Read A Mew to a Kill for Free Online

appeared beside Robert, his lips pursed angrily. “Yes, and she’s changed the books and put my books behind books about that noxious George Bush fellow.” He folded his arms over his chest and harrumphed.
    Robert nodded vigorously. “You’d better come see. The pages in the books are getting wet and that leads to foxing. They’ll be ruined. And you know it’s not that easy to come by my poetry books anymore.”
    “She wants to talk to you, Willa. Only you can stop her.”
    I didn’t know what they were talking about but I hoped it wasn’t what I suspected. I followed them down the aisle, a sense of doom spreading in my chest as I realized we were heading for the fashion and beauty section. We turned the corner and my worst fears were confirmed. There was another ghost in the store and it was that of Paisley Brown.

    ***
     

    Well, at least that answers the question as to whose body they took out of Paisley’s shop , I thought as I watched her leaf through a vintage beauty and fashion book. She looked up at me from her spot perched on top of a round, metal step stool. A frown creased her brow. She tapped the page in the book with her long fingernails which even in ghostly form I could see were painted glossy cherry red.
    “I don’t know what these people were thinking back then,” she said. “Everybody knows that waxing is the best way to get your eyebrows into shape.”  
    I guess being dead hadn’t changed her much.
    “Sorry about your shop and your … umm … untimely demise,” I said awkwardly.  
    “Yeah. Bummer, huh?” she replied.
    “Definitely. But what are you doing in my store?” I dreaded hearing the answer. There was only one reason why ghosts other than Franklin and Robert appeared in my store and it wasn’t because they wanted something good to read on their way to the afterlife.
    Paisley slammed the book shut and stood. “Well, it appears you’re the only one that can help me. I need to find my killer or I can’t pass over. Have you ever heard of anything so stupid?”
    I shrugged. I had heard of something that stupid. In fact, Paisley wasn’t the only ghost that had haunted me to find their killer. Apparently, I was some sort of amateur spiritual mediator detective that helped bring about justice. I didn’t know much about this stuff, but from what I could tell, these poor souls who had been murdered couldn’t pass over until the murder was avenged. Since I had this strange ability to see ghosts, somehow it had become my job to help them out.
    Sure, I probably could have refused but the ghosts could become incredibly annoying and persistent until I gave them what they wanted. I didn’t want Paisley haunting me forever.
    “So, you want me find your killer?” I asked.
    “Yes, of course. And I’m not going to leave you alone until you do.” She tapped her nail on a front tooth. “Although I have no idea who would want me dead.”
    “You have no idea who would want you dead?” I grimaced at the incredulous tone in my voice. Was it possible Paisley had no idea how abrasive she was? “I mean, was there anyone you had an argument with or had something on, perhaps?”
    She looked taken aback. “Had something on? Why, whatever do you mean?”
    “You know, like something you could blackmail them with? You have to be straight with me if you want me to find your killer.”
    “Well, I don’t know. I mean, I do collect information on people that gives me the upper hand. You might think I’m just an opportunist that uses things to her advantage, but when you grow up in a poor household with an abusive father like I did, you learn that you have to take these advantages to get ahead in life.” Her eyes misted over and I almost felt sorry for her.
      “So, what advantages did you take? Did you have something on George to get him to sway the vote in your favor for you in the art show? Maisie implied that maybe you and George were more than friends…”
    Paisley blanched, if a