Read Online Adam's Thorn by Angela Verdenius - Free Book Online

investigate
the contents of the bag.  Things would be better once she replaced all the dim
globes with higher wattage ones.
    Dragging the three step ladder from
the storeroom, Barbie took it into the hallway.
    Yeah, she was overreacting, that
was it.  Even to her own ears she didn’t sound very convincing.
    The phone rang just as she was
starting up the ladder.  Not being good with heights at any time, especially
ladders, she silently blessed the caller.  Picking up the hand piece, she
leaned against the wall.  “Hello?”
    “Barbie, its Laura.”
    “Laura, hi.”  Barbie smiled. 
“What are you doing?”
    “Calling you.  I’d have thought
that was obvious.”
    “And pleased I am to hear your
voice. What’s happening?”
    “Same old, same old.  Work, work,
work, avoid my boss’s lecherous hands, work, work, work, run around the desk to
get away from him.  Try to keep a professional distance.”
    “Kind of hard to do when you go
home to your boss’s house every night.”
    “Being married to the boss has its
perks.”  Laura laughed.  “So, how are the renovations going?”
    “Not bad.  It’s a little slower
than I expected, but I guess living in the country it’s a go-slow expectation.”
    “Ouch.  That’s a little sharp.”
    Barbie smiled.
    “How are Fred and Barney taking
the change of pace?”
    “Seriously?  You expected them to
up their exercise regime?”
    “I take it they’re still in their go-slow mode?”
    “Country life suits them.”
    “Sweetie, city and country life
both suit them. Either way, they spend their days lolling back, being fed and
stroked and spoiled rotten.”
    “Hey, they’re ex-street cats. 
They deserve all the spoiling they get.”  Dropping down onto the sofa, Barbie
lifted her legs and propped her heels on the low coffee table.  “Hey, can I ask
you something?”
    “Sure.  If it’s about sex, what I
don’t know I will try with my boss and get back to you.”
    “That’s so big of you.”
    “I know, but what are friends for,
right?”
    Grinning, Barbie watched Fred roll
over and blink at her.  A snap of her fingers had him stretching while he
thought about the effort it might cost him to move.  “Laura, do you believe in
ghosts?”
    “Ghosts?” Laura replied in
surprise.  “You’ve got a ghost problem?”
    “No.  Yes.  I’m not sure.”
    “Then you need to burn sage,
sweetie.  Get a big stash of it, light it up and walk around the rooms.”
    “Well, I don’t know that there are
ghosts here, but…”  Wishing she hadn’t said anything now, Barbie dropped her head
back against the sofa.  “I think it’s the country, you know, quiet and stuff.”
    “Ghosts don’t have a preference for
country or city.  Is the house haunted?”
    “I’ve just heard a few things. 
Probably mice.”
    “Ohhhh, that’s what people say
right before they’re face to face with a demonic possession of their house.”
    Barbie rolled her eyes.  “Shit, Laura,
make me feel better about the dark, why don’t you?”
    “I’m just saying.  Go stay in the
motel at night.”
    “I am not staying in a motel at
night.  I haven’t seen anything inside the house.”
    “So you’ve seen something
outside?”
    “I thought I saw a face at the
window.”
    There was silence on the other end
of the phone for several seconds before Laura queried, “Trespasser?”
    “Maybe.  I can’t be sure.  I did hear
a thump on the veranda not long after.”
    “What did the police say?”
    “Why would they say anything?”
    “Barbie!  You phoned the police,
didn’t you?”
    “Well…” She cleared her throat.
    “I don’t believe you!  There could
have been a rapist or murderer out there, and you didn’t call the police?”
    “I can’t be sure what I saw or
heard.”
    “You just told me!”
    “Laura, I’m having security lights
installed and I’m changing all the bulbs for brighter ones, okay?  If anyone is
lurking out there, they’re going to get