A Season to Kill: A Moonlight Bay Psychic Mystery, #10

By K.J. Emrick

"There's a strange man in the living room, Miranda!"

 

Until her resident ghost, Kyle Hunter, woke her with those words, Miranda Wylder had been enjoying several months of peace.

 

An unexpected, middle of the night visitor, complete with ghost attached, changes all that.

 

Events start happening around her that seem like coincidence but can't possibly be because as Miranda always says, nothing is coincidence. 

 

Who is this intruder and who is the ghost? Once again Miranda finds herself deeply involved in another mystery.

 

If that's not bad enough. Jack is acting like a jerk and Kyle is keeping secrets.

 

What is going in her little town of Moonlight Bay? Will Miranda be able to figure it out before her life is changed irrevocably?

 

A Season to Kill is the tenth installment in the Moonlight Bay Psychic Mystery series. If you like paranormal cozy mysteries then you will love this book by K.J. Emrick and Kathryn De Winter!

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: South Coast Publishing
• Release date: Dec 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386299110

Book preview

Chapter 1

M iranda! Hey, Miranda! Wake Up!

It was the harsh sound of Kyle Hunter’s voice and the feel of his cold, ghostly hand on her shoulder that woke her from a deep sleep. For a moment Miranda Wylder wasn’t sure where she was.

Whaddya want? She mumbled into her pillow as she threw an arm out to push away the annoying ghost. Lea’me alone.

Slowly regaining her senses, Miranda remembered that she was in her own comfortable bed, in her own bedroom, and it was still dark out. Lifting her head just a little she checked the clock on the bedside table for the time. The glowing green numbers told her it was 3:45 in the morning. Definitely not time to get up yet. She dropped her head back onto the pillow and snuggled down into the cozy bed. Kyle would have to find someone else to keep him company.

Miranda, wake up!

She felt the icy cold touch of his fingers on her cheek this time and shuddered. Suddenly wide awake and completely annoyed with him, she sat up straight and rubbed at her frozen cheek, flicking on the bedside lamp with her other hand.

Kyle! What the…? What have I told you about waking me up like this? She frowned at him while still rubbing her cheek to get the blood flow back into her face. She glared at him, willing him to disappear so she could get back to sleep.

Shh, Kyle hissed at her.

He didn’t have to worry about being heard, so she had to wonder what he was on about. Through a haze of blue light that surrounded him, he was rail-thin, tall and wiry, with a sandy brown beard a shade or two lighter than his tousled hair. It was what he had looked like in life, and how his spirit continued to look like after his untimely death. He could change it up a little when he wanted to. Tonight, he was in jean shorts and a short-sleeved t-shirt. And of course, his trademark sandals.

She tried to push him away again. Don’t shush me, Kyle. We had an agreement. NO waking me up like that. And what did I say about coming into my bedroom uninvited?

I know, but…

Kyle, no buts. This isn’t funny. You scared me half to death. You want me to join you in the afterlife or something?

I’m sorry but…

Kyle. Sorry may not be good enough this time. I’ve just about had enough of your—

Miranda! For goodness sake, listen to me! Kyle’s voice rose like the bellow of a fog horn and Miranda covered her ears. This little ghostly wail of his was painful this close up.

It finally registered with her that Kyle wasn’t just coming in here to visit. He was frantic. Maybe she should listen.

Lowering her voice like he’d asked, she said, Okay, Kyle. What is it?

He breathed a sigh of relief. Finally. I thought I was going to have to gag you there for a minute.

She grimaced. So, what’s the big panic about then?

There’s a strange man in the living room!

What!? Her voice jumped up again before she could control it.

Shh! Kyle said again, bringing his finger to his lips.

What? Miranda repeated, much more quietly. What do you mean there’s a strange man in the living room?

Exactly what I said. He moved his lips in an exaggerated way, enunciating the words this time. There. Is. A. Strange. Man. In. The. Living. Room.

Miranda jumped out of bed and frantically scanned the room for a weapon of some sort. No way was she going out there unarmed.

Kyle watched her panicked antics for a moment and then said, Hey, don’t you think you should call Jack?

She was still half asleep. That should have occurred to her first. Good idea, she said as she scooped up her mobile off the bedside table. It took several rings before Jack Travis, Moonlight Bay’s finest detective, answered.

Hey, he mumbled on the other end, voice thick with sleep. What’s wrong?

Jack, she whispered, there’s someone in the house.

What! He sounded wide awake now. Where are you?

I’m in my bedroom.

Good. Where’s… you know. Kyle.

He’s here with me.

Oh, Kyle snarked, so glad he asked about me, too.

She ignored him as Jack continued, Lock the door and stay there. I’m on my way.

What did Jack say? Kyle asked her as she hung up. I’m a ghost, I’m not a psychic.

Miranda looked at her ghostly friend, concern etched in his translucent blue face. He told me to lock myself in this room. He’s on his way. As she answered him, her eyes darted around the room looking for something – anything – she could defend herself with.

Good. Good. Miranda, what are you doing? Kyle’s voice was edged with concern when he saw Miranda frantically searching the room again instead of hiding in the closet or under the bed.

I’m looking for a weapon, she said, as if that was obvious.

Butter the golden retriever had stayed asleep and quiet all this time, curled up in his bed on the floor at the end of Miranda’s bed. Now, he roused himself and padded over to the bedroom door, whining and pawing at it, like he knew someone was out there, too. He was a good dog. A beautiful and strong long-haired canine. He’d protect her. But she needed to protect him, too.

She rubbed her hand over the dog’s head and then pulled him gently back toward her and Kyle. It’s okay boy, nothing to worry about. Everything’s okay.

Kyle hovered a couple of inches off the floor, hands on his hips. Why are you searching for a weapon?

Because, she explained, keeping her voice just above a whisper, I’m not going to hide in here like some frightened little mouse and wait for my knight in shining armor to come rescue me. So, I’m looking for something that I can use as a weapon against our intruder.

Miranda… NO! I won’t let you. Kyle flew up right into her face, puffing himself up huge with muscles bulging like a wrestler. That was a new trick of his, and usually Miranda found it hilarious. Right now, it was just annoying.

Stop it Kyle! I mean it! I can look after myself and defend my own home.

Oh boy, you are one crazy lady. Kyle shook his head and deflated to his normal size again.

Maybe. But I can’t just sit here and wait for Jack. I have no idea what the intruder is after, or who he is, or anything! He might have gotten away by the time Jack gets here. I can’t let that happen.

But…

Miranda cut him off with a finger to her lips and went over to the bedside table staring at the lamp. Would it be a suitable weapon? It had a heavy base, and a narrow enough body that would give her a good grip. Maybe she could sneak up on the guy and whack him over the head. Lightbulb out first? Probably a good idea. It wasn’t a foolproof plan, but it was better than nothing. She tugged on the cord and pulled the plug out of the wall, plunging the room back into darkness.

Hey, crazy lady, Kyle said, what are you doing?

I’m arming myself.

With a lamp?

She thought that was obvious. Yes, with a lamp, unless you’d prefer I use a pillow? Now show me where this intruder is.

But… Miranda, please don’t do this. Wait for Jack. Kyle plastered his ethereal body across the door, arms outstretched.

No. Now get out of my way or I’ll go straight through you, Kyle. I know you hate that.

But…

Kyle, I’m warning you.

As Kyle considered her threat, Butter started whining and pawing at the door again. Miranda placed a hand on his head and was going to tell him to stay but then thought better of it. He might prove helpful if the intruder were to overpower her. He’d always shown himself to be a super protector and it would probably be a mistake to leave him behind.

Giving Kyle one last glare got him moving out of the way. Miranda put the lamp down and grabbed hold of Butter’s collar as she opened the door silently and peered around carefully into the hall. It was all darkness and shadows out there. Nothing moved that she could see.

Thump.

The noise came from downstairs. The intruder was still in the house. Butter pulled on his collar, almost jerking himself out of her hand in his hurry to race after whoever it was.

No Butter, she whispered. You stay behind me. Heel. The dog settled back behind her, but she still kept a tight hold on him as she picked up the lamp once again.

Miranda moved off down the hallway, placing one foot carefully in front of the other, avoiding all of the known creaky spots in the floor, until she came to the top of the stairs. She could feel Kyle right behind her as a sort of pressure on her mind. She looked over her shoulder, and inclined her head, indicating to have him back off a bit and give her some room. He floated backwards a few centimeters, then even further when Miranda continued to stare. The look on his face told her that he wasn’t pleased with her.

Too bad.

The little group crept down the stairs with Miranda holding the lamp up, ready to attack should someone pounce out of the shadows at her. It was very awkward holding onto the lamp in one hand and the dog’s collar in the other. She should have at least taken the shade off. She held her body tense and could hear the whooshing noise of her heartbeat in her ears. It was pumping so hard and fast that she was sure the intruder would be able to hear her coming, whoever he was.

At the bottom of the stairs now, she could see light spilling out from the living room. How odd. What sort of burglar puts the light on? That’s just an invitation to get caught.

She took a deep breath. Was this really a good idea? Maybe she should wait for Jack after all.

No. She was a capable woman and didn’t need a man to save her. But… was it stupid to be stubborn about this when Jack was already on his way?

A shadow passed across the living room doorway. The intruder was heading toward the kitchen. Butter gave a low growl, and Miranda shushed him. She crept up to the living room doorway and peeked inside. The room was now empty.

What to do?

Go in and wait for him to return to the room and confront him? Or wait until he came back into the room and sneak up behind him? She could hear him fossicking about in the kitchen. What was he doing? She listened harder. It sounded like he was filling the kettle.

Okay, now that was odd. What sort of a burglar makes himself a cuppa while ransacking someone’s house? She told Butter to stay and then pushed the door all the way into the room hoping that it wouldn’t make a sound.

One foot in the room and one still out, she was second guessing herself again when she heard a cup clattering against a saucer. She looked over at Kyle who was still hovering behind her. He shrugged. She waved her hand in the direction of the kitchen, silently asking Kyle to go have a look at what the intruder was doing. He was the ghost, after all.

Kyle shrugged again and without a word glided toward the kitchen and disappeared through the closed door. It couldn’t have been more than thirty seconds later and he was back again.

Eyes wide and shaking his head, he said, He’s making a cup of tea. Like he owns the place!

Miranda didn’t know what to make of that. There was something not quite right about any of this. She crept into the living room making sure to keep herself close to the walls on her way to the kitchen.

Slowly, biting her lower lip, she pushed open the door and peeked through the crack.

The man was there, humming a tune to himself while he dunked his teabag into his cup. Miranda pulled her head back and scrunched up her face as the tune tugged at a memory in her. Where had she heard that song before? She couldn’t quite place it.

She took another peek at the man, this time taking a good look at him. She watched him from behind as he stood at the kitchen counter. Slowly and methodically dunking his teabag. He liked his tea strong, then. Miranda wished he would turn around. There was something familiar about him. It was in the way he stood. In the way he held himself.

He was about her height, she guessed. Broad, but round shouldered. He was well built under brown trousers and a blue long-sleeved shirt covered by a brown vest. Now that she thought about it, even the clothes looked familiar. He’d been bending over his cup a little but now as he straightened, she could see the back of his head properly. Stringy gray hair sparsely populated the top of his head but grew thicker around his ears and downwards.

Miranda gasped and clapped her free hand over her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes. She pushed the door wide now, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Oh my!

The man heard the hinges of the kitchen door squeaking. He turned, a huge smile splitting his face at the sight of her standing there in her pink pajamas gripping a bedroom lamp as if her life depended upon it.

His eyes twinkled in the light. Well, my dear child, just what are you planning to do with that? He nodded toward the lamp in her hand.

Miranda looked at the makeshift weapon and laughed. She put it down right there where she was standing and hurried over to him, wrapping her arms around him. Oh, Uncle Horatio! It’s so good to see you!

Kyle’s eyes went so wide that he looked like a blue owl. Wait. We know him?

It’s Uncle Horatio, Miranda explained, swaying as she hugged him tightly.

She’d meant that as an explanation for Kyle, but of course Horatio didn’t see anyone else in the room and thought she was talking to him. Er, yes, it is me. Glad you remember your old uncle.

How could I ever forget you? Miranda beamed. What are you—

Just then she heard the front door slam open and bounce off the hallway wall. Seconds later Jack flew into the room, his dark hair tousled and finger-combed, his deep blue eyes ringed with sleep and worry. He was ready to defend Miranda from whatever intruder had dared find their way into the kitchen of Ragged Rest. Instead, he stopped short when he saw Miranda encircled in the arms of a strange man.

Well, well, Kyle said, floating above them all. Better late than never, Jack my boy.

Miranda smiled at her boyfriend. She had no doubt that he would have thrown down with whoever had snuck into her home. Thankfully, he wouldn’t have to. She gently disentangled herself from Horatio before coming over to take both of Jack’s hands in hers.

Jack, you’re never going to believe this!

Miranda couldn’t contain her excitement. So, why didn’t you tell me you were coming home?

She was sitting alone at the kitchen table with Uncle Horatio now, both with a cup of tea in front of them.

After she’d introduced Horatio to Jack and they’d chatted for a little bit, Jack had gone upstairs to her bedroom to go back to sleep. He spent a lot of nights here, actually, but usually they spent them together, and not always sleeping. He needed to be up and at work early so they’d decided that he might as well stay for what was left of the night. Detective Jack Travis was expected at the Moonlight Bay Police Department bright and early tomorrow morning.

Butter had followed him after he’d given Uncle Horatio the once over and given him his seal of approval.

Kyle had disappeared also, although Miranda had no idea where to. What did he get up to while the living were sleeping? He was a bit cagey about that whenever she asked him about it.

Oh, I didn’t want to bother you with all that, Horatio laughed. After you let me know that you and your young man had closed the case on Connie’s supposed disappearance earlier this year, I didn’t know whether to come home or not. It’s not like there was a body to bury so… well… His voice trailed off and he got a faraway look in his eyes. He sipped his tea slowly.

Miranda had a sudden thought. How did you even get in, Uncle Horatio? I changed all of the locks months ago when Leon and Janice Peniston used what I can only assume was Aunt Connie’s key to get in and search the place.

Uncle Horatio grinned at her. Oh, my dear child. Ragged Rest has many secrets that you do not yet know. He double tapped his finger to the side of his nose and then went back to casually sipping his tea. Miranda had the distinct impression he wasn’t going to ever give up the old house’s secrets.

Miranda was about to pick her cup up when she was startled by an apparition slowly materializing in the corner of the kitchen. It didn’t look unlike a blue bubble with a light inside that was all shimmery and wavery. Miranda was mesmerized. A woman slowly became visible within the blue light. A woman with long dark hair that flowed around a horrible, scowling face.

A ghost!

But who was she? Miranda didn’t recognize her. Where had she come from? And why did she show up here now? Ghosts appearing in Miranda’s life had become commonplace but usually there was a reason.

Uncle Horatio put his cup down and without looking up said, I was surprised when you called a couple of weeks ago and told me that Jack had found Connie. Well… not Connie exactly, but her remains. I just knew then that I had to come back. We need to put her to rest properly, some sort of memorial or something. He smiled sadly at Miranda. And it is nearly Christmas after all, so it seemed like a good time for a visit.

By now she could see that the ghost was definitely an older woman, probably around her uncle’s age. She was wearing a formal dinner dress that was dirty and ripped around the hem. A large patch of blood stained the area around her chest, a hazy red against the blue of her appearance. That was more than likely what had killed her, Miranda thought to herself. The woman’s mascara had run at some point giving her a gothic, haunted look.

She looked very unhappy. Angry even, if her scowling face was anything to go by.

Who was she? And why was she here?

Watching the ghost from the corner of her eye Miranda tried not to let her uncle see how distracted she was. Um, yes. We already have some plans in motion. I was going to call you tomorrow actually… well, I guess it’s today now. I won’t need to now because you’re already here. She smiled at him, still keeping a surreptitious eye on the ghost. She hadn’t moved. She was still hovering and glowering, and Miranda could just feel the waves of anger coming off her. Did I tell you how grateful I am that you now have a mobile phone. It’s so much easier to keep up with you.

He made a little sound that might have been a chuckle. I resisted for so long, but I really don’t know what my problem was. The mobile has been so convenient. Uncle Horatio smiled again and then picked up his cup.

The ghost moved like lightning.

It was on Horatio before he had his cup raised to his mouth. The ghost struck out and whacked the cup from his hand to send it hurtling across the room, tea splattering in its wake. It crashed to the floor in pieces.

Horatio looked startled. Then, faint traces of red darkened his cheeks. The look he sent Miranda was edged with embarrassment. He didn’t say a word as he got up and started to clean up the mess.

Now Miranda knew what the ghost was doing here. She had come with Uncle Horatio and boy, was she mad at him for something.

That didn’t explain why though. It looked like she and her uncle were going to have a long conversation together, about a lot of things.

Looked like Ragged Rest wasn’t the only one with secrets.

Chapter 2

Miranda added another piece of tinsel to the Christmas tree and stood back to admire it. She and Jack had been decorating for the last hour as Christmas carols played softly in the background on the radio.

Conversation, however, had been at a minimum. Even Kyle was hovering in the background, uncharacteristically quiet. Miranda knew she had been distracted but the situation from earlier this morning with Uncle Horatio was weighing on her mind.

She was aware of Jack looking at her, waiting for her to say something other than ‘pass me the garland.’ She knew they needed to talk but she was still wrapping her mind around what she had seen in the kitchen. Instead, she just picked up another piece of tinsel to fill in a gap.

Jack sighed. "You’re very quiet. I know Christmas is the time of Silent Night and all that, but this isn’t you. Anything wrong?"

Of course, there was. She couldn’t get past seeing