“Hide,” I said quickly.
I grabbed Ruth and Alice, who dropped the photos on the floor. Alice knelt to pick them up, but I yanked her by the shoulders and whispered, “There’s no time.”
The three of us rushed behind the sofa and crouched down.
“Oh, my bursitis,” Alice whimpered.
We hunkered. I held my breath as I heard the back door open. Someone stepped into the kitchen and stopped.
The photos.They’d seen them.
I clamped a hand over my mouth to stop my nervous breathing. It was so loud I was sure we’d be found out. For once Alice and Ruth seemed calm and cool while my heart thundered and hammered against my ribs.
Something shuffled in the living room, and then a moment later the back door shut as whoever had entered the house walked away.
Ruth rose. “Quickly. See if we can discover the car.”
I dashed across the living room and out the door. I flew into the night, panting and glancing all around.
But the night was still. Nothing moved. Not one sound. I trotted to the street, but the exact cars that had been parked along the curb earlier still sat in place.
Realizing whoever had been out there was now gone, I traipsed back inside.
When I reached Ruth and Alice, I shook my head. “I couldn’t catch him.”
Alice pointed to the empty floor. “Whoever it was, it looks like they took the photos.”
Ruth nodded toward the kitchen counter. “And the letter.”
I nodded in understanding. “All right. Looks like we’ve got two suspects—Tallulah and Birda.”
First thing tomorrow I was making visits.
THIRTEEN
When I got home, I kept thinking about how whoever had walked into Cora’s house had managed to vanish so quickly. For a person to so suddenly disappear meant only one thing—they’d received spirit help.
Which got me thinking about Jeffrey and Tallulah.
I glanced at my watch and realized it was late. The chance that Tallulah would be awake was slim, but I took it anyway.
I grabbed my purse, keys and headed to my car.
“Where are you going?”
I turned just as I was about to shut the door. Francine hovered in the living room.
“Wow. You have a way of scaring folks. I thought you had headed home.”
Francine smoothed her hair. “I was going to, but then I decided that I’d rather stay with you, see if I can help. After all, if I’m going to end up back in the cemetery, where I belong, then I’ve got to earn my keep, don’t I?”
I crossed my arms. “I suppose so.”
“Where are you going?”
“To do some surveillance. Want to come?”
“Sure,” Francine said. “Why not?”
