Read Town Haunts for Free Online Page B

explain. “The
three faces of the Earth Mother. I didn’t mean any insult,” he
added, looking at Erna.
    “Oh, no,”
Tiernay hurried to say. “People don’t think of the crone as an ugly
old hag anymore. Today we revere the mature woman for her wisdom
and experience. You’re beautiful to us, Miss Dombrosky.”
    “Why, thank
you, dear,” Erna said with a smile.
    “But, Greg,
don’t be ridiculous,” Tiernay countered. “Anna can’t represent the
maiden. She’s much too old. How old are you, anyway –
forty-five?”
    “Forty,” Anna
replied, gimlet-eyed.
    “You see, I’ll
have to be the maiden.”
    “Figuratively
speaking,” Anna quipped.
    May snorted,
and Tiernay glared at Anna before turning to her brother. “I don’t
know. A séance could be dangerous, don’t you think?”
    “You know what
precautions to take.”
    “Excuse me,”
Sherman said, breaking into their conversation, “I don’t exactly
understand what all this Earth Mother talk means, but I’d be
grateful if you could help Evie and me. The whole experience was
pretty unsettling. I don’t mind telling you, I haven’t liked going
into that part of the cemetery since.”
    “Evie?” Tiernay
asked.
    “My wife,
Evelyn. We could hold the séance at my house, if you like.”
    The young woman
paused to consider. “Yes, if she’s lingered, her spirit might still
be strong in the house. We might even have a manifestation. Okay,
Mr. Mason, I’d be willing to try if these ladies will help me.” She
gestured at the three friends. “May has experience with séances,
Anna’s spirit is strong, and Miss Dombrosky has a lot of orange in
her aura.”
    “Is that good?”
Erna asked.
    “Definitely.
Orange is a sign of power and the ability to control people. You’d
be a very useful person to have in our group, Miss Dombrosky.”
    May smiled and
put an arm around her friend’s shoulders. “I’ve always known that
about you.”
    “Thank you,”
Erna replied. “What do you think, Anna?”
    Anna shrugged.
“It sounds to me like someone was pulling a prank on Sherman. It’s
three weeks to Halloween, after all.” She addressed the caretaker
directly. “Was there any sign of someone being there ‒ someone
other than your wife’s ghost, I mean?”
    Sherman paused,
looking uneasy. “There was a light before I got there. I saw it
from the back of the house.”
    “What kind of a
light?” Tiernay asked.
    Sherman shook
his head. “Just a light. It was bouncing between the trees.”
    Greg exchanged
a look with his sister. “Lights are often part of a spirit
manifestation, aren’t they?”
    “That’s right,”
Tiernay said, her breath coming a little more quickly. “Sometimes a
spirit isn’t strong enough for an ectoplasmic manifestation, but it
can manage light. You should have told us about this before, Mr.
Mason. I find the light very promising.”
    “Sorry,” he
said, falling silent. Tiernay turned to stare pointedly at the
other women.
    “Look, don’t
get me wrong, I’d like to help,” Anna said. “Just tell me when, and
I’ll come to the séance.”
    “I’ll need a
couple of days to make preparations,” Tiernay said. “Fortunately, I
don’t have many massages booked yet, so my evenings are mostly
free. How about Monday night? That gives me two days.” She looked
at Anna and her friends, who nodded. “What do you think, Mr.
Mason?”
    “Fine with me.
The sooner the better. I have an old table in the dining room big
enough for all of us, I should think.”
    Tiernay looked
at her brother. “Greg, can you help me to set up beforehand?”
    “Sure. Whatever
you need.”
    “All right, Mr.
Mason, I’ll do it. Shall we say 8 p.m., everyone?” They all
nodded.
    “Good. I’ll see
you then,” Sherman said. “You’ve all been very helpful. I
appreciate it.” Without another word, the caretaker exited the
store with Erna and May following him a moment later. Tiernay took
Greg aside for some private conversation, leaving