A Walk on the Haunted Side (Haunted Tour Guide Mystery Book 2) by Rose Pressey Page B

home.
    Tammy and I climbed into my car. I cranked the engine and fastened my seatbelt. Tammy leaned her head back on the car seat and released a deep breath.
    I pulled away from the curb. “Let’s get out of here.”
    I glanced back in the rear-view mirror. The police lights flooded the area. I wondered how long they would be at the crime scene. There would be all kinds of rumors now about what had happened at the graveyard. Some said it was already cursed. This would only add to that. Plus the fact that Hank had been at Helmwood House before his death. 
    “I hope they find out who did this,” Tammy said.
    “If anyone can solve the case, I think Brannon will.”
    The headlights from my car cut the darkness and lessened the spookiness factor. The killer could be anywhere. I wondered if the killer had left town already. Had it been a random attack? Or had the murderer known Hank? I hoped the police would find out soon. I supposed it was none of my business, but I couldn’t help but want to know what happened. After all, the author had been at the library and then at the graveyard. I could only imagine the looks I would get around town.
    We pulled up in front of my house. The place was dark. I hadn’t left any lights on and my neighbors were either not at home or already in bed.
    As soon as I cut off the engine, I said, “Let’s hurry. You never know who is lurking around.”
    “Don’t worry, Rip, everything will be okay.”
    Why wasn’t she as worried as me? Normally I was the calm one and she freaked out.
    Tammy walked with me up to the door. Leaves from the nearby tree had fallen and covered the porch’s floor with a kaleidoscope of colors. They crunched under our feet. I pulled back the screen door and hurried with my key and unlocked the main door.
    “You sure you don’t want to come in for a peanut butter sandwich?” I asked.
    She laughed. “It’s tempting, but I’m headed home.”
    “Call me when you get there.”
    With a killer on the loose we would have to be super alert.
    Tammy quirked her lip into a lopsided grin. “This is kind of like I walked you to your door after a date.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Please don’t try to kiss me goodnight.”
    After hurrying inside and locking the main door behind me, I watched out the little side window as Tammy walked down the sidewalk and reached her car. She’d parked it in front of my place this morning. With the killer on the loose, I didn’t like the idea of her out on her own. Tammy unlocked her car and slid in. She looked back and waved. I hoped she called me when she got home. It wasn’t unlike her to forget. I would be worried until the killer was caught.
    She pulled away and I watched until the lights of her car had faded. Good thing she didn’t have far to go. Who would walk her to her door?
    Tammy had just pulled away when something caught my attention. I looked over at the old oak tree in the front of the house. The branches swayed with the wind. Underneath the limbs was a figure. Was it the same shadow I’d seen at the graveyard? Had this spirit followed me home? Just as quickly as the shadow had appeared, it vanished right before my eyes. I knew that I had seen a ghost. But why?
    After hurrying up the stairs, I rushed through my door and locked it behind me. Once again a strange vibe fell over me. It felt as if someone was watching me. Was there someone in the house? I whipped around, but didn’t see anyone. Was it the same presence that I’d felt last night at the house? Something told me that it was.
    I had to find out who this spirit was. It had to be connected to the old house. I knew the rumors about the place, but I didn’t believe that the woman who had lived at the house had placed a curse on anyone.
    After grabbing a snack and then a shower, I headed straight for bed. I just needed a little downtime. Maybe everything would seem better in the morning. I climbed into bed and tried to forget about what had just happened.
    After only