Watch for the Dead (Relatively Dead Book 4) Read Free Page B

doesn’t it?”
    “That it does, and she really seems to know what she’s doing. And I’ve got an idea for something else we can do, since Ellie will be around longer now. I’ll tell you over dinner.”
    “Ready in fifteen,” Abby told him with a kiss.
    At dinner Ellie all but inhaled her spaghetti, clearly eager to get back to her camera. “Ned, you said you had an idea?” Abby asked him.
    “First things first. Ellie, it looks like you might be staying with us for a few days—your dad needs to rest after today. So I was wondering if you’d like to spend a few days on Cape Cod?”
    “Uh, okay, I guess. Will Dad be okay?”
    “We think so, but it might take longer than your mom thought,” Abby said.
    “What’s Cape Cod?” Ellie asked.
    “It’s that funny curved piece of land that juts out into the sea at the south end of the state. It’s been settled since the first colonists arrived, but now it’s a popular place to take vacations—lots of beaches and touristy things.”
    “Oh. Okay,” Ellie said, apparently satisfied.
    Abby turned to Ned. “I’d always heard that everything on the Cape was booked up by January. Do you know a place?”
    “I’ve got a friend who has a house there, in West Falmouth, right on a harbor. You’re right—usually it would be booked for all of August, but he had a last-minute cancellation and he asked if I might be interested. Are you?”
    “Me? Or you and me? With Ellie, of course,” Abby asked.
    “I can’t get away until the weekend, but you two could go out now and get settled, and I’ll join you there. How does that work for you?”
    “It isn’t some big mansion where I’d be afraid to track sand all over the floors, is it?”
    “Not at all,” Ned said, smiling. “It’s a nice shingle house, built around 1900, with a porch overlooking the water. There might be some flashier places in the neighborhood, but this one’s just the right size. Are you up for it, Ellie?”
    “Can we swim?” she asked.
    “I think so,” Ned told her. “There’s a nice beach not too far away. Maybe you could even fish, or go sailing. Lots of things to do.”
    “Sounds good,” Ellie said. “May I be excused now?”
    “Sure, sweetie,” Abby said. When Ellie had gone upstairs, she turned back to Ned. “It’s available until September second? Because that’s when school starts for Ellie. Of course, I hope she’ll be back home by then.”
    “Don’t worry about it. At least through the weekend, all right?”
    “Then it sounds lovely. Thank you.”

Chapter 3
     
    It was after eight when Leslie finally called back. Abby and Ned exchanged a glance when Abby saw the caller ID, but she decided to pick up, rather than letting Ned do it. “Leslie? How’re things going?”
    “Is Ellie nearby?” was Leslie’s first question.
    “You mean can she overhear us? No. What’s wrong?”
    Leslie sighed. “What we thought was a simple gallbladder problem turned out to be a bit more complicated than that. Instead of a quick arthroscopic procedure, they had to open George up. They found it was a tumor than had created the original problem.”
    “Could they remove it?” Abby asked.
    “Yes, they think so. We’re still waiting on the biopsy results, but they think it was benign. But he’s still in the hospital, since it was a more invasive surgery, and might not even be home tomorrow. Anyway, I hope you don’t mind keeping Ellie.”
    “Of course not,” Abby volunteered quickly. “She’s a great kid.”
    “We think so. Can I talk to her? Or is she already in bed?”
    “Oops—I forgot to ask if she has a set bedtime. How strict are you about that?”
    “Should be about now, but it’s her last week of vacation, so don’t worry about it.”
    “Well, she’s still awake, so I’ll go get her.” Abby handed the phone to Ned and set off looking for Ellie. She found her in her bedroom, looking out at the cemetery in the dark. “See anyone?” Abby asked when she walked