Free Rosecliff Manor Haunting by Cheryl Bradshaw

to do, rob me? Well, joke’s on you. I don’t keep anything of value in here anymore.”
    “I wasn’t trying to rob you.”  
    “How did you manage to get in here?”
    Addison slid a hand partway inside her jacket then stopped when she heard the action of the bolt putting a shell in the chamber.
    “Utt … utt … uhh …” Rose mocked her. “You keep those hands where I can see ’em.”
    “I was just going to give you the key.”
    “What do you mean ‘give me the key’? The key was lost ages ago.”
    “I found it.”
    “When?”
    “Today.”
    “Where?”
    “Behind some books in the library. If you’d just let me reach into my jacket, I’ll get the key and show you.”
    Rose shook her head. “You’ll do nothing of the kind. Not another word. I’m calling the police.”
    “If you could just hear me out, I’ll tell you—”
    Rose stepped forward, pressing the butt of the rifle against Addison’s chest. “Not. Another. Word.”

CHAPTER 19
     
     
    A call to the local police was made. Rifle still poised and ready, Rose placed the call on speaker, explained the “emergency” and offered her home address. The male voice on the other line rattled off some additional questions and then asked Rose to remain on the line. To Addison’s amazement, she didn’t. She snapped her flip-phone closed and pushed it back inside her pocket.
    “I hate these things, you know?” Rose said. “These cell phones.”
    Addison’s reaction was to remain quiet, smile and nod, and prepare herself for what came next. With the police in transit, there was no need to make things worse than they already were. She’d made a mess of it all, and no quick fix or well-crafted remark would save her this time.
    Vivian remained in the room beside Addison, her eyes squinted, like she was thinking, formulating a plan. “Tell her I’m glad she redid my room. She sews in there now.”
    Addison considered the request then shook her head, knowing what a dangerous thing it would be to mess with a woman who not only held a loaded gun in her hand, but who wouldn’t believe her anyway. There was no point in saying anything.  
    “What are you doing?” Rose asked. “Why are you bobbing your head around?”
    “Sorry. No reason.”
    “There must be a reason.” Rose’s eyes darted around the room. “You’re not alone, are you? Who’s with you? Your boyfriend Luke?”  
    “It’s just me. I came alone. He doesn’t even know I came here.”
    Rose ignored her, hollered, “Whatever you’re planning, Luke. Don’t bother. Take one step into this room, and I’ll shoot.”
    “I told you, he’s not here. I can call him if you’d like, prove to you he’s not with me.”
    “The only thing calling him would prove is that he isn’t in this room. Just how stupid do you think I am?” 
    “I don’t. I just thought it would put you at ease.”
    “At ease? You must be joking. You broke into my house tonight. And if someone as scrawny as you can do it, imagine who else can. I don’t think I’ll ever be at ease again.”
    “Can I … ask you something?”
    “Do I have a choice?”
    Addison took a deep breath in. “You like to sew, right?”
    “ That’s what you wanted to ask me? You were shown around earlier. You’re well aware I have a sewing room.”
    “It used to be Vivian’s room.”
    That did it. Rose’s eyes almost doubled in size. “Don’t play with me, child. Whatever you’re trying to do here, it won’t work. And it’s not funny.”
    Vivian pressed a finger to her lips. “Tell her the new wallpaper’s nice, but I like the old paper better. The one with bright pink and orange flowers on it.”
    Addison inhaled a lungful of air. This was crazy, too much, far too much. She couldn’t. Or … could she? Beneath Rose’s jaded, acrimonious layers was a woman who’d hardened after losing her precious daughters, a woman who may have been giving and kind until her life took an unexpected turn.
    Maybe what the moment