Page 20 (1/1)

"Dead bodies are such trouble," Evie said with a little sigh, and Mabel had to turn her head away so as not to laugh

"Indeed," Miss Lillian clucked "When the Bennington was built, in 1872, it was said that the architect, who had descended fro on ancient occult principles so that it would always be a sort of net for the otherworldly So as I said, don’t pay any ht experience It’s just the Bennington, dear"

Miss Lillian attempted a smile A blot of red lipstick marked her teeth like a bloodstain At her side, Miss Addie suests

"Please do excuse us, but wecompany soon, and we , won’t you?"

"How could I not?" Evie answered

Miss Addie turned suddenly to Evie, as if truly seeing her for the first tirim "You’re one of theerald’s niece," Mabel supplied

"No One of theent whisper that sent a shiver up Evie’s spine

"No, Addie, let’s leave these girls to their dinner We’ve work to do Adieu!"

The Proctor sisters were barely out of the dining roo " ‘After the fever, there were the paupers,’ " she

"What do you suppose she meant, ‘You’re one of them’? Does she say that to everyone sheshe didn’t sound as unsettled as she felt

Mabel shrugged "Soown My father’s had to return her to her flat a few tiainst the side of her head "Not all there She probably meant you’re one of those flappers, and she does not approve," she teased, wagging her finger like a school to be the best time of our lives, isn’t it?" she said with such enthusias comment out of her lass "To the Bennington and its ghosts!"

"To us!" Mabel added They clinked their glasses to the future

Evie and Mabel spent the afternoon catching up, and by the time Evie returned to Uncle Will’s apartment it was nearly seven, and Will and Jericho had returned The apartly horand baylooked out onto the leafy glory of Central Park A settee and two chairs flanked a large radio cabinet, and Evie breathed a sigh of relief There was a tidy kitchenette, which looked as if it rarely saw use The bathroo, but devoid of even the simplest luxuries She’d soon fix that Three bedrooms and a small office completed the suite Jericho showed her to a narrow room with a bed, a desk, and a chifforobe The bed squeaked, but it was cooes to the roof," Jericho said, pointing to a fire escape outside her"You can see ed to reply "Swell" She intended to do more than watch the city from the roof She would be in the thick of it Her trunk had arrived, and she unpacked, filling the eloves, dresses, and coats Her long strands of pearls she draped from the posts of her bed The one item she did not put aas her coin pendant from James When she’d finished, Evie sat with Jericho and Uncle Will in the parlor as the ht from the delicatessen on the corner

"How did you come to be in the employ of my uncle?" Evie asked Jericho with theatrical seriousness Jericho looked to Uncle Will, whose ular atha Christie when you need her? I’ll just have to make up stories about you Let’s see… you, Jericho, are a duke who has forfeited his duchy--funny word, duchy--and Unc is hiding you from hostile forces in your native country ould have your head"

"Your uncle was hteen this year Now I’ for him, as his assistant curator"

TheEvie’s curiosity unsatisfied "Okay I’ll bite How did Unc--"