Page 24 of The Premonition at Withers Farm

“Tell us what you heard,” Maribeth prompted.

“I felt—I—” Angelica sputtered.

“Go on,” Maribeth encouraged, never changing from her modulated tone.

“I felt fingers brush the back of my neck!” Angelica said, hurrying to admit the phenomenon.

“Eunice is here,” Maribeth breathed. She tilted her head back again.

“Ask her who killed her!” Mr. Withers blurted. “I’m paying for this. Tell her I’m paying good money to hear from her!” Apparently, even in death, Eunice was being held to a conscientious financial standard.

Perliett stiffened.

“We must be still,” Mr. Bridgers’s calm voice advised.

“Is this you, Eunice? Declare yourself, please. Tap thrice if you are in the room.”

A definitive three taps echoed in the room, stealing the breath from all the participants.

Perliett couldn’t help but grip Mr. Bridgers’s hand tighter.

“Yes. She is here,” Maribeth whispered. “Eunice, will you show yourself to us tonight?”

Silence followed.

The flame of the candle flickered erratically.

Angelica squeaked again. “My hand. She touched my hand!”

“Ask her!” Mr. Withers insisted.

Maribeth opened one eye and gave a small nod. “Eunice, if your spirit is disturbed, tell us of your distress.”

Three knocks followed.

Errol swore softly.

Perliett dared a sideways glance at Mr. Bridgers. She couldonly make out his profile, sharp in the dim candlelight. He was staring at the flame, his eyes fixated on it as if in a trance.

“Does your killer go free?” Maribeth inquired through the thick air.

No response followed.

“There is no need to fear us, Eunice. We only wish to help you find peace. Your killer, is the person still among us here in Kilbourn?”

Glass shattered from the front window, sending shards spitting into the room with the ferocity of an explosion. The draperies winged inward toward them, as if someone were running from behind them and pushing them out. A burst of fresh air, sticky but cool from the summer night, whipped across their faces. Angelica’s screams rent the air, followed by the curses Errol dropped liberally. Mr. Withers fell backward, his chair crashing to the floor. He scurried backward on his bottom, palming the floor as he half dragged himself away from the table. Maribeth’s shocked wail helped none of the guests find reassurance, as she herself launched forward against the table, her head cracking against the wood.

Mr. Bridgers yanked Perliett against him, shielding her belatedly with his body. As his arms wrapped around her frame, Perliett noticed the flame of the candle still glowed despite the burst of wind and broken glass. Then, in the inexplainable shadows, Perliett saw two ghostly white fingers reach out and snuff the flame, plunging them all into complete and utter blackness.

9

Molly

“You brought your metal detector?” Molly laughed as Sid pulled it from the back of her Suburban.

Sid didn’t bother to look up as she reached for the hatch to close it. “Sure I did! Old farmsteads like this? You could have treasure buried somewhere in the backyard. You could be rich by the end of the day! Not to mention, my mom took the kids for the weekend, so I have all day today until Dan finishes his work projects.”

“Dan going to wine and dine you since you’re sans kids tonight?”