Spirited Away

By Fern Michaels

Second in the three-part story starring a group of Southern ladies facing a haunting mystery together, from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author. 

The best of friends, Toots, Ida, Mavis, and Sophie have been there for each other through thick and thin. Now Sophie needs the rest of the Godmothers to help her through something they’ve never faced before . . .

Sophie can no longer deny that something strange is going on in her South Carolina home. Something lingers, rooted in a tragedy long ago. And the stress is casting a shadow over her still-new marriage to Goebel, a retired New York City cop. But with some help from her dear friends Toots, Ida, and Mavis—with whom she shares a history going all the way back to seventh grade—she can fight the forces she cannot see…

Praise for Fern Michaels and The Godmothers Series

“Pure recession-proof fun.” —Publishers Weekly

“Michaels’ engaging version of the Golden Girls.” —Booklist

“Grab some tissues as you read the latest installment of the outstanding Godmothers series, which contains an abundance of poignancy, wit, charm and laugh-out-loud moments. Reading Michaels is always a rewarding experience.” —RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars on Classified

“The camaraderie of the four friends remains very powerful in the latest Godmothers contemporary . . . Fans will enjoy Breaking News.” —Midwest Book Reviews

“A tale of intrigue, excitement, and friendship…will satisfy your taste for thrill while reinforcing the value of keeping good company in hard times.” —The Charleston Mercury on Late Edition

“This is a perfect book to take with you and sit and laugh at the beach. It’s just

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kensington Books
• Release date: May 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781496712073

Fern Michaels

New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels has a passion for romance, often with a dash of suspense and drama. It stems from her other joys in life—her family, animals, and historic home. She is usually found in South Carolina, where she is either tapping out stories on her computer, rescuing or supporting animal organizations, or dabbling in some kind of historical restoration.

Book preview

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Chapter One

"You’re serious? Toots asked. You won’t tell me?"

Sophie drained the last of her coffee, then walked over to the sink. She rinsed out her cup, placing it in the dishwasher. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, Toots. I can’t. I don’t feel right about this, and you know what happens when I have one of my feelings and I don’t listen.

True, Toots thought. Her friend Sophie’s intuition, gut instinct, psychic abilities, whatever she currently sensed, must be acknowledged and taken very seriously. Sophie was always spot-on, and as much as she didn’t want to acquiesce, she didn’t really have a choice. Frustrated, Toots glanced at Sophie, then rested her gaze on Sophie’s husband, Goebel. Has she told you about any of this?

No, and I am as curious as you are. I know it has something to do with this house; though what, I can’t say. I can tell you this. I did contact the great-great nephew of the original owner; he’s some hotshot financial guru. He’s out of the country right now, but I e-mailed him in hopes that he will have some background on this old place. It was in his family for more years than I can count. Maybe he knows about something that might’ve happened in this house. He looked at Sophie. Something she knows and doesn’t feel it’s safe for the rest of us to know. Goebel was only guessing, but he knew his wife. She rarely kept things to herself when it came to her psychic abilities. She wanted to help others, to share her experiences, to offer comfort to those who sought out her services. Sophie was a giver, despite the hard-ass exterior she displayed to the world. "I’m surprised you don’t know anything about the property. You owned it yourself for years. As much as you enjoy decorating, learning the histories of all the antiques you’ve bought, I would have thought you of all people would know if something . . . bad happened in this house."

Goebel was right, Toots thought. And normally she would, but she’d purchased this house when she and her friends were in California and had been so occupied with running the Informer and trying to keep her daughter, Abby, from discovering that she was the new owner of the newspaper, that she hadn’t thought too much about the history of the old house when she’d purchased it. Now, she wished she had taken the time to hire a professional to research that history, though she knew this wasn’t as hard as she was making it. The historical society would know, and she was a member. Indeed, her own home was on the national historical register, too. She was sure all she needed to do was make a few phone calls and she could find out anything she wanted about the house’s past. Though she wasn’t sure if she should. If Sophie refused to divulge her fears, then Toots might want to listen to her and stay out of it.

What? Sophie asked Toots. I know you and that evil mind of yours. Go on, spit it out.

Taking another deep breath, Toots nodded. She would not deceive Sophie, not now. For once, she was truly going to listen to her and stay out of things until she was told otherwise. "I never bothered researching the history when I bought the place. I was thinking I could call the historical society, and they might know what, if anything, untoward happened in this house. But then I changed my mind. That’s all."

You’re sure? Sophie asked.

Toots had to resist the urge to cross her fingers, but she remembered her twin grandchildren and kept both hands splayed out on the table in front of her just in case she was tempted. One hundred percent.

Sophie gave her the eagle eye.

I swear I won’t call anyone or do anything that would put Jonathan or Amy, or any of us, in harm’s way. I’ll leave the ghost stuff to the pros.

Well, then it’s settled. You won’t do anything until I say it’s clear. Tell Abby . . . tell her—shit, I hate to lie to her, but right now I think it’s for her and the twins’ protection. Tell her we found a . . . a carbon monoxide leak in the house. Yes! I’ll tell her that’s why I acted so strange—I’d breathed in too much carbon monoxide, and it affected my thinking. I can say I just found out the day she brought the twins over. It will at least keep her away, plus it will give me time to, uh, work on the problem. Sophie didn’t dare voice what she knew. Not yet.

I don’t like lying to Abby, Toots stated.

"Oh for Pete’s sakes! You lied to her for years about owning the Informer! Why in the world would you even question telling an itty-bitty lie that’s for her safety and the safety of her children?"

Goebel laughed. She does have a point, Toots.

I know.

So, are you going to tell her, or do you want me to tell her? Sophie demanded. We need to do this as soon as possible so we can put her worries aside and get on with . . . with whatever it is I need to do.

Toots pondered the question. It was probably best if she let Sophie handle things. You tell her. Go to her house today. Explain that you were . . . embarrassed or something. Tell her you felt like an idiot for not having the old place checked for carbon monoxide leaks before moving in. Make it sound sincere and grovel a bit. Abby always gives in when groveling is involved. At least that’s what Chris has told me. I’ve never seen it from her personally, but as her husband, he knows a side of her that we don’t. I hope that he does not see it too often.

I can’t see Chris groveling for any reason, but if you think this will get me off the hook, then I’m willing to do whatever is necessary to keep her and those babies out of this house.

And what about the rest of us? Toots asked. Should we stay away, too?

Yes, I think it’s best that you and the gang stay put until I think it’s safe. Tell the others the same story. I was always told when you have to lie, to keep it simple, so tell them I was stupid and simply neglected to have the place checked out. Ida won’t have any trouble believing you. She lives for any opportunity to throw me under the bus. This will make her day. Now, I have to go to Abby’s, and you, my dearest and oldest friend, have to make damned sure no one comes over here. Can you do that?

Toots shot her an icy look, but nodded. Yes, yes, I can keep everyone at bay, though I would really like to tell them you have syphilis of the face, but they won’t believe me.

They all laughed, but beneath their laughter were ominous and foreboding undertones. They went their separate ways with thoughts that were too dark to share.

Chapter Two

Tuesday, September 6, 1955

Bishop Verot Catholic School

New Jersey

Teresa waited for Sophia at the entrance to the lunchroom as promised. Since it was her first day at a new school, and Sophia was the only one to show her any kindness earlier in the day, she figured it was worth waiting. Yeasty bread scented the air, reminding her of the lone piece of toast she’d had for breakfast. Her stomach grumbled, and she looked around to make sure no one heard. She would just die. The students would think she came from a poor family and didn’t get enough to eat. But, really, she thought to herself, why did she even care?

Hey, Red, I was hopin’ to find you here, Sophia called out in a voice so loud that the entire cafeteria went silent for a split second.

Yeah, I waited,