Page 20 of Cadaver Lab: Mind Over Murder

“She said that’s when a car almost hit her. When she was crossing the street,” Millie said.

Gabe took over the explanation again. “Apparently she yelled at the driver and like slapped her hand on the window or something. At least that’s what the sheriff said that the eyewitness says caused the driver to steer into a phone pole. The driver hit her head. She’s blaming Harper for causing the crash.”

“I’m afraid it’s not just the driver blaming Harper. So is the sheriff.” Millie bit her lip, looking concerned.

Liam let out a snort. “Harper’s having some real shit luck lately. It’s like your bad luck rubbed off on her,” he said looking directly at Natalie.

She frowned at him and delivered a most sarcastic, “Thanks.”

He lifted one shoulder in yet another half-hearted shrug.

“Here’s the thing though. Harper swears she saw something—or someone—in the road in front of the car and that’s the real reason that old lady Trout swerved.”

Natalie’s eyes popped wide. “Oh, no. It was Margaret Trout? Pfft. Forget about it. She hates Harper. Even if there was something in the road she swerved to avoid, she’d probably still blame Harper.”

“She really is a wretched woman,” Millie said, and she never said anything bad about anyone.

Liam shook his head. “Why do we live here again?”

“Because I love our adorable little town. And my historic building. And all my friends.”

“Living and dead,” Gabe added.

“Yes. Both. Of course. We couldn’t possibly move.”

Liam rolled his eyes. “Well the way things are going we better hope you’re not visiting one of your friends in downstate women’s correctional facility.”

She hated to admit it, especially to her cocky boyfriend, but Liam was right. Harper was in a whole heap of trouble and Natalie knew exactly what that felt like.

“Oh, one more thing,” Gabe began.

“I don’t think I can handle one more thing, Gabe.”

One brow cocked up. “You want to hear or not?”

She let out a breath. “Okay. Tell me.”

“I was checking out the lab—” Gabe began.

That immediately perked up Liam. “Why? Why were you checking out my lab?” The question came out sounding more like an accusation.

“Because your woman accused me of hiding there and trying to scare her the other night. Since it wasn’t me, I decided to find out what was going on. You’re welcome.”

Gabe emphasized the final words, earning him a light slap in the arm by Millie, who mouthed to him, “Be nice.”

“Anyway, I swear I saw something there. Like a flash of motion out of the corner of my eye,” Gabe continued.

“Like a spirit was hiding?” Natalie asked as Liam paled.

“Exactly. But why would it hide from me?”

“Millie hid when you and I first discovered her at Agnes’s house,” Natalie pointed out.

Millie nodded. “I did. You’re the first living who could see me. It was scary.”

“But I’m not a living, and you weren’t there, Nat, so why hide from me?” Gabe asked.

“You’re asking like I have any answers at all about the spirit world.” In truth, Natalie was just stumbling through it, trying to survive.