the sirens coming my way, and then I rose and walked toward the parking area to meet them. I knew what was coming next. I’d just gone through it before with a body in my aunt’s front yard.  
    “Here we go again,” I murmured to myself. And then I turned to greet the first car.  

    “I can’t believe you’ve gotten yourself involved in another …incident.”  
    My aunt Bebe was apoplectic. I was hanging out at her house until I got together enough money to get a place of my own. In fact, she was the one who’d wrangled the job for me. As a local businesswoman, she had contacts in town government places. Lucky for me.  
    “What are people going to think? You’re going to get a reputation. They’re going to avoid going to places where you’re seen, just in case you have murder on your mind. They’re going to begin crossing the street when they catch