Free A Guilty Ghost Surprised (An Indigo Eady Paranormal Cozy Mystery series) by Gwen Gardner Page A

about. Nobody paid us the slightest bit of attention.
    Still, uneasiness wrapped around me like a cloak. I tugged on Simon’s sleeve. “We’re being watched,” I whispered. “Or followed, I’m not sure.”
    His gaze scanned the square. “Come on.” He took Riley and me by the elbow and guided us into the shadows. We hunkered beneath the jettied overhangs of the half-timbered buildings. Listening for any sign of attack, we waited and watched.
    I looked toward the ginnel, but didn’t sense anything in particular from that direction. But glancing across the square at the market hall, a shadow lurked among the dark pillars. A shadow not of spirit, but someone living.
    Crap. Being followed meant physical danger. Our questioning made someone nervous. A guilty someone. Or someone who knew something or someone involved.
    “At the hall,” I whispered. “Not a ghost.”
    “Bloody hell. Not again.”
    I echoed that sentiment. Our last stalker, Billy Radcliffe, ended up dead.
    “What do we do?” asked Riley.
    Simon tugged his phone from his pocket and clicked out a text. A ping came back with the reply. After responding, Simon pulled me and Riley further into the shadows and tugged us alongside the building.
    “There’s no time for this.” Simon spoke low and firm. “Just. Stay. Put.” He sped into the shadows and vanished.
    Riley and I locked gazes in the darkness. Simon disappeared so quickly we couldn’t see where he went.
    “Blast him!” Riley hissed.
    Dread filled my chest and sank to my stomach. “We can’t stay here.” I made a split decision. “I’ll circle around the back. You go after Simon. We’ll meet behind the market hall and... do something . I don’t know. Just go!”
    She nodded. We raced in opposite directions.
    Reaching the passage that led to the street, I sprinted as fast as I dared. The cobblestones were smooth and slippery. I careened around the next corner and skidded, but managed to stay on my feet. Through the misty fog, what looked like shadow-boxers appeared on the path ahead. They grew and receded along the corridor as I neared. Shouts reverberated off the stone walls. Panic urged me forward. Almost upon the fighting, a body lunged at me from a dim stairwell. I went down hard. “No!” I screamed, pinned to the ground. I thrashed and kicked at my assailant, finally connecting with a vulnerable spot. He gasped and released his grip. I rolled sideways and scrambled to my feet, ready to fight. He had already gotten to his feet, but bent at the waist, grasping at the hoodie to keep his face concealed.
    “Who are you?” I squinted through the gloom and took a step toward him, almost close enough to see past the hood. Distant footsteps echoed in the corridor, growing louder as they neared. In the instant I glanced behind me, the guy took off.
    Badger appeared out of the gloom, breathing hard. “Are you all right?” He stared at the backside of my assailant.
    I nodded. “Are you? You’re bleeding…”
    He wiped blood from his lip with the back of his hand. “I’m fine.”
    “Where are Simon and Riley?” I asked.
    “I dunno. Come on.” He gripped my hand and took off at a run.
    Before we reached the next corner, a scream rent the air. Riley. We ran faster. Bursting around the corner, we careened into Simon.
    “Where’s Riley?” gasped Badger.
     “She screamed. It came from down there”—he pointed toward the end of the street—“but I can’t find her.” His gestures were frantic, but he tried to keep it under control. “All right. Let’s split up,” he said. “She’s somewhere on this block. You two start here. I’ll start at the other end. We’ll work our way in.” He was already halfway down the passage before he completed the last sentence.
     “Do you think one of them has her?” I said. Riley’s disappearance filled me with new dread.
    “I dunno. But we’re going to find her,” he said. “You take that side. I’ll take this one.” He turned