“I mean I didn’t trip and fall. I got whacked on the back of the head and was pushed!”

“Pushed? Are you sure?”

“Sure as shinola,” Lavinia said, then leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I was on my way to church to … umm … light a candle for my Harry. I often did that before opening the library. Anyway, I was on my way when I saw the lights on in the library. I knew I didn’t leave them on, so I went in to investigate. I thought I heard something downstairs, but as I approached the steps, I heard something behind me. I turned to see what it was and then … whack! Lights out!”

“You didn’t see who it was? Did you get any sense of whether it was a man or woman?”

“Nope. All I saw was a big shadow … like the person was wearing a cape.” Lavinia pressed her lips together and looked out the window. “Oh, and they wore a big ring.”

“Ring? What kind of ring?”

She looked back at me, her ghostly form rippling like water disturbed by a pebble. “I’m not sure. It was chunky, like a class ring. I remember hearing the noise, seeing the shadow, feeling pain and getting pushed. I saw the ring in a blur as I went down. Next thing I know, I’m waking up on a steel table inside Stilton’s funeral home. Scared me half to death. Of course, I didn’t realize I actually was dead at first. Anyway, once I figured it all out, I knew I had to come here and get your help.”

“You did? How did you know to come to me?” I felt a little disturbed by this. Was there some sort of sign in the afterlife telling these ghosts to seek me out? I certainly hoped not.

Lavinia tilted her head. “You know, I’m not rightly sure about that. Might be because I know you were a crime journalist down south. Anyway, I just got this feeling and it must have been right because you’re the only person that’s been able to see and talk to me since I … err… died.”

“Okay. Well, I’m not sure what you think I can do for you. I didn’t see any evidence of anyone being there in the library. Maybe you’re confused about what happened, you know—with being so newly dead and all?” I asked hopefully.

“No, I don’t think so. I’m sure someone did me in.”

“But, who would break into the library and why would they want to kill you?”

“I have no idea,” Lavinia said. “That’s for you to find out. All I know is that I need your help to find the killer and neither one of us is going to be able to rest until you do.

Chapter Three

Chapter Three