Read The Second Evil for Free Online Page B

you doing?” she asked, speaking loudly to try to force away the horrible memories.
    â€œI just told you—I’m doing some gravestone rubbings,” the woman answered, rapidly moving a piece of black chalk over a thin sheet of paper she had taped over the tombstone. “There are some wonderful stones in this graveyard. Some of them are trulyunique. Many are very revealing of their time, I think.”
    She finished quickly, then climbed to her feet, examining her work. Seemingly pleased, she rolled up the paper and smiled at Corky. “I’m kind of glad not to be alone,” she said pleasantly. “This cemetery has an
amazing
reputation.”
    â€œI know,” Corky said dryly.
    â€œHow can you work in the dark?” Chip asked, pointing to the rolled-up paper in her hand.
    â€œI do most of it by feel, and I have a flashlight and, of course, the moon.”
    Chip wanted to ask more but didn’t.
    â€œI’m a graduate student doing research on Shadyside history.” She stuck out her hand to Chip. “I’m Sarah Beth Plummer.”
    Chip and Corky shook hands with her and introduced themselves.
    She seems quite pleasant, Corky thought, once you get used to the old-lady voice with her young face. Corky guessed that Sarah Beth was in her early twenties.
    â€œDo you know anything about Sarah Fear?” Corky asked, staring at the gravestone in front of them.
    The question seemed to surprise Sarah Beth; she narrowed her dark eyes and shook her head. “Not very much. I’ve read a little about her. In old newspapers, mostly. I know she came to a strange and mysterious end.”
    â€œHuh? Really?” Corky asked with genuine interest, her voice rising several octaves. “What happened to her?”
    Sarah Beth pulled the collar of her trench coat tight. She shivered. “It’s getting really cool, don’t youthink?” she asked, glancing toward the street. Then she added, “Are you really interested in Sarah Fear?”
    â€œYeah,” Corky replied quickly. “It’s … it’s a long story, but I’m very interested.” She cast Chip a look, urging him to respond.
    â€œUh … me too,” Chip said obediently, placing a hand protectively on Corky’s shoulder.
    â€œWell, there’s a small coffee shop on Hawthorne,” Sarah Beth said, buttoning the top button on the coat. “It’s within walking distance. It’s called Alma’s. It’s sort of a college hangout.”
    â€œI know where it is,” Chip said. “It’s just a couple of blocks from here.”
    â€œIf you want,” Sarah Beth continued, “we could go there and get something hot to drink. I’ll tell you all I know about Sarah Fear.”
    â€œExcellent,” Chip said, glancing at Corky.
    â€œOkay,” Corky agreed.
    The image of Sarah Beth floating up from Sarah Fear’s grave flashed into Corky’s mind again. She hesitated.
    I imagined it, she told herself. Just as I imagined Bobbi rising up from the ground.
    Sarah Beth seems friendly and interesting.
    Taking one last glance up toward Bobbi’s headstone, she turned and followed Chip and Sarah Beth to the street.
    It took only a few minutes to walk to the restaurant at the corner of Hawthorne and Old Mill Road. “See that place over there?” Sarah Beth asked, pointing to a small redbrick house across the street. “That’s where I’m living. It’s not a mansion, but it’s cozy.”
    Alma’s coffee shop was small but cozy too. A longcounter ran along the right wall. Narrow red vinyl booths lined the other wall. The restaurant smelled of strong coffee and grilled onions.
    Four teenagers at a booth near the front were laughing loudly, drumming on the tabletop and clattering their silverware. Two white-haired men nursing mugs of coffee at the counter were the only other customers.
    Sarah Beth squeezed into the