Free A Ghostly Undertaking by Tonya Kappes Page A

or something.” I thought it sounded like a good suggestion. “I know! How about a bell like a cat wears to warn the birds?”
    â€œEmma Lee, I can’t get a bell. I’m dead, in case you have forgotten,” she chided, each word heavi­ly laced with sarcasm. “Now, what are you doing? You can’t go reading private files. The last thing I need is for you to be put in the slammer.”
    â€œI don’t intend to go to the slammer.” I shut the drawer and gripped Granny’s file. “I got what I needed.”
    She scanned the file’s label.
    â€œAnd just how is Zula’s file going to help solve my murder?”
    â€œShe claims she was at the doctor’s office and when she got back to the inn, you were dead.” I shook the file in the air. “Doc Clyde keeps meticulous records and if she was here, then it would be in this.”
    â€œYou put that back.” Ruthie scolded me like she was my own Granny. “This is a federal offense.”
    â€œSays who?” Was I really arguing with a ghost?
    I knew figuring out who killed Ruthie was my number-­one priority, but Granny’s health was just as important.
    â€œBesides, it will only take a second to see why Granny was here.” I threw my hands up in the air. “I promise to devote the rest of my free time figuring out who the murderer is.”
    â€œIf they find out you took the file . . .” She shook her finger at me. “Besides, we already know that Zula didn’t kill me.”
    Was Granny sick? I had to find out the answer. “Me taking a tiny peek at her file will let me know why she was here.”
    â€œIf Zula wanted you to know why she went to see Doc Clyde, she would’ve told you.” Ruthie came closer and grabbed the edge and pulled. “Now, put it back!”
    â€œNo!” I pulled harder, forcing her to release the file.
    Ignoring her, I raced back to the exam room after I heard faint whispers coming from outside of the doctor’s office front door. I put Granny’s file deep in my purse and made sure I planted my butt in the crease of the white paper so Doc Clyde didn’t think I got up.
    â€œHere you go, Emma Lee.” Doc Clyde held out a Coke can when he came back into the room.
    â€œNo.” I shook my head. “I don’t drink that. I wanted diet.”
    He extended his arm fully and held it out farther. “This is what I bought and it’s all I’ve got.”
    â€œNo thanks. I’ll go get what I want.” I jumped off the table in protest and grabbed my purse.
    â€œWhere are you going, Emma Lee?” Doc Clyde stood firm in front of the door with his arms crossed.
    â€œI’m feeling much better.” I smiled, throwing my purse over my shoulder. “I think it’s seasonal allergies.” I scratched my nose and desperately tried to ignore Ruthie.
    â€œIt’s a case of liar-­liar pants on fire.” Ruthie stood in the corner of the exam room where the ear thingies hung on the wall next to the blood pressure cuff.
    â€œIna Claire said that you had someone else with you,” Doc Clyde said.
    â€œThere is. Me!” Ruthie jumped up and down waving her arms. There was definitely nothing wrong with her physical abilities.
    â€œIna Claire needs her head checked out worse than me.” I looked around. “Do you see someone? I don’t.”
    â€œA . . . no, but . . .” Doc Clyde paused.
    â€œBut nothing.” I pushed past him. Ina Claire jumped back from the wall in the hallway where she was clearly listening to our conversation. I pointed at her. “Your turn.”
    Ina Claire glared at me with reproachful eyes. “I don’t know what you are up to, Emma Lee, but you sure can bet that I’m going to be putting a call in to Zula Fae and Charlotte Rae.”
    â€œYou know their numbers!” I made it to the waiting room where Hettie was