Read Death Takes a Holiday for Free Online Page A

drew a hand across his face. “Never mind, it’s okay. I’m glad you’re here. The more the merrier. Merrier . . . Merry.” Foster grinned up at Grace. “That’s funny.”
    “Hilarious,” Gr ace agreed readily. Her grandpa Jessie’s warning not to provoke crazy flashing through her mind.
    Foster bent down and stuffed the paper into his bag. “You know, I have a good feeling about you. When you get settled in, meet me in the dining car. Then maybe you can explain to me why you’re here.”
    “Oh, absolutely, ” she said, desperately trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
    “ Tonight’s going to be real fun.”
    “I bet.”
    Foster looked up at the clock. “We’d better hurry, Grace. They’ll be leaving soon.
    Grace glanced at her watch before looking around the platform. Still no Kyle. Hopefully, the train was running late. “I’m waiting for my friend.”
    “Well, I’m not waiting for you, ” Foster said impatiently.
    “I didn’t ask you to wait,” Grace said with a twinge of annoyance coloring her voice.
    Foster stood uncertainly on the platform before turning on his heel and stalking off toward the train.
    Grace watched as Foster handed the conductor his ticket and then gestured toward Grace. A full minute passed as he and the conductor spoke, complete with pointing and nodding at Grace still standing on the platform. Finally, the strange young man climbed up the steps. He glanced over his shoulder at Grace and waved before disappearing from view.
     
    *
     
    Sitting on the old wooden bench in front of the station, Grace yawned. Another fifteen minutes had passed by with no sign of Kyle. No word from him either, she thought, placing her cell phone back into her purse.
    Grace looked down at her watch. Only five minutes to go before the train left for the hotel. She looked around the empty platform in concern. She hadn’t seen a soul in ten minutes. Even the conductor had disappeared back into the train.
    Realizing time was quickly running out, Grace began to walk toward the train, but stopped when she heard someone running along the platform.
    Turning, she watched as a woman in a navy blue dress and black overcoat sprint toward the train. The woman easily crossed the distance from the end of the platform to the other in a matter of seconds.
    Grace was impressed; she didn’t even seem out of breath. She watched the other woman look around helplessly before attempting to board. She managed to get the door open, but immediately backed up when the conductor suddenly appeared and stepped down from the train.
    Grace was just about to get in line behind the woman in blue when she heard Kyle call her name.
    Relieved, Grace watched as Kyle jumped from one of the side doors at the end of the train and jog toward her. “Where have you been?” Grace asked. “We’re about to miss the train. Do you have the tickets?”
    Kyle gave her a quick hug. Releasing her, he picked up her last remaining suitcase and took her hand. Grace was surprised when he started to lead her toward the opposite end of the platform. “Kyle, where are we going?”
    “We’re getting on the train.”
    Grace looked behind her. “But aren’t we supposed to go that way,” she said pointing toward the locomotive and the spot where the conductor and the young woman were standing.
    “Our room is way down here. Trust me; you don’t want to go that way. It’s such a pain. That’s why it took me so long to get back to you.”
    Hearing the frustration in his voice, Grace reached for the brochure in her purse. “Isn’t it nice? It’s supposed to be brand new.”
    Kyle looked over his shoulder. Sighing, he led her down the stairs and further away from the train. “Yeah, it’s really nice. Beautiful, in fact. Wait ‘till you see it. You’ll love it.”
    Grac e looked back over her shoulder at the train. “That’s nice. Am I going to be seeing it anytime today, Kyle?”
    Leaning against the side wall of the station, he