Free Wicked by Joanne Fluke Page A

I disturb her when she’s already dead? Don’t be ridiculous, Tracie!” Eve got up and started for the kitchen. “I’ll be back in forty-five minutes with pizza for everybody.”
    As Eve crossed the courtyard, she heard Tracie’s voice. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to eat any of that pizza. Eve has absolutely no feelings. She’s . . . she’s horrible !”
    * * *
    â€œThis is great pizza, Eve.” Ryan smiled at her as he took the last piece.
    â€œYes, it is.” Beth reached out to pat Eve’s shoulder. “I think you showed a lot of courage, Eve. I don’t think I could have fixed dinner tonight.”
    Eve was surprised. “But, Beth . . . you and Dean washed the kitchen floor. That took courage, too.”
    â€œNot really.” Dean shook his head. “We were still in shock, and that made it easier. If we’d taken the time to think about it, we probably couldn’t have done it.”
    Ryan stood up. “Come on, everybody. Let’s all help Eve load the dishwasher.”
    â€œYou mean . . . you want us to go into the kitchen?!” Tracie was clearly shocked.
    â€œYes,” Ryan said. “We can’t avoid the kitchen forever. Let’s all go together, in a group.”
    Jeremy stood up. “You’re right. It’s like riding a bicycle and falling off. If you don’t get right back on again, you’re letting your fear control you.”
    â€œBut . . . but something could happen! Something awful!” Tracie’s face turned pale. “Cheryl’s spirit might want us to leave the scene of her death undisturbed.”
    Eve laughed. “Relax, Tracie. I made four pizzas in that kitchen. I even stepped over her body to get the cheese, and Cheryl’s spirit didn’t bother me.”
    â€œCome on, Tracie.” Scott took Tracie’s arm. “I must have checked out a hundred sightings, and I haven’t seen a ghost or a spirit yet.”
    Tracie didn’t look convinced, and she turned to Angela. “Are you going, Angela?”
    â€œYes.” Angela picked up her plate and stood up. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. And after we finish in the kitchen, I’ve got an idea that might help all of us cope with Cheryl’s death.”
    * * *
    Eve was smiling as they all sat down in the living room. She’d given Ryan a list of the movies she’d brought and they planned to watch one tonight. It would be wonderful to cuddle up on the couch with Ryan. It had been a long time since they’d been together, alone.
    â€œI think Dean was right when he said we should go on with our regular schedule,” Angela said. “I know it’s after seven, but I think we could all try to write a chapter and meet in the library at eleven.”
    Eve’s mouth dropped open. Angela’s suggestion was almost as ridiculous as Tracie’s fear of Cheryl’s spirit. “You mean you want us to work tonight?”
    â€œI think it’ll help.” Angela smiled at all of them. “Have you ever heard of R.L. Stine?”
    â€œHe writes young-adult horror,” Tracie said. “I’ve read some of his books.”
    â€œWell, the first time I met him . . .”
    â€œYou met R.L. Stine?” Tracie looked excited as she interrupted Angela. “Did you get an autographed copy of one of his books?”
    â€œNo. This wasn’t a book signing, Tracie. It was a dinner party at my parents’ house. Mr. Stine told me that he writes at least fifteen pages a day, no exceptions.”
    â€œWonderful.” Eve couldn’t help being sarcastic. “But I bet R.L. Stine never got quarantined in a mansion with a dead friend in the walk-in cooler!”
    Angela started to laugh. She didn’t seem to realize that Eve was being sarcastic. “You’ve got a point, Eve. But if something like that happened to him, he’d