The Mint Julep Murders by Angie Fox

Author:Angie Fox
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781939661586
Publisher: Moose Island Books

13

“Believe me, I’m done with the ride,” I said as I scrambled out of the body elevator. From what I could tell, the chute ran down the center of the hospital, which put me in the middle of the third floor.

The giant ghost tilted his head and watched my every move. He didn’t appear overly friendly, but he wasn’t attacking either, and I was stuck. I didn’t know how to make the elevator go back down, nor was I game for another trip.

“I’m out, Ellis,” I called into the hole, keeping an eye on the specter looming in front of me. “I’ll be down soon.”

I just had to find my way alone through the asylum with a murderer on the loose.

And with a large menacing ghost blocking my way.

He wore a black suit jacket with an uneven collar and too-short sleeves. His white shirt lay open at the neck and appeared rough and cheap.

“My name is Verity,” I said, giving him a small wave. “Sorry to intrude. Are you a visitor as well?”

The ghost stared at me as if I’d just sprouted wings.

“I promise I’m not here to cause any trouble,” I added. At least not for him.

He said nothing. He had to be at least seven feet tall and as thick as a linebacker. Light, wiry hair stood from the man’s head at all angles, as if he’d never owned a brush or a mirror.

“Say, have you run into any other live people tonight?” I asked. He might be able to tell me what had happened earlier.

He ground his jaw and stared at the floor.

“You can tell me,” I pressed, observing the narrow hall behind him, the rows of doors that appeared to be patient rooms. “I’m only trying to help.”

The ghost clenched his fists at his sides so hard I could hear his knuckles cracking.

“Well, it was nice talking to you,” I said, trying to scoot around him. “You said I don’t belong here, and you couldn’t be more right about that. But I am glad I ran into you. You seem very nice.”

Quiet, but pleasant enough. I mean, he hadn’t attacked me or yelled at me. And so far, he was nicer than some of the other ghosts—and live people—I’d met that night.

“Stop,” the ghost ordered. He closed the distance between us, and I flinched at the chill of him. I had no idea what kind of power he had or what he was capable of.

I backed up slowly as he reached a hand into his pocket. I recoiled as he drew out a delicate, precisely folded origami swan.

Wait. What?

He held it out to me, and I stared at the paper bird in his hand. I couldn’t have been more astonished if it had been a real bird.

“Is this—” I cleared my throat “—for me?”

He nodded without speaking.

All right. I rubbed my hands on my shorts because my skin had gone clammy and because I would have to accept this ghostly gift. Touching objects from the other side didn’t exactly feel like puppy fur and roses.

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