Dead and Breakfast by Kimberly G. Giarratano

Author:Kimberly G. Giarratano [Giarratano, Kimberly G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

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Autumn felt uneasy during dinner, which probably explained her upset stomach. She’d picked at her fish fillet, only taking a few bites, and pushed the rest of her meal around the edges of her plate. A childish tactic and an unnecessary one. Evelyn was so distracted with the budget reports that she didn’t even flinch when Autumn announced she had homework and asked to be excused. Her mother shoved a piece of bread in her mouth and waved Autumn away without so much as a glance in her daughter’s direction.

Autumn needed fresh air, so she wandered into the patio area. Even though she hadn’t moved around much, sweat pooled under her arms and at her temples. She peeled her blouse from her skin, but it was no use. Autumn pressed the back of her clammy hand to her forehead. Am I coming down with something? Maybe, but these symptoms seemed different. She had no sniffles, no congestion. Not even a sore throat. Her stomach rolled, and only a handful of crackers could alleviate the nausea. Perhaps Autumn’s queasiness could be attributed to the stress of living in a haunted hotel.

“Inez?” Autumn asked the still night air. “Are you here?” She was greeted with silence.

Autumn walked around the patio, stepping over cracks in the concrete that had been hastily repaired by Uncle Duncan years ago. Autumn examined a rust stain on the concrete, probably made from a pool of water that had sat on the patio too long. The rust reminded Autumn of blood, and she wondered how Inez had died. So far, all she knew was that the woman was murdered, but how?

Autumn glanced back at the Cayo, making sure her mother wasn’t lurking in the window. Evelyn never liked it when Autumn spoke to spirits. Although Evelyn was convinced Autumn had only been talking to herself. The Cayo was quiet.

“Was this how you died?” Autumn pointed to the pool. “Were you drowned?”

Autumn heard a cackling laugh.

Without the ring, she had no way to pull Inez to her. No way to access the ghost’s mind. She’d hoped speaking to her aloud would provoke the spirit, but Inez couldn’t be controlled that way. Autumn considered a different tactic.

“You drowned, didn’t you? Maybe, no one killed you. Maybe you just drank too much and slipped on the wet patio. It’s not the first time that has happened. Some silly high school girl has one too many whiskey sours or whatever you guys drank back then. She isn’t paying attention and she falls, knocks her head on the edge of the pool, and tumbles into the water. And there’s no one to save her.”

Autumn jerked back as if two hands have shoved her hard. Inez was present and probably pissed. Good. If I can’t use the ring to call her, maybe I can use reverse psychology.

“Admit it, Inez. You killed yourself by being stupid—” A punch smashed into her chest and Autumn cried out. The swirling blackness quickly followed.

Autumn sucked in a breath. She exhaled as someone clasped her hand and swayed with her.

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