Free How to Survive a Killer Seance by Penny Warner Page A

. . .
    Expect to have 20-25 guests . . .
    Invitations! Need to get those out ASAP . . .
    Working on a script for Sarah’s ghost . . .
    I had a feeling I was going to regret giving Jonathan my contact information.
    I checked my e-mail and found three more messages from Jonathan waiting, plus a detailed list of suggestions forwarded by his VP. It looked like he was going to be one of those micromanaging clients that drove me nuts.
    I responded to half of his messages, then watched a dozen more pop up. If I hadn’t agreed to plan this party for him, I’d have sought a restraining order and filed harassment charges. I just hoped all the hassle was worth the money.
    Forgetting all about calling Teddi, I spent the morning researching séances on the Internet, hoping to give the event some authenticity. After reading about spirit circles, incantations, psychic energy, and the like, I worked on possible designs for invitations using invisible ink to write the party details on mini Ouija boards. The more I read, the more excited I got about the event. I couldn’t wait to get started on the decorations and create a spooky atmosphere for the séance, using mood lighting, flickering candles, antique brass candlesticks, smoky crystal balls, and a reproduction of Sarah Winchester’s only portrait.
    This was going to be fun . . . if nothing went wrong.
    Meanwhile, I also had to deal with communiqués from Marianne Mitchell, my new landlord, who was already pressing for details on the anniversary of the Expo celebration she’d envisioned for Treasure Island—and gently reminding me of her generosity in terms of my rent. The event would be at least six months away, but already Marianne wanted her stamp of approval on everything from invites to favors. Now I was contending with two micromanagers.
    Feeling a little overwhelmed, I went in search of my part-time crew and delegated some of the initial tasks for the Séance Party—appetizers from Rocco Ghirenghelli, videotaping by Berkeley Wong, extra security by Raj Reddy. I stopped by Brad’s office again, but he still hadn’t come in. I missed him, but there was no way I was taking him along to my meeting that afternoon with Jonathan. No sense disturbing the spirits with Brad’s animosity.
    After a lunch of blueberry yogurt and a latte, I wrote on the message board, “Gone to Mystery House. Be back soon.” Dee still hadn’t returned from costume shopping, nor had Brad from wherever he’d been. I left Dee a note to check out some palm reading business that seemed to be on every street corner in the city, then grabbed my purse and headed out to meet Jonathan Ellington.
    In spite of Brad’s warning, this time I was going alone.

Chapter 7

    PARTY PLANNING TIP #7
    To add atmosphere to your Séance Party, dim the lights, eliminate noise, and light candles, since spirits seek warmth and light. Plus candles make eerie-looking shadows on the walls.
    “Presley!” I heard my name called as I entered the Winchester Mystery House gift shop.
    Jonathan waved to me from the small adjoining café, where amateur ghost hunters could take a break from the hour-long tour and grab a hot dog and a soda in a Winchester Mystery House “keepsake” cup. He wasn’t alone. He sat at a round table, between two women. On the right was an attractive, twentysomething blonde with pink pouty lips and big breasts, which nearly spilled out of her low-cut tight tank top.
    On the other side was a severe-looking thirtysomething woman, dark hair in a tight twist, glasses, and heavy pancake makeup, wearing a gray business suit with the classic Burberry scarf. A large crystal dangled from her neck. A balding, double-chinned, and overweight man sat across from him, wearing a loose-fitting and faded “We’re Hella-Good” T-shirt, and baggy jeans. If he wasn’t the cliché of a computer geek, I’d eat a Winchester hot dog.
    Jonathan rose to greet me with an uncharacteristically brief handshake rather than his