Read Playing with Fire for Free Online Page B

of money,” Laura said.
    â€œHow do you figure in?” Angela asked.
    â€œMr. Himoff closed off the hallway several weeks ago, but he wants to use the rooms again, so I’m here to clear the negative energy.”
    â€œHow do you know it’s ghosts?” I asked. “Couldn’t the heating be wacky and the doors not work?”
    â€œThe building stuff has been checked by experts. Nothing is physically wrong.” Laura folded her hands. “Just spiritually. I’m here to encourage them to move on.”
    â€œI don’t think that’s fair,” Lily said.
    â€œFair?” All the adults faced Lily.
    â€œYeah, how is it fair to force the ghosts from their home? I mean, what gives you or Mr. Himoff the right to kick them out?” Lily demanded.
    â€œI like how you think,” Laura said. “It’s a tricky question, but in this case, Mr. Himoff owns the building, and I’ve been hired to do a job.”
    â€œDo you think you can do it?” Lily’s mom asked.
    Exactly what I was wondering. I wasn’t getting any psychic vibe from Laura, but then again, I’d never guessed Mason had powers until he told me.
    So maybe that’s not my thing.
    â€œYes.” Laura sounded confident. “I’m sure I can.”
    â€œExcept for the weirdness down the hall, Helliman House is amazing,” I said as we entered the game room. The walls were a glossy dark green, and low white leather sofas were gathered around tables that looked like tree stumps. One wall was lined with every video game imaginable. A pool table, Ping-Pong table, air hockey table, and a huge screen projecting a dance simulation game took up the rest of the space. Along the far wall, a bar with neon lights served sodas and fruity drinks with crazy straws.
    â€œI think the ghosts down the hall make this place even better,” Lily said. “Laura’s great. She’s so serene, not freaky like you’d expect a spiritual adviser to be.”
    â€œLady Azura’s not freaky,” I countered.
    â€œSeriously?” Lily laughed.
    I joined in. “Okay, but freaky good.”
    â€œTrue,” Lily agreed.
    I hoped she’d think I was freaky good too, when I told her.
    â€œAre you girls better at this kind of pool than theswimming pool?” Wyatt called from the pool table.
    â€œI demolished you on that waterslide,” Lily countered.
    â€œThe girl’s delusional.” Wyatt turned to Owen and a tall girl with a shaggy pixie cut and dark-mascara lashes. Both held pool cues.
    â€œOwen, back me up here. Did I not win today?” Lily’s face broke into a flirtatious smile.
    â€œI have to say, man, you were looking a little slow on the descent.” Owen lined up the white ball and knocked the solid red ball into the far corner pocket.
    â€œWyatt has water on his brain,” the girl remarked. “Always has. Did you know he wore arm floaties until he was eight?”
    â€œDon’t listen to Kayla.” Wyatt elbowed her. “She’s just jealous. She can’t hit the ball to save her life.”
    Kayla playfully poked his side with her cue. “You talk a good game, yet Owen is destroying you.”
    â€œJust warming up till Lily and Sara arrived.” He passed pool cues to us. “They can be on my team. These girls are so tight. They never part.”
    â€œIt’s a best friend thing,” Lily explained.
    As we racked up the balls and began to play, Kaylaand Wyatt continued their competitive banter. Neither Lily nor I were sure who Kayla was or how she fit in. After a while, Lily asked, “How do you guys know each other?”
    â€œWe met long, long ago in Central Park when we were five.” Kayla had a very dramatic way of speaking. “We’ve been together for the good, bad, and ugly ever since.”
    â€œTogether?” Lily repeated.
    â€œEww! No, not that kind of together.” Kayla flung