Frogs, Snails, And A Lot Of Wails

By Janet McNulty

Mellow Summers has already solved one murder mystery when she met the ghost Rachel. But now that Rachel has gone, Mellow hopes to continue with a normal life. But normal is not in her future. One night Timothy shows up claiming to have been murdered. Now Mellow must help another ghost solve a mystery. At the same time, various businesses have experienced thefts of small, but valuable items. Even the Candle Shoppe is a victim. In investigating Timothy's murder and the many thefts, Mellow is led to the dreaded and haunted Pen Mill's Estate. Can she solve both mysteries before she gets scared out of her wits?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janet McNulty
• Release date: Jul 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476456522

Janet McNulty

I began construction on Legends Lost Amborese ten years ago while in high school. At the time it was merely a few pages of notes in a notebook. I continued working on the story of Amborese while in college in the hope of publishing it. That day came in August 2011 when the book was first printed. Most recently, I have published the second book in Legends Lost: Tesnayr. I keep myself busy writing the third and final novel in the Legends Lost trilogy: Galdin, which will be released in Summer 2013. You can learn more here: www.legendslosttrilogy.com If you prefer something more contemporary try the Mellow Summers Series. Mellow Summers moves to Vermont to start a new life only to discover that she has a acquired a new ability: she can speak to ghosts. Join her as she is pulled from one mystery to another. I have also published in the area of nonfiction: Illogical Nonsense. I had never planned on writing nonfiction, but when I had the chance to write a political commentary book, I took it. I enjoyed it and hope that it is insightful to any who read it. Besides writing I also read, hike, and crochet. Sometimes I just wander around doing nothing at all. Every once in awhile a girl needs a break and these are great past times.

Book preview

Frogs, Snails, And

A Lot Of Wails

Janet McNulty

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents wither are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or location is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Frogs, Snails, And A Lot Of Wails

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2012 Janet McNulty

Cover Illustration by Robert Henry

Interior Text Design by Janet McNulty

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

—For my grandmother.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

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Chapter 1

My name is Mellow Summers. In case you aren’t already aware, I have gained a bit of a reputation as a sleuth who speaks to ghosts. That is completely thanks to Rachel.

At the end of last summer I moved to Vermont to attend college. My friend Jackie accompanied me and managed to find us both jobs. That is when I met Rachel and found myself investigating a year old murder case. Of course, Rachel is gone now. I think it unlikely that I’ll ever see her again.

Now it is spring and I am looking forward to Spring Break. I never go anywhere during that time, but having a week off from my classes will be a nice respite before finals arrive. I hadn’t seen a ghost since Rachel had left nd was beginning to think that maybe I was done with talking to them. Perhaps now I could just have a normal life. I should have known better.

A few days before Spring Break, Greg and I were enjoying a romantic evening alone in my apartment. Jackie had gone out for the night; she’s very good at being scarce when Greg and I wanted to be alone. We had just finished a movie on TV and had just started kissing when…

Oh, that is disgusting, said a voice. Get a room you two.

Both Greg and I jumped, looking up. A young man stood in the far corner of the room, watching us. He looked about eighteen and wore a button up shirt with high-water pants and he had on a puke green sweater vest. The big square glasses he wore added to his geeky appearance. This guy had nerd written all over him.

Oh no, I thought to myself. Not this again. Sure enough, just when things got back to normal, that is when anything but normal strikes.

Look, said the kid, I need your help.

Let me guess, I replied, you were murdered.

How’d you know? asked the kid.

Lucky guess. I was being sarcastic, somewhat.

We’re not alone are we? asked Greg. I can hear a teenager’s voice.

You know hearing voices isn’t a good sign, said the ghost. It could be the onset of some kind of psychosis. You might want to get that looked at. I can recommend a good psychiatrist.

Yep, total nerd. The only voice he is hearing is yours, I said.

Oh. The guy looked at his feet a moment before continuing. Look, I hear that you are good at helping us spirits solve our own problems.

What is there, a spirit hotline?

Yes. Rachel told us all about you.

Great. Leave it to Rachel to still find a way to make my life interesting. If she were alive I’d kill her. Who are you?

My name is Timothy. Now, get up. We have a case to solve.

Look, I said, I am a bit busy. Perhaps you could come back later, say, in the morning.

Timothy stared at both Greg and I as the realization of what he had interrupted slowly dawned on his face. Oh, you guys were…uh…I’m sorry. I guess tomorrow can wait, but I really do need your help.

Tomorrow then, I said.

Timothy disappeared and once again Greg and I were alone. Of course, the mood had been ruined so we just said good-bye and Greg went back to his apartment.

I awoke the next morning in a fog. Groggily, I stumbled into the kitchen and poured myself a cup of coffee. I sipped it slowly relishing the aroma. I love the smell of coffee. Always have. Some people add sugar and cream, but I think that it ruins that flavor.

Morning!

As usual Jackie came bursting into the kitchen all bright and happy; her pajamas made mine look as though I had gotten them from a dumpster. They were just plain flannel pajamas, but somehow Jackie made them into a fashion sensation.

Sometimes that woman made me envious. She could be fashionable even when sleeping. How did she do it? Even without doing her hair and makeup she looked picture perfect. Of course, anyone would look photogenic compared to me and my frizzy, bed hair.

Morning, I mumbled. I took another swig of coffee.

So, how was your date with Greg? Jackie poured herself a cup of coffee and then proceeded to add about a cup of sugar to it. How did she manage to stay so skinny?

It was great, I said, until Mr. Nerd barged in.

Mr. Nerd? Jackie looked at me over the rim of her cup as she took a drink.

I relayed to her how Timothy showed up last night, demanding that I help him solve his murder. I left out the part about blowing him off. What can I say? I wasn’t happy about him interrupting my date, and I did not want to get involved in another murder.

I’m hoping he doesn’t show back up, I said.

You know he will, said Jackie. You must be famous in the spirit world.

Don’t say that.

Hey. Timothy popped in right on cue, which caused me to spill my coffee. I couldn’t even get a morning shower in.

Jackie jumped a bit. This was the first time in a while she had seen a ghost. Did I mention that ghosts can let whomever they wish see them? Or in Timothy’s case, he was so excited about solving his murder, that he didn’t realize he was visible to the entire world.

Why is she looking at me as though she can see me? asked Timothy.

Because she can see you, I said.

Oh. You mean others can see me?

Anyone can see you, I said, if you want them too.

Really? Timothy started to fade in and out in repeated succession. Now you see me. Now you don’t. Now you see me. Now you don’t, he kept saying to himself as he appeared and disappeared.

Timothy! I yelled.

Oh, sorry, he replied. He solidified. How about we get started?

Now?

Yes, now. I was murdered. My killer is still out there.

I stared at Timothy. "You know,