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and he might be willing to kill again just to be sure.”
    Andrew stopped in his tracks and looked at her. “You’re
right,” he said. “I was so busy thinking about her, I really never thought that
someone in our community is a cold-blooded killer.”

Chapter Eleven

 
    “The steps got closer, and the smell of blood was
everywhere,” Bradley said softly.
    “You’re doing better, but you have to say it like you’re still there and you’re really scared,” Clarissa
coached. Then she paused and looked at Bradley. “You were scared, weren’t you?”
    Bradley momentarily debated whether or not to protect his
ego and lie or tell the truth.   The truth
won. “I was totally freaked out,” he said with a smile. “I kept hearing
footsteps, but I couldn’t see anyone.   I’ve never been so frightened in my life.”
    Clarissa clapped her hands together. “That’s perfect,
Daddy,” she said. “You need to tell your story like that.   You need to show how scared you were, and
that will scare everyone else.”
    “You think?” he asked.
    She shook her head eagerly. “Oh, yes, you actually even
scared me that time,” she said, holding out her arm. “See, I even have goosebumps.”
    Laughing, he leaned forward from his chair and ran his hand
up her bare arm. “I see goosebumps,” he confirmed. “But how about all those
other times when you said you were frightened?”
    She shrugged and slipped off the couch. “Oh, that was to
help give you confidence,” she replied with a smile, wrapping her arms around
his neck and giving him a hug. “Now that you’re actually good, you don’t need
it.”
    He gave her a hug and kissed her on the top of her head.
“Thanks, coach,” he said. “I feel better already.”
    “Did you ever actually see Earl?” she asked him.
    “No, I never did,” he said. “I heard him, and I smelled
him.” He scrunched up his nose. “And he smelled disgusting. But I never saw a
ghost until Mary held my hand. Only then could I see them.”
    “That’s good to know,” she said. She leaned back in her
father’s arms and then slowly looked around the room. “ Daddy, has anyone ever died in this house?” she asked.
    Taken aback for a moment, Bradley shook his head and
wondered why Clarissa would be asking a question like that. “No,
sweetheart,” he said, “Not that I know of. Why?”
    “Just wondering,” she said, squinting her eyes and slowly examining the room.
    “Are you okay?” he asked.
    She opened her eyes and nodded. “I’m great,” she said. “Just checking.”
    “Checking for what?” he asked.
    She sighed and shrugged. “Just checking,” she said. “Where
was Earl when he came into the house?”
    Bradley pointed across the room to the basement door. “He
was over there,” he said.
    “Cool,” Clarissa said, wriggling out of Bradley’s hold.   She looked sideways, staring at the basement
door from the corner of her eye and walked forward in the living room.   Bradley grabbed her before she came into
contact with the fireplace. “Sweetheart, you nearly bumped your head,” he said.
“Didn’t you see the fireplace?”
    She smiled up at him. “Oh, no, I didn’t,” she said. “Thanks
for catching me, Dad.”
    He looked into her eyes. “Are your eyes okay?” he asked. “Is
anything blurry?”
    “No,” she sighed. “Nothing’s blurry. Everything looks just
normal.”
    His brow furrowed in concern. He studied her for a few
moments more and then placed another kiss on her head. “Okay, it’s time for you
to wash up and get ready for bed,” he said. “Up you go.”
    She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Okay, Dad,” she
said. She turned and walked toward the staircase, her sideways gaze still
locked on the area in front of the basement door.   Suddenly she stumbled and fell forward on the
staircase, but she was able to catch herself before she fell. Bradley was
immediately at her side.
    “Are you okay?” he asked.
    “Sure,” she