The Ghost of Mirror Lake

By Anthony O'Brian

Do you believe in ghosts? We invite you to find out as we welcome readers to the latest release of the Summer Days Series, The Ghost of Mirror Lake! Josh Mundy and Vern Ernesto are back at it again in this third volume, but this time they encounter something that will shake them to their very core as they embark on their much-anticipated pack trip into Mirror Lake! When they encounter unexpected visitors that test their courage, friendship, and very sanity, can they pull together and help each other discover what they truly believe about ghosts and friendship? Will their instincts, survival and mountaineering skills be enough to get them out alive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anthony O'Brian
• Release date: Jun 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310779909

Anthony O'Brian

Anthony O'Brian is a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest. He has a beautiful wife, three wonderful children and one dog. O'Brian has worked a wide variety of jobs, traveled the continental U.S. extensively, and been involved in several professional and non-professional capacities through the years, as a teacher, principal, P.E. instructor, construction worker, bus driver, public speaker, welder, editor, truck driver, machinist, and mechanic; currently a business owner and President of a non-profit corporation. He enjoys writing and has plans for several books to be published soon. Anthony and his family are traveling the United States again working for their non-profit corporation.

Book preview

The Ghost of Mirror Lake

Summer Days Series

Book 3

ANTHONY O’BRIAN

Copyright © 2016 Anthony O’Brian

Summer Days Series belongs to Anthony O’Brian

Kidder House Publishing

Kamiah, ID

All rights reserved.

This book is copyrighted and may only be shared by a licensed book lending venue as part of the publisher’s and author’s agreement. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any format without the owner’s permission. Photo credits: Cover – photocosma, Cover Design: Anthony O’Brian

eBook ISBN: 9781310779909

Print ISBN: 1532914873

Print ISBN-13: 978-1532914874

DEDICATION

To my kids who enjoy my books so much

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to my wife who puts up with my imagination while I test out my rough drafts on her. She is a great source of encouragement and helps me develop my storyline. Also, thank you to all of my readers who make it worthwhile to keep writing! As well, thank you to all the 1st Mountaineers that hiked with me into Mirror Lake.

Other Titles By Anthony O’Brian:

The Elevator

The Two Schillings

The Last Nazi

Run For Her Life

Summer Days Series:

The Fishing Trip – Book 1

The Pismo Beach Bicycle Thief – Book 2

Chapter 1 – Big Plans

Vern Ernesto swung the backpack onto his back with a grunt. This thing is heavy already and I am not even finished packing.

Josh Mundy looked at his backpack lying on the floor and knew that if Vern was complaining about his pack that he was going to have a time with his own.

Are we sure that we want to do this? Josh wondered aloud.

Man, are you quitting on me? Of course we want to do this. Vern looked down and untwisted the straps to his pack and then adjusted them, pulling the nylon down and locking the backpack firmly against his body. It suddenly felt good. Oh yeah, much better.

No, I am not quitting. How could I? We haven’t even started. Josh knew that Vern was trying to goad him, but still he got a little fired up at the jab. He reached down and with one heave he swung the backpack up, around, and onto his back. It landed with a thud and jangle of buckles, carabineers, flashlight, and canteen. Josh grunted at the impact and made a slight wheezing sound.

Vern started to laugh as he looked at Josh’s face.

Its not funny. Josh grunted out.

Actually, it is. Vern disagreed.

Josh turned his back and finished adjusting his straps facing the wall of his parent’s garage.

Vern and Josh were best friends that had lived in the same housing development for years. During the summer they were constantly together, for that matter they were just constantly together; summer, winter, fall or spring, but summers were crammed full of their hobnobbing activities from morning to well past sunset. They often stayed the night at each other’s house in Bixby Estates during the weekends to which soda pop bottlers and chip manufacturers owed a great deal of their quarterly profits.

It was the strangest thing, but it seemed that without even trying they found themselves tangled up in a wild adventure of some sort over and over again. Most of the time they were fun, but occasionally these forays into a rapidly developing adventure brought at least a modest amount of danger. They had hardly recovered from the excitement of last weeks’ trip to the convenience store for snacks to go along with their evening of playing video games at Josh’s house. They were in line when some crazy guy robbed the place with a kitchen knife. Thankfully, they lost only a few bucks and the guy was apprehended later running down an alley. They got their money back, but were too tired after the whole ordeal they decided to just go their separate ways and crash out at their own place.

Look, Dude, I was only joking. Vern walked over toward Josh and tried to help him with his pack.

I got it, Pal. Keep your mitts off. It was suddenly evident to Vern that Josh was already in a foul mood.

Hey, Man, what’s wrong. I mean what’s really wrong? Vern asked genuinely concerned, not about the packing trip as much as he was about whatever was bothering his friend. He let his pack slip to the concrete and leaned it up against the garage wall.

Nothing. Josh started to give an evasive denial, but then knew that it wouldn’t work with Vern, besides he would end up telling him anyway. They had very few secrets, if any, between them.

Spill it. Vern said flatly.

Josh turned around, leaned the pack on his back against the wall of the garage and slid down until it and he were resting on the concrete floor. He put his elbows on his bent knees. I haven’t heard from Patricia in over a week. We talked a couple of times a week or so ago, but then nothing. He picked at a stray thread in the seam of one of his pockets. She won’t text or answer my calls. I have even tried calling their home, but nothing. Josh slipped his knife out and triggered the blade open, held the thread straight up and sliced through the thread with a swoop, perilously close to his leg.

Uh, be careful with that knife there… Vern admonished as he watched Josh search for another thread to loose his frustration on. Josh acted like he never even heard him…probably hadn’t.

Listen, Man, everyone has their own life. Vern slid down next to Josh. She may not be ignoring you, maybe she is very busy or something happened that they are unavailable.

Yeah right! Like what? Josh sliced through another stray thread.

Well, like spies or stuff like that. Vern said. Obviously, it is not impossible, right?

I guess so. Josh clammed up and just stared at the floor.

Hey, I know what you are worried about. Vern reached over and grasped the knife from Josh. Borrow it for a second?

Josh released his grip.

Vern cut a few threads from his own pants and then folded up the knife.

What? Josh asked still staring at his shoes.

What, what? Vern asked back.

Josh looked up suddenly with a flash of frustration.

Vern laughed. Kidding, only kidding man! Josh reached for the knife, but Vern yanked it back. He had a plan and he didn’t want anyone to get hurt with an open knife. I know you are worried about Patricia finding another boyfriend…

I am not her boyfriend! We are just friends.

Uh huh.