These Haunts Are Made For Walking (Haunted Tour Guide Mystery Book 1) (3 page)

“I saw her headstone in the graveyard.” I pointed.

An old graveyard spilled out in front of the building, with dates and names faded on old tombstones. Why was there a
cemetery
on the library’s front lawn? Having a graveyard in front of the library would be an added bonus for the haunted tour goers. It added to the spookiness. So far I hadn’t added the building to the tour.

“I have seen a lot of strange things in the library, but I choose to block it out. I don’t want to see a ghost.” Tammy shivered.

Needless to say Tammy wouldn’t be taking my haunted tour any time soon. She didn’t even like to watch
Casper the Friendly Ghost
.

“It makes for good Halloween decorations,” I said. “The cemetery was started before the library was even built, but they still have plots available. What better final resting place for the first librarian?” With that, I lifted my disposable cup of coffee to my lips and took a big gulp.

Of course, if they tried to sell me a burial plot I was out of there. Job or no job.

Tammy waved her hand dismissively. “I’m not taking a spot in the graveyard anytime soon. I suppose the ghost doesn’t bother anyone too much. Just don’t go into the basement alone. It gets a little creepy down there.”

“Duly noted,” I said, sure she was joking.

Yes, I gave the ghost tour, but I’d never actually seen a full-bodied apparition so what was there to be afraid of? Ghosts couldn’t really hurt me.

“How are you enjoying being back in Devil’s Moon so far?” she asked.

Without meaning to, I grimaced. It wasn’t the town that gave me that reaction—it was my whole situation.

“That good, huh? What about me?” She placed her hands on her slender hips. “Are you happy to see me?”

“Of course, I love being back here. It’s just how I left things…” I took another sip.

“It’ll get better. You’ll get used to Devil’s Moon again,” Tammy said in a soothing tone.

“Oh, I’m sure I will. I mean, look at where I’m working. The place is beautiful.” I gazed up at the library again.

“We’d better get inside.” She motioned for me to follow.

When Tammy reached the top step, she turned around and waited for me. I forced my legs to move and made it up the wide stone stairway. This was the first day of the rest of my life.

Tammy was right: it was a real possibility that I’d lose my breakfast. That would be one heck of a first impression for the patrons of Bilson Library. The residents would never forget me after that. I’d go down in Devil’s Moon history books as the librarian who puked on the library floor.

“I can’t believe we’re working together,” I said.

“Too bad I only work part-time though. After work today I’ll be at my shift over at Sue’s,” Tammy said as she bounded up the steps.

Tammy worked three jobs. I wasn’t sure why she put in that many hours. She’d casually mentioned saving for a house a while back, but when I’d asked again she said she didn’t want the responsibility of mowing the lawn. Anyway, she worked afternoons at Sue’s Savvy Beauty Salon as a hairstylist. That explained Tammy’s fashion sense and incredible hairstyle.

A loose strand of hair had slipped from my ponytail and I tucked it behind my ear. I wondered what I’d look like with highlights. Not copper-colored like Tammy, but a soft caramel maybe? Oh, heck, what did I know about beauty? Up to this point my life had been all about books, spooky things, and planning a wedding. Now that Travis had eliminated the wedding, I just had the books and spooky things—my constant companions. Now that I thought about it, Travis was more spooky than any ghosts would ever be.

“Good thing you found a place to live right away.” Tammy glanced over her shoulder as if looking in the direction of the old place I’d rented. She’d offered for me to stay with her, but I didn’t want to be a burden.

“Renting a one-bedroom apartment next to the pizza place wasn’t ideal, but it’ll have to do for now. It’s close enough to walk.”

She nodded and scrunched her nose up a little. Apparently Tammy knew all about how the smell of pizza permeated through the air up to the third-story windows, something I hadn’t discovered until move-in day. Too bad she hadn’t warned me sooner. Though I guessed it was my fault for surprising her and not telling her I was moving back to town until I’d arrived. I hadn’t wanted to get my hopes up if I hadn’t gotten the job, so I had kept it a secret.

“Are you the only assistant? I’m afraid I wasn’t given much information on the library’s status. Other than it needs help, that is.”

I still couldn’t believe they’d hired
me
to bring the library into the twenty-first century. I’d only been working as acting head librarian back in California for about six months, after my previous boss had had a nervous breakdown and had to leave town in a hurry. There were probably more qualified applicants, but I knew better than to ask questions. Tammy hadn’t wanted the job. She hadn’t decided on just one career yet. She wanted to keep her options open. Now I’d have to figure out all the details as I went along.

“Oh, yeah, there’s a full-time assistant all right.” Tammy had a playful bounce in her step. “Her name is Leslie Knight.”

Thank goodness I wouldn’t be totally on my own. At least I had Tammy and now Leslie to help. “Good. I was afraid I’d be all alone in this big building. You know, with a ton of work to do. Do I know Leslie?”

“Probably not. She moved here a couple years ago to take the job. I think she was related to Mrs. Stanley. Come on. I’ll introduce you to Leslie.” Tammy had a smirk on her face as she held open the massive oak door. She gestured for me to go first.

“What? Does Leslie have two heads?” I asked as I stepped across the threshold.

Tammy’s mouth twisted up on one side. “No, not two heads.” She paused. “How do I put this? Um, Leslie is a hard worker, that’s all I’m saying.”

“Well, that’s a good thing,” I said.

“You would think so, wouldn’t you?” Tammy bit her lip, hiding back a smile.

We stepped across the brown tiled floor of the vestibule and into the main room of the library. The warmth from my surroundings embraced me as if I was wrapped in a giant hug. To the left were rows of tables with green and brass lamps placed on top, giving out a cozy glow. And beyond the tables, shelves of books extended for as far as my eyes could see.

Seeing all those words lining the walls made me do a little happy dance on the inside. In the center of the room was a grand oak balustrade staircase, polished and gleaming proudly in the warm rays of sunshine that shone in from the massive front windows.

The upstairs housed more books, the conference room, and the children’s reading room. I’d been in the library many times over the years, but its beauty still amazed me. Ornamented stained glass lined the upper part of the windows, casting hints of yellow, blue, and red around the room.

I hadn’t noticed when I first walked in, but a large banner adorned the wall behind the counter. “Welcome, Ripley Van Raden” had been written out in blue marker. I’d never had my name on a banner before.

“I don’t know what to say. That’s incredibly thoughtful of you,” I said.

“We just thought it would be nice to give you a warm welcome, right, Leslie?” Tammy asked.

A slender blonde stood behind the reference desk. Her eyebrows knitted together above her brown eyes, and her gaze was fixed on the computer screen.

“Leslie, she’s here,” Tammy prodded.

Leslie continued pounding at the computer’s keyboard with her index fingers as if she hadn’t heard a word Tammy said. After a second, she glanced up, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. She looked at me and said, “Oh, sorry. I just needed to finish that.” Leslie moved around the counter, stretching her hand out toward me. “Nice to meet you.”

Leslie seemed perfectly normal to me. I wasn’t sure what Tammy had been talking about.

“I’m glad we’ll be working together,” I said with a smile.

“Me too, me too…” Her words trailed off. Maybe it was my imagination, but there was a hint of disappointment in her voice. “Well, I have to get ready to read to the precious angels.”

“Leslie, you really need to keep your excitement down. Remember, we’re in a library.” Tammy held her index finger up to her lips.

Leslie rolled her eyes and spun around to stomp off. She only made it a couple steps before she stumbled and fell to the ground. Since there was nothing in front of her to trip over, she was either having a bad day or she was the clumsiest person I’d ever met, bless her heart.

I glanced at Tammy, who shrugged her shoulders as if to say she had warned me.

After Leslie left, Tammy shook her head. “I can’t believe she reads to the kiddos. They seem to love her though. Go figure.”

“She must have a way with them.” I smiled.

A tray with a mountain of chocolate chip cookies rested atop the counter. Next to the cookies was a pot of coffee with cups lined up beside it. Well, what I guessed was supposed to be coffee. It looked more like sea water after an oil tanker spill.

“We’ve been offering coffee and sweets in the hopes that we can attract more patrons.”

“Oh, really?” I lifted my brow as I studied the cloudy liquid. “No offense, but that stuff will chase customers away.”

Tammy frowned. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’ve never been good at making coffee.”

I gave her a sympathetic grin.

“Do you remember where the office is?” Tammy asked.

“I think I remember.” I glanced around, trying not to let on to my cluelessness.

I was almost positive I knew where the office was, but walking back through the aisles of bookshelves, I felt my anxiety mounting again. At least I had the books for comfort. I hadn’t had a chance when I came for the interview to look over the library as thoroughly as I’d wanted. I couldn’t wait to inspect every inch of the place. I had always felt at home surrounded by books. Oddly enough, now I almost felt as if eyes watched me as I moved through the stacks. I glanced over my shoulder, but not a soul was in sight. It was the same feeling I’d had in the old graveyard.

Old-fashioned golden overhead lights guided my path down the long hallway. A black streak flashed in front of my eyes. I screeched, clutching my chest, but relaxed when I realized it was only a cat. The animal ran ahead and stopped at the end of the hall, where it plopped down on the floor. The fluffy feline stared at me with bright green eyes, then began aggressively grooming its front paws.

“Oh, you scared me.” I laughed.

The cat didn’t offer a meow in return. So, the alleged haunted library had a black cat too. Why was I not surprised? I’d have to ask Tammy why there was a cat in the library.

As I reached out and grabbed the doorknob to my office, Tammy called out from behind me, “Sorry to bother you already, but someone is here to see you.” She gave me a sly smile as she approached.

I gestured toward my chest. “Someone wants to see me?”

“He asked for you by name.” She had the strangest smirk on her face.

I narrowed my eyes. “By name? Why would someone ask for me so soon?”

She stepped back and the police officer from the tavern last night walked up beside her, in full uniform. His gaze scanned the room, then he focused on me. His expression told me I was in trouble.

The officer stood in front of the office door, perfectly straight in his crisp, precise uniform, with a serious look on his face. I racked my brain for anything I might have done since arriving in Devil’s Moon that could have attracted the attention of law enforcement. Sure, he had asked about me last night, but I refused to believe this was a romantic visit. Had I done something wrong on the tour? Was it a crime to knock Mrs. Clatterbuck’s purse from her hands? And in my defense, I hadn’t seen the “No Trespassing” sign when I’d accidentally walked into the building next door to my apartment instead of my own. Anyone could have made the same mistake. I had permission to be in all the buildings on the tour.

I gave him the once-over as he crossed over the threshold, but tried not to be obvious or show my nerves. Just as I envisioned myself being shoved into the back of a police car, he showed his bright smile. Maybe being on the wrong side of the law wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“Ms. Van Raden?” he asked, closing the distance between us.

His broad shoulders and muscles filled out the blue uniform well. A hint of dark hair peeked out from under the edge of his cap. Now that I was up close to him, I saw that his eyes were an indigo color that almost matched the uniform—well, they had specks of electric blue framed with a beautiful shade of indigo. Not that I’d noticed that much detail. Oh, and his piercing eyes were rimmed with long, thick lashes. Not that I’d noticed them either.

“Yes, I’m Ms. Van Raden.” I nodded. 

He stuck out his hand toward me. “I’m Brannon Landon with the Devil’s Moon Police Department.”

I looked at the badge displayed on his chest. “Did I do something wrong, officer?”

His rich, rumbling laugh filled the small room. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong.”