Praying for Peace: A Midlife in Castleberry Paranormal Cozy Mystery by Ridder Aspenson Carolyn

Author:Ridder Aspenson, Carolyn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Magnum Grace Publishing
Published: 2019-08-27T00:00:00+00:00

10

“Charlie?” I whispered. “Are you still here? We’re locked in the basement. Come help us, please.”

The handle jiggled on its own, and the door popped open.

Charlie stood on the other side. “Wasn’t me neither, locking you down there like that.”

“Do you know who did it?”

He shook his head.

“I saw a shadow, and it moved. Do ghosts have shadows?”

He smirked. “Some of us more talented folk can be shadowy figures, but it takes a lot of energy. Most of the time we save that for important things, like scaring people.” He blushed. “Not that I ever do that kind of thing.”

I wondered if that was true, that Charlie scared no one. “Well, if that shadow was of a ghost trying to scare me, it sure did the trick.”

Del hollered from the bottom of the basement stairs. “Who’re you talking to up there? Is the door open?”

“It’s open. Hurry, let’s get out of here.”

“Don’t tell Thelma it was me. It’s not the right time. When I think she needs to hear from me, I’ll let you know, but not now. Not like this.”

I nodded as they trucked up the stairs, and Charlie disappeared.

Thelma held onto the railing while she caught her breath. “Those stairs are a doozy. Now, what happened?”

“Oh, nothing. The door was just jammed. I yanked on the handle a few times, and it opened right up.”

“But who were you talking to?”

I stumbled over my words. “Talking to? Oh, um—”

“Was it the pastor?”

“Uh, no. I was just mumbling to myself.”

“You do that a lot?” Del asked.

“Lately.”

A light in the chapel flipped on and the entire room lit up like it was time for Sunday service.

“Who’s here?” a woman asked.

I stopped in my tracks, and Thelma bumped into me, making an uft sound as she did.

Alice Mae stepped around the corner. “Who’s—Ms. Adair? What’re you doing here?”

I cleared my throat. “Oh, Ms. Kirk, I hope we didn’t scare you. We were just…”

“Praying for the church,” Thelma said. “We wanted to pray for the church at the church. After all, it’s the Lord’s home, and where’s the best place to pray?”

“Why are you praying for the church so late in the evening?” She eyed Thelma’s outfit with disgust and a touch of judgment, I thought. “And in your pajamas.”

“I like to be ready for bed, and God doesn’t mind. It’s not Sunday service, anyway.”

“Alice Mae, what are you doing here so late?” I asked.

A red blush covered her face. “I had some work to do. I like to do it in the late evening sometimes.” She stared into the chapel, near the altar. “It’s peaceful here when I’m alone.”

“By the way, I spoke to William Chamblee. He said he’s been coming to the church during the week for years now.”

She nodded. “That’s true. He isn’t comfortable being around groups of people anymore.”

“I can understand that,” Del said. “People get on my nerves.”

“And you on theirs,” Thelma said.

A smile crept across Del’s face. “Good, I’m succeeding at my goal then.”

I ignored their banter. “William said he’d made amends with Acel.

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