Fannie closed her eyes tight. I tugged on the rope once more, but it wouldn’t budge.
“Anyway.” Her lids popped open. “Jinkins and I fought. It was worse than usual. I got the gun. He lunged for me. He would’ve killed me if he could, I knew it. I could see it in his eyes. So I did the only thing I could to survive.”
“You shot him.”
“There was a thunderstorm that night so no one heard the shot.” Her gaze met mine. “I wanted to live.” She exhaled a staggering breath. “So I killed him and left, saying Jinkins was sick and I was taking him to a special hospital. We never came back.”
She cackled at her joke. “Well, he never returned, but I did, but not for many years. By that time I looked different. No one recognized me. All I wanted was that money. When I realized that Jinkins’s spirit was in the house, I did my best to communicate with him. To reach him. To try to convince him to tell me where the treasure was hidden.”
“But he wouldn’t do it,” I answered.
“No.” She clenched her fists. “That man wanted to torture me in death the same way he had in life.” She tapped the trap. “But thanks to you, I’ve got the upper hand. If he wants to be free, he’ll have to tell me.”
“I know where it is.”
She spat. “How could you? You don’t know anything about me, about my family. My shame. My secrets.”
I shot her a hard look. “I found Molly Menzel, remember? I know things. Another one of your victims told me that you’re standing right on top of the treasure. You don’t need to open the ghost trap. Just dig up the treasure, untie me and we can all go our separate ways.”
She laughed. “Go our separate ways?”
Oh, was this not going to be so easy?
Roan moaned again. He stirred but didn’t open his eyes.
“We’re not going our separate ways, dear,” Fannie said. “I’m going to add you to my collection.”
“Of dead people?”Oh Lord.“There are four people upstairs who won’t let that happen. It’ll be impossible for you to get away with that.”
She laughed. “Oh no. I’m going to kill them, too.”
“You’re crazy.”
“I’m not crazy.” She leaned down until we were eye to eye. The smell of whiskey filled my nose. “It’s called self-distinction.”
“I think that’s self-preservation.”
“No matter what it’s called, you know what I mean.”
I suppose that was true.
Fannie crossed to a bedsheet that had been propped up against the wall. She curled her fingers into it. “You won’t be this pretty, but eventually you’ll look just like him.”
She yanked the sheet.
My eyes nearly popped from my head. The taxidermied remains of Jinkins Hudson stared blankly at me.
My dinner roiled in my stomach. Vomit edged up the back of my throat. This was not the time to lose my cool. At all.
I shot a look to the stuffed man. His skin was gray, his features lifeless and weathered like tanned leather, and his skin had a weird waxy coating on it.
“So that’s what happened to Jinkins Hudson.”
“My finest achievement.”
My time was up. I could sense it. Fannie lifted theSpiritusfrom the shelf.
“It’s not that I don’t believe you about the treasure, but I don’t believe you.” She grinned at the tube. “Now, my love, you will finally tell me everything I want to know. I have power over you. I have your body. You must tell me now!”
