Money, Murder, Mayhem by Tana L.H. Boerger

Author:Tana L.H. Boerger [Boerger, Tana L.H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Altta Publishing
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-TWO

“AAAlllleeeexxxx, EEEllllllaaa.”

Engrossed in a cutthroat game of checkers, Alex and Ella didn’t hear their whispered names.

“Ella! You can’t move that way.” Alex snatched her red piece off the board, closing it in his fist.

Incensed, Ella screamed, “Stop it, Alex! Put my checker man back on the board!” She grabbed his fist and pulled on it with both hands.

Scrunching his face and gritting his teeth, he held fast.

“Give it back! Give it back.” She sobbed angry tears.

“Myyyyy daaarliiiings.” Louder this time, the ethereal voice floated between the screeching of the children locked in sibling combat.

They stopped, mid-tug.

Alex looked at Ella. “Did you hear that?”

Ella waited, listening.

Again, the breathy voice purred, “AAAlllleeeexxxx, EEEllllllaaa.”

“Who’s that?” Alex looked right, then left.

“Where are you?” Still holding Alex’s fist, Ella searched the room with suspicious eyes. “Where is she, Alex?”

“I’m here, children. I’m here in the wall.”

Alex and Ella’s fear mirrored each other, eyes wide, mouths agape.

“Don’t be frightened. Come play with me. We can have so much fun.”

Alex released his fist and the checker dropped to the floor.

“Alex, Ella,” Julia called.

The children heard their mother’s footsteps approaching.

“Lady, are you still there?” Alex asked the voice in the wall.

No response.

Julia stood in the doorway, an unnaturally bright smile lighting her face. She and Duncan intended to hide Mark’s tragic death from their young children as best they could. There was no need to share the harsh realities of life with them yet. It would all come soon enough.

“What have you two been doing?” She kissed the top of Alex’s head, scooped Ella onto her hip and squeezed her.

“Mommy, not so tight,” Ella squealed.

“We were playing checkers until Ella cheated…”

“I did not!”

“You did, too!”

“Please stop, you two. You need to stop arguing over every little thing.”

“And we were talking to a woman in the wall.” Alex said, matter-of-factly.

“Oh, were you, indeed? What fun.” Julia ruffled Alex’s hair and tickled his neck. “How about some lunch?”

‘I’m starving,” they sang in unison.

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